social issues,indifference

1. GENDERSENSITIZATION
UNITIV&V
1. Needforgendersensitization
Awaytoreducebarrierstopersonalandeconomicdevelopmentcreatedbysexism.
Helpstogeneraterespectfortheindividualregardlessofsex.
Isonebasicrequirementforthenormaldevelopmentofanindividual
2.Mid-daymeal
The MiddayMeal Schemeisaschool meal programmeoftheGovernmentofIndiadesignedtoimprove
thenutritionalstatusofschool-agechildrennationwide.Theprogrammesuppliesfreelunchon
working days forchildreninprimaryandupperprimaryclassesingovernment,governmentaidedschools.
3.Femalefoeticide
Femalefoeticide istheprocessoffindingoutthesexofthefoetusandundergoingabortionifitisagirl.
Althoughitisillegal,manypeoplecontinuetopracticeit.Besidesthis,therearesomecommunitieswhich
practice female infanticide-thepracticeofkillingthegirlchildoncesheisborn.
4.Socialization.TheimpactofSocializationtowardsGenderequalitywithinIndia.
Theactofadaptingbehaviortothenormsofacultureorsocietyiscalledsocialization.
Socialization canalsomeangoingoutandmeetingpeopleorhangingoutwithfriends.
Theword socialization canmean"theprocessofmakingsocial.
InIndiagendersocializationoccursnotonlythroughtheacquisitionofgender-appropriatebehaviors,but
alsothroughobservingadultsinthehousehold,whoarerolemodelstochildren.Whenthehouseholdis
characterizedbyfamilyviolence,childrenencounteranotherformofgendersocialization.Thatis,
childrenwhowitnessfathersbeatingtheirmothersmaybecomeconditionedtoacceptviolenceintheir
relationships.ResearchinIndiahasalreadyestablishedthatviolenceistransmittedacrossgenerations,
showingthatmarriedmenwho,aschildren,witnessedtheirfatherbeatingtheirmotherweresignificantly
morelikelytocondoneandcommitactsofviolenceagainsttheirownwives
First,stressprocessrecognizesthatstressorsaregenerallyharmfulforthementalhealthofmaleand
femaleyouth.Thus,witnessingviolencebetweenparentsandexperiencingparentalbeatingsarewell-
establishedpredictorsofmentalhealthproblemsforbothmaleandfemaleyouthsimilarly;barriersthat
inhibiteffortstobecomemoreindependentmaycreatefrustrationanddespairforyouth,generating
mentalhealthproblemsregardlessofgender.Atthesametime,however,itmustberecognizedthat
exposure to these stressors is notrandom,with females more likely to encounterbarriers to
independencebecauseoftheirsex.
Second,itislikelythatgenderunequalpracticeswithinhouseholdsproducetheirintendedeffect.When
obstaclesonthepathtosuccessareremovedformaleswithoutregardtothecostforfemalechildren,
malechildrenshouldbenefitwhilefemalechildrenmustworkhardertokeepup.Thus,inhouseholds
wherethereisgreatergenderinequality,maleyouthshouldbeexpectedtoreportfewermentalhealth
problems.Forfemaleyouth,livinginahouseholdwithhigherlevelsofgenderinequalityshouldbe

2. associatedwithgreatermentalhealthproblems.
Finally,stressprocessrecognizesthatstressorsarisewhenmaleandfemaleyouthengageinbehavior
thatisinconsistentwiththeexpectationsfortheirgender.Forexample,whenmaleyouthengagein
domesticchoreswithinthehome,theyareperformingactivitiesthatarecodedasfeminine.Inasociety
thatclearlydemarcatesdifferencesbetweenthesexes,youthwhoseconductisinconsistentwithone’s
genderareatriskforsocialsanctionsThus;itislikelythatperformingsex-atypicaltaskswillbe
associatedwithgreatermentalhealthproblems.
