Kavita Acharya speaks on women’s empowerment
Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 23
Kavita Acharya, First Lady of Nagaland State (wife of the Governor), today said that there are three ways to empower women. The first is education empowerment followed by financial and political empowerment.
“Some of us send our boys to school and not the girls, because of our mindset. Beti Bachao, Beti Badhao, a central government project is very important and gives equal importance to boys and girls,” she said, while addressing an interactive session on ‘Skill development and empowerment of tribal women (Nagaland)’ organized by a Mumbai based NGO, Bharatiya Stree Shakti, here at Hotel Cimorb.
Acharya said today’s gathering was basically to discuss on how to empower women of Nagaland.
She said that to strengthen the society and nation, both boys and girls, men and women should march together. “That is why girls should be sent to school. This is education empowerment,” she said.
Regarding financial empowerment, she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a “magical project” Jan Dhan Yojana, which gives the right to open a bank account, without a single naya paisa deposit, to everybody.
“It gives you one lakh free insurance, ten thousand loan facility to start any small business,” she said, adding that Modi also started Mudra Bank for those who required more money.
“This gives financial empowerment,” said the First Lady of Nagaland. On political empowerment, she said, the central government has amended the Constitution and 1/3 seats are reserved for women in municipal and district Jilla Parishad elections.
“Let us come together and empower ourselves. We are second to none. Men and women are equal,” she said. She also challenged one and all to make Nagaland “Golden Nagaland.”
Trustee of Bharatiya Stree Shakti, Mumbai, Sushri Geeta Gunde, called upon women to know their power and realize their strength.
She also emphasized on the need for health, educational and economic empowerment of women. She said women should be empowered not only for themselves but for the betterment of all – the society and nation. She challenged women to come together, think together and act together.
Dr. Medonuo Pienyü, Associate Professor (Sociology), St. Joseph’s College Jakhama, said tribal women of Nagaland have all the qualities and are second to none.
She however said that despite the government giving legal protection to women, most of women are not well aware of their rights.
Nagaland co-ordinator for BSS Tasile Zeliang chaired the programme while North East Co-ordinator BSS Sunita delivered welcome address.
Later, SBI Kohima main branch made special arrangement for women for enrolling/opening bank accounts under the Jan Dhan Yojana & Pradan Matri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
