'Women empowerment needed at individual level'

Empowerment of women should begin from the micro level - individuals, Sahitya Akademi Secretary K Sreenivasarao said today.
"Women are the pillars of creation, existence and sustainability of a mankind and their empowerment should start from the micro level - individuals," Rao said.
He was addressing a women writers' meet 'Nari Chetana', organised by Sahitya Akademi, on the occasion of International Women's Day here.
Eminent Hindi writer Nirmala Jain who attended the session questioned the recent ban on BBC documentary "India's daughter", based on the December 16 gangrape.
"Why is there a ban on BBC documentary by government?" she asked, adding that people should understand "the mindset of these kind of men."

Jain gave the inaugural address at the event which hosted a poetry recitation as well as story reading sessions.

Sahitya Akademi is organising its annual festival of letters from March 9 to March 14.
The festival will include a week-long celebration of Indian literature beginning with presentation of Sahitya Akademi awards in 24 languages followed by writers meet, samvatsar and foundation day lectures.
A national seminar on Indian fiction, programmes with young poets and writers from across India highlighting the Northeast, children's programmes, exhibition of Akademi's activities and cultural programmes will also be held.