5.ConceptofMISSINGWOMENinIndiaandtheroleofIndianGovernmenttowardsWomen
Empowerment
Theterm"missingwomen"indicatesashortfallinthenumberofwomenrelativetotheexpectednumber
ofwomeninaregionorcountry.Itismostoftenmeasuredthroughmale-to-female sexratios,andis
theorizedtobecausedby sex-selectiveabortions, femaleinfanticide,andinadequatehealthcareand
nutritionforfemalechildren.
Thereareprincipallytwowaystoexaminetheimpactofgenderbiasimmortality.Oneistocompare
actualageandsex-septicmortalityrateswith‘expected’’ratesthatwewouldobtain,givenequal
treatmentofbothsexes.Ifactualfemalemortalityratesexceedexpectedrates,onemayspeakof
‘‘excessfemalemortality.’’
Thesecondmethod,whichwasdevelopedistocomparetheactualpopulationsexratio(thenumberof
malesdividedbythenumberoffemalesinthemostrecentcensus)withan‘‘expected’’populationsex
ratiothatwewouldobtaingivenequaltreatmentofthesexesinthedistributionofsurvival-relatedgoods.
Iftheactualratioexceedstheexpected,theadditionalfemalesthatwouldhavetobealiveinorderto
equatetheactualwiththeexpectedsexratios,wouldthenbethenumberof‘‘missingwomen’’atthat
pointintime.
WomenempowermentinIndia
 TheprincipleofgenderequalityisenshrinedintheIndianConstitutioninitsPreamble,Fundamental
Rights,FundamentalDutiesandDirectivePrinciples.TheConstitutionnotonlygrantsequalitytowomen,
butalsoempowerstheStatetoadoptmeasuresofpositivediscriminationinfavorofwomen.
 Indiahasalsoratifiedvariousinternationalconventionsandhumanrightsinstrumentscommittingto
secureequalrightsofwomen.KeyamongthemistheratificationoftheConventiononEliminationofAll
FormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen(CEDAW)in1993.
 TheGovernmentofIndiaattemptedtogendersensitisetheBudgetinitiallythroughtheWomen’s
ComponentPlan(bystategovernmentsalso)andthenmoreintensivelywithGenderResponsive
BudgetinginstitutionalizedthroughtheGenderBudgetStatementpublishedeveryyearsince2005‐2006
withtheUnionBudget(insomestatesaswell).Thishighlightsthebudgetaryallocationsfor100percent
womenspecificprogrammes(PartA)andthoseprogrammesinwhichatleast30percentflowsto
women(PartB)intheannualexpenditurebudget.
 Thewomen’smovementandawide-spreadnetworkofnon-GovernmentOrganizationswhichhavestrong
grass-rootspresenceanddeepinsightintowomen’sconcernshavecontributedininspiringinitiativesfor

3. theempowermentofwomen.
6.CausesandControlmeasuresofDomesticViolence
DomesticViolenceagainstWomen
Themostcommoncausesforwomenstalkingandbatteringincludedissatisfactionwiththedowryand
exploitingwomenformoreofit,arguingwiththepartner,refusingtohavesexwithhim,neglecting
children,goingoutofhomewithouttellingthepartner,notcookingproperlyorontime,indulginginextra
maritalaffairs,notlookingafterin-lawsetc.Insomecasesinfertilityinfemalesalsoleadstotheirassault
bythefamilymembers.Thegreedfordowry,desireforamalechildandalcoholismofthespouseare
majorfactorsofdomesticviolenceagainstwomeninruralareas.Therehavebeengruesomereportsof
youngbridebeingburntaliveorsubjectedtocontinuousharassmentfornotbringinghometheamountof
demandeddowry.WomeninIndiaalsoadmittohittingorbeatingbecauseoftheirsuspicionaboutthe
husband’ssexualinvolvementwithotherwomen.TheTandoorMurderCaseofNainaSahniinNewDelhi
intheyear1995isonesuchdreadfulincidentofawomanbeingkilledandthenburntinaTandoorbyhis
husband.ThisincidencewasanoutcomeofsuspicionofextramaritalaffairsofNainaSahniwhichledto
maritaldiscordanddomes
Inurbanareastherearemanymorefactorswhichleadtodifferencesinthebeginningandlatertakethe
shapeofdomesticviolence.Theseinclude–moreincomeofaworkingwomanthanherpartner,her
absenceinthehousetilllatenight,abusingandneglectingin-laws,beingmoreforwardsociallyetc.
