Women felicitated by WCD for ushering in change

: Ten women were today felicitated by Union minister Maneka Gandhi for raising issues that led to policy change.
Most of the women honoured by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) had drawn the minister's attention to the issues with the help of social media platforms.
Their role led to changes in the issuing of guidelines for passport forms and safety advisories for women travelling alone by taxis.
The women had reached out to WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi through tweets on her personal and official handles and online petitions on Change.Org. The ministry recognised the need to address the issues and moved to make the necessary changes.

Priyanka Gupta, a single mother, had posted a petition on Change.Org, requesting the minister to modify the format of passport application forms which made it mandatory for an applicant to mention his or her father's name.
"My husband abandoned us when my child was born just because she was a girl. My daughter doesn't want his name on the document. Our application was denied and we were told that both names were required," she said.

Her petition not only drew the interest of more than 25000 people on the first day it was posted, it also prompted Gandhi to write to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Gupta's recommendation.

The forms have now been changed, and the father's name is no longer necessary for a passport.
Pitampura resident Monika tweeted Gandhi, demanding the right to not mention her husband's name in her son's caste certificates.
"He is not part of our lives any more. Why should his name be on their certificates," Monika asked.
"I work as a helper for a doctor and she told me how the minister responds to tweets," she said.
The minister has referred the demand to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
"These women are special people who came out of the blue and communicated with us, resulting in policy change. They are doing exceptional work," Gandhi said.

Among the others felicitated was Sudipa Bose, whose Facebook post about her ordeal in a cab drew the attention of the WCD ministry which then went on to write to the Ministry of Road Transport. Later recommendations were made by the ministry on safe travel for women.