|
‘Since independence, the society has undergone vast changes and women face new challenges, said Shri Arjun Singh Minister for Human Resource Development, while addressing the conference of State Board Chairperson, Secretaries and Field Officers at the Central Social Welfare Board here today. The Minister said that the Central and State Welfare Boards should strive for empowerment of women and make them capable to face these challenges. Emphasizing the need for revamping and monitoring of schemes, the Minister assured the State Boards that the Union Government would provide all possible help to them. Recalling the contribution of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi for empowerment of women, the Minister said ‘the 21st century is for women and in this era a different image of women should come out’.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Kanti Singh, Minister of State for Human Resource Development said that the Central Social Welfare Board should immediately give attention to crucial issues, such as, decreasing the male-female ratio, lack of awareness of health and education among rural women etc. The Minister also expressed her concern about the growing incidents of violence against women and called for Social Welfare Boards to look into these issues with commitment.
Welcoming the Chief Guest, Smt. Reva Nayyar, Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, emphasized the urgent need for revamping of schemes and programmes. She assured the participating chairpersons and other delegates that Department of Women and Child Development would provide all assistance for their welfare programmes.
Smt. Rajni Patil, Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board said that the role of Board in the monitoring of programme implementation will be strengthened. She said that there is a proposal to set up a special task force for the monitoring of programmes.
Earlier, the chairpersons, Secretaries and Field Officers of State Social Welfare Boards handed over a memorandum to the Minister for Human Resource Development on administrative and functional issues which includes the demand for uniform status to be given to all State Board Chairpersons equivalent to the status of Minister of State in the respective State Governments.
SK:SPS:NC
|
