Foundation stone laid,Mahila Bhawan soon,says Ambika Soni

Soni also claimed that in southern states,86 lakh women have been associated with self-help groups and have got financial assistance to run their families.

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Water resources Pawan Kumar Bansal said that the Mahila Bhawan was a long pending requirement of Chandigarh and the Municipal Corporation was the first in the country to provide a common platform for women. He said that apart from providing training and vocational courses to women,the Bhawan will also be a place to sell their products and display their wares. Proposed to be spread over 1.3 acres,the Bhawan will have an underground parking for 158 cars,while the ground floor will have a auditorium with a seating capacity of 275 persons,an entrance foyer,exhibition hall,library,kitchen with pantry,dinning hall and gymnasium.

The first floor will have the director’s room,counselling centres for medical practitioners and sociologists who will provide career and legal advice. There will also be a meeting room,centres for performing arts such as theatrical skills and instrumental and vocal music,conference centre,fine arts incubation centre for painting,pottery,stained glass painting and sculpting,accounts office,staff room and record room.

Two entrepreneurship development centres and a research wing would be among the other facilities available. Mayor Kamlesh said the building is being constructed at a cost of Rs 12 crore. Senior Deputy Mayor H C Kalyan,area councillor Rita Sharma,Additional Commissioner P K Sharma,Joint Commissioner T P S Phooka,president of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee B B Behl,councillors and officers of the civic body were also present on the occasion.