International Seminar on
“Women Leaders and Development: Women
and Political Participation”
July 30-
Sponsored by:
National Commission for Women
Executive Summary
After
In the first five-year plans, the Indian government consistently emphasized education as a principal instrument for the advancement of each of these categories. Therefore, Indian women also got the chance for their development.
But for women, active participation in higher education had many hurdles of culture and tradition that limited their post-primary educational opportunities. Moreover, these hurdles changed into a huge gulf for rural women where the old tradition of protection of young women, subordination to their husbands and their place in society was mainly focused on the home and child rearing.
However, even after fifty-eight years of independence, the constitutional assurance, policy provisions and government programs are insufficient. Women will never be able to uplift themselves until cultural constraints of equality are wiped out and real opportunities are made available to them legally.
A woman will never be able to acquire the position of a leader in the society unless she is provided enough opportunities of higher education and if she doesn’t get the opportunities to earn and to pursue a career.
The role of government in the development of women cannot be denied. It has declared policies of educational equality and opportunity, within its limited resources. Therefore, in the context of the global concern, it is significant that the role of Indian government regarding this aspect is far ahead of many countries.
Above all, it will be not wrong to say that after getting so much of help from the government, women themselves should come forward of their own for their development. The fact cannot be denied that motherhood and home making will remain her first priority in her life.
It
is noteworthy that leadership and development are inter-related and without
development leadership won’t be possible in any aspect of life. A woman who
plays the role of a friend, guide, and philosopher to men is chained in the
male oriented society. In
However,
this situation can be altered by a little effort. The first steps towards advancement in this
remote and rural area of Jhunjhunu district can be made by students and faculty
members of Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s
Recommendations
1.
Establish a Women’s
Other similar
institutions in Jhunjhunu district and Rajasthan must also come forward to help
the young women’s in their development. There must be a launching of a Women’s
2. Literacy: -
Start a program in which a literate person must educate an illiterate person. This responsibility must be taken up by the students, faculty, and the public as well. Government programs for such extension and volunteer services should be based at the College for such mentorship through home visits and weekend and evening classes at the College. The College should provide its space and other facilities to house such programs funded by various ministries and government agencies.
3. Vocational Courses: -
Vocational courses for girls in schools and colleges will help the women to raise their economic status in their later life. This may be the first step for the development of leadership in them. Such cottage efforts may grow into successful businesses. Every effort should be made to initiate such courses.
4. Hobby Classes:-
Such courses will be beneficial for students in their choice of careers.
5. Speaking Classes:-
These will help students develop their vocabulary and speaking skills.
6. Personality Development:-
It is a major aspect of development of one’s personality. It will lead to development of leadership qualities among women.
7. Counseling:-
Counseling will help the students in the correct choice of their subject regarding career.
8. NGO’s:-
The role of NGO’s has become a prominent feature of today’s world especially in the upliftment of women. These self-help community based organizations should be created for professional and vocational programs.
9. Cooperative Industries:-
Initiate use of local skills and materials to create products that can be sold domestically and in export markets. This will help use local talents which will create an economic base for the women participants.
10. Financing of Small Enterprises and Employment
Generation:-
Local banks should provide financing for employment and income generating enterprises in rural areas such as Malsisar so that jobs and incomes are created where people live in their villages and towns. Colleges and schools should provide extension and counseling services in setting up such business units for and by the local people, especially women.
11 Recommended Laws to be enacted for
Women’s Protection
11a If women are insulted in the family in any way, the persons responsible for this cruelty must be punished. The reasons of such insulting behavior should seriously be looked into. It should be well discovered as to where lay the root of the misbehavior. The person or persons who are really responsible for causing such offence should be seriously dealt with. Such devices should be devised that offenders can not escape punishment. According to the severity of the offence, befitting punishment should be pronounced.
11b If a woman has been harmed by a person or a party, the harming party must be compelled to give appropriate financial compensation to the oppressed party. In most of the cases, the matter is lightly dealt with and the harming party escapes punishment. But well-planned provisions should be made to prevent it. Such cases should not be taken lightly. They should be taken with serious attitude. The party at fault in no case should be allowed to get off scot-free.
11c If a woman is victim of a rape, the most serious efforts are needed to be made that the culprit may not in any case escape proper punishment. This is a very severe offence done to the woman kind. According to the severity of the rape accident, the punishments should be well defined and made infallible. The most shocking and abominable case of rape is that where a girl of a tender age is kidnapped and after being raped murdered. In such cases the criminals should be sentenced to death. The punishment in such cases should be most severe and exemplary.
11d There should be created a trained force which can pay a special attention to the complaints and grievances on the part of the womanhood. The provisions should be made that this force may not be influenced adversely by the corrupt politicians whatsoever rank they are belonging to. The criminals who commit awfully heinous crimes and make the womankind their victim should in no case be allowed to escape the hands of the trained force. The force should be equipped with all kinds of ultra-modern instruments and techniques, so that the capture of the criminals may be ensured.
