Women the Pride of India! There once was a time when women in our country were looked up with great pride and respect. But today, not only is she disrespected in public but also denied of her rights by her own family.

According to a law passed in the year 2005, women were given equal right to inherit land as their male siblings. But, based on a recent study, this law has no impact in several parts of the country.

A research released on Sunday by the United Nations Women India and Landesa, a non-profit organization based in U.S, documented some important and eye-opening results. Based on the report, despite of working all day as laborers in rice fields, orchards and cotton fields, women rarely inherit any land or property previously owned by their parents and sustained by them.

Today, nearly 80% of rural women work in farms as laborers while their husbands, brothers and fathers migrate to cities in search of work. But, despite of working in these fields, they are denied of any inheritance by their own family.

The survey was performed on more than 1,400 women and also 360 men from agricultural districts of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh that have higher rates of women laborers. But, only 1 in 8 women with parents still owning the agricultural fields inherited their share of land. Others, who worked in their own farms, were nothing less than laborers working in fields without any benefits.
They couldn’t access institutional credits and bank loans offered by the government for the enhancement of farmers and their fields. This indirectly forces them into poverty, lack of education and nutrition, which is the right of every individual in the country.

However, the study also found some signs of progress in the State of Andhra Pradesh. According to the survey, women in Andhra Pradesh had gained equal inheritance rights almost 20 years back and its percentage in receiving inherited land is higher than that of the other states. 34% women in Andhra Pradesh inherited parental land while just 8% in Bihar and a meager 7% in Madhya Pradesh inherited land successfully.

But, why are women in the country denied of their Rights? The answer is Tradition! According to the ancient traditions, only the sons in the family inherit the property. Asking for her share in the property becomes a matter of conflict in families which is the main reason why, women are denied of their share. But, if done legally and with care, these inheritance issues can be sorted easily. There are several government officials and aid programs that are working to help women learn and fight for their rights and inheritance. These programs will surely break the age old cycle of inheritance in the near future.