Workingwomenarequiteoftensubjectedtoassaultsandcoercionsexbyemployeesoftheorganization.
Attimes,itcouldbevoluntaryforabetterpayanddesignationintheoffice.ticviolenceagainsther.
TheGovernmentofIndiapassedaDomesticViolenceBill,2001,“Toprotecttherightsofwomenwhoare
victimsofviolenceofanykindoccurringwithinthefamilyandtoprovideformattersconnectedtherewith
orincidentalthereto
AnactcalledProtectionofWomenfromDomesticViolenceAct,2005[DVA,2005]alsohasbeenpassed”.
ThisActensuresthereportingofcasesofdomesticviolenceagainstwomentoa‘ProtectionOfficer’who
thenpreparesaDomesticIncidentReporttotheMagistrate“andforwardcopiesthereoftothepolice
officerinchargeofthepolicestationwithinthelocallimitsofjurisdiction.
Unfortunately,atpresentthereisnosinglelawintheIndianConstitutionwhichcanstrictlydeal
Withallthedifferentformsof‘DomesticViolence’asdiscussedinthisessay.Thereisanurgentneedfor
suchalawinthecountry.Infact,therehasalsobeenmisuseofsection498-AandDVA-2005becauseof
restricteddefinitionofcrueltysubjectedtomarriedwomen.
6.EveTeasing
Streets,BusStands,RailwayStations,Parksandotherpublicplacesshouldbeforeveryonetoaccessand
enjoy.Yetformanywomentheyarethescenesofharassment.Everydaywomenfacesystematicassault
ontheirfundamentalrighttofreemovementandpersonaldignity..
Theproblem

4. Asgirlwalksdownthestreet,agroupofmenmakescommentsaboutherfaceandfigure--"Hey,whata
figure!"Shewalksonwithoutcommentannoyedattheintrusion.Thenthecommentsgetnasty.
Girlisstandinginaqueueforabus.Suddenlyshefeelsahandgrabatherbreast.Shelooksaroundbut
isn'tsurewhodidit.Shefeelsviolatedandtoostunnedtosayanything.
Girlnoticesamanfollowingheronthewayhomefromwork.Hestaysquiteadistancebackbutisthere
dayafterday.Onedayhecomescloserandcallsout.Sheisafraidandchangesherrouteandtraveltime
toavoidhim.
Thisisamyth.Severalstudiesdonearoundtheworldshowthatwomenofallagesandwearingallkinds
ofclothesarevulnerabletoharassment.AstudydonebyNIPPCIDforDelhiPoliceshowedthat82%of
thewomenwhowerepartofthesurveywerewearingeveryday,non-provocativeclotheswhentheywere
harassed(salwarkameez,trouser–top,saree)
Ifyouareinabusthedriver&conductorcanbeapproachedforcomplaints.Asperlawtheyshouldassist
thevictimbyaccompanyingthemtothenearestpolicestation.
Carryingwithyousafetypinsandlearningselfdefensetechniquescanbehelpful.
Ifyouarebeingharassedregularlyitisbetterifyouinformthesametoyourparents/friends.
Itcanbetherapeuticandsupportive.Manywomenfacethisproblemandunderstandwhatyouare
experiencing
Whatmencandotostopharassment?
Don'tdoityourself.Learnabouttheproblemsothatyoubecomemoresensitivetowhatmightoffend
others.
