MUMBAI: Intro: The suave Union minister lived up to his image of being a consummate speaker by dwelling on the real, everyday problems faced by India‘s women and the challenges he faces as a minister in legislating laws that can engender change. He then proceeded to list the reforms the UPA Government has been trying to bring in in response. He also mentioned that gender sensitisation probably needs to start with the ruling male-dominated political class.

Points:

1. The challenges may be stiff and steep, but we must not give up the fight for dignity of our women. The question of women‘s rights is fundamental to the future of India.

2. To bring about change, the government has two tools: Legislation and education. Legislation is a top-down approach. Education is a more organic process towards creating a conducive atmosphere for change.

3. To invest in the future is the way to go. It‘s only by educating our children that we can hope to create a long-lasting impact.

4. Legislation can‘t change social ills like dowry. It only drives them underground, creating a new set of legislative challenges.

5. Educate women; it makes for common sense. As Mahatma Gandhi said, if you educate a boy, you create a good a good man at best. But if you educate a woman, you educate a family and transform society.

6. Tharoor buttressed this assertion with facts and figures, saying that studies in African countries have shown that kids of a mother who receives five or more years of education have a 40 per cent more survival rate than kids of mothers with less than five years of education because they have a better appreciation of health and sanitation issues.

Quotes:

1. "Kerala‘s women are more educated, and as a result, the birth rate there is 1.7 per cent. Bihar, with a less than 50 literacy for women, has a birth rate of 4 per cent."

2. "The mark of a healthy society is the way it treats its women."

3. "There is a simple fundamental two-word solution to our problems: Educate girls."

4. "The Government‘s job is not just to create infrastructure, it must raise consciousness."

5. "Women aren‘t exempt from being patronised by patriarchy. Recently, a chief minister told a gathering of extremely accomplished women about the virtues of making the perfect chapatti."