Empowerment of Girls Vital for Nation’s Progress: Governor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan today said that empowerment of girls is essential to ensure India’s progress at all levels.

“I feel that empowerment of girls and care for women are manifestations of our respect for womanhood. It’s an ideal that elevates a society to higher levels of social welfare. The divine are extremely happy when women are respected; where they are not, all actions are fruitless,” Khan said.

The Governor was speaking after inaugurating the valedictory function of the year-long centenary celebrations of SMSS Hindu Mahila Mandiram, one of Kerala’s pioneering women’s welfare and empowerment institutions, here on Monday.

“What we see in the work of Mahila Mandiram is the divine shade of human kindness. Inspired by the vision that emancipation of women was essential to human progress and transformation of society, Mahila Mandiram has always envisaged the ‘complete woman’ as an integral part of a developing society,” the Governor noted.

Khan also lauded that Kerala is a society where extreme care has been given to the uncared people.

“The success of Mahila Mandiram and its institutions is certainly an inspiring story of women, who decided to step out of their homes to provide relief to society. It is also a fine example in nation building and an inspiration for women to contribute to society,” he added.

Khan presented the Centenary Award to Selvi K, a differently abled person, who was a resident of the institution for 18 years. During her stay at Mahila Mandiram, she pursued her studies and also picked up various skills like stitching, embroidery and book binding. Now she lives in Tamil Nadu as a self-reliant person.

The Governor also released a souvenir and launched Mahima Unit of the institution at the function at Tagore Theatre here.

K.K. Shailaja, Minister for Health and Social Justice, who presided over the function, said that it was important for each woman to become an earning member of her family. “Since scarcity of funds is a problem, the uplift of the struggling sections is possible with the help of using CSR funds of various institutions,” she said.

O. Rajagopal, MLA, Nemom, in his keynote address, said the society needs more institutions that have ideas for the welfare and empowerment of women. Princess Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi; and K.Y. Radhalakshmi, President, Mahila Mandiram, also spoke. A documentary on Mahila Mandiram was screened at the function.

M. Sreekumari, Secretary, Mahila Mandiram, welcomed the gathering while Meena Ramesh, Joint Secretary, proposed a vote of thanks. As part of the valedictory event, various cultural programmes by the residents of the institution were staged.

The charitable organization was founded by K. Chinnamma with the aim of educating, empowering and rehabilitating girls from less privileged backgrounds, irrespective of religion or caste. She had immensely contributed to the field of education, especially for girls’ education in the erstwhile state of Travancore in particular and Kerala in general.