Women Village Level Entrepreneurs are change agents : Prasad

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Minister for Electronics & IT and Law Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad and  Smriti Irani , Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Textiles, inaugurated a workshop on “Stree Swabhiman –  A CSC Initiative for Promoting Women’s Health and Hygiene”. The workshop showcased the impact and progress made by the Women Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) in promoting women’s health and hygiene among the poor and marginalized communities in India through the Common Services Centres (CSCs).

Prasad while addressing around 700 women VLEs from across the country appreciated the efforts of women VLEs, who have set up sanitary napkin units under Stree Swabhiman project, in advancing women’s health and hygiene in rural areas, apart from enhancing women’s empowerment. Recounting the strength of women VLEs in mobilizing citizens under Government campaigns like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Digi Dhan Abhiyan, Prasad said: “Today, we have 47,000 women VLEs across India. I want to see their numbers grow up to more than one lakh in our country.”

He said, “ Ensuring women’s presence  at the fore front of “Digital India” would result in a new social order where women would play the role of “Change Agents” in building a society free of any discrimination. Digitally empowered women can bring a paradigm shift in encouraging and empowering rural communities.”

Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Textiles Smriti Irani congratulated the women VLEs on the International Women’s Day and said, “I believe every day is a woman’s day. Women empowerment, especially for those living in rural India, is an integral component of our Government. The government has framed the guidelines for menstrual hygiene in the country.”

Mentioning VLE Snehlata Devi’s initiative “Chuppi Todo, Sayani Bano” among the Banjara community, Smriti Irani said, “Women VLEs are the first respondents of governance.” She added, “In the last three years, more than 16 Crore women opened bank accounts through Jan Dhan Yojana. Similarly, due to MUDRA Yojana started by our government, 7.80 Crore women became entrepreneur in our country.” Exhibiting solidarity with “women agents of change”, she promised to visit CSC run by a woman VLE near Bengaluru on March 11, 2018. She said, “I would be privileged to have a cup of Tea at your enterprise.”