My futuristic dreams were undefined. And before I even graduated, my status was updated from single to married.
The dreams gradually eclipsed, ambitions were dwarfed by family priorities. I even went to write the IAS main exam — eight months into my pregnancy —but did not make it to the interview.
I saw my other colleagues going overseas for further studies, climb up the academic ladder. I strived to be happy even without any self-identity. But beneath the blissful veneer, I could inhale something amiss—a pent up craving to move beyond the boundaries.
I soon decided to pursue my doctorate and started writing poems and short stories. One of them got published in a local paper. That was perhaps the kickstart of my professional graph in journalism.
More than a decade after marriage, I embarked on my career and despite a ‘late entry’ the transition was smooth.
This was my story, and many women in India may share a similar narrative.
Why Educate the Girls
Despite all the hoopla, education for girls, especially in the rural areas, continues to take a backseat. School education for many young girls in rural households is discontinued because they have to take care of the home. While the mothers go out to work, the young girls stay back home cleaning, cooking and looking after their brothers. Early marriage and the burden of household chores are the main reasons for the high dropout rate among girls.
Rural women are the key agents for bringing about the economic and social change that is required for sustainable development. The government and various stakeholders need to make collective efforts to empower these young girls in rural areas.
The administration at the lower grassroot level need to ascertain that no girl drops out of school because of family pressure. The government should consider imposing fine on the parents who do not send their daughters to school. A monetary incentive should be earmarked for those who prioritise education for their daughters.
I recall the day when my maid had come to work all bruised and battered. Her eyes were hardly opening and she said she was going to file a case against her husband. The next day she came, wearing a smile. She had changed her mind to file a case.
This, invariably is the story for many women, if not all.
Long Road Ahead
Birth of a boy is celebrated in most of the Indian households. Female foeticide is still rampant in many areas. Domestic violence continues and dowry deaths is still prevalent. Where and how are the women empowered?
Besides education it is imperative for the parents to make their daughters self-reliant before marriage. Most of the pockets in urban terrain have moved forward in this area. But in rural areas, where child marriage is still prevalent, girls continue to be subjected to financial dependence.
The right blend of education and self-reliance is the key to empowerment.
Women in urban areas may have stepped out of the boundaries and chosen careers that were traditionally considered to be male bastions. Some have even accomplished more than their male counterparts.
But the rural terrain continues to resonate with stories of female foeticide, domestic abuse and child marriage.
Till we weed out these malaises from the lowest rung, women empowerment will simply be confined to high decibel speeches and candle lit rallies.
Let us move beyond this to bring a true social empowerment.
—The author, Vanita Srivastava, is a science writer. The views are personal.
