27 October 2008 - The economy is in meltdown mode and our political parties are in election mode. So even as those who cannot take it anymore are opting out of life altogether, old wounds are being opened again to ignite communal passions, resulting in the loss of life and injury to many who want to live. It is a time when it would be easy to panic, about one’s personal future and about the future of the country.
Yet, even at times of apparent madness, you hear sane voices that remind you that all is not lost; that there are still institutions that understand the silent emergencies that people face in ostensibly normal times.
A recent ruling by the Bombay High Court can be viewed as one of these positive flickers of hope. Unfortunately, despite the relevance of the judges’ comments, the case has had little coverage in the media.
Encouraging observations
In a ruling on a case of sexual harassment against a private sector company, the two-judge bench has made observations that would encourage women who face such problems but are afraid to talk about them.
A woman employee of an Indian company filed the case. She says her superior male colleague subjected her to harassment. Initially, she did not complain, as she was afraid of losing her job. But, she alleges, that the officer posted her out to another project site “for not cooperating” with him. Four years later, when the project failed to take off, all the other women employees were given the option of moving out except her. The harassment also continued.
In 2004, the woman finally complained to the State Women’s Commission and also to the District Collector. She also filed an FIR with the local police station. The women’s commission sent a notice to the company asking it to inquire into the woman’s complaint. The company appointed an enquiry officer, an advocate, to look into the complaint. The latter exonerated the officer against whom the complaint had been made. Within a week of his report, the woman was dismissed from service.
Even then she did not give up and went to the Labour Court and complained about unfair dismissal. The Labour Court upheld her appeal and directed the company to reinstate her last year. The company failed to comply with the Labour Court’s ruling.
If a woman who suffers sexual harassment speaks out, she faces the additional problem of not being employable as other companies might see her as some kind of “trouble-maker”.
The Bombay High Court’s ruling is important for a number of reasons. For one, it reminds us that the law of the land requires that work places where women are employed must institute a committee headed by a woman and consisting of at least 50 per cent of women members and a civil society representative to look into such complaints. In this instance, the company did not do this and instead appointed a single person to inquire into the matter.
Secondly, the case reminds us of the important role that women’s commissions can play in such cases. Women are often afraid to go directly to court. The women’s commission is often the first step. If the woman had not gone to the women’s commission, perhaps her case would never have reached the court. A woman who suffers sexual harassment is in a very lonely place. She is afraid to speak out for fear of losing her job. And if she does, she faces the additional problem of not being employable as other companies might see her as some kind of “trouble-maker”. As a result, most women silently bear harassment and sometimes voluntarily opt out of jobs or positions where they are harassed. The silence ensures that more of this kind of harassment continues.
Constitutional basis
However, even one such case breaks through the shroud of silence. The remarks of the two judges, Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice D Y Chandrachud, remind us of the basis on which the law of sexual harassment was formulated. It recognises women as having the same rights to life and liberty as any Indian citizen. And that to discriminate against them just because of their gender is to actually deny them that right. I quote below a part of the ruling in this case:
“The right to gender equality is intrinsic to the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The right to life comprehends the right to live with dignity. An affront to or the invasion of gender is destructive of the right of every woman to live with dignity. Article 15 of the Constitution, which contains a prohibition inter alia against discrimination by the State on the ground of sex is an emanation of that right. The provisions of the Constitution recognise gender equality as a fundamental right. Gender equality in all its dimensions is a basic human right which is recognised by and embodied in the provisions of the Constitution. The broad sweep of the human right to gender equality traverses every facet of the position of a woman in society. The right comprehends the preservation of the dignity of women. At a basic level, gender equality postulates protection of women against all those practices which invade upon the dignity of being and the privacy of the person. A dignified existence includes the right to earn one’s livelihood in conditions that are fair and gender neutral. A condition which operates to disadvantage a woman worker on the ground of gender is fundamentally anachronistic to the vision of our constitutional order. Gender as a concept has wider dimensions than sex. Gender equality postulates the realisation of societal values that travel beyond a mere notion of sexual equality. Gender in that sense denotes the realisation of every facet of personality that contributes to the fullness of life to which a woman is entitled.”
