Renuka Chowdhury Inaugurates Virtual Congress of Mahila Kissan and Children's Science Congress.

Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, Union Minister of State(Independent Charge) for Women and Child Development has said that Information Technology has helped bridge the gap between urban and rural areas. Speaking at the inaugural of the First National Virtual Congress of "MAHILA KISAN" at the ongoing Indian Science Congress here today, she said that women farmers who are attending to the dual chores of farming and cattle rearing besides looking after the household duties need to be provided with the Pattas for the land on which they depend.

The first virtual conference brought together women farmers in arid, semi-arid, coastal, hill and irrigated areas for a discussion on both the opportunities and constraints facing women in agriculture.

The Minister said that due to lack of joint pattas, women farmers are not able to get institutional credit and Kisan credit cards as the lending agencies are yet to become adequately gender sensitive. She acknowledged the demand for a policy favouring the women folk in the villages.

The virtual conference was organized with women farmers coordinated through the local Village Resource Centres spread across seven places from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.It has highlighted to the scientific community the urgent need for attending to the technological and sociological needs of women farmers which are mostly male-centric till now.

During the interaction the women farmers put forth various demands including medical and risk allowances, post harvest technology, community godowns, threshing floors and water harvesting facilities.

Smt. Renuka Chowdhury also inaugurated the Children's Science Congress. The Exhibition has been organized as a part of the event showcasing the projects of winners from state and national level competitions.

Later Dr. M.S. Swaminathan gave away cash awards and certificates of merit to fourteen ISCA Young Scientist Awardees and released Prof. B.P. Pal Commemoratory Stamp on the occasion.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : January 05, 2008