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Raise voice against crime, Sonia tells women
Bhanu P Lohumi/TNS
Tribune News Service

Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat), March 8
“We hang our heads in shame because of the recurring crimes like rape, molestation and female foeticide committed against women. It is the responsibility of educated girls and everyone to raise their voice against these social ills,” said UPA Chairperson and All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi while addressing the first convocation of first women university of north India, Bakth Phul Singh Women University, on the 101st International Women’s Day here today.

A Bill has been introduced to give share to women in parental property and to stop incidents of sexual harassment and domestic violence. There is a need to change the mindset of the people towards the women countrywide, she said adding that educating a girl implies educating a family.

She said, “Giving good education to girls is a big social responsibility. If a woman is educated, not only a family but the whole society is educated.”

Expressing worry over declining female sex ratio in Haryana despite development in other fields, Sonia stated that it was due to the old mindset and petty thinking. She said the state is progressive but “old-fashioned”. She called for concerted efforts to combat this social evil which has spread to other parts of the country. “It is high time we raised our voice to save the girl child”, she emphasised. Noting that women’s participation has increased in panchayats and municipalities, she said it is a big step towards their empowerment as the nation needs women at all positions of responsibilities. She exhorted girls to prepare themselves for bigger roles in all walks of lives. Haryana girls are talented, capable and courageous and the efforts made by government would yield good results, she said.

Referring to the steps taken by the UPA government for women empowerment and upliftment of their socio-economic status, she mentioned government's budget announcement, earmarking Rs 1,000 crore each for opening women's banks across the country and Nirbhaya Fund.

Ignoring the issues of discrimination in development reportedly raised by Union Minister Kumari Selja, Sonia patted Chief Minister B S Hooda and lauded the steps taken by the Haryana Government for development and upliftment and progress of women in the state.

“The Haryana Government led by Hooda has made special efforts for empowerment of women in the fields of education, health and social justice and played an important role in encouraging the budding women talents of Haryana in the fields of education and sports”, she added.