‘Black paper’ to show concern over women’s condition

Forty organisations working on women’s problems gathered in the city under the aegis of Mahila Adhikar Abhiyan (MAA),which plans to make representations on the issues related to women to the state government. Fifteen representatives of organisations affiliated to MAA met chairperson of the State Women’s Commission in Gandhinagar to express their concerns and present a charter of demands.

They said that 100 post cards from each village had been sent to Chief Minister Narendra Modi seeking help on the women’s rights issue. MAA has come out with a report on the status of women in the state and a charter of demands titled ‘How Vibrant is Gujarat for its Women—A Black Paper on women’s situation in Gujarat’. “The ‘Black Paper’ talks about the condition of women in the state,which is very poor. We have also put in our demands before the government in form of this paper,” said Gomtiben Chavda from Kutch district.

Meanwhile,women MLAs led by Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel greeted the Chief Minister on Women’s Day. They thanked Modi for getting a law allowing 50 per cent representation in urban local bodies. They also expressed their resolve to serve the people for giving them the chance to represent them in the Assembly.

Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Congress president Bhartiben Patel said that at a time when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ensured women’s reservation in the Parliament,it enjoins a special responsibility on women.

Rlys to promote computer literacy among women staff

VADODARA: The Western Railways Vadodara division on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on Monday commenced a computer education programme for its women employees. The initiative comes as part of the women empowerment programme. In the initial phase,over 15 women employees have enrolled for the course. “The 15 day-course will be conducted in collaboration with a private computer education institute. Later,these employees will also take up a course of their choice which will be offered to them at a subsidised rate. It will be a continuous process and will be organised in every Railways colony,” said A K Srivastava,Divisional Railway Manager,Vadodara. He added,“We are promoting the project among women staff and also housewives of the Railway staff so that they can use computer literacy to their benefit for employment. In fact,the idea of starting the computer programme was suggested by women themselves.” The Vadodara division of Western Railways also intends to initiate a survey among the railway staff families to start self-help groups utilising the women empowerment funds. The survey will be conducted across all the railway colonies and settlements under the Vadodara Railways jurisdiction. “We are tying up with some of the city-based NGOs working in the field of women empowerment to help us carry out a survey to know the interests of women staff and housewives. We are specifically targeting Class IV workers and their families to know their interest areas. The finding will help them operate self-help groups. We will facilitate them to initiate it by providing a work place and funds,” said Lily Pandya,senior divisional personal officer.