Pondicherry, June 08: AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik today said the Congress was committed to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in state assemblies and Parliament. "There should be empowerment of women and instead of making this plea through slogans there should be practical realisation," he told a meeting of Pondicherry unit of Mahila Congress workers here.

He called upon the Mahila Congress members to evolve an action plan to build up awareness among women about their rights and privileges.

There should also be programmes to fight evil of dowry and to ensure equal opportunities for women and equal wages in the jobs, he said.
Pondicherry Chief Minister N Rangaswamy said his government would soon implement a scheme under which Rs 50,000 would be paid as solatium to the families in the event of the death of the breadwinner.

Bureau Report