Advisor to LG, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar on Monday said that India is prioritizing inclusive growth and development with women empowerment and representation at the forefront of its G20 discussions.
Addressing the participants at the two-day international conference on ‘Gender Sensitization: Rights, Policies and Issues’ organized by Cluster University Srinagar commenced at Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar.
The event is being organised in collaboration with Human Welfare Voluntary Organisation and J&K Bank, the conference aims to deliberate upon various dimensions of gender sensitivity and its implications for gender equality.
He said India has made significant progress in promoting gender equality. “The improved Gender Inequality Index score comes after the government’s commitment to promoting gender equality through inclusive growth, social protection, and gender-responsive development policies,” Advisor Bhatnagar said.
The Advisor listed several major initiatives by the central government in the past few years aimed at reducing the gender gap and empowering women in all aspects of social, economic and political life. He cited the example of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign, ‘Mahila Shakti Kendra’ programme, ‘Working Women Hostel’ initiative and ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’.
“Now the women are recognized as the head of the household for issuing ration cards under National Food Security Act, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana etc. Such measures have stimulated women’s access to economic resources, elevating their social status,” he added.
Advisor Bhatnagar said the UT government of J&K has been creating a gender-inclusive eco-system so that women could have better education opportunities and contribute to economic growth.
“The government has helped 6000 young women become entrepreneurs selected at the Panchayat level. Jammu and Kashmir State Rural Livelihoods Mission has given us self-employed women entrepreneurs. It has become a change-driven movement in J&K with 60000 Self Help Groups with over 5 lakh women beneficiaries,” he said.
