Hyderabad: Stand for equal rights: Says Prof. Shanta Sinha at Women’s Day Celebrations at GITAM

‘We are proud to be Indians. It is the greatness of this country that has produced the magnificent document of the Constitution of India. Each one of us should understand the principles of equality, liberty, secular values, social justice, that are enshrined in the Constitution, which has ensured equal rights to men and women’ said Prof. Shantha Sinha, Former Professor, University of Hyderabad – Padma Shri & Ramon Magsaysay Awardee.

Prof. Sinha and C.S.Rama Lakshmi, Retd. Indian Forest Service, Hyderabad participated as distinguished guests in the ‘International Women’s Day’ celebrations held at GITAM Deemed to be University, Hyderabad on 9 March 2022, under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, and called for climate action for women, by women.

Prof. Shantha stressed on gender equality and said that we have to remember the persons, who fought for women’s rights. She expressed her dismay about the indignities women suffer – controlling the mobility of women, physical touching in public transport, comments on dressing etc.

Rama Lakshmi dealt about the paradoxes faced by women. Women workforce ratio is only 27 per cent. It has to go up to 50 per cent. Only then would our country become a developed nation, she told. She highlighted the importance of breast feeding for a minimum period of ten months. Rama Lakshmi stressed the importance of paternity leave, and breast feeding and creche facilities at the work place.

‘Where there is women empowerment, where their words are cared, where they are taken care of well, only that nation can progress. Let us hope that we learned these things from history and India progresses well by honoring women’, said Prof. N.Siva Prasad, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, GITAM, Hyderabad.

DVVSR Varma, Resident Director conveyed his greetings on this occasion and stressed on the importance five ‘W’s in our life (i.e. mother, sister, wife, daughter and the guru)

Dr. N.Prasanna Lakshmi delivered the welcome address and Dr. K.Tejaswani proposed a vote of thanks. Cultural performances by Team Kalakruti, particularly by the team leader Dr. Lalitha Sindhuri, faculty of Fine and Performing Arts, GSHS, GITAM received a lot of applause from the audience.