NCW team on Sikkim visit impressed with women’s empowerment scenario here

“REAL EMPOWERMENT IS WHEN WOMEN CAN WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND WE HAVE SEEN WOMEN IN SIKKIM WHO WORK INDEPENDENTLY”

GANGTOK, 12 June: Members of the National Commission for Women [NCW] appreciated the state government’s efforts in empowering women of the state. The NCW Members, Shamina Shafiq and Charuwali Khanna are currently on a visit to Sikkim.

They interacted with NGO members, lady police officials and other stakeholders during an interaction session on Violence against Women of Minority Communities today here at Samaj Kalyan Bhawan. The interaction session was organized by Sikkim State Commission for Women [SSCW], Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department.

In her address, Ms Shafiq congratulated the state government for its work in women’s empowerment and mentioned that the commission too has been working hard to protect and safeguard women.

Ms Shafiq informed that they were here in the state to study the basic problems related to women and also to learn about the good practices in the state.

Ms Khanna also applauded the innovative actions and ideas meant for women in the state. She stated that the state government’s initiatives for sanitation and hygiene and total LPG coverage in the state was also an important initiative in favor of women. Ms Khanna further said that lack of toilet facilities and the need to collect firewood from the forest has direct links with the incidence of violence against women.

“Real empowerment is when women can work independently and we have seen women in Sikkim who work independently”, she added.

SSCW Chairperson, Subhadra Rai spoke about the various schemes and initiatives of the government for the welfare of women in the state.

Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department Principal Secretary, GP Upadhaya said that the NCW members are in the state on a fact finding mission making field visits and interacting with stakeholders on the subject of violence against women, women trafficking and other related issues.

Pastor Zongmit Lepcha informed that there were no major reports of violence against women of minority communities except a few minor incidents. She stated that women are more forward and active in churches. The respect and honor provided by the state government to women has made them more secure, she added.

During the interaction session, NGO members, lady police officers and other stakeholders placed their queries which were responded to by NCW members and departmental officials.

The interaction session ended with the vote of thanks by SSCW member, Kavita Chettri.