From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 8: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has advocated that International Women’s Day celebrations must include men too in future as both women and men are equal partners.

Inaugurating the International Women’s Day celebrations organised by the State Women’s and Childrens Development Department and also conferring the Kittur Rani Chennamma award at Ravindra Kalashetra in Bengaluru on Wednesday, he said men need to be conscious and sensitive about women and their place in society.

The association with women starts with mother and women perform the roles of mother, sister and wife and they are the pillars of society, he said.

Bommai said it is a sad part of society that ours is a male-dominated society and the role and importance of women is often ignored. Women have played key roles in different phases of life and in the evolution of mankind besides all revolutions, including the country’s freedom struggle.

“The men discuss about the problems and challenges. But it is the women, who live with them,’’ he said explaining the various women-centric initiatives taken by his government.

Empowerment of women, ensuring their safety and protection is the primary duty of government and all leaders in position of power, he said.

Women and Child Development Minister Halappa Achar, Salumarada Thimmakka, Women’s Commission Chairperson Pramila Naidu, State Children’s Protection Commission Chairman Rajanna Gowda, DRDO official Ashu Bhatiya, Women and Child Development Department Director Dr Anuradha, Kannada and Culture Department Principal Secretary Dr Manjula and others were present.

The Chief Minister later participated in the International Women’s Day celebrations jointly organised by the Vijayavani Kannada Daily and Digvijaya News Channel at the Jnanabharati campus.

Union minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karndlaje, Kannada cinema actor Sapthami Gowda, Vijayavani Editor Channegowda, Assistant Editor Rudranna Hartikote and Vijayanand Travels Managing Director Shiva Sankeshwar and others were present.