Don'tcooperatewithgroupsofmenwhoharass.Acttofrustrateoropposeharassment.Don'tcooperate
withharassment.Refusetojoinin.
Atasuitableoccasion,raiseissuesaboutsexualharassment.Showyouroppositionstrongly
Ifyounoticeasituationwhereawomanseemstobebeingharassed,youmaybeabletohelpher
Ifsomeoneisbadgeringher,youcouldgooverandask"Issomeonebotheringyou?"Ifawomanina
crowdshoutsoutaboutbeingpawed,youmightbeabletovoiceasupportivecommenttothecrowd,
suchas"Whoeverdidthat,it'snotwelcome."
7.CasteDiscriminationinIndiaandcontrol
Thoughthecastesysteminitiallyperformeditspositivefunctionswell,incourseoftimeitbecame
degeneratedandinsteadofdoingsocialgooditcausedagreatharmtothesociety.Someoftheill

5. effectsofcastesysteminIndiaareasfollows
1.Ithinderednationalunity:
Thecastesystemmadethepeopleundulyconsciousoftheirowncastes.Manyatimecasteinterests
weregivenpriorityovernationalinterest.Thusthewholesystemstoodagainsttheveryconceptof
nationalunity.
2.Itstoodagainstdemocracy:
Thecastesystemrancontrarytothedemocraticspirit.Democracytellsabouthumanequality,butthe
castesystembelievedininequalitywhereintheBrahminswereatthetop,whereastheSudraswereatthe
lowestrungoftheladder.
3.Itresultedinsuppression:
Inthecastesystemthelowercastesweresuppressedandrepressedbythehighercastes.TheSudras
wereveryill-treatedandtheywerenotallowedtocometothepublicplaces.Eventheirshadowswere
consideredprofanebythehighercastepeople.Inter-diningandinter-mixingwiththelowercasteswas
notallowed.Thusthesystemwassolelybasedonexploitationofthelowercastes.
4.Ithamperednationaldevelopment:
Underthecastesystemonlyafewgotthescopetocontrolthenationallifeandtheotherswereengaged
inservingthehighercastes.
5.Itresultedinreligiousconversion:
ThedominanceofBrahminismbecameintolerableonthepartoftheSudras,whowerethemost
neglectedpeopleintheHindusociety.TheywereeasilyalluredbytheideologyandphilosophyofIslam
aswellasChristianity.Manyofthemembracedthenewfaiths.Inthiswaythecastesystemcontributed
totheexpansionofChristianityandIslaminIndia.
6.Itunderminedtheabilityandaspirationsofthepeople:
Sinceinthecastesystemone’sstatusandrolearefixedupfromthetimeofone’sbirth,one’sability,
personalendeavorordiligencebecamemeaninglessinordertobringaboutanytransformation.
8.Itcreatedafalsesenseofprestigeamonghighercastes:

6. Thehighercastesbelievedthattheyhadthemonopolyofwisdom.Theyfeltthatallothercastesshould
consultthemandworkforthem.Thiscreatedawidegulfbetweenthehigherandthelowercastes.
9.Itresultedintheintroductionofuntouchability:
Theworstaspectofthecastesystemwasuntouchability.Theuntouchablesufferedfromvarioussocial,
economic,politicalandreligiousdisabilities.Inthenameofreligion,theywerethoroughlyexploitedinthe
mostinhumanmanner.Thelowercasteswereplacedinthecategoryofuntouchables.Theirchildren
wereneverallowedtobeeducatedandtheywerecompelledtotakeuncleanoccupation.
11.Itgavealowerstatustowomen:
Inthecastesystem,thewomenwereutterlyneglected.Theyweredeniedtheprivilegeofhigher
education.Theycouldnotvoicetheiropinioninpublicaffairs.
CastesysteminIndiacanbecontrolledby
1.Makeinequalityapoliticalcampaignissue: despitebeingimportanttotheelectorate,inequalityis
absentfrommajorpoliticalcampaigns.
