Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar, today inaugurated a ‘Chintan Shivir’ (brainstorming session) here that will hold discussions on how society can follow the path of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
“Every individual has a room in their house that allows them to feel peaceful and relaxed, no matter how tense s/he is. People can think with clarity, come up with solutions that will help in moving ahead in life while in that room. This Chintan Shivir is a similar space, through which we will try to reach out to the very last person sitting in the last row of society. Taking inspiration from Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, we will discuss ways of further welfare and progress of society,” Kumar said while addressing the inauguration programme.
Representatives from the eight North East states and Union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Chandigarh, Lakhshadweep, Puducherry, Delhi, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir will engage in brainstorming sessions to come up with workable interventions for better functioning of the ministry during this programme.
The minister equated the peaceful room of an individual’s house to the bliss that Meghalaya offers to every tourist on their arrival in the state. “The land of Meghalaya with its natural beauty attracts many tourists. The bliss we feel at the moment we reach this state feels like we have come to the most beautiful room of our home,” he said. “The idea of the Chintan Shivir is to extend our efforts taken in other states to our North Eastern states and Union territories. The aim is to inspire to work towards the overall betterment of society.”
Giving an insight into the efforts of the government, the minister informed that trademarks have been offered to producers belonging to the scheduled section of society, especially in the handloom sector. He cited the instance of Surajkund Mela, an annual event held in Uttar Pradesh, wherein they were provided with trademarks to help own their products.
“We are trying to engage them in the Kaushal Vikas Yojana, provide them with easy loans to support their small business and help them in moving ahead in the production sector,” he said.
He added that the Chintan Shivir will act as an ideal platform to discuss such ideas and aid in the overall development of a society. Speaking on the lines of the pre-matric and post-matric scholarships available for the students belonging to the scheduled castes and tribes, the Minister said that the government, through these Shivirs, will try to monitor the actions taken for smooth on time distribution of the same.
Pratima Bhoumik, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, in her address said that all round, holistic and sustainable development across every sector under the ministry is the top priority of the central government.
Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh, in his address, said that the brainstorming session will provide a platform to celebrate our shared vision, values and achievements. While enumerating the various welfare schemes of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Lyngdoh said that the ministry has introduced critical schemes to ensure every citizen may reach their potential.
