Agenda   

     

Time Frame 

Topic Facilitator/ Presentor

10.30 AM‐11.00 AM 

Registration  GRC‐WDC Team 

11.00 AM‐ 11.10 AM 

Opening Remarks  Dr. N. Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS, Managing Director, WDC cum Secretary, Animal Husbandary& Fisheries,Govt. of Bihar 

11.10 AM‐11.20 AM 

Inclusion and promoting gender mainstreaming for the inclusive growth of the industries in Bihar  

Dr. S. Siddharth, IAS, Principal Secretary, Deptt. of Industry, Govt. of Bihar 

11.20 AM 11.30 AM 

Introducing theme and experts  

AnandMadhab, Principal Consultant, Gender Resource Centre, WDC  

11.40 AM‐11.50 AM 

Need of Gender Orientation  Ms. TanushreeSoni, Director,  Technical Services (Gender based violence), Population Science International (PSI) 

11.50 AM‐12.50 AM 

Gender, GBV & State Response (DV Act, Sexual Harassment at Workplace law) 

Ms. JayashreeVelankar, PSI 

12.50 PM‐1.50 PM 

Gender Budgeting & Women & Industry  in Bihar 

TanushreeSoni, PSI 

1.50 PM‐2.00 PM 

Way Forward  AnandMadhab, GRC 

2.00 PM  Vote of Thanks  Followed by Lunch 

 

        

    

Total Number of Participants: 78

As a first step for the Gender mainstreaming in the state, Gender Orientation Workshop for the Officials of Industry Department, Govt. of Bihar was organised by the Gender Resource Centre (GRC), Women Development Corporation (WDC), Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar.

Felicitation of the dignitaries with the floral bouquet followed by lighting of the lamp by Dr. S. Siddharth, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries, GoB, Dr. N. Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS, Managing Director, Women Development Corporation, Bihar, Mr. Saket Sinha, IAS, Director, Industries, GoB, Mrs. Tanshree Soni, Director, Technical Services, Population Service International, New Delhi and Mrs. Jaishree Velankar, Sr. Manager, Training, Population Service International, New Delhi.

Lighting of the lamp by Dr. S. Siddharth, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries, GoB, Dr. N. Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS, Managing Director, Women Development Corporation, Bihar, Mr. Saket Sinha, IAS, Director, Industries, GoB, Mr. Anand Madhab, Principal Consultant Gender Resource Centre, WDC Bihar, Mrs. Tanshree Soni, Director, Technical Services, Population Service International, New Delhi and Mrs. Jayashree Velankar, Sr. Manager, Training, Population Service International, New Delhi.

Opening Remarks- Dr. N.Vijaya Lakshmi, IAS, Managing Director, Women Development Corporation, Bihar

In the opening remarks, Dr. N Vijaya Lakshmi, dealt with the aim and the objectives of the orientation programme. She was hopeful that after this workshop the sensitivity towards woman of the people in general and the staff of Industry department in particular would increase. WDC aims to orient each department of the Government of Bihar with such workshops. She mentioned that there is various

State as well as Central ACTs ensuring women justice but the officials lack awareness. GRC would take up such workshops and orientation programmes which would ensure such awareness. She talked about the existence of Gender Budgeting Cell in every Finance Department and the vital role of GRC in effective implementation of the same. She suggested the opening of feeding room, crèche, and a separate washroom in every government department is must. She referred to the Subba Rao Committee and mentioned that if India had invested on women in 1970s as it is doing today, by now India would have been a developed country. She beautifully remarked that every single person should know the way to deal with a woman as a colleague, as a subordinate and as a senior.

Dr. S. Siddharth, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Industry, Government of Bihar

In key note address Dr. Siddharth discussed upon the issue of gender mainstreaming for the inclusive growth of industries in Bihar. He mentioned that despite there being policies regarding 1/3rd of the working population to be women in working sector, the numbers of female workers always remain marginalized. According to him, various affirmative policies, have not succeeded to promote participation of women in industries. He requested Women Development Corporation for the opening of a separate cell for women entrepreneurs in the premises of “Udyog Mitra” for promoting women industries in the state. He affirmed that Industry department is ready to support WDC financially and will bear all the cost

implications in establishing this cell including human resources. In his concluding note, he requested every single government official and staff to refrain from indulging in any sort of violence against women because they largely impact the society.