“Gender equality traverses every facet of the position of a woman in a society”. That is the key sentence. This is what women must hold on to and believe in as they fight for their rights as citizens. ⊕
Kalpana Sharma has been Chief of the Mumbai Bureau and Deputy Editor with The Hindu. Her opinions, which appear in a regular column with The Hindu, are concurrently published in India Together with permission.
Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Two-third married Indian women victims of domestic violence: UN
United Nations,October 13 Around two-third of married women in India were victims of domestic violence and one incident of violence translates into women losing seven working days in the country, a United Nations report said. As many as 70 per cent of married women in India between the age of 15 and 49 are victims of beating, rape or coerced sex, the United Nation Population Fund report said. However, the rate of domestic violence is much higher in Egypt with 94 per cent and Zambia with 91 per cent. The report said violence against women was putting a huge strain on a nation's social and legal services and leads to heavy loss of productivity.
In India, one incident of violence translates into the women losing seven working days. In the united states total loss adds up to 12.6 billion dollars annually and Australia loses 6.3 billion dollars per year," it said.
Noting that women with tangible economic assets were less likely to be victims of domestic violence than those who lack them, the report cited Kerala as an example. "In Kerala, a survey found that 49 per cent women without property reported domestic violence compared with only seven per cent who owned property," it said.
The report also commended the family counselling centres set up by Madhya Pradesh police department and supported by UNFPA, which provide legal services in cases violence related to dowry, harassment by in-laws, child marriage and rape.
The report said one in five women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime, one in three would have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused usually by a family member or an acquaintance.
Despite efforts by governments and campaigns carried out by international organizations, violence against women continued on a wide scale in both developed and developing countries, the report said.
The report said women in several countries justify wife-beating for one reason or another. The reasons include neglecting children, going out without telling partner, arguing with partner, refusing to have sex, not preparing food properly or on time and talking with other men, it said.
Overall, the report said, several governments have started taking action and enacting laws to fight the menace but their effect is limited because of deep-rooted social mores in several societies.
Violence, it said, kills and disables as many women between the ages of 15 and 44 as cancer and its toll on women's health surpasses that of traffic accidents and malaria combined.
The consequences of gender-based violence are devastating, including life-long emotional distress, mental health issues and poor reproductive health.
"Abused women are also at a higher risk of acquiring HIV," the report said adding that it puts burden on the healthcare system as they become long-term users of health services.
Besides, the effect might extend to future generation as children who see violence, or were victims themselves, often suffer a lasting psychological damage, it added.
Reference : http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=56501
In India, one incident of violence translates into the women losing seven working days. In the united states total loss adds up to 12.6 billion dollars annually and Australia loses 6.3 billion dollars per year," it said.
Noting that women with tangible economic assets were less likely to be victims of domestic violence than those who lack them, the report cited Kerala as an example. "In Kerala, a survey found that 49 per cent women without property reported domestic violence compared with only seven per cent who owned property," it said.
The report also commended the family counselling centres set up by Madhya Pradesh police department and supported by UNFPA, which provide legal services in cases violence related to dowry, harassment by in-laws, child marriage and rape.
The report said one in five women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime, one in three would have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused usually by a family member or an acquaintance.
Despite efforts by governments and campaigns carried out by international organizations, violence against women continued on a wide scale in both developed and developing countries, the report said.
The report said women in several countries justify wife-beating for one reason or another. The reasons include neglecting children, going out without telling partner, arguing with partner, refusing to have sex, not preparing food properly or on time and talking with other men, it said.
Overall, the report said, several governments have started taking action and enacting laws to fight the menace but their effect is limited because of deep-rooted social mores in several societies.
Violence, it said, kills and disables as many women between the ages of 15 and 44 as cancer and its toll on women's health surpasses that of traffic accidents and malaria combined.
The consequences of gender-based violence are devastating, including life-long emotional distress, mental health issues and poor reproductive health.
"Abused women are also at a higher risk of acquiring HIV," the report said adding that it puts burden on the healthcare system as they become long-term users of health services.
Besides, the effect might extend to future generation as children who see violence, or were victims themselves, often suffer a lasting psychological damage, it added.
Reference : http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=56501
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Jawaharlal Nehru had said “You can tell the condition of the nation by looking at the status of women.”
