FICCCI FLO webinar with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat: Inclusive Growth for Transforming India
New Delhi: FLO, the Women Wing of FICCI organised a Webinar with Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Govt of India on Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 4 pm. The session was on a very pertinent topic – ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat- Inclusive Growth for Transforming India’.
On May 12, 2020 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in his 5th Address to the nation since the lockdown, announced ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’. This is the need for the hour and as a business chamber working towards the goal of inclusive growth, our focus is on the role of women in reviving the economy and making India self-reliant.
To take this discussion forward, FLO invited Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, who is heading two important Ministries in Government of India to share his inputs. While speaking at the session, Shri Pradhan said, “Due to the Ujjwala Scheme 15 lakh womens life has been saved. In the trying times of corona, the LPG for these women is a big boon, as the government is supplying them free cylinders for 3 months along with rebate for months of April, May and June”
Shri. Pradhan proposed that women need to participate and promote organized discard and aggregation of used cooking oil from kitchens across the country, which could add a major boost in the government’s initiative of converting waste to fuel and promote healthy eating in Indian homes at the same time
And in the times of New Normal, bridging the digital divide can be achieved with internet and smart phones as the ultimate tool to enhance digital skilling and entrepreneurship amongst women from all sections of society
He also mentioned that even though a lot of schemes have been introduced, these are not solutions to the issues being faced today, new mechanisms, new businesses, new ways of working and living have to be looked at. Due to the improvement in technology , smart phones and Internet play a major role in the economy now. Due to technological advances there will be exponential growth in the economy, especially for women as the gender bias has no value here.
With more women working and their incomes going in their bank accounts, the spending will also be smart and in accordance to growth of family and not mindless.
1. As per Presidents discussion with Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, he put forward 2 business proposals-
a) Women working in the PNG sector: for supplier,bill, connection, safety, maintenance, aggregator and entrepreneur sectors
b) Making alternate energy fuel with household waste and used cooking oil.”
Jahnabi Phookan, President FLO said, “ Stepping into the new decade of 2020’s, my thoughts were of Sustainability and to focus on Sustainable Livelihood for women’s economic upliftment. For an Amanirbhar Bharaat, it is important to take the women along. Only by ensuring sustainable livelihood, we can lead women to her empowerment.”
Ms Dharitri Patnaik, Chapter Chairperson , FLO Bhubaneshwar was the Day Chair of the event mentioned that with the construction and infrastructed industry’s demand for steel has gone down due to the lockdown but steel prices are still high. Also she requetsed the Honorable Minister to have policies to handle the recession and slump in the steel and infrstructure indutries.
The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Sr. Vice President of FLO, Mrs. Ujjwala Singhania.