Celebrating International Women’s Day, the Department of Social and Tribal Welfare and Information and Public Relations organized a panel discussion on the set theme of the UN, ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

Eminent women achievers from various fields and officials of the UT Administration participated in the discussion and spoke of the positive impact of technological interventions in the successful realization of their targets, viz office functioning, implementation and widespread awareness of beneficiary-centric government schemes, the establishment of entrepreneurial ventures, etc.

The first lady, UT Ladakh Neelam Mishra was the chief guest on the occasion. Putting forth her views on Using Digital Technology in Governance for Gender Equality, the first lady stated that it is pertinent for each concerning department/organization/individual to develop roadmaps for sensitizing women on the usage of digital interventions for their convenience and benefit.

Commissioner Secretary Padma Angmo highlighted that the introduction of e-office for efficiency, accountability, and transparency, has proven advantageous for women by providing a safer working environment and offering the potential for flexible working hours for women. Further, the establishment of the One Stop centers/emergency response systems has also aided women in distress to seek help and support, she added. Digital interventions in the field of education like Yontab (educational tablets), Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) platforms, were also flagged by the Commissioner Secretary.

All panelists shared their experiences in their respective departments and fields of work and the ease technology has provided in terms of time management, work efficiency and ensuring a convenient and safe work environment which has brought about gender equity.

Technological interventions at Health & Wellness Centres, the provision of 108 Ambulance services, and the availability of tele-consultation/e-Sanjeevani were highlighted as major interventions in the Health department. It was informed that almost 60 percent of the teleconsultation service are being availed by females.

A simple yet powerful tool such as WhatsApp is helping grass root representatives to reach out to a maximum number of beneficiaries, stated Kunzang Yangdol, Sarpanch of Chemday village. Similarly, internet banking, Aadhaar-based payments, etc have proven vital for women in achieving financial empowerment.

The second session of the discussion saw a group of young women – entrepreneurs, and professionals who broke the shackles of stereotypes attached to the fields of work they choose but believed in themselves to succeed in their endeavors. A detailed discussion took place on the Future of Work and Business, Empowering Women with Technology. 

This was the first hybrid event organized by the Department of Information and Public Relations, where the event hosted an audience at the venue and was also joined by netizens online and many questions were posed by the online viewers.

At the end of the nearly four hours of the hybrid event, the Commissioner/Secretary Padma Angmo said that she was extremely happy with the way this first-ever hybrid event was organized and the Departments shall have more such events to facilitate wider participation of people through a combination of offline and online participation.

Director HUDD, Dr. Zahida Bano; DSWO Leh Nilza Angmo; Manager J&K Bank Stanzin Dazes; Assistant Director (IT) NIC Nilza Angmo; Medical Officer, SNMH Dr. Rinchen Chosdon, Founder rZamba NGO Stanzin Saldon Shifa; Co-founder Nima Goos Goos, Rigzin Angmo; Contractor Jigmet Norzom, Agripreneur Sonam Angmo; Educationist, Nurbu Dolma, Creative Director Art of Motion, Rinchen Angmo; Assistant Professor Hajira Bano and Social Media Influencer/artist Deachan Angmo, were the panelists on the occasion.