And the following phrase of Manusmriti, “Na Stree Swathantryam Arhati” (woman is undeserving for independence), reflects our whole attitude towards women in our country. Woman suffers discrimination and injustice in all stages of her life.
Declining sex ratio portrays our discrimination shown towards her even at the stage of birth. Often the lame excuse is women are the ‘weaker sex’! But biological evidence proves, due to the presence of two X hormones women are more resistant to diseases compared to men. Life expectancy is a proof of this (In our country life expectancy of women is 65 whereas for men it’s only 60 years).
Census 2001 shows our national sex ratio as 921:1000 (921 females for 1000 males), and this will lead to detrimental social problems if not corrected. The main reason for this is female infanticide.
Gender wise abortions are on the rise. In economically developed states such as Haryana and Punjab the tendency is found to be more. Abortion though legal in our country, gender based abortion is a crime here. Strict measures should be taken for the implementation of Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation & Prevention of Misuse) Act 1994, which prohibits any prenatal diagnostic techniques and sex selective abortions.
A shocking study reveals that half of the world’s malnourished children live in India owing primarily to the lack of nutritious food available to the mother. In all the critical stages, be it infancy, childhood, adolescence or the reproductive phase many women suffer malnutrition purely due to the discrimination and the narrow mindsets of the society.
According to Mahatma Gandhi, “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate an entire family.” Our predominant patriarchal system doesn’t provide enough chances for women to have higher education even if they wish. Girls should be motivated to take up higher education. Universal education for all below 14 years should be strictly implemented. There is an urgent necessity of framing gender sensitive curricula at all stages of primary education to address sex-stereotyping menace.
Women should be allowed to work and should be provided enough safety and support to work. Legislatures such as Equal Remuneration Act, Factories Act: Constitutional safeguards such as maternity relief, and other provisions should be strictly followed. Poverty eradication policies need to be implemented. Macro economic policies would help in this drive. Through be it infancy, childhood, adolescence or the reproductive phase many women suffer malnutrition purely due to the discrimination and the narrow mindsets of the society.
According to Mahatma Gandhi, “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate an entire family.” Our predominant patriarchal system doesn’t provide enough chances for women to have higher education even if they wish. Girls should be motivated to take up higher education. Universal education for all below 14 years should be strictly implemented. There is an urgent necessity of framing gender sensitive curricula at all stages of primary education to address sex-stereotyping menace.
Women should be allowed to work and should be provided enough safety and support to work. Legislatures such as Equal Remuneration Act, Factories Act: Constitutional safeguards such as maternity relief, and other provisions should be strictly followed. Poverty eradication policies need to be implemented. Macro economic policies would help in this drive. Through economic empowerment women’s emancipation could be realized.
Dowry still remains the major reason for all the discrimination and injustice shown to women. Dowry has always been an important part of Hindu marriages. Not only among Hindus, its evil tentacles are now spreading to other religions also. Although dowry was legally prohibited in 1961(Dowry Prohibition Act), it continues to be highly institutionalized.
It is ridiculous to see that even among highly educated sections, the articles of dowry are proudly exhibited in the marriage as a status symbol. The practice of dowry abuse is rising in India. The most severe is “bride burning”, the burning of women whose dowries were not considered sufficient by their husband or in-laws. Most of these incidents are reported as accidental burns in the kitchen or are disguised as suicide. It is evident that there exist deep-rooted prejudices against women in India.
Cultural practices such as these tend to subordinate women in our society. Dowry is one of those social evils that no educated woman will own up with pride; still many are adhering to it,why? Women should be more economically empowered and should be educated properly regarding the various legal provisions such as Section 498ACrPC, protection from domestic violence etc. only then only this evil menace could possibly be eradicated from Indian social system.
True empowerment will only be reached when women take part actively in the decision making process of our country. Women Reservation Bill that entitles to provide 33 per cent reservation in Parliament is a bill of utmost importance. The success of 73rd & 74th amendment which reserves certain number of seats for women in the local bodies should be an encouragement for the Bill to be passed at least in this current session.
Mainstreaming and women’s empowerment is central to human development. Empowerment of women could only be achieved if their economic and social status is improved. This could be possible only by adopting definite social and economic policies with a view of total development of women and to make them realize that they have the potential to be strong human beings.
