Team Goemkarponn
Porvorim: International Women’s Day was celebrated at the Salvador do Mundo Panchayat Hall in Porvorim, where women from the local community, social organisations and residents gathered to honour the achievements and contributions of women in different fields.
Tourism and IT Minister Rohan Khaunte attended the event as the chief guest. Also present on the dais were Zilla Panchayat members Sandeep Salgaonkar (Penha de França) and Amit Asnodkar (Socorro), Sarpanch of Penha de França Swapnil Rama Chodankar, Socorro Sarpanch Sonia Pednekar, panch members from the village panchayats of Penha de França, Salvador do Mundo and Socorro, and Dr Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director of the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C).
The programme began with a welcome song by a local women’s group from Porvorim, followed by the lighting of the traditional lamp by Minister Khaunte to mark the inauguration. A cake-cutting ceremony was also held as part of the celebrations.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Khaunte emphasised that women’s empowerment is essential for building a progressive and inclusive society. He said women are excelling across sectors such as education, entrepreneurship, technology, tourism and social service, and are playing a key role in shaping the country’s future.
He further stated that the government remains committed to creating opportunities for women through initiatives focused on skill development, digital empowerment and entrepreneurship. Khaunte also encouraged women to explore opportunities in emerging sectors like tourism and information technology.
On the occasion, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications organised a drone technology awareness and demonstration session for women. The programme was conducted by the Goa Information Technology Development Corporation (GITDC) in collaboration with DroneLabs and led by RPAS pilot and DGCA-approved instructor Vikrant Krishna Suryawanshi. Participants were introduced to the basics and applications of drone technology, and several women also got the opportunity to operate the drone during a hands-on demonstration.
A session on the Mahila Digital Sashaktikaran Yojana (MDSY) was also held by the InfoTech Corporation of Goa Ltd, where Assistant Manager Pankaj Chavan explained the Cyber Saksharata course aimed at promoting digital literacy among women.
During the programme, several women from the locality were felicitated for their contributions to social and community activities. Those honoured included Sandhya Mahambre, Subhi Satardekar and Smita Ajgaonkar from Common Service Centres, Radhika Sawant, President of a Village Organisation, and Marina Moraes, President of a Self Help Group Federation.
Speakers including Sonia Pednekar, Swapnil Rama Chodankar, Amit Asnodkar and Sandeep Salgaonkar encouraged women to become more confident and self-reliant.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from local women, community leaders and panchayat members, making it a meaningful celebration dedicated to recognising the strength, achievements and potential of women in society.
