Women empowerment

Sir,

There has been a loud talk around about empowerment of women. Recently a seminar was organised in the Jammu University Auditorium and the eloquent speakers discussed threadbare the modalities of women being empowered.

Some of the participants laid stress on the fact that for the Women being empowered, the economic independence or fiscal self reliance shall be the pre-requisite. Others stressed that economic self reliance coupled with legislative support of the Govt. would hit the bull's eye. One distinguished speaker expressed the view that women's empowerment had different meaning in the east and altogether the opposite in the west where the fair sex is pressing and agitating vigorously for women's lib, they are not interested in empowerment but liberation.

One of the learned speakers told the audience that the empowerment of women cannot be visualised until and unless there is change of the mindset i.e attitudinal change towards the women.

While explaining the meaning the empowerment a participant told the audience that the empowerment connotes that women and given the authority and liberty to make vital decisions of their life themselves. Whilst on the subject I wish to forcefully highlight the following few points in the context of empowerment of womenfolk.

Women have tremendous energy in themselves, the fact they need to understand and for the matter they don't need the support of male dominated society.

The world cannot operate or function in any semblance of success without the active participation of womenfolk.

Women need to cultivate self confidence and cast themselves into assertive mould.

The saner elements in the community of females need to organise themselves and wage a war against nudity of females for unbridled commercialisation. This is the exploitative trap laid by over ambitious money oriented man.

Women don't need to expose themselves for money and promotion of career. This mindset needs be changed.

They should not consider themselves to be the adversaries or rivals. Competitors of men but actual partners and associates for accomplishment of worldly goals.

They should strive for excellence in education. They should not look for reservation being offered by politicians with narrow mind but organise and mobilise themselves to reach to the position of authority.

Yours etc...
P C Sharma
Trikuta Nagar

Dying Mansar Lake

Sir,

Dating back to Mahabarata period for its origin and continuing to be a major attraction for the tourists who in large number during winter and summer, enjoying a splendid sail in the calm waters of the lake, Mansar exemplifies, the natural richness of Jammu district. This lake is of religious and historic importance. Endowed with certain mystical powers the lake remains an attraction not only for the people outside Jammu but even for those inhabiting the city of temples- Jammu. Many rituals related to Hindu culture such as mundan ceremony are performed here. However it has become a popular picnic spot for the academic institutions of Jammu district (who prefer taking the students to witness the beauty of this lake rather than travelling a far.

But the question that arises is that how far the concerned authorities and the so called responsible citizens inhabiting the area around the lake have endeavoured to maintain the glory of this religious and historical place. The environmentalist in particular have shown a deep concern about the gradual fading or withering beauty of the lake. However, to visualize and analyse the condition of the lake, many concerned departments and institutions apart from the so called responsible authorities do visit the lake and prepare their analyses to enlighten the people and the authorities too, of the alarming situation.

One such step in this direction was also taken by us.

Under the supervision of Prof Isha Suri Dept of Environment Science who organised the field work, Prof Sanjay Kapoor Dept of Chemistry Prof Jasdeep Kour Dept of English, we were taken to Mansar on 30 Nov 2004.

On reaching the spot we visualized and analysed the intricacies of the situation with an undeniable fact that at least some efforts were being by the concerned authorities to beautify the lake. After studying the situation we found certain glaring loophales that called for an immediate attention. For instance it is the roads and unhealthy domestic habits of the inhabitants that needs to be rectified. But most perturbing fact is the gradual pollution of the lake as the people around prefer washing their clothes in that water. Moreover animals are washed and cleaned with the water of the lake. All this is poisoning the water for the aquatic beings thereby disturbing the ecology, of Lake.

Yours etc...
Students of Sant Rocha Singh
Degree College