WISE 4.0 Chandigarh: Rekha Sharma Highlights Women’s Role In Rural Economy, Sustainability And Entrepreneurship

The international WISE 4.0 conference in Chandigarh brought forward candid and practical discussions on women’s empowerment, social attitudes and sustainability.

Bharat Express News Network is the media partner for the event.

Rekha Sharma, former National Chairperson of the National Commission for Women and a BJP Rajya Sabha MP and other senior speakers discussed women’s participation in society, traditional recycling practices within Indian households and the importance of women supporting other women.

Addressing the conference, Rekha Sharma highlighted the contribution of women to the rural economy. She further said women perform a significant share of agricultural work, from sowing to harvesting, yet traditional educational illustrations often continue to depict farmers only as men.

Speakers stressed that meaningful empowerment requires greater recognition of women’s contribution to farming and the rural economy.

Rekha Sharma highlighted traditional household practices that reflect sustainable living. She cited examples such as turning old jeans into school bags, making rugs from worn-out clothes and reusing coal residue for household purposes.

Speakers suggested promoting the practice of sharing unused clothes and sarees with people who need them. They said sustainability and upcycling could create practical business opportunities for women.

Speakers referred to entrepreneurship training previously provided to young women who had completed Classes 10 and 12 through initiatives involving the NCW and IIMs.

Successful women entrepreneurs should, however, support women with fewer resources through mentoring and handholding.

The speakers called for greater outreach to rural areas. They suggested that if conferences such as WISE 4.0 aim to support rural women, similar two-day programmes should be organised directly in villages rather than being limited to five-star hotels in major cities. This, they said, could help identify and nurture entrepreneurial talent at the grassroots level.

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