Invoking the Delhi gang-rape incident during a speech at the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Foundation (IMF) chief, Christine Lagarde, on Wednesday emphasised that expectations of Indian women on gender equity must be met.
She also remembered the young Pakistani victim Malala Yousafzai while addressing the gathering at the annual WEF meeting. "I dedicate the moment (of addressing WEF annual meet) to Malala, daughter of Pakistan, and another daughter in India (rape case)," International Monetary Fund chief Lagarde said.
Touching upon India, the IMF managing director emphasised that the expectations of Indian women must be met and rued that policymakers had failed to pay attention to the crucial issues of equitable distribution and gender equality. "... But you will ask what it has to do with economy. It is indeed about economy and equality and bringing in prosperity. Gender inequality is also very important and the policymakers have not paid enough attention to either of the two. The fact is when women do better the country does better and policymakers need to understand this," Lagarde said.
While 2012 ended with the death of the 23-year-old paramedic student, who died fighting wounds sustained fighting off her rapists in a moving bus in the Indian capital of Delhi, earlier in October Pakistani teenage activist Malala became that target of Taliban militants for campaigning for girls' education.
Lagarde, who ended her speech by saying that she wants to see more respect for daughters in India and Pakistan, said by 2025 two-thirds of the world population would be in India and the youth is going to be a strong force across the world. "How can we successfully navigate in this world of future. This new generation sings differently. There are Facebook and Twitter and if we rank them as countries they would be third and fourth largest in the world," she observed.
Stressing on the importance of co-operation at the global level, the IMF boss said that in a flat world there was no way to hide. According to her, when hope is lost, then one turns to young people. "When you lose hope, you turn to young people and probably this is the time we talk to them," she added.
The IMF chief also said there should be zero tolerance for corruption, besides there should be a sense of accountability in tackling the global crisis. "Things are changing but we need to see more and better changes in 2013... We need cross border cooperation on issues like shadow banking and derivatives. If we look beyond short term we would indeed move past the crisis," she added.
