Smt. K.K. Shylaja Teacher, Hon'ble Minister for Health, Family

Welfare and Social Justices,

Shri V.S. Siva Kumar, Member of Legislative Assembly,

Adv. V. K. Prasanth, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation,

Shri Biju Prabhakar, IAS, Secretary, Social Justice Department

Smt. R. Nishanthini, IPS, State Project Co-Ordinator,

Nirbhaya Cell

Shri M.C. Josephine, Chairperson, State Women’s Commission

Dr. T. K. Anandi, State Gender Advisor

Smt. E. M. Radha, Chairperson, State Women’s Commission

Friends in Media,

Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,

Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,

I am very happy to inaugurate the Valedictory function of the week-long Celebration of International Women's Day, organized by the Government of Kerala.

Let me at the outset, compliment the Government and the Department of Social Justice for celebrating the International Women's Day in an elaborate manner, with programmes to sensitize several groups of people about gender equality.

When we come to think of it, every day is a Women's Day. In our homes, work places and in every other sphere, the contribution of women is vital. But, unfortunately, many of us, including a section of women fail to realize this. For many people, the role of the woman in their lives is taken for granted and thus, rarely acknowledged. The celebration of Women's Day serves to remind society to look within and to rightly understand the position that a woman deserves in society.

In a culture that celebrates the Ardha-Nareeshwara concept, it is the equality of genders that should register as most important in the society's collective mind. In fact, our Constitution echoes this sentiment in its Preamble which promises social justice and in Articles 14, 15(3), 16, 39 and 51A which have been specially incorporated to empower women with equal status and opportunity. Besides, the Constitution imposes a fundamental duty on every citizen through Article 51A (e) to renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity of women. In spite of these provisions and the special laws enacted to promote gender justice, the status of women and the difficulties they face continue to be causes of concern in India and all over the world. When it comes to gender equality, we have a long way to go and the only way to hasten our journey towards that goal is to encourage our women to Be Bold and Go Ahead.

All of us owe our birth to our mothers and our early upbringing would have been mostly in the hands of women. Yet, it surprises me how, as we grew up, we could silently reconcile to the granting of a weaker position for women. It is even more surprising that the family contributed to this situation. Thus, any effort to bring gender equality has to start from the family and spread to the schools that mould our children through education.

But, unfortunately, the family has degenerated as the cradle of discrimination and violence against women. What is seen in the family gets absorbed in the children's minds as societal norms and as they grow up, they find discrimination as normal behavior. Thus, every family must be equipped to identify acts of discrimination so that a process of correction begins there itself. The very fact that we had to wait till 2005 for the enactment of the Domestic Violence Act shows that we as a people took so long to address the violence that disturbed our families over decades.

In addition to the Domestic Violence Act 2005, we also have the Act of 2012 for Prevention of Sexual Harassment, various welfare legislations like Maternity Benefit Act, Equal Remuneration Act, Right to Information Act and recent amendments to Criminal laws including IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act, which highlight the role of law as an instrument of social control and change. But sadly, very few women are aware of the existence of such laws and most women do not believe they are entitled to certain legal rights. Thus, it is important to highlight the legal rights of women in our gender literacy programmes aimed at sensitizing families.

Even today, and even in a literate State like Kerala, many women would prefer to avoid seeking legal aid or Police help, due to several fears and doubts. This calls for a sea change in the approach of the Police towards complaints of women, especially elderly women. I think we should also review the training given to our Women Police Officers, just to ensure that they are trained to take a sympathetic and just approach towards issues faced by women.

Along with such changes, we need regular campaigns for legal empowerment of women through four L’s namely; Legal Aid, Legal Literacy, Legal Awareness and Lok Adalats which must become the stepping stones of women empowerment. The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 was amended in 2002 to provide free and competent legal service to women, but how many of our women are aware of this?

Though respect for women has been the hall-mark of Indian culture, in the real world, society is yet to accept the empowered woman. Our general tendency is to sideline or sensationalize woman-power instead of acknowledging it. This attitude reflects in our work spaces, the way our media report matters and even in our political and professional discourses. Perhaps, it is this attitude that has resulted in our women professionals having to put in extra efforts in work to get even their well deserved share of acknowledgement. A worse form of society's reluctance to accept women's needs reflects in our spaces not yet becoming woman-friendly; the most glaring being the basic amenities like toilets in places where people gather.

However, I am happy that our State has become a model in realizing the need to ensure gender equality. It is encouraging to see women of our State coming forward to establish their rights in society. The rise of a generation of women that questions every element of discrimination is essential in ensuring gender equality. I hope the starting of a separate Department for the welfare of Women would add strength to our efforts for equality in the coming years. I also feel that we should encourage organizations to compete among themselves in evolving as woman friendly in amenities and work atmosphere.

I have been told that many women who had excelled in various fields had been awarded as part of this year's Women's Day Celebrations. They should not rest on the laurels they have received; instead, they must inspire our girls to follow their path by guiding them.

I also hope that the year-long gender-sensitization programme being taken up now would bring qualitative changes in our society.

Though this is the Valedictory function of our Women's Day Celebrations, I wish this would be the beginning of a more emphatic effort to ensure gender equality. I wish the volunteers of the sensitization programme all success.

I also compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner.

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal

Nanni

Jai Hind