SHILLONG: Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said on Tuesday India’s growth rate has gone up because women are a crucial part of the economic emancipation.
Speaking at a Swachhta Hi Seva programme at Mawklot in Upper Shillong, Akbar asserted that when a country invests in women, it is investing in future.
In the context of Meghalaya, he pointed out that the state would witness strong participation by women in economic growth because of its tradition of empowerment to the fair sex.
Compared to the past when women used to experience psychological torture, today there are 8 crore poor women in the country who have got LPG cylinders. Talking about the Swachh Bharat Mission, Akbar said it has no end and it should become a part of daily life for a better future. “We achieved freedom from the British long time back but we forgot freedom has to be from poverty, indignity and suffering,” he added.
Earlier, Urban Affairs Minister and local MLA Hamlet Dohling said Mawklot locality has great relevance to Swachhta Hi Seva programme as “this programme will inculcate the spirit of how to maintain cleanliness not only in the locality but also in our homes”.
Earlier, PHE Minister Samlin Malngiang spoke about the aims and objectives of the programme.
Akbar also led the crowd to take the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan pledge.
Tuesday’s programme was organised by the District Swachhata Bharat Mission (Gramin), East Khasi Hills.
