MH-BOOK-WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Prominent women from different

walks of life and lawmakers Thursday underlined the importance

of women empowerment and called for not looking at the issue

from political or religions angle.

Speaking at a book release function here, they said

India should become a country where women are considered equal

and their constitutional rights safeguarded.

Bureaucrat-turned-activist Abha Singh, actors Poonam

Dhillon, Gul Panag and Bhagyashree, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila

Andolan (BMMA) co-convener Noorjehan Safia Naaz, NCP Member of

Parliament Majeed Memon and AIMIM legislator Waris Pathan put

forth their views on women empowerment.

They said when it comes to women empowerment,

everyone, including the political class, should set aside

their self-interest and push for it.

The prominent personalities expressed their views

after the launch of the Urdu version of Hindi book "Stree:

Dasha Aur Disha". The Hindi version, co-authored by Singh, was

released last year.

The book is an initiative of city-based NGO RannSamar,

which works for women empowerment and gender justice in Uttar

Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Noorjehan, one of the petitioners in the triple talaq

case, emphasised on a codified law for Muslims, saying this

will safeguard their constitutional rights.

Bhagyashree pitched for making suitable changes in

laws for all communities.

Terming the #MeToo movement as a "good thing",

Dhillon, recently appointed Mumbai BJP vice-president, said,

"We need to change the pro-man mindset prevailing in the

society."

"Besides, we also need to rationalise laws with

current scenario," she said.

Singh said the book highlights the present condition

of women and encourages them to stand up for her rights.

"So far, laws have been accessed largely by urban

women. Domestic violence and MeToo cases were reported by

urban women.

"(Through the book) we want to empower and sensitise

the rest of the women in their own language," Singh said.