Shimla April 04, 2008 :Smt. Sarveen Chaudhry, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister today thanked the Chief Minister for the landmark decisions he was taking in favour of vulnerable sections of the society, especially women. She said that it was the present Government under the leadership of Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, which was showing special concern towards the womenfolk of the State and was taking effective steps for ensuring their welfare and alround development.
Smt. Chaudhary said that the recent announcement of the Chief Minister to evolve suitable policy to issue separate ration cards and to provide free medical treatment to poor and deserving single widows was historic and translates the commitment of the State Government towards the deserving sections into reality. She said that another scheme of the State Government to provide cash award to those men who marry a widow was also welfare oriented and was transforming the lives of widows of the State.
She said that she had personally taken up the matter of solving the problems of single women who had assembled in Shimla under the aegis of Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan with the Chief Minister yesterday. She thanked the Chief Minister for his positive attitude towards the problems of the single women of the State.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said that women were being provided opportunities to progress ahead and to contribute in the development of the State under the present Government, as the Chief Minister was paying special attention towards the issue and was taking such decisions. She said that recently women were provided 50 per cent reservation in the Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, which would ensure the role of women in the democratic process. Women were provided 33 per cent reservation in these bodies earlier also by the same Government, she added. She said that women have done a commendable job at grass root level and have worked dedicatedly for the welfare of the people. She hoped that the decision would further go a long way in empowering women of the State.