Empowering Women

Sir,
There is no doubt that women play a major role in shaping the society properly.Their multifarious role as mother, sister, wife, daughter etc beggars words to be defined.So far the position of women in India is concerned, the government has launched various women oriented schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana and other schemes aimed at empowering women and making them an equal partner in the all round development of the country.Women in India have occupied important positions such as President, Prime Minister, Ministers, bureaucrats, civil and Police Officers.They have raised the glory of their motherland by clinching medals in international sports competitions and performed their duties so efficiently in  the fields such as Armed Forces, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy etc which were considered exclusively for men a few years ago.Not only this, women have proved their worth as writers, enterpreneurs, bankers and in other spheres both in the Govt and private sectors.Yet,amidst all this rosy picture of women empowerment, there are disturbing reports of  girls and women being raped, molested, gangraped, subjected to domestic violence and harassed at workplaces.All this is against our ethos and values in India where girls are reverred as incarnations of goddesses.Thus, there is need to take steps that  change the mindset of people and teach our youth to learn to respect them.Mothers too ought to instill confidence and good values in their daughters and provide them good education so that they walk around with confidence and courage and  become self confident,self reliant and bold.Women should also  learn to love their mother-in-laws, who, in turn, should  treat their daughter-in-laws as their own daughters.They should free themselves from the stereotypes and venture out for new spheres and destinations.Women also  need to be appreciated and respected for their indomitable courage  and efficiency in service in workplaces, offices and homes; for playing their multifarious role as working ladies and as unsung homemakers, so efficiently.
Yours etc…
Ashok Sharma,
Housing Colony,Udhampur