Last Updated on March 8, 2021 at 8:00 pm
When a woman earns, she contributes to the health and education of a family. The progress of women is a necessity and not a choice for the benefit of society and every individual.
This was said by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, during the e-inauguration of Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) and One Stop Centre (OSC) at Kargil on the occasion of International Women Day.
Quoting the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, “Let us all Change to Challenge,” LG Mathur said that everyone- be it, men or women- has to be a part of the change. He urged them to accept this challenge to ensure equal opportunity and place to women in society. LG Mathur stated that Ladakhi women enjoy respect and independent status compared to the rest of the country. “There are countable numbers of women achievers in Ladakh, be it in sports, entrepreneurship, medical, IT, academics and other fields, which is a matter of pride,” added Mathur.
Citing the example of the ongoing ‘Enchanting Ladakh’ event at New Delhi, LG Mathur said the participation of women from remote villages of Ladakh in the event is a sign of progress and development of the region. LG Mathur spoke about the need to run a publicity campaign that aims to promote the handloom and handicraft sector by focusing on locally homemade products by women. He said that the Administration would organise five such events to provide exposure to them and sell their products.
In an appeal to the female population of Ladakh, Mathur urged them to be vocal about any abusive situations that face which in turn will help address their problems more effectively. He also spoke about the new initiates made by the UT Administration towards improving and benefitting the women section.
Sharing some data from the National Health Survey of Ladakh for the year 2015-16 and 2019-20, the Lt. Governor expressed serious concern over the huge literacy gap between male and female, which is 93:76.8% and stressed the need to work on it. He also underlined the rise in the percentage of cesarean birth, overall weight gain, anaemia, sexual violence among women over the last five years and emphasized taking measures to improve it.
The LG made a strong appeal, in particular to the political executives to initiate a mission mode campaign to ensure 100% school enrolment and zero dropouts between the age group of 3 to 14 for this academic year in accordance with New Education Policy. He exhorted on the need for all to work together towards improving the female literacy rate in Ladakh keeping the view the high birth ratio of a girl child over a boy. However, he said that the positive trends like celebrating the birth of a girl child in Ladakh, high enrolment of girls in schools and colleges, national and international women achievers in sports, academics, etc are overwhelming and women hold a bright future.
Chairman, LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan expressed his gratitude to LG Mathur for launching the Mahila Shakti Kendra and the One-Stop Centre and assured him to utilise it to full potential. He also requested LG Mathur to open a women police station in Kargil.
Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, who joined the meeting through video conferencing, saluted women from Ladakh for contributing in all fields. He highlighted three main things in his speech- challenges faced by differently-abled women,
Executive Councillor (Agriculture), LAHDC Leh, Stanzin Chospel announced that LAHDC Leh would strengthen all the self-help groups (SHGs) at the village-level under the theme ‘Choose to Challenge.’
Speaking on the occasion, Administrative Secretary, Social/ Tribal Welfare Department, Padma Angmo, highlighted the achievements of women from Ladakh. She said Ladakhi women have not only made the region proud in academics but all sphere of life. She apprised Ladakhi women of various schemes implemented by the Social Welfare Department for females, including Poshan Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Yojana.
A video depicting the status of Ladakhi women was screened during the event. Mobile phones and iron pots were given to Anganwadi workers (AWWS) and Anganwadi centres (AWCs) under the Poshan Abhiyan scheme.