Mr. Anand Madhab, Principal Consultant Gender Resource Centre, WDC Bihar

Mr. Anand Madhab was of opinion that discrimination is indoctrinated within the minds of the people ever since their birth. The flaw lies deep seated in the socialization method itself. Parents bring cars and guns for the boys and dolls and kitchen sets as ideal toys for a little girl. He desires to bring about change at the grooming stage of the children. Considering field work ideal for a man and desk job suitable for a female, is nothing but an attitudinal problem says Mr. Madhab from his experience. Further, he tried to explain that sometimes even inadvertant staring gives discomfort to women and such orientation programme would help the male population to understand the ideal behavior for the holistic growth of everyone in the office environment. In ahumble tone he concluded that the workshop is not to preach but just to practice few things which we already know.

Mrs. Sarita Choudhary, Addl. Director (Technical), Industries and Chairman ICC(Internal Complaints Committee) Industries Department, Government of Bihar

Mrs. Sarita recalled the time when she hada few female colleagues and the working hours were limited to 5 P.M. only because of the prevailing environment. But, she was happy to share with that there has been a drastic change. Not only has the number of female workers have increased but today time is not a big constraint for them. Men and women both aspire to finish their delegated work even at the cost of working late hours

Being the Chairman of the ICC she posed some questions and doubts regarding what exactly constitute sexual harassment at workplace and how to further complaint already registered. She requested GRC-WDC to conduct awareness programmes and discussions for providing them step wise information about ICC.

Mrs. Tanushree Soni, Director of Technical Services, Population Service International

Mrs. Tanushree, a Gender expert, conducted a powerpoint presentation where she mentioned the harsh reality that India could boost its’ GDP by $0.7 trillion by 2025 if the women working population increases by 10% only. But she said that even though this 10% seems to be a very nominal number yet is it very difficult to attain considering the socialization process in India where women have to manage household chores and bearing children as a priority job. A major factor for the lack of Gender parity is the unpaid work done by women. Where globally the statistics is 3%, India tops the chart at 9.8 times more than a man. She presented four important steps to ensure gender parity:-

Gender equality in work Essential services and enablers of economic opportunity Legal protection and political voice Physical security and autonomy( sex ratio at birth, child marriage and violence against

women)

She further summarized the 8 points which are essential for increasing the number of women workers. These are

Reducing gender gaps Lowering barriers to job creation Skills training for women Financial and digital services for women entrepreneurs Enforcement of laws necessary (PWDVA, Maternity benefits etc) Stepping up the gender diversity policies Improving the infrastructure and services Reshaping deep rooted attitudes of the society

She mentioned that the problem of gender inequality is deep rooted and in order to bring about a change, the mindset of the people at large has to be altered. Also she concluded by saying that Women have to be mentored and guided to take up leadership role.

Mrs. Jayashree Velankar, Senior Manager, Training, Population Service International

Mrs. Jayashree started her discussion by pointing out the policy of 2012 by the state industry department, where even after the affirmative actions of the government, the number of female entrepreneurs were not satisfactory. Thereafter, she continued with the very basic definitions of Sex and Gender, while differentiating between the two. She explained that while sex is biological, gender pertains only to social norms. She further explained that the reproductive role of women is huge in comparison with that of man- from nine months in womb to breast feeding all remain the duty of a

woman while the role of man is limited to that of sperm contribution. She explained that how the roles of male and female are pre-decided, where the female has to take care of the household while male has to become the bread earner. She emphasized the existence of double discrimination of women because of the Patrilocal Society (the woman has to live wherever her husband or in laws live) and the Patrilineal Society (the transfer of surname and family name will only travel to the male heir of the family). She noted that how Hinduism brings about gender inequality, where moksha can only be attained if the last rites are performed by the son or to be specific eldest son. Pointing out to other gender related issues, she told that Bihar ranks 2nd in terms of Dowry deaths. She mentioned how women themselves are the precursors of dowry and asks it for the benefit of their husband and son. Taking into the birth control issues and how it

adversely affects women, she mentioned about Tubectomy being one of the simplest and the safest method of birth control yet the least practiced.

She emphasized many other women related issues and along with the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act2013.Explainedits’ history by referring to the Vishakha Case of 1997. She explained that Vishakha Guidelines on which the Act is based was started by an organization (NGO)Vishakha in Rajasthan. The Vishakha guidelines had its own limitations- like being narrowed down to public sector and not including within itself private establishment or contract basis worker. Taking all such lacunae into account the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redress) Act, 2013 came into force. She in simple and clear terms explained sexual harassment to include unwelcome sexually determined behavior whether directly or by implications as-

Physical contact and advances Demand or request for sexual favours Sexually coloured remarks Showing pornography Or any other unwelcome physical, verbal, or non- verbal conduct of sexual nature.

