Traditionally women have managed the hearth and the household and raised children. They have been a support to the men folk who were considered to be the providers for the family.
There are also regions, small pockets in the world where women are still suppressed and demeaned; they deal with violence both mental and physical. They have to fight gender bias regularly; this is not an issue just in the developing countries but also prevalent in the developed nations.
International woman’s day is marked on 8th March every year, celebrates the emancipation of women. It celebrates womanhood and pays tribute to all their achievements and brings them on one platform to share their views, deal with issues of concern and empower them.
Women are leaders everywhere you look, from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes. ~ Nancy Pelosi
My boss called me the other day and asked me to organise a program to mark the International Woman's Day. I just thought for a while and wondered what is that we should be doing that day. I spoke to a few of my women colleagues and the first suggestion that came up was organise a charity lunch at an old age home and the same followed with others. This got me to think that we women will never think of just ourselves, its supposed to be our day and we should be doing things for US. What was a priority for us, me being on the other side of the thirties felt that health was something that was certainly an issue as far as the Indian women are concerned. We are anemic, have issues with calcium and bone density, we are the most stressed among the women across the globe. We will think of everyone else first and be the last person in the family when there is something to be prioritized We will always take ourselves for granted, women are supposed to be the backbone of a family, when that itself is weak the foundation of the family is shaken. With these thoughts at the back of my mind it didn't make sense to organise an entertainment programme with some song and dance and have some great food.
I went back to my boss's office and told him that we would like to have a health check up done on that day. Thus emerged the health screening camp at the institute and gave out the following message:
"Apeejay Institute of Hospitality celebrates the International Women’s Day with a special message for the women that ‘healthy mind is in a healthy body’ and ‘a healthy mother can bring up a healthy family’. Women somehow neglect themselves; they take care of everyone else but take their own health for granted. So a general health check up has been organized at the institute where all the lady staff members from the institute, the Park Navi Mumbai and the girl students can get a health screening done. Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Nerul in association with the Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai, Hillside, will be organizing the health check up camp at the institute. The doctors will be available to guide and advise the ladies on different aspects of their health and the PR person from the Hospital will also advise and recommend specific tests to the ladies if they wish to get an elaborate health check up.
With this initiative the institute feels that the ladies will get in the habit of having regular health checkups as recommended by the health care departments. No gift can be bigger than the gift of good health. This awareness will help the women in passing on the benefits of health screening to their family and friends thus building the foundation for a healthy nation!"
Am I happy with the initiative? .... Very... I must say! pleased with myself... how an idea gives birth to something more meaningful.
Wishing all the women a Very Happy International Women's day!
Celebrate your life... your uniqueness, your differences!!
Celebrate your life... your uniqueness, your differences!!
PS
I'll keep with my promise of writing about Abhilash Tomy in my posts till he is back from his historic voyage.
(Abhilash Tomy is attempting to be the first Indian on a solo non stop unassisted circumnavigation of the globe)
By now this gentleman has numerous fans and more than 60% of them are women. He is almost done with the job and is on the last lap of his voyage circumnavigating the earth. He is only 3000 miles away from reaching his home port, Mumbai, the Gateway of India.
To know more about Lt. Cdr Tomy and his boat the Mhadei, follow the link below.
No comments:
Post a Comment