Sohar: A three-day symposium on Omani women, held on the directives of Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed of Oman, concluded at Seeh Al Makarim on Monday evening with Dr Sharifa Bint Khalfan Al Yahya, Minister of Social Development, announcing two Royal grants in support of Omani Women's Associations and scholarships for girls.
"The Royal directives grant the setting up of permanent headquarters for Omani Women's Associations (OWA) that do not have permanent buildings, and to raise government support allocations to OWA.," Dr Sharifa said.
"The second Royal grant will provide annual scholarships for girls who are holders of secondary school diploma certificates to study at private higher education institutions," she announced.
The Minister further added that the educational grant allocates full scholarships to 500 girls who obtain grades of 80 per cent and above and have not had the opportunity to be admitted at government higher education institutions.
"The ministry (Social Development) will form a charity fund that is specifically designed to support Omani women and the activities of non-governmental organisations in furthering their objectives and tasks, " she revealed.
Dr Sharifa also said that the Omani leader assigned October 17 as an annual Omani Women's Day. The symposium has recommended measures to safeguard the welfare of divorced women and their children.
"Considering the increasing trend of divorced women and the problems they encounter in their social life and the upkeep of children, laws will be promulgated setting up women livelihood funds to safeguard the absolute rights of women to livelihood in case of divorce and to ease any burden and negative impacts on families," she assured.
