Bhubaneswar: The Khurda District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) in collaboration with ActionAid organised a workshop on the problems being faced by single women marking the International Women’s Day on Friday here.
A large number of single women joined the workshop and shared their problems involving land, housing, public education, social protections and basic services before the DLSA members.
Participating in the workshop, District Judge-cum-DLSA Chairman Satya Narayan Mishra asked the women not to remain silent and speak against the injustice and violence meted out to them.
“Don’t remain silent. Speak up against injustice and violence and bring the issues to the notice of the legal service authority which will certainly ensure justice to you,” said Mishra.
DLSA Secretary Manas Ranjan Ray laid emphasis on collective effort to understand the issues of the single women and support them leading a dignified life through facilitating their increased access to enhanced social protection system, justice and public services.
State Commission for Women (SCW) members Kusum Rath and Sushmita Nanda said that the Government should bring a special policy for the single women considering their problems.
Revenue and Disaster Management Department Additional Secretary Shilendra Dwibedi and Health and Family Welfare Department Deputy Secretary Jasmin Pattnaik also joined the programme.
ActionAid regional Director Debabrat Patra said quick justice to the single women is very vital and legal service authority should focus on to reduce their vulnerabilities.
ActionAid programme officer BN Durga shared how 4,000 single women in Ganjam district get land, housing and other basic entitlements with the help of ActionAid and Ganjam district administration.
She urged the State Government to recognize the single women as an independent household to ensure them the entitlements and benefits from the existing social protection schemes.
