6.

# boycott Surf Excel

Boycott Surf Excel:
Detergent brand faces
backlash for ad
promoting Hindu-
Muslim harmony
In the ad, a young Hindu girl, dressed in a white t-shirt,
chooses to get stained in Holi colours in order to protect
her young Muslim friend who has to go to the nearby
mosque to pray.
Holi ke din dil khil jaate hain, rangon mein rang mil
jaate hain gile shikwe bhool ke doston, dushman bhi
gale mil jaate hai (As the colours blend with each
other, on the day of Holi everybody is happy. As the
colours blend with each other, even enemies keep
aside their differences and hug each other)", so goes
the lyrics of one of the most iconic Hindi songs that
celebrates the festival by acknowledging its spirit of
togetherness.
Detergent brand Surf Excel, known for its heart-
warming advertisements, recently tried to do
something similar with its latest Holi special (colours
that bring us together) campaign. Under this
campaign, the brand released an advertisement
created around the Hindu-Muslim unity theme and
instantly faced flak for the concept.

The advertisement ends with its classic tagline: "Daag

acche hain. Agar kuch achha karne mein daag lag
jaaye toh daag achhe hain. (Stains that come as a part
of a good deed are good stains)." With the
advertisement, Hindustan Unilever, owner of Surf
Excel, tries promoting religious harmony and bringing
people together with the power of colours.

On Twitter, however, the campaign has faced the

wrath of users who feel that the ad is 'Hindu-phobic'
and wants to showcase that Namaaz is more
important than Holi. Twitter is filled with tweets
criticising the ad under the hashtag boycott Surf
Excel.
A social-media campaign against a brand of washing powder in India has
raised eyebrows by taking an accidental sideswipe at a Microsoft app.
The advert for Surf Excel uses the upcoming Hindu spring festival of Holi to
illustrate a story about cross-communal harmony, India's Telegraph
newspaperreports.
The advert shows a girl on a bicycle enjoying the popular Holi practice of
being pelted with balloons full of coloured paint and water, then taking a
small boy dressed in pristine white Muslim clothes to prayers at his
mosque before promising to play Holi games with him afterwards.

The ad received more than ten million views and 100,000 "likes" on
YouTube, but angered some viewers.

'Colours unite'

Critics of the advert have organised complaints against Hindustan Unilever

Ltd (HUL), who make Surf Excel, accusing its Colours Unite (Rang laaye
sang) advert of being "anti-Hindu" and "anti-national".

They have posted pictures of used HUL products like flattened toothpaste
tubes along with the hashtags #BoycottSurfExcel and
#BoycottHindustanUnilever.

But some of their followers have confused the washing powder with
Microsoft Excel, giving the mobile spreadsheet app single-star ratings on
the Google Play Store - much to the amusement of other social-media
users.
Sanjay Nirupam, the leader of the opposition Congress party in
Mumbai, tweeted: "He who objects to this ad by #SurfExcel is
nothing but against the idea of India. Hatsoff who created this
beautiful film."
Surf Excel Holi ad
draws flak, and
praise
However, many online came forward to laud the brand
for its advertisement and said Holi has always been a
festival for all and the ad truly reflects what it means to
be in India, slamming people who tried to promote hate
online.
Traditionally, Holi has been an obvious opportunity for
detergent companies to advertise their products. But a
latest Surf Excel ad has been portrayed in different
colours despite its seemingly positive take on
communal harmony. The online backlash from some
sections has been so severe that #BoycottSurfExcel
has been trending for a few days now.
Surf Excel’s one-minute ad titled ‘Rang Laaye Sang’
(colours bring us together) features two kids, a little
Hindu girl and a Muslim boy, enjoying Holi with other
kids. The ad shows the girl choosing to get stained with
colours to protect her Muslim friend who has to go to a
nearby mosque to offer namaaz. The ad ends with the
boy entering the mosque, in a pristine white kurta-
pyjama, and promising the girl he’ll join in the
celebrations soon after.

