Vijayawada, March 8 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said that his government has redefined the welfare delivery system through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and has given a place of pride to women of the state socially, economically and politically. Addressing a meeting organised on the occasion of International Women’s day here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that the state has been competing not with other states but with the nation in terms of empowerment of women in economic, social and political spheres. He said that his government has been in the forefront towards women and added the stadium filled up to the brim consists of elected representatives from panchayat to Parliament besides nominated persons to various Corporations. The political empowerment is reflected in the Cabinet itself with the Deputy Chief Minister, Home Minister, Deputy Chairperson of Legislative Council being women from ST, SC and Minorities besides the post of Chief Secretary and State Election Commission was given to a woman strengthening our commitment, Reddy said. He said though 33 per cent reservation remained as a mere slogan in the country since 1993, the YSRCP government took the path of practical approach and brought out legislation to provide 50 per cent reservation to women in nominated posts and in contracts to nominated works. The Chief Minister explained that from Market Yard Chairpersons to Corporation heads and Directors, ZP Chairpersons to Mayors, Corporators, Ward Members to Sarpanches, women have more than 50 per cent representation and among the village and ward volunteers, 53 per cent are women and in Village and Ward Secretariats the number of women employees is more than the halfway mark which shows the women force in our Government. Reddy said that the women were also being helped in their entrepreneurship by roping in banks to provide loans and big Corporates like Amul, Reliance, Procter and Gamble, ITC, and others for setting up small stalls which has been a game-changer in the lives of many women beneficiaries, he said. The Chief Minister also elaborately gave data about the Disha Act and Disha App and asserted that the crime rate has come down and the average investigation time has been reduced from 169 days during the previous TDP government to 61 days now. A host of women leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Pamula Pushpa Sreevani, MLA RK Roja, AP State Women’s Commission chairperson Vasireddy Padma also spoke. DP CS1700