In a token gesture towards empowering women, the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative department appointed LLB girl students as assistant commissioners and assistant registrars of cooperative in Kanpur Nagar district for one day recently.
Sonal not only inspected a paddy purchase centre but also instructed the staff there to make timely payment and warned against any laxity failing which they could face stern action.
Similarly, Renu, an accountant, was given charge as assistant commissioner and registrar of cooperatives for one day in Amroha.
The department took several measures to empower women under the Mission Shakti campaign in November. The department held meetings in which stress was laid on making more women join the Cooperative department. In a seminar held jointly by UP State Warehousing Corporation and UP Cooperative Union, stress was laid on women empowerment through skill development.
Discussions were also held on the steps to be taken for supporting women and also weaker sections of society with the help of cooperative organisations.
Besides, several other events were held in other districts under the Mission Shakti campaign. In Sant Kabir Nagar, the Minority Welfare department carried out awareness programmes in madrasas in which 125 women and girls participated.
In Banki development block of Barabanki, the Basic Education department and Women Welfare department organised meetings of parents at all the primary schools and upper primary schools in which discussions were held on education, health and nutrition and they were also given tips to save themselves and their family from COVID-19. They were also given information about the utility of helpline numbers.
Meanwhile, the Social Welfare department carried out a campaign on Swachhta hi Sewa during which Meena Manch, Bal Sansad and seminars were held in Agra, Aligarh, Firozabad and Farrukhabad.
Women were told about preventive measures to be taken against diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, filaria, diarrhoea and others.
In Basti, Bahraich and Shrawasti, women were made aware about adopting hygiene practices to keep themselves safe from diseases. Nukkad nataks, puppet shows and rallies were organised for the women in several parts of the rural areas.
In Ayodhya, Barabanki, Amethi and Sultanpur, women came to know about the waste management system.
In Pratapgarh, Kaushambi and Prayagraj, a seminar on Swachhata ka Manavadhikar was held. Accessibility to a clean and hygienic environment, its quality, and acceptability was discussed.
Highlighting the problems of women scavengers, discussions were held on the availability of Sulabh Shauchalaya at Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur and Azamgarh and it was concluded that toilets have given these women some relief. Among the seven lakh scavengers, 70 percent are women.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, pink toilet scheme, and other such government initiatives were discussed and women were urged to play a major role in the Swachh Bharat Mission.