Sunday 27 April 2014

The Rights & Responsibilities of Women: The Dichotomy of the Election Commission of India

Since 1997, I have performed duties in various elections such as municipal corporation, gram panchayat, University senate, legislative assembly and Lok Sabha. Initially, the gender sense was not matured enough to perceive patriarchal privileges and prerogatives in social-cultural structures. After literary study of feminist theories and its application in literature and life, i have started believing and without a whiff of doubt that 'patriarchy is a reality' - it does plays vital role in constructing male-female identities.

Every now and then, popular manifestation of such dichotomy is perceived in advertisements, films, tele-serials, social debates and academic discourses. The economical disparity also remain a kind of reality, even in the developed Western world. Whether she is a farm laborer or MD/CEO of MNCs or film star or sports personality, the salaries/remunerations/perks/contract-money is never 'equal' to the male counterpart. There is exception to this in Government sector. Especially, in India, take any Government job, you will not find discrepancy in salaries given to male or female of similar rank and position. In addition, women are given tax relaxation (even if her husband or other family member is tax payer). I have no problem with tax relaxation offered to women in India. It is helps in economic emancipation. But what i cannot understand is why women do not ask for equal work opportunity during elections in India? I have never come across any organization fighting for the rights of women, demanding equal distribution of duties also for women of equal rank and position. Please draw my attention if there are any such demands made by women.
Earlies, when my patriarchal sense was not developed, i thought women are fair sex, they cannot do hard work, they should not be thrust into hardship, she is a damsel in distress - and man is supposed to do all macho-work, all hardships, field work etc. Now, i read all these as social construction of identities. So, we should abstain from such socio-cultural construction of identities. A fair and square opportunities should be given to one and all, irrespective of their gender when any Government organization is given responsibilities or duties to the workforce.

During all the elections, I have experienced that the so - called tough jobs of Zonal officer or Presiding officer are 'all-male' tasks. Rarely, any woman is offered these 'tough' duties. I do not think that these are really 'tough' tasks that women cannot do it. These 'revolver ranis' can do it. There is no need to wait for women NGOs cry foul.
Then, why is Election Commission of India (ECI) not fair enough in distribution of duties? Why does ECI believe in Victorian dichotomy?
See these photographs of a few trainings for the staff members for Lok Sabha 2014. You will rarely notice a single woman in these images. 
* Why should we deny women their rights and responsibility to perform pious duty in this festival of Democracy? 
The largest democracy of the world is celebrating the festival. The women of India should not be denied their rights and responsibility to perform duties in Election. 
* How long should we consider it as the privilege and prerogative of Man? 
Let women be the part of democracy! 
Give them equal rights and responsibilities
Election 2014 Training - 1 at Samaldas Arts College, Bhavnagar. 28 Feb 2014

Election 2014 Training - 2 at Samaldas Arts College, Bhavnagar. 22 April 2014

Election 2014 Training - 3 at Medical College, Bhavnagar. 26 April 2014

Election 2014 Training - 3 at Medical College, Bhavnagar. 26 April 2014
Election 2014 Training - 3 at Medical College, Bhavnagar. 26 April 2014


Election 2014 Training - 3 at Medical College, Bhavnagar. 26 April 2014
!
Training of Presiding Officers at GEC, Bhavnagar (8 Nov 2015) 


       These are the comments posted on FaceBook. Resharing to keep it for readers,as on FB, things get drowned in the wave of time.
  • Chandresh Parmar I agree with you Sir. Why not reservation in duties??? 
    1 hr · Unlike · 1
  • Jaydev Bhola Dilip Barad...women professors have been assigned poll duty in ahmedabad
    1 hr · Unlike · 2
  • Dilip Barad Normally it is softer ones. Is this time the so - called tougher ones like Presiding Officers or Zonal officers or . . . Jaydev Bhola, Pls throw some light.
    1 hr · Like
  • Jaydev Bhola Dilip Barad....rather softer ones like PO..1 and POs......the argument advanced was that Pre.Off. duty involves night shift plus prolonged hours,hence women were exempted 

