Ace shuttler PV Sindhu has called out the glaring lack of respect accorded to women in India, saying people don’t practice what they preach about gender equality in the country.
Speaking at ‘SH(OUT) – Sexual Harassment Out: We Are Listening’, an event organised by the Hyderabad Police on Friday, 18 January, the Olympic silver medallist rued the behaviour towards women in the country, posing a stark example to the standards set by foreign nations.
“... in India, people actually tell us that we should respect women, but I think there are very rare people who actually practice it... who actually do it.”PV Sindhu
“I feel really happy that there is lot of respect towards women in other countries, while in India, people actually tell us that we should respect women, but I think there are very rare people who actually practice it... who actually do it (respect). It's just that they only say it and they don't practice it,” explained Sindhu.
The 23-year-old said the #MeToo movement had brought lot of awareness about sexual harassment of women at workplace, adding that this movement educated both women and also men about the responsibilities towards the society.
Sindhu stressed upon the need for women who face sexual harassment, be it physical or mental, to come forward and speak about their troubles without being ashamed of it.
“I want to say and wish that everybody should respect others and especially women. Women have to be strong and we have to believe ourselves as a woman we can do anything.”PV Sindhu
During the symposium, various provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, were explained to the delegates with specific inputs on the role and responsibilities of the organisations; constitution and functions of internal complaints committee; and reporting and redressal mechanism for women employees.
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