Workplace equality has to be built, not announced: Charu Sinha

An equal workplace cannot simply be announced but has to be built by identifying and addressing inequalities embedded in everyday systems and practices, DG (CID, ACB & WSW) Charu Sinha said in Hyderabad on Saturday.

Speaking at the seventh edition of the #StandWithHer panel discussion series at WeHub, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, she said workplace exclusion was often subtle and stressed the need to make such inequalities visible and amplify women’s voices.

The discussion, titled ‘Inclusive Workspaces — Everyday Fairness, Respect & Voice: Women Leadership and Remuneration’, brought together representatives from public administration, cinema, media, entrepreneurship and creative industries.

Choreographer Pony Verma Prakashraj recalled being the only woman competing with male choreographers when she started her career and having to prove that she knew her work.

Actor, writer and director Adivi Sesh questioned the notion that women were being ‘given permission’ to work, saying the idea itself reflected an imbalance in how women were viewed in workplaces.

Editor and CEO Rajinikanth Vellalacheruvuyu spoke about male dominance in society and said women constituted around 50% of his organisation’s workforce.

TGSPDCL Chairman and Managing Director Jitesh V. Patil highlighted the growing presence of women in the power sector and their contribution to the industry.

The discussion focused on barriers faced by women in accessing leadership opportunities, receiving recognition and fair remuneration, and speaking up without being judged through gender stereotypes.

#StandWithHer is a year-long initiative aimed at promoting conversations on gender equality through discussions on different themes.