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NATIONAL SEMINAR ON
STATE, RELIGION AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
17 DECEMBER 2011, GYAN ASHRAM,
INSTITUTE OF INDIAN CULTURE, ANDHERI
(E),
MUMBAI
The
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism organised a
one-day National Seminar on State, Religion and Women’s
Empowerment on 17 December 2011, in collaboration with
the Institute of Indian Culture, Mumbai at the latter’s
seminar hall in Andheri.
The
Concept
The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the
Indian Constitution, which not
 only
grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to
adopt measures of positive discrimination in favor of
women. Empowerment is one of the key factors in
determining the success of development in the status and
position of women in the society; for it is the women
who hold the key to long-lasting social change in
communities.
It is the society’s moral, social and constitutional
responsibility to ensure women’s progress by providing
them with equal rights and opportunities. Today women
have made substantial progress in every walk of life by
dint of their hard work and sincerity. More and more
corporate houses prefer hiring women for better and
result-oriented performance.
India is home to three major religions. The level of
achievement of women’s empowerment varies from one
religion to the other. Given the common denominators of
poverty, patriarchy, want of education, poor economic
status etc., if women of a particular religion have not
achieved the level of empowerment like that of women
from other religions, the question that arises is
whether religion is an impediment to women’s
empowerment? Is there anything in the religion which
prevents women’s empowerment? Or is it the way religious
edicts are interpreted by the males?
All religions can empower women, and all have
empowered women at various times. If empowerment is
understood as providing men and women with equal status,
religion has not empowered women either historically or,
often, in the present times. But if empowerment is
understood as providing women with a greater sense of
themselves, their capacity and their significance in the
world, religion empowers women. Some religions and some
particular stances within other religions have actively
discriminated against women on religious grounds.
Often the restrictions
are being placed on women more by the religious figures
and traditions than by the religion itself.
Too often religion consciously or unconsciously sustains
gender inequality and creates barriers that inhibit
women from participating fully in the life of the
secular, religious and global community. Patriarchal
disparities such as power, cultural and religious norms
and economic disparities too often deny women an equal
place at the table of decision making.
It is the religious patriarchy that often defines the
level of credibility and insidiously reduces the
credibility if women at the highest levels of decision
making.
 Besides
belonging to a given religion, a woman is also the
citizen of an independent country, where the tools of
citizenship could be used to establish her identity, her
rights, and her social and political position.
Empowerment of women, in the social, economic, political
and religious context, can become a reality only when
women come out of their homes and actively participate
in reshaping the society. Women’s empowerment in all
walks of life shall bring the necessary balance that is
required in nature. It will help in promoting structures
which are more inclusive, progressive, creative,
constructive and generative in nature and which are in
sync with nature. If religion does not stand in the way,
why do religious structures prevent women’s empowerment?
Is it the male ego, or his greed for power and control
or a lack of confidence in the male in allowing women’s
empowerment?
In many parts of world, people, in general, are
misinformed by religious leaders who attribute to
religion the barriers imposed on women. Although the
State makes laws in favour of women,
the extent to which women derive benefit from such laws
is far too meagre. Consequently, her socio-economic
status and political participation has been very low.
Often, the tussle between the state and centre is the
root cause of deficiency in implementing
well-intentioned measures for women empowerment.
Resultantly, either the women remain unaware of the
special provisions or are not extended the benefits to
which they are lawfully entitled.
It is in the above background and with a view to
involving
the youth in an in-depth discussion on the role of
religion and State in women’s empowerment, a one day
seminar was organised. Over 40 students from Sathe
College, Ville Parle, DAV College, Bhandup, Kamla Mehta
College, Malad, Nirmala Niketan, Juhu and TISS,
Deonar, besides workers from Catholic Relief Services
participated
in the Seminar.
The resource persons were Dr Asghar Ali Engineer,
Chairman, CSSS, Professor (Mrs.) Vibhuti Patel, SNDT
University, Professor Michael Sebastian, Department of
Anthropology, University of Mumbai, Dr. Jose George,
Department of Civics and Politics, University of Mumbai,
Dr. (Mrs.) Deepika Singh, and Dr. Srijit Mishra, Indira
Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Goregaon. Dr
(Mrs.) Vasundhara Mohan, Executive Director, CSSS acted
as the facilitator and compere.
 In
his inaugural address, Dr Engineer stressed on the need
for women’s empowerment. He specifically referred to and
spoke on the laws relating to succession, inheritance,
marriage, and divorce laws prevailing in the Muslim
community.
He said that Muslim women are often denied even their
religious rights as they are more backward than even
Dalit women due to illiteracy and poverty. They are made
to suffer injustice due misinterpretation of Shariah
laws. He laid stress on women empowerment, which is
impossible without women getting educated in any
religion.
Professor Vibhuti Patel
spoke in detail about women’s rights, especially the
right to inherit property and the problems that the
women face when they are not aware of their rights. She
said that it is the responsibility of the society and
civil society organisations to create awareness and help
the under-privileged women and women in distress to
realise their legal rights. She said that although of
late NGOs working for women’s cause are trying to help
women’s empowerment, much needs to be done, especially
in the rural areas. She also stressed that only when
compulsory education and education for all become the
norm, women will be able to lead better lives.
Although Professor Michael agreed with the concept of
women empowerment, he also expressed his apprehensions
about the effects of increased divorce rates among the
empowered urban women and its effect on the family and
children.
He felt that the Society being patriarchal, it is very
difficult to change.
Dr.Deepika Singh spoke on the effects of the women’s
empowerment and said the suppression of women is not a
unique feature among the developing countries. It is a
phenomenon of the whole world, including advanced
countries. She said that every girl has to become
capable of standing on her own legs and acquire a
thorough knowledge of the legal provisions relating to
women’s welfare. The various agencies created to help
the needy women have to discharge their duties with
dedication. Unless these conditions are met, it is very
difficult to achieve the goal of women’s empowerment in
a country like India, where a vast population lives in
rural areas steeped in poverty and illiteracy. She said
that empowerment need not be measured in terms of
degrees acquired or the amount of money or salary that
one earns. Women’s empowerment can be said to have been
achieved only when every woman has the right to think as
to what she should do with her/in her life and when a
woman can move about without fear. At present there is
total lack of security in public places, in offices and
even in the domestic life, hampering her growth.
The morning session of the Seminar was chaired by
Professor Jose George of the Department of Civics and
Politics, Mumbai University and the afternoon session
was chaired by Dr Srijit Mishra of IGIDR, Goregaon,
Mumbai.
At the end of the last session, the participants were
divided into 3 groups and were asked to discuss among
themselves on the topic “Is woman empowerment possible?
What are the ways and means and tools that must be
introduced to achieve women’s empowerment”?
Inspired and informed by the lectures of the two
sessions, the students were seen keenly discussing the
topic given. At the end, they three groups presented
their ideas on women empowerment using flip-charts. The
participants said that they found the seminar
very useful.
The seminar concluded with two observations:
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Women’s empowerment is possible only when
education and awareness spreads to rural areas; and
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Every family should motivate and support its girls in
every walks of life and the society has to undertake
the responsibility of preparing the youth to face the
world boldly.
Dr Mohan, Executive Director, CSSS proposed the vote of
thanks.
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