my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 6 Mar: Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd), attended a programme as the Chief Guest on Friday at the Lok Bhawan, here, as part of a series of events related to International Women’s Day. During the event, organised by the Department of Women Welfare, the Governor presented the department’s “Mahila Kalyan Utkrisht Seva” and “Meri Pehchan-2026” awards.
Congratulating all the awardees, the Governor said they are a source of inspiration for society.
While addressing the gathering, the Governor said that, in Indian culture, women have always been given the highest respect. He noted that in ‘our traditions, women are regarded as symbols of power, creation, and values’. Referring to the message of Guru Nanak Dev, “So kyon manda aakhiye jit jamme rajan”, he said it teaches that a woman who gives birth to kings should never be considered inferior.
He added that International Women’s Day is not just an occasion for celebration but also an opportunity to recognise women’s dignity, self-worth, and capabilities.
The Governor said that women in Uttarakhand have achieved remarkable success in every field. In particular, women associated with self-help groups have made significant progress toward economic self-reliance through their hard work and determination. He noted that in recent years the income of women connected with self-help groups has increased considerably, and today they not only support their families but also provide employment opportunities for others.
He further stated that daughters today are reaching new heights in education, science, sports, administration, and entrepreneurship. At university convocation ceremonies, a large number of girls are winning gold medals and other distinctions, which indicates positive change in society.
The Governor said that on this occasion everyone should take a pledge to ensure respect, equal opportunities, and encouragement for women in society, enabling them to fully utilise their potential and contribute even more to national development.
Addressing the programme, Minister, Women and Child Development, Rekha Arya said that International Women’s Day symbolises the journey of women from struggle to dignity. She stated that many women and girls face difficult circumstances in society, but through their courage and perseverance they achieve respect and recognition.
Arya added that the government is continuously working to empower and make women self-reliant through various policies and schemes. She emphasised that the struggles of those women and girls who received little family or social support yet succeeded in establishing a respectable place in society are particularly inspiring.
The event was attended by First Lady Gurmeet Kaur, Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission Kusum Kandwal, Chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Dr Geeta Khanna, Secretary to the Governor Ravinath Raman, Legal Advisor to the Governor Kaushal Kishore Shukla, Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Chandresh Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary to the Governor Reena Joshi, Director BL Rana, Chief Probation Officer, Directorate of Women Welfare, Anjana Gupta, Deputy Chief Probation Officer Rajeev Nayan, along with other officials, staff members, girls from various institutions, and several distinguished guests.
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