Inclusivity Inc.

An online event seeks to highlight systemic challenges in the workplace to make it more inclusive for women and the LGBTQiA+ community

Inclusivity and diversity in the workplace continue to be a challenge and awareness is the first step in this direction. Ladies who Lead, a membership-only women’s community, will host an event with equal rights activist Harish Iyer to discuss the subject this weekend. The idea is to look at how workplaces can have a more balanced workforce where equality and non-discrimination drive how the establishment functions.

Harish Iyer, Aabha Bakaya and Aneesha  Gaba

Since the pandemic hit us, organisations have begun to realise the importance of creating more balanced environments as well as putting in place the infrastructure to enable equality. The motivation behind the talk, moderated by Aneesha Gaba of Ladies who Lead, is to highlight this change in attitude, the pandemic being its catalyst. Aabha Bakaya, its founder, shares, “At the talk, we are hoping to emphasise aspects such as policy change. The conversation will centre on women, and building new-age ecosystems. During the pandemic women suffered the most so we hope post-pandemic, new policies will reflect women’s needs;  for example through flexi policies, and policies where both maternity and paternity leave are granted, and other benefits. Implementation, however, is critical because change cannot only be 
on paper.”

The event will also focus on queer issues and how change can take place at offices, be it technology, banking or hospitality sectors, and across entrepreneurship. Harish Iyer, equal rights activist and diversity, inclusivity and equity head at AXIS Bank is looking forward to the session, “As a queer person, I firmly believe the Indian corporate world needs to do more. We don’t want corporates to be drunk with pride during June — we want to be the happy hangover that lasts all year. It’s important to be intentional about efforts. We are not pin-up causes. We are people who need more than acceptance; we want to be recognised for our worth.”

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