Rao pitches for economic empowerment of women

Economic empowerment helps women find a voice of their own, said former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Friday.

Inaugurating the India Women Leadership Conclave organised by the Kerala Management Association (KMA) here, Mrs. Rao said ecomomic empowerment was real women empowerment, without which women get confined to the sidelines.

At a macroscopic level, women’s position in the US and other countries, including China, had gone up compared to what it was 50 years ago. “There are women leaders in India, US, or China to lead the world. The situation of women is like the many-hued rainbow in which there is a shade of darkness as well as areas of light,” she observed.

On the recent informal diplomatic event between India and China, Mrs. Rao said it was a good move to improve bilateral relationships. Such meetings do play a significant role at times when the two countries are looking for a breakthrough in ties.

Coming down on atrocities on women, Mr. Rao condemned the rape and murder of a minor in Kathua. “Such incidents of atrocities and inhuman treatment of women are of deep concern. There should be a collective move to put an end to such heinous crimes,” she said.

Filmmaker Anjali Menon, one of the speakers at the conclave, said women had to feel empowered themselves. “The sense should come from within,” she added.

Dr. Tushara James, senior government pleader, High Court of Kerala, said gender sensitisation was an absolute necessity in society.