Self-help groups to arm women against economic slowdown: Tirath

India is strengthening its self-help groups to involve women in income generating work to arm them against the impact of economic meltdown, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said.

India is strengthening its self-help groups to involve women in income generating work to arm them against the impact of economic meltdown, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said.

HT Image

Addressing the plenary session of the third East Asia Gender Equality Ministerial Meeting at Seoul on Thursday, Tirath said India is committed to uplift women in every sphere of life.

She said the government is making all efforts to protect women from the impact of economic slowdown on their health, nutritional level and economic sustainability.

"Self-help group movement is being strengthened further to mobilise more and more women for income-generating activities with linkage to micro-credit," said a statement issued here Friday.

"The Indian government is committed to uplift women in every sphere of life and it is contemplating to increase reservation for women up to 50 per cent in local government, which is 33 per cent at the moment," she added.

During her three-day visit that ends on Friday, Tirath also discussed the scope of collaboration between the two countries on women related issues.