PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that women are the real strength of the mountains. He said this after felicitating female personalities in the ‘Nari Tu Narayani’ programme held to mark International Women’s Day on Sunday. A total of 38 women were felicitated for their works in spheres including education, social service, entrepreneurship, environmental conservation, agriculture, water conservation and culture, among others.
Dhami said, “The women being honoured today are those whose sacrifice, struggle, affection and values strengthened the foundations of the family, society and nation. Generations move forward and the society consistently progresses due to the affection, sacrifice and blessings of women. Senior women are also the preservers of life values, cuture and traditions in addition to families. The contribution of women in Uttarakhand is even more inspiring and glorious. Here women tend to the family and also look after the farms. The women of Uttarakhand have moved forward strongly even in difficult circumstances. They have helped the State move forward with their sacrifices, hard work and courage, which is why they are the real power of the mountains,” the CM said.
He further said that serving senior citizens and aged mothers is a collective responsibility. The State government is executing various welfare schemes for women, especially the aged women. Through schemes like the old-age pension, widow pension, the State government is providing financial assistance to women. In addition to providing better health facilities to the aged, the government is also strengthening the old-age home facilities in various districts, he said. “The State is providing free pilgrimage facility to senior citizens. The government is committed to ensuring that every aged mother in the State gets the full opportunity to lead her life with respect, safety and dignity.
Women Empowerment minister Rekha Arya said that women who excel in work are also an inspiration for society. “Women empowerment should begin at homes and then spread in society and the nation. Woman power builds the family along with the society and the nation,”she said.
Those felicitated by the CM on the occasion included Parvati Negi, Meena Ravi and Jyoti Marwah from Dehradun, Dhanuli Negi, Meenu Joshi and Lata Harbola from Nainital, Bhadi Devi, Geeta Nautiyal and Rameshwari Bhatt from Rudraprayag, Urmila Chand, from Champawat, Urmila Rana, Kamala Negi and Parvati Devi from Pauri, Manorama Joshi, Hemlata Verma and Kamini Kashyap from Almora, Sartama Devi, Vishala Bhandari and Shanti Thakur from Uttarkashi, Sushila Semwal, Chandrakala Bisht, Kalawati Devi and Munni Devi from Chamoli, Neema Dafkoti, Narayani Devi and Ganga Ram from Bageshwar, Sobti Devi, Lata Devi and Prabha Raturi from Tehri, Meena Sharma, Asha Munjal and Indra Mishra from Udham Singh Nagar, Saiyada Khatun, Bala Devi and Kanti from Haridwar and Durga Khadwat, Shakuntala Dayal and Devki Joshi from Pithoragarh.
