Public Sector Organisation Lauded for its initiative to provide opportunities for growth and career development of women

Public Sector Undertakings Lauded by Smt Panabaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, for its initiative to provide opportunities for growth and career development of women

Women playing vital role in various fields ranging from Auto driver to Astronaut

UPA Govt has taken Several initiatives for Women Empowerment – Smt P. Lakshmi MoS Petroleum inaugurates 23rd National Convention of Forum of Women in Public Sector

Smt Panabaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas has said that the UPA Government has taken several initiatives for the empowerment of women in the form of various policies & enactments. Inaugurating 23rd National Convention of Forum of Women-in-Public Sector (WIPS), here today, Smt Lakshmi pointed out that “some of the land mark enactments made recently are Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Amendment to Hindu Succession Act to make Hindu Women’s inheritance rights in property equal to that of men; etc. “Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil Ji was made the First Women President of India and Smt. Meira Kumar the First Women Speaker of Lok Sabha”, She added.

The Minister emphasized that women are proving their potential of working shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues at various levels and contributing to the growth and development of their arganisations. “Women are playing vital role in politics, judiciary, Science and Technology and almost all other spheres ranging from auto driver to astronaut. Smt. Sunita William, an Indo-American has spent longest time in the space making all of us to be proud of her achievement”, Smt Lakshmi said.

Following is the text of the speech of the Minister:

“Dr. Reena Ramachandran, Founder President, WIPS; President Apex, Ms Rachel Mathew; President Northern Region, Ms. Nishi Khurana; General Secretary APEX, Ms. Kirti Tiwari; Secretary Northern Region, Ms Anju Gupta; Senior Executives of PSUs, delegates, invitees, friends from media, ladies and gentlemen.

It is indeed a matter of pride and privilege to address you all on the occasion of the 23rd National Convention inaugural function organized by the WIPS under the aegis of SCOPE today. I am happy to learn that the WIPS, over the last two decades is making consistent efforts towards inspiring and promoting integrated growth of women in the public enterprises. It is also a great achievement of the forum that more than 77 PSUs including Public Sector Banks, insurance companies are its Corporate life members and at present WIPS is having more than 10,000 members representing wide backgrounds with different experiences.

I must congratulate the Public sector organizations who have taken initiatives in engineering institutional changes in policies and structures to provide opportunities for growth and career development of women. The positive contribution of these initiatives are being seen, as more and more professionally qualified women are entering the corporate world and are occupying the positions in the Board of Directors also.The Theme of this Convention” Breaking the mould: Women-Organization Reciprocity” has been rightly chosen reflecting the contributions of women to industry and the society.

All of us are aware that conventionally women preferred to choose teaching or Banking as their profession. Over a period, a sea change has been witnessed by the entry of women in every field and Industry and are proving their potential of working shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues at various levels and contributing to the growth and development of the organization. Women are playing vital role in politics, judiciary, Science and Technology and almost all other spheres ranging from auto driver to astronaut. Smt. Sunita William, an Indo-American has spent longest time in the space making all of us to be proud of her achievement.

You may recall that many countries are lead by women at their national level like in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, U.K., Norway etc. at one time or the other. In fact Asia and Europe was also led by women leaders in the past. This speaks volumes about women and their respective roles which they successfully carried. Looking at the convention structure I am sure there will be lot of interactions which will benefit each one of you and collectively for the growth of WIPS.

Our Government under the able guidance of Smt. Sonia Gandhiji, Hon’ble Chairperson, UPA and under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singhji, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India have taken a lot of initiatives for the empowerment of women in the form of various policies and enactments. Some of the land mark enactments made in the recent past are Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Amendment to Hindu Succession Act, to make Hindu Women’s inheritance rights in property equal to that of men; Women in the Army were also given parity with their male counterpart. Because of the efforts of our Government, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil Ji was made the First Women President of India and Smt. Meira Kumar is made as the First Women Speaker of Lok Sabha.

Recently on the advise of our Government, Hon’ble President has signed an ordinance on crime against women to punish the offenders and provide speedy justice to the victims through Fast Track Courts. Finally I am satisfied to see that the forum recognizes the enterprises for their initiatives towards women development including individual achievements. My congratulations to the award winners of various categories. With these few words, I declare open the 23rd National Convention of Forum for Women in Public Sector and wish all the best for the participants. ”

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