Chandigarh, Dec 20 (IANS) Emphasising the need for women’s empowerment, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni has said women can play a vital role and bring a positive change in society.
“Women empowerment means financially strengthening of women so that they can bring profits for their families. In southern states, nearly 86 lakh women have been associated with self help groups and got financial assistance to run their families,” Soni said here Saturday.

“Recently the union cabinet has passed a resolution to enhance the 33 percent reservation of women in local bodies to 50 percent, which is a big boost in the direction of women empowerment.”

Soni was in Chandigarh Saturday to lay the foundation stone of a Mahila Bhawan in Sector 38.

“Such Mahila Bhawan will be a boon for the economic upliftment of women in this city and of surrounding areas. There is a need to provide capacity building in the premises of the bhawan so that the women can learn about various schemes of government of India in various sectors like information technology,” said Soni.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal and city Mayor Kamlesh were also present during the foundation laying ceremony.

“This Mahila Bhawan, spread over an area of nearly 1.3 acres, would have an auditorium with seating capacity of 275 people, exhibition hall, library, dining hall, gymnasium and an underground parking space of over 150 cars.”