International Women’s Day (IWD) is not just a symbolic gesture to celebrate the contributions of women in a myriad of fields, but an occasion to reflect on their status in society and the issues that impede their growth and their genuine empowerment.
In the Indian context, women empowerment – economic, social, and cultural – is still a work in progress. Catchy slogans like ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ may have helped in promoting public awareness about girl child education but the ground realities pertaining to women’s education, safety, security and equal opportunities at workplaces are far from encouraging.
For instance, the gross underutilization of the Nirbhaya Fund, meant for schemes aimed at improving the safety and security of women, shows an inexcusable apathy towards the issues concerning women’s safety.
A parliamentary panel has pointed out that of the Rs, 9,549 crores allocated under the fund, created by the Central government in the wake of the nationwide outrage over the 2012 Nirbhaya rape-murder case, only Rs 4,241 crore has been released and around Rs 2,989 crore utilized.
Here in Arunachal too, there is still a long way to go for the tribal women. Even though, in comparison to many other states, the women are relatively safer and have better rights, much is needed to be done to improve the plight of tribal women.