Congress committed to women empowerment: Mahila Cong chief

Hyderabad, May 18 (UNI) All India Mahila Congress Committee President Prabha Thakur, MP, today said the Congress was committed to the welfare and empowerment of women and had initiated several schemes for their uplift.

Addressing a press conference at the Andhra Pradesh Congress headquarters Gandhi Bhavan here, she said the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre had introduced the Women Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha with a view to empowering the women politically, economically and educationally.

She said the All India Mahila Congress, at its governing body meeting, earlier, had passed a resolution in this regard and urged AICC President Sonia Gandhi to take initiative to introduce the Bill in the ongoing session. Ms Thakur expressed hope that the Bill would be passed in the Rajya Sabha.

Recalling that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in the local bodies, she said the Congress was always committed to protecting women's rights.

Complimenting the Congress Government in the state, headed by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy for initiating several welfare schemes during the last four years, she said the state had become a model state in the country in terms of development.

State Mahila Congress president K Ganga Bhavani, who also the conference, said the Mahila Congress in the state was striving hard to strengthen the party and was actively involved in social work.

Rajya Sabha Member K V P Ramachandra Rao called upon the women activists to strive for the success of the party candidates in the coming byelections.

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