NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Changing the male mindset about women in India and treating them as human beings is the first step to bring gender equality, said Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. She was addressing a gathering at the Indian consulate in New York on November 18. The Indian Women Forum and the Indian Consulate jointly hosted an interactive session with the Speaker to discuss issues relating to women’s development and their contribution to India-US relations at the Consulate, November 18.

The attendees that included women from various walks of life discussed issues relating to women’s development and their contribution to India-US relations. Among those who attended the forum were Dr Uma Mysorekar, President Hindu Temple Society of North America, Meera Gandhi, a humanitarian and the founder and CEO of The Giving Back Foundation, Dr Farah Usmani, chief, operational support and quality assurance, United Nations Population Fund. Consul General Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay introduced the significance of the event and appealed to them to encourage women empowerment.

Speaking on women empowerment issue, the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan admitted that India is lagging behind but said the new government is determined to bring gender equality. “Our government is trying its best to ensure education for girls. But the most important thing is to change the mindset about women in our society. Women should be treated as human beings and they must be given their due respect. They should be recognized for their extra capacity of handling multiple things”, she said noting that it is equally important to retain the traditional role of woman in society.

She also spoke about projects launched by government of India including Ladli Laxmi, a scheme introduced to lay a firm foundation of girl’s future through improvement in their educational and economic status, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, (Save the girl child and educate girl child scheme) and Roshni a skill development scheme aimed at youth in rural India.