    On a lighter note Dilipbhai ...I have both the duties in my home...!
    59 mins · Unlike · 2
  • Dilip Barad Jaydev Bhola: that's the concern . . . tough ones goes to the man. . . The task without responsibilities goes to woman - PO1/PO2/Ink the finer tip etc.
  • Dilip Barad Why is EC of India so sympathetic towards women - this is just an example of how socio - cultural phenomenon conditions n constructs n controls identities. 
  • Jaydev Bhola That too when you have Anita Karwal as the Chief Election Commissioner of Gujarat
    49 mins · Unlike · 1
  • Dilip Barad Jaydev Bhola: how can Anita Karwal escape her socio - cultural conditioning? We all are robots (puppet is medieval metaphor) - we think/act with respect to our programming...
    • 4 hrs · Edited · Like
    • Vishwas Joshi We have internalised this conditioning. Therefore I have never come across frmale collegues complaining about it. On the contrary, they are happy to be third PO.
      4 hrs · Unlike · 2
    • Hirva Vora I am of the opinion that women have been responsible for this because at some extent they themselves have been running away from these duties. In this case the ancient and the very notion of gender discrimination plays a vital role and conditioning of state of mind as well. If they have been deprived of their rights is truth then they have made themselves excluded is another reality. I have seen women who are teachers denying responsibilities of teaching in 12th and prefer to teach in 11th just because they do not have to go to check papers. They have accepted that, "who would prefer to go. Facilities aren't provided properly . It would be difficult for women to SURVIVE in that type of condition. " Some duties have been divided from the ORIGIN. It is like rooster coop. It needs to be broken down to peep out from it.
      4 hrs · Edited · Unlike · 2
    • Geeta Sahu the scene in mumbai was quite different. there were equal or more no of women who were doing election duty. infact, they were made to stay back till midnight till the machines were submitted, no1 seemed to be bothered about their security while travelling back home at that hour.
      3 hrs · Unlike · 3
    • Vimal Shah · Friends with Jagdish Joshi and 15 others
      U will sound it funny but many of the women professors of aau, at the time of gujarat elections, requested tht they shouldnt be giving election duties as they are already loaded with lots of work. The concept of democracy and election as featival may be colourful for debates and discussions but on the ground it sucks! 
      Why teachers and professors are given this sort of tasks? Isnt it enough that we are controllig and molding their naughty and abusive children? 

      I just dont like the whole idea of involving respected teachers in this thing!
      3 hrs · Unlike · 4
    • Geeta Sahu prof barad ...the task of PO1 and PO3 are of great responsibility ! the polling agents in the booth keep a track of number of voters who have voted ( male/female). hence, one has to be alert and cant leave ones place through out the day. if the PRO is an idot, then others team members have to run the show !
      2 hrs · Unlike · 2
    • Shobhana Nair Dilipbhai, probably men are egoistic n might have problems taking orders from female presiding officers:) Anita Karwal might be facing a similar situation everyday. On a more serious note, I personally believe in equality but the state should provide basic amenities n security for women??? Don't you think so...
      2 hrs · Unlike · 3
    • Prashant Chauhan Women of India do perform the election duty with all their comforts being taken care of. They usually perform as PO-3.
      35 mins · Edited · Unlike · 1
    • Dilip Barad Geeta SahuPrashant ChauhanShobhana Nair: I have faith in the potential of woman. If they can lead MNCs as managers, being Presiding Officer or Zonal officer is just a child's play. Woman can do but Man don't want to give then chance to prove their stuff. so, woman should ask for more challenging tasks. Comparatively, there is more responsibility with Presiding Officer than the followers in a polling booth. I think this duty should be equally distributed without gender bias. . . and once women will start performing such tasks, facilities will improve - security also will be taken care of. Cinema theatres, call centres are well protected - Presiding officers are given better security.
  • Geeta Sahu Till last year women were given PROs job. But the PRo is expected to stay overnight on the previous day. Women refused to do so.Hence this year men have been given PRO and women all other posts.
    18 hours ago · Unlike · 2
  • Shobhana Nair Dilipbhai, I strongly feel that women should be given equal opportunity to serve the nation and men to serve their respective families. But it doesn't happen. Today, when women have made a space for themselves, its been tough. Woman's modesty has been outraged in their homes, workplaces, buses, lifts etc by friends, relatives, bosses... How can a polling booth with strangers be a safer place during night??? Our govt. machinery has failed to provide security to women. This is every woman's right. Let the govt own up their responsibility first. Women should continue to receive such privileges till then. Right???
    11 hrs · Unlike · 3
  • Sunil Sharma This issue will be taken by some male out of jealousy and some of male by sharing authority and responsibilities. When Indra Gandhi, Sonia , Mamta, Susma, etc. can run parties and manage their party workers in efficient way, then this election duty is a very paltry issue for them. As there are many men who are running off from the election duties - election duties are taken as mandatory and in negligence of duties, affect the govt. services ,all Scot off the duties. It shows that we are not performing our routine duties with all responsibility.Otherwise this escapism would have not developed. Ladies are more prove to such threat, hence they also not demand by force such duties to perform. Secondly , do our political parties faith in Women ? I think they do not. Otherwise candidate lists would have been contained more ladies. The issue is not of sex but of mentality. Govt. employees women will also run away from such duties , when allot such duties under the veil of sick certificate....
  • Chirag Dhandhukiya did any woman raise her voice for this? no. Y. when it comes to perks, v r equal,but in responsibility- v r women! ( i m not against them. i do love them)
  • Geeta Sahu Neither did any man raise his voice against women being expected to stay with men (PRO) past midnight for the submission of those damn machines !!

