Financial Freedom

Financial Freedom

 During the economic downslide and plunging of the world economies, most of the world countries faced hard times. India is not an exception to this. Added to this, we have lot of domestic issues: Rising prices of essential commodities, job losses, illiteracy, corruption, scams, natural calamities, security issues and this time unlike the y2k problem (which hit only the IT sector), it affected every known industry- Real Estate, Manufacturing, Banking, Financial sector etc.

 By the way, what have all these economic factors got to do in a blog concerning Women issues? Yes, there is a relation or rather correlation. With minimal to no insurance coverage, pension protections and unemployment benefits coming their way from the government, how are the Indian families able to cope with the effects of inflationary surges, rising prices of essential commodities and payment of higher schools fees and daily bills?

 It is because of the WOMAN in every home.

 Wondering how? 

 They plan, run the family within the budget and modify their requirements towards the changing situations. Whether she is educated or not, her financial acumen is laudable. Not everyone reads Chanakya Arthasatra or Financial books, but we are taught the habit of savings, - kiddy banks from childhood and buying gold as an investment. These two made us tide over the financial tsunami to some extent. The conservative approach and efficient financial management by every woman in every home cannot be ignored.

 Financial Freedom is not only earning for oneself and being self-reliant but working and planning to use the home budget in a systematic way and also secure the future of the home and country efficiently.

 We have many great and successful women around .This is one side of the story. One the other side are women struggling to make the two ends meet and are also being exploited by their near and dear ones for more money. Not only in case of laborers but also women in some highly educated and rich families do not have power to spend what they earn, leave alone their husband’s income. 

 Why this disparity?

 Who is responsible? 

And where does the solution exist?

 Are the women responsible? 

Or her environment, society, Government, Level of education or Culture responsible? 

 Let us examine each one in detail. 

 We are basically a Patriararchial society except some places like Kerala. In a recent study by FAO it is said that women owning agricultural land in India is only 9.2% out of the total land owners of 116 lakhs.(Courtesy: Telugu Newspaper Eenadu dated 22.02.2010). Society and family are all the more responsible for such a status and sometimes low confidence levels of women. This weakness has to be overcome. Both Men and Women need to be responsible towards running the family. In poor families where people are struggling for basic needs, it is the woman who is the chief bread earner but everything is usurped by the male member for his habits like gambling, alcohol consumption etc. Children who grow up in such an atmosphere cannot be expected to achieve success. Government does give some support but always there is huge gap between the supply and demand. Education and Financial freedom do go hand in hand but are not directly proportional to each other. We have always some aberrations at individual level. In some instances, we see more financial freedom enjoyed by a daily wager in a slum area than a highly educated job holder in a developed country. This aspect has to be talked, discussed and boundaries set clear for not only the financial well being of the family but the country and world over. 

We may think, is it possible or are we dreaming of an utopian situation?

 Yes, we can. 

 When our President being a woman can fly Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet aircraft at supersonic speed of about .9 Mach( Approx 900 km/hour) at that age and show us that we are strong in achieving what we think, why can’t we sensitize people and our families to give financial freedom for more women. [​IMG] "But let me tell you that I have full faith in the ability of women to perform and that they have capacity and capability to perform excellently. I have no doubt about their capability,"74-year-old Patil told reporters after the flight. (Courtesy: Times of India, 26 Nov 2009.) 

 We have all the more great reason to celebrate this International Women’s Day in a big way.

Women of Substance

Women Empowerment has always been an issue which tops of list of many a discussion forums and seminars and also a widely discussed public issue in Government circles too.

Is providing Reservations the only solution to Empowerment?

In India we have provided this scheme by 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution for Panchayats and Municipalities by providing 33 % reservation to Women .The elected members of local bodies are expected to perform their functions with due diligence and obedience to the Constitution and law of the land with fear or favor.

Though they are the elected representatives and dejure authority to run the Office of Panchayat and Local urban bodies, the defacto power is enjoyed by the spouses of these women in majority of places.
This is leading to lot of corruption, redtapism and nepotism. Systems are collapsing and persons with no power are calling the shots.

The reason for this,

1 Patriarchal society.
2 Low confidence levels of women
3 Position is treated as kingdom and as though entire family have the right to divulge in elected positions.
4 Lack of strong women with independent thinking.

Just imagine , if a women pilot of an airline is unable to attend office, can her spouse run the airline on her behalf or can he assist her as co-pilot. Will she give him the control to power steer ?
Result will be too dangerous to imagine also.

Than why should a women elected member give her powers to her spouse and family as though it is a" gift" earned to please her better half?
Interference in the duties and Offices by persons other than appointed by law should be taken seriously and they should not have eligibility even to enter the meetings and proceedings of the office. If proven, their should be a provision legally to punish them.

Of late the head of a big city corporation has requested the Govt. to appoint her spouse as private secretary. This shows the low self esteem of the woman elected and such people should be barred from contesting elections.
It is a disgrace to the capabilities of woman and a bad example for younger generation.

If such women are not capable of taking simple decisions , how can people believe that such people can be true guardians of the national exchequer.

What is lacking and where are we falling short?

1 Education
2 Value system
3 Clear demarcation of home and work affairs.
4 Silver lining though minute should be visible especially for people in public domain.
5 Enhancing Leadership skills.
6 Of all , true love for public service and loyalty to the Nation.
7 Proper exposure to ground realities.
8 Upholding the dignity of Office held.

Let us hope, before the Parliament passes the Women's Bill, at least women who nurture a dream of becoming big in public life , set their priorities right and balance the Work-Life aspect with more maturity and be firm and assertive while taking decisions and not make Offices their Living rooms.

In fact, if more women of such breed are present, we do not need Reservation at all and we can garner more than 50% in every field more than the proportion in the total population.

Bravo , Madam President

Flying high in career is an achievement, but flying high in ambitions with not letting age come as a hinderance is an achievement in itself.

Our first woman President of India Smt Prathibha Patil has one more first in her career- by becoming the first Indian Woman to fly in the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet aircraft at supersonic speed of about .9 Mach( Apporx 900 km/hour).

"But let me tell you that I have full faith in the ability of women to perform and that they have capacity and capability to perform excellently. I have no doubt about their capability," 74-year-old Patil told reporters after the flight. (Courtesy: Times of India, 26 Nov 2009.)


Her strong determination and will power defying the physical barrier of age has lot to tell about the person she is.
No dream is unachievable . We need the zeal and vision to make it into a reality.

This will definitely motivate more women to take up challenging positions which require more endurance .

Thankyou Madam President for becoming an icon in the eyes of younger generation and especially women.