The various articles of our constitution enshrine principle of gender equality. We started giving special attention to the causes of women by the fifth five-year plan. For considering the grievances and preventing the atrocities against women a National Commission for Women (NCW) was set up in 1990.
But despite all these measures there should be a strong determination among every man that every woman in this country should be honoured. Only then empowerment in its true meaning will be realized.
Swami Vivekananda had said “That country and that nation which doesn’t respect women will never become great now and nor will ever in future” and in pursuit of making India a great nation, let us work towards giving women their much deserved status.
And the following phrase of Manusmriti, “Na Stree Swathantryam Arhati” (woman is undeserving for independence), reflects our whole attitude towards women in our country. Woman suffers discrimination and injustice in all stages of her life.
Declining sex ratio portrays our discrimination shown towards her even at the stage of birth. Often the lame excuse is women are the ‘weaker sex’! But biological evidence proves, due to the presence of two X hormones women are more resistant to diseases compared to men. Life expectancy is a proof of this (In our country life expectancy of women is 65 whereas for men it’s only 60 years).
Census 2001 shows our national sex ratio as 921:1000 (921 females for 1000 males), and this will lead to detrimental social problems if not corrected. The main reason for this is female infanticide.
Gender wise abortions are on the rise. In economically developed states such as Haryana and Punjab the tendency is found to be more. Abortion though legal in our country, gender based abortion is a crime here. Strict measures should be taken for the implementation of Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation & Prevention of Misuse) Act 1994, which prohibits any prenatal diagnostic techniques and sex selective abortions.
A shocking study reveals that half of the world’s malnourished children live in India owing primarily to the lack of nutritious food available to the mother. In all the critical stages, be it infancy, childhood, adolescence or the reproductive phase many women suffer malnutrition purely due to the discrimination and the narrow mindsets of the society.
According to Mahatma Gandhi, “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate an entire family.” Our predominant patriarchal system doesn’t provide enough chances for women to have higher education even if they wish. Girls should be motivated to take up higher education. Universal education for all below 14 years should be strictly implemented. There is an urgent necessity of framing gender sensitive curricula at all stages of primary education to address sex-stereotyping menace.
Women should be allowed to work and should be provided enough safety and support to work. Legislatures such as Equal Remuneration Act, Factories Act: Constitutional safeguards such as maternity relief, and other provisions should be strictly followed. Poverty eradication policies need to be implemented. Macro economic policies would help in this drive. Through be it infancy, childhood, adolescence or the reproductive phase many women suffer malnutrition purely due to the discrimination and the narrow mindsets of the society.
According to Mahatma Gandhi, “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate an entire family.” Our predominant patriarchal system doesn’t provide enough chances for women to have higher education even if they wish. Girls should be motivated to take up higher education. Universal education for all below 14 years should be strictly implemented. There is an urgent necessity of framing gender sensitive curricula at all stages of primary education to address sex-stereotyping menace.
Women should be allowed to work and should be provided enough safety and support to work. Legislatures such as Equal Remuneration Act, Factories Act: Constitutional safeguards such as maternity relief, and other provisions should be strictly followed. Poverty eradication policies need to be implemented. Macro economic policies would help in this drive. Through economic empowerment women’s emancipation could be realized.
Dowry still remains the major reason for all the discrimination and injustice shown to women. Dowry has always been an important part of Hindu marriages. Not only among Hindus, its evil tentacles are now spreading to other religions also. Although dowry was legally prohibited in 1961(Dowry Prohibition Act), it continues to be highly institutionalized.
It is ridiculous to see that even among highly educated sections, the articles of dowry are proudly exhibited in the marriage as a status symbol. The practice of dowry abuse is rising in India. The most severe is “bride burning”, the burning of women whose dowries were not considered sufficient by their husband or in-laws. Most of these incidents are reported as accidental burns in the kitchen or are disguised as suicide. It is evident that there exist deep-rooted prejudices against women in India.
Cultural practices such as these tend to subordinate women in our society. Dowry is one of those social evils that no educated woman will own up with pride; still many are adhering to it,why? Women should be more economically empowered and should be educated properly regarding the various legal provisions such as Section 498ACrPC, protection from domestic violence etc. only then only this evil menace could possibly be eradicated from Indian social system.
