New Delhi: March 16, 2019

Empowerment of women is essential for building an empowered nation. This was the focus of all the speakers at the Women in Leadership Conclave held at India International Center in New Delhi today.

Dr.Pankaj Mittal, Additional Secretary, UGC was the Chief Guest at the Conclave. Dr. Sarojini Pritam and well known beauty expert Bharti Taneja were the guests of honour.

Dr. Mittal said that our stereotypes and attitudinal issues should not hinder the leadership in the women. So far there has been no single woman Chief Justice of India and Cabinet Secretary. In United States, the salary of woman Vice-Chancellor is less as compared to the male chancellor. Women generally tend to negotiate lower, she said.

Dr. Mittal said that women are actually the research personnel in family management and child development. Telling about her Empowered nation needs empowered women

Dr. Sarojini Pritam, well known humorous poetess stressed that we should not merely copy the culture of the west.

On a humorous note,, she said that when sun also goes to west, it disappears. Again in her witty style, she said that often women are blamed for speaking too much. Dr. Pritam said that they will stop speaking, if the men understand her statement. In one chance women should not be looked upon as inferior, she said. She saluted the women who have advanced in different fields by dint of their hard work.

In the panel discussion, women achievers of different fields participated and emphasized that women are already leaders, as they build empire in home. Support system at home and at the work place is important for enhancing the quality of their life. They are actually the domestic engineers, who play their crucial role in the upliftment of the family. At time of need they even manufacture papad and masalas at home for the strengthening the financial position of the family. Speakers participating the discussion, the speakers called upon the women to have belief in themselves, otherwise how can you expect others to believe in you. Women are ambitious and want to advance in life, but they withdraw to balance family life by sacrificing. Speakers emphasized that by trying to develop balance, efforts should be made to create a harmony. Empowerment has to be from within. In family life it is really the women who is at command. Other members need to help.

Mrs Bharti Taneja said that it is our duty to guide the younger generation , when they will be able to do dutiful things. She saluted those who have worked hard with passion and achieved something. The deserve congratulations and encouragement, she said.

25 awards were presented to the women achievers of different fields in various categories. These include, Dr. Rama Pandey (academics), Renuka Sondhi Gulati (Art and Paintings), Mrs. Laxmi Devi (entrepreneurship), Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj (Medicine- Dermatology), Dr. Chitra Sarkar ( Medicine- Neuroscience), Dr. Neerja Batla (Gynaecology), Ms Richa Mishra (Journalism), Dr.Alka Mittal (Governance), Ms. Chetna Saini (Sports- Boxing), Ms Raj Yadav (Sports), Mrs Darshana Gupta (Social Service), Smt Sunita Sharma(Finance), Ms Gargi S Bahuguna (Legal Affairs), Ms Sandhya Bajaj (Legal Affairs), Ms Anju Yadav (Gram Panchayat), Ms Rekha Rani (Gram Panchayat), Dr. Ritu Sood (Academics), Ms Martha (Social Upliftment), Proud Team (All Women Business of Petrol Pump), Ms Neena Singh (Women in Uniform- Pilot), Ms Mona Yadav (Social Upliftment), DSP Susheela Malhan ( women in uniform- HPS), Dr Kavita Bhardwaj( Redefinig Indian Startup Successful Story), Ms Pushpa Singh Visen (Women In Literature).

The First edition of Women in Leadership Conclave was organised by NGOs ,Society for Health and Women Empowerment, SHE and Lok Kala Parishad in collaboration with Media agency MoLoG. The President of SHE , Preeti Tiwary said that it will be an annual affair to mark the glorious feats by the women from different walks of life. She added that the event will provide a platform for women achievers who can inspire the generation next to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.