SheSpeaks – an AAMBRA Foundation initiative
As a government registered non-profit organisation working towards women
empowerment and gender sensitisation since 2012, The Aambra Foundation has been prolific in organising the SheSpeaks,seminars over the years, which have discussed and highlighted subjects like impact of culture on gender discrimination, building a friendlier ecosystem for women, sex trafficking and workplace harassment apart from highlighting the success stories of outstanding women achievers. SheSpeaks continued this rich vein of form in terms of content and discussions in the recently concluded

Edition.13 on May 09, 2020, on the auspicious day of International Mother’s Day.

SheSpeaks Edition:-13 A dialogue series to motivate women and mothers to lead the battle against Covid 19

Mrs.Vinita Bakshi, the founder of the AAMBRA Foundation took charge to kick-start the Edition with the Founder’s speech in which Mrs.Vinita Bakshi welcomed the steller speakers of the event, international diaspora and media partner. She mentioned the importance of mother in an individual’s life and showed concern over the increasing number of old age and widows' homes in the culturally rich country like India. She pondered if their rights were well protected within their homes. She illustrated, how Samvaad awakens the collective awareness which ultimately propels others to find the Samadhan(solution), in the line of getting Samadhan from Samvaad she talked about SheSpeaks the movement that has always aimed to bring forward women stories and issues to the forefront, particularly for the consideration of the society and the policymakers.

With the tagline of Samvaad to Samadhan the program initiates…

Briefing of the discussions, along with key takeaways.…
➢ In the situation when there is a spike in the number of cases every day, the non- compliance of Covid-19 protocol especially in the rural area is the cause of  concern. In this situation a mother could play a key role in the containment of Covid-19 in home as well in community.
➢ Mother plays a key role in a family, already plays many responsibilities and in this pandemic she had to take a step further for the protection of family and
community.
➢ Mother is the first teacher, guide, support and friend but nowadays we often take her for granted and fail to repay her love with gratitude and respect.

➢ For the containment of Covid-19, mothers should provide proper knowledge
pertaining to precaution, prevention , importance of hygiene , proper diet, healthy mind body and soul amid this pandemic.
➢ With closed school children are at home with minimal socialization, for almost more than a year, which makes them more vulnerable to mental health issues. Mother could combat this prevailing situation by yoga, addressing their issues by having dialogues, meditation, various indoor games and creating a positive and relaxed environment at home.
➢ Pandemic left more women jobless as compared to men, with the loss of livelihood, unemployment of husbands, no access to the basic needs, mental and social issues, mothers of lower section of society are mostly affected, collective endeavour to empower them should be made.
➢ As the studies and indices suggest, the vulnerability of children between the age group of 0-18y are more likely to get affected by the third wave of Covid-19, restricting the movement of children as well as adults, creating a dreadful environment. To encounter it the mother could play a key role in the family being a pillar of strength and support.
➢ A collective effort of government, NGOs and cooperatives should be made in the area where work has not been done yet for the upliftment of society and women.
➢ To combat the Covid-19, we should emphasize more on precaution rather than cure.

Detail transcript of the discussions

Mr Hasan Yaqoob, anchor (Corporate Affair Expert)
● The corporate affair expert stated the event by explaining the role of a mother and her essential duties towards the family.
● He mentioned that during the covid pandemic the role of the mother has been very significant, as she has been burdened by her duties and responsibilities towards the family welfare.
● He also mentioned that as covid is now spreading rapidly at a fast spread it is now affecting the rural population and there is a lack of awareness of covid in these areas and so the protocol for prevention are not found to be satisfactory and have urged the local NGO to curb this issue in the area of Uttar Pradesh, India.
  Mrs Vinita Bakshi (Author & Founder of Aambra Foundation)
● Mrs Bakshi stressed the role of a mother in the life of a child.
● She further elaborated that a mother is the first teacher, guide, support, and friend.
● She pointed that the role of a mother has become tougher during these times of covid time.
● She also informed that during covid new mothers who are covid positive could feed their baby
● She further made an important comment that we are readily forgetting the importance of our mothers in modern times.

Mrs Asma Hussain (Fashion Designer)
● Mrs Hussain stressed on to provide proper awareness to the children regarding covid 19 relating to its precautions and preventions.
● She further mentioned the important role that hygiene and diet is playing during these pandemic situations.
● Further mentioned the importance of having a healthy mind, body, and spirituality connection during these times of lockdown mentioning that the mental health of children
is deteriorating as they are staying indoors with minimal socialization,
● She further mentioned the importance of meditation and yoga during this time is of prior importance for the body and
● Mrs Hussain concluded her talk by giving importance to spirituality as it helps a human to stay positive.

 Mrs Arushi Tandon (Chairperson 2021-22 FICCI FLO Lucknow chapter)

● Mrs Arushi started her discussion by mentioning that our mothers are going through challenging times of covid.
● Further explaining the role of a mother in the family and the responsibilities of the household and work
● touching on the line of the difficult situation of covid pandemic and the mental health issues that mothers are going through.
● She gave us insightful information regarding the condition of mothers from the lower section is mostly affected due to unemployability and further added that they are becoming the victim of domestic violence, sexual harassment and falling into mental health condition of depression and anxiety.
● Lastly, she ended her discussion by stating that we should try to empower women.

  Mrs. Hina Haider Rizvi (Social Reformist)
● She stated that the 2nd wave of the pandemic is now affecting the children.
● She further made an important appeal to make Restricted movement of children and adult outside and Laid emphasises on the mask and hand sanitization advised to include yoga in the lifestyle.
● She further gave an important message of the use of alternative medicinal plants that can help in protection against the infection of covid.

 Mrs Sanyukta Bhatia (Mayor Lucknow)
● She started her discussion by mentioning the uniqueness of the Indian
● Further added that we should celebrate our mothers in these tough times for e successfully handling the situation on the domestic front.
● She further suggested that in a situation of mild to moderate health conditions do not rush to the hospital with the willpower to get home isolated and get treated at home.

Mrs Rita Bahuguna Joshi (Member of Parliament, Prayagraj Constituency
● She made an important point by mentioning that Half the population of the world is mothers.
● She explained how the new normal has brought about a change in responsibilities of women, men and children too.
● She informed that how the People are facing financial and mental health condition at an increasing rate and, similarly explained the situation of domestic violence and sexual harassment
● She further mentioned the importance of providing knowledge of prevention, cure and basic medicine to the children to avoid panic around them
● Her closing comment consisted of giving importance to engaging with the elderly and children.

Mrs Anandi Ben Patel (Governor of UP & MP)

● She started her talk by mentioning the advantage of being in an Indian culture where mothers have had a central role in the family.
● She further talked about the alternative ways in which Mother’s Day can be celebrated during the lockdown.
● she further illustrated by children can help the mothers in the day-to-day activities, children can make a handmade greeting card, watch a movie together, children can attempt to cook for their mother a meal.
● She further emphasised how mothers have always tried to do their fullest and make their children responsible and good human beings.
● She made a special reference to how the lockdown has given a mother and child amplified time to spend together.
● She suggested that during the time of covid we should respect the worker of the cremation ground and hospital worker.
● She further suggested the members of civil societies help handicap and orphan children.
● She also made a statement that women prisoners should be released who have left 1-2 years of imprisonment so they can return to their homes and lock up their families during these challenging times.

Mr Sandeep Bhargava (Former EVP Vodafone Idea and advisor member of Anambra foundation)
● He stated that most of the working women mothers are still taking full responsibility for the household.
● He highlighted the issue of women who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
● He further enquired the government and civil society about helping the orphans who have lost their parents and support them financially and provide shelter and provide emotional support.