“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.
