India Today Woman Summit 2018: Kiran Maheshwari, Jyoti Kiran on steps taken by Rajasthan govt to empower women
During the first session of India Today Woman Summit 2018 Dr Jyoti Kiran, Chairperson, Rajasthan Finance Commission and Kiran Maheshwari, Cabinet Minister for Higher, Technical & Sanskrit Education Department, Rajasthan discussed the initiatives the Rajasthan government has taken to empower women in the state.
"Our CM Vasundhara Raje recognised the importance of education in empowering women. The first thing she did was Rajshri Yojana, etc. Today, there is a clear-cut shift in policy. Now there are women-centric policies as opposed to earlier. There is a clear policy intervention which is bringing improvements, though there are obstacles. It ensures than sirif beti bachegi ya padhai nahi jaayegi but we'll take care of her for a lifetime," said Dr Jyoti Kiran (Photo: India Today Group/ Rajwant Rawat)
Talking about representation of women in Indian politics, Kiran Maheshwari said, "If we compare ourselves to other countries, India is a country where women have been in politics for a long time. Whether it's the Parliament or Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. In Rajasthan, women have held positions in the government since 1953. We were the first state where women were appointed as chairpersons of councils. 33 per cent of the posts of sarpanchs and pradhans in the state are held by women now." (Photo: India Today Group/ Rajwant Rawat)
Speaking on whether India is a feminist society, Dr Jyoti Kiran said that India is a not a feminist society but a familist one. "Who could imagine women would head a family? It's a structural issues that's there in other countries. But yes, societal structures are unique in each state so it will take time to deconstruct them... Educated women are now being appointed as the sarpanch, because CM Raje has ensured that whoever fights the election should have at least completed his or her class," said Dr Jyoti Kiran. (Photo: India Today Group/ Rajwant Rawat)