Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the first State Women's Conference, with the theme "Support and Celebrate," at the State Convention Centre.
The Chief Minister, speaking to the crowd, stated that the conference is one of the largest that the state has seen in a long time.
He said, "The fact that this conference has such a big attendance and is also being viewed online by about two lakh women from all the 46 blocks of the State just goes to show the commitment that women have to the cause they take up.”
The conference, according to Conrad K Sangma, is the result of a meeting with the Meghalaya State Women's Commission, where it was determined that a platform was needed where not only all critical issues relating to women and society could be discussed and addressed, but also where women could connect and womanhood could be celebrated.
The Chief Minister further stated that the Women's Commission is critical in bridging the gap between reality on the ground and ensuring that the voices of women are heard by the government.
He explained, "The women's commission play a very crucial role to bring different stakeholders together therefore we intend to make this Women's Conference an annual event where the contributions of women achievers in different walks of life will be recognized.”
Sangma discussed the government's various programmes for women's economic and social empowerment. "We realized that there is a need to engage women economically so that they can divert their energies to different productive activities and the experiences shared by different women today bears testimony that an economically empowered women are in a better position to take care of their children, family and themselves," he underlined.
During the event, the Chief Minister also announced the commencement of the Early Childhood Development Mission and handed out a booklet commemorating the occasion. He also announced the redesigned 181 Helpline's launch.
Earlier, Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani expressed her delight that the State Government is hosting the conference for the benefit of women and children in a message delivered during the opening session.
Irani praised the State Government's determined efforts to empower and emancipate women in the state, saying that it is critical for all levels of government to prioritise meeting the needs of women and children at the centre of their services.
She said, "I hope the accomplishments of the Meghalaya Government become the best practices for other States and the Government of India to emulate.”
