International Women’s Day was celebrated in Head Office with a programme in the auditorium on 07 th March 2024 at 3.00 pm on the theme of ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’. It was graced by Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood, DMD, alongwith Shri. Nilay Kapoor, CGM, HRMD and CGMs of various Depts and the CVO. Smt. L. Leivang, CGM, MCID extended a hearty welcome to all and briefly shared on the implications of the Global Gender Gap Report, 2023.
Shri Nilay Kapoor, CGM, HRMD, in his address, shared his concerns on the need for protection of women in our society and lamented that as long as women were horrifically assaulted as reportedin Manipur during 2023 and most recently, in Jharkhand, one cannot consider India as a country marching towards a more gender equal society, despite all the country’s achievements in various fields.
Smt. Anita Yogesh Malge, Chairman, Yashaswini Agro Producer Company Ltd.,Solapur, India’s first all women Farmer Producer Company was the guest speaker at the function. She shared about her uphill journey from being a SHG member to leading a FPO and her experience of representing India at the G20 Summit in New Delhi. She expressed her gratitude to NABARD for all the facilitation and training support receivedfrom NABARD, which contributed towards her successful business venture and today connects 1 lakh women in her village through 11 women FPOs.
Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood, DMD in his keynote address on women empowerment and gender equity, highlighted the fact that SHG-BLP was indeed a powerful tool for women empowerment. He was of the view that as India is estimated to contribute 15% – 20% of the world’s GDP by 2047, women workforce participation needs to be enhanced through empowerment, as they form 47% of our population. NABARD, as a pioneer institute has a catalytic role to play with its strong policy advocacy and redistribution support for its women stakeholders. He further said that it is a privilege to be Nabardians, as we are part of the country’s growth story through our rural and women-centric interventions and called for focussed efforts to work towards the goal of women’s economic empowerment.
MCID’s NabEnterprise portal digitalizing submission of MEDP claims till issue of sanction letters by ROs, was launched by the Dr. Sood, DMD. Prizes were then distributed to the winners of the painting, essay writing, photography and quiz competitions conducted by mCID as a part of the IWD 2024 celebrations followed by a short audience engagement round of quiz.
The event was anchored by Ms. Madhurima Sen DGM, mCID