Focus on education, jobs: Pramila Naidu

Sanjay R Murty | NT

Girls should not be in a hurry to select life partners without having a degree or a job and become self-reliant, according to Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Pramila Naidu.

At a programme – Saluting Women Change Makers – organized by News Trail here on Thursday at Lalit Ashok, Pramila Naidu said that all girls must get educated, hold a degree, get a job and only then plan to get married. “This enables them not only to be financially independent, but also face any challenges in life,” Pramila Naidu said.

The women’s panel chairperson said she herself conducts counseling sessions for complainants. She advised couples to communicate and resolve problems between themselves instead of letting them escalate. Stressing the importance of being good role models, she said it was essential to pay attention to children’s upbringing in order to create a healthy society.

“Instilling morals in children is of utmost importance. If children develop values and get inspired by achievers, they will certainly not tread the wrong path during teenage and adulthood,” she added.

She shared many instances from her experience as KSCW chairperson. “We received 4,608 complaints from March 5 2021 till January 2022, most of which were for the protection of women. Most cases were that of domestic violence, property and financial issues,” she said.

She also urged senior citizens not to part with their property as it puts them at the mercy of their children and their spouses. Narrating an anecdote related to a senior citizen, she told how it led to the Commission providing mid-day meals every day for complainants as they wait for their turn to be heard.

She said March is the month to contemplate the crucial role played by women in family, society and economy. “We also use this occasion to motivate women achievers,’’ she said.

She spoke briefly about the origin of Women’s Day celebrations and called upon everyone to remember the German activist Clara Zetkin and others who fought for this cause after her. “During the 18th and 19th centuries, almost 30 per cent of the workforce in factories consisted of women, but they faced a disparity in wages in addition to several other challenges due to their gender,” she said.