Port Blair, July 17: W20 (Women20) is the official G20 engagement group focused on gender equity. The G20 or Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union (EU) which is represented by the President of the European Council and by Head of the European Central Bank.
The primary objective of W20 is to ensure that gender considerations are mainstreamed into G20 discussions and translate into the G20 Leaders' Declaration as policies and commitments that foster gender equality and women's economic empowerment.
This year’s W20 Summit is themed at “En Route to Gender Equality for Gender Welfare”, and is committed towards the mainstream of women’s economic participation and empowerment to promote gender equality and economic inclusivity with women's participation in economic sectors in the G20 member states, under the theme of “Recover Together, Equally.”
The main mission of W20 is to leverage high-level commitments in empowering women and gender equality in G20 countries, to enhance women-owned MSMEs, improve equal health response, and empower rural women in the green economy perspective and climate change movement, as well as women with disabilities for inclusivity and revolutionary legacies.
India has been at the forefront of women development, led by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, who is enabling women to excel in any role she aspires for, and become key agent for transformational change. Women of India in the 21st Century are true heroes essential for sustainable development.
Various schemes have been arrayed for the progress of women of this country like PM Mudra Yojana where 68% of loans given are to women owned and operated enterprises, 10% funds allocated under Startup India are earmarked for women, women constitute 54% of total person days in MG National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, Fifty percent candidates trained under PM Skill Development Scheme are women, constitution of Internal Committees under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace, ( Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013, Special provisions for encouraging girls from minority communities under Nai Udaan scheme, Ujjwala Yojana for access to clean cooking fuel, Har ghar Nal se jhal yojana and many more.
Govt. of India is determined to combat unbalanced gender norms by way of women centric policy to women led initiatives that reach the last and least women.
Dr Poonam Arora, Ex Chairperson A & N Islands Social Welfare Advisory Board along with 4 other W20 India delegates (Ms Pam Rajput, Mrs Aparna Sahay, Priti Darooka & Khushboo Shah) will be representing India at W20 Summit being held at Indonesia, North Sumatera from Monday - Thursday July 18th - July 21st, 2022.
Dr. Poonam Arora, has been an active social reformer who has bought revolutionary changes in the lives of the women in the Islands. During her tenure as the Chairperson of A & N Social Welfare Advisory board, she implemented and successfully translated Skill development Programs for rural women & Divyang’s, conducted free medical camps & awareness programs on domestic violence & alcoholism, among others. She is also the convener for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. She has been a part of many financial inclusion programs for school dropouts, homemakers and SHGs. An advocate for women & child empowerment, her efforts has enabled hundreds of women to be financially independent and be the bread-winner for her family. She was awarded by Women Entrepreneur of the Year award for her contribution in hospitality industry, and also by the Lieutenant Governor’s Commendation Certificate by Hon. LG, Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.) for her exceptional work and contribution towards the Skill development of women in remote areas.
Dr Arora, a prodigious woman from the Islands has now become an epitome of leadership, strengthening & representing women of the country at International level.