OT- 44

Passage:

There is an old African proverb that says, “Until the lions have their own historians, histories of the hunt will glorify the hunter.”

 

As is common knowledge, while the male lion’s mane incites our imagination, it is actually the lionesses that bring in food and ensure survival of the species. As Renana Jhavwala of SEWA and member of UN Secretary General’s High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment aptly says, “Women's work is invisible … women are at the base of the economic pyramid. Women are stuck on a 'sticky floor' of low technology, low productivity, low skills, low earnings and low dignity.” Rural women in the Asia-Pacific region make critical contributions to household production and national food security, yet their contribution is hardly acknowledged.

 

The credit for the success of Brazil’s conditional cash transfer programme, Bolsa familia, goes to women. The programme rewards families for sending their children to school and taking them for regular health check- ups. This scheme has pulled millions out of poverty.   The state tends to believe women are more reliable than men. In Mexico, a similar programme, Oportunidades, is available exclusively to women.

 

There is strong empirical evidence to suggest that money in the hands of the mother increases expenditure on children. There is a strong positive correlation between women’s status and economic/social development. Policy makers across the world have placed great emphasis on gender equality. The experience suggests that economic development alone is not enough to bring about equality. What is needed is policy action. This is where the importance of women’s political empowerment comes. Democracy in the 21st century is moving towards equity and inclusion. This is the underlying message of citizens’ movements across the world. And with increasing role of women at the policy level and in institutions of government, democracy can become ‘politics of difference’ and ‘politics of presence.’

1. Democracy in the 21st century is moving towards equity and inclusion.' implies that

A. Every citizen has the right to participate actively in the democracy in the 21st century.

B. Women had no role in politics before 21st century.

C. Democracy in the 21st century is accepting both men and women equally in the mainstream politics. 

D. None of the above

2. Which of the following is contrary to the facts mentioned in the passage about women in the Asia-Pacific region?

A. Their contribution is greatly acknowledged. 

B. They make a lot of contribution to household production and national food security.

C. They are engaged mostly in household work, which is a piece of low-skill work.

D. None of the above

3. What is the position of women in the economic pyramid?

A. They are at the top of the economic pyramid.

B. They are at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

C. They are in the middle of the economic pyramid. 

D. Not clear from the given passage.

4. Which of the following is true about 'Bolsa familia' programme?

A. This is a conditional cash transfer programme in Mexico.

B. This programme failed in Brazil because of the non-cooperation of local people.

C. This programme pulled millions out of poverty.

D. This programme has provided employment opportunities to Brazilian women.

5. According to the author,

A. There is no relationship between women's status and socio-economic development.

B. Money in the hands of women makes them frugal. 

C. Economic development alone is enough to bring about equality.

D. Most of the policy makers across the world agree that there should be gender equality.