NEW DELHI, MARCH 8 On women's Day, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi announced that a way would be found to push through 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies.

‘‘In Lok Sabha and state legislatures also, women should get 33 per cent reservation like in panchayats. Talks are going on with political parties and I am hopeful very quickly some way will be found,’’ she said at a function organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to honour women entrepreneurs. Sonia also said that for the first time this year, gender budgeting had been introduced and more money had been allocated for the development and welfare of workers in the unorganised sector; banks have been asked to provide loans to women.

The Congress president also called for a national initiative, involving political parties, voluntary organisations, NGOs and the media, to prevent all forms of atrocities against women.

The entrepreneurial awards went to 25 women, ranging from an auto-rickshaw driver to a beauty parlour owner, all belonging to SC, OBC and minority communities and living below the poverty line. The awards came even as the ILO doubted India’s commitment to women in the unorganised sector. ‘‘Women are excluded from India’s growth and development,’’ ILO director Herman Van der Laan said at a seminar organised today by AITUC, the CPI-affiliated trade union. He added that the informal or unorganised sector faced challenges and strategies needed to be evolved. ‘‘Those who are excluded deserve to be part of India’s development and success with full protection and dignity,’’ the ILO director said.