Expressing concern over violence against women, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday made a strong pitch for a proactive society to create a secure environment for them.
“We have been shocked by the violence that girls and women encounter on the street and even in their homes. Of course, it is not universal, but it is very widespread,” Gandhi said after laying the foundation stone for a girl’s hostel on the Jamia Milia Islamia campus.
She said society had a major role to play for making the environment safer for its women. “It pains me that as a society, we have failed to counter it and create a safe environment where girls and women can live and flourish without being constantly force to live in the fear of abuse and molestation. like the Government, Parliament and police have to fulfill their role society also needs to contribute by changing its mindset in order to create a healthy environment for the girls,” the UPA chairperson said.
Stressing on the need to be proactive for making the country safer she added that we all need to be proactive and there can be no better place for this other than our families, schools and universities. “Nothing can achieve this better than a sound modern education. You have today taken a big step towards swelling the rank of women who aspire, enabling them who are
privileged to be students and scholars here, to break through the barriers that the society force upon them to soar new heights and make their families and country proud,” she said.
The university has received a grant of Rs 26 crore under the General Development Scheme of the XIIth Plan for the hostel going to be built. It will have the capacity to accommodate 400 students on campus.