A beautiful story of how the colours of Holi can truly be the

colours of oneness – melting differences & bringing people
together,” the brand wrote while releasing the ad.
Initially, the ad with their motto ‘daag achhe hai’ (stains
are good), garnered a lot of attention online and and
was showered with love and praise for promoting
India’s unity in diversity.
But the negative comments did not take long. Some
argued that the ad was promoting “love jihad” and
dubbed it controversial saying it promotes “Hindu
phobia”. Others questioned the logic of the ad as
namaaz can be offered at home too. Some others were
irked by Holi colours being compared to ‘daag’. A few
even asked Hindustan Unilever, the company which
owns Surf Excel, if they would reverse the gender in the
ad and show it differently.
owever, many online came forward to laud the brand for
its advertisement and said Holi has always been a
festival for all and the ad truly reflects what it means to
be in India, slamming people who tried to promote hate
online.

#SurfExcel how nicely the ad reflects the most unique

ethos of India 🇮🇳, harmony in diversity and mutual
coexistence. India needs more uniting ideas like this in
times like this when people want to creat
divide.#lovetheSurfExceladd
Love Jihad or Romeo Jihad is the alleged effort by Muslim men in
targeting women belonging to non-Muslim communities for conversion
to Islam by feigning love.[1][2][3][4] The concept rose to national attention
in India in 2009 with alleged conversions in Kerala and Karnataka.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJznFxWNjH8

Ever been in a situation where a friend or acquaintance has just made a

grand public gesture? Everyone is congratulating and praising her for being
such an amazing human being so you force your face into a rictus of
admiration. But the only word you hear inside your head is: ridiculous.
A young girl on a cycle drives up and down her neighbourhood, daring one
and all to do their worst with Holi colours. All the children take the bait and
drench her in colour. Then, when she determines they have run out of
supplies, she calls out to her Muslim friend and gives him a safe pillion ride
to the mosque. Thanks to her strategy, he can arrive spotless to offer namaz.
And the ad reminds you, as previous iterations of this campaign have, that in
some cases, daag achche hai (stains are good).

boycott Surf Excel for “insulting Hindus".

How have Hindus been insulted in this ad? The answers are various. Why
must the pairing have a Hindu girl? Cue promotion of love jihad. Why
must namaz be shown as important? Some people foaming at the mouth the
way detergent makes Bellandur lake foam insist that this ad elevates Islam
above innocent Hinduism. They want some manner of tit-for-tat. A smaller
thread of rage comes from the Muslim quarter objecting to an exponent of
Muslim manhood having to turn to a mere girl, that too a Hindu girl, to be
safe. Talk about emasculation and so on.

Sticking children into ads is the commercial equivalent of the naïve political
thinking that believes the next generation will do it better. But as young
people filled with doubt and uncertainty intuit, there is no guarantee that
anything will get better. How can it be revolution when you are still using
the blueprints of the status quo, as the Surf Excel has, as many of us do?
And sometimes, you leave your youth behind before you realize you have
been cycling on the same predictable path laid out by those you have been
running away from.
 7. Women in combat
Women in combat are female military personnel assigned
to combat positions. This article covers the situation in major
countries, provides a historical perspective, and reviews the main
arguments made for and against women in combat.
For most of human history, people serving in combat were
overwhelmingly male. In a few cases, however, individual women have
been recorded as serving in combat roles or in leadership roles as
queens (such as Queen Boudica, who led the Britons against 

 number of arguments have been raised in defense of military policy that bans
women from combat roles. Below is an overview of, the pros and cons, the key
arguments put forth in support and against the enlisting of women soldiers into
combat units.

CONS OVERVIEW:

There are female servicemembers who have proven themselves to be physically,

mentally, and morally capable of leading and executing combat-type operations;
as a result, some of these Marines may feel qualified for the chance of taking on
the role. In the end, my main concern is not whether women are capable of
conducting combat operations, as we have already proven that we can hold our
own in some very difficult combat situations; instead, my main concern is a
question of longevity. Can women endure the physical and physiological rigors of
sustained combat operations, and are we willing to accept the attrition and
medical issues that go along with integration? – Captain Katie Petronio, US
Marine Corps, served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq

Physical Ability. While the majority of jobs in the armed forces are open equally
to men and women, there are some to which women are just not physically
suited. The standards of physical fitness have been set to suit men, and women
attempting to reach them will over-stretch themselves.  In addition, combat units
engage in activities designed to suit men’s capabilities. Women serving in
integrated units will suffer higher injury rates as a result of this.

