PANAJI
Ahead of the third Development Working Group (DWG) G20 meeting starting from May 9, the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday emphasised the importance of harnessing the potential of women as leaders claiming it as a vital long-term investment for organisational success, national prosperity and overall quality of life.
MEA Joint Secretary Eenam Gambhir was speaking at the side event on women-led development wherein he also highlighted that having more women in leadership positions fosters innovation and human-centric solutions.
“…increasing the potential of women as leaders is a critical long-term investment for organisational success, national prosperity and quality of life. More women in leadership roles bring in innovation and human-centric solutions,” he said.
MEA Joint Secretary (G20) Nagaraj Naidu further emphasised the importance of promoting generational equality as he spoke about the significance of unlocking the full potential of women through a development approach led by women.
“Enabling women to participate equally in markets, ensuring their access to and control over productive resources, providing access to decent work, granting them control over their own time, lives, and bodies, as well as fostering their increased voice, agency, and meaningful participation in economic decision-making are not only catalysts for productivity and economic growth, but also vital for achieving peaceful societies, realising the complete human potential, and fostering sustainable development,” he added.
The event organised by the G20 Secretariat in partnership with Observer Research Foundation (ORF), started with a session on “Women and Economy: Emerging Sectors and the Future of Work”, followed by a spotlight session on “Women’s Leadership in the Uniformed Services”, and another on “Agents of Change: Climate Resilience and Food Systems”.
Stressing that women-led development is indeed a very significant issue, Executive Director, GWL Voices MarÃa Fernanda Espinosa Garcés opined that women-led development is about power sharing and equality. "For building a gender-equal, fair and sustainable world, five things “ redistribute unpaid care responsibilities, close the gender digital divide, increase the representation of women in STEM fields and close the literacy gap, ensure women’s economic empowerment and more representation in politics “ need to be resolved,” she added.
The session on “Women’s Leadership in the Uniformed Services” focused on women's immense presence in the Indian Navy, from serving in the medical corps and as pilots to managing logistics and education as well as taking part and even leading the confinement for the Republic Day Parade.
Commander Shazia Khan, Lieutenant Commander Swati Bhandari, Lieutenant Commander Tavishi Singh, Lieutenant Commander Disha Amrith, Lieutenant Commander Roopa and Lieutenant Commander Dilna shared their experiences as medical officers, in naval aviation, as naval constructors, and leading the Republic Day parade naval contingent.
