Women treated as replica of power since ancient times

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has said that women have proved their worth in every field. Women were worshipped and treated as replica of power since ancient times. He was expressing his views at a function to commemorate International Women’s Day held in Haldwani on Thursday.

After extending greetings to women on International Women’s Day, CM Rawat has said that women are not only guide but also a source of inspiration. March 8 is a very important day for entire world dedicated to half of the population of the world. A society cannot be complete without women.

CM felicitated women who had immensely contributed towards dairy development and other fields with a certificate of appreciation and shawl. “Women play a pivotal role since her birth till death for the development of the society. He has said it was the duty of individual to work towards women empowerment. He has said that society should work for throwing social evils and superstitions from our society. “The present should be made conducive for women and with steps towards girls’ security, education, prosperity and empowerment,” he said, adding that Uttarakhand is hub of many powerful women like Teelu Rauteli, Rami Baurani, Gaura Devi etc.

CM Rawat expressed satisfaction that out of total legislators’ strength in State Legislative Assembly, five women MLAs have been representing their respective constituencies. Leader of Opposition in State Legislative Assembly is a woman and government too has one woman as a cabinet minister. He lamented that life of women in remote and hilly areas of the state is very tough and challenging. A Vaishnavi health kit has been delivered exclusively for infant girls. State Government is distributing free laptops to meritorious girl students with an aim to improve literacy rate in the state.

State government has launched “Sparsh Sanitary Napkin Scheme”, which was being made by women self-helped group in every district of the state. He stressed on the need of creating awareness among adolescent girls about cleanliness and mensuration. A project was launched to provide self-employment to women by making “Prasad” at temples and three women self-helped groups were assigned to make “Prasad” with local cereals and earned a profit of Rs nine lakh by selling products worth Rs 19 lakh at Badrinath shrine. He said that work is already on to make LED bulbs and plans are in the pipeline to make LED bulbs under Gramin Light Scheme at Kotabagh, Kumaon division of Uttarakhand.

“Efforts were on to transform 670 Nyaya Panchayats as distribution centres and 15 distribution centres are likely to start by the end of this year,” he said. The women would be imparted training in sewing and printing techniques at the centres and it would be a potent step towards women empowerment. State government is taking help from women self-helped groups to maintain roads across the state. Women banks have already been established at Dehradun and Haldwani and would be established in every district in the coming days.

Speaking on the occasion, State Higher Education, Cooperative and Dairy Development Minister, Dr Dhan Singh Rawat has said that state government is sensitive towards women empowerment. He said that state higher education, cooperative and dairy development departments have launched many beneficiary schemes for the women empowerment. He apprised the gathering that Rs 13 crore has been sanctioned for improving dairy products’ production by offering encouragement amount of Rs four per litre for increasing milk production. “An amount of Rs 50,000 each would be given to 140 candidates, who have cleared NDA and CDS examinations, while 50 financially weak aspirants would be given free of cost coaching for NDA/CDS and higher education examinations,” he announced.

Social Welfare Minister, Yashpal Arya extended greetings to women on the occasion of International Women’s Day and further said that dozens of beneficiary schemes have been launched for women empowerment in the state.

CM Rawat gave away Rs 4.81 lakh cheque to Pushpa Bisht, and Munni Bisht under “Dugadh Mulya Protsahan Yojna”, and felicitated women who had contributed towards dairy development in the state. CM Rawat also felicitated cricketer Kanchan Parihar, shuttler Nirmala, jockey Dhanuli Devi, organic farming farmer Savitri Gajrola and social activist Uma Joshi during the function.

MLA Bansidhar Bhagat, Mayor Dr Jogendra Pal Singh Rautela, former MP Bacchi Singh Rawat, Dairy Association president Bharat Singh Negi, State Cooperative Bank President DS Rawat, Nainital District Cooperative Bank President Rajendra Singh Negi, etc. were present.