Efficiency. Some women will be able to meet the required standards, but most
will not. While integration of women into combat is possible for those qualified,
the small number versus the additional logistical, regulatory and disciplinary costs
associated with integration do not make it a worthwhile move.
Morale & Cohesion. Having women serving in direct combat will hamper mission
effectiveness by hurting unit morale and cohesion.

Military readiness. Pregnancy can affect the deployability of a unit when the
unit has a disproportionate number of women or is understaffed.

Tradition. Men, especially those likely to enlist, maintain traditional gender roles.

In some situations, men are may act foolishly to protect women in their combat
units. Harassment and resentment of the presence of women in a hyper
masculine military subculture would likely become a problem.

Abuse by Enemy. Both male and female prisoners are at risk of torture and
rape, but misogynistic societies may be more willing to abuse woman prisoners.

Career advancement. Men and women are both given opportunities to join the
army, but with the understanding that different roles require different physical,
emotional attributes. This should mean in turn that there are multiple routes to
promotion so that women have equal opportunities without having to fight take
part in combat operations.

PROS OVERVIEW:

My personal experience has been that the (principles) of leadership and team
building apply equally to women as to men. As long as you protect qualification
standards and give no impression that anyone is getting a free ride, integration,
while not without bumps, will be much less dramatic than people envision.
~Major Eleanor Taylor, Canadian Military and the first woman to lead an infantry
company in combat.

Ability vs Gender. As long as an applicant is qualified for a position, one’s

gender is arbitrary. It is easy to recruit and deploy women who are in better
shape than many men sent into combat. It is possible to calibrate recruitment
and training standards to women. Extra pre-training for muscle building can also
be used to reduce female injury rates. In modern high technology battlefield
technical expertise and decision-making skills are increasingly more valuable than
simple brute strength.

Military Readiness. Allowing a mixed gender force keeps the military strong.

The all-volunteer forces are severely troubled by falling retention and recruitment
rates. Widening the applicant pool for all jobs guarantees more willing
recruits. Women, who choose to become active combat soldiers, are unlikely to
shirk their duty by becoming pregnant after a call-up as these women have
willingly joined the army.

Effectiveness. The blanket restriction for women limits the ability of

commanders in theater to pick the most capable person for the job.

Tradition. Training will be required to facilitate the integration of women into

combat units. Cultures change over time and the masculine subculture can evolve
too. Many previously masculine professions have been successfully opened to
women over the past century

Modern warfare and public support. In the modern world of combat

(Afghanistan, Iraq), all women serving in the military are exposed to “front-line
risks”. Support for women serving in the armed forces has not wavered as
warfare has changed, a clear sign that the necessity of women serving in combat
is recognized.

Cultural Differences & Demographics. Women are more effective in some

circumstances than men. Allowing women to serve doubles the talent pool for
delicate and sensitive jobs that require interpersonal skills not every soldier has.
Having a wider personnel base allows militaries to have the best and most
diplomatic soldiers working to end conflict quickly.

Career advancement. As combat duty is usually regarded as necessary for

promotion to senior officer positions, denying female personnel this experience
ensures that very few will ever reach the highest reaches of the military and so
further entrenches sexism. Women have to be given the same opportunities as
men, in the army in order to have the same opportunities they have to be
exposed to the same risks.

NEW DELHI: In a transformational move, the Indian Army is all set to open up combat positions for
women, a gender barrier broken by only a few countries globally. 

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat said the process to allow women in combat role, currently an exclusive
domain of men, is moving fast and initially women will be recruited for positions in military police. 

"I am looking at women coming as jawans. I am going to start it soon. Firstly, we will start with women
as military .. 

He said women will have to show grit and strength in taking up challenges in combat role and shattering
the glass ceiling. 

Very few countries including Germany, Australia, Canada, the US, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France ,
Norway, Sweden and Israel have allowed women in combat roles. 

The roles of military police include policing the cantonments and army establishments, prevent breach
of rules and regulations by soldiers, maintaining movement of soldiers as well as logistic .. 
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/women-to-be-allowed-
in-combat-role-in-army-says-general-bipin-rawat/articleshow/58985397.cms

https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/an-update-on-the-status-of-
women-in-combat
Interest in combat arms occupations among
female soldiers has far exceeded the Army’s
expectations; as of this year, more than 600
women have been recruited for or transferred
to combat occupations, and 12 women have
graduated from Ranger School. 
The debate of whether women should be inducted and
allowed to be a part of the fighting force of a country’s
military has been on-going for what seems to be forever.
India, which is one of the largest armies in the world, too
resisted this change with concerns of the vulnerability of
women and their physical strength. But now, India is to
join hands with a handful of other countries who allow
female applicants to opt for combat roles.

