Page 33 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

women’s day

Education: The Primary Means their home assignments. less than celebrity stars who are macy (28%) and secretarial prac-
tice (19%) shows the preferences of
This is incredible. An unedu -
roped in at hefty fees to publicise
Indian society.
girls’ education?
cated young woman understands
of Empowering Women the value of girls’ education. With Beti Bachao’ programme would do household chores simultaneous-
Indian women are expected to
The government’s ‘Beti Padhao
her limited means, she is investing
in the education and learning of
have got more wings if such women ly with their professional respon-
her daughters without giving a were associated with the promo- sibilities ignoring their physical
second thought to saving for her tion of the scheme who can con- and mental health. This also curtails
There are many prejudices in our country against women whose lives are dedicated to old age. Not only education, but as- nect with the masses with their true their desire to pursue challenging
raising families rather than looking after themselves. Focusing on the education of girls as pirations of her daughters are also achievements in protecting and professions for which they have
educating daughters.
an equal, or sometime better
important to her and she chose to
a policy measure can solve many problems facing us, komal amit gera writes put them in schools with focus on By educating girls, we reduce intellect and smartness than men.
poverty, improve maternal and Whether organised or unorgan-
child health, prevent HIV-AIDS, ised sector, women in India burn
he annual athletic meet learnt that her daughter happened and raise the standard of living of their candle at both the ends to give
at my son’s school is a to be my son’s classmate. I was cu- everyone. Despite an overwhelm- out light. Very few organisations
congregation of the elite, rious to know what concessions ing evidence of gains of educating a follow the norms laid down to
carrying an air of sophis- are actually offered to the students girl child, millions of school-age provide child-care facilities for
T tication, flaunting their classified under EWS (Economi- girls in the country are out of class. employees. As the productive and
trendy outfits and greeting each cally Weaker Section) category. As per the 2011 census, the female reproductive years of women
other with a pleasant demeanour. The humble lady told me that they literacy rate is 65.46 per cent and coincide, many women have to
For a person like me who spends get full fee concession on tuition fee male literacy rate is 82.14 per cent. take career breaks to take care
more time in polishing the mind but no relaxation on other expens- As per government data, the literacy of babies. Many end up leaving
and cares less for the exterior, there es. Though the tuition fee is totally rate of women in year 1951 was 8.9 lucrative jobs in the absence of a
is little inclination to hobnob with exempted, she pays through her per cent that reached 57 per cent support system.
fellow spectators. But this year, nose the fat expenses of books, in 2004. It is a significant milestone Those engaged in the unorgan-
the annual event was unusual, uniform, sports day dress, bus fee reached post-independence. But ised sector can’t afford to take a
extraordinary and inspiring. Not and sundry expenses. India is ranked 109 amongst 128 break due to their economic com-
because of the sports and cultural Saying so, she was beaming countries in its education index pulsions. Constantly facing dispar-
extravaganza, but a chance meet- proudly to see her girl in the midst for women; this indicates that a lot ity of wages across sectors, women
ing with a women of substance. of the ‘creamy layer’ of society. “My more needs to be done. have to face many hardships at the
The untold story of this spirited daughter wishes to emulate her The statistics on gross enrolment workplace to prove themselves.
woman having only basic educa- peers and demands fancy accesso- rate of women show that more While government now provides
tion and scarce means but above ries like school bag, lunch-box and sincere efforts need to be made many benefits along with maternity
all a strong determination, stirred water bottle, and lunch in the school to bring girls into classrooms. The and childcare leave of two years
my mind with a million thoughts cafe. Sometimes I am able to meet number of girls per hundred boys that can be availed over a period till
of hope for a better future of girls in upto class eight is 80 per cent. This the child attains the age of 18 years,
our country. declines to 70 per cent in second- these have not been incorporated
I occupied a corner seat in the Rather than ary level. There is drastic fall in by the private sector.
last row in the stands of the school celebrities, gross enrolment ratio for women in “No country can ever truly flour-
stadium with the seat next to mine secondary education that is esti- ish if it stifles the potential of its
being vacant. A young woman shouldn’t women her demands, sometimes I have to holistic development of children. mated at 35.8 per cent and is alarm- women and deprives itself of the
dressed up in a glittering saree who fight all pacify her,” the lady told me. I was deeply touched to know ingly low at 9.4 per cent in higher contribution of half of its citizens,”
turned up and after slight hesitation She said she has three daugh- her thoughts. Authors generally education as per a government Michelle Obama has said. The time
settled next to me. As she smiled odds to educate ters and all of them are studying use a quote: ‘If you educate a man, report of 2008. has come to introspect about the
coyly at me, I was charmed by her in top-rung schools of the city. you educate an individual but if In case of preferred profession- fruits of women empowerment.
modesty. At the same time, I was their daughters The two elder daughters are in a you educate a woman, you educate al-level medical and engineering Educated and financially empow-
intrigued by the thought of cul - beyond their missionary school. The youngest a nation’, and this woman to my courses, women constituted only ered women can bring desired
tural dissimilarities, financial and wanted to study in this school and “I mind has put the words into prac- 25.1 per cent and 7 per cent of total change in the outlook of the entire
educational divide she must be fac- means be brand am trying my best to give my daugh- tice by educating our daughters. enrolled candidates, says a UN - nation towards prevailing social
ing to pull on in a school based on ambassadors ters as much as I can”, she said. Will she or a woman like her not NESCO report of 1991. The concen- prejudices and cultural bigotry.
the model of global learning meth- The family, with a poor economic be more appropriate to promote tration of women in stereotype Education of the women is the only
ods. Many questions cropped up in of women base, also provides for the tuitions the schemes rolled out for girls’ non-engineering, non-technical way to elevate the women.
my mind. I could not resist. I initi- empowerment? of their daughters as they are not education and women empower- programmes such as nursing
ated a conversation with her and educated enough to help them with ment? Are these real-life heroes (97%), primary teaching (91%), phar- letters@tehelka.com

tehelka / 15 march 2018 32 www.tehelka.com tehelka / 15 march 2018 33 www.tehelka.com

32-33 Komal Gera.indd 2-3 27/02/18 5:24 PM