Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Monday said that several steps have been taken to further empower women and to ensure their safety in the state.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a function organised to welcome the Mahila Marathon Relay Race organised on the occasion of birth centenary year of Rajmata Viyayaraje Scindia, at Hodal in district Palwal.

He welcomed the Mahila Marathon Relay Race in Haryana and expressed hope that the marathon would be a success.

The marathon was started from Gwalior Madhya Pradesh on October 12. Thereafter, passing through Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the marathon on Monday reached Haryana.

He said that Rajmata Viyayaraje Scindia served the society throughout her life and promoted women empowerment.

The Chief Minister said that the daughters of Haryana have excelled at national and international levels in various fields such as sports, education, army and space.

He said, “In order to ensure safety of women, the State Government has opened women police stations in each district. Earlier, the number of women police personnel was very less, which has been increased considerably by the present State Government.”

Efforts are being made so that the number of women in police should be increased up to 20 per cent. Earlier, the reporting of crime against women was also less in the state, but the present State Government provided women a platform where they can file their complaints without any hesitation, he added.

The Chief Minister further said, “Haryana Government has made provision of capital punishment for those found guilty of raping a girl aged 12 years or below. The government had launched Ujjawala Yojana for women under which free gas connections are being provided to women.”

Speaking on the occasion, national president, BJP women wing, Vijaya Rahatkar said that women should get full respect in the society and such mentality should be changed which consider daughters as burden.