Let’s chip in an act of kindness on this women’s day!

Today is another International Women’s Day. Just another day for most of the women of Pakistan and the world!

The day is celebrated by women on the roads and in the rallies, with catchy slogans, and forceful speeches.

A majority of the women, however, are not able to leave any mark or make a contribution to the womenfolk on this day. Reasons are obvious and known to every male and female, who is interested in marking women’s day. Domestic chores, taboos associated with Aurat March and grooming under a patriarchal set-up do not allow them to think about women.

My friend Khadeeja Wasti (name changed at her own request) has been participating in the Aurat March since those days when the march had not been given any name.

Last year, she thought she must do something really different to bring about a change, at least in a women’s life.

Like the previous year, she asked her domestic help to take a day off on March 8 and spend the day with her family.

“Surprisingly, she was reluctant to take a break for her domestic reasons, which she didn’t want to explain,” Wasti said.

She asked her domestic help to come to the workplace at the time of her own choice so she could feel that the day was a little bit different.

Once she arrived at the house, Wasti asked her to sit in the lounge and served her breakfast, prepared by Wasti herself.

Later, she took her to a bank and opened her account.

“Since domestic help is an informal sector, maids hardly get social security benefits. I opened her account so that I could chip in something from time to time to her account, which she may use when she really needs money,” Khadeeja said.

From the bank, they drove to a shopping mall, where she bought her a nice dress, and later on, dropped her at her home with a nice tip. Later, she joined the Aurat March in the evening.

“The real work I did on that day was the opening of a bank account in my maid’s name and giving her due social security rights,” she said.

Much can be done on the women’s day, instead of fighting over Aurat March vs. Haya March. The central point of the Women’s March is a woman, and efforts to make her safer and stronger. Let’s start producing strong and brave women. It can be done once a woman gets the support of her family, and workplace colleagues.

Let’s give the power of dreams to young girls and women. Yes, dreams, not tears. Let’s cultivate the circumstances which help women to achieve dreams and goals. The best way to do this is to empower each woman economically.

Let’s free women from bonded chores.

There is a host of laws that provide protection to the women workforce in a commercial and non-commercial setting, such as of social security, old age and maternity benefits, and harassment-related laws. The Aurat March demands reimagining justice this year.

Though existing legislation is inadequate for the protection and promotion of women’s labour rights and also in conflict with the socio-cultural and religious values of our society, individuals’ acts of kindness may start making a difference.