Union Minister Smriti Irani emphasises Summit underlines a tectonic shift in how women are to be perceived,
Union Minister Smriti Irani emphasises Summit underlines a tectonic shift in how women are to be perceived,
While speaking at India’s G20 Presidency inaugural address, Union Minister Smriti Irani, on Tuesday 1 August, at Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, emphasised that the Summit underlined a tectonic shift in how women are to be perceived, that we dont seek the refuge of benevolence, and that we stand shoulder to shoulder, head to head with men as contributors to our country and society.
She expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister for initiating women-led agenda to the main stage of India’s G20 presidency.
The Union Minister, observed that India’s presidency has afforded a voice to women at the grassroots by successfully focusing on the revolution in Ilf-help group (SHG) sector.
Smriti added that EMPOWER alliance under
India’s presidency has brought to the international table diversity, responsibility but also acceptance of divergent views. Self-help group revolution has found reason to be celebrated amid ndia’s G 20 presidency. Today, we have close to 8 million SHGs that manage 34 billion dollar worth of monetary value every year and this is an ecosystem close to 80 million women. They may never find a voice among leaders who speak of financial futures but the PM has acclaimed them as the bedrock of India’s grassroot monetary power,” she added.
Irani pins hopes on TechEquity, a digital inclusion platform launched at the summit, would be of use to women around the world in education and subsequently as an enabler for transition and progression in careers, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
The platform has been designed to enable women to educate and upskill themselves on digital literacy, financial literacy and technical areas through training programmes and resources provided on the platform.
She further added ths don’t demand as women that men be disenfranchised of any privilege rather what women are assuring is that as individuals their contributions to economy and social fabrics is counted for at par with men. Since we know what it feels to be disenfranchised, to be stripped off so-called privileges, we would not like you to suffer the same
But what women very wisely, astutely and incessantly claim today is that ‘do not make her priority only because you have no other option, make me a priority because we are great investments…’,” Irani said.
The summit saw the participation of over 263 domestic and 70 international delegates. The international delegates were from 13 G20, four guest countries and eight international organisations. These included Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UK, US, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Spain, UAE, WTO, ISA, UN Women, UN, UNICEF, ILO, World Bank and ADB.
The other focus areas of G20 EMPOWER under Indian presidency was ‘Education: A Game-changing Pathway to Women’s Empowerment’, ‘Women’s Entrepreneurship: A Win-Win for Equity and Economy’ and ‘Creating a Partnership for Promoting Women’s Leadership at all Levels including Grassroots’.
News Edit K.V.Raman
