Women Banks vs Women Security: What we need, who is going to decide?

By Anil Jaggi

The union budget presented by union finance minster Mr. P.Chithambram was bit different this time, as expected by all country-men that being the last budget of present UPA government, more soaps will be there to attract voters for coming General elections in 2014, but to our surprise finance minster took different routes and made different announcements by opening a dedicated bank for women of the country, establishing another Rs.1000 crore fund for Nirbhaya, good one.

I don’t understand why different bank is needed for women in the country, when they do not have any problem in the same bank. He should have offered extra funds, incentives and of course, securities to the women, where they can live without any fear in the society and can be included in social and financial transformation of the country.

As the past year i.e 2012 was worst for giving bad name to the security to women in India, as Geetika Sharma became victim of political glamour of Gopal Kanda and had to commit suicide, and another sad story was of Nirbhaya, a gang rape victim who left big question mark of women safety in the national capital, such incidence are of national shame. On one side we have very promising national women leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Mamta Benerjee, Jayalalitha, Mayawati, Sushma Swaraj, Shiela Dixit and many more, who have power to do anything but why common women is so helpless and insecure?

Every year on 8^th March, we celebrate International Women’s Day, originally called International Working Women’s Day. In different part of the world the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women’s economic, political, cultural and social achievements.

Started as a socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet Union. In some regions, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. In other regions, however, the political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.

Not going in details, its true sense of celebration is, when all women get the liberty to enjoy their basic human rights without any fear or phobia, difficult to say that how much special bank, special train or bus would make the difference. But it is high time to take a pledge that we as individuals will respect women in all forms. “A promise is a promise and its time for action to end violence against women”.

A woman is the epitome of tenderness, care and wisdom. On this special day dedicated to women, let us take this opportunity to wish our women fold and friends a great happiness and prepare for them a secured world to live in.

Anil Jaggi is a CSR consultant and can be reached at anil@indiacsrnetwork.com.