NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, MAR 8
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday said women were safe in the state because of a total prohibition on liquor here.
— Nitin Patel (@Nitinbhai_Patel) March 8, 2021
While addressing the Assembly on Monday, Rupani said any relaxation in these restrictions would jeopardize the security of women.
Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana – Gujarat Govt’s historic scheme that provides Rs.1 lakh zero interest loan to 10 lakh women of 1 lakh Sakhi Mandals with an aim to make them financially ‘Atmanirbhar’.#NariShakti pic.twitter.com/yFF77kA21d
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) March 8, 2021
“Women’s safety and security is the responsibility of the government. Since liquor is a social evil, we never gave any relaxation in the prohibition policy. The day we give relaxations, women will no longer be safe,” Rupani told the House on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
“Thanks to our liquor prohibition policy, women can travel alone at night without any fear,” he added.
Unlike other countries where Women’s Day celebrations are a one-day affair, respecting women as the manifestation of strength is a part of Indian culture, he said.
Though Gujarat has implemented 33 percent reservation for women in police recruitment and 50 percent reservation in local bodies like district panchayats and civic corporations, “it is desirable that more women are elected to the Assembly”, the CM said.
There are 13 women MLAs in the 182-member Assembly.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel informed the House that these 13 women MLAs will get an additional grant of Rs 1 crore for the construction and repairing of roads in their constituencies.