'Policy-implementation must for women's empowerment'

Women's empowerment is possible only if state administrators implement the policies framed by the central government, K.G. Balakrishnan, National Human Rights Commission chairperson said Tuesday.

"Though the policies framed by the central government aims at empowering women, the delay and sometimes the non-implementation of the policies in states becomes a barrier in their empowerment," he said.

Addressing the inaugural function of a two-day conference here on human rights of women, he said decentralisation of authority is also required at every level so initiatives are taken to empower women both in urban and rural India.

"There is a need for the Panchayati Raj system in villages to work and take steps for the empowerment of women and provide them an opportunity where they can share the platform with men in every arena," Balakrishnan added.

The conference will see discussion on various issues like violence against women, women's sexual and reproductive health and rights, and women's empowerment and gender equality.

He said the plans and policies framed by the government should not just be on paper but efforts must be put in to implement those.

"It is the Panchayati Raj system that has to take initiatives for the implementation of the policies at the ground level," Balakrishnan said.