With their own efforts and initiatives, the elected women representatives in reserved seats in the local government institutions (LGIs) should attain political empowerment for building their working capacity, speakers at a discussion said.
They should also obtain necessary capacity of strengthening their decision-making activities for eliminating all sorts of discrimination against the womenfolk by empowering them with the ability of equal partners in development.
They were addressing the inaugural session of a daylong workshop styled “Capacity Building and Empowerment of Elected Women in LGIs” held in the city today.
Empowerment of Women” organised the workshop at its regional office conference hall, where some women public representatives, UP secretaries and others concerned attended.
With Talanda UP Member Khaleda Begum in the chair, Tanore Upazila Vice-chairman Bondona Rani Pramanik addressed the session as chief guest. UP Members Sharifa Naznin and Kajal Rekha and Prip Trust Regional Manager Saiduzzaman Sipon also spoke.
The speakers said the women public representatives should be aware about policy and politics particularly in the area of governance so that they can contribute to making local government and local service provision more responsive especially to the needs of women.
Saiduzzaman Sipon said main thrust of the programme is to build confidence, knowledge and capacity of elected women representatives and encourage network of mutual support so that they can fulfill their obligations to their voters.
He said capacity building is part of a greater movement of the civil society for creating space for people’s participation for ensuring good governance.
The women representatives should have equal opportunity to participate in decision-making and accepted as full-time UP workers not as token women so that they can work for welfare of the community like alternative dispute resolution independently.
Overall development of the community couldn’t be possible until the womenfolk especially the elected ones are empowered politically and socially.
Taking part in the open discussion, the elected women representatives described their grim picture as to how they are treated at working places by their male colleagues and others concerned. -BSS, Rajshahi
