IDEALS OF INSPIRATION STAY SAFE FROM CYBER CRIMES FORT TOURISM: RAIGAD VOL.9 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2020 ` 50 PAGES 52 WOMAN TO SHIVJANMOTSAV The grand celebrations of the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took off in the august presence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at Shivneri Fort. The melodious tunes of traditional shehnai and chaughada drums, thunderous roar of tutari, resonant sounds of drums, with saffron festoons and jubilant shouts of Jai Bhawani, Jai Shivaji as well as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai reverberated across the historic fort. CONTENTS What’s Inside 06 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: A KEY TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Empowerment of women helps development of society. The State Government is endeavouring for overall development of women. Efforts are being made to enhance their entrepreneurship skills and attain progress. The State Government is determined to solve their problems through various schemes and programmes. 15 24 28 46 IDEALS OF INSPIRATION RIGHTS AND POWERS STAY VIGILANT AND SAFE RAIGAD: THE PRIDE OF The Government of The right to equal opportunity FROM CYBER CRIMES MAHARASHTRA Maharashtra is always striving and live with dignity has In India, women are The magnificent fort of to ensure that women make been given to women, but to worshipped only at religious Raigad, which has been great strides in every field. But enjoy Constitutional powers, places and festivals. However, witness to Chhatrapati this tendency to make giant it is essential for them to in normal life, they are Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation strides is naturally present in know law. The main reason exploited in innumerable ways ceremony, is one of the some women. Some of them for tolerating injustice and and victimised physically, highlights of Maharashtra’s create their own identity with atrocities is ignorance about psychologically and sexually. rich history. It is not just a determination and hard work law. While the Government, Now, with the internet fort, but a symbol of pride and set an ideal for ordinary social bodies and people transforming human lives, it and honour for Maharashtra. women. They become a source strive hard to create has further exposed women The fort is an example of of inspiration to many owing to awareness among women, it to crimes like cyber-stalking, extraordinary architecture, their accomplishments. These is essential for society to online defamation, trolling, and is nothing less than a are some success stories that take a resolute initiative on email spoofing, pornography, pilgrimage for the disciples showcase the extraordinariness its own accord to give them psychological torture and of Shivaji Maharaj and among the ordinary. these rights. sexual abuse. fort lovers. Good quality education empowers society 10 Women's health vital for a healthy society 32 Support to the destitute 12 Never give up on your dreams 34 Healthy mothers, healthy babies 13 For farmers' welfare 35 Progress of women belonging to Cabinet decisions 37 minority communities 14 Important events in February 2020 39 Drivers of economic change 18 A pleasant visit of the family head 43 Soaring with the wings of skills 22 Revamping Konkan for a New Maharashtra 44 Women power from Maharashtra in “Loan waived off, welcome to my National Capital 30 daughter’s wedding" 50 DISCLAIMER: VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MAGAZINE ARE THOSE OF WRITERS MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH 2020 3 VOL. 9 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2020 `50 PAGES 52 Go Girl Go EDITOR-IN-CHIEF On 29 August 2019, the Union Government launched an initiative Dr. Dilip Pandharpatte MANAGING EDITORS called Fit India Movement. The goal of this programme was to promote Ajay Ambekar and preserve sports culture, encourage various sporting events, and Suresh Wandile maintain good health with physical fitness. Under this programme, the EDITOR Maharashtra Government launched Go Girl Go Scheme, and also keep- Anil Aloorkar ing in mind the objective of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Beti Khilao, the EXECUTIVE EDITOR State Government has started a public awareness campaign for health Kriti Lalla and fitness of girls. The goal of this campaign is to provide maximum SALES AND CIRCULATION sporting facilities, free learning environment and opportunities to de- Mangesh Warkad velop skills among girls. If the girls of age group 6-18 years are edu- (Astt. Director) Ashwini Pujari cated on personal hygiene, nutrition, health and good lifestyle habits, it (Sub-Editor) can definitely help in building healthy families in future. COVER DESIGN Seema Ranalkar Sushim Kamble BIPL MEDIA ASSOCIATES MANAGING EDITOR Jyoti Verma CONSULTING EDITOR Deepika Khurana ART DIRECTOR Lakeer Studio DIRECTOR Xavier Collaco Maharashtra Ahead is printed on behalf of the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, Government of Maharashtra, at Kala Jyothi Process Pvt. Ltd.Plot No.W-17 and W-18, MIDC, Taloja Industrial Area, Taloja-410 