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BSF all-women marching and brass band contingents

BSF’s All-Women Marching Brass-Band Contingents To Debut In R-Day Parade

By LokMarg 10th January 2024

In a first, the Border Security Force’s (BSF) all-women marching and brass band contingents will participate in this year’s Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path.

An Assistant Commandant rank woman officer and two subordinate officers will lead a total of 144 women BSF constables marching down Kartavya Path on January 26 when India will be celebrating its 75th Republic Day in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, President of France, as the Chief Guest.

The BSF calls it a ‘Mahila Foot Contingent,’ whose all participants belong to almost every state in the country. Of the total participants, a maximum of 27 belong to West Bengal, 10 each from Jammu and Kashmir as well as Punjab, 12 from the North East, and others from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and other states.

Besides the marching contingent, a 72-member brass band contingent along with a bandmaster and two assistant band masters will also be participating in the parade for the first time.

BSF’s women marching contingents are among those Central Armed Police Forces that are set to send their women contingents to march on Kartavya Path on this Republic Day.

The Ministry of Defence had last year asked all the forces, state governments, and departments participating in the Republic Day parade to have women participants in their contingents, bands, and tableaux.

Speaking to ANI about the participation of the women contingent, BSF’s 25th Battalion Commandant Kamal Kumar said the objective of the Government of India is to ensure the maximum participation of women during the Republic Day parade.

“BSF’s women foot march as well as brass band contingents are being prepared to participate for the first time in this year’s Republic Day parade. If we talk about their strength, the women’s foot contingent is 144. The contingent will be led by an Assistant Commandant level officer accompanied by two platoon commandoes,” Kumar said.

“There are 75 members in our brass band contingent in which there will be one bandmaster and two platoon commanders. The total number of musical instrument contingents is 72,” added the officer.

He additionally mentioned that every state in India is represented by women in our contingent. “There are members from Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, western state, and the northern states, almost from all the states,” he said.

One of the participants from the BSF’s marching contingent, namely Anita, told ANI, “Till now, only the male contingent used to participate in the Republic Day parade. Now, a women’s contingent is also going to march on the Republic Day parade this year.”

“We are very proud to think that we are going to create history for the force. This is a very good opportunity for us,” she said.

The BSF’s marching contingent has a unique distinction of participating in every Republic Day parade, and it has been adjudged the best marching contingent three times in 1997, 2012, and 2016.

BSF’s marching contingent and its camel contingent have jointly participated in the Republic Day parade since 1976. The force’s women bike riding contingent has also participated in the Republic Day parade in 2019 and 2022. (ANI)

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Parliament Hosts Empowering Event For 500+ Women Panchayat Reps

By LokMarg 5th January 2024

In a unique move, the Parliament on Friday hosted a programme named ‘Panchayat Se Parliament Tak’ for over 500 women representatives of diverse backgrounds from Panchayats and urban local bodies of different states aimed at empowering and supporting women grassroots leaders.

The awareness programme for women representatives of panchayats and urban local bodies was organised by the Institute of Constitutional Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) in coordination with the National Commission for Women.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the programme in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.

On this occasion, Birla observed that India is moving from women’s participation in development and women’s empowerment to women-led development and women’s leadership.

In this regard, referring to the recent Nari Shakti Vandan Act, Birla noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government passed the historic Act in the very first session of the new building of Parliament.

The purpose of this Act is to reserve one-third of the total seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislatures for women, which will prove to be a game-changer in bringing women to leadership roles in the decision-making process, highlighted Birla.

Whereas the distance between the objectives of our Constitution and current realities on gender equality is yet to be completely bridged, the recent initiatives of the Government have provided equal opportunities to women to bring them into the mainstream in political, economic and social life, Birla further added.

Mentioning India’s glorious economic journey, Birla said that today India is setting the agenda for the world. Indian women and youth are playing an important role in the economic development of other countries. In this regard, he stressed making our villages self-reliant to accelerate the pace of economic development in the country. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi, Birla noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is realising the vision of Mahatma Gandhi in rural development.

