jobs after marriage and child birth for women

The article, “ no economy for women’ by Sonalde Dsai and Anupma Mehta (8.3.17) in the Hindu has highlighted the real problems faced by all the categories of Indian women  which , force  them  to quit jobs after marriage and child birth. It is true that , majority of Indian women will not sacrifice motherhood for the sake of economic empowerment as is happening in some other  nations. But at the same time , in recent years , their mind set has undergone a tremendous transformation  regarding the need to be  economically independent . Even a domestic  help is proud of her earning and doesn’t want to give it up easily.  But ,they are pushed into enforced idleness after marriage and child birth due to the break up of the joint family system, absence of flexi time and part time jobs and work from home opportunities  . Dearth of good quality baby and child care facilities and the non  practice of  division of house hold work in Indian families and the transportation hurdles   add to their enforced idleness .

Today’ s women have tasted the benefits of financial independence such as, the ability to face challenges of life without depending on relatives,  a feeling of self worth , possibility to enhance the standard of living of the family , the satisfaction of reaping the benefits of their knowledge and skill gained through education  and their  ability to  achieve their life goals . If a favorable  work environment is created by the job givers  ,the female work  participation in India and women resource contribution to GNP would be higher .

problem of women workers after childbirth

While  agreeing to all the suggestions  given for better medical and other support to women employed in the unorganized sector in the editorial, “partial cover” (11.3.17), I would also suggest additionally that ,  the facilities to enhance the opportunities for self employment through house hold industries  such as easy credit , free skill training in the making of easily marketable products and services, help rendered in acquiring  mobility through cycles ,  tri cycles and scooters and baby care centers  nears their homes would prevent  the marginalized women from being dropped out of the labour market after child birth for a prolonged time . These un organized women labourers are already suffering with discriminatory wages , lack of job security and denial of government facilities . Hence , if the government resort to inclusiveness in rendering labour rights to these women workers  they would continue to contribute to GNP without enforced unemployment after child birth and suffer the consequences of feminization of poverty .

suicides of college students

The report that, 8068 students of higher education institutes have committed suicide from 2014 is causing concern about the character building  ability of the education sector in this nation . Most of these students including the latest  Muthu krishnan  are from the marginalised sections of the Society. Without hard work and sacrifice of their families they would not have reached  higher education level  and particularly research level . They  would have faced humiliation and discrimination in an uneven society like India all through  out their life and yet, survived those challenges with a sure goal in their life ie., to achieve social and economic empowerment through highest education level  . What happens suddenly to drive them towards  suicide with least botheration of their families’ sufferings  and their years of hard work ? They  have disappeared from this world  driven by frustration ,but,  it is life long agony for the families .  Few fellow students,  teachers, the research guides and the university administration would have  harassed  them in different ways .But the solution to that  problem, lies in   fighting  against such evil acts with  the help of laws, the mentors  , the students organisations  and the grievance mechanisms functioning within the universities .

 In what way  suicides will offer a solution to their problems  ? Those who end their life only accept before the world that, their higher education has  not really empowered  them with tools like positive attitude towards life, inner strength to  face crises, the determination to achieve their goals and use the resources available to them to  fight against injustice .  The growing number of suicides within the university campuses proves the fact that,   the higher  education in India has in no way helps  the students  to  grow with strength of character. The attitude of the teachers that,  character building of the students is in no way their duty is very sad .  Economic empowerment of the students  alone is not the aim of higher education .  The teachers , the parents and the motivational speakers should din into the students ears  that “suicide  is no solution to our problems”

Mystery behind Jeya lalitha's death

There are endless articles and news items and discussion in TV News channels regarding the mystery behind Jeya  Lalitha's  treatment and death. I am just wondering how with all these serious list of deceases and powerful medicines she was functioning, as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu .We are under the opinion that,  Sasi Kala  had been appointed to take care of  the personal needs  of Jeya lalitha . In courses of time she emerged  as her friend and on whom she had pinned all her faith regarding  her  political and non political activities. . If she enjoyed such trust , how Sasi Kala  had allowed the deterioration in her health status to this extent and why proper medical care was not given to her  all these years if she had been the only trusted care taker? What type care she rendered to Jeya laitha? Why the Central government is hesitant to order a CBI  probe on a matter concerning the mysterious death  of a sitting Chief Minister ? India looks like a mysterious cave full of secrets and plots.

An inhuam behaviour od a politician

I had the misfortune of seeing the visuals of Radha Ravi’s talk  in DMK meeting in which he was heartlessly and with least sensitivity mimicking the way the differently abled persons talk while trying to make a point . I had to switch off that channel unable to tolerate that continued mimicry for considerable  time .None in that stage,  showed any reaction to his disgusting behavior and tried to stop him . later on also when this incident was reported in the media .none of the DMK leaders condemned it and made him to render an apology   for his cruel joke on helpless people.  It is a matter of consolation that  at least, Kani mozhi had the decency to condemn  his act  , revealing her sensitivity to the sufferings of the disabled persons . People in public life should not assume that, the civil society will condone and tolerate even when, they behave with lack of humanism.

problems in retirement homes

The media has just started k highlighting , the social and the economic pressures that would be imposed on the economy , due to  the prediction of 20 % of the population becoming senior citizens in the year 2050 through the four part series on senior issues and concerns .

 Different categories of seniors face different challenges. The poor seniors suffer due to poverty related problems and high level abuse and abandonment by their care takers  . The middle class seniors suffer due to loneliness due to empty nest syndrome and growing medical expenditures and the rich seniors are at the mercy of paid service providers and they face dangers to their safety and security .

 All these categories are happy with the spreading of  the concept of retirement or senior citizens homes in India. It is because ,it is considered as the best alternative than living alone after the break up of the joint family system in India.  The real estate sector has smelt the huge potential in providing  luxurious  or semi  luxurious place for stay and package of senior care facilities and started giving grand advertisements about such retirement communities nearer  the Indian cities .

 The ground realities found in these retirement homes tell a different story . The free senior homes are run in a very unsatisfactory  manner due to absence of supervision by the government. The paid  retirement homes seem to  run not with service motive with nominal profit  but with profiteering motive through  high charges for the services and a heavy refundable and non refundable deposits depending on the model of senior homes they provide. These are beyond the capacity of even , the middle class pension relieving seniors . what they want is only comfortable and dignified treatment  and not five star hotels facilities.  More over , there is considerable religious discrimination in the admission policy  though it is difficult to digest . It is time for the government to realise the economic and social issues connected with growing number of seniors in India and put proper regulatory machinery to regulate the functioning of  the service providers and prevent the exploitation of the vulnerable position of the aged population who rendered productive service to the nation through out their working period .