Telangana State is the second best place to live and work in, for women! And we’re not the ones saying that. This was in fact published by a report Breakthrough Index: Women in the Workplace, released by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an American organisation and Nathan Associates. TS ranked second just after Sikkim, thanks to its high rate of female workforce participation, lack of restrictions on women’s working hours, and high conviction rates for workforce crimes against women.
Ajitha Reddy, founder of Hamstech Institute of Fashion and Interior Design who is part of the city’s corporate culture, is quite happy with the way women are taken care of by their companies. She says, “It’s a fact that women are better workers than men. The corporates are well aware of it, and they do take good care of them.”
Echoing Ajitha’s sentiment, Swathi Lakra, the IPS officer behind the She Team initiative, says, “Though it is definitely an encouragement, it also shows us that we can be number one if we work hard for it.” Swathi says that a quick and effective response to cases of workplace harassment is one way forward. “I am not surprised with the result. Hyderabad, and Telangana, as a whole is a much safer place when compared to other parts of India.”
“I personally look after the well-being of my women employees and we also have a committee. A senior lady heads it and any incident at the workplace is looked into seriously,” points out Veer Vijay Singh, CEO and MD, Trance Hotels.
Megha Dinesh, who has been in the wellness industry for almost two decades, points out that complaints need to be taken more seriously. “Around 85 per cent of my workforce comprises women and it is my responsibility to look after them. I ensure that my staff gets dropped at home if it’s late in the night,” she says.
“The infrastructure of the city supports the working culture, where women play a big part. Hyderabad is one of the most flexible and liberal Indian cities apart from Bengaluru in South India,” she adds.
Ultimately, being safe is in one’s own hands, according to Vishala Reddy Vuyyala, founder director of IdentCITY. “Being safe is in the mindset. I have been here since the last 12-13 years and have never faced any untoward situation even if I am travelling at late hours after finishing work. I think women should keep both their eyes and ears open,” she says.
