|
Just 9 percent women in Punjab
on property
WSN Network
CHANDIGARH:
PUNJAB might be among the richest states in the country, but when it
comes to women, its attitude is poor.
A state
government study, sponsored by the United Nations Development
Programmer (UNDP), has found that only nine per cent women in the
state across urban and rural households own property. In large rural
pockets, this figure is as low as four percent.
The study is
based on extensive survey conducted in the districts of Hoshiarpur
and Fatehgarh Sahib. UNDP project specialist Rishi Kochhar was
quoted in the Indian Express as saying that the data was collated
after talking to heads of families, the elderly and women. The
state’s Planning Department was also involved in the project.
The study says
62 percent women in the state do not have bank accounts or accounts
in post offices. Nearly 77 per cent do not have a vehicle in their
name. It is mostly a two wheeler for those who own vehicles. Less
than one per cent among them have a car. Punjab’s record on gender
equality has always been poor. The state has the lowest sex ratio in
the country.
This study has
added to that problem by establishing that those women who bore a
daughter invariably faced harassment form their mothers-in-law and
husbands.
Director General
of the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration,
Chandigarh, BK Srivastava, said: “We are working towards sensitizing
planners so that policy initiatives trickle down to the grassroots
level. Needs have to be translated into plan, for which advocacy
groups have to play a crucial role."
The report
proves that the gender bias is strong as it finds that merely one
per cent women have any say in decision making in financial matters.
The report says 0.3 per cent women have a say in family matters.
Advisor at the Center for Participative Management and Voluntary
Organization, Chandigarh, Dr Sushil Mudgal, said, “Capacity building
for government officials and other stake holders including NGOs has
been set rolling and is vital to this mission.” But with seventy
three percent of women not earning and involved in everyday
household chores, the mission is rather huge.
23
September 2009
|
Read Also