Hostels for working women planned

LARKANA, May 4: Sindh Minister for Women Development Tauqir Fatima Bhutto has said that efforts are being made for welfare of women.

She said that an amount was available through a microfinance scheme out of which Rs30,000, would be provided as loan on easy instalments to women who wanted to start their own business to earn a respectable living.

Addressing a gathring at the Government High School in Naudero on Sunday, she said her ministry was planning to establish working women’s hostels in all districts of the province.

She said they were considering various proposals for women’s welfare to be included in the next budget and one of the proposals pertained to the establishment of hostels for working women.

She said women centres would also be set up in Larkana, Sukkur, Hyderabad and other districts for the rehabilitation of women in distress.

These centres would work to create public awareness about violence against women and provide free legal assistance, accommodation, vocational training and psychological counselling to needy women, she added.

The minister said display centres would be established in which locally-made handicrafts would be placed for sale.

She said closed girls schools would be reopened and tuition centres would be set up under the department’s literacy programme. Its expenses would be borne by the Women Development Department, she added.

She stressed the need for skill development to open further avenues of employment for women in rural areas.

The minister said the time had come for women to play their role for rapid development and progress of the country. The minister urged women to use their political power for addressing and resolving the problems of their community especially in the areas of education, health and sustainable development.The minister on the occasion received applications from women who had come from far-flung areas and passed immediate orders.

Provincial Secretary for Women Development Department Gul Mohammad Umrani, Masood Ahmed Bhutto, EDO (CDD) Larkana Ghazenfer Qadri, Bashiraan Mohal, Pirah Sakina Gaad and women councillors also spoke at the open katchehry.

Later, the minister held an open katchehry at Shahdadkot rest house in the evening.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/5/2008