True empowerment will only be reached when women take part actively in the decision making process of our country. Women Reservation Bill that entitles to provide 33 per cent reservation in Parliament is a bill of utmost importance. The success of 73rd & 74th amendment which reserves certain number of seats for women in the local bodies should be an encouragement for the Bill to be passed at least in this current session.
Mainstreaming and women’s empowerment is central to human development. Empowerment of women could only be achieved if their economic and social status is improved. This could be possible only by adopting definite social and economic policies with a view of total development of women and to make them realize that they have the potential to be strong human beings.
The various articles of our constitution enshrine principle of gender equality. We started giving special attention to the causes of women by the fifth five-year plan. For considering the grievances and preventing the atrocities against women a National Commission for Women (NCW) was set up in 1990.
But despite all these measures there should be a strong determination among every man that every woman in this country should be honoured. Only then empowerment in its true meaning will be realized.
Swami Vivekananda had said “That country and that nation which doesn’t respect women will never become great now and nor will ever in future” and in pursuit of making India a great nation, let us work towards giving women their much deserved status.
महिला सशक्तीकरण - संघर्ष अभी बाकी है. दयानन्द कुमार
भारत में महिलाओं की स्थिति के विषय में कोई भी साधारणीकरण लगभग असंभव है. ऐसा विशेष रूप से इसलिये भी क्योंकि महिलाओं की स्थिति में सुधार के किये जानेवाले दावों के जवाब में कई ऐसी स्थितियां भी हैं जिससे महिला सशक्तीकरण के दावों की नींव कमजोर पड़ने लगती है और वे जगह-जगह से टूटकर अपने कमजोर होने की गवाही खुद देने लगते है, ऐसे में इस निष्कर्ष पर पहुंचना कि महिलाएं सशक्त हैं या कमजोर काफी कठिन है. पिछले महीने दो मीडिया संस्थानों इंडियन एक्सप्रेस और आईबीएन सेवेन के साथ सीएसडीएस द्वारा भारत में महिलाओं की स्थिति पर कराए गये सर्वेक्षण के नतीजे काफी रोचक हैं. हालांकि यह सर्वेक्षण 20 राज्यों और 160 स्थानों के 4000 महिलाओं पर किया गया था लेकिन इसके नतीजों से महिला सशक्तीकरण के दावों की जमीन के संबंध में काफी जानकारी मिल जाती है. सर्वेक्षण में जो रोचक बात उभरकर सामने आयी वह यह थी कि अधिसंख्य भारतीय महिलाएं घर के दायरे से बाहर निकलकर वैतनिक कार्य करने को इच्छुक थीं और जो किसी कारणवश ऐसा नहीं कर पा रही थीं वे ऐसा करना चाहती थी. उनमें से अधिसंख्य यह महसूस करती थीं कि यदि वे बाहर काम करती हैं अौर कुछ कमाकर लाती हैं तो इससे उनका सम्मान बढ़ता है. हालांकि उनमें से बहुसंख्य का यह भी मानना था कि उन्हें कार्यस्थल में पुरुषों के समान काम करने के बावजूद समान पारिश्रमिक