It is unfortunate that most of the governmental departments are negligent in implementing the decree of the higher authority to open separate sections for women in various departments.
Only the Passport Administration and the Ministry of Civil Service have complied with the decree though their services are negligible. On the other hand the ministries of labor and municipal matters have not made any move to implement the order.
Several women have voiced their protest at the negative posture adopted by these ministries and departments. Everyone knows that creation of the new women’s sections will hardly put any extra burden on the ministries.
It will, on the other hand, spare the women the ordeal they have to go through before getting even the simplest of their matters done in a government office.
In the present system they have no choice but to deal with male officials at government offices.
For some this is extremely embarrassing, while some women are forced to depend on their male relations or agents to get their matters processed from the offices.
This is a situation that demands women to authorize their agents or give them powers of attorney that could easily be exploited by dishonest and untrustworthy men.
She will also have to pay exorbitant sums of money demanded by her agent for the required services as she would not be present where money is paid or matters settled on her behalf. Women are losing precious money and time just because certain government offices are negligent in implementing the decree.
I smell some thing rotten behind the negligence. It is not unreasonable to suspect that there are some people with vested interests keen to deprive women of their rights.
Or else why this situation. Also the opening of the new sections will necessitate the appointment of women employees to run the departments that will in turn enhance employment opportunities for a number of qualified women.
It has been years since the banking sector introduced women’s divisions to cater for the requirements of women. Such divisions have become increasingly important to the banking service in the Kingdom over the years. Though at the beginning they only served as reception centers.
The government aims at easing the difficulties in every day life faced by the people irrespective of their gender and help women occupy their rightful place.
Tail piece: “A man’s promises are like shifting sands.”
