ASSOCHAM Women Foundation (AWF) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) will be signing ‘A Letter of Intent’ to promote education and skilling amongst women and girls in country, said Ms. Revati Jain, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM Women Foundation on the occasion of International Women’s Day at New Delhi. Ms. Jain further said that agreement with the HRD ministry, under the aegis of National Literacy Mission is a first step. Over the course of the next 12 months we will be running a range of programs to support this partnership for upskilling our women work force.
Further, the ASSOCHAM Women Foundation (AWF) will be running initiatives under its “eight-fold pillar approach”. These eight pillars which include creating livelihood, promoting financial literacy, spreading digital literacy, offering legal aid, simplifying existing laws and government policies, providing access to preventive healthcare, supporting women education, initiating sustainable development efforts for a cleaner India are focused themes for promoting women empowerment across the country across the country.
“In addition, we would also focus on imparting skilling activities through Adult Education Centres; promote non-monetary corporate donations under ‘i-share’ format to focus on donating appliances and technology equipment to further digital literacy”, said Ms. Jain.
To advance women & workplace bias sensitization, ASSOCHAM Women Foundation has also started a campaign “Pledge for Parity”. This is a unique and necessary pledge that will be digitally circulated and signed by the ASSOCHAM 4.5 lakhs, direct and indirect affiliate companies. Over the year we will be holding diverse and inclusive workshops that sensitises corporate about the legal and policy initiatives that safeguard women in corporate India.
In addition, special focus on education will be made under mentorship programs for women in the primary to adult age bracket under the ‘Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan’ of the National Literacy Mission program. ASSOCHAM Women Foundation will also have a dedicated special wing or a ‘Women’s Development Cell’ embedded within ASSOCHAM itself.
Ms. Preeti Sinha, Co-Chairperson, ASSOCHAM Women Foundation said, In India the participation of women in organized workforce is only 22.5%. However, in unorganized sector, scores of women are working as in household as cleaners, and in construction as workers. If we do not empower these women with education & skills and bring them into the formal organized sector of livelihood opportunities, we will not be also to create the desired economic security for women that we wish to achieve.
Ms. Sinha further said, Women are very vulnerable to social exclusion; while experiencing civil justice problems are excluded from the prevention and resolution of these in a complex social system. Therefore, sound legal aid is a key to tackling theses social exclusions. Legal aid means to empower women by facilitating their access to legal rights by the way of legal representation, counseling and legal education.
The Associated chamber of commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and EY (Ernst & Young) has carried out the paper on “A Pledge for Parity” which is circulated to ASSOCHAM 4.5 lakhs direct and indirect members. It is also uploaded on the ASSOCHAM Women Foundation Website.
Others who also spoke during the conference were H. E. Ms. Melba Pria Ambassador, Embassy of Mexico and Ms. Vandana K. Singh, Co-Chairperson, ASSOCHAM Women Foundation.