COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT FULL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN: TAMIL NADU GOVERNOR SH. R. N. RAVI
TN GOVERNOR ADDRESSES ACADEMIC SESSION ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AS PART OF KASHI TAMIL SANGAMAM 3.0
UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO RECLAIM THE SENSE OF ONENESS WHICH WAS FORGOTTEN FOR LONG, SAYS KASHI TAMIL SANGAMAM IS PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THISRohit Seth
Varanasi,Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu Sh. R. N. Ravi has said that the role of women is crucial in realizing the goals of country’s development. The Governor was addressing an academic session on women empowerment held at BHU’s Pt. Omkar Nath Thakur Auditorium as part of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0. In his thought provoking address, the Chief Guest highlighted the significant contribution and participation of women, in driving transforming change not only in empowering communities but also facilitating national development. Underscoring the profound linkages between Kashi and Tamil Nadu, the Governor shared instances from the past to reaffirm the shared spiritual and civilizational heritage of Bharat. He called for reclaiming the sense of oneness which was forgotten for long and not viewing India through the Western idea of state but as a rashtra which the country has been for hundreds of years. Sh. R. N. Ravi stated that Kashi Tamil Sangamam is playing a pivotal role in strengthening the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, which was lived and celebrated by Indians for ages. He further reiterated that India is not just a geographical entity but a living, breathing civilization where the ‘One Nation, One Family’ philosophy thrives. Lauding the achievements of members of women self-help groups, whose inspiring journeys have been powered by a number of public schemes and initiatives, the Governor exhorted them to share their success stories with others and help in uplift and development of people from all around the country.
The Tamil Nadu Governor also released the books translated by the Tamil Section in BHU from Hindi to Tamil during KTS 2.0 last year. This has been done under the leadership of Dr. Jagdeesan. The books have been published by the National Book Trust of India, New Delhi. Besides, the Hon’ble Governor also launched “Kashi Kumbabhishekam” by Subbu Sundaram and his wife. The Governor expressed his joy over the growing interest and enrollment of North Indian students in learning Tamil through a diploma course at BHU.
Vice-Chancellor (I/C), Banaras Hindu University, Prof. Sanjay Kumar said that BHU is a “miniature India” where diverse thoughts, ideas and people blend and strive for shared progress. He said that that Kashi Tamil Sangamam celebrates the historical and cultural connection between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, reinforcing the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Prof. Kumar said that Kashi and Tamil Nadu are bound by a thread of unity, and Kashi Tamil Sangamam is further strengthening this connection. He added that the program is not only a celebration but a reaffirmation of deep and ancient bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. He expressed that various initiatives and schemes of the Government of India are at the core of women empowerment and their development.
Prof. Shweta Prasad from the Department of Sociology discussed the positive impact of government run schemes and initiatives on the empowerment, uplift and benefit of women and girls. She spoke about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gender equality, and several flagship schemes such as the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Mission Shakti, which have created a safer environment for women and improved the sex ratio in India. She shared that for the first time, India has crossed the mark of 1020 females per 1000 males. She also highlighted that over 3.25 crore bank accounts for women have been opened under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and 10 crore beneficiaries have gained support through the Poshan Abhiyan. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was acknowledged for its role in promoting gender equality and inclusive education, with thousands of girls enrolling in Kasturba Gandhi Mahila Vidyalayas. Prof. Prasad said gender equality has been at the core of India’s ancient wisdom and traditions and that we must as members of society do our bit to uphold these intrinsic values of equality.
Prof. Meenakshi Jha from the Centre for Women Studies and Development, BHU, spoke about the confluence of culture, tradition, and wisdom in Kashi Tamil Sangamam. She highlighted the contribution of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, India’s first female legislator from Tamil Nadu, in advancing women’s rights. She added that women are the carriers of advancement and development. Prof. Jha underlined the role of educational institutions in women empowerment by spreading awareness, educating women and carrying out new research. She also mentioned that various government schemes are working towards financial security and creating a safe environment for women, aligning with Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s vision of strengthening cultural and economic ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
The interactive session included inspiring stories from women entrepreneurs and self-help group members. Shravan Kumar from Uttar Pradesh spoke about the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, while Alam Ara from Mangalpur, associated with the Alam Self-Help Group, shared how her organization has helped disabled women by opening over 600 bank accounts and facilitating 60 Atal Pension Yojana enrollments. Amit Kumar discussed the benefits of MUDRA loans, and Kausar Jahan demonstrated the impact of MUDRA loan which helped her in strengthening her silk sari entrepreneurship. Ravi Mishra from the Welfare Trust spoke about the Green Army, an organization working in 260 villages to combat dowry, addiction, and superstitions, while also training over 2200 women in self-defense and karate. He proudly mentioned that Prime Minister Modi personally wears the footwear designed by their team. A special mention was given to Dr. Manisha Shukla, editor of “Anveshika” magazine and a cancer survivor, who raised awareness about the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat health card. She also presented a bilingual book authored by Dr. Manoj Pandey from BHU’s Cancer Research Department to the Hon’ble Governor. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Shanmuga Sundaram from the Faculty of Commerce, BHU, who expressed gratitude to all the speakers, self-help groups, and organizations contributing to the empowerment of women. He reiterated that such initiatives will help India achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.