PIB & CAU celebrate International Women's Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 05 2020: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Imphal and Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Central Agricultural University, Government of India jointly celebrated International Women's Day-2020 with a one-day seminar on issues related to empowerment of women at Central Agricultural University, Iroishemba, Imphal West district today.

Manipur Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen graced the inaugural function as chief guest and the resource persons of the seminar adorned the dais.

After lighting the inaugural lamp of the seminar, the social welfare Minister released a farm magazine of CAU.

PIB Imphal director Abhishek Dayal welcomed the dignitaries and participants of the programme.

Speaking as the chief guest, Minister Nemcha Kipgen called for an end to crime against women and to build a developed society where women enjoy equal right with their men counterpart.

PIB & CAU celebrate International Women's Day

The Minister reminded the theme of this year's celebration of International Women's Day, "I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Right" and said that no development will be brought about in a society as far as women are looked down upon.

"Women are very important in a society.

A society, a State or a Nation cannot be developed without ideal women.

Women are the primary caretakers of children who are the future pillars of a Nation," she said.

At the same time, she said that women must not misuse their powers.

They must utilise their powers in Nation's ability to develop and achieve sustainability targets.

The Minister also called upon to bring an end to the female foeticide practice while urging all to throw away the mindset of treating female child differently from male child.

The Minister, then highlighted various schemes which the State Social Welfare Department is currently implementing for uplifting the status of women in the society and to empower them.

Earlier, in his inaugural speech, VC of Central Agricultural University Prof M Premjit Singh talked on the importance of nutrition of women in empowering them.

While discussing about empowering the women, their nutrition status should be first studied and given emphasis, he suggested.

Nutrition of women should be a part of empowering women and focus should be given to the important of nutrition, he said.

Nutrition is a serious challenge to the women in the country in general and State in particular.

The true empowerment of women will be achieved only when malnutrition of women is ended, he said.

Former chairperson of MSCW Dr Ch Jamini Devi, Head and in-charge of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, S Molibala Devi and journalist Ng Liklaileima Arambam talked on different topics related with the issues related to the empowerment of women during the seminar.

Jamini Devi who talked on 'Importance of education for women empowerment' began her speech and said that women are always subdued since the very beginning of the civilization.

She stressed on the need of educating women while discussing about the empowerment of women.

Only speeches and addresses will not able to achieve the goal of empowering the women.

She said, "Education is a milestone of women empowerment because it enables them to respond to challenges, to confront their traditional role and change their life" .

Education is one of the ways to spread the message of women empowerment, she said.

When it comes to nutrition, she said that not only women, but men are also needed to educate about it as our society is one where men are served first.

Men must know the sacrifice of their counterpart women while serving food in a family, she added.

S Molibala Devi, head and in-charge of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Andro talked on rural woman and agricultural role of nutrition in women empowerment.

She said that even though agriculture is the most important occupation in India, the occupation is considered to be a household chore.

Women take active role in this occupation.

75 to 80% of women of the country are engaging in this occupation.

We cannot deny that women take the major role in agricultural practice and production.

However, women's role in agriculture is never recorded, she lamented.

Women's roles should be sustainably recorded.

Only then the actual empowerment of women will be achieved, she opined.

Ng Liklaileima Arambam spoke on 'Women in North East: Issues & Achievements' .

According to her, the common issues faced by the women of the region are gender based violence, decreasing female child ratio.

She expressed concern over the increasing crimes against women in the region while citing that during the period from 2014 till 2019, 230 women were raped and 118 women were murdered in Manipur alone as reported in media.

A cultural programme by Regional Outreach Bureau was also presented at the concluding part of the event.