Hyderabad|India|March'2011: The Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said that given proper encouragement, motivation and training, women can go places and take up any enterprising work and make it highly successful. He was speaking at the Commonwealth Day-2011 celebrations organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, A.P. Branch, at the Committee Hall of the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister presented mementoes and awards to women who have immensely contributed in various sectors.

The Chief Minister cited the example of Chittoor Diary which was once very popular but was under liquidation has now been revived thanks to the hard work of women SHGs. He said the diary through its bulk cooling centres are now procuring 1,70,000 litres per day and supplying milk through the Mother Diary to Delhi, Kolkotha etc. The Chief Minister said 33% reservation for women in the local bodies will be increased to 50% positively from the next elections. He said the women reservation bill ensuring 33% seats for women in Assembly and Parliament has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.

The Chief Minister congratulated the women award winners and said women legislators should more actively participate in the Assembly debates and assured support to women from the Government in all spheres.

Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar who welcomed said the A.P. Assembly is actively associated with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and are honouring the women on the Commonwelath Day today. Women and Child Welfare Minister Sunitha Laxma Reddy, Major Industries Minister Geetha Reddy, CPM leader J Ranga Reddy, Award Winners Melli Maitreyi, Padmasree, Fathima and others also spoke on the occasion.

Later mementoes and shawls were presented to senior women journalists Padmasree (Eanadu), Melli Maitreyi (The Hindu), Fatima (social worker), D.Satyamma, K.Padma, N Yellamma, Pullamma and D Geetha (Chenchu Tribal women who are running a restaurant leased from APTDC in Mannanuru, Amrabad Mandal, Mahbubngar District) and women legislators including Ministers Sunitha Laxma Reddy, Dr. J Geetha Reddy, Sabitha Indra Reddy, D K Aruna, women legislators Jayasudha, Dr. B. Chandravathi, Kunja Satyavathi, K Bharthi, B Satyavathi, S Jayamani, Vanga Geetha, B. Usha Rani, T.Vanitha, D Padma Jyothi, M.Sucharitha B. Shoba Nagi Reddy, H. Hemalatha and Mrs. Christine Lazarus. Mementoes will also be given to other women legislators later.