W20 Janbhagidari Event: Women-led Sustainable Development through Dairy Cooperatives Held in Gujarat

W20 Janbhagidari event recently took place in Anand, Gujarat, under the theme "Women-led Sustainable Development through Dairy Cooperatives." This event saw the enthusiastic participation of esteemed guests, experts, and women leaders from the dairy sector, highlighting the pivotal role of women in this industry.

One of the key speakers at the event was Parshottam Rupala, who emphasized the importance of women in the dairy sector and acknowledged their valuable contributions, particularly in value-added product manufacturing. He also brought attention to the fact that 18 dairy cooperatives are currently being operated by women, showcasing their significant involvement and leadership in the industry.

Another prominent figure at the event was Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of AHD, who underscored the remarkable contribution of women to the white revolution. She highlighted that an impressive 70 percent of the dairy sector's workforce comprises women. Additionally, Upadhyaya introduced the A-HELP (Accredited agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) initiative, which involves community-based women activists providing essential veterinary services to livestock owners, promoting animal health and productivity. She also stressed the importance of the One Health concept, emphasizing disease prevention in the dairy sector.

Jagdish Vishwakarma, the MoS for Cooperation, Government of Gujarat, played a significant role in the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp, symbolizing the inauguration of 'Jan Bhagidari - Women-Led Sustainable Development through Dairy Cooperatives.'

Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chair of W20, delivered a welcome address, highlighting the objectives of W20, which aims to empower women and increase their participation in various spheres, including the dairy sector. Bharati Gosh spoke about the crucial role played by women during the COVID-19 pandemic and how various schemes by the Government of India have created an enabling environment for women in the country.

The event also honored Women Dairy Farmers from different states in India, who shared their inspiring success stories across five key priority areas of W20: Women's Entrepreneurship, Grassroots Women Leadership, Bridging the Gender Digital Divide, Education and Skill Development, and Climate Action.

Jayen Mehta, Managing Director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, provided insights into the progress and developments in Amul and India's Dairy sector, shedding light on the industry's advancements. Caroline Emond, Director General of IDF, delivered a presentation titled "Recognising and strengthening the role of women in the global dairy sector." Her presentation highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 5, the status of women in agrifood systems, and the transformative role of dairy in empowering women.

Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman of NDDB, also spoke about the crucial role women play in cooperatives and expressed NDDB's commitment to promoting women in the dairy sector. Jagdish Vishwakarma, MoS for Cooperation, Government of Gujarat, reiterated the Government of India's mission to strengthen dairy cooperatives in the country and recognized the indispensable role of women in this sector.

In her closing remarks, Dharitri Patnaik, Chief Coordinator of W20, expressed gratitude to all participants and reiterated the commitment to fostering women-led sustainable development in the dairy sector.

The Women 20 (W20) engagement group was established in 2015 under Türkiye's Presidency of the G20, with the primary objective of focusing on gender equity. The W20 advocates for women's empowerment, rights, and participation in society. It seeks to ensure that commitments and measures supporting gender equality and women's economic empowerment are included in the G20 Leaders’ Declaration.

The event featured panel discussions on "Journey of Resilience of Women Leaders Across Sectors" and "Contribution of Women in Sustainable Development through interdisciplinary collaboration." These discussions included inspiring women leaders such as Rahibai Soma Popere (Seed Mother of India), Tessy Thomas (Former Director General, Aeronautical System & Former Project Director of Agni IV missile, DRDO), Lajja Gauswami (Shooter, International Player, Commonwealth Games Medalist), and Dr. Sandhya Purecha, who shared their motivating journeys.