PROS:

1. Access To Education
Women who would not normally be able to afford school
will be given the necessary resources to be educated
when they join the military. The GI Bill will ensure they
will be given funds to pay for secondary education,
while having a job at the same time. So not only are
women able to go to school, but earn money as well.
Military service also has plenty of benefits and rewards
that women will find very useful and helpful.

3. Showcase Female Skills In Combat

Didn’t they say that what men can do women can do
better? The military and other government branches are
just beginning to understand that being male does not
make a soldier inherently superior. So women who want
to prove they can be equally skilled in combat as men,
would love being in the military service regardless of
the physical and mental stress it entails.

1. Ability doesn’t seek approval of gender.

When we talk about the qualities and characteristics
that need to be present in a soldier, we don’t mention
the gender. How does it matter if the applicant is a
man or a woman as long as he/she possesses the
necessary qualities. Ability doesn’t seek approval of
gender. It’s scientifically proven that women are
more mentally tough than men and hence are better
able to deal to stress. As far as the physical strength
is concerned, women can be very well trained.
Another aspect which people miss nowadays is that
we live in the 21st century where battles aren’t
always fought with swords and guns. There exists
technology and if a woman is technologically
competent, they are as good as male officers.
2. What men do, women do better.
It is important to understand that even though the
military is always seen as a profession for the men, it
doesn’t make men superior. What is important is skill
and mind you skills can be learned. So if a woman
wants to showcase her abilities, talents and skills in
the combat roles, in spite of being aware of the
mental and physical strain and stress it would cause
her, what is the harm in letting her realizing her
dreams?
3. Influx of applicants leading to a bigger and better
pool of candidates.
Who says patriotism is just meant for men?
Remember Rani Lakshmi Bai, Begum Hazrat Mahal,
Kamala Nehru. These women along with many others
played a vital role in fighting for freedom of our
country. When a country limits a job position to just
men, women are deprived of those jobs, thus
 adversely affecting the pool for recruitment. In a
military where there is no compulsion to join, if a
woman is willing to join the combat roles shouldn’t
she be welcomed? If she has made this decision it’s
safe to say that she is aware of the risks involved.
4. Examples of lady officers at present in the Army.
Let’s take a look at how the lady officers are doing at
present in the Indian Army. For starters, Lt Col. Mitali
Madhumita, was awarded the Sena Medal and thus
becoming the only lady army officer to get a Gallantry
Award for her act of valour in Kabul in 2011. Being
the only Lady amongst thousands of men, Capt.
Aswathy Ganpath was heading jawans who were
much older than her in Ladkah, a high altitude field
posting which isn’t an easy tenure. Lt. General (Mrs.)
Punita Arora of the Army Medical Core is the first
Woman Lt. General of the Indian Army. She also saw
a tough tenure in Fategarh in 1968, as at that time
dacoits were all over the place. Cmdr Gutta Sowjanya
Sree and Lt Vartika Joshi from the Navy and Asst
Cmdt Vasundhara Chouksey from the Coast Guard
have braved the rough seas between Chennai and
Kochi as part of an expedition aboard the INSV
Mhadei under the leadership of Commander Dilip
Donde. All of the examples that are quoted above
have only been possible because these ladies were
given a chance. The women are doing great in the
field of the Army in which they are inducted. Imagine
what all they are capable of and can do if all the roles
would be available to them.

