Report on

International Womens Day Celebration 29 March 2012

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International Women's Day Celebration and A Seminar of Self-Help Groups under Sunhara Walmart Project
Date: 29th March, 2012 Place: New Mandi Campus, Hapur (U.P.)

Fight off the feeling of helplessness. You are a woman, You have the power to create, nurture, and mold. Your voice may be soft, but it carries a sense of purpose. Your shoulders may be delicate, but they can carry the burden of a family with ease

International Women's Day

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women. This is first IWD event organized by Sunhara Walmart Project in Hapur area of Ghaziabad district.

International Womens day celebration dates back to 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. This was a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. Women's oppression and discrimination was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Women continued to celebrate this event till 1975 when this day was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organizations and governments around the world observe International Womens Day on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honor women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life. The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine

and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

Sunhara Walmart Project As women are the nucleus of rural family units, addressing their socio-economic issues is imperative to the development of the family. Thus, the overarching goal of the Sunhara-Walmart project is to shift current formal and informal trends between women and various community and marketing actors, which will ultimately be reflected in increase of the household incomes due to women managed enterprise and livelihood activities. The project is targeting 1,000 small, marginal and landless households, with focus on three specific and interlinked objectives: (1) Farmer Outreach will improve farmer production practices and ability to respond to specific product and market demands (2) Business Linkages will develop more efficient and profitable relationships with potential buyers (with focus on a variety of distribution channels) and other market actors (3) Women of Substance will attempt to address gender inequality in income distribution by facilitating better access to information, finance and technology to create alternative sources of income for woman. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and Laxmi Jan Kalyan Sewa Sansthan are partner of ASI in Sunhara Walmart Project, Ghaziabad for community mobilization and social development. A federation of self-help groups has been formed in Hapur which name is "Mahila Kisan Vikas Sansthan" This producer group is a federation of 8 village level federation of project area which is registered under 1860 society Act. The producer group is comprised of 868 women SHG members. This institution has been created for conducting business with retail chains and big buyers under the umbrella of SUNHARA WALMART Project. The turnover of last four months of the federation is more than 20 lacs and has 868 members under its ambit.

The Programme Objective Keeping in view the overall goal of empowering women, Sunhara Walmart Project wants to provide a common day for recognizing and applauding womens achievements as well as for observing and highlighting gender inequalities and issues. But not just for a single day, but all year round, organization individuals works tirelessly to support gender equality through a multitude of initiatives, causes and actions. Project had planned to gather 1200 SHG members being promoted with the support of NABARD for celebrating womens day on 29th of March 2012 in Hapur. The objective behind organizing the event is as follows: 1. Orientation of Women SHG members on their rights and entitlements. 2. Provide a common platform for recognizing and encouraging for their achievements. 3. Developing a sense of confidence and empowerment among the groups.

Event Detail

Venue: New Mandi Campus, Hapur (U. P.) S.N. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Time 11:00 am - 11:30 am 11:30 am 11:30 am - 11:40 am 11:40 am - 12:15 pm 12:15 pm - 12:30 pm 12:30 pm - 01:00 pm 01:00 pm - 02:30 pm 02:30 pm - 02:45 pm 02:45 pm - 03:30 pm Events

Gathering: 1187 members

Puppet Show & Magic Show Inauguration of the event by Mr. V. K. Gupta, DGM Syndicate Bank Welcome Song Welcome of dignitaries Project Summary by Mr. Amit Kumar Singh One Act Play on Banking Practices Songs and Plays presented by women SHGs Address by Chief Guest Mr. V. K. Gupta Address by our special guest - Mr. Jitendra Tomar, DDA Ghaziabad - Mr. Arvind Mukherjee, DDM Ghaziabad - Mr. A. K. Singh, Director RUDSETI - Mr. D. K. Sharma, GM Sarv UP Gramin Bank - Mr. Gajendra Tomar, Khadi Gramodyog - Mrs. Lindse John, Global Gender Advisor, ASI

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03:30 pm - 03:45 pm 03:45 pm - 04:00 pm

