May it always be Women's Day

The world is celebrating Women's Day at a time when Ukrainian people, especially their mothers and children, are suffering from the crisis caused by the Russian invasion. Needless to say, women are most affected by war, riots and murder.

Even in this age where women's successful presence and leadership are evident in all walks of life, we are hearing the stories of the traumatic experiences that women face all over the world. Even the administration can not give a clear answer to the question regarding the relevance of observing only one day in a year as women's day when the remaining 364 days gives them pain and unrest.

The only consolation is that there has been an increase in the number of women who are breaking down the barriers of superstition and breathing the fresh air of freedom. Today, a large number of women choose the workplace of their choice and lead happy life. However, we have to go a long way to turn the concept of a fearless woman into a reality.

Violence against women is on the rise even in our literate state of Kerala. Even educated women are falling into the traps set by group of men who do not hesitate to do anything. Kerala was shocked by the stories of the girls who lost their lives after falling prey to drug lobbies in Kochi and the girls who committed suicide in Thiruvananthapuram after becoming victims of the drug mafia. The cry of the mother of Walayar girls still disturbs us. Recently, we saw a woman minister openly criticizing at a party conference that some were leaders were misbehaving with women in the party. Although some parties are boasting about women's reservations, women are hardly getting opportunities, thanks to the hypocrisy of political parties. The plight of women will not be resolved without achieving equality in the political and administrative spheres.

Not only do we fail to take care of elderly mothers, but there are even incidents in our state where they are subjected to brutal abuse. The government spends a lot of money on the welfare and protection of women through various departments and the Women's Commission. But, the time has come to examine whether the women of our state are getting the benefit of it. Effective police surveillance and strong government intervention are essential to ensure the safety of women. Precautionary measures to prevent crime should be given more importance than demanding the arrest of culprits. We usually claim that the situation of girls in our state is better than in other states. Do not let this become a mere claim.

Indian philosophy dictates the concept of Ardhanareeswara for men and women. Men should consider women with love and care. Boys should be taught at home to treat girls with dignity. That is a culture that needs to be nurtured. That is what our tradition has taught us. When society changes to that level, we can always celebrate Women's Day instead of one day.