'Women empowerment need of the hour'

Lucknow, Feb 20 (IANS) If a woman is empowered, she has the potential not only to change the society for the better but can also inspire others to make their lives meaningful, Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, Kunda president Vishakha Tripathi said Friday.

Addressing more than 4,000 students at Jagadguru Kripalu Mahila College in Kunda in Uttar Pradesh, Tripathi said empowered and stronger woman could contribute to the society more effectively.

She said female students from rural areas should not feel less empowered than their urban counterparts as they too have the same rights and same laws to protect them.

The seminar was organised as part of the annual prize distribution ceremony of JKP Education.

Additional Director General of Police Sutapa Sanyal, who was the chief guest at the seminar, said it was Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's vision to make Uttar Pradesh a safe place for women.

She highlighted various initiatives of the Uttar Pradesh government for women's security and empowerment.

She said a special cell -- Mahila Samman Prakoshth -- was constituted on the directives of the chief minister and it was working round the clock to provide adequate safety to women all over the state.

Pawan Rana, director of Experiments in Rural Advancement (ERA) in Dehradun, said the government, civil society and NGOs must come together to stop gender discrimination and crimes against women.

Anupama Singh of Anupama Foundation advocated stern punishment for crimes like female foeticide.

Manisha Bhatia of Action Aid demanded change in school curriculum to include subjects that would make female students aware of their rights and laws.