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The BJP government must go beyond lip service and work towards true empowerment of women

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The popular perception about the BJP’s idea of gender has been one of limiting women to culturally defined roles. But with an increased emphasis on initiatives like Triple Talaq ban, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjwala, the BJP has managed to address and cultivate a female vote bank.

With Triple Talaq, Ujjwala and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, has the BJP appropriated the gender agenda politically?

These issues with regard to women’s gender rights have exposed the short-sightedness of this government, in introducing reformative policies without understanding the implementation hurdles involved.

The immediate and consistent challenge that Indian women face, is that of equal opportunities and access. A Labour Bureau report revealed that just 22 percent of women over the age of 15 were working on a regular basis, compared to 74 percent men in the same age group. In urban areas, the working women’s share slips to a mere 14 percent. This shocking state of affairs puts India at rank 136 out of 145 countries for gender parity in work. The Economic Survey also highlighted the appalling levels of kidnapping and sexual assault incidents faced by women and girls in India.


Here are other sharp perspectives on the question BJP’s political appropriation on the agenda of gender  :

Madhu Kishwar: Indian academic and writer

Subhashini Ali: leader of the CPI (M).

Sunalini Kumar: political scientist, Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University

Zakia Soman: activist and founding member of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan


The Supreme Court banned instant triple talaq (or talaq-e-biddat), however, statistics tell us that less than one per cent of divorces within Muslims in India fall under this category.

In the case of the Ujjwala Yojana, 20 million LPG connections were issued in 2016-17. However, statistics from the ministry of petroleum show that while LPG connections have increased, PMUY beneficiaries do not seem to be using their LPG cylinders as there is no extra concession from the second refill stage. Even a subsidised cylinder costs around Rs 450. So, LPG becomes an unaffordable option for such homes.

The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme, according to CAG reports, has not been able to achieve its objectives either. Out of a total amount of Rs 43 crore that was set aside for the scheme in the fiscal year 2016-2017, only Rs 5 crore has been utilised, according to the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development.

Very clearly, the government needs to go beyond lip service and work towards true empowerment of women through better implementation of law, 33 percent reservation for women, improved gender ratio in work and education space.

Priyanka Chaturvedi is a national spokesperson for the Indian National Congress

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1 COMMENT

  1. One should recognise the good things done by a Government rather than seeing it through yellow glass and support it to do better furthermore.

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