Speaking on women’s development, Birla noted that women are at the forefront of development in all fields. However, we need to bridge the gap so that the current pace of development is accelerated, he said.

Without gender equality, it will be difficult to achieve the current challenges of poverty alleviation, economic growth, sustainable development and environmental protection, he added.

Birla called for making panchayats as agents of change at the village level and observed that panchayats are emerging as the lifeblood of rural development.

He also urged them to share the best practices among themselves. Observing that panchayats have been given the responsibility of formulating and implementing plans for economic development and social justice, he noted that they have an important role in the effective and efficient implementation of flagship programs for the rejuvenation of rural India.

Therefore, it is necessary to have a strong panchayat to build a self-reliant village. The stronger the panchayat system is, the more powerful each person under it will be and only then will the foundation of democracy be strengthened, asserted Birla.

As public representatives, women sarpanchs’ role is to strengthen democracy and give shape to the hopes and aspirations of rural people. Panchayats should set their priorities, formulate their own plans and implement them with the participation of villagers and their elected representatives or leaders, emphasised Birla.

Mentioning India’s democracy, Birla said that since ancient times, democracy has been in our thinking, ideology and thinking style. It has been our culture to make decisions through collective discussion and dialogue. Amidst the diversities, democracy binds us together, he added. (ANI)

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Growing Trend In Increase Of Women Judges Across Country: Chandrachud

By LokMarg 6th October 2023

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday said that there is a growing trend across the country where women judges are outnumbering their men judges in lower courts.

CJI referred to the significant increase in the number of women judges and cited a specific example of a junior division court in Maharashtra, which currently has a total of 75 judges, 42 of whom are women.

All 75 judges were present in courtroom CJI’s number one of the Supreme Court today.

At the outset of the proceedings in the court, the CJI said, “We wish to share some happy news. Here in the back row (in the courtroom), we have 75 judges from the civil judge junior division from Maharashtra. Out of a batch of 75 judges, 42 are women and 33 men.”

CJI added, “This is happening across the country where the judges who are women are more in numbers.”

Justice Chandrachud said he would meet the judges present in court, during the lunch hour.

He said the change in the gender ratio of subordinate judges was reflective of circumstances and decisions made fifteen years ago.

CJI said, “The appointments we make today is a reflection of what happened fifteen years ago and we have to select from the pool. Here, two are doctorates, some are gymnasts, some are warli artists.” (ANI)

Ajit Pawar Gets Finance, Planning Ministries

By LokMarg 14th July 2023

In a major Cabinet reshuffle led by the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra, the newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has been entrusted with the finance and planning ministries

Another minister, Chhagan Bhujbal has been allotted the food and civil supplies ministry.
Cabinet Minister Anil Patil gets Relief and Rehabilitation, Disaster Management Department, Aditi Sunil Tatkare has been assigned the Women and Child Development.

While Dhananjay Munde gets Agriculture and Dilip Walse Patil gets Co-operative Department.

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil gets Revenue, Animal Husbandry.

Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said that the coordination committee that will be coordinating the allocation of the ministries has been formed.

“The committee will coordinate among the three parties. There will be 12 leaders from all three parties in this coordination committee. Four leaders from each party have been named for the committee,” Sawant said.

He further said that the members from the BJP include, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ashish Shelar, Prasad Lad and Chandrashekhar Bawankule while from Shiv Sena, Uday Samant, Shambhuraj Desai, Dada Bhuse and Rahul Shewale will be part of the team.

“From NCP, Dhananjay Munde, Dilip Walse Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal and Sunil Tatkare will be there,” he added.

Earlier on July 2, Ajit Pawar split the NCP down the middle as he joined the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra along with 8 senior MLAs and took oath as the state’s deputy chief minister for the fifth time. (ANI)