Topic: Role of women and women’s organization.
Q1. “Gender-sensitive laws cannot be effective without gender-sensitive institutions”. Comment. Also analyse the systemic barriers women face in accessing justice. Propose structural reforms. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: IE
Why the question:
Recent cases like the Balasore immolation and Haryana athlete murder reveal how institutional apathy undermines legal protections for women, making this a timely and socially significant issue.Key Demand of the question:
The question requires assessing the disconnect between laws and institutions, identifying systemic obstacles women face in seeking justice, and suggesting structural reforms to align implementation with legal intent.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Mention India’s progressive gender laws and highlight the gap in institutional execution due to patriarchal inertia.Body
- Comment on how institutional culture impacts the enforcement of gender laws.
- Examine key systemic barriers—police apathy, legal delays, social stigma, digital victimisation, and intersectional discrimination.
- Propose structural reforms like gender training, independent grievance mechanisms, tech-enabled complaints, and grassroots legal support.
Conclusion
Highlight that legal reforms without institutional transformation risk making justice symbolic rather than substantive.
