The perspectives on gender sensitivity need to be seen through the circumstances of individuals who are addressed not merely by their genders. For instance, the individuals of minority communities, persons with disabilities, old age individuals, indigenous groups all require equal and valid consideration in terms of their identity which would move them ahead with their experience. The political, social and economic costs often stand failed in providing equal opportunities to develop and nurture themselves to their full potential.
There are millions that stay stranded in the roots of poverty, and represents collective failure of the system to take the essential actions to support the goals of the society and nation, as there are several circumstances where the requirements are overlooked, and the adequate space to develop remains narrow. The approach to the social demands sees a distorted direction, and thus deviates from the delivery of providing the opportunities which might have a say in the implementation and development of the individuals, and thus a society subsequently.
The question that frames the fabrics of the society’s development is whether the social development and protection programmes that impose conditions on individuals in the society confront the system of patriarchy and addresses it as the root cause of social inequalities ?
While talking and tackling about gender and social inequalities, it is erstwhile important to look beyond the aspects of merely education and health. It is crucial to look into the extent of measures that would address the social concerns that would strike out the power dynamics, eliminate domination of a particular gender over the other, prevent injustices prevailing in the society at large, paving the mechanism for effective social protection against the menaces that hinder the sensitivity one gender towards the other. The deep- rooted gender dimensions are required to be surged and addressed through the social policies across the cultures in all strata of the society.
The old aged individuals, the most vulnerable section in the society have the concerns such as income security which looms over the society, that points towards lack of effective measures taken to address the pension and its gaps across the genders, where the inequalities take a larger toll in the women’s life concerning dependency and living conditions. The policy measures for the inclusion of women needs to take into account the effective entitlements such as the transfers, earnings for the paid and unpaid labour, etc, through effective distribution to the beneficiaries.
The policy tools that have been made available for the empowerment of the individuals have mixed responses, when some of the reports that have reflected increased literacy, improvement in the health standards, delivery of the services to the actual beneficiaries, there lay other facts and figures such as equal gender participation which portray a bleak image of development in certain aspects. These are the reflections where some developments are creditworthy, and others require significant measures. It is to bring to a brighter and better picture of the programmes which are marked by approaches which involve greater engagement and envisages parallel roles to all the individuals.
There needs to be significant evidence to display in the figures which shall ensure equal protection and security of all the citizens alike. Giving focus to women, and excluding men in the existing frameworks of equal gender participation without necessarily transforming the parameters of progress shall not drive the society towards the growth it essentially needs.
The designing and implementation of the policies and the strategies involved should be progressive enough to eradicate discrimination at all levels, ensuring the delivery of programmes of governance addressing the needs throughout, which would require the policy makes to examine the causes of risks, vulnerabilities and exclusion of the weaker sections, and shall include all the disadvantaged groups.
The social protection programmes should thus asses the policies in way that would be gender neutral, and address all the vulnerable sections of the society, which would promote gender sensitivity of one gender towards the other, and shall also assess the potential beneficiaries of the policies. The negative stereotyping needs to be addressed and the discrimination needs to be shown a backseat. The social services should take into account the importance of addressing the several obstacles that individuals face while making their way towards accessing the services.
Law And Policy 