New counselling centre to solve family disputes
CHENNAI: In order to minimise the interference of police in family disputes and to settle them amicably, the city police on Monday opened a family counselling centre at the city police commissioner's office with the co-operation of the social welfare board. The centre, which will work on all days from 10 am to 5 pm, will provide counselling to parties who approach the police with family disputes. It will have three women counsellors from the social welfare department.
Talking to the media after inaugurating the centre today, police commissioner T Rajendran said that a majority of the 60-odd complainants he met on a daily basis were involved in family disputes. "We consider such disputes as a social issue. Most of these issues could be amicably settled without the interference of the police through counselling," CoP said. The police would only interfere when the complainants remain adamant even after the counselling.
Social welfare board chairperson Rokkiah Salma said the interference of the police in minor family disputes was against societal norms. "Most of such issues can be solved through counselling. We have 66 such counselling centres across the state and now we have opened one inside the city commissioner's office," Salma said.
She said the counselling centre was not just for women. Men facing family problems could also approach the centre.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Increase in female births in Delhi
This is heartening news:
Delhi female births rise hailed
Also good to know is the fact that results have been achieved due to activism by some members of medical community. Indeed it seems the right way to bring social change is not merely by enacting laws but by few people starting the change and acting within society.
Delhi female births rise hailed
India's capital, Delhi, recorded more female than male births during 2008, for the first time in many decades.
Latest government data shows for every 1,000 males, 1,004 girls were born in Delhi in 2008.Also good to know is the fact that results have been achieved due to activism by some members of medical community. Indeed it seems the right way to bring social change is not merely by enacting laws but by few people starting the change and acting within society.
Dr Dharm Prakash of the Indian Medical Association, which ran a campaign against aborting girl foetuses, welcomed the report.
"The community has responded to our request that girls should be born," he said.
His organisation started a "Say No To Sex Selective Abortions" campaign and urged doctors to refrain from doing so.
"Our own colleagues have stopped especially after the implementation of the law against it," Dr Prakash said.Friday, August 7, 2009
Polygamy and usage in Muslim community in India
Recent news about lawmakers deliberating on Indian laws related to polygamy and its usage in community:
Bigamy against spirit of islam, says law panel
It is good that lawmakers have finally decided to think about how Indian laws related to polygamy are much behind some other countries which are predominantly Muslim. Given that India has second largest population of Muslims, this is a welcome step to recognize need for just laws which help all members of society.
Bigamy against spirit of islam, says law panel
It is good that lawmakers have finally decided to think about how Indian laws related to polygamy are much behind some other countries which are predominantly Muslim. Given that India has second largest population of Muslims, this is a welcome step to recognize need for just laws which help all members of society.
Rise in divorce cases and feminist response
From news article below, it is reported that divorce cases are on the rise in Bangalore and elsewhere:
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/17764/on-independence-day-harassed-husbands.html
Following are comments in above news from a woman's organisation's representative followed by my commnets:
"There are reasons galore for the rise in divorce cases. Urbanisation and increasing violence against women and financial stability of both husband and wife, to name a few," Dona Fernandes, a member of women rights' group Vimochana, said.
It is such a cliche to say Urbanisation is a cause of higher divorce. Urbanisation and migration lead to nuclear families with family consisting of only husband, wife and children. With in-laws of wife being not being present in the same house, it should actually lead to better adjustment for wife. Then would it not lead to lower divorce rates?
"Today's empowered women are refusing to follow the traditional diktats of Indian marriages. Marriage is the biggest form of displacement for any woman as she has to shift from her home (natural habitat) to her husband's home.
The use of words 'natural habitat' seem so artificial given we are talking about 50% of human species, rather than carnivores or large mammals swimming in deep oceans. Given most women get married and spend more time in marriage than before marriage it is a foregone conclusion that so called 'natural habitat' of 50% or more of human species will be marital home than their pre-marital home. Yet this person insists that women are 'displaced' from their 'natural habitat'. It makes it sound as if an endagered species is being talked about.
"It is the wife who is supposed to adjust. But today's financially strong women are not ready to take undue pressure on their individual existence and thus marital discords are bound to increase," said Fernandes.
Marital discords are bound to increase... yes if feminist organisations have their way! But wait, there is a simpler solution, what if instead of discord both husband and wife chose the path of mutual adjustment! Will that be acceptable to feminists? Please come clear on this since it is a question of 50% or more of human species who you claim to represent.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/17764/on-independence-day-harassed-husbands.html
Following are comments in above news from a woman's organisation's representative followed by my commnets:
"There are reasons galore for the rise in divorce cases. Urbanisation and increasing violence against women and financial stability of both husband and wife, to name a few," Dona Fernandes, a member of women rights' group Vimochana, said.
