Agartala , Jan 11, 2025, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Jan 11: The state government has a specific vision for the welfare and empowerment of women, aiming to create a supportive and empowering environment for all women in the state. Leveraging various government schemes, women are increasingly able to recognize and assert their uniqueness and power across all fields.

In a significant step towards this vision, the present state government has formulated the 'Tripura State Policy for Empowerment of Women-2022'. This policy is designed to promote the welfare of women through strategic initiatives and support systems.

On Saturday, Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy inaugurated the state-wide conclave titled 'Women's Welfare and Empowerment Conclave: Impactful Change in Collaboration with Voluntary Organizations' at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala.

In his address, Roy emphasized that the conclave's objective is to enhance the quality of life for women, raise awareness about women's rights, and establish an effective safety net for their protection. This initiative involves collaboration between the state government, voluntary organizations, and well-intentioned individuals from various societal levels.

During his speech at the conclave, Minister Tinku Roy highlighted that a 5-member expert panel would discuss several schemes aimed at advancing and developing women's status in the state. They would also evaluate the proper use and effectiveness of various legal mechanisms for women's protection. Additionally, expert speakers would discuss the further implementation of the 'Tripura State Policy for Empowerment of Women-2022' and strategies to strengthen women's positions.

“The results of the government's efforts are already visible. For instance, 33 percent of seats in government jobs are reserved for women. Of the 3,229 vacancies for recruitment in various government departments in 2024, 1,470 posts have been reserved for women. This reflects the government's commitment to making women self-reliant and ensuring their welfare”, he said.

The Social Welfare Minister also underscored the numerous schemes undertaken by the Central and State governments for women's welfare. These include the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Chief Minister Matru Pushti Upahar Yojana, and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, among others. For the health protection of rural women, 13 women's health and wellness centres have been established across the state.

“To ensure women's safety and security, 9 women's police stations have been set up, along with 8 'Sakhi One Stop Centers' in 8 districts. Furthermore, social allowances are provided to 24,569 women under various schemes of the Central and State Governments and the Chief Minister's Social Assistance Scheme”, said Roy.

At the conclave, Tripura Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Jayanti Debbarma emphasized the conclave's pivotal role in raising awareness about the rights of women and girl children.

She stressed the importance of preventing child marriage and called on public representatives to play a crucial role in this regard.

Tripura Women's Commission Chairperson Jharna Debbarma acknowledged the progress made by women in various fields but also highlighted the adversities that women and girl children face in isolation.

She called on voluntary organizations to step forward and help address these challenges.

AIG Tripura State Police Sharmistha Chakraborty, former Principal of MBB College Dr. Dipannita Chakraborty, Joint Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Social Education Dr. Chandrani Biswas, Professor of Psychology at Tripura Central University Anjana Bhattacharjee, Professor of Economics at Tripura Central University Paramita Saha, Team Leader of Skill Development Supriti Chakraborty, and Coordinator of the Gender Sensitization Cell at Holy Cross College Dr. Sharmistha Chakraborty among others remained present at the event.

Representatives of various voluntary organizations also participated in the discussion, contributing to the overall discourse on women's welfare and empowerment.