CONS:

1. Physical incapability of combat.

Women are physically incapable of combat. This is a
common reason that is put forth for denying combat
roles to women. The physical strength and fitness for
combat roles is something that women cannot
develop. The trainings are designed in a way that only
suits the men. Thus, women cannot cope up and fit
 the combat roles. Further, it might lead to injuries to
women. It is also unwise to give special treatment to
women as rules in the military are applicable to
everyone without discrimination.
2. Ethical problems.
There have been cases where women in the military
have reported cases of sexual abuse by their
colleagues. Though the Army does take strict and
severe action against such offenders but things could
get worse if they are captured and subjected to
cruelties by the enemies. Some women may be able
to endure this torture while some may not. The
prisoners of war (POWs) often go through unbearable
amount of physical abuse but when it comes to
women, sexual abuse is more likely to occur.
3. The mind-set.
The tradition and belief of combat roles only made for
men is another hindrance. Especially in a country like
India where men have problems and issues accepting
orders from women, such a change might not be
accepted and therefore, resent the idea of women in
combat roles.
4. Family life suffers.
Growing up without a father has implications for the
child but things get worse when the mother isn’t
around too. Becoming pregnant, not being able to
maintain a balance between their family and their
work might be serious problems for women in combat
roles. Going back in service after giving birth might
affect their performance and some women might
develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which
is quite severe in women than in men.
5. Conclusion: It is said that with change comes chaos,
and then comes stability. Imagine the time when the
Army must have allowed the induction of women in
the areas in which they work today. There might
have been questions raised then, chaos might have
occurred. It needs to be understood that no change
occurs overnight. It requires time and it requires a
change in attitude of the society. Change is
 important for progress but the flipside of the change
can’t be ignored too. I guess we’ll just have to wait
and watch where this will go.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon: Meet the first

women to fight on the front lines of an
American war
https://connectusfund.org/9-fundamental-pros-and-cons-of-women-in-combat

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/army-not-yet-ready-for-
women-in-combat-roles-gen-rawat/articleshow/66881672.cms

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-army-women-military-police-
application-newspaper-online-1509711-2019-04-25
According to government data, the Army has 3.80 per cent of
its workforce as women, the Air Force has 13.09 per cent and
the Navy six per cent.

Should women register for the

draft? Experts debate as
Trump administration
challenges court ruling
 8. Role of female farmers in
Indian agriculture
Society is the base for overall development of a nation.
And the society’s structure depends entirely upon the
status and condition of its women. The condition of
women was far better in ancient India. In early period
Aryans treated men and women alike in all religious
rituals and social functions. But condition of women has
declined gradually. Gender is the word used especially for
the female population of the society. This article is an
attempt to define the agriculture status of women in India.

Rural women are responsible for production of more than

55% food grains and comprise 67% of total agricultural
labour force. The role of woman in agriculture varies from
country to country. Asian woman contribute to about 50%
of the food production. In south-east Asia, women play
major roles in sowing, transplanting, harvesting and
processing staple crops like rice. Complementary gender
roles are also found in most areas as in Nepal and India
where women exclusively gather fodder for buffaloes,
cattle and other livestock. Almost all women in rural India
can be termed as farmers, in some sense, working as
agricultural labour, unpaid workers in families and farm
enterprises or a combination of the two.
Gender issues:
Women’s contribution to agriculture, whether it is in
subsistence farming or commercial agriculture, when
measured in number of tasks performed and time spent, is
greater than men. Their contribution in agriculture is aptly
highlighted by a micro study conducted in Indian
Himalayas which found that on a one hectare farm, a pair
of bullocks work for 1060 hours, a man for 1212 hours and
a woman for 3485 hours. Generally, operations performed
by men are those that entail use of machinery and animals.
Contrary to this, women always rely on manual labour
using only their own energy. Not only are women
overworked, their work is more arduous than that
undertaken by men. Further, since women’s work is
largely based on human energy it is considered unskilled
and hence less productive. On this basis, women are
invariably paid less wage despite their working harder and
for longer hours. This makes the woman’s work invisible
Access to resources:
Despite their role as a backbone of food production and
provision for family consumption in developing countries,
women remain limited in their access to critical resources
and services due to cultural, traditional and sociological
factors.
• Access to land: Not even 2% of the land is owned
by women, while the proportion of female heads
continues to grow. Land reforms programme,
together with break-up of communal land holding
have led to the transfer of exclusive land rights to
males as heads of the household which ignores both
the existence of the female headed household and the
rights of married women to a joint share.
• Access to agricultural inputs: Women access
to technological inputs such as improved seeds,
fertilizers and pesticides is limited as they are
frequently not reached by extension services. In
 addition they often lack cash needed to purchase
inputs even when they are subsidized.
• Access to education, training and extension
services: Two- third of one billion illiterates in
the world are women and girls. Available figures
show that only 5% of extension services have been
addressed to rural women, while no more than 15% of
the world’s extension agents are women.
• Access to research and appropriate
technologies: Women farmers’ roles and needs
are often ignored when devising technology that may
cause labour displacement or decrease workload.
Developmental Initiatives:
Efforts have been made by department of agriculture to
incorporate gender issues into development agenda and
ensure full and equitable participation of women in all
agricultural development programmes. In an effort to
‘engender agricultural process’ the DOAC
implemented special programmes/ schemes for women in
agriculture sector, where a composite package of training,
extension, input, managerial and entrepreneurial support
was provided to selected farm women beneficiaries.
Different approaches were followed in all these projects to
provide a complete support package to women farmers.
The technical back-stopping was provided through a blend
of ‘skilled-based’ capacity building exercises coupled
with extension support through “On field
Demonstration”, “Mahila-Goshties” and “Study
Tours”.
Women and Green Revolution: 
The green revolution of 1960 and 1970s with its package of
improved seeds, farm technology, better irrigation and
chemical fertilizers was highly successful in meeting its
primary objective of increasing crop yields and aggregate
food supply. Yet despite its success in increasing aggregate
food supply, the green revolution, did not necessarily
translate its benefits to the lower strata of rural poor
including women. So a gender friendly second green
revolution is to be ushered in.
Some administrative reforms :
The government in partnership with NGO’s has to further
accelerate the process of bringing about these reforms.
1. Full and equal rights should be given to women to own
land and other properties.
2. Ensuring that, women’s unpaid work and contribution
to on-farm and off-farm production should be recorded in
national account.
3. Making appropriate technologies available to rural
women which focus on utilizing locally available materials.
4. Revising legislation which guarantees equal pay for
work of equal value, improving working conditions and
enforcing legal standards.
5. Promoting and increase in number of female extension
functionaries and agricultural researchers
 

