Development of women top priority of state government: Gogoi

"Our aim is to make women self-independent so that they too can stand alongside men in all spheres of life," the Chief Minister said while inaugurating a 'Gramya Mela' organised by Jorhat District Rural Development Authority here.

Recalling the initiatives taken by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for empowerment of women, Gogoi said, "following his footsteps, our government has gone in for reservation of 50 per cent seats for women in Panchayati Raj institutions as only by ensuring women's empowerment, the society can march ahead."

The state government was also making all-out efforts to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the state which are above national average, he said.

The government was planning to transform Self Help Groups (SHGs) into federations so that they can emerge as viable units in future, he said.

The government is also contemplating to buy 25-30 per cent of the products made by the SHGs to give them the much-needed impetus for marketing, he added.

The emphasis is on small and medium industries, particularly cottage industries based on local resources to generate employment opportunities to address the twin issues of unemployment and poverty, Gogoi said.