We Women Want Festival 2024: Experts Share Experiences Of Surpassing Gender Discrimination

The eagerly awaited ‘We Women Want Festival & Awards 2024’ commenced today at the Taj Ambassador Hotel in New Delhi. The day-long festival will witness enthralling conversations by eminent speakers from all walks of life as they share their stories of womanhood. The We Women Want Festival will honour exemplary women with The Shakti Award 2024.

Rishabh Gulati, the Editor-in-Chief of NewsX, set the event’s tone by detailing the history of the “We Women Want” initiative, which has previously hosted two conclaves in Delhi and one in Mumbai. This year’s conclave aims to capture the perspectives of women from diverse generations and fields on promoting women-led development.

Discussions on Health and Sports

The first session featured discussions led by Dr. Aruna Kalra, Director of OBGYN at CKB Hospital, and Dr. Gita Prakash, a consultant in Internal Medicine at Max Healthcare. They focused on menstrual and sexual health, offering essential guidelines for both women and men.

The second session spotlighted a panel of accomplished sportswomen, moderated by NewsX Associate Editor Uday Pratap Singh and Sports Editor Manoj Joshi. The panel included prominent athletes such as mountaineer Meenu Kaliraman, judo champion Poonam Chopra, Paralympic bronze medalist Simran Sharma Vats, and boxing world champion Sweety Boora.

Key Insights from Sportswomen

The session began with an introduction of the athletes, followed by Singh asking the panel to share three crucial elements of their success.

Meenu Kaliraman, the first Indian woman to simultaneously climb Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse, emphasized the need for sacrifices. She remarked, “One should sacrifice peace, sleep, and relatives. One should be able to leave their comfort zone and choose the hard strides.” Kaliraman also pointed out societal pressures on girls to marry young, which often hinders their ambitions.

Sweety Boora reinforced the importance of self-belief. “If one has self-belief, then one can do anything, not only boxing. God has given us the capability to transform our thoughts into actions. One should have the hunger and desire to reach the target and should never lose hope,” she said.

She also stressed resilience, stating, “Many people have vision and plan, but once they get punched in the court, many of them fear to make a comeback. One should have complete faith and belief in themselves, then they can achieve anything.”

Poonam Chopra, a pioneer in judo, highlighted the importance of discipline. She noted, “The kids in school should join judo classes early on, just like SAI’s facilities in IGI Stadium and other private centers.”

Challenges Faced by Para Athletes

Simran Sharma shared her experiences as a Paralympian, discussing how specially-abled individuals are often marginalized. She urged people to avoid labeling them as victims, as it negatively impacts their morale.

Simran credited her husband for instilling discipline in her life, stating, “My husband kept me on my toes with his strict army rules. Initially, I got irritated, but I realized the importance of discipline after I lost a few tournaments.”

Sweety Boora echoed this sentiment, describing her relationship with her partner, Deepak Hooda, an Indian kabaddi player: “We are the biggest support for each other.”

Family Support and Inspiration

Kaliraman dedicated her achievements to her father, emphasizing, “He’s my biggest support, and I can overcome any challenge if I have my father’s back.”

Simran recalled how a tweet from Milkha Singh inspired her to excel in athletics, stating, “Before I go, I have a dream of an Indian youngster winning a medal at a tracking event at the global level.”

Addressing Gender Discrimination

Meenu Kaliraman spoke about the gender discrimination prevalent in her state, where many undermine women’s abilities. “Despite achieving so much success, women and girls face discrimination. People undermine the ability of girls; even my own brother would question my ability at times,” she shared.

Overcoming Financial Barriers

Poonam Chopra recounted her early struggles, noting, “There were difficulties, but we managed. The government supported us, and I always thought of how I could contribute to the nation instead of what I could get after winning a medal.”

Kaliraman echoed this sentiment, saying, “One who has determination and passion, the money won’t be a barrier.”

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