President, PM Call For End To Violence Against Women

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for gender equity and decried violence against women as the government said it has initiated one-stop crisis centres that will provide assistance to women who face violence in any form.

In his statement on International Women's Day, Mukherjee termed equality, liberty and dignity as women's "sacred rights".

He asked the people to reaffirm their commitment to ensure gender equity and empowerment of womenfolk in India.

The president also presented the 'Stree Shakti Puraskar' and 'Nari Shakti Puraskar' for the year 2014 at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

In a separate statement, Modi said: "Our heads hang in shame when we hear of instances of crime against women."

Modi said his government has initiated several steps to help women who face violence and abuse.

The prime minister said he "salutes the indomitable courage and stellar achievements of women. We must walk shoulder-to-shoulder to end all forms of discrimination or injustice against women".

He said the central government is setting up 'One-Stop Centres' that will provide assistance, legal advice and psychological counselling to women who face violence or abuse.

Elaborating on the same, union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said the centres would in the first phase come up one in each state.

"If they are successful, then we will go in for more such centres," she said.

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