Indian apex body in Riyadh inducts two women for first time

Saudi Arabia's social reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have expanded opportunities for women, including within the Indian expatriate community. Reflecting this shift, the Indian Steering Committee (ISC), which works under the Indian Embassy, has inducted its first two women members.

By Our Gulf Correspondent

Riyadh: Social reforms introduced by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman have brought sweeping changes in the Kingdom, wherein women have benefitted the most. The country, where women for decades had a restricted role in public, is now embracing their potential.

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Indian expatriate women were not exempt from adapting to the progressive approach, not only in their professional careers but also in the social sphere, balancing traditional domestic and professional responsibilities with growing leadership in community building.

The Indian Steering Committee (ISC) that works under the Indian Embassy is a broad-based organisation that represents diverse  Indian ethnic communities. ISC plays a vital role in strengthening Indian culture in Saudi Arabia and also occasionally highlighting community grievances.

The only male apex body so far, is the latest one to welcome women on its board. It has inducted two women, Chetana Jagadeshgari and Furqana Fatima.

Chetana is an active social worker in the Telugu community who has addressed various issues at international forums, including in Geneva and was invited by Saudi Arabia’s authorities to address there.

She is known for coordinating with concerned authorities in solving grievances of Indian women workers.

Chetana, a mother of two, hails from Andhra Pradesh and is widely believed to be the only Telugu woman in Saudi Arabia to receive the prestigious Best Contingent Commander Award in NCC during her college days. She is also a martial artist with a Black Belt.

Expressing her gratitude towards the Indian Embassy and Indian Steering Committee, Chetana said that she viewed the honour as more than a personal achievement, seeing it as a reflection of Bharatiya Nari Shakti and as a responsibility to pay forward what she had received.

SATA, a Telugu NRI organisation, is the foremost NRI organisation in Saudi Arabia that prioritises women empowerment. Chetana is as an outspoken leader and articulate speaker of the organisation.