Lalitha Kumarmangalam, President National Commission for Women sets the tone with rich experience.
Glad to see gentlemen in the audience urged all to be grateful to be able to be sitting here. She shares that women are as guilty of mistreating women really badly and oppressing them. Not all men are rapists. It’s not only women from slums who are dis-empowered. Foeticides happen in posh areas as much.
Times are changing for better too.
Some time ago a woman would have given an arm to have a husband who offers to babysit so she can work. Women and men can be friends and good colleagues without any petty politics. This is a new mindset coming to fore. Roles are very set and defined a decade ago.
As of inclusion, she feels that men tend to be more open about acknowledging that something wrong has happened and it should be changed. Women are less willing to change.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a man or a woman. You are a person. Stand up and shout if something wrong is happening. Your voice will be heard.
We are asking for equal opportunity. There are instances of brides walking away from weddings when asked for dowry. These women have been celebrated, even though media covers horrendous stories more.
Women like Chanda Kochhar would not have been where she is now, without men mentoring and supporting her. Nor would any woman sitting in this hall!
Women, please invest in yourself. Buy property in your name. Women own less than 12% property.
We should be ashamed of rape taking place anywhere but it’s a fallacy that India is rape capital.
There are so many inspiring women in spite of their disabilities so every thing is about mind set, at the end of the day.
We are still lacking behind on inclusion. Often the women brought on board are dummy members to avoid punitive actions.
Paying it forward is the way out. We all have a common thread running. Help each other out. Try and see what you can do to skilling of people.
Things seem easier today but we don’t know how much easier they are as young women tell the same old woes.
We women contribute in business, agriculture, society, everywhere. We are gifted with this innate ability to keep any relationship on even keel. Self confidence is often lacking in women. You don’t need to be aggressive, a quiet tone will also do the job, as long as you are clear!
