In her budget speech earlier this month, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman identified the unleashing of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s power) as one of the biggest achievements of the Modi government since it came to power in 2014. She claimed that “the empowerment of women through entrepreneurship, ease of living and dignity for them has gained momentum in these ten years”.
If one looks at the interim budget of 2024-25 ,it is focused on youth and women. Beneficiaries under the Lakhpati Didi scheme from two crore to three crore are a significant stride towards financial inclusion and empowerment. Empowering 83 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) with nine crore women is transforming rural landscapes. The government’s fresh focus on the health of young girls will actively promote vaccination of girls aged 9-14 for prevention of cervical cancer.
India witnessed a spectacular display of military might and vibrant cultural tapestry today as it celebrates its 75th Republic Day with a grand parade on Kartavya Path in the heart of the national capital, on January 26. With a theme of ‘Nari Shakti’, the celebration was graced by French President Emmanuel Macron as the chief guest.
For the first time, an all-women tri-services contingent participated in the parade. Fifteen women pilots were part of the Indian Air Force’s fly-past. The contingents of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) also consisted of only women personnel.
In another historic first, Lieutenants Deepti Rana and Priyanka Sevda, who are among 10 women officers commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery for the first time last year, led the ‘Swathi’ weapon locating radar and Pinaka rocket system at the parade on Kartavya Path.
All these looked very good on the television sets. However, the ground reality is far stark than the rosy picture the government tries to project, using its “godi media” as a medium to hard sell this image. We will see more of this as the General Elections come near.
Speaking about the reality, we can start with women officers in the armed forces. Women officers in the Army were granted permanent commission in early 2020 following a landmark verdict from the top court. The SC had rejected the Centre’s stand on their “physiological limitations” as being based on “sex stereotypes” and “gender discrimination against women”.
The recent stirring images of protesting women wrestlers being manhandled by police reflects the attitude of the BJP government towards women. Earlier this year, in a blow to the BJP government in Gujarat, the Supreme Court cancelled an order passed by the state to release 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat. The court ruled that the Gujarat government was “not competent enough” to pass such an order and termed the move a “fraud act”.
The picture regarding safety of women in the country also looks grim. The National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) annual report for 2022 revealed a harrowing surge in crimes against women in India.
With a staggering 4,45,256 cases registered in 2022 alone, equivalent to nearly 51 FIRs every hour, the data exposes a serious escalation from 2021 and 2020. The rate of crimes against women per lakh population stood at 66.4 while the charge sheeting in such cases was logged at 75.8, showed the data in “Crime in India 2022”, the annual crime report of the NCRB.
A recent survey found that most Indians feel that there has been no improvement in the state of public toilets and that they would rather visit a commercial establishment to use toilets instead of a public facility.
The survey also found that even in cities like Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru, going to public toilets, unless managed by reputed organizations like Sulabh International, is generally a nightmare. And it is a no brainer that women need access to toilets much more than men.
Instead of going gaga over its policies, the current regime should concentrate on dealing with the ground realities first. There is still a lot of gap between the cup and the lip. Jargons like ‘Nari Shakti’ and ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ look very attractive on paper. But jargons alone don’t uplift lives. It needs concrete action on the ground.
The government may be having the right intentions. But the execution has to match the words. When we see the treatment that is meted out to protesting women on the ground, the way sexual harassment by those in power continues unabated, some of the basic infrastructure seems lacking, one wonders where is ‘Nari Shakti’? Most importantly, the Prime Minister has remained silent on almost every act of excess against women that has made headlines.
If the government is really serious about ‘Nari Shakti’, then it has to walk the talk and show its intent. It has to ensure that women are really empowered and protected.
