Navsari (Gujarat), Wednesday: Chief Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the Gujarat Government’s Mission Mangalam emerging as a very successful project for women’s economic empowerment and particularly in rural areas with banks extending loans to 2.25-lakh Sakhi Mandalis.
Addressing a huge women’s conference-cum-khadi and village handicraft exhibition in 130 stalls, ‘Shaktijyot Mela, at Navsari on the occasion of Gujarat Gaurav Diwas-2012, he exhorted the stakeholders to invent new ways to widen the scope of Mission Mangalam, to recover gold by recycling wastes.
He expressed satisfaction at the Mission’s success in inculcating the habit of saving among rural women, maintaining quality and honesty in business deals. Including women in the process of decision motivate them to perform even better. Women are in charge of administration in 300 Samras Gram Panchayats. A drive has been launched for women living along the seacoast to cultivate see-weed.
The Chief Minister stressed on the need to give top priority to women while extending ownership rights of property or any family-oriented programme. The government has exempted women from registration fee, losing revenue of Rs.450-crore. This has resulted in qualitative improvement among women. He also stressed on the need for girls education and women’s literacy.
Referring to recent shameful incidence of violating women’s honour in the country, he said that mothers could inculcate right values among boys and keep them away from social evils. The institution of anganwadis (crèches) sows the seed among the children from a tender age. It is everybody’s duty to protect the honour of the women even as Gujarat Government Quoting CAG report, he said, Gujarat has registered maximum 33 per cent improvement in the country in tackling malnutrition in cooperation with the public. Similarly, he said, the success of cent per cent girls going to school goes to their mothers, including poor women.
Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel said the success of Gujarat Government’s ‘Save Girl Child’ is also visible. Gujarat also tops in girls education in the country. She said there are 50,000 crèches in the state.
Forest and Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava said that women are managing 18,000 water associations and 2,100 primary milk societies and 3,000 sahbhagi van vyavastha. Navsari received development works worth Rs.1,200-crore during these event.
Others present during the function included Minister of State Nanubhai Vanani, MP Jayashriben Patel and Darshanaben Jardosh, Mahila Economic Development Corporation Chairperson Sitaben Naik, MLAs Mangubhai Patel, Piyush Desai, R.C. Patel, Sangitaben Patel, Ranjit Gilitwala, Ajay Choksi, District Panchayat President Surendra Patel, Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha, Navsari Guardian Secertary A.K. Rakesh, District Collector Jay Prakash Shivhare and a large number of people.
