In Greek mythology, a tribe of women called the Amazons inhabited the island of Themyscira, a world without men. They lived in 1200 B.C. and were immortalised in Homer’s Iliad as the Antianeira — ‘they who fight like men’.
Dr. Surabhi Mittal, senior fellow, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations says, “Policy must be conducive to the changes that are happening. Once married, the women should have a joint title to the land, so that they become eligible for credit, Kisan Credit Cards and other government schemes for small and marginal farmers.” Joint ownership will enable them to access various entitlements essential for commercially viable small scale farming, including horticulture and animal husbandry.
(This story appears in the 25 September, 2009 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
Swami Vivekanand had said that the religion is not with the utensils, and the women are slowly showing it by at least presenting the tea-cups together, though their construct may be different. Other heartening thing is that the technology is also coming to their rescue as reported by the initiative of the Central Institute of Engineering. Micro Credit could be the panacea, as the reports of other studies are also suggesting that more participation of women in the economic activities would be for the benefit of all.
on Oct 4, 2009