Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi on Thursday said, women empowerment is the key to increase their participation in the decision-making which is the most important input to socio-economic development.
Prof Mukhi said this while inaugurating a one-day national seminar on Marketing Access Initiatives for Export from NER Women Entrepreneurs cum Women Entrepreneurs Conclave which was held at Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion the Governor, Prof Mukhi said that in developing countries like India, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have a crucial role to play because of their potential contributions to employment creation, improvement of income distribution, poverty reduction and development of rural economy.
“Besides, MSMEs are also considered as an important place for women, especially in rural areas. MSMEs can provide an avenue for development of women ability as entrepreneurs. Women’s entrepreneurship development in the North-east, has a tremendous potential in empowering women and transforming society in the region,” Prof Mukhi said.
He also stressed that proper awareness is necessary so that schemes and policies designed for women and youth reach them and the civil society organizations and community youth volunteers play a critical role in linking women and youth in the remotest parts of the society to government schemes and initiatives that directly benefit them.
He also said that something more concrete needs to be done for the women entrepreneurs. Proper guidance should be given and market should be created for benefits of women.
“As we are aware that most of the women entrepreneurs from the north-eastern region are engaged in conventional sectors like food processing, sericulture, handloom and handicraft, beauty and wellness. Creation of a market chain will hugely help our women folk to empower themselves economically and socially,” he added.
The Governor also said that women empowerment itself signifies social rights, political rights, economic stability, judicial strength and all other rights exclusive to women.