“The Punjab Government is fully committed to accord women a place of honour and dignity in the society and their empowerment across all spheres is an article of faith with the Government.”Expressing these views here today while inaugurating a photo exhibition on ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ organized by the Photo Journalist Welfare Association , the Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Punjab, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu said that only those societies deserve a claim to prosperity which provide equal opportunities to women in social, political and economic spheres. He also divulged that as part of its commitment to empower women in all the fields, the State Government has given 50 percent reservation to women in the local bodies and municipal council/nagar panchayats besides according them 33 percent reservation in the jobs.
Lauding the efforts of the photo journalist community, the minister said that the exceptional creative genius displayed by the photo journalists deserves to be fully applauded and the par excellence photographs put on display today vividly touch and depict every aspect related to women.The Minister also announced financial assistance of Rs. 3 lakh From his discretionary quota to the association on the occasion.On the occasion, President of the association Mr. Akhilesh Kumar, Senior Vice President Mr. S. Chandan, Vice President-1 Mr. Jaipal Singh, Vice President-2 Mr. Sunil Sharma, Secretary General Sanjay Sharma ‘Kurl’, Secretary Ajay Jalandhari, Joint Secretary Vishal Shanker, Press Secretary Kulwinder Bawa, Treasurer Jasbir S. Malhi, Executive Members Santokh Singh and Deepak Arora and Senior Journalist S. Baljit Bali were also present.