LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, March 7: A webinar on ‘Entitlements and Empowerment: Women as leaders of Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Response’ to stressed upon the need of prioritizing and introducing preferential policy treatment for women, especially ensuring access to all the government schemes related to energy, water and agriculture.
SwitchOn Foundation had organized the webinar on the occasion of United National International Women’s Day in collaboration with the Jharkhand State Renewable Energy Department (JREDA). The theme of this year is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.
Those participating in the webinar included senior officials of the agriculture department besides experts from international foundations such as Shakti Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Selco Foundation and educators from IIT Bombay.
JREDA project director Bijay Kumar Sinha said there is a need for attitudinal change towards women and recognise their role.
“We as a department realize this and have ensured that women issues are an integral part of all programmes we roll out in the state. Women farmers in the state hold a majority of the workforce in the agriculture sector, yet they have limited access to their farm lands and less control of the farming goods and services. They also have negligible participation in decision-making, and are not involved in the distribution of environmental management benefits. As of today, 7 crore Indian women work in the agriculture sector and produce over 60-80% of the food – while only 13 % of the women have the rights over their assets. As per Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the agricultural yield would increase by 20-30% if women had the same resources as men,” Sinha said.
MNREGA commissioner and rural development department secretary Rajeshwari B (IAS) echoed the same saying “women are the backbone of building climate resilience and have the most important role in combating climate change.”
Project director of JSPLS Bipin Bihari underlined the importance of women farmers explaining how.
“Women farmers predominate in the world’s food production yet they have been found to be the most vulnerable. However despite their vulnerability, women are increasingly seen as active and effective agents and promoters of adaptation and mitigation,” he said.
SwitchON Foundation managing director expressed his pleasure over the attitude of state government of empowering women.
“We are extremely happy to work under the leadership of Jharkhand government’s transformative policy approach in promoting women empowerment while at the same time ensuring a climate resilient future for the state. Through our SEWA Network we want to create evidence from the ground in ensuring that the benefits from various sustainable development schemes reach the marginal women farmers of Jharkhand,” he said.
Explaining SEWA Network he said: “Having presence in three states of Jharkhand, WestBengal and Odisha – The SEWA network aims to build, nurture and strengthen the interlinkages between Energy Water and Agriculture while keeping women leadership and livelihood of the farmers in the centre. Currently there are about 10 active Civil Society Partners in Jharkhand. With a mission to Promote the use of solar water pumps along with micro irrigation technologies, Facilitate community driven water management and Introduce and encourage Climate Smart Agriculture.”
