The Celebration of ‘Joy of Empowerment’
The term ‘empowerment’ has a deep meaning attached to it. It is associated with adjectives which include self-reliance, confidence, courage, knowledge and the ability to live life on one’s own terms.
The Indian society being essentially a patriarchal society has always felt the need for empowering its women. From Purdah to achieving a 50% of decision making charge in local Panchayats, the women in our country have come a long way. A pioneer in the women’s movement in India, the Guild too has come a long way in empowering women and instilling a sense of self reliance in them.
It was indeed a red letter day for the Guild to have celebrated the National Integration and Empowerment Day on the 21st of November 2009 and to look back at the four decades of dedicated service and its achievements in the span.
A bright sunny morning, it seemed as if the Gods were showering their blessings on us. The Guild was buzzing with activity and gearing up for the marriage ceremony of 20 couples being tied in holy matrimony.
Our’s is a secular, sovereign and democratic country. But we have some political and religious leader dividing our society on various grounds like culture, religion etc. The Moral policing incidents in Bangalore and Mangalore could be seen as an example of this. The Guild has been working towards bringing our society together and one such step is the inter-religious and inter-caste marriages, widow remarriages organized by the Guild family.
The group marriages were facilitated by the Guild on the day of the celebration of ‘Joy of empowerment’ for those belonging to the low economic background and few seeking help from us as they feared the reactions of their families and the khap Panchayats. This is an initiative taken by Guild towards ‘dishonorable killings’ and to protect the violation of human right to choose one’s partner regardless of caste and religious considerations. It helps to bring the two different religious and cultural communities together. Two widows were also remarried on the day of the celebration.
The couples were later blessed by Dr.Kiran Walia, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family welfare. All the couples were handed over their marriage certificates. The Guild also provided them with necessities to start a home of their own.
After the wedding ceremony was over, the celebration for the day began. It was a day of nostalgia for the Guild to look back at its decades of dedicated services and the many success stories that have emerged from it.
The event began with a welcome of our Hon’ble Chief Guest Smt. Krishna Tirath, Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Development. It is a great honor for the Guild to have been kindly obliged by her and the support she has rendered by being their in person and joining the Guild’s celebration. Smt. Tirath inaugurated the celebration by releasing a white dove to fly away into the blue open skies towards the freedom.
Dr. Mohini Giri addressed the gathering with a warm welcome and requested Smt. Tirath to present the ‘National Priyadarshini Samman’ to our eminent guests. Ours is a society where the images of the Goddess and the helpless woman have existed alongside from time immemorial. There are many of women in our country that have attempted to tide over all constraints and difficulties to rise to a level and make a mark for themselves. These are women who have become epitomes of empowerment for the many women of our country to follow!
The Guild takes it as an honor to have the privilege of honoring the work and achievements of few such women of our country. Each eminent woman that joined the Guild on the day had an encouraging story behind her success that gave a sense of hope and is a source of encouragement for many women.
Thirteen eminent women were presented the ‘National Priyadarshini Samman’ for the confidence and the dedication each has shown in their respective fields. The eminent women were:
- Justice Leila Seth
- Ms.Vidyaben Shah
- Ms.Vimla Mahajan
- Ms.Uma Sharma
- Ms. Sushma Seth
- Ms.Raminder Kaur
- Dr.Kapila Vatsayan
- Ms.Mohsina Kidwai
- Ms.Shanta Serbjeet Singh
- Ms.Bapsi Nariman
- Dr.Urmil Sharma
- Ms.Savitri Khanna
- Ms.Shehnaz Hussain
There were encouraging messages shared by the eminent women which reflected on the fact that each and every woman is capable of achieving something in life that can mark her presence in the society. Each woman needs to identify her passion and work towards it with confidence and dedication.
On the day of celebration the Guild also recognized the great hard work and dedicated services rendered by its members since decades to make Guild of Service achieve all that it has achieved today. The members of the Guild were presented ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for rendering their continual non-exhaustible services. They were:
- Ms.Shyama Agarwal
- Mrs Diana Khambatta
The Guild for Service also appreciated the dedicated commitment of those members who have been associated with the Guild for a long period of time. They have been a great source of support for the success of the Guild. They were presented ‘Certificate of Recognition’ for putting in their endless efforts.