It is such a cliche to say Urbanisation is a cause of higher divorce. Urbanisation and migration lead to nuclear families with family consisting of only husband, wife and children. With in-laws of wife being not being present in the same house, it should actually lead to better adjustment for wife. Then would it not lead to lower divorce rates?
"Today's empowered women are refusing to follow the traditional diktats of Indian marriages. Marriage is the biggest form of displacement for any woman as she has to shift from her home (natural habitat) to her husband's home.
The use of words 'natural habitat' seem so artificial given we are talking about 50% of human species, rather than carnivores or large mammals swimming in deep oceans. Given most women get married and spend more time in marriage than before marriage it is a foregone conclusion that so called 'natural habitat' of 50% or more of human species will be marital home than their pre-marital home. Yet this person insists that women are 'displaced' from their 'natural habitat'. It makes it sound as if an endagered species is being talked about.
"It is the wife who is supposed to adjust. But today's financially strong women are not ready to take undue pressure on their individual existence and thus marital discords are bound to increase," said Fernandes.
Marital discords are bound to increase... yes if feminist organisations have their way! But wait, there is a simpler solution, what if instead of discord both husband and wife chose the path of mutual adjustment! Will that be acceptable to feminists? Please come clear on this since it is a question of 50% or more of human species who you claim to represent.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Misery Marketing:How Bill Gates Blew $258 million in India's HIV Corridor
From recent news article:
How Bill Gates Blew $258 million in India's HIV Corridor
Some of the things done by Avahan are just what an NGO in India should not do. Hopefully others will do better in wake of so much money spent for little to show.
Some points from the article below with my comments:
Why would a clinic serving illiterate visitors use more English than Indian languages?
Answer: It is a programme designed by misery marketers. Misery marketers want to get funding for their idea so they can enjoy the fat salaries. They want to impress the international funders, not the suffering people they are supposed to serve!
When it started on the ground in 2003, Avahan set for itself three goals: Arrest the spread of HIV/AIDS in India, expand the programme from the initial six states to across the nation, and develop a model that the government can adopt and sustain so that the project could be passed on to it. More than five years later, Avahan hasn’t achieved any of these goals.
This is a clear message that success in social work requires lot more than money. Money is important but it is only so much important. It cannot give anyone the fire in their bellies! That has to come from satisfaction of social work.
Soon, the 15-member team was in place. Ten of them had come from a private-sector background. The team members tackled HIV/AIDS much as they would a problem at McKinsey. Alexander’s office is papered with data and maps containing hundreds of coloured dots plotting the disease across the country. The argot is sheer B-school: Avahan is a “venture,” its HIV/AIDS prevention programme a “franchise,” the sex worker the “consumer.”
Oh really! sex worker is the consumer. The consumer is Queen. So how do we satisfy the queen! Can social work be really strategized by using business school metaphors! The business world is based on transactions which are done by equal parties based on mutual need. Decisions can be made on cost-benefit analysis. In social work, gathering trust of your target people is very important. Even with all good intentions it takes a lot of time and effort to build that trust. It is not so simple that we believe someone needs help, we are there to help, so we just need to go out there and help them.
How Bill Gates Blew $258 million in India's HIV Corridor
Some of the things done by Avahan are just what an NGO in India should not do. Hopefully others will do better in wake of so much money spent for little to show.
Some points from the article below with my comments:
Why would a clinic serving illiterate visitors use more English than Indian languages?
Answer: It is a programme designed by misery marketers. Misery marketers want to get funding for their idea so they can enjoy the fat salaries. They want to impress the international funders, not the suffering people they are supposed to serve!
When it started on the ground in 2003, Avahan set for itself three goals: Arrest the spread of HIV/AIDS in India, expand the programme from the initial six states to across the nation, and develop a model that the government can adopt and sustain so that the project could be passed on to it. More than five years later, Avahan hasn’t achieved any of these goals.
This is a clear message that success in social work requires lot more than money. Money is important but it is only so much important. It cannot give anyone the fire in their bellies! That has to come from satisfaction of social work.