2.Introducelandreformsandraisetaxationforthewealthy: Weshouldworktowardsreducingasset
inequalitythroughredistributivelandreformsbutalsothroughinheritancetaxes,preventingmonopolyof
controloverwater,forestsandmineralresourcesandreducingfinancialconcentration.
3.Giveavoicetooppressedgroups: Wecantacklebiasagainstcasteandgenderfirstofallby
recognizingthevalueanddignityofallwork(includingunpaidwork)andallworkers(includingthosein
themostdifficultarduousanddegradedoccupations).
4.Improvethebalanceofmassmedia: Themediain India playsaroleinsustaininginequality. Thisis
becominganurgentproblem.Wemusttakemeasurestoreducecorporatetakeoverandmanipulationof
massmedia.
5.Eliminatecastediscrimination: Castediscriminationisstillallpervasive.Discriminationbasedoncaste
statusisarootcauseofthehighpovertylevelsthatcaste-affectedpeopleexperience.
6.Harnessthepoweroftechnology: Policymakersshouldfocusonmakingtechnologycheaperand
deepeningitspenetration.
7.Widenaccesstoqualitybasicservices: Atwo-tiersystemhasbeencreated,withlargelyprivatized
qualityeducationandhealthcareforthosewhocanpay,andalargepopulationlefttofendfor
themselveswithverypoorqualitypublicservices.

7. 8.Makewomenmorevisibleinpubliclifeandinstitutions: ItisshockingtoseethatinIndiawomenmake
uponly5%ofthetotalpoliceforce,justtwooutof24supremecourtjudgesandaswearegoingthrough
pollsrightnow,only11%ofthelastparliamentarewomen.
9.EnsurethatIndia'sgrowthisforthebenefitofthemany,notthefew: Indiaisaplaceofincreasingly
starkextremesinwealth. InthesameIndiawheremillionsusesmartphones,millionslivein
poverty. WithinIndia,therearemanydifferentcountries.
10.Makedevelopmentinclusiveofthosewithdisabilities: AsfarasIndiaisconcerned,wemightscore
veryhighlyintermsofgrowthofphysicalinfrastructure,butmostofthepublicplacesareinaccessibleto
peoplewithdisabilities.Asperthe2011census,Indiahasabout2.7millionpeoplewithdisabilities,and
onlyahandfulofthoseenjoyeducationand/oremployment.
11.Ensurethatallgroupsandcommunitiescanexpresstheirvoicewithoutfear
8.NirbhayaAct2013
TheCriminalLaw(Amendment)Act,2013(NirbhayaAct) isan Indianlegislation passedbythe Lok
Sabha on19March2013,andbytheRajyaSabhaon21March2013.
On16December2012afemale physiotherapy internwasbeatenand gangraped in Delhi.Shediedfrom
herinjuriesthirteendayslater,despitereceivingtreatmentinIndiaandSingapore.Theincidentgenerated
internationalcoverageandwascondemnedbytheUnitedNationsEntityforGenderEqualityandthe
EmpowermentofWomen,whocalledonthe GovernmentofIndia andtheGovernmentofDelhi "todo
everythingintheirpowertotakeupradicalreforms,ensurejusticeandreachoutwithrobustpublic
servicestomakewomen’slivesmoresafeandsecure"PublicproteststookplaceinDelhi,where
thousandsofprotestersclashedwithsecurityforces.Similarproteststookplaceinmajorcities
throughoutthecountry.
Sixdaysaftertheincident,on22December2012,thecentralgovernmentappointedajudicialcommittee
headedby J.S.Verma,aformerJudgeofSupremeCourt,tosuggestamendmentstocriminallawto
sternlydealwith sexualassault cases.Thecommittee,whichalsoincludedretiredjudge LeilaSeth and
leadingadvocate GopalSubramanian,wasgivenamonthtosubmititsreport.TheCommitteesubmitted
itsreportwithin29days,on23January2013,supposedlyafterconsideringthe80,000suggestionsand
petitionsreceivedbythemduringthatsameperiodfromthepublicingeneralandparticularlyfromjurists,
lawyers,NGOsandwomen’sgroups.
