FLO Amritsar hosts meet on women’s safety

Advocating women’s rights, safety and equality, the Amritsar chapter of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) hosted Raj Lali Gill, Chairperson of the Punjab State Women’s Commission and Tripta Sood, ACP (Crime against Women & Children), to speak at an event titled, ‘Conversations about courage, concern and change’.

Under the FLO’s theme, ‘Empower Her, Secure Her’ led by Chairperson Dr Simarpreet Sandhu, the event was hosted to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, and emphasised the need to address female foeticide and ensure safety of girls at home and workplace. Emphasis was laid on encouraging women to know about their legal rights and framework for addressing complaints pertaining to sexual harassment and assault, domestic violence and other crimes.

In her speech, Raj Lali Gill reminded the audience of the positive change that can be achieved through advocacy. “Law enforcement can only help if we are aware about our rights, if we are willing to report the matter. Awareness is the first step towards empowerment,” said Raj Lali Gill.

The round-table discussions featured an esteemed panel of experts including Raj Lali Gill, Tripta Sood, Dr Simarpreet Sandhu, Dr Anmol Sekhon, an educationist and skill development expert, and Neeta Mehra, a leading businesswoman and social worker. Together, they addressed issues related to women’s safety and empowerment, emphasising the important role of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act and Domestic Violence Act, especially as October has been recognised as Domestic Violence Prevention Month. ACP Tripta Sood highlighted the importance of awareness and internal complaint committees.

A highlight of the event was the play ‘Dheeyan Je Na Jameyan’, written and directed by Vijay Mehra and performed by students of Senior Studies II. It addressed the issue of female foeticide and prompted discussions on the importance of valuing every girl and challenging harmful social norms.