Termingthat the society cannot make any progress without empowered women, DeputyCommissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma on Monday launched eight pro-women schemesof the Punjab government to mark the International Women's Day on Monday in thedistrict.
Participatingin a video-conference presided by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, DeputyCommissioner said that under these newly schemes include 181 Saanjh ShaktiHelpline and Police Helpdesks which would be set up in the police stations forwomen and also to be operated by women for prompt and sensitive response tocrimes against women.
Hesaid that MOUs have been signed with UN Women, UNDP (United Nations DevelopmentFund), UN Population Fund, J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab) andFUEL (Friends Union for Energizing Lives).
Hetold that MoU with UN Women would initiate gender-focused projects, capacitybuilding of the state on gender, economic empowerment of women and violenceagainst women besides would begin aTechnical Fest (Techshiksha) with UN body, under which the shortlisted girlswill undergo a training programme besides providing placements to them.
TheMoU with UN Population Fund aims for capacity building of governmentdepartments, besides elimination of gender-based harmful practices such asviolence against women and girls, and gender-based sex selection, partneringwith UNDP to eliminate anemia & malnutrition among women & children.
Sharmaalso stated that MoU with J-PAL would further boost gender sensitization curriculumprogram in all government schools, while the MoU with FUEL will impart skillsto the youth in line with the Ghar Ghar Rozgar scheme.
TheDeputy Commissioner said that each year on March 8, International Women's Dayis observed to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and politicalachievements of women and commemorate women, who despite various challengesposed by society have proven their mettle in every area. Adding that women onlyneed motivation to make a mark in every sphere, he said that women have beeninstrumental in social-economic progress of the country.
Meanwhile,Deputy Commissioner also honoured 11 Asha workers who have carried outintensive awareness activities under Mission Fateh program, two girlsSportspersons, two girls for cleaning competitive exams, two women sarpanchs,two ANMs, and two meritorious girl students
Prominentamong present on the occasion included Punjab Youth Development Board chairmanSukhwinder Singh Bindra, PMIDB Chairman Amarjit Singh Tikka, PSIDC Chairman KKBawa, Backfinco vice chairman Mohd Gulab, DCC (Urban) president Ashwani Sharma,Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Sandeep Kumar, Nitin Tandon,besides several others.