To ensure protection of women’s rights, the Punjab Government is setting up ‘One Stop Centres’ in every district of the state.

The centres would be established across the state at a cost of Rs 35 lakh where the efforts would be made to protect needy women from domestic violence, said the state Social Security, Women and Child Development and Transport Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Monday while participating in the state-level function for celebrating ‘Dhiyan Di Lohri’.

Chaudhary, along with Gurdaspur MP and Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, listed out the various steps initiated by Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government to ensure protection of women’s rights, including reserving 50 percent seats in Zila Parishads and the Panchayats “which has contributed to the increase in stature of women in society”.

“Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, opportunities to the girls at par with the boys are being provided throughout the state in accordance with the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’,” she said.

Chaudhary announced that she would soon be meeting the Chief Minister to demand reservation of seats in the buses for women, besides school and college going girls to make sure that they face no difficulty.

“It is indicative of the positive thinking of the Punjab Government that ‘Dhiyan Di Lohri’ is observed at the state level,” she said while congratulating the mothers of newly-born girls as well as the sarpanches of 20 Gram Panchayats emphasizing to accord equal opportunities to the girls.

Chaudhary said that state’s 11 districts have seen considerable improvement in the female sex ratio. In Ferozepur, the ratio is 916 girls after 1000 boys which is commendable.

She added that as per Mai Bhago Scheme, free cycles would be provided in the state to 1,38,066 girls, and the initiative has been kicked off today with distribution to 65 girls in Gurdaspur. Furthermore, cycles are also being distributed to 9,597 girls of Class XI and XII in Gurdaspur district.