The Hindu : Front Page : Emancipation of women my aim: Girija Vyas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 17, 2005

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Emancipation of women my aim: Girija Vyas

By Our Staff Correspondent

Girija Vyas who took charge as the chairperson of the National Commission for Women, in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

NEW DELHI, FEB.16. Girija Vyas who took over as the chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) today, said creating awareness among women, particularly the rural women, about their rights is her priority.

``There are laws and women have rights but they are not even aware of them,'' she told reporters soon after assuming office. Many women, especially in the rural areas, were not even aware of their existence. The idea is to make them aware of their rights, she said.

Ms. Vyas said heading the Commission was a challenging job for her as it involved catering to the needs of half of the country's population. ``I believe women's issues should be above politics and emancipation of women is my aim,'' she said, adding that the sky was the limit for women's emancipation.

She believes that those who have the means should help those deprived of opportunities. Stressing on the need for empowerment of women at the grass-roots level, she said women in the rural areas should also get the benefit of rural employment scheme to make them economically empowered.

On the Women's Reservation Bill, Ms. Vyas said stress would be on arriving at a consensus. ``We should have patience because reaching a consensus takes time but it is important.''

She said she would strive for obtaining constitutional status for the Commission but that would be only after she proved herself.

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