By Rehmi Yadav, OP
Bhubaneswar: Even as Odisha has made substantial progress in education, healthcare, nutrition, and child and women empowerment, women’s access to employment is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary to the government Anu Garg, while addressing a consultative workshop titled ‘Sustainable Development Goal-5 (Gender Equality): Reimagining Development through a Gender Lens – Inclusive, Safe, Sustainable’ in Bhubaneswar Friday.
The workshop was organised by the Planning and Convergence (P&C) department in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focusing on Goal 5 of the SDGs—Gender Equality.
Inaugurating the workshop, Garg highlighted the state government’s initiatives to promote women’s economic empowerment, gender inclusion in services, and participation across sectors.
In the fourth session on ‘Community Engagement and Advocacy’, Dharitri and Orissa POST Chief Executive Adyasha Satpathy delivered a presentation on gender-sensitive reporting. She said,
“Women continue to be underrepresented and unfairly judged in the media. Too often, when women appear in stories, they are viewed through a personal or stereotypical lens rather than for their achievements. In economic discussions, leadership forums, or policy debates, women’s voices are still missing, while in entertainment or scandal, they are quickly blamed or mocked—labelled as ‘home breakers’ or judged for their marital status, appearance, or choices. This is not reporting; it is stereotyping.”
She further said, “Media trials often reduce women to victims of character assassination rather than focusing on truth and accountability. Even in sports, interviews highlight what women athletes wear rather than their training, future, or vision. When women excel in leadership, they are told they are ‘like men,’ as if excellence cannot belong to femininity. Crime reporting often sensationalises the identity of the survivor, instead of questioning the accused. Such narratives discourage women from speaking and silence their potential.”
Satpathy also said, “Press plays a powerful role in shaping perceptions, and it must practice fairness, neutrality, and dignity. At my organisation, I insist on reporting that is gender-neutral, unbiased, and authentic—because media should not perpetuate bias, it should dismantle it.”
PNN