The Hindu : New Delhi News : Three cheers for young women achievers

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Thursday, Apr 24, 2008
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Three cheers for young women achievers

Madhur Tankha

For their exemplary achievements in different walks of life

Photo: S.Subramanium

Felicitated: Young women achievers Isha Sharvani (performing arts) (right) and Tanya Sachdev (chess), who were honoured by the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation in New Delhi on Wednesday. —

NEW DELHI: Eleven enterprising women from different walks of life were felicitated by Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury at a function here on Wednesday.

Addressing the function, organised by the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) to honour women achievers who have made exemplary achievements in their chosen field, the Minister underlined the need to do something for people living below the poverty line.

“Don’t I sound like Miss India beauty pageants who say that their idol is Mother Teresa? But we need icons like Mother Teresa in our lives,” she quipped.

Ms. Chowdhury said the young generation was growing up in an environment where both men and women were being given equal opportunities to come up in life.

“However,” she added, “We continue to witness stereotypical behaviour. So we need women in Parliament where they are part of the decision-making process. Our former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had decided to go ahead with 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj. Girls are an important investment. Sadly, they are being hunted by technology even in posh places like South Delhi as there are couples who only want to have a male child. We must speak up against female foeticide.”

Expressing concern over the rise in domestic violence, the Minister said it was being witnessed not only in villages but also in big cities.

Pointing out that climate change was not a figment of anyone’s imagination but a reality staring every human being living on the planet, Centre for Science and Environment Director Sunita Narain said, “We have had un-seasonal rains in the country in which a number of crops have been destroyed in many States. There was this recent heat wave in Orissa. The climate change is about pollution prevailing in the atmosphere and is directly linked to economic growth.”

Bollywood actor Kiron Kher said women had broken the stereotypical image of wives running humdrum domestic chores and were now proud entrepreneurs.

The women achievers who were awarded included Isha Sharvani (performing arts – dance), Surily Goel (fashion designer) and Mithu Sen (visual arts).

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