Eminent economist Amartya Sen has drawn comparison with Bangladesh while referring to problems Indian girls face, and said Bangladeshi girls dealt with the issues less frequently.
He was talking to the media after delivering a lecture on the problems faced by girls and women in India, at the closing ceremony of a two-day discussion on "Bharater Meyera: Ajker Chalchitra, Ajker Karanio," organized by Pratichi Trust, at Santiniketan in West Bengal on Saturday, reports Telegraph India.
He questioned as to why India could not do several things that Bangladesh had done.
“Why has Bangladesh been able to do so many things that we have not been able to. The spread of education among girls in Bangladesh is far higher than both in Bengal and India. They (girls in Bangladesh) have more access to health care. Their life expectancy is higher than girls in India. It is also true that they (in Bangladesh) have more educational opportunities in school. Why do these differences exist? We are both Bangali (people). We need to think about this,” Sen said.
During his address at the program, he spoke at length on the condition of women and referred to their vulnerabilities during times of strife.
“When a country is burning all across, as is happening in Delhi now… in such situations, the minority community may get beaten. Alongside, members of the majority community, who are amongst this environment of hooliganism, may also get beaten. But in whichever families these incidents occur, in those families the worst affected are always the girls,” he said.
Sen continued: “So we can say that this is a kind of problem (for them), because amidst such a terrible environment, they (girls) may face more violence than usual…. Often, violence and oppression will be directed more frequently at them. And in several ways, their lives may be made to be unbearable.”
According to him, the other problems for a girl child are daily discrimination like lower availability of health care, and nutritious food in comparison with a boy child in the family and the chances of being kidnapped.
People cannot be divided on religious lines
The Nobel laureate also expressed concern over the recent violence in Delhi, saying India is a secular country and people cannot be divided on religious lines.
At least 42 people were killed and over 200 injured in the large-scale communal violence between supporters and opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi. In some cases, the police have been accused of either inaction or complicity in the violence against large-scale attacks mostly on Muslim neighbourhoods.
“I am very much worried that where it happened is the capital of the country and is centrally governed,” Sen said.
“If minorities are tortured there and police failed or can’t discharge their duties, it is a matter of serious concern. It is reported that those who died or were tortured are mostly Muslims. India is a secular country we can’t divide Hindus and Muslims. As an Indian citizen, I can’t help but worry.”
Sen, who is a vocal critic of India’s right wing Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government, said it is natural to raise questions on the timing of Justice S Muralidhar’s transfer.
“I personally know him,” the Nobel laureate said. “It is natural to raise questions but I can’t pass any judgment.”
Delhi High Court judge, Justice S Muralidhar – who had criticized Indian government, the state as well as the police for the violence in northeast Delhi – has been transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Official sources call it a routine transfer recommended by a Supreme Court panel on February 12.
