National conference on 'Women-Led-Development' begins
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 17 2024: Manipur University vice-chancellor professor N Lokendra has stressed the need for carrying forward the 'Women-Led-Development ' introduced by India during the G20 Indian presidency in 2023 to G20 Brasil presidency in 2024 for policy formulation.

Professor N Lokendra stated this during the inaugural session of the national conference on 'Women Led Development: A Game Changer' jointly organised by Centre for Myanmar Studies and Department of Philosophy, Manipur University with the financial assistance of Research and Information System (RIS) for Developing Countries; New Delhi.

The conference will continue till July 19.As chief guest at the inaugural session held at the MU Court Hall on Wednesday, professor N Lokendra said social scientists and policy planners across the globe have long been discussing the theme 'Women and Development'.

Since the issue of 'Development' has become a vital agenda for consideration, the question of women in the entire discourse on development has been raised in various academic disciplines and political forums.

The discourse has been taken up by G20 countries and the issues of women empowerment, gender budget and main areas of development are some of the more discussed topics.

However, during the G20 Indian presidency in 2023, India introduced the Concept of 'Women-Led-Development' a paradigm shift as it requires a woman as a voluntary, free decision-making person.

Keeping the theoretical importance of the concept, G20 has to move ahead with debates and discussions on the development agenda,' considering women as active individuals rather than a passive, victimised social category, he said and stressed the need for carrying forward 'Women-Led-Development' to G20 Brasil presidency to discuss the concept thoroughly from theoretical perspective as well as policy formulation.

The inaugural session of the conference was also attended by Centre for Myanmar Studies director professor MC Arun, MU registrar professor W Chandbabu and associate professor Dr Priyadarshi Dash of RIS New Delhi through online.

A booklet on 'Perspectives on Women-Led Development: A Game Changer' was also released during the session.

Comment