Jaipur: The Rajasthan Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Mrs. Manju Meghwal, has sought the cooperation of different sections of society, including the media, for strengthening the drive for women’s empowerment. She noted that though women had become stronger as a result of financial self-sufficiency, they would have to come forward to get the benefits of the State Government’s schemes.
Mrs. Meghwal was addressing a workshop on “Media’s Role in Women’s Empowerment” organized jointly by the Department of Women and Child Development and “Save the Children” to mark the International Women’s Day today. She said the highest focus of the State Government at present was on women’s empowerment.
“If a woman is empowered, she will be in a position to talk about her rights. It is with the same spirit that the State Government is thinking about printing the age of bridegroom and bride on the marriage invitation cards to prevent child marriages,” said Mrs. Meghwal. Some persons were honoured in Jodhpur recently at the village panchayat level for stopping child marriages, she added.
The Minister called for a change in the mindset of the society for stopping female foeticide and pointed out that girls should not be treated as liabilities. The Annual Budget this year had announced measures to encourage inter-caste marriages, she said.
A large number of mediapersons working with different newspapers and television channels and those working independently attended the workshop. They evinced interest in the subjects of security of women, their self-sufficiency, health, education and protection.
“Save the Children” Programme Manager, Mr. Prabhat Kumar, said the women’s empowerment would lead to the nation’s empowerment. He said the mediapersons should extend cooperation in ensuring compliance of laws for women’s protection and generate mass awareness about women-related issues.
The Additional Director (SHGs), Mrs. Mukta Arora, made a presentation on various schemes for women’s empowerment. She said about 2.35 lakh women’s SHGs were functioning in the State and 1.81 lakh of them had been linked with banks for getting loans worth Rs. 620 crores. A call was also made on the occasion to bring forward Aanganwadi workers and celebrate Matritva Utsava (motherhood festival).
The State Women and Child Development Secretary, Mrs. Sarita Singh, said the seven-pointed agenda given by the Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, would bring about positive changes in women’s condition. She said the State Government’s schemes were aimed at improving the status and respect of women in the society.
Dr. Sanjiv Bhanawat, Head, Centre for Mass Communication, University of Rajasthan, Mrs. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Director (News), Doordarshan, Jaipur, Captain Girdhari Singh, journalist Urvashi Rawal and Assistant Director, Department of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Govind Pareek, also addressed the workshop.
Mrs. Meghwal also gave away state-level prizes on the occasion. The best Saathin award, comprising Rs. 11,000 in cash and certificate of merit, went to Mrs. Mangi Bai Khateek of Gogunda Village Panchayat in Udaipur district. The Judaav SHG of Laxmangarh, Sikar, was given the award for the best SHG in the State. The award for best NGO at the state level went to CUTS Human Development Centre at Senti in Chittorgarh district.
SUMMARY OF MEDIA INTERACTION ON 8TH MARCH 2013
· I am happy to be in Rajasthan on the occasion of International Women’s Day – the first state in India to have a policy dedicated to the Girl Child; to Her survival, growth, development and empowerment.
- Visit
ed Duni Gram Panchayat (Tonk district) on 7th March: People’s Voice, Transparency in governance and Accountability of elected representatives can bring about significant improvement indelivery and access to quality services. We believe decentralizing governance and empowering Panchayats is an effective tool for bringing about this change. - I also take this opportunity to congratulate the Government of Rajasthan for it’s initiative to establish a Child Directorate. This is the need for the hour as Women and Children have very different requirements and they need to addressed in a focused manner.
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er it is the introduction of JananiShishuSurakshaYojana, the drive for clean and hygienic environment, efforts to improve quality of education, or the campaign to root out practices like Child Marriage and Child Labour – UNICEF is encouraged by Rajasthan Government’s commitment to it’schildren. - Howev
er there are still many pockets, especially in southern and western Rajasthan that children continue to be deprived of their rights and entitlements. It our collective responsibility to ensure that this ‘left out’ population is brought within the mainstream and is given equal opportunities at birth and though life. - Mr Samuel Mawunganidze, State Chief, UNICEF Office for Rajasthan: We are convinced Equity Focused Planning and Rigorous Monitoring of Outcomes can help us achieve the desired results – and UNICEF stands committed to supporting the Government and People of Rajasthan in this pursuit.
UNICEF’S ADVOCACY PITCH FOR RAJASTHAN
1. Care During First Week of Life: Stronger focus on care for the new born in the first month of life, given that the IMR has reduced over 25 points in the last 10 years but early new natal mortality has remained the same.
2. Prevention of Stunting & Malnutrition: Given that every second child in Rajasthan is Malnourished and while malnutrition levels had improved, they are back to what they were 20 years ago. This requires refocusing the strategic interventions and administrative functions, based on informed understanding of the social dimensions of infant and child feeding practices, so as to optimize the results from increased wages for Front Line Workers.
Above 1 and 2: CALL TO ACTION: Need for concerted effortsto reduce Infant Mortality and combat Malnutrition
3. Focus on Quality of Education and Out of School Children, especially Girls: Given that over 1 million children between the age group 06-14 years are still out of school, in Rajasthan and drop out is highest among the 11 to 14 year old girls and rural children. Improving school level leadership would make a significant impact in bringing back and keeping children in school, to at least Class 12th. Improving school leadership is also key to improving quality of Education in schools and ensuring RTE and CCE become a success.
4. Zero Tolerance for Child Marriage: Given that, 1 in every 5 girls in Rajasthan is getting married below the legal age of 18 years. We believe a targeted approach that creates ‘VILLAGES’ as child marriage free zones needs to be scaled up. And in line with State Budget announcement of inter-caste marriage incentive, this could lead to Rajasthan being a lead state in addressing forced child marriage.
– Kalyan Singh Kothari