National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma Friday said India can surge ahead when women, who constitutes 50 per cent of the population, are included in nation building exercises.
Sharma said women often face more challenges than men while setting up businesses, and urged women entrepreneurs to talk about their achievements to encourage others.
She was addressing a seminar on 'Empowering women through Entrepreneurship' jointly organised by the NCW and the Meghalaya State Commission for Women.
"India can surge ahead when women are included in nation building exercises. We cannot talk of nation building by ignoring 50 per cent of the population," Sharma said.
Stating that women entrepreneurs in the region face difficulties in accessing markets due the geographical barriers, the NCW chairperson advised them to make use of the social media and e-commerce platforms to sell their products and access global markets.
Sharma also expressed regret that although women in the North East are actively involved in economic activities, they are face a number of social hurdles.
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"They (women) are denied property rights and often are not allowed to freely spend the money that they earn," she said, adding that entrepreneurial activities will go a long way in empowering women.
Five award winning women entrepreneurs from the region working in various fields also shared their experiences.