- Mrs.Kalpana Bhongle
- Mr.Ramveer Singh
The messages received from the Ministries were read out on the day of celebration in relation to the nature of work the Guild has been doing since decades and the achievements it has achieved. These messages were the token of appreciation and a source for encouragement for the entire Guild family and for those associated with the Guild for Service.
Messages
I am happy to learn that the Guild for Service is celebrating National Integration and Empowerment day for women to commemorate the Birth anniversary of Smt.Indira Gandhi.
Social work is a noble cause. It gives me immense pleasure to know that the Guild for Service is providing help and support to marginalized women and children and also arranges vocational training for women to make them self-sufficient.
I extend my greetings and felicitation to all those associated with the organization and wish the endeavors every success.
Smt.Pratibha Patil. (President of India)
Though the principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution, gender disparity manifests itself in various forms both at the domestic and societal level. Discrimination against girl children and women persists in the field of education, health and development.
I appreciate the initiatives of the Guild for service for the empowerment of marginalized women and children and wish the National Integration and Empowerment Day celebration.
M.Hamid Ansari (Vice-President)
The Prime Minister is glad to know that Guild for Service, a national voluntary organization is celebrating National integration and Empowerment day for women.
On this occasion the prime Minister extends his greetings and good wishes to all those associated with the organization and wishes it all success.
Shri Manmohan Singh (Prime Minister)
It gives me immense pleasyre to know that the Guiold for Service is celebrating National Integration and Empowerment day for women.It gives me added pleasure to know that 20 couples with financial difficultieswill be tied knot on this occasion.
I a sure that guild For ervice is striving hard to empower women in different fiels. I do hope that the celebration would go a long way in acheivin its aims and objectives.
Delhi Government is alos striving hard to provide possible assistance for empowering women. Its “Stree Shakti” Programme has been commended by one and all.
Smt.Sheila Dixit (Chief Minister)
For three decades, the Guild for service has been doing laudable work for the empowerment of women, inspired by Smt Indira Gandhi to dedicate themselves to a cause that was especially close to her heart. It is a fitting tribute to Indiraji’s memory that the Guild celebrates its annual function on her birthday.
With increasing life-expectancy, with social changes that result in many senior citizens living alone, there is a growing need for trained care-givers for the elderly. At the same time, such training provides a very fulfilling source of employment and economic empowerment for many women. I congratulate the Guild for Service for their initiative in launching this programme, and wish them every success in their future endeavors to empower women and bring about social reform.
Sonia Gandhi (President, United Progressive alliances)
"I am happy to know that the Guild for Service is conferring the “Priyadarshini Samman” on eminent women senior citizens who have made significant contribution in their respective fields. The further development of our society can only take place when we empower each and every woman in all respects, be they economic, social or poitical. These accomplished ladies who are being felicitated by this award are role models for other women.
I wish the Guild for Service success in the work they are doing for the empowerment of marginalized women."
Gurusharan Kaur
It is because of the support and the blessings of all, the Guild has been able to achieve its goals and objectives. Even if the change occurs at the slow pace but the spread effect of its success gives it a boost and reaches everyone in need.
On the day of celebration the Care-Giver’s programme was launched by Smt Kiran Walia by lighting a lamp with the realization that large number of elderly and orphaned children are living without any care. The programme is launched to train single/ widowed women to become efficient care givers and house mothers in orphanages. The training period is for two months. Once trained these women shall be placed as care givers with earnings of at least Rs.4000 per month. This would also promote a sense of professionalism in these women and empower them economically for life. This would provide a source of livelihood to them and ensure a sustainable standard of living.
The day also included the brief presentation on inter-caste marriages and honor killings and widows of conflict. Also, a short street play on empowerment was presented by the women. It was a source of platform provided to these women for sharing the message of empowerment in their own way.
Thus, the day was celebrated as an ‘empowerment day’ where many women could sense the feeling of being empowered by the messages conveyed by various eminent women present. Though it is difficult to bring a spontaneous change in society but one believes that even a small change can act as an agent of reformation for the society.
Dr. Giri shared her heartfelt thank to everyone for making the accomplishment of the ‘Joy of Empowerment’ day a huge success.
"It was because of the efforts of Guild family and everyone associated with the Guild for service that the whole event was a great success."
Dr.V.Mohini.Giri.