International Women’s Day celebrated in Delhi

Mrs Thagu Maya Bardewa from Sikkim received Kannagi Award which is amongst the ‘Stree Shakti Puraskar’ for her great work in helping people in distress, orphans, widows and destitutes. In a function organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in New Delhi on 8th March the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Women and Child Development Smt. Krishna Tirath inaugurated the event and also presented the ‘Stree Shakti Puraskar 2010’, given every year to eminent women for their dedication to the cause of women and the struggles in their own lives to bring about a more gender equitable society. A panel discussion was organised on the theme of “Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women: A Way Forward” including issues of concerns for women in agriculture and informal sectors, financial inclusion of women and women’s access to education and skill development. Ms. Usha Thorat, Former Deputy Governor, RBI chaired the panel discussion. The eminent panellists were Renana Jhabvala from ‘SEWA’, Anshu Gupta from ‘Goonj’, Madhura Chatrapati, from Ascent and Mrs Williams, Principal, Mount Caramel School. The panellists highlighted the various concerns of women in the informal sectors while emphasising on the need for financial inclusion of women. The event saw a major gathering of more than 1200 women and men from various Government and Non-Government sectors. Development partners and women from Self Help Groups also participated in the event.