New Delhi, March eighth: In a 21st century world the place gender equality is paramount, girls function heads of state or authorities in solely 31 nations, fewer than one in 4 function cupboard ministers, and solely 26.5 p.c of them function members of parliament.
Regardless of the not-so-impressive numbers primarily based on a 2023 UN examine, girls world wide have emerged as a formidable power in political boards, lengthy overwhelmed by males.
Whereas in India, ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani and plenty of of their colleagues in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's authorities are working diligently to make governance extra conscious of girls's pursuits and desires, their Indian compatriots throughout the border aren’t far behind.
Within the US, Vice President Kamala Devi Harris – born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mom – is President Joe Biden's nominee on this yr's essential election and will properly make historical past by changing into America's first feminine president – and the primary of Indian descent in any respect.
Till two days in the past, two-time former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley — born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa to Punjabi-Sikh dad and mom — was the final girl to run towards Republican front-runner Donald Trump within the 2024 White Home race. She additionally served as US ambassador to the United Nations underneath then-President Trump.
Chennai-born Pramila Jayapal is amongst 5 Indian-American lawmakers within the US Congress, representing Washington's seventh Congressional District. Final yr, her sister Susheela Jayapal launched her candidacy for Congress within the state of Oregon.
Rep. Jenifer Rajkumar, the primary Hindu American elected to the New York State Workplace, gained the Diwali college vacation in only one legislative session, successful the hearts of the South Asian group within the state.
Final yr, Andhra Pradesh-born Aruna Miller made historical past by changing into the primary Indian-American politician to be sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of the state of Maryland.
In Australia, Swan Labor MP Zaneta Mascarenhas turned the primary individual of Goan origin to be elected to the nation's decrease home in 2022.
In Australia's nearest neighbor to the east, Priyanca Radhakrishnan has turn out to be the primary individual of Indian descent to be appointed New Zealand's Minister for Variety, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities.
Her great-grandfather, Dr. CR Krishna Pillai, was reportedly a left-wing chief of the Communist Get together and performed a key function in Kerala politics.
In January 2021, Radhakrishnan, who’s at the moment a Labor MP, was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award for public service.
Indo-Canadian Anita Anand, who was promoted to finance ministry president in a cupboard reshuffle final yr, is Canada's former protection minister and in addition served as public companies and procurement minister up to now.
Anita was born in Nova Scotia in 1967 to a Punjabi mom and a Tamil father, each medical doctors. After working as a scholar, lawyer and researcher, she was first elected MP for Oakville in 2019.
Reacting to Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian involvement within the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Anita mentioned it was a “very troublesome time” to listen to the Prime Minister's feedback, particularly for households who hail from India.
“I consider my dad and mom, for instance, and I believe that this opinion is shared by South Asians and households from India, no matter faith,” Anita mentioned, including that it’s “time to maneuver ahead with the authorized course of as is he’s “should.”
Jyoti Gondek, the daughter of Sikh dad and mom from India, was sworn in because the 37th mayor of Calgary, a metropolis within the Canadian province of Alberta, changing into the primary girl elected to the place in 2021.
Within the island nation of Singapore, Indranee Rajah – born to a Tamil father and a Singaporean Chinese language mom – entered politics in 2001 and was appointed minister within the Prime Minister's Workplace in 2018. She was a minister within the Prime Minister's Workplace and the city-state's second finance minister since 2018.