Goa University to work for overall empowerment of women

PANJIM: The Goa University on Monday launched its established Goa State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) under the National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) to work for the holistic empowerment of women in the State across various sector, with special focus on rural areas. 

The Directorate of Women and Child Development had signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Women’s Studies-Goa University for setting up of SRCW with 60:40 bases funding from Central government and State. 

Speaking at the launch, Director of Women and Child Development Deepak Desai said the idea was mooted almost a year back after Union Ministry for Women and Child development approached State with the proposal. “SRCW will identify steps and take measures to improve effectiveness of government programmes and schemes which are drafting for empowerment of women,” he said. 

Desai said that SRCW will have to also guide and provide suggestion as and when required on important policy decision with regards to women upliftment. Five members committee under State Project Coordinator Asawari Nayak is already put in place. 

Goa University Vice Chancellor Varun Sahani stressed on the need to identify solutions for absence  of women in taking over power and authority. “There are not many women in public life. Creating participation of women in public life is very critical and that is the challenge that SRCW has to take lead in,” he said. 

Working out policies, their implementation and monitoring, mobilizing women, specially throse from deprived marginal section, imparting education and training, etc, are the other key areas that needs to be focused, he said. 

Earlier speaking, Head of Department of Women’s Studies Shaila D’Souza said that SRCW will provide systematic support to the State government to enable effective implementation of women-centric programmes, schemes and laws by enabling coordination between experts, organizations and stakeholders working with the State.