As the world moves towards a more modern approach regarding women empowerment and emancipation, here is a heart to heart monologue for all the women of this country. Don’t just read it as a speech, go to the roots of it and realise these struggles!
I am born…India has the highest rate of excess female deaths, 13.5 per 1,000 female births, which suggests that an estimated one in nine deaths of females below the age of 5 may be attributed to postnatal sex selection.
I am educated…There is a wide gender disparity in the literacy rate in India and effective literacy rates (age 7 and above) was 84.7% for men and 70.3% for women in 2018
I am a working woman …less than one-quarter (20.3%) of women aged 15 and older participate in the labor force as of 2020 (compared to 76.0% of men). Women account for only 19.9% of the total labor force in India.
I am married…Child marriage was reported by 44.5% of Indian women ages 20-24 years; 22.6% reported marriage prior to age 16 years, and 2.6% were married prior to age 13 years. In 2020, reported dowry death cases in India amounted to nearly seven thousand.
I am healthy…India currently has one of the highest rates of malnourished women among developing countries. Nearly 70 percent of non-pregnant women and 75 percent of pregnant women in India are anaemic in terms of iron-deficiency.
I am safe… The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) shows that there has been a surge of 31 percent of reported rape cases in the country in the last 10 years. In India, 30 percent of women have experienced domestic violence at least once from when they were aged 15, and around 4 percent of ever-pregnant women have experienced spousal violence during a pregnancy.
Over 100 years of celebrating the International Women’s Day, by the year 2020, we were looking at the hard realities of women in our country. aidbees with its 50+ partners is tirelessly working towards the upliftment of women. Our partners are working relentlessly to bridge the gap of a just and equal world.
Now what needs to be done to bridge this ever evolving gap, who do we blame it on? – It’s always us, the structure, patriarchy and the roots of a male dominated society. It has created gendered gaps and crevices in the society which can’t be filled easily. However, an effort and a pledge towards the same could help a lot to begin with! That is exactly what aidbees, the world’s first social kindness platform is up to!
At aidbees, we strive towards a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where women feel safe , valued and celebrated.
We strive for a world that is kind and just for all.
This Women’s Day, instead of throwing motivational jargons at the readers here, I would like to urge you to stand up, introspect, begin from oneself and realise how much change is required in our perspectives, to change the situation of women across the country!
Let’s hope and pledge for better statistics gradually, an evolved society and a promise of taking care of women health and their empowerment, responsibly!
Here’s wishing a Happy Women’s Day to everyone!
