SP SDRF Ms. Ilma Afroz urges women to take advantage of government schemes for socio-economic empowerment
Women Journalists felicitated for contribution to society
Shimla, 21 February 2023 – The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt of India, Central Bureau of Communication and Press Information Bureau organized a media interaction at Bachat Bhawan, Shimla, to share details about various women-centric schemes initiated by the government to empower women and ensure their socio-economic development.
Sh. Rajinder Chaudhry, Additional Director General of Press Information Bureau (North West Region), and Chief Guest Ms. Ilma Afroz, SP SDRF, shared their views on the government’s initiatives to empower women.
“Women’s empowerment is not a choice, it’s a necessity for a progressive society,” quipped ADG Rajinder Chaudhry, emphasizing the government’s commitment towards improving the lives of women.
Ms. Ilma Afroz, SP SDRF, highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment in today’s society and praised the government’s efforts towards the welfare of women. “Empowering women is not just about gender equality, but it’s about creating a better society as a whole,” quipped Ms. Afroz.
She also urged women to take advantage of the schemes to improve their socio-economic status. “These schemes provide women with an opportunity to not only better themselves but also their families and communities,” quipped Ms. Afroz.
Sh. Harshit Narang, Assistant Director, PIB Chandigarh, gave the welcome address and highlighted the role of women in media. He emphasized the need for women to be given equal opportunities and representation in the media.
Smt Sangeeta Joshi, Deputy Director, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, gave a presentation on the various women-centric government schemes. She highlighted how these schemes are empowering women and contributing to their socio-economic development across India. “These schemes are not just about women’s empowerment, but they are also about creating a more inclusive society,” quipped Sangeeta Joshi.
Nandini Mittal, Reshma Kashyap, Vandana Thakur, Archana Phull, Pooja Sharma, Bharti Sharma, Shivani Kapoor, Deepika Sharma and Poonam Bharadwaj were honoured for their outstanding contributions towards bringing out stories that matter.
Nandini Mittal has been a name in Shimla media for long. She currently works with Doordarshan News and has raised various pertinent women centric issues of the region over the years. Reshma Kashyap, who presently works in Daily Post News as Himachal Bureau, has covered many exclusive stories during the Covid period. Vandana Thakur, working with Punjab Kesari Group, has been raising women and child development issues for a long time. Archana Phull, a Special Correspondent and National Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Shimla for 11 years, has specialized in stories on women issues, social development, health, and environment. Bharti Sharma, a correspondent with Amar Ujala Shimla office, has been raising issues related to women and child development, literature, and youth. Shivani Kapoor’s work on women and related issues in Dainik Savera was also highlighted. Poonam Bharadwaj works with Dainik Bhaskar and has earlier worked with Dainik Jagran and Divya Himachal. Deepika Sharma, editor, Asar Media House is in journalism from last eighteen years and has worked in big newspapers like divya Himachal and Himachal Dastak. Sonia Sharma is working for Divya Himachal. Pooja Sharma is working with city channel and is prominently working for women in the area.
During the event, a few women from different self-help groups are also honoured for their extraordinary work. Additional director general is the media to pick up such positive stories so that they can be inspirations for others in the region.
The vote of thanks was given by Sukhchain Singh, Assistant Director, PIB Shimla. The media interaction was attended by various media persons and representatives from civil society. The government’s efforts towards the empowerment of women were well-received and appreciated by the media.
With the dissemination of information about these schemes, more women will be able to benefit from them, thereby contributing to the overall development of the country.
