Date:22/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122254700500.htm

Other States - Rajasthan

Workshop to examine status of women’s empowerment

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: A three-day State-level workshop on “Women’s political empowerment and leadership” – beginning here on December 22 – will examine the status of women in the projects such as National Rural Health Mission and Total Sanitation Campaign, provisions in the Domestic Violence Act and women’s role in the Budget formulation.

The Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) is organising the workshop as part of its project for empowerment of women who are taking up leadership roles in their respective local communities. The project is presently being run in Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana.

PRIA’s acting coordinator for Rajasthan, Amar Anand, said here on Saturday that the workshop would analyse the project’s progress in the State and help devise a strategy for effective participation of women in local governance structures, such as village panchayats, municipalities and urban local bodies.

Mr. Anand said the PRIA had selected some women’s groups in Jaipur and Jhunjhunu districts and was actively working for their capacity enhancement.

The participants in the workshop will discuss the gender issues, women’s interaction with the media and women’s role in public life.