Civil society has to come out to fight crime against women

"Along with the government, the NGOs and other social organisation will have to take initiative to struggle for eradicating crimes committed against women," Gogoi said during the inauguration ceremony of the new office of Assam State Commission for Women here.

He said the commission has a pivotal role to play in creating public awareness against atrocities on women and injustice faced by them in various walks of life.

Gogoi said the state government has taken a number of steps to make women self-reliant and economically independent.

"Self-help groups and panchayati raj institutions have played a major role in this. Women in Assam are not only politically aware but also major participants in the development process," he said.

The Chief Minister said steps have been initiated to increase reservation for women in panchayats of Assam to 50 per cent, from the current 33 per cent.