Minister Highlights Women’s Empowerment as Key to National Progress
Agartala, Mar 13, 2025, By Our Correspondent18
Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister Sudhanshu Das emphasized the importance of respecting women to drive national progress while inaugurating the International Women’s Day celebrations at the Nazrul Art Center in Kumarghat. The event, organized by the Kumarghat Panchayat Samiti, featured a grand procession that passed through key locations, including the Fatikroy market.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, "Accelerating Rights, Equality, and Empowerment for All Women and Girls," underscored the event’s purpose. Minister Das highlighted that women play a crucial role in shaping society, stressing that half of the world’s creations are influenced by them. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for launching numerous schemes aimed at women's welfare, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, which facilitated the construction of nearly 110 million household toilets, and the Ujjwala Yojana, which provides free LPG connections to women.
State Government’s Initiatives to Promote Women’s Empowerment
Since 2018, the state government has implemented several programs to enhance women's dignity and economic participation. Women in Tripura benefit from a 3% reduction in land registration fees when purchasing property in their names. In addition, the establishment of two all-women Tripura State Rifles (TSR) battalions reflects the government's commitment to female representation in security forces.
To further ensure women's active participation in governance, a 33% reservation for women in government jobs has been implemented. Economic empowerment has also been prioritized, with 52,600 self-help groups (SHGs) involving around 526,000 women across the state. Many women are actively engaged in income-generating roles such as Matsya Sakhis (Fisheries Guides), Bank Sakhis (Banking Guides), and Krishi Sakhis (Agricultural Guides).
New Schemes Strengthen Women’s Role in Economic Sectors
As part of the state government’s second-anniversary celebrations, two additional schemes focusing on girls and women have been introduced. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs in the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sector now receive subsidies of up to 60% under specific schemes, encouraging their involvement in business and entrepreneurship.
Leaders Emphasize Women’s Contributions to Society
During the event, Unakoti Zilla Parishad Chairman Amlendu Das praised the government’s commitment to women’s financial independence and dignity. Sub-divisional Magistrate N.S. Chakma, Dr. Subrata Sharma (Acting Principal, Ambedkar College), Kumarghat Panchayat Samiti Vice-Chairman Shankar Dev, and social worker Nilkantha Sinha also addressed the gathering, recognizing women’s achievements. The welcome speech was delivered by BDO Dr. Sudip Bhaumik.
To mark the occasion, Kumarghat Panchayat Samiti Chairperson Sumati Das administered an oath to all attendees, reaffirming their commitment to gender equality. Additionally, several women from the Kumarghat Block area were honored for their outstanding contributions in various fields.