NWF member says issues remain unaddressed

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 18, 2014:    Delivering key-note address at Awaken - national publicity campaign organised by National Women’s Front ahead of the NWF’s national conference in Tamil Nadu, at Loyola Hall in St Aloysius College on October 17,  NWFNational Women’s Front National Committee Member Shahida Thasnim was very vocal that  though the government introduced several schemes for the welfare of women, the condition of women in the country has not improved. 

Various problems faced by women have remained unaddressed and there is a need for all the women to shed their differences and fight unitedly.   While pointing at various aspects that denote women have not been empowered yet, Shahida said that despite the reservation, only 11 per cent of the total Members of Parliament in India are women. Issues like lack of education, gender inequality, infant mortality continue to be a hurdle in the process of women empowerment.

The differences of opinion among women folk itself is causing a deterrent in the process. There is a need for women who are in deep sleep, to wake up and fight unitedly, she said.  In the inaugural address, NWF National President Shahida Aslam took an exception to women being treated as commodities. With the changing time, the pattern and definition of women harassment too has been changing. Harassment is much more than demanding dowry.

The demand to legalise prostitution too is not acceptable as no women gets into prostitution for pleasure, but circumstances force her to take it up. Therefore, legalising prostitution will further suppress the women, she said.  “Education is not a qualification, but qualification is related to one’s nature as a human being. Legal acts by themselves can not end women harassment, but it requires a change in mindset,” Shahida said.