There were several news items picked up on icanews.coop last week celebrating International Women's Day:

One was a news item from the ICA’s main website which included the ICA’s IWD message. The theme of the ICA’s message was Investing in Women for Co-operative Success.

Two other items seem to have a particular relevance with IWD. One from the Economic Times in India reports that …. Women in Gaurikila and Ghughuri villages of Uttar Pradesh have paved the way for self-empowerment and social entrepreneurship through cooperative farming… ….Around 4500 women in these villages have become economically independent by practising co-operative farming. Besides, they have also formed self-help groups to sort out problems… ….The women grow a variety of crops like potato, pineapple, guava, wheat, rice and even flowers.

The second news report from Greater Kashmir online noted that a branch of Women’s Cooperative Bank was today inaugurated at Super Bazaar, Islamabad…. Deputy Registrar Cooperative, Srinagar, on the occasion emphasized the need to cater to the financial requirements of women belonging to all sections of society. “The bank shall develop the entrepreneurship skill among women and make them self-reliant and thus lead to attainment of income security and ownership of productive assets,” she said.

Your comments and responses to any of these news items are most welcome.