ROHAN KHAUNTE, independent MLA from Porvorim constituency, one of Goa’s young and most articulate politicians:
WOMEN have long since broken the so called glass ceiling in every field. From being CEO’s, entrepreneurs, mountaineers and astronauts every possible male bastion has been breached and so the question of whether women can be good CMs and PMs is rather irrelevant. Rather the question should be whether we’re still holding our women back from displaying their astuteness and leadership qualities.
Introspective thinking will reveal that since ancient times men have attempted to draw boundaries of female capacities. We need to understand that women face more challenges than men, be it at home or work, and a definitive change in male outlook is most necessary for our women to reach their extensive potential.
Every flight of our women bore the additional weight of customary male dominance, be it Rani Laxmibai, Indira Gandhi, Indra Nooyi or our very own `Tai’ Sasikala Kakodker and Sanyogita Rane to name a few. The rise of our women has been hurdled by male scepticism and thus, limiting their scope of ingenuity and action. So when it comes to politics, power and legislation, it’s the male bastion that’s holding our women back from being successful MLAs, ministers, chief ministers, prime ministers and presidents.
The world pandemic has thrown up many challenges which our women have handled with much aplomb. Their resilience in facing the changing environment, be it at home, offices and other avenues, has helped humanity face the pandemic confidently. The most successful responses to Covid has been where women are at the helm, be it New Zealand, Norway, Taiwan or take the Kerala Health Minister Smt Shailaja.
Women power has shown exemplary courage and decisiveness in the wake of adversity, so that there are no two opinions on whether women can excel as our leaders. It is just the constraints of opportunities and societal shackles that are limiting the flight of our women.
I take pride in working with my women colleagues in assembly who display superb legislative abilities and thus, contributing to the progressive development of Goa. I am looking forward to the day when there’s a women majority in our assembly leading Goa from the forefront. Let’s have more of our women joining and strengthening the process of democracy!