नहीं दिया जाता है और न ही कार्यस्थल में उन्हें वह सम्मान दिया जाता है जिसकी वह हकदार हैं. उनमें से बहुतों का यह भी मानना था कि कार्यस्थल में उनका शोषण किया जाता है. जिन महिलाओं पर यह सर्वेक्षण किया गया उनमें से 67 फीसदी का यह मानना था कि जो काम वे घर पर संपन्न करती हैं उसके लिये उन्हें पारिश्रमिक का भुगतान किया जाना चाहिए. इसके अलावा कई महिलाओं ने यह भी कहा कि बावजूद इसके कि उन्हें पैसे की जरूरत नहीं है वे किये गये काम का दाम पाना चाहती है. लेकिन किये गये काम का दाम मांगनेवाली महिलाओं में से कितनी महिलाएं ऐसी हैं जो अपने कमाए गये पैसे का कैसे उपयोग किया जाये यह निर्णय ले सकती है? इस सवाल का जवाब यह है कि सर्वेक्षण में शामिल महिलाओं में से केवल आधी महिलाओं ने यह स्वीकार किया कि वे यह निर्णय ले पाने की स्थिति में हैं. हालांकि अधिकांश महिलाओं ने यह स्वीकारा की निर्णय ले पाने की प्रक्रिया में उनकी भागीदारी होती है लेकिन केवल एक तिहाई महिलाओं ने यह स्वीकारा की वे अकेले यह निर्णय ले सकती है. दुखद तो यह भी है कि अधिकांश महिलाओं ने सर्वेक्षण में कहा कि वे यह निर्णय भी ले पाने की स्थिति में नहीं हैं कि वे आगे पढ़ाई करें या कहीं काम करें. यहां तक कि बहुत अधिक शिक्षित महिलाओं ने भी यह स्वीकारा कि ऐसे मसलों पर स्वतंत्र निर्णय वे अकेले नहीं ले सकती हैं. सर्वेक्षण में शामिल पांच में से केवल एक महिला ने यह स्वीकारा कि वे विवाह किससे करें इसका निर्णय वे खुद ले सकने की स्थिति में हैं. केवल एक क्षेत्र जहां वे स्वतंत्र रूप से निर्णय ले सकती हैं वह है उनका किसे मत दे या न दें का मुद्दा, यानी मतदान करने के मामले में वे स्वतंत्र रूप से निर्णय ले सकती हैं. हालांकि आधी महिलाओं ने यह स्वीकारा कि वह स्वतंत्र रूप से यह निर्णय ले सकती हैं. लेकिन आधी महिलाओं के पास यह निर्णय कर सकने की क्षमता नहीं है. ऐसे में भारत में महिलाओं की स्थिति की एक मिलीजुली तस्वीर उभरती है. महिलाएं कमाना चाहती हैं, सम्मान चाहती हैं और स्वायत्तता भी चाहती हैं लेकिन अभी भी अधिकांश महिलाओं के लिये यह चाहत दूर की कौड़ी ही है. ऐसा महिलाओं की जिन्दगी को प्रभावित करनेवाले महत्वपूर्ण मसलों जैसे शिक्षा और विवाह में भी है. इसका सीधा मतलब यह है कि कुछ महिलाओं में झलक रहे स्वाभिमान से यह दावा नहीं किया जा सकता, नहीं किया जाना चाहिए कि भारत में महिलाओं की स्थिति सचमुच सुधर गयी हैं, वे सशक्त हो गयी हैं विषेशकर तब जब इस छोटे से सर्वेक्षण में शामिल अधिकांश महिलाओं को निर्णय लेने की स्वतंत्रता या स्वायत्तता हासिल नहीं है. हालांकि इस तरह के सर्वेक्षण्ा इसलिये रोचक और महत्वपूर्ण हैं क्योंकि इनसे इस मुद्दे पर बहस की गुंजाइश बनती है, नेशनल फैमिली हेल्थ सर्वे तीन के द्वारा जारी किये गये आंकड़े भी कम चौंकाऊ नहीं हैं. साथ ही यह भारत में महिलाओं की स्थिति की विस्तृत और बहुत हद तक विश्वसनीय जानकारी हासिल करने के लहजे से भी महत्वपूर्ण हैं. यह सर्वेक्षण भारत के 29 राज्यों में करीब 1.25 लाख महिलाओं पर किया गया था. हालांकि इस सर्वेक्षण से जो तथ्य उभरकर सामने आएं हैं वे विशेष रूप से महिलाओं का हिंसक घटनाओं का शिकार बनने के ख्याल से काफी दुखद हैं. स्वास्थ्य संबंधी आंकड़े जिसमें