Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3 Sakshama), and Indian Association for Women's Studies (IAWS) jointly inaugurated its two-day conference on “Economic Empowerment of Women in East India and the Role of Women’s Collectives” on Friday in XISS Campus. This conference is sponsored by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Governor, C.P. Radhakrishnan was the chief guest of the conference and in his address he quoted, “Yatra Naryastu pujyante! Ramante tatra Devata! (Where women are respected, God lives in their home.)” He highlighted that it is a proud moment for the country that President Droupadi Murmu, the former Governor of Jharkhand and who still resides in the hearts of people here is a supreme example of women empowerment that is getting utmost priority in our country.
The Governor said, “Women have adorned high positions in ancient times. Gender equality, gender mainstreaming, leadership and financial freedom are the essential aspects of women empowerment and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme in this direction to improve the child sex ratio and girl child education across the country.”
Highlighting how education is the only powerful tool for empowerment of an individual, he said that every girl child getting proper education is imperative. Citing the status of women in Eastern India, the Governor appreciated the remarkable strides in development indicators over the last few years especially in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. He also appreciated the crucial efforts of Women’s Collectives and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in advancing gender equality, promoting women’s empowerment and the impact of SHGs on economic development in Jharkhand which has been significant.
He further stated that empowering women has a multiplier effect for increasing economic growth and development. As per World Bank report, 2022, it is said that India could boost its growth by 1.5 percentage points per year if just 50 per cent of women could join the workforce. At 14.9 per cent, the present Lok Sabha has the highest number of women since 1952 and over 44 per cent seats in local bodies are occupied by women. SHGs cover about 8.35 crore women, many of whom are leading their federations, and are in leadership positions.
Director XISS, Dr Joseph Marianus Kujur earlier addressed the house with his inaugural speech, emphasising the issue of women's empowerment. He said, “Women's empowerment revolves around the social, economic, and political development of women in all arenas of life. Women's active participation is imperative as an integral part of the decision-making body. XISS identifies with the need for women empowerment and even spells it out in its vision and mission statements. Our aim with this conference is to initiate a dialogue amongst the policy makers. XISS has taken this initiative to take the case of women empowerment as not just a knowledge disclosure but as a campaign.” In his concluding lines, he stated that ‘real women's empowerment is turning crisis into possibilities and dreams into reality.’
Mathew Cobb, Founder, Walks Back to Collectives, USA in the inaugural address said that USA being a capitalist country, still lag in delivering equal rights for women and men. He highlighted the importance of motherhood, that women should not be crowned with motherhood only but should also have an equal role in the family. He concluded by adding that there are possibilities for women to progress, but the process of progress requires to be awakened.
More than 100 papers and research works were submitted for this conference, out of which 30 were chosen. During the two-day conference, these papers will be discussed in several panel sessions highlighting the importance of the conference. A souvenir of the conference was also released by the Governor and the guests present.
