Maneka for skill development to rehabilitate distressed women

Union minister Maneka Gandhi today laid stress on skill development and entrepreneurship among distressed women for their rehabilitation.

"It is not enough to merely rescue women from all forms of harassment, but it is equally important to encourage skill development in order to promote entrepreneurship among women," the Union women and child development minister said at a function here.

Gandhi dwelt at length about the Narendra Modi government's commitment to forge an inclusive society by advancing gender equality and women's empowerment.

She said the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign of the Centre has been one of the most successful initiatives.

Gandhi also spoke about the proposed anti-trafficking bill in which it was proposed that the apex anti-terror body, National Investigation Agency, be made the nodal authority for probing cases of human trafficking.

The minister, who is on a three-day visit to Sikkim, also lauded the Unmarried Women's Pension Scheme adopted by Sikkim, and said her ministry too has proposed to launch a similar initiative to be adopted at the central level.

She assured the Sikkim government that all pending payments towards funds allocated for the implementation of welfare schemes in the state will be released within a week.