भारत में महिलाओं जिसमें गर्भवती महिलाएं भी शामिल हैं का एनीमिया का शिकार बनना भी काफी दुर्भाग्यजनक है. इन तथ्यों से एक और स्वर यह भी उभरता है कि महिलाओं की हालत में सुधार आने के बावजूद सब कुछ अभी भी बहुत अच्छा नहीं है. उदाहरण के लिये नेशनल फैमिली हेल्थ सर्वे तीन के दावे बताते हैं कि 57.8 फीसदी अथवा हरेक दो में से एक गर्भवती महिला एनीमिया की शिकार है. यह इसलिये क्योंकि उन्हें पर्याप्त पोषण उपलब्ध नहीं मिल पाता और उनके स्वास्थ्य संबंधी जरूरतोें को लेकर लापरवाही बरती जाती है. इस दिशा में सबसे खराब हालत हरियाणा की है. वहां की गर्भवती महिलाओं में से 70 फीसदी महिलाएं रक्ताल्पता या एनीमिया की शिकार हैं. 15 से 49 वर्ष की विवाहित महिलाओं के समूह में उनके एनीमिया का शिकार होने की स्थिति जहां वर्ष 1998-99 में 51.89 फीसदी थी वहीं वर्ष 2005-06 में यह बढ़कर 56.1 फीसदी हो गयी. यह उस देश के लिये सचमुच अस्वीकार्य आंकड़ा है जो अपने वैश्विक महाशक्ति होने के दावे की खम ठोंकता फिरता है. अब एक दूसरे मानक की बात करें. यह मानक महिलाओं के विरुध्द आपराधिक मामलों का है. नेशनल क्राइम रिकार्ड ब्यूरो के वर्ष 2006 के आंकड़ों की बात करें तो हम पाते हैं कि महिलाओं के साथ बलात्कार के मामलों में 5.4 फीसदी का इजाफा हुआ है वहीं दहेज हत्या के मामलों में भी 12.2 फीसदी की बढ़ोत्तरी हुई है. ये सारे आंकड़े दहेज से सबंधित अपराध के हैं. दहेज हत्या के मामलों से निकलकर आगे बढ़े तो दहेज निषेघ अधिनियम 1961 के अधीन दर्ज कराये गये मामलों में भी 40.6 फीसदी का इजाफा हुआ है. इसके अलावा धारा 498 ए के अधीन किसी महिला के पति द्वारा या फिर उसके संबंधी द्वारा दर्ुव्यवहार किये जाने के मामलों में भी इजाफा हुआ है. इन तथ्यों से यह भी पता चलता है कि महिलाओं के लिये सबसे सुरक्षित समझे जानेवाले घर के अंदर भी महिलाएं सुरक्षित नहीं हैं. नेशनल क्राइम रिकार्ड ब्यूरो की वेबसाइट कुछ अन्य मसलों को लेकर भी महत्वपूर्ण हैं. उदाहरण के लिये उन राज्यों जहां महिलाओं के साथ सबसे ज्यादा अपराध के मामले दर्ज किये गये उनमें आंध्र प्रदेश पहले स्थान पर है, इसके बाद उत्तर प्रदेश, महाराष्ट्र, मध्य प्रदेश और राजस्थान की बारी आती है. महिलाएं जिन शहरों में सबसे अधिक आपराधिक घटनाओं का शिकार बनती हैं उनमें दिल्ली का स्थान पहला है इसके बाद हैदराबाद, मुम्बई, बंगलौर और अहमदाबाद का स्थान आता है. हालांकि महिलाओं के सशक्त होने की जो छोटे-छोटे चित्र हम अपने बीच देखते हैं उनसे महिलाओं की स्थिति में सुधार होने का सुखद एहसास हमें होता है. लेकिन यह तस्वीर मुकम्मल नहीं है इसलिये हमें जो हम देख रहे हैं उस आधी-अधूरी तस्वीर पर भरोसा न करके महिलाओं की स्थिति की मुकम्मल तस्वीर को गहराई से देखने का प्रयास करना चाहिए. क्योंकि भारत में महिलाओं की स्थिति में सुधार लाने के लिये किया गया संघर्ष अभी भी बहुत बेहतर स्थिति में नहीं है जिसका सीधा मतलब यह भी है कि संघर्ष अभी बाकी है और यह केवल एक स्तर पर नहीं बल्कि कई मंचों से और बहुविध माध्यमों से लड़ा जाना चाहिए. यह लड़ाई यथार्थ के धरातल पर संगठित होकर लड़ी जा सके इसके लिये तथ्यात्मक आंकड़ों और सचाई का ज्ञान आवश्यक है.
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