Bhopal: Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel has called upon women entrepreneurs to connect with women from poor, remote and backward areas and to assist in solving their problems. They should make efforts to generate awareness in them. She said that the present era is the era of women power. Efforts should be made to financially empower every woman. Chief guest on the occasion, Smt. Patel was virtually addressing a sanitary napkin launching programme of the Women’s Wing of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today from Raj Bhavan, Lucknow.
Governor Smt. Patel said that it is necessary to fulfill social obligations along with economic development. Along with the efforts of the government, the society must also help in the treatment of TB patients, those suffering from anomalous family conditions and backward and poor women. She stated the need to provide sanitary napkins at discounted rate for girls studying in schools. She said that by doing so, the elder women of the girls family will come to know about the usefulness of napkins and will be inspired to use it. She said that the challenge of Covid-19 was successfully faced by the joint efforts of the government and society in the country. Such joint efforts should also be made to make women economically self-sufficient. Women industrial, trade organizations should try to conduct business activities on the basis of reciprocity with rural self-help groups. Possibilities should be explored in the field of joint purchase and supply etc. of raw materials.. Mahila Haat should be organized, in which free space should be made available to women.
Smt. Patel said that the government has given importance to the dignity of women in every sphere of work. The number of women entrepreneurs in the country has increased due to simplification of the central government’s policy. There are now more than 80 lakh women entrepreneurs in the MSME sector of the country. Enterprises are being set up by women entrepreneurs with an increase of 38 percent under PMEGP in the last 5 years. More than 15 crore women entrepreneurs have become self-reliant through schemes like Mudra Yojana. Corona crisis still exists, but there are new opportunities for quality improvement and economic progress. The need is to recognize one’s strengths and resolve to follow a new direction. The leadership of the country is positive and has its focus on everyone. The government has made arrangements for everyone including farmers, traders, labourers, youth, women, industries etc. We need to ponder on how to take its benefits, what to innovate, how to improve the existing business and trade. The economic package provided by the government must be used to build a new India. CAIT should guide its members in these endeavours.
The Governor said that the present status of the world in Corona crisis has paved way for economic self-reliance and development of women. Due to Covid-19, the present time has become very transformative. E-commerce business, online business and digital are in vogue. Women entrepreneurs will have to accept this technology and carry out economic activities both physically and through e-commerce. The government, financial institutions, expert groups, business and industry associations and successful women entrepreneurs play an important role in economic empowerment of women for their entrepreneurial capacity building and skill development.
In the programme, CAIT Chairman Shri Bhupendra Jain gave a inspiring address to women entrepreneurs. The welcome address was given by Smt. Kavita Jain, National Executive Member, CAIT. The outline of the programme was highlighted by Smt.. Shilpi Vivek Jain, District Coordinator of CAIT Women’s Wing. Ritika Gupta, District Convenor of CAIT Gwalior Women’s Wing proposed the vote of thanks. Manoj Chaurasia conducted the video conference.
