Talk Sense, Make Sense

On Tuesday, June 21, 2005, there was a seminar on 'Congenial Environment for Women at Night Shift Work', organised by 'Pragati', the ladies wing of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at the chamber's premises in Kolkata. Unfortunately, but as usual, very little concrete came out of the interaction. The same platitudinal 'women's empowerment', 'separate and clean toilet facilities for women at work', 'self-restraint on the part of men', 'employers not wishing to take the risk' were harped upon. Such observations and suggestions are obvious and the deliberations on the issue, if deprived of the oratorial skills of the speakers were virtually 'airy nothings'. Such talks should be arranged only if on prior consultation with the approached speakers, the organisers feel something innovative and more importantly, worthwhile, can actually come out of the discussions.