Maneka hits out at biz chambers over social welfare

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at business chambers, including ASSOCHAM, FICCI and CII, saying they were “non-serious” about government’s social welfare activities and termed as a “wastage of time” attending to their functions.Speaking at a seminar ‘Women at Workplace’, organised by ASSOCHAM here today, the Union minister lashed out at participating members, representing different companies, saying such functions do not yield any results as Chambers are not serious about nation-building exercises.

“Attending business Chambers’ functions is a complete wastage of time because when it comes to ask them to do something for the country they do very little than talking,” Gandhi said.“The Prime Minister has also shown disappointment with companies building only 300 toilets for girl’s schools in the country through CSR, which is not even one-tenth of Delhi,” she said.

Criticising companies for not complying with norms under the new Companies Act, like having at least one woman directors on their boards and formation of internal complaints committee on sexual harassment, Gandhi said since companies “talk so big about everything and do nothing” government also does its “obligatory duty”.

Most of the companies appoint their relative and family members as directors of the companies. “How many of you have women who are non-relative on their boards... You don’t have serious representations. And therefore, we also do our obligatory duty, coming, talking through prepared speeches,” she said.“We could have a meaningful dialogue if you were actually serious about doing something,” she said.