International Women’s Day: Anaemia in women still a tough challenge in Odisha

The International Women’s Day is celebrated across the globe on March 8 irrespective of nationality, ethnicity, cultural or political identity where the women of substance are recognised for their achievements, and excellence from different walks of life. The first Women’s Day was celebrated in 1909 in the USA, where a group of women were honoured for their protest to improve the working conditions in a garment factory. Following year, the day was celebrated in Copenhagen to support and promote the suffrage (the right of women to vote in elections) movement across the globe. These celebrations of women to claim their rights and parity of esteem with their male counterpart started and motivated others in bringing gender equality in society.

There is no denying that no nation or community will develop without acknowledging women and their role in developing the society and family. Women are the builder and moulder of a nation’s destiny. It is extremely unfortunate that they are only acknowledged on certain events such as”16 days of activism”, “International Women’s Day” and other occasional instances. Women folk of today in India are facing numerous problems in everyday life like gender inequality, violence against them, lack of basic healthcare, selective female foeticide, lack of education, child marriage, sexual assaults, and acid attacks. In representing in Government and Parliament, the Indian women only make up 11.3 per cent (62 MPs) in the 543-member Lok Sabha (Lower House). Recent years have witnessed the need for equal rights for women in India but significant and severe malnutrition and anaemia in women is a serious impediment in their overall empowerment. Malnutrition affects the holistic growth and development of a child. Undernourished children often do not achieve their full mental and physical growth and are stunted. Unless the State achieves absolute eradication of malnutrition among its poor and vulnerable, the development of the next generation especially women is next to impossible.

Malnutrition commonly presents as stunting (too short for their age) of growth, wasting and anemia. According to Global Hunger Index, 38.4 per cent of Indians are stunted as compared to just over 1 per cent in western European countries such as Germany. Wasting among children is nonexistent in Australia where as it is astonishingly 21 per cent in India. In Odisha, it is even worse at a staggering 34 per cent (under five years of age).

In the twenty-first century, when our country is making strides in every field, from agriculture to space research, it is pitiable that one in every two women is anemic, every third child is stunted and malnourished and one in every five children is wasted. Equally worrying is 167 women die while giving birth in every 1 lakh population (maternal mortality) as compared to three to four in countries such as Poland, Italy and Sweden.

Similarly, anaemia in women which often results in weakness, diminished physical and mental ability, at risk of infection and even resulting in death (maternal mortality) is very high in India at 53 per cent. In Odisha, anemia is a major health problem among women and children, especially in scheduled tribes. The conscience of the nation was shaken when the tragic news of death of 19 children due to malnutrition in Nagada village of Odisha was reported. In one of the very positive steps to curb malnutrition, the Niti Ayog has identified 115 most backward districts and devised a policy of sustained effort to prevent and reduce the malnutrition, wasting and stunting. However, its successful implementation at grass root level for the desired results is yet to be realised.

To improve the status of nutrition and to address this dire state of malnutrition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the National Nutritional Mission (NNM) on the International Women’s Day from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan to benefit more than 10 crore people.

Gender-based attitudes and the stigma in the patriarchal society is a serious obstacle in true women empowerment and bringing gender-equality. Nearly 60 per cent of women in Odisha believe it is justifiable to be beaten by husband in certain circumstances such as disrespecting in-laws. Equally only 13 per cent of women in the State sought help following physical and sexual violence mostly from family members and this number is staggeringly low when it comes to seeking help from police at only 3 per cent.

More and more women are entering the workforce globally but they are paid less than the male counterparts. The women are over represented in the underpaid or unpaid sector and engaged in less productive jobs. The job creation and employment opportunities in rural and semi-urban areas, specifically supporting women workforce, by both the Government and the private sector will help in bringing true empowerment and facilitate gender equality in our society. Today it is more relevant than ever to celebrate the International Women’s Day in our country to provide equality, safety, justice and rightful place to the 50 per cent of our population who silently and continuously contribute to the wellbeing and the development of the society as mothers, farmers, educators, scientists and lawmakers.

(Dr Biswal is a freelance writer)