Visit to stalls by dignitaries Vote of thanks

The Programme

The International Women's Day was organized by Agri-business System International ,NABARD and Laxmi Jan Kalyan Sewa Sansthan under Sunhara Walmart Project. The programme was scheduled on 8th March, 2012, but due to Holi festival the programme was postponed to 29th March, 2012. All self-help group members and dignitaries of district administration were invited for this celebration. The SHG members presented their thought and action through plays, songs and dances. On 29th March, 2012 the function started at 11 O'clock . Mr. V. K. Gupta, Deputy General Manager of Syndicate Bank, Regional Office Ghaziabad was the chief guest of the ceremony. A puppet show and a magic show was organized on the need of Self-help group and their unity. A strong massage was conveyed on social evils and its way out. It also explained some SHG related schemes of government. Programme started with floral welcome of dignitaries, farmers and some staffs followed by a famous prayer itni Shakti Hame Dena Data by Mrs. Neelam Tyagi and Mrs. Savita Dubey and her team. Mrs. Savita Dubey, moderator for the event enlightened the progamme with beautiful quotations and made the progamme very lively.

Mr. Amit Kumar Singh, Programme Manager, ASI gave an introductory speech on the ongoing project, its objective and rationale behind celebrating how Womens Day. He said that the theme of the ceremony is dedicated to Empower Rural Women. He also explained how NABARD helped in grounding the project in a very short period of time and their cooperation throughout. Mr. V. K. Gupta, Chief Guest of the event gave a very encouraging Speech on this day. He appraised the union of women established in the Hapur. He said that if women are aware about their own betterment then the revolution is ensured which would benefit the entire family, society and nation as a whole. Mr. Jitendra Tomar, Deputy DirectorAgriculture gave a very apt talk on day to day problems and hurdles that a woman face in her routine life and ways to manage those problems. He humorously gave very nice tips on how a woman can enjoy her life despite of her busy schedule. He insisted on use of new technologies to reduce their hurdles and increase the profit through agricultural activities. Mr. Dinesh K. Sharma, General Manager, Sarv U. P. Gramin Bank appreciated the programme and gathering. He inform about some schemes and promise for full-support from the bank. He gave focus on the importance of equal access to education, training and science and technology as crucial pathway to provide women with decent work opportunities. Mr. Arvind Mukerjee, District

Development Manager, NABARD gave a simplified and very informative lecture on the federation and their activities apart from sustainability issues of the federation "Mahila Kisan Vikas Sansthan". He also highlighted the need of numerous economic activities for benefit of the federation.

Dr. A. K. Singh, Director from RUDSETI gave a very encouraging lecture and said women have to be aware for their development and empowerment. According to him Sunhara Walmart Project could achieve outstanding results in such a short span of time due to awareness among the women farmers and their SHGs on their rights and entitlements. Mr. Gajendra Tomar, Khadi Gram Udyog Vibhag gave a simplified and informative lecture on their schemes. He told that if women would want to start their own business then they would provide financial and training support from the department. The department provides women with opportunities to become entrepreneurs and access decent work. Department enables them to move out of informal and precarious job markets. It improves access to credit, product and market information, technology and training in management skills and enterprise development. Ms. Lindse John, Global Gender Advisor was glad to see the strength of women in the programme. She said "I am very happy to attend this programme and thanks to all members for participating in this programme." Lastly Mrs. Neelam Tyagi, Secretary of Laxmi Jan Kalyan Sewa Sansthan, gave vote of thanks. She thanked all the speakers who accepted the invitation and provided their valuable guidance. She remarked that as and when the women federation becomes sustainable in the area, it will work for the overall development of the rural women. Mrs. Tyagi also thanked to the organizations participated in the programme Moserbaer, SUNDESH, Pest Control of India, Action India, Mahila Gram Udyog Sansthan. Although this progamme was organized in a short time, the content and gathering was very much appreciated by all the attending members and such a progamme gives a sense of belonging to Sunhara Project. SHG members also displayed their product in the stalls being provided to them with the support of NABARD. SUNDESH NGO provide kits of DABUR products for women.

WELCOME SONG

WELCOME OF DIGNITARIES

ROLE PLAY, DANCE AND SONGS PRESENTED BY SHG WOMEN

SPEAKERS

STALLS

In News