Soon, the 15-member team was in place. Ten of them had come from a private-sector background. The team members tackled HIV/AIDS much as they would a problem at McKinsey. Alexander’s office is papered with data and maps containing hundreds of coloured dots plotting the disease across the country. The argot is sheer B-school: Avahan is a “venture,” its HIV/AIDS prevention programme a “franchise,” the sex worker the “consumer.”
Oh really! sex worker is the consumer. The consumer is Queen. So how do we satisfy the queen! Can social work be really strategized by using business school metaphors! The business world is based on transactions which are done by equal parties based on mutual need. Decisions can be made on cost-benefit analysis. In social work, gathering trust of your target people is very important. Even with all good intentions it takes a lot of time and effort to build that trust. It is not so simple that we believe someone needs help, we are there to help, so we just need to go out there and help them.
Gujarat DGP advises girls to carry pepper powder or knife for self defence
A recent TV report shows this 'interesting' suggestion by a senior police officer:
Gujarat DGP advises girls to carry pepper powder or knife for self defence
Yes. Way to go DGP sahab... if it was coming for a lower rank police officer maybe we could laugh about it. But now it is clear that govt in India wants to wash its hands off from law and order 'burden'. Let people save themselves. After all god helps them who help themselves. So police will help those girls who help themselves.
If a girl faces any problem and comes to police station, educate the police officers to ask her first - "did you not have a pepper spray", "why did not you carry a knife with you?" Did you not watch maanneeya DGP sharing his sage advice on TV for benefit of all?
Gujarat DGP advises girls to carry pepper powder or knife for self defence
Yes. Way to go DGP sahab... if it was coming for a lower rank police officer maybe we could laugh about it. But now it is clear that govt in India wants to wash its hands off from law and order 'burden'. Let people save themselves. After all god helps them who help themselves. So police will help those girls who help themselves.
If a girl faces any problem and comes to police station, educate the police officers to ask her first - "did you not have a pepper spray", "why did not you carry a knife with you?" Did you not watch maanneeya DGP sharing his sage advice on TV for benefit of all?
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Till a pre-nup does us apart
A recent news on pre-nuptial agreements:
Till a pre-nup does us apart
My comments on some points in news:
Says divorce lawyer, Mini Menon, "A pre-nup would be a contract signed by two equal individuals. But in India despite all the education women receive, their access to law and justice is still limited. So the need remains to strengthen the already existing laws for women instead of getting in prenup, which will only benefit a few -- who have property and are financially sound."
...their access to law and justice is still limited. So do you know of an educated Indian man who can get access to police station, lawyers, courts by making a phone call or a simple personal visit? The reality is law and justice are not accessible in India. Doesn't matter you are man or woman, educated or uneducated.
Not everyone is convinced about the need for pre-nups. Some question the sanctity of a marriage that is based on doubts. Socialite Haseena Jethmalani says, "A pre-nup can't help make a marriage work. If anyone feels that a marriage may not work out then may be they shouldn't even get into one."
Yeah that is a brilliant idea. Don't get into something if you have doubt. If a student is not sure he will pass the exam, he should not even appear for it leave alone studying. A job candidate should not even apply for jobs because one can never be sure they will get the job. But of course many head into marriage with closed eyes since society conditions them to... marriage is meant for continuation of society, and that is why society wholeheartedly wants new members to join. Pre-nup or no pre-nup, that fact will not change!
Till a pre-nup does us apart
My comments on some points in news:
Says divorce lawyer, Mini Menon, "A pre-nup would be a contract signed by two equal individuals. But in India despite all the education women receive, their access to law and justice is still limited. So the need remains to strengthen the already existing laws for women instead of getting in prenup, which will only benefit a few -- who have property and are financially sound."
...their access to law and justice is still limited. So do you know of an educated Indian man who can get access to police station, lawyers, courts by making a phone call or a simple personal visit? The reality is law and justice are not accessible in India. Doesn't matter you are man or woman, educated or uneducated.
Not everyone is convinced about the need for pre-nups. Some question the sanctity of a marriage that is based on doubts. Socialite Haseena Jethmalani says, "A pre-nup can't help make a marriage work. If anyone feels that a marriage may not work out then may be they shouldn't even get into one."
Yeah that is a brilliant idea. Don't get into something if you have doubt. If a student is not sure he will pass the exam, he should not even appear for it leave alone studying. A job candidate should not even apply for jobs because one can never be sure they will get the job. But of course many head into marriage with closed eyes since society conditions them to... marriage is meant for continuation of society, and that is why society wholeheartedly wants new members to join. Pre-nup or no pre-nup, that fact will not change!
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