17

Dear Readers,

Swami Vivekananda said educate the women and let them be independent. They will make their own future. Who are you to make their future? Women have infinite Shakti and strength. They have to rise. Women are said to be the embodiments of God’s love, empathy, compassion, courage, service, determination, dedication, sacrifice, honour of the family and continuity of the creation of God. “The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women,” said Swami Vivekananda.

The International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 8. The day endeavours to give women the honour and respect they deserve; to awaken in them the realisation of their power; and to acknowledge their love, courage, dedication, determination, service, hard work at home and at work.

Women, during the Vedic period, enjoyed equal status with men. Soul is both in man and woman but having a different gender. Women were Vedic scholars or warriors while also leading a family life. There were serious philosophers, such as Gargi and Maitreyi.

Unfortunately, over the past centuries, women have suffered a lot. In Bharat, women were physically and mentally abused by invaders. Many other practices had crept into the society like Sati Pratha, Parda Pratah, child marriage and so on. Later, social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Swami Vivekananda and other enlightened souls worked hard to stop these practices and awaken the women.

Women are marching forward globally, bringing about change and taking care of their family. Women are making a mark in politics, education, social enterprises, social activities, humanitarian work, industrial
sector, medical sector, sports, army and so on. Globally, women are changing the world. The UN agency promoting equality for women has said the global spotlight on sexual harassment and movements like the MeToo movement showed that even highly powerful men could be punished for sexually harassing women. But this is just the tip of an iceberg. The head of the UN agency claimed that the percentage of women who come forward to report sexual violence is low. This needs to change. The society and state have to be more sensitive to these women and more responsive when helping them to get justice. Unfortunately, many countries do not value their women as they value their men. The UN has advocated severe punishment for perpetrators of gender violence.

Many of them are working at home and are also working outside and supporting their family. Practically, in all sectors they have made a mark.  In politics also they have reached the top position like Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Mamta Banerjee, Vashundhara Raje, Sonia Gandhi, Meira Kumar, Mayawati, Maneka Gandhi, Nirmala Sitaraman, Smriti Irani etc.

The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State (Article 15(1)), equality of opportunity (Article 16), equal pay for equal work (Article 39(d)) and Article 42. In addition, it allows special provisions to be made by the State in favour of women and children (Article 15(3)), renounces practices derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e)), and also allows for provisions to be made by the State for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief (Article 42). According to Section 326A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) a person may be imprisoned for ten years with provision life imprisonment and fine for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by the use of acid, etc. The sections are cognizable and
non-bailable. Similarly, according to the Section 326B of the IPC, a person may be imprisoned for five
years with provisions for expansion of the sentence to seven years and fine for voluntarily throwing or attempting to throw acid. These sections are also cognizable and non-bailable.

Alcoholism leads to violence against women and minor girls in India. The government of Bihar has banned alcohol. The rate of crimes has fallen. The government’s revenue has increased by `440 crore per day due to consumption of milk and other healthy products. Many states fear that there will be loss of revenue if alcohol is banned, but Bihar has proved that there are better activities, which will generate more revenue than excise income from alcohol. Against the welfareness constitution of Bharat several studies are promoting production, distribution and consumption of alcohol. Many states are promoting opening shops near institutions and education.

Thomson Reuters reported that India is the fourth most dangerous country in the world for women. India was also noted as the worst country for women among the G20 countries. Violence against women has been increasing. Even minor girls are not spared. The
women's population is almost half of the population of Bharat. Their latent potential and power are untapped. The GDP can expand by 47% if their potential is utilised well. Their contribution to the household service is not being counted in the GDP. In the infrastructure and agriculture sectors, women’s contribution is large. Over and above that contribution, they are working in their homes too. Women business entrepreneurship is about 41.7% in India compared to 72.4% in Canada and 69.9% in the US.

To that Devi who in all beings is abiding in the form of power, salutations to her , salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations again and again.

