(If women, who constitute half of the population, don’t tell the stories of this population, then who will?
Not just on Women’s Day, but every day women will have to fight for this change, for their rights. Even if it is a small beginning, everyone will have to start. This journey of struggle is endless. There should be equal pay for women; they should not be taken for granted. I want a society where women do not have to prove their identity by beating their chests again and again for equality; everyone should get opportunities. Women should get work based on their talent; it should be appreciated; it should be valued. Being a woman at home and at the workplace, sympathy is not required; only equality is required. One should not have to struggle for what is natural. Participation of women in the decision-making process is not only their right, but it is also an essential condition for respecting their interests in public decisions. US Vice President Kamala Harris had said that the level of democracy depends on the empowerment of women. To reduce this inequality, empowering women through education, creating a harassment-free and safe environment, teaching life skills to girls, and ending violence are the first requirements.
Women in our country constitute approximately 48% of the population, yet they occupy less than 15% of Lok Sabha seats. This significant underrepresentation results in neglect of women’s issues such as workplace safety, unpaid care responsibilities, and economic rights. Such exclusion perpetuates patriarchal norms. Nevertheless, judicial action has been significant in addressing such discrimination, increasing legal protections, and affirming constitutional rights, although their success in eradicating deep-rooted prejudices is still a matter of debate. The lack of female representation leads to the denial of maternal rights, resulting in workplace discrimination and a lack of adequate support. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 provides for paid leave, but its implementation in the private sector is low, which discourages women from joining the workforce.
Keeping women out of the decision-making process weakens the link of women’s empowerment. The reasons behind this are gender bias and discrimination, workplace culture, and social and family. Women are sidelined due to a lack of participation in the decision-making process. This limits the scope, and it is difficult to face the challenges arising in this limited scope. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, women’s participation in the decision-making process is not only their right, but it is also an essential condition for respecting their interests in public decisions. US Vice President Kamala Harris had said that the level of democracy basically depends on women’s empowerment. To reduce this inequality, empowering women through education, creating a harassment-free and safe environment, teaching life skills to girls, and eliminating violence are the first requirements.
Current policies do not provide flexible work arrangements, making it challenging for women to balance their professional and domestic lives. Many workplaces do not comply with the POSH Act 2013, as male-dominated leadership often ignores the critical need for women’s protection. Additionally, policies do not adequately support women entrepreneurs in receiving equal credit and business incentives, which limits their economic empowerment. Courts have, however, played a role in promoting gender-sensitive workplaces by strengthening maternal protections. In 2024, the Supreme Court reinstated two female judges, emphasizing that pregnancy-related dismissals are both punishable and illegal, thereby promoting workplace equality. Judicial decisions have also overturned discriminatory religious practices while ensuring legal protections for women. For example, the Shayara Bano case in 2017 criminalized triple talaq, thereby securing the marital rights of Muslim women.
Further, courts have upheld equal inheritance rights, challenging patriarchal biases in Hindu succession laws, as seen in the 2020 Supreme Court judgment in Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma, which confirmed that daughters have equal rights in ancestral property. Implement 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies to promote women’s empowerment. The Women’s Reservation Bill in elections should be fully implemented to improve representation. Courts need to monitor and enforce compliance with gender laws, thereby ensuring effective policy implementation. Fast-track courts should provide speedy justice for incidents of workplace harassment. Policies should focus on increasing financial inclusion, skill development, and entrepreneurship support for women. The Mudra scheme should be expanded to provide larger loans for women-led enterprises.
School curricula should incorporate gender awareness from an early age to challenge patriarchal norms. Textbooks should include gender-sensitive content to encourage equality-focused education. Conduct in-depth audits for companies to ensure they comply with maternity and anti-harassment regulations. No country can progress by leaving half of its population behind. Women’s participation in decision-making is crucial to developing gender-sensitive policies. They must be supported by legislative reforms, grassroots education, and institutional enforcement mechanisms. Increasing political representation, economic participation, and legal protection will create a truly equitable and inclusive governance system for India. To address the lack of women’s voices, perspectives, and representation, women’s meaningful participation and leadership, including through women-led organizations, must be promoted at all levels of humanitarian action.
Not just on Women’s Day, but every day women will have to fight for this change, for their rights. Let it be a small beginning, but everyone will have to start. This journey of struggle is endless. There should be equal pay for women; they should not be taken for granted. I want a society where women do not have to prove their identity by beating their chest again and again for equality; everyone should get opportunities. Women should get work based on their talent; it should be appreciated; it should be valued. Being a woman at home and in the workplace, we don’t want sympathy; we only want equality. We should not have to struggle for what is natural.
