BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to create women-friendly plans for cities, State Commission for Women (SCW) on Wednesday organised a gender sensitisation workshop for corporators of three municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur. The commission emphasised on creating facilities and forming policies for women and design our cities keeping in mind the needs of women."Unfortunately women's access to public spaces and their safety has never got adequate attention. Very small things and steps can have a big impact on the lives of women in cities. While forming policies and making plans for developing roads, street lights, parks and toilets in the cities, if we think of women's safety and their comfort it would help in long term gains," said chairperson of SCW, Lopamudra Buxipatra.The corporators also discussed the problems faced by women including eve-teasing, dowry torture, child marriage, harassment at workplace, immoral trafficking, sex determination and female foeticide and domestic violence."There are various laws formed to deal with these issues. It is very important for us to know about our legal rights and how to deal with these problems and provide help and support to the poor and under-privileged women in the society," said K Madhabi mayor of Berhampur Municipal Corporation.Odisha government has provided 50% reservation to women in urban local bodies. "Women are always at a receiving end. Gender equal decisions are very important for municipal corporations and corporators must be aware of various provisions as they are directly working in the grass root level," said Usha Devi, skill development and technical education minister.Among others state disability commissioner Minati Behera, Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Jena and Cuttack mayor Minakshi Behera and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

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