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Hyderabad:
Education is the only means to transform and shape the lives of
Muslim women, K. Rahman Khan, Union minister of Minority Affairs,
said while addressing the valedictory function of three day
international seminar on the Status of Muslim Women in Indian
Sub-continent.
The seminar was conducted by Centre
for the Study Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy in MANUU,
Hyderabad on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Khan emphasized the importance of
education to emancipate and liberate Indian Muslim women from the
patriarchal suppuration of the society.
He said that the UPA govt has been
striving to uplift the status of Indian Muslims through many
affirmative actions.
"Many positive changes have been
taking place. Young Muslim women are coming forward and getting
educated because of many governmental incentive schemes launched
by the UPA govt such as pre and post-metric scholarship programs",
he said.
"69 out of 72 recommendations of
Sachar Committee have been accepted by the Govt. of India. A
number of minority students are getting benefited", he said
adding, "Thirty percent of the total scholarships are allocated to
female students."
"The government has allocated 4.5
lack homes under Indira Awas Yojna, but the community is not aware
of this", he said.
The minister emphasized the role of
NGOs to spread awareness about the various welfare schemes and
programs for minority community generally and Muslim women
particularly.
Teesta Setalwad, the eminent social activist, who was the guest of
honor emphasized to change the attitude of society towards
Muslims.
"Generally Muslim mohallas are
identified with names of police stations while Hindu mohallas by
name of school or college. This attitude must be changed", she
said.
She appreciated the women’s role to
change the society and provide safe and conducive atmosphere for
women. "The women are also diabolical in nature, as witnessed in
the godhra carnage where the women politician distributed swords
to kill and rape women. The politician was prosecuted by a female
judge", she said.
She was critical of the media which
is playing a prejudiced role towards the Muslims and other
minorities.
Other speakers such as Prof. Shahnaz
Nabi expressed her views on the sad situation of Muslim women in
the Indian sub continent.
She said that though women have only
fear, grief and bad experiences in their lives, they should come
forward, face the challenge and celebrate the women’s day.
Speaking as guest speaker Prof. Nazmunnisa Mehtab from the
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh said the women subjugation is a
worldwide phenomenon.
She said women are subjugated
worldwide but the condition of Muslim women in Bangladesh is more
acute.
"Fatwa is being misused by so called
mullahs and molvis in Bangladesh. Islamic injections from Quran
and Hadith are being misinterpreted for personal patriarchal
benefits", she said.
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