Women’s Empowerment in Telangana takes center stage as Shikha Goel discusses key safety initiatives and focusing on safety at EmpowerHer event
A half-day program titled “EmpowerHer: Accelerating Equality and Empowerment” was held on Thursday at The Marvel Hall in T-Hub, Madhapur, to mark Women’s Day. The event was organized by the Women Empowerment Committee of the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) and attracted over 300 participants.
The chief guest, Ms. Shikha Goel, Director General of Police, Women Safety Wing, Telangana, emphasized the critical role of empowerment in national development. “Empowerment is not just about fairness and equality; it’s about development and nation-building,” Goel said. “The nation can’t advance if half of its population is left behind. Empowerment cannot occur in a vacuum; it requires a complete ecosystem.”
Goel highlighted several pioneering initiatives led by the Telangana Police to promote women’s safety, citing programs like SheTeams, Bharosa, SAHAS, and T-Safe. She explained that the SheTeams were launched to enhance women’s safety through awareness and technology integration. The Bharosa support center provides holistic, one-stop assistance for women in distress, with the model recently receiving praise from India’s Supreme Court.
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Additionally, Goel discussed SAHAS, a program aimed at strengthening the ecosystem of support for women who face workplace sexual harassment. She also mentioned T-Safe, an initiative launched by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, which serves as a ride-monitoring service to ensure safer travel for women. “These initiatives demonstrate Telangana’s commitment to prioritizing the safety and security of all citizens,” she noted.
R. Ravi Kumar, Senior Vice President of FTCCI, remarked that Women’s Day should be celebrated every day. “There’s no need for a special day,” he said, emphasizing that empowerment should be a year-round effort. He also stressed that to achieve a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, every Indian must dedicate at least one hour a day to upskill themselves.
Dr. Tasneem Shariff, in her opening remarks, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that the power to become leaders lies within every woman. She also pointed out that women represent only 8% of CEOs on the Fortune 500 list, underscoring the need for more women in leadership roles.
Other prominent speakers included Ms. Keerthy Reddy, Founder & CEO of Bold Fuse; Ms. Purnima Kamble, Senior Partner at Fox Mandal Foundation; Ms. Aakanksha Kumar, Chief Engagement Head for Telangana and AP at the Image Consulting Business Institute; and Ms. Sylvia Smetana, Founder of Divershefy.
The program offered a variety of sessions on topics such as health, wellness, safety, legal rights, personal grooming, branding, and leadership, including a fireside chat on achieving CXO-level excellence. Participants included women professionals, entrepreneurs, aspiring businesswomen, students, HR leaders, and individuals passionate about women’s rights.
