Training on Women Rights in Indian Constitution, Child Rights and Personality development was conducted by Dalit Sthree Sakthi for the Women Collective Leaders and Youth leaders on 29th October 2024 at St Anns Generalate, Tarnaka, Hyderabad. A total of 25 Women collective leaders participated in the training. Experts in the subject were invited to deliver lectures. Shri Jhansi Geddam, National Convenor, Dalit Sthree Sakthi presided over the training and Shri Daniel Vijay Prakash, Former Program Manager of Dalit Sthree Sakthi enlightened the participants about the Women Collective structure of DSS.
Women Rights in Indian Constitution
Shri PSN Murthy, IDAS(VR), Former Asst. Director General, AADHAR educated the participants about Women Rights that are encapsulated in the Indian Constitution. He mentioned that all the human rights are clearly mentioned as Fundamental Rights from Article 12 to 35 in the part III of the Indian Constitution. He also said that they are essential for safeguarding the interests of the people and are considered the backbone of the country.
He explained these fundamental rights with examples from the society and linked to Women Rights. When fundamental rights provide freedom of movement to everyone, why are women aged 10 to 50 not allowed into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala? He explained to the participants that though the law states that customs which are being followed for a pretty long time are valid and legal, they cannot contradict the fundamental rights that are mentioned in the part III of the constitution. Hence, the Supreme Court gave a judgement that even women who are aged 10 to 50 can enter into Sabarimala temple as it is their fundamental right. He mentioned few more examples that clearly illustrate that though the law states certain legal principles; they cannot contradict with the fundamental rights. And all humans fall inside the frame work of Indian Constitution without and gender disparities. Hence Women Rights are protected through various forms by the Constitution of India. The laws made by the governments either centre or state are made with a perspective of men because, the percentage of representatives are more male. Hence, though the Constitution protects the right of women, when it comes to implementation or outlook, women are not benefitted. He also mentioned that whenever fundamental rights are snatched away from a person, they can approach the Supreme Court and High Court through Article 32 and Article 226 respectively to restore their fundamental rights. He concluded his speech saying that knowledge about the Constitution of India is most important awareness that everyone should have in this country as it protects the rights that even religion could not protect.
Personality Development
Dr. Siddoji Rao, International Ford Fellow (USA) and Convener of SC, ST Officers forum inspired the participants on the topic of personality development. He stressed the need for positive thinking as part of one’s personality. He analysed the personality of an individual as having two components of talent and intelligence. Of these two aspects, talent is genetic while intelligence can be acquired by anyone through hard work and study. He further explained that the people can be divided into two categories, namely, traditional and modern. The traditional category of people blindly follows the existing social patterns of living without questioning, while the modern category of people tries to understand and analyse their way of life.
It is this second category of people who contribute for the development of the society. He also mentioned that people who think about rights only and doesn’t contribute to responsibilities are unsuccessful people. Most of the people claim rights while forgetting responsibilities. But a balanced person first thinks of responsibilities and such people are willing to work hard, sacrifice and contribute. The most successful people are ones who contribute to responsibilities more than demanding for one’s own rights. For gaining knowledge and insights, it is necessary to understand and analyse an issue and study it deeply. He advocated that everyone should cultivate scientific spirit, democratic values and show empathy towards others, particularly the marginalized sections.
Child Rights
Shri Venkat Reddy, National Convenor, MVF educated the participants about Child Rights. He enthused all the participants to recollect their best memories about their childhood. He mentioned that child rights are human rights of children who are below the age of 18. He explained several examples of how children are being refused their rights in different environments. He stressed that child rights are fundamental human rights that recognize the inherent dignity of every child and ensure their protection, development, and participation in society. He explained that in India, a nation with a diverse population and varying socio-economic conditions, the issue of child rights is critical. The government, along with numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs), has made significant strides toward safeguarding these rights. However, challenges remain that impede the full realization of child rights. He narrated the example of a child who called the child line number that was scrolling in the television. When the NGO people approached her, they realised that she belonged to a well settled and well-educated family in a posh locality in Hyderabad. When asked her what the problem was, she narrated that she was being neglected by her parents and they never took her to any functions. When further intervened, she said that she was dark skinned and hence the family felt insecure to take her to any functions. He explained in detail the key child rights in India are: Right to Education, Right to Protection, Right to Health and Right to Participation. He also stressed on challenges that we face in realising the child rights. Poverty and Socio-Economic Disparities where a major population lives in poverty, which directly impacts children's access to education, healthcare, and basic necessities is one of the primary challenges for child rights. He also explained how cultural and social norms which are deep-rooted in our culture often prioritize certain gender roles and traditions that disadvantage girl children and marginalized groups.
Gender discrimination and social stigma can prevent children from accessing their rights. Insufficient enforcement of laws and impact of urbanisation & capitalism have also affected child rights. Despite all these hurdles, he mentioned that, NGOs play a crucial role in advocating for child rights. They work on the ground to raise awareness, provide education, and offer support services. He concluded his speech by saying that child rights in India are enshrined in a robust legal framework; however, the challenge lies in translating these rights into reality. Addressing the socio-economic barriers, strengthening law enforcement, and fostering a culture that prioritizes children's well-being are essential steps toward achieving this goal. The journey toward realizing child rights is on-going, and collective efforts from the government, civil society, and communities are crucial in making a lasting impact.
The training was concluded with Shri Jhansi Geddam explaining about the ways forward and action plan for up-coming months. Women Collective Leaders, Youth Leaders from Telangana, Vijayawada District Co-ordinators Divya Vani and Roja, Telangana State Coordinator Susanna, Ranga Reddy District Coordinator Sridevi and National Co-ordinator Jabali Amancherla coordinated in the training.
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