JAMMU, MARCH 9: Commissioner Secretary Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Mandeep Kaur chaired Celebration of Iconic Week (March 7- March 13) International Women’s Day at Panchayat Bhawan today in which women Sarpanchs were special invitees.
25 women Sarpanchs were felicitated for their exceptional services to panchayats. Similarly, 25 Mahila Workers of MGNREGA were also felicitated at the occasion.
Sarpanchs expressed gratitude to the Government for providing them an opportunity to work for their respective panchayats and women folks. They lauded cooperation of the Rural Development Department in executing developmental works as demanded by their respective panchayats. They also thanked the department for providing them with exposure visits to other parts of the country.
Speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner Secretary appreciated the enthusiasm of women Sarpanches and said that they have a great role in strengthening of Panchayati Raj Institutions. ‘The government wants to formulate and execute plans of developmental works with coordination and approval of PRIs. We wish to see active participation of women leaders in this respect’, she said.
Women have an undisputed role in works of Rural Development Department, Swachh Bharat Mission and various livelihood schemes of the government, continued the Commissioner Secretary. She informed that a calendar of capacity building activities is also being created by the department and sought inputs from the stakeholders.
Mandeep Kaur called for regular efforts and constant touch between women from PRIs and RDD. She also urged them to participate in entrepreneurship initiatives of the government.
Speaking at the occasion, MD JKRLM, Dr Syed Sehrish Asghar said that despite constituting roughly half the population, women still lack in many sectors of the society. She called for identifying talents and giving support to women to elevate their status in society as its equal participants.
ACD Jammu, Ashok Kumar also shed light on various activities of RDD and informed that women participation in MGNREGA works has increased over the past few years. He informed that they would have a crucial role in Solid Liquid Waste Management works to be started in villages in future.
Director RDD Jammu, Mohammad Mumtaz; Chief Operating Officer Himayat, Deepika Sharma; Additional Secretary Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Sanjay Kumar among various officers, PRI members and others participated in the event.