Bharat's Constitution makes it a welfare state. Unfortunately, more than half of the population consisting of women is exposed to violence everywhere. Even the education centres are not free of risks. Despite so many laws, the enforcement of laws and punishment for crimes of violence against girls and women are not done properly. The lack of deterrence increases such crimes of violence. Until and unless exemplary punishment is not given to the perpetrators, it is not going to stop. We are following the western countries in other things but we do not adopt the measures in place for the protection of women. The malls and shops are open throughout the night. These do expose the women to crimes of violence. The call centres, news agencies, news publications, magazine publications etc. force freshers and other women to work late at night. They leave them at 1 am to 3 am working right from 9am in the morning. They do not provide any security for them. Women have become commercial products. Look at the advertisements. Are these arts? Are these science? Are these not exploitation? Commercial advertisements using women and obscene scenes in films/TVs have been inciting violence against women, even minor girls. Families don’t teach their male members to respect the female members. According to Indian National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) over 34,600 reports of rape and over 130,000 cases of sexual assault in 2015. That is, 95 women are raped everyday and some 356 women face sexual harassment. But, punishment is rare, justice is delayed. The course of justice is long and gets longer. The internet is full of porn, magazines are full of porn and films are full of violence. Production, distribution and consumption of alcohol is promoted by the state to earn the revenue. Despite it being a known fact that it leads to the crimes against women. What sort of welfare state is Bharat? Bharat's strength is spirituality as said by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in line with what was said by Swami Vivekananda. Spirituality is different from religion and it awakens in us the right values and morals. Parents and grandparents can narrate mythological stories and parables to the children and let them imbibe good values. They will grow up to be good citizens of the country. They will be a part of a moral society and will build a morally strong state.

There has been a misconception in the society that girls are a burden to the family/parents. After marriage they go to their in-laws’ house. Their parents are not looked after by as many sons leave their parents, to have their own family but it is found that girls take care of their parents. If sons and girls are also educated properly, they will serve the society better. Female infanticide will automatically stop. It is decreasing but it needs to end. Thus, the clarion call has been made: ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ (Save the girl and educate the girl). For the goal of girls’ education Sister Nivedita was asked by Swami Vivekananda to establish girls’ schools. Bharat can learn from this foreign lady who dedicated her life to the cause of education for the girls on the call of Swami Vivekananda. There are many women and organisations like Acid Survivors and Welfare Foundation who are working for this but they need a lot of support.

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Indian warrior against the tyranny of the Mughal empire, used to punish men who tortured and dishonoured
women very harshly. In Mahabharata, the 100 sons of Dhritarashtra, the Kaurava clan were killed for insulting Draupadi. The righteous man (Yudhisthir) in the Mahabharata had initially gambled his wife Draupadi considering her his property and was a passive onlooker when she suffered indignity. He had to suffer later on for this unrighteousness and so-called false ego of righteousness. The golden city of Lanka was burnt despite the almighty Ravana who had insulted Sita, the wife of Lord Rama. The supreme soul of the universe is hurt when a woman is insulted. It conspires to punish the perpetrator if the nation does not punish him.

There is a controversy on the GDP data released for Q3 of FY2018. GDP growth in agriculture is 4.1%. It is not reported by any single economist. The public sector investment has marginally increased, but there is no sign of private sector investment. Bank advance has fallen sharply. Credit growth is very low. The present scenario is not likely to attract private investment. Reforms appear to be good on the paper, but implementation and execution are hard to understand. No person is interested to take a decision as all are in the grip of fear psychosis. It is to be noted that perception and evolution depend on the prevailing circumstances. Trade, hotels, transport, communication and services are making the highest contributions to the GDP. Exports had been affected due to external factors.

The government promises to deliver over 22 million houses in the next five years. The cost of land and construction is high. As the people do not have the funds and are not getting finance from the banks, the market is very dull. Substantial built up areas are not being sold. The government has imposed GST, which has increased the cost and investment of the buyer. To promote housing programmes, the government should reduce the taxes and remove the GST. Developers are in great crisis.

The Reserve Bank of India report says that industries in each sector have adequate production capacity. There is a dispiriting head wind, preventing investment. Bank advance on revenue show new entrepreneurs do not have the scope to set up businesses in a big way. Personal guarantees and mortgaged will not suffice. Project viabilities will remain questionable as the perception will differ. Telecom players are in dire situation. They spend over ` 2-3 billion annually on maintenance of capex. They are trying to prune it. Indian wages are uneconomic, productivity is low, and global reforms are still under controversy due to
politics, ignoring the national requirements of employment and GDP growth.   The question is whether to protect a few or the larger population. Several entrepreneurs / businessmen have been migrating to foreign countries where not only ease of business is better but approval, execution, implementation and hurdles are less.

Various sectors are governing the stock market. Indian equities are no longer a favourite in the emerging market. Foreign Institutional Investors have been pulling out their funds. Industry is having unutilised capacity ranging from 25 to 50%. Fiscal incentive will have little effect in boosting consumption. So, there will be ups and downs in the market. Some analysts predict that the stock market will remain under the grip of bears, bulls may not be very effective.

O! Women, awake, arise and fear not. Be lionesses. Do not surrender to injustice or abuses or violence and be continued to be committed to service, purity, love and family bondage. Swami Vivekananda said, “If you do not raise women who are living embodiments of the Divine Mother, do not think that you have other ways to rise.”