Women empowerment stressed

​Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that women empowerment is essential to help them achieve economic freedom. He also opined that it is the need of the hour.

The Chief Minister said the State government has been initiating several measures for women empowerment and to ensure their progress in different sectors. He opined that they were not provided proper recognition for their services in different fields.

He was the chief guest at the International Women’s Day celebrations organised at Tummalapallivari Kshetraiah Kalakshetram here on Wednesday.

Describing women as best finance managers, the Chief Minister said that former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao provided equal property rights to women and the TDP government has taken up several measures for the uplift and empowerment of women including providing 33 per cent reservation in employment.

Naidu said the DWCRA groups were playing a key role in implementing the development programmes of the government was helping each woman earn a minimum of Rs 10,000 per month.

He informed that 35 lakh LPG connections are being provided and the State will achieve 100 per cent in distribution of gas connections by July, 2017.

Impressed over the Kuchupudi dance performance of Ambika, the Chief Minister appointed her as Youth Ambassador for Kuchipudi.

The Chief Minister said Olympic medal winner P V Sindhu was offered deputy collector post to encourage more women sportspersons. Naidu said that girls must receive training in martial arts right from the school-going age as it would help them to protect themselves.

He pointed out that the state government organised the National Women’s Parliament for the first time in the country at Pavitra Sangamam. He indicated that the government was keen on organising such meets in future in Amaravati if other States too evinced interest in conducting the National Women’s Parliament.

He assured that the State government will extend its support to get 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament also.

Later, the Chief Minister distributed a cheque for Rs 241.84 crore to 5,371 DWCRA groups of Krishna district and presented awards to talented women from various fields.Earlier, Minister for Women and Child Welfare Peetala Sujata welcomed the gathering.

‘Aadapilla’ should be like ‘Aadapuli’ to fight against the atrocities against women, she said. She pointed out that the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Be Bold for a Change.”

Women Finance Commission chairperson P Anuradha and AP Women’s Commission chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari highlighted the measures taken by the Chief Minister to protect the health of women. They pointed out that the government was organising free health checkups to women aged about 30 years.

Minister for Water Resources Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, MP Kesineni Srinivas, city Mayor Koneru Sridhar, ZP chairperson Gadde Anuradha, Principal Secretary of Women and Child Welfare Poonam Malakondaiah, MLAs and officials were present.