Gangtok:8th March: Former CM PK Chamling has wished women on IWD . He has saidO’ On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all women in Sikkim and across the world.’
‘Women are the pillars of our families, communities, and society. Their strength, resilience, compassion, and leadership shape the progress of our state and our nation.’
‘This year’s theme — “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” — reminds us that the journey toward gender equality must go beyond words and celebrations. It calls for concrete action to ensure that every woman and girl can fully enjoy her rights, access justice, and live with dignity and opportunity.’
‘The Sikkim Democratic Front party has always believed that true development is impossible without the empowerment of women. The SDF government introduced several pioneering initiatives to strengthen the rights, education, and participation of women in society.’
‘From the Prerna Yojana, which encouraged the girl child to pursue education by providing scholarships to meritorious girl students, to the Small Family Scheme, initiated as an incentive to encourage the education of the girl child and delay early marriage, the SDF government implemented many schemes to support and uplift women.’
‘Most importantly, we implemented policies to level the playing field for women in the public sphere. Sikkim became one of the first states in India to implement 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj in 2011. Through the Sikkim Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, women were given 50% reservation in local governance, strengthening their participation in decision-making. Alongside this, 33% reservation for women in government jobs and higher education expanded opportunities and representation.’
‘The Sikkim State Commission for Women (2001) was constituted as a statutory body under the State Commission for Women Act to protect women’s rights, address domestic violence, and ensure justice for women. The Sikkim Succession Act, 2008 further strengthened women’s rights by ensuring that sons and daughters have equal rights to inherit their father’s property.’
‘These initiatives, among the countless others implemented during the SDF government, reflect a vision of a just and progressive Sikkim where women are empowered, respected, and given equal opportunities to thrive.’
‘As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let us continue striving towards a society where every woman and girl can live with dignity, security, and the freedom to achieve her dreams .Happy International Women’s Day.’
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