Gender Segregation in Indian Airport Security

• Segregation Practice: Indian airports have separate security checks for male and female passengers, unlike many other countries where the process is unified.
• Body Scanning Process: Women are scanned in a curtained enclosure with a handheld scanner, requiring frequent manual opening and closing, causing more exertion for women security personnel.
• Efficiency Concerns: The current system is inefficient and burdensome without any additional pay for the extra labour required from female staff.
• Proposed Solutions:
  • Eliminate the enclosure if modesty can be maintained.
  • Redesign the enclosure to preserve privacy without the need for curtains.
• Gender Bias: Female passengers are sometimes redirected from less crowded Digi Yatra queues, indicating a systemic gender bias in airport procedures.
• Outcome: Such gender-friendly initiatives, although well-intentioned, fail due to outdated assumptions.

Women's Representation on Indian Boards

• Past and Present: Historically, Indian boards had minimal female representation, which has improved due to legal mandates.
• Case Study: Cummins India, a subsidiary of Cummins Inc., features a majority female board, with the global Chair and CEO being a woman.
• Board Dynamics: Female-led boards function similarly to others, with no notable differences in discussions.
• Cultural Symbolism: Jennifer Rumsey, a global CEO, embraced Indian culture by wearing a sari during her visit, a significant gesture symbolizing cultural integration.

Challenges and Progress in Women’s Boardroom Representation

• Mandatory Training: There is a surge in "women directors training" programs, unlike any for men.
• Inclusive Board Processes: The focus should be on creating board processes that promote inclusive participation, shifting responsibility from individuals to institutions.
• Recruitment Efforts: Nomination and remuneration committees are actively identifying qualified women candidates, increasing the talent pool.
• Evaluation Standards: Women face higher evaluation standards, but the number of competent women directors is growing.

Terminology and Perception

• Chairperson vs. Chairman: The term "Chairperson" is now common, though some women prefer "Chairman" to avoid perceptions of a lesser role.