External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar chaired the fourth plenary session of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha on Friday, focusing on ‘Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women’s Leadership and Influence – Nari Shakti’. He emphasized that true progress is superficial until the human side is addressed, highlighting the integral role of gender equality and women’s development in India’s foreign policy and international relations.
The session celebrated the achievements of women leaders globally while addressing systemic challenges that hinder progress. In his address, EAM Jaishankar underscored the importance of gender equality under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, noting that issues related to women’s development have become central to India’s international activities and foreign policy. He highlighted India’s advocacy for women-led development during its G20 presidency and the Summit of the Future.
Jaishankar reflected on deep-rooted societal issues impacting women’s development, emphasizing that societal change goes beyond addressing visible challenges. He noted that discrimination often begins at the family level, affecting access to resources like nutrition, health, and education, and extends to workplace dynamics and opportunities for women.
Linking these issues to India’s broader vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat, Jaishankar explained that traditional metrics such as GDP growth and infrastructure development are insufficient without addressing the human aspect of progress. He stressed the importance of fostering change through role models and inspirational figures to overcome systemic challenges.
The session reiterated the pivotal role of women leaders in shaping India’s progress and called for collective efforts to ensure equitable opportunities for all.
