CHICAGO: The status and position of women in India has changed over the years. But the disparity and inequality continues to exist. Still significant progress in this area has been made all over the world, especially in democratic countries.

Alakatai Inamdar, Assistant Secretary of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, India who is touring the US feels that millions of women will emerge more educated, employed and conscious of their rights in India.Centuries of dedicated struggle by hundreds of men and women has brought a great deal of change in their lives. Although it is the middle and upper class of Indian society in which women have been able to achieve greater visibility and equality.Alkatai was in Chicago and spoke to the media in a press conference arranged by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangha on July 16 at Mysore Woodlands Restaurant, Devon Avenue.

She was in the U.S. to attend an international conference of women on, "Religion and Peace." Representing Hindu Dharma, she deliberated upon the concept of peace in Hindu religion. She highlighted the important principle of faith in our own religion while being open to the views and practices of other religious systems.

"Acceptance of other views on God and living following their own social or moral principals and practices is the essence of Hindu Dharma," Alkatai assumed at the presentation.Referring to social ills that bedeviled the earlier India like untouchability, inequality, illiteracy and mainly poverty, Alakatai said that a lot has been accomplished due to the increasing volunteerism and realization of importance of service by the youth, educated as well as intelligentsia.

She said that it was the same realization that inspired Laxmibai Kelkar to establish Rashtra Sevika Samiti. During that period the country was under British colonial rule and Indian people were subjugated and deprived of liberty and dignity. It was Laxmibai's conviction that the Indian nation would not be complete unless the women who are half the population were able to participate in the social reconstruction.