'India sets visionary goals for women's empowerment'

Through positive economic and social policies, India has set visionary goals for itself in ensuring welfare of women, former Union minister Ananth Kumar has said.

Speaking at the 67th UN General Assembly during the general debate on “Advancement of Women,” Kumar said India ensured equal opportunity for women in decision making in social, economic and political spheres.

Kumar, who is chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, said India always provided women equal access to health care, quality education at all levels, as well as career/vocational guidance and equal remuneration.

Women in the country were accorded 33 per cent reservation in rural and urban governance in 1992 through the 73rd Amendment Act of the Constitution, which ensured their political empowerment and participation in the decision-making process, Kumar, who is part of Indian delegation visiting the United Nations, said.

With Parliament subsequently raising the reservation to 50 per cent in 2009, more than a million women are represented in the local bodies, triggering one of the biggest political mobilisations of women in the world, he further added.