Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) under Ministry of Rural Development partnered with Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE) to organize the fourth Gender Equality Programme.
The virtual gathering served as an important platform to highlight DAY-NRLM’s gender-based initiatives across India, with a special emphasis on amplifying the voice of state representatives and Self-Help Group (SHG) members. given.
The event, which attracted more than 8,000 participants, brought together key stakeholders, including senior officials from the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Women and Child Development, and Government of Bihar, as well as practitioners, gender Experts, academicians, civil society workers were also involved. , and SHG members.
Chiranjeet Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, expressed deep concern over the statistics of gender-based violence. He emphasized the important role that community-based organizations can play in addressing this critical issue. Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of inter-ministerial cooperation, particularly with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Education, to promote awareness and sensitivity to gender-based violence.
DAY-NRLM Joint Secretary Smriti Sharan lauded the extensive efforts made by DAY-NRLM to empower women and set up model institutions to address women’s issues mainly through gender resource centers in rural areas. highlighted. During the event, Community Resource Persons (CRPs) from states like Jharkhand, Kerala and Odisha shared their experiences with institutional strategies designed to combat gender-based violence. Ms. Rajini Dandasena from Odisha highlighted the impact of Prerna Kendra (Gender Resource Centers) at the Gram Panchayat level.
These centers have developed strong linkages with various departments through gender forums, enabling them to effectively address cases of violence. The Gender Campaign, launched in November 2022, has played an important role in raising awareness about gender-based violence, mobilizing public action and empowering women to tackle issues such as witch hunting, drug abuse and sexual violence. What is it.
Mehwa Rai Choudhary from Jiveka, Government of Bihar emphasized the importance of gender training, innovative pedagogy, and the use of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials. These elements have paved the way for the establishment of gender-responsive institutions, particularly didi adhikar centres, which play a vital role in addressing violence deeply rooted in patriarchal and social norms.
He also stressed the importance of political empowerment, women playing roles as ward members and beehives in the state, ensuring the sustainability of these institutions in empowering women. The event featured a panel discussion with the participation of Ministry of Women and Child Development, gender experts, and feminist lawyers. The panel emphasized the importance of the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) and its role in providing legal remedies including fast-track courts as well as gender training to various stakeholders.
He stressed the need for inter-ministerial cooperation and a multi-pronged strategy to combat gender-based violence. Key points of discussion included innovative financing for sustainability, creating safe spaces for women, strengthening data-driven governance, and enhancing women’s economic agency.
The discussion further shed light on the possible synergies between the Women Courts under Mission Shakti and the Gender Resource Centers under DAY-NRLM. Gender Equality 2023 concludes with a compelling call for collective action to address the core issues affecting women, focusing on prevention, coordination, and innovative local approaches to problem solving.
First Published: 24 Sep 2023, 08:57 IST