By Dominick Rodrigues
Mumbai : “Educate, Enlighten, Empower should be the mantra for Indian women as they form the bedrock of a healthy society, and their maternal health including under-nutrition should be given highest priority in the country where they constitute nearly 50 per cent of the country’s population, said Vice -President M Venkaiah Naidu today.
He was presenting the ‘Yudhvir Memorial Award’ through a video conference to Hyderabad-based gynecologist, Dr. Evita Fernandez in recognition of her service for the cause of women’s healthcare and empowerment.
Noting that considerable progress has been made in reducing the maternal mortality ratio in the country, the Vice-President emphasized the need to accelerate the decline to achieve the target 3.1 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations that aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio by less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Lauding the awardee Dr. Evita Fernandez, for her pioneering work in women’s health and reproduction, he noted that she is a strong votary of women’s empowerment and normal birthing. “I am happy to note that Dr. Evita leaves no stone unturned to make childbirth a natural and positive experience for women, promoting normal birth and reducing Caesarean sections”, he added.
Referring to the efforts of the Telangana Government and the Fernandez Hospital along with UNICEF to reduce Caesarean Sections and increase normal births in public hospitals, the Vice President described it as a “laudable objective” and wanted more private hospitals to join in the drive to reduce C sections.
Highlighting improving maternal health care as of crucial importance, he commended Dr. Evita’s initiative to create a national cadre of midwives and the Fernandez Foundation’s commitment to train 1500 nurses in midwifery for the Telangana Government.
The Vice President also paid rich tributes to late Shri Yudhvirji — in whose name the award is instituted — as a freedom fighter, social worker and reputed journalist.
In another function, Vice President Naidu urged industry to unlock the ‘gender dividend’ to put India on a rapid growth path through India’s female labour force that is around 20 per cent.
Virtually addressing an event of the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI FLO) Hyderabad Chapter, the Vice President said “Women are our growth leaders of the future and with the pandemic further deepening employment inequalities between genders, there is need to look at issues of ‘representation, remuneration and roles’ to empower women.”
Referring to the issue of pay disparity, Naidu observed that the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020 points to a pay disparity of around 15% even in advanced economies and that that no country has achieved gender parity in wages yet.
“India should lead way in bridging this divide,” he said while lauding the progressive Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 which showed the way to even developed countries by increasing paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
Noting the under-representation of women in the formal sector, he said the issue of breaking barriers did not stop at the lowest rungs. “The glass-ceiling stretches to the very top”, he said, observing that there are only around 35 women CEOs even in the Fortune 500 companies.
Quoting the report ‘Women in Business 2021’ by Grant Thornton, according to which India ranks third in the world for women working in senior management positions, he said this signaled a changing outlook of Indian businesses towards working women and positive tidings for the Indian economy. While the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on girl child’s education, these disparities should be corrected in a mission mode”, he added.
Reiterating the importance of empowering women politically, economically and socially, he said “Politically, we need to introduce adequate reservations for women in state legislatures and the Parliament. Economically, we have to enable women to start businesses and cooperatives through schemes like Stand Up India. Socially, we need to ensure that women do not face any kind of discrimination and stringent action should be taken against those committing atrocities against women.”
On this occasion, M Venkaiah Naidu also lauded women who have been in the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19 – doctors, nurses, para-medical staff, sanitary workers, ASHA workers and police women, among others.
Ujjwala Singhania, National President, FICCI Ladies Organisation, Uma Chigurupati, Chairperson, FLO Hyderabad Chapter, Asha Vashist, Wing Commander, Indian Air Force, Vartika Joshi, Lt Commander, Indian Navy, Shalini Singh, Retd. Captain, Indian Army and others participated in the virtual event.
