Sharing Experiences by Women in Power Her Excellency Smt Margaret Alva, Governor of Uttarakhand

Ms Kavitha Vardaraj began her tenure as President of FLO with a panel discussion on Sharing Experiences by Women in Power which was held on Monday May 07, 2012 at New Delhi.

FLO invited leading personalities from different walks of life to share their experiences. The distinguished panelists were Her Excellency Smt Margaret Alva, Governor of Uttarakhand, Smt. Shashi Tripathi, IFS, Member of UPSC, Smt. Shailaja Chandra, Chairperson Review Committee Delhi School Education Act and former Chief Secretary Govt. of Delhi and Dr Indu Shahani, Sheriff of Mumbai.

The programme started with National Anthem. In her welcome address to a large gathering of members, media and invitees ,FLO President Kavitha Varadaraj said that India has a very unique and significant feature which is Women Power and it started in India in the early ages- right from Rani Jhansi to Indira Nooyi and Chandra Kocchar featured in the Forbes top 50 women leaders list.

She also added that ” With all this women power, one is inclined to think that women are an empowered gender in India enjoying a shackle free life but it is not so! There is an irrepressible contrast between the so called powerful woman, the ordinary mass and the poorer class. This is because we are a society where women are less valued than men. Though this is so very slowly changing as more and more women are becoming financially independent, the system is still evident everywhere”.

Ms Varadaraj emphasized on the fact that the crime rates against women are appalling. Another extremely horrendous crime is female infanticide, which is rampant in the rural areas. She also shared that female infanticide is something that FLO worked against a few years ago during the time of the then president Kavitha Dutt. She went on to quote that despite this India had its share of powerful women and quoted the problems that women at all level face quoting those of Benazir Bhutto and Aung San Syu Ki.

With such eminent panelists on board, it turned out to be a very thought provoking session on pertinent issues that touches our daily lives. It was not only educating but indeed was enlightening discussion on Sharing Experiences by Women in Power.

FLO Members and other invitees were happy to have participated in the discussion and interactive session.

The special address by Her Excellency Margaret Alva Governor of Uttarakhand was motivating and inspiring she emphasized that asking for reservations should not be treated as a right but as a stepping stone. She also stated that it was high time that Indian women wrote their own story and history and persist to free society of the gender bias. She delivered an extremely interesting and exceptionally engrossing session for all.

The discussion proved an effective platform for responsible and active member of the civil society.

Anuradha Goel Past President, FLO introduced guests and Her Excellency.