Mrudula Sinha, chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board, who inaugurated the convention, Mahila Parishad and campaign for freedom against atrocities, firmly believed that the entry of more women would cleanse the political system of the country and would result in a cleaner administration. Various issues relating to assaults on minor girls, crimes against women and increasing participation of women in decision-making process will be dealt with in a number of programmes planned from Sunday till December 10.

Mrudula Sinha assured all the participants that she would strive for the 33 per cent reservation bill for women and said that a proposal has been sent to the HRD Ministry to observe the year 2001 as the `Mahila Samman' year. She, however, came down heavily against the lop-sided struggle of women for their rights under the name of equality and maintained that this should not lead to a battle of the sexes. Instead, the focus should be increasing the participation of both the sexes in every area of work.

Sinha underscored the need for educating women and emphasised the need for breaking the shackles of dependence on the government. She said that the Central Social Welfare Board planned to send groups of women into Maharashtra to increase interaction between agencies and get a first hand account of the work of the NGOs here.

Meenakshi Patil, Minister of State for fisheries, BJP leader Kanta Nalwade, Vishakha Raut, former Mumbai Mayor, Dr Sunanda Kaushik, advisor to Stree Adhar Kendra and Dr Puja Yadav, who has worked with devdasis, also spoke on the occasion. President of the Stree Adhar Kendra, Neelam Gorhe presided over the function.

Five resolutions were passed at the end of the convention. These include: welcoming the 33 per cent reservation bill to be tabled in the Parliament, immediate action by the police in one-sided love affair cases such as that of Neeta Hendre, formation of a Mahila Sansad at the Taluka and district levels to ensure more awareness about various government schemes for women, Bharat Ratna award for Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and equal rights for women.