Saturday 15 March 2014

Memorabilia 2014: The Memory Book

Every year, students publish a Memory Book named 'Memorabilia' on the Annual Day of the Department of English (Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University) when the final year students are bid formal farewell. It was released by the guest of the Annual Function Prin. Dr. Sunil P. Sharma.
Principal S. P. Sharma inaugurating the function. 15 March 2015


 
Prin. Sharma addressing the students after releasing Memorabilia 2014 (15 March 2015)
These students edit a booklet - which carries various creative & critical writings of students, along with message of the Head of the Department (attached below this Memorabilia on this blogpost) and other information. Have a look at Memorabilia 2013-14:


  

From the Desk of the Head of the Department: Prof. Dilip P. Barad
Dilip Barad


Dear Friends,

Namaskar!

There is always a curious feeling at the end of the academic year. It makes my heart a bit saddened to see that the people with whom you shared so many minutes, hours, days, weeks and months are going to depart! At the same time, it feels heart with joy, happiness, hope and optimism – these young people are going to make the corners of the world, wherever they will go, a bit brightening and beautiful. J

The fifteen students, who are passing out in April 2014, are full of talent and marvelous capabilities to work wonders in the world. They all have shown the spark within them, the glimpse of the sparkle, which illuminated time and again, during last two years, feels my heart with optimism about their future career. It gives confidence to see that wherever, in what-so-ever direction they will travel, they are bound towards the destination, which stands to greet them in the arms of success and happiness. J

I would like to mention a few names who worked so hard, sparing their personal times from learning, to see that some of the traditions and conventions of the Department of English are carried out smoothly.

The Library – which is the backbone and life blood of academic institution was very efficiently taken care of by Bhumi Vajani and Kashmiraba Jadeja. Without their dedication and sincerity, no students, research scholars and teachers would have been able to make use of library resource.
The small but beautiful vicinity surrounding the Department building is pleasing to eyes only because of the tree plantations and the care taken by Nidhi Kunvarani, Bhavana Baraiya and Vibhuti Bhatt. They organized two One-Day Gardening events. The  Memory-Tree Plantation and Tree-Guards for protection was planned and effectively carried out by all the students under their guidance. J

The Notice Board is the mirror of the culture and tradition of the academic institute. The ideas shared on the Notice Board reflect the intellectual thinking capacities of the teachers and students homed in the building.  It also is the space to represent students’ creativity, innovation and ingeniousness. It also is the space were history of the events where students’ participated and performed to give good name to the Department and the University is documented in form of photographs. This space was very well managed by Deepti Joshi. She took meticulous care and consideration in managing the space for creativity, innovative ideas and information sharing. L

