Page 45 - Constitution

70 Years of Indian
Constitution
hen I look back, I can recall several developments
over past six decades and several instances to
W feel proud to be member of the ‘fairer sex’ who
has achieved laurels, breaking archaic and conventional
barriers to feel the joy of ‘independence’!
Bold women, true to their conviction and conscience,
whether educated not, such as the humble Jaswantiben
Jamnadas Popat, who scripted the inspirational story of a
humble enterprise -‘LijjatPapad’ that grew from Rs 80 to Rs
800 crore, providing living for many women, or many Guru’s
of Indian art and culture such as Bharatanatyam dancer
Tanjore Balasaraswati, M S Subbulakshmi the legendary
Carnatic singer, Rukmini Devi who established Kalakshetra
and many others in different vocations, who with their hard
work and talent broke stereotype gender bias prevalent in
our society.
Their achievements are not only commendable and
noteworthy, but also an inspiration for generations to come.
The list in recent decades is swelling at rapid rate with more
girls getting educated and with a more tolerant society
where awareness has struck roots. The change is palpable,
yet much ground needs to be covered.
Since independence many programmes launched by
various statutory organisations within the framework of the
constitution pertaining to welfare of women and girl child have
brought about a socio-economic churning at the grassroots.
They help study, implement and monitor adherence of the
constitutional and legal safeguards for women which help
in correcting anomalies and fill lacunae while formulating
welfare programmes. The outcome also enables review of
Many Guru’s of Indian art and culture such as
Bharatanatyam dancer Tanjore Balasaraswati,
M S Subbulakshmi the legendary Carnatic
singer, Rukmini Devi who with their hard
work and talentbroke stereotype gender bias
prevalent in our society.
the existing legislation and provides necessary correction
for amendments. The National Commission for Women,
The National Plan of Action for the Girl Child, National Policy
for Children, The Ministry of Women & Child Development,
National Policy for the Empowerment of Women are among
the various government initiatives to improve lives of girl
child and women and making them self-reliant to lead life
with dignity. Women have come thus far specifically under
the security of Articles 14, 15, 15(3), 16, 39(a), 39(b), 39(c)
and 42 of the Constitution.
Over the years, several landmark decisions of the
Apex Court in accordance with the principle of gender
equality as enshrined in the Preamble, Fundamental
Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles in
the Constitution, upheld women’s contentious issues
that impinged on their dignity. Yet many Rights were won
after prolonged and bitter legal battles such as the case of
Bhanwari Devi, a social worker from Rajasthan who was
brutally gang-raped for preventing a child marriage where
the Supreme Court of India in a landmark judgment not only
handed out severe punishment to the perpetrators of the
crime but also drew guidelines defining sexual harassment
and put onus and the responsibility of providing protection
70 Years of Indian Constitution 45