Underlines Need for Organizing Skill Development Training for Women Folk

Port Blair, Oct. 22: The Chairperson, National Commission for Women, Smt. Rekha Sharma, currently on visit to these Islands, held a meeting with the officials of A&N Administration regarding implementation of Central Government Schemes for women in A&N Islands, in the conference hall of the Secretariat here today.

Chairing the meeting, the NCW Chairperson while taking stock of the implementation of various Central Government Schemes for women stated that the departments associated with the welfare of women should reach out to the women, who really need assistance. She underlined the need for organizing skill development training for women folk to make them entrepreneurs and self reliant. Locally available raw materials such as wood, bamboo and coconut shells can be used for making designed products/handicrafts, for which good designers can be invited from mainland to impart training to the women. Organic spice cultivation can also be taken up by the women folk in these Islands, she opined.

The Chairperson stated that once the women becomes entrepreneurs and start earning money, many of their problems will be solved and they will be able to run their family in a better way and contribute to the society. She also assured of all possible help from the NCW for the betterment of the women folk of the Islands. The Chairperson also enquired about the health status of women in general and adolescent girls in particular of these Islands and progress of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, the flagship programme of Govt. of India.

The Commissioner cum Secretary, APWD, Dr. V. Candavelou welcomed the NCW Chairperson by presenting her a shawl and memento on the occasion. Apart from the Senior Officers of the Administration, the meeting was also attended by the Chairperson A&NSSWB, Dr. (Smt.) Poonam Arora. 

At the outset, the Secretary Social Welfare, Shri Deepak Virmani, through a power point presentation explained in detail about the various schemes being implemented for the welfare of the women in all the three districts of A&N Islands. He informed about the implementation of ICDS scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, National Nutrition Mission, 181 helpline, One Stop Centre, Mahila Shakti Kendras, celebration of ‘Poshan Maah’, which was inaugurated by the Lt. Governor in the month of September. He also informed that the Social Welfare Department has been organizing various awareness camps in the Islands.