MP inks MoU with UN to make women's squads in villages

Madhya Pradesh Government on Wednesday inked an MoU with the United Nations to constitute women's squads in every village.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while attending the event said the government has signed an MoU with 'UN Women', a United Nations' organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, to create 'shourya dals' (women's squads) in every villages of the state.

The squads will raise awareness among women about their rights, make villages free from all kinds of addiction and raise awareness on welfare of women.

The Chief Minister also announced that new ration cards will be issued in the state which will carry name of woman from each household under the column of "family head", official sources said.

"For empowerment of women it is necessary to strengthen them socially, politically and economically and Madhya Pradesh has taken effective steps in this direction," Chouhan said.

UN Women's Rebecca Richman said that significant work has been done in Madhya Pradesh on the issue of women empowerment.

She also praised the state for being the first state to pass a gender budget.

Madhya Pradesh Women and Child Development Minister Maya Singh and Higher Education Minister Uma Shankar Gupta were also present on the occasion.