The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee,
today stressed the need to strengthen the partnership between
the Government and the Non-Governmental Organisations to achieve
the social goals. Speaking at the Valedictory Function of the
Golden Jubilee Week of the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB),
here, Shri Vajpayee said Governmental efforts alone cannot bear
fruit. Commending the efforts of the Board in creating an awareness
about social issues and the need of the society’s involvement,
the Prime Minister said that though much has been done, still
a lot remains to be fulfilled.
Speaking about Government efforts in securing
a better place for women in the society as well as for the children
especially the handicapped, Shri Vajpayee said the voluntary organisations
have a greater role to play in a vast society like ours. He also
spoke of shortcomings at the bureaucratic level and in the NGOs.
The NGOs which are trying to make money in the name of societal
service must be curbed. He urged the Social Welfare Board to create
greater awareness in the society about the evils like dowry, female
foeticide, atrocities against women etc.
The Prime Minister gave away the Dr. Durgabhai
Deshmukh Award to Mahila Mandal, Udaipur. This Award is given
away every year to a voluntary organisation that has done exemplary
work in the area of women’s upliftment/empowerment. It carries
a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, a momento and a shawl.
The Prime Minister released a Commemorative
Document of the Golden Jubilee year. Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi,
Union Minister for Human Resource Development released a special
issue of the CSWB magazine. Shri K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman, Planning
Commission released the Pehchan Parv State Directories that have
been brought out by the Board. A poster to commemorate the celebrations
was released by Smt. Jaskaur Meena, Minister of State for the
Department of Women and Child Development (WCD).
Reiterating the Government’s resolve to encourage
the NGO’s participation in solving the social problems, the Minister
of Human Resource Development and Science & Technology, Dr.
Murli Manohar Joshi said that the activities of the Board have
gained momentum over the years in fulfilling the desired goals.
It has been successful in creating awareness about the social
evils and the need to free the society from its clutches. He said
that while encouraging the voluntary organisations in this task,
the Government will not permit any commercialisation in this sphere
of activities.
Speaking about Government efforts to strengthen
empowerment of women, Dr. Joshi said the marketability of the
products of the Central Social Welfare Board would be enhanced
taking into account the recommendations of the expert committee.
He said women, the weak and the children must get full opportunities
to establish themselves as equal citizens of the society.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Jaskaur Meena
underlined the need to empower women, especially at the grassroot
level. Women need to take greater initiative towards helping other
women. She also congratulated Mahila Mandal, Udaipur on their
receiving the Award.
