Education key to women empowerment: Sule

Rajya Sabha MP Supriya Sule poured her heart out on the issues that most bother her to a group of young women from the Ladies' wing of Indian Merchants' Chamber on Monday.

8216;We politicians should be made accountable. Only way of doing this by excercising right to vote8217;

Rajya Sabha MP Supriya Sule poured her heart out on the issues that most bother her to a group of young women from the Ladies8217; wing of Indian Merchants8217; Chamber IMC on Monday. Pioneering the cause of micro-finance and enabling women come out of their shell in rural Maharashtra through Self-help groups SHGs, Sule stated that the whole concept can succeed only if there is proper mapping of things done by SHGs. 8220;It is not just enough for SHGs to manufacture a product. It should be promoted well and quality should be ensured. Only then can SHGs become a true success story. Also, we need a centralized system as to know how each product is manufactured, from where it comes and how it is made,8221; said Sule.

Only last week Sule had stated how cheaper loan rates will give a boost to SHGs. Following this the state government had declared that banks will finance SHGs at a meager rate of 4. Sule runs an NGO Yashsawini. 6,000 SHGs are affiliated to it. The NGO recently won an order worth Rs 3.5-crore from retailer Big Bazaar for supply of around 100 products made by it.

Stressing on the fact that women emancipation can succeed only with education, Sule said that despite all the efforts primary education in rural areas is still in an abysmal state. 8220;The latest HRD report shows that though there is 100 enrollment in rural schools at the primary level. The dropout rate increases gradually. While schools report 100 admissions in first standard. By the time a batch reaches 5th standard there is almost a 50 drop out. Primary education is a serious problem especially in rural areas,8221; said Sule.

8220;The disparity also increases as there is a huge drop out rate among the faculty in rural areas and in many cases faculty themselves are unaware of most issues, we don8217;t need just education but we need skilled, quality education,8221; she added. Sule applauded the Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan and stated that it is indeed the need of the hour.

8220;The Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan has tremendously changed the nature of elementary education in rural areas. While I admit that no policy can be 100 successful. The scheme has definitely improved primary education in rural pockets,8221; she said. Sule also did not shy away from commenting on language politics rampant in the city.

8220;It is a sad thing that in a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai, language and caste has become a divisive factor. This was never the case earlier. Mumbai8217;s social fabric is changing. We have always been the city of integration. This should be maintained and political leaders should be refrained from playing language politics,8221; she added.Urging every citizen to vote during the upcoming elections, she stated that ultimately all the power lies in the hands of the voters. 8220;We politicians should be made accountable. The only way the common man can ensure this is by exercising the right to vote,8221; Sule said.