Notes-Class 9-History-Chapter-6-Empowerment of Women and other Weaker Sections-Maharashtra Board

Number of women per one thousand men

Changes in the status of women in the post-independence period.

• In the post-independence period, the Constitution of India has accepted the principle of equality between the men and women.
• It granted the fundamental right of equality of status and opportunity to women.
• Women got equal political rights, equal right to education and employment.
• A provision has made for equal pay for equal work to men and women.
• Inhuman practices like Sati, dowry and polygamy were banned.
• Women's right to divorce, alimony and share in family property were recognized.
• Seats were reserved for women in local self-government, along with share of power.
• As a result, women have been getting themselves educated and becoming financially independent by earning.
• They have acquired idea of liberation. Women developed their own identity and are actively participating in all walks of life.
• Efforts were made to balance men-women ratio.

Chipko Movement :

• Chipko Movement of 1973 in the forest region at the foothills of the Himalayas was another show of constructive woman power.
• This movement was led by Chandiprasad Bhat and Sunderlal Bahuguna.
• Gaura Devi created awareness among the women with the help of Sudesha Devi and Bachani Devi.
• Women followed the strategy of holding hands and encircling each tree.
• As their method consisted of protecting the tree by embracing it, the movement came to be known as the Chipko movement.

Anti-liquor Movement :

• A movement against consumption (drinking) of arrack, a locally produced alcohol, was started by women in Andhra Pradesh.
• It received good response as women were aware of the sorrow and poverty caused by the untimely death of the head of household due to addiction.
• The Sitama Katha was narrated as a part of awareness programme. It created awareness among the women against alcohol.
• In 1992, the incident of drowning of three young persons in a state of inebriation in Dubuganta village in Nellore district, caused an uproar across the state.
• The report of this news in the local newspaper had its effect on many villages.
• The women of the village came together and forced the closure of the arrack shops.
• The Andhra Pradesh government had to adopt a strict policy against the sale of alcohol.

International Women's Year :

• United Nations had declared 1975 as the International Women's Year.
• The three aspects of this programme were peace, development and equality between men and women.
• A Committee on Status of Women was constituted by Government of India in 1975 under the chairmanship of Dr. Phulrenu Guha.
• The committee studied the various problems related to women comprehensively.

Women-empowerment struggle :

• Stree-Mukti Sangharsha Samiti organized a state-level conference in 1975.
• In its manifesto, in 1978, the Samiti declared the policy of struggle against discrimination on the basis of gender, caste and varna.
• The movement gathered momentum with a collection of songs called Streemuktichi Lalkari, a street play called Mulgi Jhaali Ho by Jyoti Mhapsekar and a periodical called Prerak Lalkari.
• Women groups were formed in 1977. Streemukti Andolan Samiti was established by Saudamini Rao in Pune. It started Bayaja a fortnightly, as also Stree Uvach and Maitrin.
• Stree Anyaya virodhi Manch in Aurangabad, Mahila Dakshata Samiti in Kolhapur, Mahila Hakka in Nashik and Nari Prabodhan Manch in Latur were formed.
• Anti-dowry protection committees were formed all over Maharashtra.
• A conference to protest against oppression of women was organized in Dhule.
• Nari Samata Manch, and Milun Saryajani were the periodicals of Vidya Bal that published articles on women's issues.
• The work of the Samajwadi Mahila Sabha and Krantikari Mahila Sanghatana were of great help in dealing with women's issues.
• Pramila Dandavate established the Mahila Dakshata Samiti in Delhi in 1976.
• Branches of the Samiti came up in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
• In 1980, the Communist Party established the Akhil Bharatiya Janavadi Mahila Sanghatana.
• It started struggle against dowry, female foeticide, domestic abuse, etc.
• Women’s Studies Centres were started at SNDT Women's University, Mumbai University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Savitribai Phule, Pune University and Shivaji University, Kolhapur.
• These institutes played an important role in critical analysis and in developing a vision on women's issues.

The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act :

• The incident of Sati by Roop Kanwar on 4^th September, 1987 created an uproar.
• She did not do this on her own but was forced to do it.
• Meera Menon, Geeta Seshu, Sujata Anandon, Anu Joseph and Kalpana Sharma investigated the case.
• More stringent provisions were made in the Sati (prevention) Act in 1998 passed by the government.

Protection of Human Rights Act :

• Human Rights Protection Act was enacted in 1993 to prevent injustice to men and women.
• National Human Rights Commission and the State Human Rights Commission were established in some states.
• This law played active role in mitigating injustice dealt to women.

Reservation of women :

• The 73rd and 74th constitutional Amendment Acts (enacted in 1992) provide reservation of one-third seats/offices for women in Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, Zilla Parishads, Municipalities and Municipal Corporations as well as for the posts of Sarpanch, Chairman and Major.
• Reservation has been increased to 50% in Maharashtra and 15 other states.
• It provides opportunity to participate in business to women.

Scheduled Castes :

• The erstwhile ‘Untouchable Castes’ have been recognized as the ‘Scheduled Castes‘.
• Untouchability was abolished by Article 17 of the Constitution.
• They were given reservation in education and public employment, etc. Thus, special provisions have been made for their welfare and development.

Scheduled Tribes :

• The Adivasis are the weakest section of the Indian society. These have been recognized as the Scheduled Tribes.
• As they live in forests and on hillsides, they do not have any means of livelihood other than agriculture.
• They are malnourished, poor and do not get proper medical attention.
• They are given representation in law boards, education, government services, etc.

Nomadic and De-notified Tribes :

• Castes and tribes that move from place to place for a livelihood, are included under Nomadic Tribes.
• A number of nomadic tribes were declared as criminals by the British in 1872 and ban was imposed on their occupation and movements.
• This unjust law was repealed in the post-independence period and curbs on them were lifted.
• They are included under De-notified Tribes. Special provisions are made for their welfare.

Minorities :

• A group of people of particular religion, language or race which is smaller in number is called a minority.
• There is diversity of religions, language and culture in India.
• To preserve this diversity, the constitution has given educational and cultural rights to the minorities.
• Minorities have the right to protect and conserve their language, culture and traditions.
• For this purpose they have the right to set up separate educational institutions.
• The government implements various schemes for their progress.

Significant Events :