Pondicherry: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has announced that the civic bodies here will launch a special programme soon to relieve the villages of garbage and solid waste, adopting the modalities followed in urban areas in the Union Territory. Inaugurating a one-day workshop on "Opportunities Available for Women Entrepreneurs to Launch Self-employment Projects" here on Monday, the Chief Minister said around 3,000 women workers would be deployed to launch the drive. The workshop was organised by Pondicherry Women's Commission under a scheme of the National Commission for Women.

He said the Government was according priority for empowerment of women. District Registration Department was levying only 50 per cent of the actual stamp value for registration of properties purchased in the name of women. Since its introduction, registration of properties in the name of women had been increasing. Mr. Rangasamy said that a large number of self- help groups having women as their members had come up here, thanks to the efforts made by various organisations, agencies and statutory bodies. They were engaged in productive and economic activities. Most of the self-help groups were also provided with milch animals under a special scheme for promotion of dairy projects.

The Chief Minister said a common market complex would be made available very soon to enable the self- help groups to sell their products and handicrafts. R. Viswanathan MLA (CPI) said although the well-being of women was taken care of, incidents like suicides among women and harassment against them had increased. Mr. Viswanathan appealed to women to identify the forces that stood in the way of the introduction of 33 per cent quota for women in legislative bodies. Chairperson of the Pondicherry Women's Commission S. Kamalini, welcoming those present, said the commission came into existence here 22 months ago.

It had disposed of 200 out of 230 petitions received so far from women facing harassment, dowry tortures and issues arising out of family disputes. She said the commission would launch a special campaign in villages to ensure the marriages in the villages were registered as was required under law.

A workshop for family councillors would be held in December. Secretary to Welfare Department T.M. Balakrishnan and the former Chief Judicial Magistrate of Pondicherry, S. Murugaboopathy, also spoke.

Delegates from various self- help groups and women entrepreneurs participated.

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