International Women’s Day Celebrated at Porvorim; Rohan Khaunte Highlights Women’s Empowerment

Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

Porvorim, March 8, 2026: An event celebrating International Women’s Day was held at Salvador do Mundo Panchayat Hall, bringing together women from the local community, social organisations and residents to recognise the contributions and achievements of women across various fields.
The programme was attended by Goa’s Tourism and IT Minister Rohan Khaunte as the chief guest. Also present on the dais were Sandeep Salgaonkar, Amit Asnodkar, Swapnil Rama Chodankar, Sonia Pednekar and Milind Sakhardande, along with panch members from the Village Panchayats of Penha de França, Salvador do Mundo and Socorro.
The event began with a welcome song performed by a local group of women from Porvorim. This was followed by the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Minister Rohan Khaunte, marking the inauguration of the programme, and a cake-cutting ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, Khaunte emphasised that women’s empowerment is fundamental to building a progressive and inclusive society. He noted that women today are excelling in multiple sectors including education, entrepreneurship, technology, tourism and social service, playing a vital role in shaping the future of the nation.
The minister further stated that the government remains committed to creating opportunities for women through initiatives focused on skill development, digital empowerment and entrepreneurship. He also encouraged women to actively explore opportunities in emerging sectors such as tourism and information technology, which offer significant potential for growth and self-reliance.
Highlighting the importance of community participation, Khaunte said that platforms like International Women’s Day celebrations inspire women to pursue their aspirations and contribute meaningfully to society. He also urged young women to take advantage of government schemes aimed at supporting education, innovation and leadership.
On the occasion, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Government of Goa, organised a drone technology awareness and demonstration session for women. The programme was organised by the Goa Information Technology Development Corporation and facilitated by DroneLabs.
The session was led by Vikrant Krishna Suryawanshi, who introduced participants to the fundamentals and applications of drone technology. Several women participants also had the opportunity to operate a drone during a hands-on demonstration.
Additionally, a session on the Mahila Digital Sashaktikaran Yojana (MDSY) was conducted by InfoTech Corporation of Goa Ltd. During the session, Pankaj Chavan explained the key elements of the Cyber Saksharata course under the MDSY initiative, highlighting efforts to empower women through digital literacy and access to technology.
During the programme, several women from the locality who have made notable contributions to social and community activities were felicitated. Those honoured included Sandhya Mahambre, Subhi Satardekar and Smita Ajgaonkar from Common Service Centres, Radhika Sawant and Marina Moraes.
Other 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 members of the panchayat, making the celebration a meaningful occasion dedicated to recognising the strength, achievements and potential of women in society.