TURA: The two-day 3rd All Garo Hills International Women’s Day celebration-cum-exhibition and sale of organic products by the SHGs of the region began on Thursday at P A Sangma Stadium, Dakopgre in Tura.
Chief Whip, Government of Meghalaya, Marcuise Marak graced the function as the chief guest in the presence of co-chairman, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Benedick Marak and MLA Jowai Constituency, Weiladmiki Shylla.
The programme is being organised for the third time by Bakdil, Tura in collaboration with Meghalaya State Women’s Commission (MSCW), Chief Minister’s Special Rural Development Fund, Department of Social Welfare, NABARD, MSRLS and Meghalaya Rural Bank.
Speaking on the occasion, Marcuise Marak spoke about the high ideals of being woman and womanhood and said that there was nothing like a mother because it is a mother who looks after the family and children when men go out to work and earn for their respective family.
He added that the kind of life people enjoy entirely depends on women. He also expressed his happiness to see the change in the life of womenfolk in the region and hoped that this change would continue and move forward with progress and development in future.
While informing about the various schemes and programmes being implemented by the government to uplift the socio-economic condition of the people of the region through various departments, he urged everyone especially women groups to avail these opportunities and work with determination and honesty and build a society free from poverty through women’s economic empowerment.
Director, Bakdil, Tura Rev Fr. Sunny Mavelil while delivering the keynote address informed the gathering that the celebration not only provided platform for connecting rural with urban and vice versa but also gives a chance to showcase the talents of Women SHG groups including the sale of various products and thereby helping to improve the economy of the people of the region.
He also informed that so far the groups had availed loans up to the tune of Rs 3 Crore from the banks which is being used for activities aimed at economic uplift of the region.
Various products comprising of local spices, pickle products, agri-horti products including the famous rice from Mangsang, bamboo, wood carving and cane products, sanitary and washing products, animal husbandry, earthen, agro-forest products and drink and beverages are available in the stalls put up at the venue, he informed.
During the function, the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour presented a Memento to the Best Women Entrepreneur Suchitra Sangma of Purakhasia and Best Women Leader to Grecildha Marak, President, Rongnabak Federation, Gambegre.