'Women complain bitterly about media,': NGO

Mumbai, June 14 (UNI) In India women groups complain bitterly about the media and say that it ignores them, 'commodifies' them, and does not mirror their problems, aspirations and achievements, said NGO Population First, Program Director, Dr A L Sharada.

Dr Sharada said this at a three day workshop held at Lonavala on ''Gender and Media'' where she spoke about 'The change over the last half century in reporting on women and gender issues by Indian newspapers' and 'Gender Budgeting for Women.

She added, ''Biases are often unconscious. If not exposed and addressed they become part of a work culture and a way of life. They unfairly impinge on a section of society and cloud the correct picture. To break a bias, one needs to be first conscious of it.'' Speaking on 'Reporting crime on women' an activist Lalitha Dhara said, ''15 cases of rape and sexual violence were reported in 2000-01 up from just one case in the 1970's, when newspapers were shy of even mentioning the word 'rape' but couched it in phrases like ''outraging a woman's modesty'' or ''assault''.

''With the entry of women in journalism the crime phraseology has changed. However many of the reported rape stories are still found wanting in the manner in which they are written. Only a couple of them were reported in a sensitive balanced way.'' Speaking on 'Gender Budgeting for Women' Lalitha Dhara said, '' The annual budget of 2005-06 etched in a structural change that went largely and sadly unreported.'' For the first time as many as 18 Union Ministries were asked to do a gender disaggregated analysis so that they are able to provide a reliable and studied indicator of how their programmes impact gender. Described as welcome by some and a hasty patchwork by others the fact remains that it marked the arrival of 'gender budgeting' in India.

As the Finance Minister himself acknowledged in his budget speech that his step for gender budgeting was only the beginning. ''Hon members will be happy to note I have included in the budget documents a seperate statement highlighting gender sensitivities of the budgetary allocations under 10 demands for grants. The total amount in budget estimates 2005-06 according to the statement is Rs 14,379 crore.

''Although this is another first in budget making in India it is only a beginning and in course of time all departments will be required to present gender budgets as well as make benefit-incidence analysis.'' UNI LS AC LPB BD2341