Ensuring presence of women in different kind of jobs, entitlements to widows, creating awareness about gender equality at a young age among boys and installation of CCTVs in public spaces were among suggestions given by women participants to tackle violence against women, at a discussion organised last week by the Puducherry State Resource Centre for Women (PSRCW).
Fifty Auxiliary Nurse Midwives from government hospitals participated in the discussion. Their suggestions and ideas will make their way into a report which will be sent to the National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) under the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development. “The recommendations will be sent to the NMEW and could be taken into consideration by the policy makers in government,” said PSRCW Project Director Varalakshmi.
The PSRCW, which functions under the Puducherry Corporation for the Development of Women and Differently-abled Persons Ltd. (PCDW and DAP), has organised similar discussions with Self Help Groups and anganwadi workers earlier. There are plans to hold discussions with women police officers, school teachers and Adi Dravidar field staff members, and send a consolidated report to the NMEW.
The participants listed out forms of violence against women, and discussed the various Acts related to women’s safety and welfare. Group discussions led to suggestions for women’s empowerment.
“As these nurses interact with the public a lot, it is important to get their viewpoints. The welfare policies for women are not reaching many beneficiaries. We are asking the participants how the schemes can be strengthened and improved,” said PSRCW State Coordinator Savitry N. “We want to gauge the awareness levels on Acts among women in different fields,” she added.
One of the participating nurses said that all school education must be made co-educational, as this helps children interact with the opposite gender and form healthy relationships, a requisite for gender equality.
Some of the participants also asked popular media and cinema to desist from portraying adolescents and young children in serious relationships, and sacrificing their careers and life goals.
The programme was also attended by Managing Director PCDW and DAP, V. Anita, Manager-Schemes, Saguntala, Chairman, K. Pandian, and Deputy Director of Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services Dr. Alli Rani.
Fifty Auxiliary Nurse Midwives from government hospitals participated in the discussion
“The recommendations will be sent to the NMEW and taken into consideration by policy makers”
