Sravani Sarkar
NewsBits.in
Bhopal: Even as Mother’s Day would be celebrated on Sunday (May 8) with lot of symbolism and pomp, the ground situation for mothers is not so happy in Madhya Pradesh.
One in five rural women (20%) and overall 17% women in the state do not have any say in crucial decisions including that of motherhood.
They can’t even decide what to cook routinely, the report of National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3 that was recently released, says. Bhopal-based NGO Vikas Samvad has analysed the findings of NFHS-3 in the context of women’s and especially mothers’ situation in MP.
“Big schemes or mere symbolisms are of no consequence because the mindset of both society and government is patriarchal, which always gives women secondary status in all spheres of life. The survey data underlines this,” Sachin Jain of Vikas Samvad said.
VIOLENCE DURING PREGNANCY
Another shocking finding is that three in 100 women have to face physical violence during their pregnancy. About 33% women face violence at some time or other at the hands of their husbands.
As for maternal mortality (deaths related to complications of pregnancy or childbirth) – 227 in one lakh women perish in MP while in course of becoming mothers according to data of Annual Health Survey (2012-13).
OVER 70% DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO CELL PHONE
Despite all talks of telecommunication revolution, only 28% women in MP have their own cell phones that they can use, according to NFHS-3. This means that about 72% have no way of personal telecommunication.
Also, over 56% women do not have any property in their name, despite discounts being given for registering properties in their name.
Moreover, despite populist schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, only 37% women have their personal bank accounts that they operate themselves.
Thus, 63% women are totally dependent for economic transactions. Shockingly, only 30% of women labourers get cash wages for their work. The number had reduced by 3% in last ten years since the last NFHS (2) survey of 2005-06.