Agriculture can be an important engine of growth and poverty reduction. But the
sector is
underperforming in many countries in part because women, who are often a
crucial resource in agriculture and
the rural economy, face constraints that reduce their productivity.

Women make essential contributions to the agricultural and rural economies in all developing
countries. Their roles vary considerably between and within regions and are changing rapidly in many
parts of the world, where economic and social forces are transforming the agricultural sector. Rural
women often manage complex households and pursue multiple livelihood strategies. Their activities
typically include producing agricultural crops, tending animals, processing and preparing food,
working for wages in agricultural or other rural enterprises, collecting fuel and water, engaging in trade
and marketing, caring for family members and maintaining their homes. Many of these activities are
not defined as “economically active employment” in national accounts but they are essential to the
wellbeing of rural households

Many women, in developing countries, are major producers of food. Nearly 63%
of all
economically active men are engaged in agriculture as compared to 78% of
women. It is
observed that women play a significant role in agricultural development and
allied activities
including main crop production, live-stock production, horticulture, post-
harvesting operations
etc. About 70% of farm work is performed by women. Women farmers do not
have equal access
to productive resources and this significantly limits their potential in enhancing
productivity.

3. MAIN CHALLENGES FACED BY FEMALE FARMERS

IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR:

1. Women have unequal land rights. They hardly enjoy land

ownership rights directly in their names. Limited rights or
access to arable land further limits livelihood options and
exacerbates financial strain on women, especially in women-
headed households.

2. Women have limited access to use of productive resources

. 3. Women perform all un-mechanized agricultural tasks and

perform multiple tasks which add more burden to them due to
lack of equipment and appropriate technology

. 4. Women have little control over decision making process,

either inside home or outside home. Without access to capital or
household decision making abilities women lack the resources
that are for their labor stability and stability of their household.

5. Few women holding of agricultural productive resources such

as land, animals and machinery.

6. Poor women farmers are less able to purchase technology to

adapt to climate change due to lack of access to credit and
agricultural services. They often have low productivity due to an
inability to invest in things such as improved seeds and soil
replenishment.

7. Women farmers in agricultural sector suffer from high

illiteracy rate among them. They do not know their legal rights.

8. Women earn less wages, especially in joint, informal and

private sector.
 9. Miss applying some laws and regulations in favour of women
such heritage legislation.

10. Lack of market intelligence and inadequate information

women farmers undee unfavourable situation with weak
bargaining power with the buyers.