11e Special emphasis should be laid on the education of women. If a major part of the women population remains uneducated, the society as a whole will face obstacles in the way of progress. Well educated women can understand better their rights and duties. If the educated women struggle hard for a safer atmosphere for them in the society, the results are likely to be brighter. So widening the scope of women’s education should be taken as a need of the time. We have to take a great step forward in this direction.
Seminar Sessions and Participants
::
Founder and Chairman-
Dr. Surendra K. Kaushik
Founder of the institution, Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women P.G. College
President-
Dr. K.L. Kamal:
Former Vice Chancellor,
Speakers of the Seminar-
Dr. K. L. Sharma:
Vice Chancellor,
Dr.
Devaki Chandra:
Member,
Prof. Jaideep Singh:
Professor, Indian Institute of Public Administration
Shri Vinod Prajapati:
Sarapanch, Malsisar
Prof. P.L. Joshi:
Principal,
Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women’s
Mr.
Y.V. Chandan:
Former Administrative Secretary, Institute of Economic Growth,
::
Presiding:Dr. K.L. Kamal President of the seminar strongly emphasized that women themselves should fight for their rights.
Speakers:
Prof. Jaideep Singh in his paper “Leadership Development” was of the opinion that money is not everything in life and laid stress on self-development.
Dr. Devaki Chandra in her paper “Positive Impact of Women Leadership” emphasized women’s leadership in the family.
Mrs. Arachana Sharma, Member, Municipal Corporation, Jaipur, Rajasthan spoke of women leadership in politics and emphasized on the role of media for development of women.
Shri Vinod Prajapati said that a woman should support a woman for their development and betterment.
Presiding:
Dr. Surendra K. Kaushik invited
activie participation by lecturers and students.
Speakers:
Ms Jyoti Sharma:
Asst. Manager, Maharana of Mewar Foundation
Mrs. Arachana Sharma:
Member, Municipal Corporation, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Mr. Bhim Singh Dhankhar:
Retired Sargent from Education Corps, Village Kithana, Jhunjhunu
Mr.
Y.V. Chandan:
Former Administrative Secretary, Institute of Economic Growth,
Mrs.
Helena Kaushik Women’s
Miss Anju Ojha:
Lecturer in Geography
Miss Shweta Tak:
Lecturer in Sanskrit
Miss Yamini Sharma:
Lecturer in Music
Miss Sarika Mohta:
Lecturer in Psychology
Miss Poonam Bhadouria:
Lecturer in Mathematics
Miss Nisha Srivastava:
Lecturer in English
Dr. (Mrs.) Meenakshi Joshi:
Lecturer in Zoology
Miss Namisha Tambi:
Lecturer in Computer Science
The above named faculty members thanked Dr. S.K. Kaushik for establishing the college “Mrs. Helena Kaushik Women P.G. College” in a remote and economically backward area Malsisar with various faculties and excellent facilities.
Emphasis was laid on girl child education - if a girl is educated the whole family is educated and if a boy is educated only a single person is educated.
A woman has to understand the fact that she herself has to come forward for her own economic development and then only she can take her first steps towards leadership.
For becoming a leader, a woman has to develop an inner feeling of self- confidence, self-respect and will power for leadership and development that are inter-related to each other. Leadership is not possible without self-development.
Student participation:
Miss Venum
MissVishakha
Miss Sweta Somra
Students came forward with their views and they put emphasis on self-confidence for their personal development.
Principal of the college Prof. P.L. Joshi thanked everybody.
Dr. S.K. Kaushik thanked all the delegates, guests, staff and students for their active participation and cooperation.
::
Presiding: Founder of the Institution –
Dr. Surendra K. Kaushik
Speakers:
Chief Guest:
Dr. Girija Vyas:
Chair, National Commission of Women
Guests of Honor:
Mrs. Yasmeen Abrar:
Member, National Commission of Women
Mr. S.K.
Singhvi:
Chairman, Shekhawati Gramin Bank
Dr. Devki Chandra:
Member,
Principal:
Prof. P.L. Joshi
Dr. Girija Vyas in her address laid stress on 33 percent reservation of women in the parliament. She suggested that women should develop self-confidence, political awareness, and social awareness.
Mrs. Yasmeen Abrar emphasized on importance of women education which is the first step towards development.
Mr. S.K. Singhvi proposed “Apna Bank” facility for the economic development of women.
Brigadier (retired) Sada Ram was worried about the increase in women’s harassment.
Dr. S.K. Kaushik expressed gratefulness
to Dr. Girija Vyas for giving her
precious time to this remote area and by addressing the delegates who
participated in the seminar from
He was also most thankful to Mrs. Yasmeen Abrar for joining Dr. Girija Vyas in this very important visit to the College and her participation in the seminar. Mrs. Abrar had promised to give her strong support to the College in her remarks after suggesting that the College should be well publicized as an excellent example of creating real leadership among rural women on the basis of higher education.
Now, if women don’t come forward after having all the facilities from the public and government then it will be a matter of grave concern towards the country’s future. Women should take advantage of the facilities provided by the government in putting up facilities in collaboration with the public for their betterment.