Role of women outside the home
Census data shows that Indian women work as hard outside the house as inside, but much of it goes unacknowledged. Rural women engaged in agriculture form 78% of all women in regular work. But they get 30% lower wages than men. Violence and sexual harassment of women at work place are seen as quite normal.



Scope for change

The Indian woman has started questioning the rules laid down for her by society, has begun breaking barriers and there are shining examples of those who have excelled in various fields - from Sania Mirza in sports and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw in business to Mayawati in politics and Arundhati Roy in literature. In the last 60 years, while there have been important policy decisions in favour of women, not much of it has been reflected in reality. The government is aware that the empowerment of women is a prerequisite for India’s ascension to the ranks of world’s great powers. Yet there is a general sense of apathy about the issue. As recently as last year, Indian lawmakers unanimously voted in favor of the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Bill - ensuring a giant step for equal rights to inherited property for Hindu women - and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Bill.