Hyderabad|India|October'2011: The Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE), a not-for-profit organisation of women entrepreneurs organised Walkathon for Women Empowerment here at KBR Park in Hyderabad. Mrs. D. K. Aruna, Minister for Information and Public Relations, Govt. of AP flagged off the walkathon. Actor Sumanth, Designer and Ex-Mrs. India Shilpa Reddy, Badminton players Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponnappa and several other celebrities, students, working women and women entrepreneurs took part in the event. About 300 women participated in the walkathon.

Speaking on the occasion Minister D.K. Aruna said that COWE has been doing many activities for empowerment of women over the years. She wished COWE would go a long way in supporting and encouraging entrepreneurship in women. Jwala Gutta addressing the gathering said that it is good to see so many women coming out and taking part in the event. She appreciated COWE for bringing forward women entrepreneurs. Designer Shilpa Reddy said that a woman when she works and gets financial security, she gains confidence in all fields. She said that fitness is also essential for women who play different roles in their life as a wife, mother, etc. Actor Sumanth said that he feels good taking part in the event and representing two women entrepreneurs from his family Amala and his sister. He said that the state of the society is reflected directly by the empowerment of women.

Ms. Sandhya Reddy, President; Ms. P. Soudhamini, Sr. V.P. of COWE along with other board members of COWE also took part in the walkathon. COWE, a body of approximately 550 women entrepreneurs work towards promoting social and economic development of women through entrepreneurship. COWE fosters the empowerment of women through training, skill development programs, seminars and exhibitions, infrastructure development, project identification and funding besides exposing them to other business and development opportunities, informed Ms. Sandhya Reddy, President of COWE.