The CabinetMinisters on1February2013approvedforbringinganordinance.
Section Offence Punishment
326A Acidattack
Imprisonmentnotlessthantenyearsbutwhichmayextendto
imprisonmentforlifeandwithfinewhichshallbejustandreasonableto
meetthemedicalexpensesanditshallbepaidtothevictim

8. 326B
AttempttoAcid
attack
Imprisonmentnotlessthanfiveyearsbutwhichmayextendtosevenyears,
andshallalsobeliabletofine
354A
Sexual
harassment
Rigorousimprisonmentuptothreeyears,orwithfineorboth
Imprisonmentuptooneyear,orwithfine,orwithbothinothercases
9.TheHinduInheritanceAct,2005
TheHinduSuccession(Amendment)Act,2005,anamendmenttothe HinduSuccessionAct,1956,
receivedtheassentfromPresidentofIndiaon5September2005andwasgiveneffectfrom9
September2005. Itwasessentiallymeantforremovinggenderdiscriminatoryprovisionsregarding
propertyrightsintheHinduSuccessionAct,1956.ItwasarevolutionarystepinthefieldofIndian
legislationregardingrightsofwomeninIndia.
Keyamendments
Amendmentofsection4oftheprincipalAct
Insection4oftheHinduSuccessionAct,1956,sub-section(2)hasbeenomitted.
AmendmentofSection6oftheprincipalAct
Section6intheprincipalacthasbeensubstitutedbytheamendedprovision.Theamended
provisionundersec.6oftheprincipalactinessencedefinesasfollows:-
 Daughtershallhavethesamerightsinthecoparcenarypropertyasshewouldhavehadshe
beenason;
 Thedaughtershallbesubjecttothesameliabilityinthesaidcoparcenarypropertyasthatofa
son;
 Thedaughtershallbeallottedthesameshareasisallottedtoason;
 Theshareoftheper-deceasedsonoraper-deceaseddaughtershallbeallottedtothesurviving
childofsuchper-deceasedsonorofsuchper-deceaseddaughter;
 Theshareoftheper-deceasedchildofaper-deceasedsonorofaper-deceaseddaughtershall
beallottedtothechildofsuchper-deceasedchildoftheper-deceasedsonoraper-deceased
daughter.
Furthermore,afterthecommencementoftheHinduSuccession(Amendment)Act,2005,thepious
obligationofason,grandsonorgreat-grandsonfortherecoveryofanydebtduefromhisfather,
grandfatherorgreat-grandfatherundertheHindulaw,cametoanend
Exception
Theamendment,underclause5ofsection6providesanexceptionasfollows:
5)Nothingcontainedinthissectionshallapplytoapartition,whichhasbeeneffectedbeforethe

9. 20thdayofDecember,2004.
Explanation.-Forthepurposesofthissection"partition"meansanypartitionmadebyexecutionofa
deedofpartitiondulyregisteredunderthe RegistrationAct,1908 orpartitioneffectedbyadecreeof
acourt
Keyfeatures&effect
Theamendmenthastremendouslybalancedthepropertyrightsofmaleandfemalesiblings.In2008,
theSupremeCourtruledthatthelawhasretrospectiveeffect,andforthedaughtertobecomeaco-
sharerwithhermalesiblings,thefatherwouldhavehadtobealiveon9September2005.The
SupremeCourtalsoruledthattheamendmentwasapplicabletoallpartitionsuitsfiledbefore2005
andpendingwhentheamendmentwasframed.[3]
 ThisamendmentisinconsonancewiththerightofequalityasenshrinedunderArticle14,15,&
21oftheconstitutionofIndia.