By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 7 Mar: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) has extended his best wishes to all the women of Uttarakhand for International Women’s Day (8 March).
The Governor said that International Women’s Day, dedicated to women empowerment and their rights, is not only important for women, but also holds equal importance for men for the balanced and all-round development of entire society.
The Governor said that women can be made truly empowered and self-reliant only by providing good education, skill development and adequate opportunities. “We have to create a culture and environment in which women have complete freedom to make decisions. The economic empowerment of women is their real empowerment. Even for gender equality, society needs improvement in thinking, traditions, values and culture,” he added.
The Governor reminded that the hardworking and courageous women of Uttarakhand have contributed significantly to the development and progress of the state. The role of the brave women had been critical in the Uttarakhand statehood movement. Due to the migration of men for employment, women became the backbone of the social and economic structure. In the difficult geographical conditions of the mountainous regions, women worked for their homes, villages and farms. The Governor said that it is necessary for the women of Uttarakhand to get due credit for their hard work, sacrifice and struggle.
He added that commendable work is being done by women self-help groups in the hill areas of Uttarakhand. Self-help groups are becoming a new medium of economic self-reliance of women. Women Self Help Groups need to be empowered even more. Women are making remarkable contribution in every field including employment generation, organic farming and tourism in the state.
Governor Singh emphasised that the goal of women empowerment can be achieved only by encouraging the education of the girl child. Even, today, due to social discrimination, there are many challenges in the education of the girl child. Good education of the girl child can be ensured only through the coordinated efforts of the government and society. He promised that all possible help would be provided by Raj Bhavan to encourage girl child education on a priority basis. Effective work is being done in this direction through seminars on women empowerment, self-defence training for girls, financial assistance for the education of meritorious girls.
The Governor said that women empowerment should not be limited to 8 March only. It is a continuing mission till the required changes happen in society.
