Himachal govt hikes monetary award for Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar to Rs 1L

Days ahead of International Womens Day Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a nearly fivefold increase in the monetary award under the Himachal Pradesh Mahila Vikas Protsahan PuraskarPresiding over a statelevel event for International Womens Day Sukhu on Monday said the monetary award for the Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar has been hiked to Rs 1 lakh from the current Rs 21000The allowance for districtlevel awards has been raised from Rs 5000 to Rs 25000 he saidThe Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar is awarded to women who excel in various fields On Monday Sukhu honoured freelance journalist Dev Kanya Thakur social worker Sangeeta Khurana and Dr Anvesha NegiSukhu said women are the pillars of society and added that the whole world is empowered when women are empoweredAlso Read Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu inaugurates Sujanpur Holi festival in HamirpurThe Social Justice and Empowerment department is running a series of awareness programmes across the state from March 18 to apprise women on sensitive issues such as domestic violence drug abuse and persecution at the workplaceWhile extending greetings for Womens Day which takes place on March 8 Sukhu said women today are contributing equally in the states progress alongside their male counterparts and they need to be supportedWomen have made a remarkable contribution in giving direction to the society and civilisations can only progress when women are equated with men and given due respect he saidCongressled governments have always been considerate towards women power he addedRajiv Gandhi during his tenure as prime minister paved the way for 33 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and local bodies through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments the chief minister saidAlthough opposed by many Gandhi was determined to strengthen women and increase their participation in nation building he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever