Margaret Alva lists three Cs to become successful women

Senior Congress leader Margaret Alva on Friday gave a clarion call to women to practice three Cs-courage, commitment and capability to reach the pinnacle of success in life.

Addressing the gathering, mainly women during a conference on ‘Women Leadership: Advancing Women for Business Growth’, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Mysuru chapter in association with Young Indians, an organisation, as part of International Women’s Day celebrations, Alva said, the women should derive inspiration from the outstanding achievers, who braved odds to reach their goals.

Saying that liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation (LPG) has largely affected women, especially in the rural areas, Alva explained how the women formed the work force in agrarian sector. Though the lands are being acquired, it is the male member of the family who is feted with a job in compensation while the women tillers are ignored.
Though much is talked and heard about encouraging women entrepreneurs, they have been restricted to three industries; pickle, pappad and powder (curry powder). Women are equally capable of shouldering men’s responsibilities in IT sector too, and it is not given due importance.

Taking a dig at the successive governments, Alva said ‘budgetary allocation for women is cut by half, thanks to the male policy makers again who decide on women’s welfare’.
On women’s role in politics, Alva said ‘33 per cent of reservation for women in the local bodies has helped women raise their voices in rural areas, who have been foraying into politics in large numbers’.

Citing her own example, Alva said ‘being a woman in politics, especially from minority section has never been a hurdle. What it takes to go upwards is the courage and commitment to face the challenge’.

T S Ushasri an entrepreneur said ‘still there is disregard for women while dealing with the men on the business table. The women should stay focused and lay thrust on acquiring
the skills, by being innovative in the realm irrespective of fields’.

Arjun M Ranga Vice-chairman of CII Mysuru unit was proud to acknowledge that ‘The family run agarbathi industry had a major chunk of women work force constituting 80 per cent of the labourers’.

N Muthukumar Chairman of CII recalled how he acquired the skills of multi-tasking from his mother, who was playing various roles at home.