The Centre for Industrial Co-operatives of Producers and Artisans, (CICOPA) Bangalore, organized an exhibition cum sale of arts, crafts & creative products of its members & associates on the 8 th of February, 2013, Friday, at the RICM Campus of Co-operative Training College, Bangalore. The prime sponsors for the CICOPA mela 2013 were the Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation (WDC) and the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
The theme for the event was that of women enpowerment and it was only fitting that the President of CICOPA, Mrs. K.S. Nagarathna Rao, has been the guiding force behind the successful journey of CICOPA particularly in its promotion of entrepreneurship and economic enpowerment of women. The Chief Guest was Smt. Sarojini Bharadwaj, Chairperson, Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation and Smt. B. Jayshree, M.P. (Rajya Sabha) and theatre & Cinema Artist inaugurated and presided over the events.
Amongst the other women dignitaries present were Smt. Bhargavi Narayan, Cinema, TV and Theatre Artist, Smt. Rani Satish and Smt. Leeladevi R. Prasad, both ex ministers of Government of Karnataka. They all stressed on women entrepreneurship, emphasizing on ‘Shakti’ who epitomizes the different roles a women plays. They also stressed on the fact that all women must strive towards financial independence. Women must seek enpowerment in all spheres, be it political, social or economic,women have equal status.
Quoting the commonly used phrase of ‘Behind every successful man lies a woman’, Mr.Channabasappa, Director, NCDC, highlighted the important role that women play in every field, in society. Citing the example of the dairy cooperatives, he stated that women take greater participation. In furtherance of focusing on enpowerment, they plan to launch a programme on ‘Sensitization of Women’. The function ended on a highly charged note, with a vote of thanks from Mrs. K.S. Nagarathna Rao, President, CICOPA.
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