SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015
MESSAGE TO WOMEN ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Comrades,
It’s my honour to address you all on the occasion of ‘International Womens Day’ on 8th March 2015 . This day is a celebration of the struggle of women, the world over, and their achievements, in realising the just and equitable role and position for women in society, in workplace and as a homemaker. This day is also a reminder of the road ahead, the enormity of the tasks that still stare at us. This day is a day to resolve, to rededicate ourselves to the task of women emancipation and empowerment.
The word ‘woman’ is not singular, it is a plural noun. If the Oxford Dictionary says otherwise, we need to let them know why. A woman is always an eco-system, balancing multiple roles, multiple commitments, at multiple places of work – both in office and also at home . There might be CL, EL etc in office, but there is not a single CL or EL in house. Good health or bad health, the tasks of bringing up children, and other home-making works don’t give any break. In addition to these, many of us are engaged in other interests like music , painting, culture, sports etc., and it is really a miracle that women manage to do so many things, and still appear cheerful and charming. The word multi-tasking doesn’t find more resonance anywhere. In fact, women contribute more to the society. If you educate a man, you are educating one person. If you are educating a woman, you are educating a family.
In spite of the effervescent and vibrant roles that women play as mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, soul-mates, co-workers and in social service , women are often trampled upon in world societies, both in war and peace. The past year witnessed some of the most horrific incidents that shook our sense of humanity. 276 school-girls were kidnapped in Nigeria in April 2014 , and not released till now. According to Amnesty International, hundreds of Yazidi women were sold by ISIS into sexual slavery. Using women as soft targets is a blot on humanity and questions the very meaning of civilisation.
Even in the civilised and sophisticated corporate world, many business shenanigans squirm at the thought of giving equal pay and respect to their women employees. This year witnessed the most distasteful episode of Microsoft CEO’s statement that women should accept their karma, when he was asked about equal pay for women in software industry. This shows the deep-rooted prejudice that women are burdened with, and the enormity of the road ahead of the women’s movement in India and the world over.
We can fight this only with deep understanding and belief in women’s capabilities and strengths. Even under the weight of all the prejudices, women have been charting stellar performances everywhere. Not only the immense multi-tasking roles and expectations that every woman upholds, many are blazing a path of leadership and success, leaving a trail of pride and inspiration, not only in regular careers but also in high tech scientific and futuristic fields, which are traditionally considered as male bastions. Smt. Padmashree Warrior from Vijayawada is the Chief Technology & Strategy Officer (CTSO) at Cisco, which powers the world’s telecom architecture. She is in-charge of the telecom machinery which runs our mobile phones, internet and whatsapp, for present and for future. Indra Nooyi from Chennai is Pepsi’s global Chairman & CEO. Mary Kom became Olympic Bronze medallist and Asian Gold Medallist in boxing, when she was a mother of three. Kiran Mazumdar Shah of Biocon is a genetics entrepreneurial wizard, having a street named after her in Australia on 5th March 2015. There are lot more stellar achievements of waorking women in business and other spheres.
These achievements are just a pointer to show that all that a women needs is a little enabling. Enable the women, and they will do wonders, to the families, workplaces and the societies. Give women the right education and training, safety in work-place and transit, freedom from violence and discrimination, respect as an equal gender, belief in their capabilities – the society will transform into a much better place. There is no better time to realise and rededicate to this goal, than the year in which Malala Yousufzai got the Nobel Peace Prize for fighting for education. There is no easy path to achieve this, and I call upon all women comrades, to struggle for equitable rights, with passion, determination and hunger for success.
On this momentous day, it’s our duty, of everyone - common people, men and women comrades, the leaders, the policy makers and the government - to understand and appreciate that women deserve their rightful equitable empowerment. In fact, this year, we are also observing 20 years of Beijing Declaration on Women’s Rights. UNO declared the campaign slogan as “Empowering Women, Empowering humanity”, i.e. if we empower women, we empower humanity. The theme for this year’s International Women’s day is rightfully coined as “Make it Happen”. On this occasion, as Chairperson of the Women’s Committee of the Central Government Employees and Workers, I call upon everyone to join hands and give a clarion call – Yes, we will make it happen.
Believe in yourself.
Sd/-
(Usha Bonepalli)
Chairperson,
Women’s Committee,
Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers,
New Delhi
In Modern Indian society women are playing stellar role, even challenging the males in Politics. More importantly their role in family building, society development is stupendous. Indian woman is emerging out of their conventional role, realizing their unlimited potential and have begun to take major role in all walks of life.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2015
107th International Women’s Day – An overview
Smt. Nandita Mohanty
Chairperson, Women Sub-Committee
AIPEU, Gr.-C, Bhubaneswar Division
Women has the power to multiply, to intensify and to glorify. If you give her a smile, she will give you her heart.
