Women need to be aware of their rights, demand equality: Shashi Panja

Kolkata: State Woman and Child Development and Social Welfare minister Shashi Panja on Friday said that women need to be aware of their rights and demand equality.

On Friday in a programme organised to observe International Women's Day at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan in Salt Lake, 12 women who had touched success while fighting against several hurdles were honoured.

Panja handed over a memento and a cheque to the women. While delivering her speech, she said: "There are many famous women who have received awards from several organisations. But we are honouring those who are not famous but faced difficulties in life."

She further stated that the state government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had taken up several projects for empowering women. The first step of the initiative was to make 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats.

"Several people argue if women are demanding

equality then why reservation is being made. This is necessary as there is deprivation," added Panja.

During the programme, Panja inaugurated an exhibition-cum-sale of handcrafted objects made by inmates of Burdwan Central Correctional Home including inmates of several homes for distressed women and differently-abled persons.

The exhibition-cum-sale will continue till March 8. This apart a panel discussion was organised where students from several schools and colleges participated. Leena Gangopadhyaya, Chairperson of West Bengal Commission for Women was also present at the event.