HYDERABAD: A Group of women came together some seventeen-odd years ago to create a space “where we could address a diverse range of concerns relating to women, to our own situations in an effort to realising women’s rights,” noted members of Asmita, an NGO working for equal gender rights on Tuesday.
The event being the birth centenary commemoration of Durgabai Deshmukh, held at Ravindra Bharati on Tuesday evening.
Remembering the freedom fighter from Kakinada also saw Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy in attendance, sharing the dais with Chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board, Prema Cariappa. The members of the civil rights group noted at the event that the values of equality and social justice promoted by Durgabai should be effectively implemented in the State, “for better governance and prosperity.” The organising committee, backed by the Andhra Mahila Sabha, while revealing their annual activities for the year indicated that while some works has been done to eliminate gender inequality in Andhra Pradesh, “there lies a long road ahead for women to gain an equal footing in decision making matters.” For this to happen, the guests observed that the “project of equality” should be spread across “class, caste, community and region, which might prove to be an uphill task.” The members of the organisation further noted that when Asmita started in 1991, membership was spread across a vast range of social strata and professions, which continues to be so, involving “women from various walks of life.” The eventful evening, however proved to be an engaging experience for the audience, replete with cultural and dramatic presentations organised jointly put up by the Sabha and the NGO.