March 8, 2016
Ratna De Nag speaks on the occasion of International Women’s Day
Madam,
There is a need to ensure gender equality and it is not going to be an easy task. We live in a world where inequality prevails. To be very frank, inequality is in our psyche. To come out of this mould is not easy. It is arduous. It needs lots of guts and courage and what not.
Women have the capacity to excel in whatever they do, whatever they aspire for.
Our hon. Speaker Smt Sumitra Mahajan is a good example how women can achieve with hard work, sincerity and perseverance. Our country has produced many eminent women leaders, starting from Indira Gandhi, our former President Pratibha Patil, and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
My party, the Trinamool Congress is headed by a woman, Mamata Banerjee, who faced all odds to come to this position and became the Chief Minister of West Bengal. We should take up the cause when we come across any injustice. We should not let it go.
I would like to quote the message of Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General on International Women’s Day 2016: “We have shattered so many glass ceilings we created a carpet of shards. Now we are sweeping away the assumptions and bias of the past so women can advance across new frontiers.”
Before I conclude, Madam, I would like to convey my regards to you and all the honourable members of this House and all the women in my State, in my country and outside the country.
