ELECRAMA 2020 Puts Spotlight on Gender Gap in Power Sector with Women Empower Initiative
Greater Noida, 20th Jan: Women empowerment dominated the second day of the 14th edition of ELECRAMA 2020, a flagship show of Indian electrical industry, which began at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida on January 18.
While 50% of women form part of power sector in developed countries, women in India constitutes 6-7% said industry experts at the event which is hosting a congregation of power sector players from 120 countries with a line-up of over 1,370 exhibitors including 320 from abroad.
The B2B event aims to promote new technologies in electrical equipment, export and eyes Rs 30,000-crore business to be generated from the event.
The event that showcases all aspects of power including generation, transmission, distribution, power electronics, renewables, electromobilty, automation and power storage, is spread across 1,10,000 sqm area and expects a footfall of over 3 lakh visitors/exhibitors over the five days.
Key highlights of Elecrama 2020 are a strong focus on electrification of railways, renewable energy, next generation technologies, automation, digital solutions, encouraging women in power sector and building electrical systems.
On the occasion, Anjuli Chandra member Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) recalled that when she joined her engineering college in the 1970s, she was the only female in the college which lacked even basic facilities like washroom for women. “As a result I was reluctantly allowed to use the principal’s washroom,” said Chandra at the Elecrama 2020’s.
Chandra adds that women have to work twice as hard to prove half their worth. “During my 40-year career there was a time when situation of Kashmir was unstable and perilous due to terrorism activities in the valley. At that time, Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) scheme was launched in the entire country and it had to be implemented in J&K, for which no organization wanted to take the responsibility. Eventually it was allotted to Central Electricity Authority. None of the men in my office wanted to go. Despite being the deputy director, I agreed to go to Kashmir and get the job done”, she added as she was greeted with a thundering applause.
“When I was traveling around the world for Elecrama 2020 in the past two years, I realized that developed countries had around 50% of women, while India has only 6-7% of working women in the power sector. Although I am proud to share that IEEMA has about 60% of women working, but clearly more needs to be done. It is with the vision to inspire women participation in power sector and to acknowledge the women leaders of the industry that we have created the Women Empower initiative at Elecrama 2020,” said Anil Saboo, chairman, Elecrama.
The first edition of Women Empower featured a series of talks from the leading ladies of the power sector including Parul Verma, director-HR business practices of Schneider Electric, Manisha Shukla, training manager of ABB PowerTEC, Anju Thukral, director Alchemy Corporate Communications and more.
The initiative discussed various workplace challenges, evolving attitude of males towards women colleagues, equal pay, facilities in workspace, work-life balance, maternity and work related issues, and how electricals and electronics industry can be an attractive career option for women in India.
While tributes were paid to first women electric engineer in India A Lalitha for her contribution to India’s electrical engineering field and to two times Nobel Prize winner Madam Curie for the inspiration she is to the world, a series of workshops are also organized under this initiative.
