Change in the mind set of people, especially among the minorities, is necessary to address various issues related to the backwardness of women on various fronts, National Commission for Women chairperson Mamta Sharma said.
Inaugurating the first of the NCW’s regional conferences christened “Voice of the Voiceless”, on the topic Muslim Women: Challenges and Solutions, in Hyderabad on Sunday, Sharma said ignorance of rights has been the undoing of women not only among Muslims but in every community.
“Unfortunately, even educated women are ignorant of their rights,” she said, emphasising the need for better awareness of their rights among women.
Women might be weaker physically, but mentally they are stronger, as has been revealed in some surveys recently, she said.
Hailing UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for constituting Sachar Committee and coming up with various schemes for the benefit of minority women, she said it was unfortunate that the schemes are not being implemented as expected.
The NCW chairperson said education is must for empowerment, and education does not mean just being literate, but involves ethics and morals as well. Stating that neither the NCW nor the government have magic wands to solve the problems overnight, she said any policy can be successful only when there is collective effort.
Sharma emphasised the need for bringing about a change in the mindsets of people at the grassroots level regarding female feticide, child marriages and other such social evils. She took exception to the comments of the defence lawyer of Delhi gang-rape convicts.
In her opening remarks, NCW member Shamina Shafiq listed the topics of the conference: Deserted Muslim women, communal riots and their impact on Muslim women, and Sachar Committee and muslim women. She emphasised the need for focus on finding solutions rather than reiterating problems.
Academician Akthar Ul Wasey opined that solution to problems can be found when men confess to their crimes. He said no law can be implemented fully, till the believers don’t follow them. He said women can be empowered in four areas--financial, educational, political and spiritual.
He said backwardness is the root cause of ills among minorities and the solution would be to change the mindset of men of those communities through education and employment.
Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) pro vice-chancellor Khwaja Shahid said though there is nothing wrong with what the Quran and the laws laid down, it all comes down to their interpretation.
He explained how the ignorance of women over their rights is giving way to their exploitation at the hands of men.
The meeting mourned Muslim community leader Bashiruddin Babukhan.