Impressive Jump Of Women In Financial Inclusion

Himachal This Week

In widespread inequalities toward women, the country has reflected an impressive jump of fair sex in financial inclusion. During the past one decade, women have recorded more than three times increase in having bank accounts with 53% of the female population now having bank accounts as compared to a mere 15% a decade ago. It also resulted decline in the cases of violence against women, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS), fair sex did well in financial inclusion across the country.

The study finds a heartening increase in the number of women operating their savings bank accounts, owning houses and participating in decision-making in households as well as opting for antenatal check-ups and hygienic methods for protection during menstrual period. The data also shows that violence against married women has come down. The percentage of women facing marital violence has dropped from 37.2% to 28.8%. The survey also shows only 3.3% such women faced violence during pregnancy. This indicator seems to reflect a better awareness of their rights and improved social standing. The 38% jump in women with bank accounts is complemented by the survey finding that 84% married women in the age of 15-49 years are increasingly participating in decision-making as compared to 76% in the third round of NFHS conducted in 2005-06.

The data also show 38.4% of women own a house and or land — alone or jointly with others. Not surprisingly, improvements in banking and an enhanced role in the household are accompanied by an increase in the female literacy rate that has gone up to 68.4% as compared with 55.1% in the previous survey. The female literacy rate, however, continues to lag men who have a literacy rate of 85.6%. Women with more than 10 years of schooling also grew from 22.3% to 35.7% between NFHS-3 and NFHS4.

Himachal Police Faces Shortage Of Weapons

Khushal Singh

Himachal Police is facing shortage of weapons with cops still relying on age old weapons at certain places. This fact was revealed in CAG report. It mentions that Himachal Police is facing 35% shortage in case of self loading rifles (SLR) and 41% shortage in case of light machine guns (LMG) rifles. While the police faces many challenges, the cops are are still struggling with weapons shortage. The department required 9074 SLRs (7.62/5.56 mm) by March 2016 but has only 5889 guns in this category. Besides this, the Police Department requires 323 LMGs but has only 191.

Notably this is the condition despite the fact that CAG in its 2004-09 report had mentioned about shortage of weapons with the police department. But not much improvement has been witnessed until now. The CAG in its 2004-09 report had stated that Police Department is facing a shortage of 71% SLRs and 88% LMGs until March 2009. The department has not replaced old weapons with modern sophisticated ones. As a result, it is dependent on old weapons in the present era of increased challenges.

Still Using .303 Rifles

The department still have .303 old rifles that are to be replaced by INSAS, SLR, AK-47, LMG like rifles under police modernisation plan. The biggest problem with old .303 rifles is that bullets need to loaded manually one by one in these rifles. However new modernised weapons work automatically and are light weight also.

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