The Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar today appealed for changing the male mindset and for wider gender sensitisation.  Delivering his address at the SheShakti2024 on “The Holistic Approach to Woman Empowerment” organised by Network 18 group at Taj Palace hotel in Delhi today, Shri Dhankhar emphasised on paying attention to pervasive subtle gender discrimination in the society.

“Our women are participating in every facet of governance. They are exemplifying dedication, commitment and talent. But gender equality eludes them still. In any system, including the one that is before me, Somehow or the other, this gender equality is eluding us. Gender discrimination has ostensibly vanished. But it has assumed subtle forms. Subtle forms which you can't fight. You can't describe. And that is the area where we have to hit the hardest. Subtle discrimination is far more dangerous than overt one. Because overt one you can resist. But subtle discrimination, you have difficulty in resisting. A massive male mindset change is needed. Non discriminatory level playing field in every facet of human activity is quintessential to democratic values”, he stated. 

Terming the remarks like “symptomatic malaise” made over incidents of violence against women as extremely shameful and akin to belittling the barbarity of such heinous crimes, Shri Dhankhar said “We must be firmly dismissive and contemptuous of insane thoughts of the kind that belittle barbarity of rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkatta hospital while on duty and some calls it a symptomatic malaise what a shame. We are accountable to our conscience , our heart should bleed. This is an issue for atonement, to get into correction mode.”

Lauding the provision of one third reservation for women in LokSabha and State legislatures, Shri Dhankhar emphasised that it is an epochal development. Thus far the most impactful step towards holistic women  empowerment.  He added, “It will afford invaluable say in evolution of policies and tangible participation in legislatures and executive”.

Cautioning those present against self-serving individuals acquiring iconic status through event management, Shri Dhankhar underlined, “In our country we have given iconic status to people, elevated them to great heights, in all fields including journalism, for what?They are good at event management? They manage their affairs well? They become great because we are not vigilant, then they become our guides and then they go to the extent of saying that ohh…what happened in Bangladesh can happen here. I tell you mindset change is required not only for gender justice, mindset change is required also for our commitment to nationalism. We can not allow people day in and day out to overlook national interest for selfish and partisan interest! We in this country have to understand we are a civilization more than 5000 yrs old, deeply embedded in virtuosity sublimity…”

Shri Dhakhar further in his address highlighted the fact that in recent years efforts are being made through various affirmative actions to empower women and there has been a paradigm shift from women development to women led development. Stating that Beti Padhao, Mudra scheme and entry of women in defence forces, their contribution in all sectors be it space, sea or land has changed the landscape to a greater degree.

“There has been a paradigm shift I wouldn't say in the last decade. They will take it as a political development but then that's what it is- Beti Padhao, MUDRA- Mudra has given women that kind of independence. They have become employers. They employ themselves and they employ others- A big change and therefore the paradigm shift has taken place from woman development to woman-led development. Except few males here others would have rejoiced at the budget presented by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. She created history as the first full woman Finance Minister of this nation with the largest democracy, and she had a record also overtaking that of Morarji Desai”, he added.

Appealing to women, Shri Dhankhar said, “please address the challenges and smash the glass ceiling that comes in the way of your advancement and let me tell you the glass is brittle, you only have to take the lead. Time to effect change, you have to aspire for change rather than seek change. You are not the passenger in the vehicle you are at the driver seat therefore steer it”

Drawing attention to the structured democratic set up of Bharat, VP stressed that India has structured democracy at the village level, at state level and at the national level and nearly 1.4 million women are elected in Panchayati Raj Institutions.

“Democracy is defined by the mechanism it has not for the rich, not for the privileged, not for the privileged pedigree, democracy is primarily made for whom?It is made for those who are vulnerable, those who are challenged, those who need hand holding so that the real talent which is handicapped by challenges is overcome”, he added

Stressing on the importance of education for gender equality, Shri Dhankhar said, “ I am a product of Education! Education is the beginning point. If education shall be available  then the chains of inequality will be shattered. Rightly it has been said by many, You educate a boy- you educate one. You educate a girl- you educate a family and this is a ground reality. I have always believed and subscribed and I am sure no one will disagree. Education is the most impactful transformative mechanism to bring about equality to cut into inequities, to generate a level playing field. This is being done massively and the results are encouraging”.

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JK/RC/SM