Educating the girl and providing employment opportunities when she is grown up, are some of the key areas that have attracted the attention of the states over a couple of decades. The objective of the state heads has been to empower women, but the goals are multifarious as these are set out keeping in view the overall development of society & the nation.
Employment opportunities are directly linked to education or some skill. Stats that demonstrate the improvement in the level of education, specifically in relation to girls are not very encouraging.
According to the figures of the last census reports, the number of girl children in the age group of 7 was about 52 crore. Out of these, about 34 crore were school-going and 18 crore were completely illiterate. The literacy rate among girls goes on decreasing after they complete 5th standard or primary level school education. This is one of the major impediments that curtail Govt. efforts towards educating women to a larger extent.
A large number of women find themselves in trouble after they are married. These troubles and family issues include separations due to divorce or widowhood. Some of them may get remarried, whereas a large number of them have to live in isolation dehors their in-laws’ homes.
“The Govt. at the Center ought to review its strategies and explore some other options in addition to educating the women and providing them employment opportunities.“
Their legal right to have joint titles in their husbands’ property and bank accounts is one such area where the Govt. can interfere and lend its helping hand to empower the women.
A sound economic position is one of the main essential requirements of a married woman. It’s important that she enjoys good financial health. In the unfortunate situation of the death of the husband, she should have full knowledge about his bank accounts. It’s also important that she has hassle-free access to the bank balances of her late husband.
The problem continues as most of the married men are reluctant to open bank accounts in joint names. One-step solution to this issue is, that all saving accounts of a married person should be in joint names under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
The law should be specific that any property purchased by a married man should be in the joint names of husband & wife. The Govt. should also consider about enacting a law that savings accounts should be in the joint names of the couple.
Laws with mandatory provisions for the title of property & bank accounts of a married man in husband-wife’s joint names could provide the women an enormous help. in the event of unfortunate widowhood or undesired divorce. This would not only strengthen her economic position but also reduce a substantial number of divorce cases.
