Empowerment of women has to be the central point of national relevance says Alva

Updated on: Thursday, September 06, 2012

Rural women in the country are emerging as the new Indian women, Margaret Alva, Governor of Rajasthan, has said.

In her address after accepting the ‘Woman of Substance’ award instituted by the Mercy Ravi Foundation here on Wednesday, Ms. Alva said rural women were rejecting long-held prejudices and customs. Women in the rural areas have started demanding their rights.

Education is the key to empowerment of women and the quality of education imparted to them and their access to it should be ensured, Ms. Alva said. “We have to create the right environment in which changes become acceptable. Women should be made aware of laws through grass-roots level campaigns. Enforcement of laws is important,” she said.

Stating that empowerment of women has to be the central point of national relevance, Ms. Alva said that attacks against women are increasing in the country, reflecting poorly on law enforcement.

Women’s emancipation still remains a distant dream in many parts of the country.

Recalling that the late Mercy Ravi was a ‘smiling, mild-mannered woman who worked for the welfare of the public’, Ms. Alva said Mercy Ravi also spoke bravely on social issues and women’s empowerment.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy presented the Woman of Substance award to Ms. Alva.

Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs; KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala; V.R. Krishna Iyer, former judge of the Supreme Court; Excise Minister K. Babu; D. Babu Paul, former Additional Chief Secretary; and actor Jayaram spoke.

Empowerment of women has to be the central point of national relevance says Alva

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