In a landmark event held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on November 28, 2023, Smriti Zubin Irani, the Minister of Women and Child Development, unveiled a comprehensive ‘Guide on Gender-Inclusive Communication.’ Developed in collaboration with the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), UN Women, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the guide is a pioneering effort to promote gender-neutral language and eliminate biases prevalent in everyday communication.
Guide Highlights:
Titled “Gender-Inclusive Communication,” the guide is a result of extensive collaboration and consultations with stakeholders. It provides recommendations and examples for the use of language in English, Hindi, and other regional languages. Drawing inspiration from the “Handbook on Combatting Gender Stereotypes” by the Supreme Court of India and global best practices, the guide aims to foster a society where language becomes an agent for positive change.
Key Features:
- Inclusive Language: The guide emphasizes the use of language that avoids bias towards a particular sex or social gender, steering clear of amplifying gender stereotypes.
- Multilingual Approach: Covering English, Hindi, and other regional languages, the guide ensures inclusivity across linguistic diversity within the country.
- Checklist for Revisions: It includes a checklist for gender-related revisions, guiding government officials, civil servants, media professionals, educators, and other stakeholders in the process of gender-inclusive writing, review, and translation of documents and communications.
- Resources for Reference: The guide offers key resources for further reference, empowering individuals to deepen their understanding of gender-inclusive communication.
Launch Event Highlights:
The launch event saw the presence of eminent dignitaries, including Dr. Mahendrabhai Munjpara, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Shri Indevar Pandey, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, and other senior officials from various government ministries and departments.
Shri K. Srinivas, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, highlighted the historic nature of the guide, calling it an epochal exercise and perhaps the first of its kind globally. Shri Sriram Taranikanti, Director, LBSNAA, emphasized the guide’s importance in establishing a proper language of communication that treats all genders equally.
Keynote Address by Smriti Zubin Irani:
In her keynote address, Minister Smriti Zubin Irani emphasized the guide’s significance in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of women-led development. She spoke about the transformative power of language and the need for language that communicates empathy and equity.
Irani praised the guide for embellishing the language of power with empathy and equity, foreseeing a positive change in societal narratives. She highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s use of ‘Divyang’ for specially-abled people as an example of combatting stereotypes through language.
Irani expressed her desire for the guide to be available in regional languages across the country, emphasizing its potential to challenge stereotypes and promote a more respectful and equitable environment.
The ‘Guide on Gender-Inclusive Communication’ is not just a lexicon but a catalyst for positive societal change. By fostering gender-inclusive language, the guide aims to challenge stereotypes, reshape narratives, and create a more respectful and equitable society. The launch event marked a significant step towards achieving this transformative goal, with the guide expected to play a pivotal role in empowering individuals to communicate with heightened sensitivity and inclusivity.