The preventive method of such sexual harassment at workplace was also discussed and included posters and other advertisements and awareness programmes. All the other related questions like the place the victim can go for redress, or the rights which working women possess were also discussed. The establishment of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in organizations where there are 10 or more employees was also told to us. Such an ICC should be chaired by a woman and two other members, one of whom should be a part of an NGO. The complaint should be within 3 months of the incident, which can be extended to further 3 months with proper reasoning. The complainant should be a woman and the accused should be a man. The entire procedure has to be done in camera. The victim can be sanctioned leave with pay or a transfer as it deems fit. Furthering the roles and powers of the ICC and the benefit this Act can bring, she concluded her speech.

Further while discussing the way forward Mr Anand Madhab, talked the importance of Gender Budgeting. He mentioned that Gender budgeting provides a range of methodologies for analysis of expenditure and revenue streams by gender, enabling policy makers, analysts and governments to understand any differential impacts on men and women of policy decisions. Gender Budgeting does not imply an increased focus on gender specific expenditure or revenue.

He asked every single person present in the workshop to make sure that while preparing the next financial budget of the state to cater to women’s need. He concluded the entire informative session by asking every single department to become sensitive towards gender related issues. Expenditure on women related issues should be identified and segregated.

Mr. Madhab conducted the entire informative session. He requested every single person present over there to become sensitive towards gender related issues and act accordingly.

Open discussion

A large number of officers from Industry department participated in the workshop. There was large number of women participants as well. Workshop was quite live and very interactive. Many participants including women officials actively participated in the discussion and raised their points and doubts as well. Few important questions were raised are-

1. Mr. Bipendra Nath Thakur, Dy. Director(Technical), Industries said that, time has changed and no more women sacrifice their eating habits or proportion to cater to their family. While responding to this Mrs Jayshree remarked that it is a good to know that things are changing but the reason behind this apparent change is that, the woman he was talking about belonged to a family where there is no scarcity of food, also contributing economically in the family, it is a compromise and need of hour. Jayshree assured that even today if there is shortage of food at many a places and women eat a chapatti less to make sure that everyone sleeps full stomach.

2. A lady officer was of belief that even if we do not discriminate, it is inbuilt nature of a girl child to pick up dolls or go towards kitchen and the boy automatically picks up a bat bollor car or toy gun and goes out. Gender expert from PSI tried to explain to the lady that it was the effect of the socialization and surrounding environment. Baby tries to copy their parents, when she sees the familiar sex in the kitchen; she presumes that there she is supposed to go. Additionally she also added that it is not a very obvious nature of girl, there are many girls who hates to visit the kitchen.

3. People participating in the workshop were of the opinion that it is women who discriminate more towards woman especially in dowry cases. They feel that this law is being misused maximum. The response from the experts was that, still we live in a feudal society, women suffers as a daughter in law, but when she becomes mother in law she tries to take revenge of her sufferings and starts torturing her daughter in law. In our society mother and mother in laws are like custodian (jailors) of our existing system. They perform their designated duty, often cruelly, but ultimately men become the legal system and it is just their decisions that these metaphorical custodian implements. She pointed out that we have often seen women asking for dowry but seldom or never have we seen her asking something for herself. Be it land, vehicle or shares, whatever she asks is only for the male members of the family.

4. Question of witchcraft was also raised by few participants, where it is women who designate other women as witch and victimize.

Mrs Jayashree pointed out a very know yet subdued fact to the opinion holder that even though it is the female pronouncing a woman as witch yet, it is the male member who comes forward to burn or kills the witch.

5. Commenting about sexual harassment at workplace, a gentleman was of the opinion that now government officials at least in his department; do not have time to stare at a woman or to showor send unwanted videos to her. To this Mr. Madhab remarked that absence of opportunity should not be the reason behind retraining from such activities instead such feelings should never be allowed to breed in mind.

Way forward-

1. Workshop and discussion should be organized by the ICC on regular intervals to create awareness on Gender issues. WDC may provide technical support and department may extend financial support if needed.

2. Massive awareness drive may be planned and IEC materials like posters, pamphlets and literature should be made available and visible.

3. Half day workshop is not sufficient to clear all doubts; it should be minimum for one full day or one and half days.

4. Capacity building for ICC members is important 5. A women expert cell should be opened by WDC in the premises of “Udyog Mitra” to cater

towards needs of woman in industries. All related cost will be borne by the Industry department, Government of Bihar

6. Separate toilet, crèche, feeding rooms should be there in each and every department even for the visiting women. Rapporteur

1. Ms. ShatakshiAnand and 2. Ms. ShresiSinha