K'taka: Global conf to harness women power

Bangalore, June 7: Women leaders from across the world will come together to harness women power for creating a better world at the three-day International Women Conference hosted by the Art of Living Foundation (ALF) here from June 8.

The event to be held at the ALF International Centre on the city outskirts would resolve to educate 500 girl children in India and empower 1,000 women prisoners across the globe.

To be inaugurated by Art of Living Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the meet would take an all-inclusive approach to engage all stakeholders in addressing issues concerning women in particular and humanity in general.

Conference Chairperson Bhanumati Narsimhan, in a release, said ''the whole idea is just to learn from each other and create a feeling of oneness among people of diverse backgrounds and spread more smiles by creating an atmosphere of celebration and service to humanity.'' The conference would begin with the inauguration of 'Tejaswini' exhibition by Ms Shiranthi Rajapakse,the First Lady of Sri Lanka, Lady Sarojni Jugnauth, the First Lady of the Republic of Mauritius and Ms Megawati Suekarnoputrii, former president of Indonesia.

Bridging the urban-rural divide in the development process, over 550 women delegates from rural and urban backgrounds would come together and make deliberate efforts to empower women in all spheres of the society.

On the second day 800 college girls from the city would join the conference. Fifty-four speakers would present their formulae for a just and peaceful world.

Top cop Kiran Bedi, Biocon Industries CEO Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, parliamentarians and government representatives from South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Jordan, Afghanistan, Mongolia and other eminent women from the UK, the US, Italy, Germany and Australia were expected to participate.

Ms Lata Usendi, Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Chhattisgarh, besides 250 rural women from India would also take part.

UNI