Women’s Safety, Empowerment Takes Centre Stage in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Reaffirming Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to gender equality and development, Rayapati Sailaja, chairman of the State Women’s Commission, emphasized that women should be central to the state’s sustainable development agenda.

Speaking at a seminar on Tuesday, Sailaja pointed out that Visakhapatnam has been selected as the safest city in the “Nari 2025” survey of the National Commission for Women. He highlighted that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the last CII Summit reiterated these findings and underlined the focus on women’s safety across the state.

Speaking on the occasion, district collector Harendhira Prasad called for a permanent framework for the welfare of women right from birth. He underlined that education, health security and social protection are critical levers in reducing maternal and infant mortality.

Talking about the state’s empowerment initiatives, the collector said the Sri Shakti free bus ride scheme has significantly expanded women’s mobility and access. She reminded that one-stop centers provide end-to-end support to women in distress.

Police commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi said real security comes when a woman is confident that she can walk alone in the middle of the night. He reiterated that the vigilance of the community acts as the eyes and ears of the police department, allowing it to provide 24/7 protection.