Celebration | India Prepares for Major Change on International Women's Day

GATHERING STRENGTH: Minister of State (Independent charge), Women & Child Development, Krishna Tirath, welcomes vetran actor Sharmila Tagore. Photo: PTIIf we had Anne of Carversville web TV, we would be at Kennedy’s JFK airport to interview the crew when they land at New York’s JFK airport after the 16 hour and 20 minute flight from Mumbai, India.

On the occasion of Women’s Day on Monday, Air India will make history, deploying an all-women pilot team on the ultra long haul, non-stop flight (AI-141) from Mumbai to New York. via The Hindu

Captain Rashmi Miranda and Captain Sunita Narula will be the commanders, and Captain Swati Rawal and Captain Neha Kulkarni First Officers on the 14-hour flight. Mrs. Harpreet A De Singh will carry out a line observation safety audit; the flight will be despatched by Nandita Deshpande and the load and trim sheet will be prepared by Ferzin Kuruvilla.

Mumbai | New York isn’t the only Air India flight that will fly women crews tomorrow. The company has more than 136 women pilots flying in the international  and domestic sector. 

Women’s Reservation Bill

SIGNING IN: Actor Sharmila Tagore takes time out to sign autographs for her fans at the Women’s Leadership Summit 2010 on Inclusive Growth and Empowering Women of Rural India at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: PTIEqually, if not more important, the various political parties in India have reached consensus on the Women’s Reservation Bill, which will be presented to lawmakers tomorrow.

Stating that the proposed Constitutional amendment was the only ‘remedy’ to provide adequate representation to women, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily said, ‘After all, the country needs such a legislation … with all our best of intentions, the political parties could not evolve a system where adequate representation to be made available to women.”

The bill, which is understandably opposed by many of India’s male politicians, mandates that women occupy one-third of seats in Parliament and State Assemblies. Besides The Hindu newspaper, The Times of India is also reporting that they expect the bill to pass tomorrow.  

Already India ranks ahead of America in the political empowerment of women. Yes, my friends in India! It’s very possible that in the future India will outrank America in the empowerment of women.

Before passing this the Women’s Empowerment Act, India ranked 24 in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Survey, primarily because of a quota system in place at local levels. 

America ranks a pathetic 62, in terms of the political empowerment of American women in the World Economic Forum rankings. Women comprise a dismal 16% of seats in Congress. 

I’m thrilled for the possibility that India’s women will give the world a brilliant example of female advancement, when Air India 141 lands at JFK tomorrow with two all-female crews.  When the previously unimaginable happens in India — that the Women’s Empowerment Act is passed, allocating one-third of seats to women in Parliament,  the entire world should applaud.

END OF DARKNESS: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Krishna Tirath light the lamp. Photo: PTIThis move brings India into line with European countries like Germany and Scandinavian countries, which also mandate seats for women to insure our political representation.  This means America will keep sinking in the rankings, but it’s my hope that eventually American women will come to understand that compared to other women in the world, we’re so far behind the curve we don’t even know how far we’re trailing. 

As Americans, we assume we’re top dog of everything. Women’s empowerment is just one more example where we’re increasingly bringing up the rear and losing ground to the rest of the world. 

Our fingers are crossed for India’s women. Show us the way, ladies. We’re cheering for you. Much love. Anne

Note: Photos are from the Women’s Leadership Summit 2010 on Inclusive Growth and Empowering Women of Rural India. 

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