A capacity-building training program for all women legislators from the states was recently held in Faridabad, Haryana, under the auspices of the National Commission for Women. Despite requests from legislators from South India and Northeast India, most of the training sessions were conducted in Hindi. Questions raised by Kerala legislators, including those on delimitation and the 33% reservation for women, were rejected by the leadership of the National Commission for Women. As a result, they walked out of the training session.
“In this workshop for legislators, things that even schoolchildren might already know—such as what self-help groups are, how to file a complaint at a police station, and basic schemes for women—were explained. We had expected this to be a platform for high-level sessions, policy drafts, administrative skills, and the like,” said Kerala Minister Bindu Krishna with disappointment.
What is real development?
Thenmoli, the wife of Anand from the Irular colony in Singadivakkam, Kanchipuram district, died during childbirth after not receiving adequate medical assistance. To repay a loan of Rs. 20,000 taken from Arumugam, Anand’s entire family had been doing carpentry work for him. In this situation, Thenmoli went into labor in the shed allotted to them when no one was around, and both mother and child died in the process. There has also been an allegation that Arumugam did not allow Thenmoli to go to the hospital for delivery. The police are investigating the matter.
At a time when we take pride in the country having made various advances in technology and in the medical field, the death of an indigenous pregnant woman and her child without adequate medical assistance points to the severe inequalities in our society. This tragic incident also shows how poverty and debt subject marginalized people to so much hardship.
Smriti's new achievement!
Smriti Mandhana has claimed several records after scoring a century against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup T20 tournament. She is the fourth woman cricketer in the world to surpass 10,000 runs in international women’s cricket. In this match, she reached her 18th century. Smriti has overtaken Australia’s Meg Lanning and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who were previously tied at the top with 17 centuries each.
With 10,880 runs, Smriti Mandhana is now in first place, overtaking former India women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj, who had been leading the list of highest run-scorers with 10,868 runs. In the Women’s Asia Cup T20 matches, she is also the highest individual scorer with 124 runs. She leads the list of Indian players with the most sixes in women’s T20 cricket.
- Priya