The barometer of the progress of Nation is its treatment to its women

From time immemorial, women have been an active participant in the economic, political

and social activities of civilizations. World richest and oldest civilization of Indus valley

witnessed their active and prominent roles. Women played their responsibilities with

integrity and honesty no matter which part of the world they belong to and what role -

whether as mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, wife-they were given. Women are the

harbinger of progress. Status of women of a nation gives the assessment of the progress

of nation. Treatment to women is real developmental indicator.

Women and progress indicators

There has been wide debate about the concept of progress or development and its nature.

Whatever it is, inevitability of it is recognized. Still, various indicators such as GDP, HDI etc.

of development have evolved that measure its different aspect. Therefore, also, i would

first assess the women role in terms of these indicators.

GDP is most widely used indicators throughout the world that measures progress in terms

of increase in the production measured by monetary value. Women, that constitute

almost half of the population of country, should be significant contributor the production.

Women today are involved in large sphere of economic activities. Comparing with the

ancient world, in contemporary age they are doctor, engineer, lawyer, and public servants

and so on. However, in developing countries, they are still to involve significantly in

nations economy. While in developing countries even their visible economic contribution is

many a time not taken into account, developed country provide them with enough

economic liberty. If the economic activities are expanded to constitute the domestic work

they are involved in, they may overtake the masculine GDP. Thus, there is a need to

explore their potential by giving them rights and responsibilities. If they will grow, nation

will grow.

Off course, when women constitute half of population of a nation, they are central to

progress.

Take the case of Human Development Index-supposed to be most holistic indicator of well

being and thus progress of nation. It measure development in terms of literacy level,

calculated by gross enrolment ratio; health, calculated by life expectancy, and national

income. It is said that if a women is literate, she will make whole family literate. Education

starts from home, and home is what women make it. The family education given to child

builds the foundations on which he further develops. His basic approach towards the

surrounding problems, evaluation of the object around him and assessment of many basic

things start from home. Values imbued during childhood helps him to become a noble

citizen. It has been rightly put,” you education a man; you educate a man. You educate a

women; you educate generation.”

Health of women is health of nation. Health of infant depends on the health of women

during maturation and incubation period. Malnutrition of an infant is the cause of

improper feed to women during pregnancy. Growth of child till teenage does depend on

the level of education and health of women. A young and healthy human will not only

reduce the burden the expenditure on health by a nation, but will participate in nation

building with more efficiency and energy.

Nation income in nothing but equal to gross domestic production of country.

Now, evaluation the women contribution other than in terms of indicators, their

importance in relation to politics and state has rightly been understood contemporarily. It

is said that “In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask

women”. So in society. “A woman is the full circle, Within her is the power to create,

nurture and transform the society”. India is good example where social role can be very

well understood.

Indian example

India is prominent example where women are filled with sense of duties towards the society. The Indian value system, which constitutes the country’s culturally-devised social security system, is the result of the carefully-nurtured continuum of Indian womanhood. Though, their rights has been neglected compared to Western women, they have uplifted the Indian society with themselves remaining burdened with sense of duty and responsibilities. In western world where women are very conscious towards their rights, family and social traditional responsibilities like old age care, childhood care and education, and many social duties has been falling over state and burdening it. Thus, to build a nation, building womanhood is necessary. Women rights are largely still unrecognized in the world esp. developing world. Treatment of a nation to its women is the treatment to nation, to society, to every individual. It is rightly put, “when women laugh, nation laugh; when she weeps, nation weeps”. In the word of B.R ambedkar,’’ I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.