Women are the very precious jewel of our blue planet. Important for the survival of human being on this planet. They contribute to this planet in several ways and most important one by helping in continuing the procreation and child-rearing. From the ancient time, they worked with their male counterpart to construct, build and develop a society which survives on the principles of love and compassion and spread happiness towards every creature of this planet.
One pressing and dire fact which has not been highlighted from a long time is their exploitation, unfair treatment, manipulation, enslavement and oppression keeps rising and rising and reached it's the zenith. Time to time various pro-women leaders and feminists contributed their best to get rid out of them from inhuman, immoral and illicit practices prevalent from ancient times and which became hurdles in their way to achieve the excellence to which they deserve and entitled to them by nature.
We can recall various leaders from the past who worked for the emancipation of women like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar, Pandita Ramabai and Savitri Bai Phule and many others. Their effort and struggle helped women of affluent classes to move out of miserable, sorrowful and mournful life but the situation never changed for women who belonged to very backward rural areas, they are still facing problems which keeps them hampering their lives such as living in purdah, facing atrocities of society and family in the name of traditions and religious practices, sacrificing their lives for the sake of their family never getting as much importance as their male counterpart. Leave freedom of speech and expression aside, they even not got the opportunity to express their emotions and feelings, not getting permission to work outside or learn, this trend was mostly seen in upper-caste societies women. In this scenario, the women from lower caste are having some concession.
This is what the background of this article, the most pressing issues which we will discuss in this article is how we can address the problems of women residing in rural areas? What type of job they can pursue? Or What are the opportunities which can help them to develop and create resources for themselves?
Firstly, we have to recognise the farming activity which performed by every rural woman in their daily chores as a work equal to working in anywhere where we get paid for such work. Non-recognition sometime betrays them from getting required payment which they deserve. Second, the government have to be very conscious and consistent towards rural women by keeping themselves engaging with women with activities which do not require very special skill and trained them in activities like training them about how to tailor clothes, stitching satin clothes bags for packaging purposes and helped them to earn and grow their traditional skill of making pickles and recipes which only rural women know the procedures and way of making. By providing them with reasonable prices as well as market. These efforts will really help to realise women of self employable and independent.
With the help of various stakeholders like NGOs, Multinational and small corporations, self-help groups and the government itself could make difference as well as by the continuous support from civil society, we can develop immense opportunities to the rural women population. Now we will discuss the possible roles of the above stakeholders which could develop some latitude for rural women.
Government is making her relentless effort to improve the situation of women. We can realise it by some of the initiatives of the government are ......
Mahila-E-Haat
Under the purview of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the government launched Mahila-E-Haat in 2016. It is a bilingual online marketing platform that leverages technology to help aspiring women entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and NGOs to showcase their products and services.Among the many services provided by Mahila-E-Haat is facilitating direct contact between the vendors and buyers, sensitisation, advocacy, training, packing and soft intervention workshops, and offering a web-based approach.
Open to all Indian women above the age of 18, this platform offers an easy sign-in process and convenient payment modes. Everything can be handled on mobile with no other intervention required. The portal claims to have attracted 17 lakh visitors since its launch and features over 2,000 products and services across 18 categories from 24 states.
Mahila Shakti Kendra
The government launched the Mahila Shakti Kendra in 2017 to empower rural women with opportunities for skill development, employment, digital literacy, health and nutrition. The Mahila Shakti Kendras will work through community engagement through student volunteers in the 115 most backward districts. Each Mahila Shakti Kendra will provide an interface for rural women to approach the government to avail of their entitlements through training and capacity building. It works at the National, State, District, and Block levels.
Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women
The STEP scheme was set up to provide skills to women so that they can take up gainful employment. It also provides the right competencies and training for women to become entrepreneurs. Open to every woman above the age of 16, it is run through a grant given to an institution/organisation including NGOs directly.
According to the Ministry website, the assistance under STEP Scheme will be available in any sector for imparting skills related to employability and entrepreneurship, including but not limited to the agriculture, horticulture, food processing, handlooms, tailoring, stitching, embroidery, zari, handicrafts, computers & IT-enabled services along with soft skills and skills for the workplace, such as spoken English, gems and jewellery, travel and tourism, and hospitality.
Non-governmental organizations could help rural women by sensitizing about their rights and duties and help them to spread awareness about the programmes and initiatives of the government for their welfare and empowerment.
In conclusion, I want to underline the importance of empowerment. Effective policies needed and more important their implementation on grass root level that is every bit has to be done by the government, civil societies and non-governmental organizations to make them realise that they also belong to this planet and have the same importance, stature and weight as their male counterpart posses.
Aspire To Run "Save Girl For Nation" Foundation
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