Rural women are the major contributors in agriculture and

its allied fields. Her work ranges from
crop production, livestock production to cottage industry.
From household and family maintenance
activities, to transporting water, fuel and fodder. Despite
such a huge involvement, her role and dignity has yet not
been recognized. Women’s status is low by all social, economic,
and political indicators. Women’s wage work is considered a
threat to the male ego and women’s engagement in multiple
home-based economic activities leads to under remuneration for
their work. Women spend long hours fetching water, doing
laundry, preparing food, and carrying out agricultural duties.
The nature and sphere of women’s productivity in the labor
market is largely determined by sociocultural and economic
factors. Women do not enter the labor market on equal terms
when compared to men. Their occupational choices are also
limited due to social and cultural constraints and lack of
supportive facilities such as transport, and accommodation in
the formal sector of the labor market. Women’s labor power is
considered inferior because of employers’ predetermined notion
of women’s primary role as homemakers. As a result of
discrimination against female labor, women are concentrated in
the secondary sector of labor market. Their work is low paid,
low status, casual, and lacks potential upward mobility. The
majority of women in the urban sector work in lowpaying jobs.
 9. Corporal punishments
the physical punishment of people, especially of children, by hitting them
1. Physical Punishment
2. Mental Harassment
3. Discrimination

Corporal punishment or physical punishment is

a punishment intended to cause physical pain on a person. It is most
often practised on minors, especially in home and school settings.
Common methods include spanking or paddling. It has also
historically been used on adults, particularly
on prisoners and enslaved people. Other common methods
include flagellation and caning.

 Corporal punishment in the home, punishment

of children or teenagers by parents or other adult guardians, is
legal in most of the world. 58 countries, most of them
in Europe and Latin America, have banned the practice as of 2018.
[2]

 School corporal punishment, of students by teachers or school

administrators, has been banned in many countries,
including Canada, Kenya, South Africa, New Zealand and all of
Europe. It remains legal, if increasingly less common, in some states
of the United States.

 1. What is Corporal Punishment?

 The Committee on the Rights of the Child in the
General Comment No. 8 defines ‘corporal’ or
‘physical’ punishment as,
“any punishment in which physical force is
used and intended to cause some degree of
pain or discomfort, however light. Most involves
hitting (“smacking”, “slapping”, “spanking”)
children, with the hand or with an implement
……. In the view of the Committee, corporal
punishment is invariably degrading.

In addition, there are other non-physical forms

of punishment that are also cruel and
degrading and thus incompatible with the
Convention. These include, for example,
punishment which belittles, humiliates,
denigrates, scapegoats, threatens, scares or
ridicules the child.”

2. Is Corporal Punishment common in

India?

Yes, two out of three school going children in

India are physically abused says the national
report on child abuse by the Ministry of Women
and Child Development in 2007. The crime is
rampant in every single district of the
country. Two out of three school going children
in India are physically abused says the national
report on child abuse by the Ministry of Women
and Child Development in 2007. The crime is
rampant in every single district of the country. 

Boys are marginally more likely to face physical

abuse (73 per cent) than girls (65 percent).
Corporal punishment in both government as
well as private schools is deeply ingrained as a
tool to discipline children and as a normal
action. But most children do not report or
confide about the matter to anyone and suffer
silently.

3. What are the types of Corporal

Punishment used in Schools?

Corporal or physical punishment is any

 punishment in which physical force is intended
to cause some degree of pain or discomfort
and all other acts leading to insult, humiliation,
physical and mental injury, and even death.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child in the

General Comment No. 8 defines ‘corporal’ or
‘physical’ punishment as,
 “any punishment in which physical force is
used and intended to cause some degree of
pain or discomfort, however light. Most involves
hitting (“smacking”, “slapping”, “spanking”)
children, with the hand or with an implement
……. In the view of the Committee, corporal
punishment is invariably degrading.
 In addition, there are other non-physical forms
of punishment that are also cruel and
degrading and thus incompatible with the
Convention. These include, for example,
punishment which belittles, humiliates,
denigrates, scapegoats, threatens, scares or
ridicules the child.”


5. In India what are the provisions against
corporal punishment?

Article 21 of the Constitution protecting the

‘right to life’ is the first point of reference.  The
Child Rights Charter 2003 of India specifically
states “All children have a right to be protected
against neglect, maltreatment, injury,
trafficking, sexual and physical abuse of all
 kinds, corporal punishment, torture,
exploitation, violence and degrading treatment.”

