358/2022-2023

Lunglei the 8th March, 2023 - NABARD observed the International Women's Day 2023, with the theme “"DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality", to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women's empowerment in Lunglei District. As a part of the celebration, a “One Day Exhibition/ Mela for SHGs” is organized in the Art & Culture Auditorium, Lunglei. Pi Ramdinliani, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei District graced the event as Chief Guest and inaugurated the International Women’s Day 2023 cum One Day Exhibition/ Mela for SHGs at the Art & Culture Auditorium, Lunglei.

Pi Ramdinliani, thanked NABARD for organizing the International Women’s Day, which she said has become a mainstream global event following its adoption by the United Nations in 1977. She said that status of women, in the family and society, has come a long way and improved a lot in the Mizo Society. Even as there are areas and domains where we experience gender equality, she said that there are other aspects of women empowerment, especially economic empowerment, where much need to be improved. Speaking on the day’s theme “"DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality", she encouraged all to adopt digital technology for gender equality and women empowerment. While inaugurating the “One Day Exhibition for SHGs”, she thanked the SHGs for coming out with their own products and requested the public to support the entrepreneurship and local products of SHG.

Pu Evan T Munsong, District Development Manager (DDM), NABARD, in his keynote address, gave a brief background of International Women’s Day as well as NABARD’s role in women empowerment. He also said that the International Women’s Day cum One Day Exhibition/ Mela for SHGs is organized to create a suitable platform for the SHGs to provide them exposure and contacts with customers and bulk buyers, and also earn income through sale of their products.

During the inaugural function, Pi Lalremsangi, Lead District Manager (LDM), Lunglei highlighted on the impact of SHG Movement and importance of SHG-Bank Linkage in income generation and livelihood development for the women. Dr. Lalhruaitluangi Chhangte, District Programme Officer (DPO), Women & Child Development Department, Lunglei also spoke on the role of women in the society, about Pradhan Mantry Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and 24x7 help line “181” for women.

In the one day exhibition-cum-sale of products produced by the members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), 22 stalls have been set up SHGs, which drew a huge crowd visiting the stalls and buying the products of SHGs. The exhibition, organized by NABARD in collaboration with World Vision India (WVI), has showcased a wide range of handlooms, Mizo Puan, handicraft, tribal ornaments, artefacts, fruits & vegetables pickles, fruit candies, bakery products, fashion and beauty articles, and other products of SHGs. There was also display and sale of “MY Pad My Right” Sanitary Pads, produced by SHGs with support of NABARD FOUNDATION. In line with the theme of DIGITALL, some of the SHG stalls are using Unified Payments Interface (UPI) enabled payment Apps/ QR Code in their transactions for convenience of buyers. “The event is expected to create awareness of the SHGs’ activities and products in the district and beyond” said the DDM of NABARD.