Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has stressed on the need to empower women economically for them to divert their energies to different productive activities.
Speaking at the first state women’s conference on the theme, “Support and Celebrate” held here today the chief minister said that the experience shared by women at the conference bears testimony that the economically empowered women are in a better position to take care of their children, family and themselves.
Sangma said that the conference which is one of the biggest conferences that the State organised after a long time is the outcome of a meeting with Meghalaya State Women’s Commission where a necessity was felt to have a platform where not only all critical issue relating to women and society can be discussed and addressed but where women can connect and womanhood celebrated.
“The fact that this conference has such a big attendance and is also being viewed by online by about two lakh women from all the 46 blocks of the State just goes to show the commitment that women have to the cause they take up,” he said, adding, that the government intends to hold the women’s conference annually where the contributions of women achievers in different walks of life will be recognized.
At the conference, the chief minister also launched the Early Childhood Development Mission and released a booklet. He also announced the launch of the revamped 181 Helpline.
Earlier Union Minister, Women & Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani in her message that was relayed during the inaugural session expressed happiness that the State government is organizing the conference for the cause of women and children.
She lauded the dedicated efforts of the State government for the empowerment and emancipation of women in the State and said that it is important for all facets of administration to bring to the core of their services the needs of women and children. “I hope the accomplishments of the Meghalaya government become the best practices for other states and the Government of India to emulate,” she said.
Post the inaugural session discussions were held on ‘The Gender Gap in Decision Making in Meghalaya and Ways to Promote Women’s Leadership’ and on the topic ‘Women’s rights and voice, women’s health and safety- Analysis of the present scenario and the way forward’ by eminent journalists, professors, academicians, activists, doctors and law enforcers.