Today we are celebrating 107th International Women’s Day all over the world. International Women’s day is celebrated on 8th March every year. In different parts of the World it is celebrated separately. In some regions of the World it is celebrated to show respect, appreciation love towards women. In some it is celebrated as the social, economic and political achievement of women. And now a days in some countries it is celebrated by men to show their love and respect to women like the “Mother’s Day” and “Valentine’s Day”.
The earliest Women’s Day was observed on 28th February 1909 in New York by the Socialist Party in America in remembrance of 1908 strike of Women Workers. The International Women’s Day is also popularly known as International Working Women’s Day. Before twentieth century life of women in society was very miserable. They don’t have right to education, right to work, right to acquire property and even right to vote. Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word 'Suffragette' is derived from the word "suffrage" meaning “ the right to vote”. International Women's Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success and reminds of inequities still to be redressed.
The International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March every year throughout the world since 1911 to glorify the economic, social and political achievement of women’s past, present and future .In some countries like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria it is observed as National Holiday. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organizations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day. Various organizations identify their own International Women's Day theme, specific to their local context and interests. Many charities, NGOs and Governments also adopt a relevant theme or campaign to mark the day. For example, organizations like the UN, Oxfam, Women for Women, Care International, Plan, World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and more - run exciting and powerful campaigns that raise awareness and encourage donations for good causes. The UN has been declaring an annual equality theme for many years.
The earliest Women’s Day observance was held on February 28, 1909, in New York; it was organized by the Socialist Party of America in remembrance of the 1908 strike of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. In August 1910, an International Women's Conference was organized to precede the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark. Inspired in part by the American socialists, German Socialist Loose Zietz proposed the establishment of an annual 'International Women’s Day and was seconded by fellow socialist and later communist leader Clara, although no date was specified at that conference, delegates (100 women from 17 countries) agreed with the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights, including suffrage, for women. The following year, on March 19, 1911, International Women’s Day was marked for the first time, by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire alone, there were 300 demonstrations. In Vienna, women paraded on the Ringstrasse and carried banners honouring the martyrs of the Paris Commune. Women demanded that women be given the right to vote and to hold public office. They also protested against employment sex discrimination. Americans continued to celebrate National Women's Day on the last Sunday in February.
In the West, International Women's Day was first observed as a popular event after 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women's rights and world peace.
All around the world, International Women's Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality. This year the theme of International Women’s Day is MAKE IT HAPPEN .Make It Happen is the 2015 theme for our internationalwomensday.com global hub encouraging effective action for advancing and recognizing women.
Gandhiji said, ‘Intellectually, mentally, and spiritually, woman is equivalent to a male and she can participate in every activity."From Sita in Ramayana to Kannagi in Silapatkaram to Rani Jhansi are not only celebrated women but also their contribution to social change and awareness had been immense. Even Ramakrishna Parmahamsa is said to have worshipped his wife. Gender is western concept. India is the original home of the Mother Goddess. Only in India Woman is worshipped as Sakti [Strength], Saraswati [Knowledge] and Lakshmi [Prosperity]. No other country or religion in the world worships women-hood in the way India does. In Hindu Mythology women is said to have been given absolutely 50% of Mental, Spiritual and physical space in the life of a man, when Shiva is illustrated to have done this inArdhanareeswar form. India is fortunate to have many great women in ancient Vedic Days like Gargi, Maitreyi, Biswambhara and in Modern India Annie Besent, Sister Nevedita, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, Mother Teresa, Sarojini Naidu to Indira Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla, Indra Nooyi to Pratibha Singh Patil and many more in the Indian Corporate sector who have proved to be more than a match . Their contributions to Society in whole and to Women in Particular is invaluable.
According to a feminist writer woman is all powerful. She has the power to multiply, to intensify and to glorify. If you give a sperm to her she will give you a baby .If you give her a house she will give you a home. If you give her the groceries she will give you the meal. If you give her a smile she will give you her heart. She multiplies and glorifies whatever you will give to her.
In Modern Indian society women are playing stellar role, even challenging the males in Politics. More importantly their role in family building, society development is stupendous. Indian woman is emerging out of their conventional role, realizing their unlimited potential and have begun to take major role in all walks of life.
We are really fortunate to be the proud members of All India Postal Employees Union, Group-C which provides such a nice platform in the name of Women Sub-Committee to honour the talents and troubles of the women employees in India Post. Bhubaneswar Division is the only Division in Odisha Circle to have such a Sub-Committee. Feeling extremely proud while celebrating this historic day on behalf of the Women Sub-Committee of AIPEU, Group-C, Bhubaneswar Division, I would like to sincerely appeal all to join hand in hand and heart with heart to make it happen for advancing and recognizing women.
Woman Unity Long Live.
AIPEU Long Live.
N F P E Long Live
India Post Long Live.
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