Women are society’s strength: Governor
GANGTOK, : The State-level International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration was held
at Saramsa Garden, near Ranipool on Saturday with Governor Om Prakash Mathur
and Chief Minister P.S. Golay in attendance, along with Cabinet ministers and
other dignitaries.
Organised
by Sikkim Inspires, State Planning and Development department, in collaboration
with World Health Organisation (WHO), the event was themed “For all Women and
Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
Governor
Om Prakash Mathur highlighted the role of women in the development and the
future of the nation. “In the Ramayana and Mahabharata, women play an important
role as mothers. Women’s strength is depicted by women like Mira Bai and Jhansi
Ki Rani. There are many women who have played an important role in shaping
education in the nation. Women are the society’s strength, as women are no less
than men in any field. In Sikkim too, women have made Sikkim proud at the
national and international levels,” he said.
The
Governor also briefed on the different women-related schemes and policies of
the Centre and State governments.
Chief
Minister PS Golay highlighted the various women-centric schemes and policies of
the State government. Urging men and women to support women, he expressed that
women and men are equal.
“We
are born because of our mothers. The State government respects mothers and
women and that is the main reason that most of the government schemes and
policies are named after women and mothers. Some include the Aama Yojana,
Bahini Yojana, Aama Sahyog Yojana, etc. The Aama Yojana is dedicated to our
mothers, especially from the BPL category and are in need of immediate relief.
Thirty-two thousand mothers receive Rs. 40,000 each from the State government
yearly, under the Aama Yojana. Under the Bahini Yojana, free sanitary napkins
are provided in government schools across Sikkim. The Aama Sahyog yojana
provides Rs. 4400 or four LPG cylinders yearly to beneficiaries. The recent ‘Aama
Ko Godh’ facility was inaugurated in Siliguri,” he said.
The
Chief Minister further highlighted the ‘Mero Rukh, Mero Santati’ scheme where
108 trees are planted for every child born in Sikkim. The State government also
provides a fixed deposit of Rs. 10800 for 18 years for the new born child,
under the scheme.
Golay
further briefed on job reservations for women, widow pension schemes, maternity
leave for up to a year, etc. He also expressed concerns on the declining
fertility rate in Sikkim.
“The
State government will also come up with a policy for single mothers in future,
as we want to support single mothers of Sikkim. Women are examples to many and
as SLA Deputy Speaker and organising committee president Raj Kumari Thapa
rightly said in her welcome address, ‘kokro hallawney haath le sansar
hallawcha’. If a woman is empowered then the society is also empowered,” said
Golay.
He
also expressed pride in regularising the ASHA and Aganwadi workers under ICDS
in Sikkim.
“Sikkim
is the only State to regularise ASHA and Aganwadi workers. This will be
implemented soon, and I urged the concerned department to work aptly, for the
benefit of women. The process should be done within a month by the concerned
department, as the State government works on the guidelines of the notification
issued by the State government. The departments should not break rules, but
rather work for the people”.
He
also informed that the next SHG Bharosa Sammelan will be organised in Gangtok
or Pakyong district soon.
During
the celebration, Kalawati Subba, first woman speaker of Sikkim Legislative
Assembly; Rinzing Ongmu, first woman Cabinet minister; Rinchen Ongmu Bhutia,
first woman chief secretary; along with women achievers and 11
women secretaries of different State government departments were felicitated.
Gifts were also presented to special women.
On
the occasion, the Governor and the Chief Minister virtually inaugurated the
Reproductive Medicine Unit at STNM Hospital, Sochaygang. This new facility
represents a significant advancement in healthcare services, to improve
reproductive health and address infertility issues in the region. Assisted
reproductive technology (ART) includes medical procedures used primarily to
address infertility.
The
special cover issued by India Post was also released by the dignitaries. Logos,
jerseys, aprons and chef hats of ‘Didi Bahini ko Bhansa Ghar’ were also
launched.
The
celebration also featured cultural presentations by women and organisations
from different districts. The evening programme included performances by
Nepalese singer Melina Rai and local artistes from Sikkim.