One of the unique features of our Department is Daily Schedule. The students get an open stage to speak, to share, to express, to converse with the class on the topics of their interest, on their creative writings, on opinions they build on contemporary issues / events, their reviews on books, movies, websites, also a platform to sing songs, to recite poems . . . and whatever talent they have to display. This is considered as very important daily activity where, in real sense, a lot of learning happens in terms of gaining self-confidence and improving the level of self-esteem. It also helps in identifying the real self. Hetalba Gohil and Vibhuti Bhatt administered this activity to the best of their capacities. But for a few days, when I was out of town for some academic extension and on the days of extra lectures, where in this activity faced some hiccups and bumpy road, it was quite well planned throughout the year. L

As the Department makes extensive use of Information and Communication Technology in teaching and learning process, it requires a dedicated team of students to take care of projectors, sound systems, laptops and PCs in language lab. Yashpalsinh Gohil, Pratipalsinh Chudasama, Devendra Joshi and Deepti Joshi tried their best to see that things ran smoothly whenever technological tools were required. During the visit of Language Lab by school children, they took great care with the help of Heeral Bhatt, Bhavna Baraiya, Hitesh Parmar, Saryu Baraiya, Sejal Vaghela and others to see that all the systems ran efficiently. J

Annual Academic Picnic is yet another event, which is a part of the tradition of Department. It gives opportunity to students to understand the milieu in which we are living, breathing, learning and growing. All geographical locations, the temples, the forts, hill-top shrines, forest etc have its unique feature. This time students under the leadership of Devendra Joshi and Yashpalsinh Gohil planned the picnic to places like Ghela Somnath, Minal Devi Shrine, Hingolgadh Nature Interpretation Centre, Sarangpur Hanumanji Temple and Kundal Swaminarayan Temple. It was yet another memorable day! J

It was great to see that students very actively participated in Teachers’ Day, Navratri Day and in celebration of Birthdays’ of all the students. This year Avani Dave and Kashmiraba Jadeja quite ably managed all these celebrations.

Project work is an integral part of academics at Post-Graduate level. It was great to see that Aneri Thakar and the group of students (Devendra Joshi, Pratipalsinh Chudasama and Deepti Joshi) did quite a good work in Project on ELT. It is expected that more of such research projects are done by students in future. J

Amidst all the works, activities and events, there was one very creative project undertaken by Prakruti Bhatt. She has a beautiful skill in painting murals. Murals, which are very cost effective – with the help of earthen things as pigments, she can paint murals, which are very attractive and give wonderful looks to the walls of Classrooms and Offices of the Department. Under her aegis, Hirva Vora, Deepti Joshi and Heenaba Zala (Visiting Faculty) worked on several holidays, Saturday and Sundays to beautify walls of the classrooms of the Department. The Department will always remain grateful to Prakruti and all those who helped her in this work. This is one of the most memorable gifts ever given by the students as a part of their gratitude to the Alma Mater. The images of these murals are beautifying the front page of this Memorabilia 2013-14. J J J

It would be injustice to the talent of Yashpalsinh Gohil - in his technological expertise, especially, in editing videos, if he is not specially mentioned here. He has done wonderful work in editing Kalayatra, Learning through Video Resources and Dr. Kalra-Poet’s video, which are uploaded on YouTube. He had potential to contribute a lot to the Department but because of his personal responsibilities, he was not able to spare enough time. And that’s the real regret for the Department! L

Last but not the least; I am thankful to Hirva Vora for the hard work done for this Memorabilia 2013-14. She maintained records of all the activities undertaken by students, throughout the year, documented every bit and piece of information and went on reminding students to contribute their creativity for this Memorabilia. All the credit for the good things that you find in this Memorabilia goes to her. J

On behalf of Department of English, I am heartily thankful to all these students for painstaking efforts that they have made to see that the name of the Department shines bright in the academia of Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University. J

I, heartily, wish best wishes to all the students. May their smart work and appropriate attitude help them to climb the ladder of success!
It is in the success of the students, that Department finds its success,
It is in the achievement of the students, that Department finds its achievement,
It is in the realization of their dreams, that Department realizes its dreams.

I, hopefully, look forward to the new students to carry on with these traditions and conventions of the Department and make it better wherever they find a space for improvement. J

Oh! Times! Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive,
But to be young was very heaven! (William Wordsworth)
~ Dilip Barad
14 March 2014

J L J