Dr.Dev Kanya Thakur

Ration Card will Empower Women

 Dr. Dev Kanya Thakur

A debate is going on in the state on one of the decisions of the government and one section is restless after a process has been started to update ration cards. They are not facing any difficulty in preparing ration card but are unable to digest the fact that a woman will become head of a household. Some of them are putting forward the plea that their names are being removed as head of the family before they are actually dead. Demonstrations were also held against this decision of government and even women are participating in such protests whereas the motive is to enhance women’s participation in every field. Women should not let this opportunity go as waste. This decision will have far reaching ramifications.  A woman had to take the help of relation with a man to establish her identity in documents. Most of the women had a grudge against the system as to why they have to take support of male identity. No one asks men about his wife or father when he has to establish his identity. Why this discrimination prevailed against women. Women also have their personal identity and the situation is now changing whether one believes it or not. It is not the question of only a ration card. Why a woman should depend upon a man to establish her identity? Provisions under this decision will empower women who are proving themselves in every field.  Women will now be identified as head of the family and some immature people are not able to digest this situation. Similar discomfort was witnessed during previous elections of panchayati raj institutions when women were granted fifty percent reservation. These two decisions will go a long way in empowering women. It is not all about becoming head of a family but related to equal human rights. Decision of a woman is equally important to that of a man in the society. She can also have her viewpoint on every subject. Ironically, women are getting the honour and security through law which otherwise should have been provided by a family and society. We all should welcome this decision of the government.