To commemorate International Women’s Day, a district-level Women Entrepreneurship and Self Help Group (SHG) Mela was organized today at the lawns of Mini Secretariat, Ganderbal. The event witnessed active participation from hundreds of women from the district as well as involvement of several departments including Social Welfare Department, District Employment and Counseling Centre Ganderbal, Agriculture, Health, Education, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Handicrafts, Industries and banking institutions.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore presided over the event as chief guest, while Additional District Development Commissioner, Manzoor Ahmad; Chief Agriculture Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Education Officer, Assistant Director Employment, Lead District Manager, Cluster Head J&K Bank and other officers and officials were also present on the occasion.
The DC visited stalls set up by several departments including Agriculture, Jal Shakti, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Health, Handicrafts & Handloom, along with agencies such as the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (UMEED), Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Rural Self Employment Training Institutes, District Employment and Counselling Centre and District Industries Centre.
The stalls showcased a variety of locally produced items including handicrafts, processed food products, traditional garments and other SHG products. Women entrepreneurs and SHG members interacted with visitors and shared their experiences of starting and running small enterprises.
Addressing the gathering, the DC extended greetings on the occasion of International Women’s Day to all women present. He said that March 8 is celebrated across the world as International Women’s Day, and to mark the occasion, a Women Entrepreneurship Mela along with an awareness camp on various government schemes was organized in the district.
He said the objective of the event was to make women aware of various government schemes to help them in becoming empowered and self-reliant. He highlighted that departments across the district are working in coordination to promote women’s welfare, skill development and entrepreneurship by providing training, financial assistance and market linkages.
The DC said he interacted with several women entrepreneurs during the mela and it was encouraging to see them performing well in various fields. On the occasion, the DC felicitated girl toppers of 10th and 12th classes including specially-abled students, sportspersons, Anganwadi Workers and inspiring women entrepreneurs.
He also distributed Field Testing Kits, nutrition kits among new mothers, hygiene kits among adolescent girls, and stationery and sports kits among school students. During the event, certificates were presented to IDDS beneficiaries, letters of appreciation were given for Mushroom Cultivation and Apiculture by the Agriculture Department, and Mission YUVA sanction letters were distributed among beneficiaries.
Departments also highlighted various women-centric schemes aimed at improving livelihoods, health services, education and financial inclusion. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material was also distributed among participants on the occasion, while departments disseminated awareness about nutrition, sanitation, maternal health, agricultural entrepreneurship, animal husbandry practices and financial literacy.
On the occasion, Health Department conducted awareness sessions on preventive healthcare, nutrition and HPV vaccination and also stationed a mobile health van at the venue to screen women for non communicable diseases. A Nukkad Natak on the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” scheme, themed on women empowerment, was presented by the Reshi Cultural Forum, which received a round of applause from the participants.
The day coincided with Jal Mahotsav Pakhwada that began today on 8th March under the Jal Jeevan Mission to promote community participation in sustainable drinking water management and to strengthen the concept of Jan Bhagidari - Sujal Gram. The Pakhwada that will culminate on March 22 is aimed to highlight the important role of women in water governance and management of rural drinking water services.
On the occasion, Jal Shakti Department, Ganderbal had installed a dedicated stall where female laboratory staff demonstrated water quality testing using Field Testing Kits (FTKs) to the visitors. In addition, adequate IEC material, banners, and other awareness and publicity resources related to water quality and safe drinking water was made available to educate and inform the public.
The mela witnessed enthusiastic participation from women entrepreneurs, SHG members, youth and members of the general public, providing a platform to promote local products and encourage women-led enterprises in the district while celebrating the spirit of women empowerment on the occasion of International Women’s Day.