Exclusive: India needs to have 'Ministry of Gender Equality' to tackle gender disparities

In an exclusive interview to ETV Bharat, Executive member of Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Ruchi Mehta dwells at gender inequalities and what needs to be done in India to tackle it. She also opinionated that India can have a 'Ministry of Gender Equality' like Argentina to address issues of gender disparities.

Hyderabad:Woman emancipation has been an indispensable part of gender equality, however, with concerns such as crimes against women, pay disparity, gender stigmatisation, dubiety pertaining to women's right come to the fore.

Executive member of Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Ruchi Mehta who participated in the virtual United Nation's multi-stakeholder hearing told ETV Bharat that the Fourth World Conference on Women produced the most progressive blueprint for women's right.

"Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which was adopted by the United Nation on September 15, 1995, had an unprecedented amount of about 17,000 participants and 30,000 activists. Participants from all across the world joined the conference with their diverse perspective and a single motive of gender equality and women empowerment," she added.

Emphasising the need to strengthen the educational infrastructure, Mehta said that India can have a Ministry of Gender Equality like Argentina to address such issues as it will give more attention in tackling obstacles to parity between men and women.

As India sees a declining number of women from the workforce, Mehta added that it is a cause of concern but the fact remains that disparity of opportunities presented to women needs to be addressed so that they can compete on an equal footing.

The women, especially in the rural sector, are the ones who are at the receiving end of biases perpetuated socially and culturally.

She also added that certain cliches associated with the diversity of women having access to health, education and opportunity still hold in India.

"India, however, faces many challenges in terms of women's education, financial independence, healthcare services and above all women's safety," said Mehta.

Since the gender debate in India and in the world has always been stuck between the binaries of Male and Female gender, what role will the transgender and other gender minorities play? To this, Mehta said, "They will definitely be part of it in the foreseeable future and will add more meaning to the debate."