208, Navi Mumbai Letters should be addressed to The State Government is devising many schemes to promote sports Directorate General of Information and so that many new sporting talents can be spotted for national and Public Relations, New Administrative Building, 17th Floor, international sports events. The success of Maharashtra’s players at Opposite Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032. Khelo India Youth Games held in Guwahati recently highlights the Email: [email protected] fact that the efforts of the Government are bearing fruit. As a next step, Go Girl Go has been introduced so that girls get fitter and find Follow us on www.twitter.com/MahaDGIPR interest in sports, and the State gets new players to represent Maha- Like us on www.facebook.com/dgipr rashtra and India in various sports events. Though the scheme is for Subscribe us on YouTube/MaharashtraDGIPR girls from all over Maharashtra, its emphasis is to take sports and fit- Visit us on www.mahanews.gov.in Blog/maharashtradgipr ness to the remotest places and interiors of the State. Only then, the sports culture can be truly promoted and new players can come up from all parts of Maharashtra. Please visit the website http://dgipr.maharashtra.gov.in Directorate General of Information and Public Relations The State Government is committed to the holistic development A Government of Maharashtra Production of girls, which include their physical and mental health. For this, new sports competitions are being planned in the near future. In these events, more than 1,04,00,000 girls from Maharashtra are expected to participate. There is no doubt that it will lead to a new sports and fitness movement in the State. Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, Government of Maharashtra GUEST EDITORIAL Protecting Rights, Dignity and Opportunities of Women For any society to truly be- opportunities. Maharashtra leads in implementing come strong and healthy, many such schemes for the all-inclusive develop- it must give due respect to ment of women. its women. Bharat Ratna Maharashtra has a rich legacy of social reformers Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar like Mahatma Jotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule, Justice gave equal rights to Indian Mahadev Govind Ranade, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, women in the Constitu- Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil and Maharshi Dhondo Ke- tion. Since then, from time shav Karve. Following their principles, Maharashtra to time, constitutional and continues to give special importance to women’s legal experts have passed education. Our girls get free primary and secondary Adv. Yashomati Thakur several laws to protect the school education without any discrimination. But (Sonawane) rights of Indian women along with formal education, the emphasis has also Minister for Women and and ensure their safety. been given to nurture their entrepreneurial spirit. As Child Development However, the onus to pro- a result, these efforts have helped in creating a strong tect their rights is also on society, and on all of us. and successful movement of self-help groups in ru- As Minister for Women and Child Development, I ral Maharashtra. These groups are an important part am particularly interested in the cause of women of today’s rural economy, and have made women empowerment. Our priority is all-inclusive develop- self-reliant. ment of women by taking all Women and men are two schemes and measures of wheels of society. By depriv- the department to the last ing women of equal oppor- person of society. tunities under the pretext of Today, women are leading cultural or social traditions, on all fronts and are contin- society cannot progress and ually marching ahead. Girls evolve in the true sense. are toppers in Std. X and Hence, as a society, we have XII exams. As per a recent to respect and empower Supreme Court judgment, women, ensure them equal women officers working in opportunities and protect the army will now be en- their right to live with dignity. titled to permanent com- Women are infinite source mission. Whenever women of energy and resources, and got an opportunity, they only need channelising in the have proved their mettle right direction. with their excellent work across fields like politics, On the occasion of International Women’s Day, education, science, health or any other. At one side, March 8, Maharashtra Ahead is bringing out a spe- women are reaching to the new pinnacles of prog- cial edition on women. The special issue includes ress, the other side of society is very grim. The grow- women empowerment thoughts of various Minis- ing atrocities against women, their sexual and physi- ters and Government policies for all-inclusive de- cal abuse, and the mentality to deprive them of their velopment of women. It has informative features rights are truly unfortunate. There have been legal on legal rights and health of women and their role in provisions for working women, and strict laws are economy and society. I am sure that you will like the passed so that they do not suffer any sexual exploi- special issue.