Finance
The National Commission for Women (NCW), in partnership with the Odisha government, will host the first ‘Shakti Summit – State WCD Leadership Conclave’ in Bhubaneswar on September 1 and 3, bringing together senior officials from 25 states’ Women and Child Development departments.
The three-day conference will give an opportunity for states to share their experiences, identify implementation gaps, and promote Centre-State convergence on problems affecting women’s safety, protection, and empowerment.
The inaugural event will be attended by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, and NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar.
The summit, themed “समन्वय | संवाद | संकल्प | समाधान”, will deliberate on key issues including implementation and monitoring of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, strengthening of One Stop Centres, victim compensation mechanisms and the role of Protection Officers under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
The participants will also discuss measures to empower State Women Commissions and exchange best practices adopted by different states.
As part of the NCW’s engagement with the Odisha government, a specialized self-defense training effort called Mission Shakti has been implemented, with 5,000 women taught over the last six months in Khordha, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Balangir, and Puri districts.
300 women from Self-Help Groups will take part in the ‘Shakti Show’, a parade exhibiting self-defense skills, on September 2 at KIIT in Bhubaneswar.
The event will highlight the skills, confidence, and preparedness gained by women through the training program.
The summit will also include an Open Forum and an Action Resolution to facilitate inter-State discussions on standardizing standard operating procedures and boosting program implementation, such as the POSHAN Abhiyaan and the Free Child Marriage Abhiyaan.
The issues of lactation rooms and crèches, as well as strategies for dealing with acid assaults, will be examined.
The discussions are intended to conclude with the approval of a Joint Action Plan aimed at improving institutional responses to issues affecting women and children.
