Women empowerment and rights
The Indian constitution grants women equal rights with men, but strong patriarchal traditions persist, with women’s lives shaped by customs that are centuries old. In most Indian families, a daughter is viewed as a liability, and she is conditioned to believe that she is inferior and subordinate to men. Sons are idolized and celebrated. When 70% of the population of India is rural, the divide between rural literacy is 59% compared to 80% of urban literacy; and female rural literacy is 46% compared to 70% for men (www.education.nic.in/stats/detail).



Despite 50 years of anti-discrimination-laws women are still poorly represented in high profile-jobs in government, in business, in media and police. There is a lack of job opportunities for semi-educated girls in rural areas. In the home, the teenage girl is one of the most neglected members (especially for matters concerning her health, well-being, education) and is under the complete control of the father and brother (even if he may be younger than her, in fatherless house-holds, he has the control).
She is forced to accept what they have decided for her and she cannot do otherwise. There are many instances when she runs away from home (elopes) or attempts suicide, to just escape the family’s control.