DW BUREAU / Ludhiana Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Monday urged women sarpanches to launch a war against drugs in their villages and clean the society from the menace by taking on drug abusers. He said that the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government is committed for the upliftment of women and several steps are being taken in this regard. Presiding over third seminar on women empowerment being organized by Rural Development and Panchayats Department, Dhaliwal said that women had a talent of huge multi-tasking capabilities and they could do wonders in eradicating social maladies by leading from the front against drug peddlers in their villages. He said that women sarpanches could become a lighthouse for the people with their effective planning and implementation in eliminating social evils as they perfectly manage their families. The Minister also pointed out that gone are the days when women needed permission even to step out of the house. In the 21st century, women excel in every sphere and manage their work-life efficiently. He said that no society could progress if its women are not full partners in the development policies and appealed to women sarpanches to not let others perform their duties. Directions had already been issued that under no circumstances, a male proxy of a women sarpanch or panch would interfere in official work. Accompanied by MLAs Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, Hardeep Singh Mundian, the Cabinet Minister said that Punjab government had been making sincere efforts for the women empowerment. He said that in Punjab, nearly 6500 villages' panchayats were run by women sarpanches and if they all will launch a crusade against drug abuse, the menace will be curbed successfully. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was committed to give more wings to the women as they are pillars of society and when women are empowered, the whole society is empowered. (editor@dailyworld.in)