Women’s empowerment is Nation’s empowerment
Increasing of paid maternity leave for women in the organised
sector to 26 weeks from 12 is a good step. World Health Organisation recommends
exclusive breastfeeding of children for the first 24 weeks. Giving some benefits to adoptive mothers
and women who get children using embryo transfers as well signals India is in
step with social changes.
The amended law is expected to cover only 1.8 million women. But
what about many poor millions in the unorganised sector? Providing benefits for
women and children is a societal responsibility mandating creche facilities to help women
workers. This is a forward-looking move.
Women's empowerment can be achieved through universal
initiative not by imposing conditionalities to avail benefits especially in
unorganised sector. Maternity Benefit Act must be passed for unorganised sector
and also for those women who are daily pay worker. We all know that a country become
prosperous only through the healthy and prosperous people and it can be
possible only through a healthy and prosperous mother.
That more needs to be done on mother and child front is
undeniably true but should be done in such a way that other sections do not
bear the brunt out of it. However, women in unorganized sector who are deprived
of the benefit of this amendment need re-look with special cover.
It should continue to be mandatory for employers to provide
pay during maternity leave period. Any social security insurance should be only
for the poorer or less paid mothers, over and above the employer's pay.
The benefits granted to women should be appreciated. These
benefits would allow safety and security to pregnant women as they can have
rest for a longer period of time and have economic safety.
Though India is progressing, still infant mortality rate is
alarming. People say "when a women gives birth to child she will take a
rebirth". Unfortunately so many mothers are not taking rebirths due to
poor medical facilities. It is very necessary for the government to take proper
steps in providing health care and nutrition of women should be taken care of.
And lastly don't forget to consider millions of women who are deprived of this
benefit. And if you are providing monetary benefits, don't forget to enforce a
strict vigilant mechanism to check whether money reaches the needful or not
Women’s empowerment equals nations’ empowerment. So women’s
welfare must be met and achieved at any cost
No comments:
Post a Comment