ITANAGAR, Mar 8:  Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said that the state government is committed and focused on women's empowerment and has implemented many women's welfare schemes and programmes in the state.

He was speaking at the International Women’s Day celebration held at D.K. convention hall organized by the Department of Women & Child Development in collaboration with Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW), Arunachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (APSLA), Arunachal Pradesh Women Welfare Society (APWWS) and Department of Justice.

 “This day is very important for women as it offers an opportunity to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities,” Mein said.

He said that the day is of great importance to raise the spirits of women and appealed to remove inequality from society. Today, there is no field or arena where women are lagging behind; rather I am optimistic to say that one-day women may overtake men in many arenas of life, he said.

“The role of women is much different today than it was in the past,” said Mein and added that today, women work outside the home much more and their roles are multi-functional. They compete for jobs with men and are working in every field, though they still face discrimination. They also have more power than they have in the past,” he said.

Highlighting some of the welfare schemes for women in the State, Mein informed the state government has opened exclusive Women Police Stations in Itanagar, Pasighat, Tezu, Ziro and many more are in the pipeline for the District Headquarters to deal with women related crimes.

He also said that the state government runs Swadhar Greh through NGO Oju Welfare Association for destitute women, where they can stay for a longer time and their primary needs of shelter, food clothing, and some vocational training are taken care of.

He also mentioned that to economically empower rural women for their self-sustenance, the state government during the recently held Golden Jubilee Cabinet Decision at Ziro has assured financial support of Rs 1 lakh each to 500 top women SHGs. Besides an additional fixed deposit of Rs 5000 as a top-up amount over the existing Rs 20000 under ‘Dulari Kanya Scheme’ to the Golden Jubilee Daughters born between 20th January 2022 to 20th January 2023 will be provided.

Advisor to Minister (Women & Child Development and SJE&TA), Dasanglu Pul, President and Executive members of Arunachal Pradesh Women Welfare Society Gumri Ringu, Commissioner Women & Child Development Padmini Singla and Director, Women & Child Development T.P Loyi also addressed the gathering.