In a move to project Uttarakhand as a State of zero tolerance for atrocities on women, the State Government has made acid attack survivor Kavita Bisht as the brand ambassador of women empowerment in the State.
Vowing his pledge to bring about all-round development of the women in the State, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said his Government would focus on health, education, economic self reliance and participation in developmental process for the women across the State. He said this while launching a national campaign “We Men for Gender Equality” conducted by ‘Power Foundation’ in conjunction with Women Empowerment and Child Development Department and SIIDCUl at his residence on Saturday.
CM said the women enjoy a respectable place in the cultural and societal ethos of India. “They are deified as reflection of Shakti of Mother Durga. They are contributing not just in maintaining families but in strengthening the country. Whenever they get opportunity they prove their mettle,” he said. Invoking principal secretary Radha Raturi, he said she embodies perfection, hard work and efficiency.
Appreciating the exemplary guts of the acid attack victim Kavita Bisht, CM said that she had overcome the daunting challenge with self confidence. “She has proved to be self -confidence incarnate. She is now self dependent. She has turned into a sparkling model for others. She incarnates the Shakti of Goddess Durga,” he said.
Oath was administered to students, policemen and others to the effect that respecting women and countering injustice against them constitutes everybody’s duty.
CM suggested them to organise discussions on ‘Gender Equality’ in degree colleges across all 13 districts of the state. “To ensure women empowerment and gender equality, we should focus on four points - women education, skill development, better health and gender equality. Education must come first. The educated women would beckon others to emulate them. By ensuring nutritious food, we can better their health. Mother Mortality Rate (MMR) had declined through initiatives taken by the government. Third, by imparting skill development, we can make them self - reliant. Fourth, women participation must be ensured in governance and decision-making process.
Acid attack victim Kavita Bisht said CM Rawat, Radha Raturi, Nidhimani Tripathi and Arti Balodi are her sources of inspiration. “They have helped me a lot to become completely self- reliant, shedding the horrid past,” she said.
Present on the occasion were British Deputy High Commissioner David lelliot, representative of UN women office in India, Bhutan, Maldives and Srilanka Rebecca Toveren, chairperson of State Women Commission Sarojini Kaintura, principal secretary Radha Raturi and ADG Anil Raturi aside from several other dignitaries.