Pramesh S Jain
*Calls for women to organise,build leadership.
*Says government stands with women,seeks their support.
Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar on Thursday assured the All Karnataka State Government Women Employees Association that the government would provide plot for its office,preferably near Vidhana Soudha,or a larger site elsewhere if required.
Addressing office-bearers of the association after they met him at his home office Krishna,Shivakumar said the government had come to power with the support of women and had fulfilled its promises by implementing the five guarantee schemes— Griha Jyoti,Griha Lakshmi, Shakti,Anna Bhagya and Yuva Nidhi.
He said the government was spending Rs.52,000 crore annually on the guarantee schemes, which had brought about a “revolutionary change” and had become a model for other states.
He also highlighted the government’s initiative to digitally scan and correct citizens’property records.
Urging women employees to organise themselves,the Chief Minister said women and youth were the driving force for social change.
He noted that the government had earlier introduced Anganwadi and ASHA worker programmes for women and encouraged the association,which has around 5,500 members,to hold a large convention at Palace Grounds, assuring government support.
On the association’s demands,Shivakumar said the Chief Secretary and senior officials would examine them within the legal framework before taking a decision.
Calling for greater political participation by women, he said every woman should aspire to become a leader and announced plans to revive his earlier Naa Nayaki initiative in a new form to promote leadership among women.
He expressed confidence that women’s reservation in politics would become a reality in the future and cited former minister Motamma’s rise from being a staff member to becoming Minister for Women and Child Development as an example of leadership opportunities.
The Chief Minister also appealed to the women employees to continue supporting the government, saying it had consistently stood by women through its welfare initiatives.
