Workshop on gender empowerment opens

Visakhapatnam, Aug 27 (UNI) A three-day workshop on gender empowerment was inaugurated by Ms B Jhansi Lakshmi, MP, at the Dr Durgabai Deshmukh Centre for Women's Studies at Andhra University here today.

Speaking on the occasion, she said the workshop was aimed at eliminating gender bias and bringing women to the mainstream of development.

Stressing the need to take up research in women-related issues, Ms Lakshmi said legal literacy camps should be organised on a large-scale to empower women.

Under the National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme (NREGS), Rs five lakh would be given to women without collateral securities.

The Centre had enhanced the budget allocation for women's welfare by 25 per cent in 2008-09, she added.

University Vice Chancellor B Satyanarayana said gender inequality and discrimination were the major stumbling blocks to women empowerment. They should contribute significantly to the globalised economy, he added.

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