Government committed to empowerment of women: Union Minister Naqvi

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said the Centre was committed to women empowerment and that steps taken by the Narendra Modi-led government such as "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" campaign have evoked good response.

Addressing a gathering at a mass wedding programme at Kasaragod in Kerala, the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs said the government is committed to empowerment and safety of girls and women of all sections of the society.

Stressing that there is also a need to empower girls from the poorer sections, Naqvi said the NDA government has been working in this direction and has launched "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" (save girl child, educate girl child) programme in an effort to encourage birth and education of girls and tackle the low child sex ratio.

He said BJP governments in different states are also working for empowerment of girls and women through various welfare schemes.

Naqvi lauded the organisers of the programme and said, "Charity mass wedding ceremonies are need of the hour to help the poor sections as marriage ceremony has become a costly affair nowadays. Such programmes will also help in eradicating the menace of dowry which has been existing in our society for a long time."