Equity more than equality is need

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia, while addressing an event celebrating women in aviation sector, said that it is high time that people should recognise the contribution of women in the industry, and also advocated equity over equality at workplace for them.

Nisha Verma

Ministry of Civil Aviation, along with Women in Aviation India (WAI) and The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) recently organised an event acknowledging the contribution of women in Indian aviation sector.

Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia said, “This is a landmark day to be remembered. We are celebrating the achievements of women in the aviation industry, as we celebrate 75 years of Independence this year with the Aazadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. As a country with 1.3 billion population, world‘s largest democracy, with 70 per cent of the population below the age of 35, that is the potential India represents to the world. But this is a latent potential, which needs to be converted to kinetic. Women in aviation has been working in this direction. “It is need of the hour, the clarion call to bring women to the forefront, so that we can achieve our dream of becoming a superpower. The role of women is not confined to airport and airplanes only and the number of ladies being recognised today are only a drop in the ocean, numerous other women have also made remarkable contribution in this industry. Our country has a rich heritage of women in aviation; 15 per cent of our pilots are women, while the average global rate is only five per cent. But we need to do much more and shift our parameters to bring this 15 per cent to 50 per cent. We all need to start at the grassroots by making STEM education accessible.”

He added “In next decade, the backbone of Indian infrastructure is going to be civil aviation, which transports roughly 144 million people and has a growth potential double that of Indian Railways. Therefore, there is a need to train more pilots. For this, we have come out with a new FTO policy, through which we are looking to set up nine new FTOs in five new cities, as this will help in reducing the outflow of foreign exchange in training our pilots abroad and unleashing another avenue for our women to participate much greater in civil aviation.”

He added, “The need of the hour is to establish equity more than equality for women at workplaces, with men partaking in responsibilities at work, as well as at home.”

Many other senior dignitaries were also present on the occasion, including Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Radha Bhatia, President, Women in Aviation, India Chapter and many other senior executives from MoCA, FICCI and representatives of airlines.

Radha Bhatia, President, Women in Aviation, India Chapter, shared, “It’s an absolute pleasure to host this event along with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which celebrates the contribution of all women achievers. This day would be remembered in the history of aviation where we have so many eminent stars of aviation present among us for the first time, along with a very dynamic Civil Aviation Minister and eminent dignitaries from the ministry, FICCI and the industry. Women in aviation, including the defence forces, have also been felicitated today. Women have an important role to play in the aviation sector. India’s biggest problem today is that of unemployment, and increasing participation in tourism and aviation might be one of the answers. We should all come together to provide maximum opportunities to all in an endeavour to put women in the forefront. “

Around 30 women achievers, who have played a significant role in the aviation sector, were felicitated at the event.