The recently concluded Republic Day parade in January was witness to Nari Shakti (woman power). The theme itself signified the recognition of women’s contribution in every phase of the Republic. The theme sent the message loud and clear that a Republic is to be so only when its better half — the women — are recognised and included in every sphere of life. Indian history and the struggle for independence has always been a chapter coloured with women’s contributions. No revolution, no development or for that matter, no civilisation, is complete without the inclusion of women.
This year, the International Women’s Day theme is ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Growth’ and the campaign theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, to inspire people of the world to value the inclusion of women.
Contemporary Indian time has shown a great leap towards this perspective of inclusiveness towards the female gender. From checking social wrongs like Triple Talaq to implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill to promoting women leaders to important cabinet portfolios like defence and finance, Bharat seems to have already sung the prelude to the 2024 International Women’s Day theme of inclusiveness.
The new Bharat has already embarked on the campaign and embraced inclusiveness. Women are taking up challenges of life and work by travelling the untraveled road. The mute spectator and flag bearer is now getting recognised as the goalpost chief.
This year, on March 8, let us all join hands for International Women’s Day. This day gives a platform to raise awareness about women’s rights across sectors including social, economic, cultural and political. As per the United Nations, there are five key areas needing joint action-
- Investing in women is a human rights issue. It is 2024, the time is already running out. Gender equality is the greatest human rights challenge benefitting everyone. Hence the theme of inclusiveness is key to not just women’s growth but also to the human growth index.
However, there are a few vantage points or areas which need quick remedy as per the UN analysis.
- Poverty is not just an issue that challenges humanity but its implication on women is worst. Hence ending poverty should be the first step towards inclusiveness. Due to the Covid pandemic and conflicts, 75 million more people have fallen into severe poverty since 2020. Immediate action is crucial to prevent over 342 million women and girls living in poverty by 2030.
- Another important tool is implementing gender-responsive financing. As per statistics, conflicts and rising prices may lead 75 per cent of countries to cut public spending by 2025, negatively impacting women and their essential services. If this is not checked, women would not be able to get included in financial remedies for post-conflict and economic deprivation.
- With global warming and climate change, the threat of deprivation and discrimination along with several socio-political and economic issues that women are going to face, it’s important to have gender-responsive climate change policies. We need to advocate and propose a shift to a green economy and care society to amplify women’s voices.
- It’s a general belief that if we talk about struggle or write about women, it’s just a feminist agenda. The need of the hour is to take up these feminist agendas as women’s growth tools and work towards them. Despite leading efforts, feminist organisations receive only 0.13 per cent of official development. Supporting feminist change-makers and making their work see reality should be another tool towards inclusiveness.
All these basic points must be taken as catalysts to move towards women’s inclusiveness and accelerate growth.
The basic microcosm of the world is family. If we start by including women in family decisions, it will make them feel they are not just decorative elements of feminine show but an integral part of accelerated growth that the family, the society, the nation and the world are looking up to. The key is for every woman not to give up and transform her challenges into opportunities. The nation needs to awaken to recognition and commitment towards women-inclusive policies. The two extreme barometers of any society are the health and the education sectors. A simple program that aims at women’s inclusiveness in a healthy Bharat and women’s empowerment through education can be a milestone in achieving the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day.
And last but not the least, women’s empowerment doesn’t mean less power to men. Both should move ahead together as both cannot grow alone. As poet Munawwar Rana says,
Bas Tu Meri Awaz Se Awaz Mila De
Phir Dekh Ke Iss Shahar Mein Kya Ho Nahin Sakta
(You just match my voice with your voice,
Then see what cannot happen in this city)
Dr Syed Mubin Zehra is a Historian, Academician and a strong voice on gender and human rights. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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