Prohibition and elimination of corporal

punishment in schools is identified as a priority
in the 2005 National Plan of Action for Children
and the report on child protection in the
National Plan for 2007-2012. The National
Policy on Education (1986, modified 1992)
states that “corporal punishment will be firmly
excluded from the educational systems.”
“17. (1) No child shall be subjected to physical
punishment or mental harassment.
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-
section (1) shall be liable to disciplinary action
under the service rules applicable to such
person.”
 6. How does Corporal Punishment affect the
child?

Children due to fear are often silent and submit

to violence without questioning. They
sometimes show signs of deep hurt in their
behavior but this often goes unnoticed,
perpetuating further violence on them.

More often than not, when a teacher uses

violence on children it is an outburst of his/her
personal frustration punishment. Some of the
conclusions are presented below:
  Is corporal punishment banned worldwide?

Corporal Punishment in schools is prohibited in

 nearly half of the world’s countries. In the past
20 years, eighteen countries have enacted
laws prohibiting corporal punishment in all
settings, namely in the home, in schools,
alternative care and in the judicial system.

It is of interest to note that since the turn of the

century, ten countries have officially prohibited
all forms of corporal punishment
http://unicef.in/Story/197/All-You-Want-to-Know-About-Corporal-Punishment

https://www.ucanews.com/news/indian-school-removes-priest-over-corporal-punishment/85160

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/state-editions/---corporal-punishment-leads-to-loss-of-
confidence---.html

10 Voting Rights and

availability of Nota
The main objective of the ‘NOTA’ option is to enable electors who do not wish to vote for any of the
candidates to exercise their right to reject without violation of the secrecy of their decision. The voter
must be eligible to register a vote of rejection if they feel that the contesting candidates do not deserve
to be voted for. The Right to vote granted to all citizens must allow the vote of disapproval. 

4. Disillusioned by the political set-up, you do

not want to choose any candidate in the fray
or support any political party, but still want to
exercise your right to vote. In such a
situation, does the ballot paper or electronic
voting machine (EVM) offer any option? Yes,
they do — ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA)
option.
5. NOTA was first used in India in 2009.
Chhattisgarh was the first State in the
country to give this right to the voters in the
local government elections. In the 2014
general elections, the maximum number of
NOTA votes were polled in Uttar Pradesh. For
the country as a whole, NOTA garnered 1.08
per cent of the total votes in the 2014
elections.
6.What prompted NOTA?
7. On September 27, 2013, the Supreme Court
directed the Election Commission to make
the necessary provisions in ballot papers and
EVMs to provide a ‘None of the Above’ option
for voters who come to the polling booth and
decide not to vote for any of the candidates
in the fray. This was to enable voters to
exercise their right not to choose a candidate
while maintaining their right to secrecy.
8.How do you maintain secrecy?
9. The apex court had held that the provision
under which one not wishing to vote for any
candidate had to inform the Presiding Officer
about one’s decision was ultra viresunder
Article 19 of the Constitution (protection of
certain rights regarding freedom of
expression) and Section 128 (maintenance of
secrecy of voting) of the Representation of
the People Act, 1951.
Where do you find the NOTA symbol?
10. Below the name of the last candidate on
your EVM or ballot paper, there is the button
for the NOTA option. Electors can choose not
to vote for any of the candidates by pressing
the button against NOTA.
11. Is NOTA used for all elections?
12. NOTA is available only for direct
elections such as the Lok Sabha and State
assemblies, not for Rajya Sabha and the
Legislative Council.
13. Does NOTA impact election results?
14. No, it doesn’t. Any percentage of votes
polled for NOTA in a constituency does not
affect the results of election, even if it has
bagged the most votes. The candidate who
gets highest number of votes after NOTA is
declared the winner. For NOTA to gain
greater sanctity, Rule 64 of the Conduct of
Elections Rules will need to be amended. The
rule stipulates that the returning officer shall
declare the candidate winning the largest
number of valid votes to be elected.
15. Should NOTA be there?
16. Yes, a choice should be given to the
voters. But for it to make a difference to the
quality of candidates fielded, it should be
made a more powerful tool.
17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w65UO2HoGH4