Working women are the cause of men’s unemployment: Chhattisgarh school textbook

Here comes another embarrassment for BJP government were an excerpt from a class 10 textbook in Chhattisgarh hold ‘working women’ accountable for rising unemployment.

According to a report published on Wednesday by a daily, the class 10 social science textbook published by Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education says that ‘working women are one of the causes of unemployment in the country’.

In chapters on economic problems and challenges, the textbook explains the percentage of unemployment after Independence has increased because women have started working in all sectors.

After an uproar, the state government today said it has decided to withdraw the controversial chapter, which was dubbed as “highly objectionable” by the opposition.

“The chapter (which contains controversial representation of women) will be withdrawn from the textbooks. I have issued directives in this regard to take immediate action,” School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap told.

The chapter has been there in the textbooks since 2008 and an investigation will be conducted to identify those responsible for it. This will be followed by appropriate action against the guilty, the minister added.

The chapter will not be taught in the current academic session and it will be removed from the next year, Mr Kashyap added.

Besides, the School Education Department will form a committee to evaluate contents of all textbooks of higher classes- X, XI and XII.

A teacher from the tribal-dominated Jashpur district had filed a complaint last month with the state Women’s Commission over the issue citing it as violation of constitution which provides equal rights to men and women.

“Constitution provides women equal right over jobs with men then how can they blame females for rising unemployment of males. Students should be taught about actual cause of unemployment rather than such prejudiced reasons,” Soumya Garg, a teacher with Sarswati Shishu Mandir, Jashpur said.

The depiction women in this way would not only develop a negative impression for girls among boys but also discourage girl students, Ms Garg said.