New Delhi, Mar 12 (KNN) On the occasion of International Women’s Day, MSME-DI, Govt of India, Guwahati, in conjuction with the Small Industries Development Bank of India and Laghu Udyog Bharati organized a national seminar on ‘Market Access Initiatives for Export for NER Women Entrepreneurs-cum-Women Entrepreneurs’ Conclave-2018'.

The aim behind conducting this seminar is to encourage the North-East women entrepreneurs and to create a conducive environment for the women empowerment.

Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi inaugurated the seminar and around 350 women entrepreneurs from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur attended the conclave.

Highlighting various marketing access initiatives for export schemes made for women entrepreneurs, Sreeni-vasulu, Director, MSME-DI, Guwahati, requested the women entrepreneurs to take the full benefits of those schemes.

Speaking at the occasion, Piyush Srivastava, IES, Addl Development Commissioner (MSME), New Delhi, emphasized on the need to contribute more towards the growth and development of women entrepreneurs in the north-eastern region.

Redefining women empowerment, Prof Jagdish Mukhi, said “women empowerment itself speaks that social rights, political rights, economic stability, etc., and all other rights should be equally accessible to women.”

Stressing on the importance of MSMEs in creating employment and growth and development of rural economy, he said “there should be no discrimination between men and women”.

Besides this, he said that MSMEs plays a crucial role in the life of women, especially in rural areas as it enables women to be actively involved in economic activities, not only as hired laborer or worker but, more importantly as entrepreneurs who are primarily engaged in conventional sectors like food processing, sericulture, handloom and handicraft, beauty and wellness, and other service sectors in the state.

Further various speakers pointed on the schemes and polices earmarked for the women entrepreneurs are not easily accessible by the women of the region or far from their reach.

In other Women’s Day function at Guwahati Press Club, a driving school named “USTM Women’s Driving School’ for women was launched by the University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) as part of its community college initiative.

The aims is to empowering women, especially economically weak, school dropouts, widows, single mothers and make them financially strong by earning a living from driving as a profession. (KNN/YV)