International Women’s Day With a Panel Discussion on “Women – The Power House of the 21st Century – A Reality Check” March 8th, 2011

FICCI Ladies Organisation in collaboration with GIWC celebrated the International women’s day with an interactive session with women ambassadors from 6 countries. The Chief Guest and chair was Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh ji. The programme started by Shruti Rana invoking the blessings of the lord and Deep Mala Mohan , Flo member and Sufi music singer singing an Ode to women.

In her welcome address to the huge 130+ gathering of members, media and invitees FLO President Ranjana Agarwal said that International Women’s Day is a time when women come together to share, connect and reassure each other of our self worth and role in society.

According to her the biggest driver of the 21st century global economy will not be India or China but women coming into the workforce. Women will be the critical mass that will transform politics, improve governance, and ensure inclusive and more socially sensitive development. With family support, technical training and adequate capital – women will and can be economically empowered

She said that the challenge before us is to look for solutions rather than a scapegoat, share our knowledge and mentor others, not degrade or pull down other women, develop self confidence and self worth, be proud home makers, accept your intrinsic nature and rejoice in it.

She also encouraged women to ask for reservations not as a right but as a stepping stone, to delink our persona with our sexuality and teach our boys to respect girls.

She said that unless, the ratio of girls who are anaemic uneducated, married before the age of 14, have high maternal mortality, are engaged in child labour and are susceptible to HIV infection does not come down our dream of being the power house of the 21st century may not be realised. Lady Shruti Rana, Chairperson, GIWC, observed that IWD was a day when “all of us have to reflect upon the critical need for awareness amongst women of their rights and a proper nurturing of our minds towards what we have to accept or reject”.

Dr. Sonal Mansingh said that it was high time that Indian women wrote their own story and history and persevere to rid the society of the gender bias. It is the Onus on Women to Sensitize Men to Give Respect.

The panelists H E Ms. Gennet Zewide, Ambassador of Ethiopia to India; H E Ms. Irina A Orolbaeva, Ambassador of the Kyrgyzstan to India; H E Ms. Jan Henderson, High Commissioner of New Zealand to India; H E Ms. Ebyan Mahamed Salah, Ambassador of Somalia and Ms. Neelam Deo, former Consul General of India in New York also highlighted the status of women in their respective countries and what their Governments are doing towards harnessing the strength of women.

Also present at the occasion were the Ambassador of Yemen, H E Khadija Radman Mohamed Ghanem and the counselor of Royal Norwegian Embassy Ms Zlaja Turkanovic, who spoke and commented in the Q & A session.

Past Presidents Abha Dalmia, Indu Punj, Anjana Somany, Madhu Kanoria, Anuradha Goel, Chairperson of YFLO Vasvi Bharatram graced the occasion along with Governing Body members and committee members.

The programme was hosted by Neeta Vinay, Director, International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and she also gave a presentation of how an AIDS vaccine is the panacea for empowering women in the area of health. All participants signed a declaration pledging their support towards AIDS eradication. The sumptuous lunch was hosted by Mani Bhatia, Committee Member, FLO