INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN

The number of women coming to greet the march is unprecedented. House wifes coming with their children with their house locked, women workers loosing their wages for the day, employees, students and the like are from all the fields. What was witnessed in Malappuram district was the muslim women in lots coming to greet the march. Women were found enthusiastically greeting the march on its way too. Bringing women to the mainstream is an important measure of ensuring social justice. In that sense, deliberate interventions are required to improve their living conditions. Problems of women are given special importance in the party program. This massive participation of women is a reflection of the intervention of party in their problems with the correct perspective.
Womens emancipation is not an agenda of women alone. It is a social issue. With that in view, intervention for emancipation of women is an important task as far as communist movement is concerned. Marxist leaders have identified this issue important. The book titled “Origin of family, private property and the state” written by Engels is a classic for ever.
Womens problems can be solved only as part of the common social advancement. While such common struggles are taken forward, peculiar problems of women also are to be addressed.
51.4% of the population of Kerala are women. We could better their life to a great extend compared to the women in other parts of India. Life expectancy of of women in Kerala is 76 years while all India average is only 61.8. Literacy among women also is higher in Kerala, 87.86%.
49% of those admitted for school education are girls. Out of those who complete school education 49.19% are girls. Among those who graduates 67.4% are women. They count 78.20% among the postgraduates. The labour participation of urban women in Kerala is 20% while all India average is only 16%.
Kerala women have established its presence among those who work abroad. 3.09 lakhs of Kerala women are working abroad. This comes to 16.8% of the total labour migrated from India. While the percentage of population of women in most of the other states have come down since 1921, it has increased in Kerala. It is the intervention through struggles waged by the left and other movements that bettered the life of women in Kerala. Despite all these advancements we cannot say that their condition is fairly advanced when compared with that of the men. More vigilance is required to end the attrocities on women. Their share of participation in technical education is low. It is only a mere 10%. Compared to men, unemployment is higher among women. Same is the case with employment of educated women also.
Outdated social practices often creates problems for women. They are mostly working in traditional sectors. The problems arising out of global financial crisis are mostly affecting the women.
LDF government is taking creative measures to address the problems faced by women. Gender Advisory Board is established with a view to achieve women empowerment and development. Finishing school flagship program is introduced to offer training and guidance for women seeking employment. Separate budget allocation is being made for ensuring funds for solving their problems. Gender auditing system has commenced. Government has been vigilant to address the problems of Anganavadi workers. Their allowances were raised by Rs. 150. Measures are on to grant them pension. The restriction over widow pension for those having major son is removed. Action is taken to increase widow pension. Kudumbasree program is contributing to better the lives of women. Government has set apart Rs.1500 Crores for providing loan for Kudumbasree.
Government has given interest free loan for women in fisheries sector. Shortage of drinking water is imposing heavy burden on the women. Creative intervention is on to solve the problem of drinking water. Government is initiating measures for assistance of Rs.25,000 for the marriage of the widows. The women policy declaration is the continuation of all these measures. The aligning of more and more women with us is the recognition and support for our efforts to solve their problems.