HAMPI: Pramila Nesargi, Chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Women, called upon women scholars to espouse the cause of women and create awareness among people about the need to give equal rights to them.

Speaking after inaugurating the International Womens' Day and the convention of members of self-help groups organised by the department of Women Studies, Kannada University, here on Monday, Ms. Nesargi expressed concern over the high incidence of female foeticide, exploitation of women, domestic violence and the like.

Ms. Nesargi said there were a number of Government welfare programmes and appealed to them to utilise them to become economically independent. Ruth Manorama, recipient of Right Livelihood Award, who was the chief guest, said that emancipation of women was possible only when they were empowered with rights and financial assistance that would help them create assets. . Vivek Rai, University Vice-Chancellor who presided over the function said, "The centre is set up here as part of the UGC programme. But such centres will be closed once the grants are stopped. The commission and the State Government can make use of the centre here as a nodal and resource centre besides ensuring that continuous activities would take place here," he said.

Speaking to presspersons, Ms. Nesargi said that the Government had issued a circular to all departments to earmark a third of its total budgetary allocation for women development. But none of the departments were implementing it, she said.

Ms. Nesargi said she had planned to open offices of the commission in all the districts. She has proposed to conduct surveys on the condition of women through the students of Master of Social Work and make a study as to how to empower them.

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