The Transparency International India (TII), Odisha Chapter observed the International Women’s Day on Friday holding a seminar at the Rotary Bhavan on the topic “Empowering women for curbing corruption’.
Presided over by TII Odisha Chapter Chairman Dr Bimalendu Mohanty, the seminar was addressed by former DGP AB Tripathy, Prof Padmaja Mishra, Head of Department of Applied and Analytical Economics, Utkal University, former Chairperson of State Social Welfare Board Kasturika Patnaik and eminent social worker Seema Bahinipati.
At an interactive session, former Chief Commissioner of Income Tax DK Ray and Padmashree Debi Prasanna Patnaik responded to the queries. RTI activist and TII Board Member Biswajit Mohanty too participate in the seminar, which was also attended by representatives of student community, women social workers and senior citizens of the civil society. They stressed the imperative need of empowering women to curb the growing menace of corruption.
It was observed that when corruption in the country is rampant in the country, the roles of leaders like Anna Hazare championing the cause of enacting a strong Jan lokpal Bill to punish the corrupt persons irrespective of their positions in the society, Baba Ramdev vociferously demanding bringing back the huge black money kept in foreign banks by corrupt individuals have a direct impact on the public.
Speakers pointed out that at present only 20 per cent of jobs in the organised sector in our country are held by women. Various studies have revealed that the degree of corruption is much less among women employees. Women should, therefore, be empowered to avail of more opportunities for employment and representation in the legislatures and other policymaking bodies to curb corruption.