GUWAHATI, Nov 25 � In keeping with the Quami Ekta Week, a meeting was held on Sri Sri Gopalananda Ashram premises, Santipur here on November 24 on women empowerment and economic development of women.
The meeting was presided over by Mridula Saharia, president, Sadau Asom Mahila Unnayan Samiti and president, Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress.
The meeting commenced with a song presented by Bhusita Kalita, secretary, Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress. The aim of the meeting was described by Manju Borah, general secretary, Sadau Asom Mahila Unnayan Samiti.
HiranmonI Phukan, president, Guwahati City District Mahila Congress, an advocate herself, spoke at length about the various social vices and flaws prevalent in the society which disrupt the lives of women. She informed the audience about the different laws relating to women that have been incorporated in the Constitution. �Crimes like domestic violence, divorce, killing of girl child before birth, dowry, etc are rising day by day. In order to stop such crimes, women should become socially and legally aware,� she said.
Pratima Devi Sarma, chairperson, Social Welfare Board, in her speech praised the efforts taken by Sadau Asom Mahila Unnayan Samiti for economic uplift of women. She stressed the need for adult education and educating women for their development, politically, socially, economically and culturally. Talking about the �Swachh Bharat Abhijan�, Sarma said that cleanliness begins at home. �So every woman should first take the initiative to keep her household clean and then work towards a better and clean environment,� she added and asked the women to be alert and take benefits of all the government schemes granted for women, by both Central and State Governments.
Bishnu Prasad, former Minister and vice president, APCC, in his speech, also talked about the various laws relating to women. He urged all the women to become socially and legally aware. An advocate himself, he highlighted the laws regarding equal distribution of property to both boy and girl child. Prasad said that equal distribution of property would ensure financial security to the girl child which would make her independent.
Nilakshi Talukdar, Deputy Mayor, Guwahati Municipal Corporation, said that some women who are not educated and are economically backward, are not aware of many government schemes that have been granted to women. �Women and men should work together for a better society. Economic independence is one of the most important factors for women. If a woman earns her bread on her own, she does not have to ask her husband for every little thing she needs. In this way, she can support her family without hurting her self-respect.�
