Women in the North East region yet to be fully empowered: Sharma

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 15, 2019

SHILLONG: Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), Rekha Sharma today said women in the North East are yet to be fully empowered although they are actively involved in economic activities.

Addressing at the inauguration of a one-day seminar on ‘empowering women through entrepreneurship’ held at the North Eastern Council (NEC) here on Friday, Sharma said this is because women are denied property rights and often are not allowed to freely spend the money that they earned.

Therefore, entrepreneurial enterprise will go a long way in empowering women from becoming not only job seekers but job providers, she added.

Organised by the NCW in association with the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW), the seminar was also attended by chairpersons of the different State Women Commissions of the North East and college students.

Sharma also said that we cannot talk of nation building by ignoring 50% of the population. It is only when women are included in nation building that India can surge ahead.

Stating that women often face more challenges than men when setting up a business, she urged on all women who have taken up entrepreneurial activities to talk about their achievements so as to encourage others.

She also advised women entrepreneurs of the northeast to utilise social media and e- commerce platforms to sell their products and access market otherwise not easily attainable by them due to the geographical location of the north-eastern states.

Soso Shaiza, Member NCW spoke at length about the financial and socio-economic challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and the way and mean to overcome the challenges.

The highlight of the programme was the sharing of experiences by 5 award winning women entrepreneurs who have excelled in the field of communications, agriculture and e-commerce, banking, weaving and fashion, floriculture, event and wedding planning. The entrepreneurs were Tanushree Hazarika, Leena Saikia, Lakshmi Baruah, Janessaline M Pyngrope and Smti. Queency Thangkhiew.

Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Theilin Phanbuh, Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women.