Efforts on for 33 per cent reservation for women: Sonia

New Delhi, Nov 19 (UNI) Pointing out that a society's foundation and existence were courtesy women, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said efforts were on to secure 33 per cent reservation for them in Parliament and state assemblies soon.

''We have not been successful so far.... But we are making efforts and soon the reservation will be in place,'' she said, addressing a Mahila Congress function here.

''Women should not lose patience in this regard,'' she said at the function held to felicitate her for her efforts towards declaration of October two as International Non-Violence Day by the United Nations.

''Our self-confidence will take us ahead. A woman's life is full of struggles and challenges. But there can be little doubt that a society's foundation and existence are courtesy women. Gradually, everyone will realise this,'' she said.

Ms Gandhi also used the function to hit back at the party's detractors, saying questions were being raised about the Congress' dedication to the issues of the poor and the under-privileged.

''Congress has always worked for the welfare of the poor and the down-trodden, and will always maintain this tradition,'' she said, reiterating what she had stated at the AICC session on Saturday.

She thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in ensuring that October two, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, would be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.

She said Mahatma Gandhi's ideas were revolutionary and would continue to be revolutionary.

''The world has accepted the importance of his ideas. There can be nothing more revolutionary than his ideas of Ahimsa and Satyagraha,'' she added.

Noting that the function coincided with the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, she said women should draw inspiration from her life and work.

''Indiraji's name will remain eternal as the most powerful in the history of modern India,'' she said.

UNI