Ahmedabad, Saturday: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today called for women’s empowerment in the decision making process for the progress of the nation.
Inaugurating a two-day national conference of ‘Women In Public Sector’ (WIPS) at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Ahmedabad here, he said that fifty per cent of the people’s power comprise women and engaging them in the decision making process would lend fresh impetus to the nation’s progress.
Mr. Modi said that women working with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in the country could contribute a lot to women’s empowerment for Corporate Social Responsibility through WIPS.
Talking about the role women in public life and in power, he said the Gujarat Government has undertaken a number of initiatives to provide equal rights to women in property, accord priority to women in various government schemes, school enrolment, and compulsorily mentioning mother’s name at the time of admission in schools.
He went on to narrate Gujarat Government’s other initiative like ‘Beti Bachao’ (Save Girl Child), ‘Kanya Kelavni’ (Girls Education) campaigns and drive against malnutrition among nursing mothers and infants, and that against gender discrimination.
The Chief Minister recounted the Gujarat Government’s contribution in rising against odds in adverse situations, converting challenges into opportunities, building a new Gujarat after the killer earthquake virtually from the debris.
He said that the Gujarat model of development is reflected in the performance of State PSUs such as Gujarat State Fertilizers Corporation and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation through professional management, as well as the state’s revolutionary contribution in agriculture or dairy industry.
The Chief Minister handed over WIPS Awards to women achievers for excellence in different categories.
Earlier, WIPS President Rachel Mathew and WIPS Western Region President Kirti Tiwari gave an outline of the organization.
Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) Director-General Dr U.D. Choube and Mr. Ajay Pandey of IIM delivered keynote addresses.
