Shri M.G. Radhakrishnan, Editor, Asianet News,

Dr. Bindu Sunilkumar, Smt. Jyoti Prakash,

Ms. P.U. Chitra, Smt. T.V. Anupama,

Smt. Praseeda Chalakudy,

Other Distinguished guests, Asianet News Officials,

Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,

Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,

I am very happy to be amidst you today and to present the Woman of the Year Award, instituted by Asianet News Channel from among the sixth Sthree Shakthi Award winners, whose achievements and contributions to society have very few parallels.

First of all, let me congratulate Dr. Bindu Sunil Kumar,
Smt. Jyoti Prakash, Ms. P.U. Chitra, Smt. T.V. Anupama, and Smt. Praseeda Chalakudy, on being honored with the Asianet Sthree Shakthi Awards. I also congratulate Poet
Smt. Sugathakumari, Smt. K. Ajitha, Smt. C.K. Janu,
Smt. K.C. Elamma and noted singer Smt. K.S. Chitra who have been honored today. I also wish Smt. K.R. Gouri Amma, the strongest of our women, in her absence.

Asianet's decision to present the Sthree Shakthi Awards and to select a Woman of the Year from these awardees comes as a well deserved salute to the empowered women of Kerala. Let me therefore, compliment the Asianet News channel for this meaningful gesture, which would encourage our women to strive for perfection in their activities.

I also recall that I had presented the Sthree Shakti Award in 2016. Today, by widening the scope of the award to fields as diverse as Agriculture, Music, Sports, Civil Service and Science and Technology, Asianet has asserted its faith in highlighting the importance of women empowerment in Kerala. This is also an acknowledgment of the increasing role and contribution of women in the progress of the modern world. I would call this the fulfillment of a social obligation beyond the informational role of a mass medium.

Functions like this are also eye-openers to the resilience, progress and confidence of our women, especially younger women, in their chosen fields of activity. The future progress of Kerala is to be measured not only by the index of development, but also by the higher empowerment of our women.

Smt. Bindu Sunilkumar, who has been awarded today, stands out as a rare model of perseverance, hard work and the courage to win a battle against abject poverty. Her journey from a village in Kollam district to the elite research labs of Sweden's Lund University symbolizes the indomitable inner strength of the Keralite woman.

At a time when our State has established a renewed interest in organic farming, Smt. Jyothi Prakash from Thrissur district stands out due to her success with organic farming in Paddy and shows Kerala society the importance of preserving indigenous seeds laudable, indeed.

Whenever Ms. P.U. Chitra dashed towards the finishing line to clinch medals, be it for the triple Gold in National School Games or at the Asian Athletic Championship, our joy and pride swelled, because in her, we were seeing Kerala's athletic future.

Smt. T.V. Anupama makes Kerala optimistic about the effectiveness of a woman officer and sets a role model to the youth who dream of a career in the civil service when she silently and courageously performs her duties as a civil servant without fear or favor.

In the folk melodies that Smt. Praseeda Chalakudy popularized on stage and on-line, we saw the traditional arts of Kerala staging a come-back thanks to the dedicated efforts of this woman artiste.

While congratulating these winners, let me also remind them of their responsibility to be role models for our girls.

As a person from the Judiciary, it is my habit to
remind society that any discrimination towards women is
un-democratic and un-constitutional, since our Constitution has granted equal status and rights to men and women. But sadly, our society in general is reluctant to accept the empowered woman; instead, we sideline or sensationalize them. This is a reality in our work spaces, our media and the political and professional discourses. This attitude compels our women professionals to work doubly hard to claim society's acknowledgement. I hope efforts of Asianet News would bring in a change in this state of affairs.

I would also suggest a campaign for legal literacy and for ensuring women's rights starting from ensuring basic amenities like ladies’ toilets to establishing a dignified position for women inside their homes and in the world outside.

When it comes to law, we have the Domestic Violence Act 2005, the Act of 2012 for Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Maternity Benefit Act, Equal Remuneration Act and recent amendments to Criminal laws including IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act etc. All these are legal weapons for the protection and empowerment of women. Besides, the Legal Services Authorities Act provides free and competent legal service to women; but how many of our women are aware of this? Mass media like Asianet News must take up a campaign to legally empower our women, on the basis of these laws. I know you are now engaged in a campaign for Water, but let us not forget that today, legal rights are almost like water for a woman's dignified survival.

I hope the courage, achievements and contributions of the Sthree Shakthi Awardees would inspire many women and girls to strive for perfection in their fields of activity. I once again congratulate all the winners and compliment the staff of Asianet for conducting this function in a befitting manner.

I also greet Shri Surya Krishnamoorthy and all the artistes of the cultural programme held as part of this event.

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal

Nanni

Jai Hind