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| Major Events Vol. 3 Issue No. 20 | February 16 -28, 2007 |
Sonia stress on SHGs’ role for women empowerment UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi recently launched Integrated Scheme for Women’s Empowerment (ISWE). A scheme of the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), it has been specially designed to fulfill the needs of women of the North-Eastern states. The scheme lays special emphasis on empowerment of women through their economic development and provision of support services. Mrs. Gandhi commended the CSWB for having come up with the scheme targeting the women and children of the North-East based on a comprehensive strategy. The effort reflects the priorities of the UPA Government and the Congress party, and recognizes that only empowered women could become the driving force necessary for a social transformation. The Congress president stressed that there was great scope for expanding the Self Help Groups of the North-East and in order to be effective on a larger scale they should become “instruments of collective mobilization… organizations of social capital.” She also referred to the RTI Act and underlined the role it could play in empowering SHGs and other women’s organizations. She felt use of the Act would help women becoming empowered and also make administration more responsible and sensitive. Present on the occasion Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil opined that women of the North-East were more advanced in some areas compared to others in rest of the country. The empowerment of such women would contribute to the nation’s progress. With the implementation of the scheme, not just women but children too would benefit, he added. Chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board Rajni Patil thanked Sonia Gandhi for her interest in the uplift of women in the North-East, and revealed the new scheme was only possible because of her support and encouragement. Saying that the women of North-East lacked resources, she added that the scheme would help them to overcome that handicap. The gap of marketing opportunities would narrow to a large extent once the scheme was operational. Mukti Dev Choudhury, chairperson of the Asom State Social Welfare Board noted the new scheme would specifically deal with the problems faced by women of the North-East. Ultimately, it would help the women secure economic freedom, she added. The function witnessed sombre moments when some of the victims of violence dwelt on their personal travails. Some spoke on enduring difficult times following the death of their breadwinners. A young woman described how she had to endure suffering for two years after she was injured in an ULFA bomb blast. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, State Social Welfare Minister Ajanta Neog also spoke on the occasion. | Headlines | Editorial | Coverstory | | Travel Column | News Briefs | | OT Main Page | |
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