New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) Asserting that ''women's issues are of national concern'', UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today said the government was committed to women empowerment through education, employment and legal rights.

Hoisting the Indian Women's Day Flag designed to depict women's empowerment as part of week-long celebrations 'Ananya (the incomparable) to mark International Women's Day on March 8, Ms Gandhi said the flag symbolised the new and emerging India, striving for full empowerment of women through education, employment, enforcement of legal rights and social equality.

She said the flag, which would be hoisted by women panchayat members across the country on March 8, would send a powerful message of equality and emancipation of women. The flag depicting the colours of a muted rainbow under the tricolour personified women's psyche and hopes for the future.

She said that India was the first country to have a flag on women's empowerment, which symbolised that the country could not achieve its full potential till women were given their rights.

She said the society had been "less than just" for women as they face challenges before birth in the form of female foeticide which had resulted in a skewed sex ratio. Young girls also suffer from malnutrition and as they grow they face prejudices, domestic violence and harassment, she added.

"Despite these formidable odds, women achieve success ...

however, for every few women who achieve success, many others remain in social bondage," she pointed out. ''We must pay attention to millions of these women on the International Women's Day.'' Ms Gandhi called for uplifment of women, especially those belonging to the deprived and vulnerable sections of the society.

Reservation for women in the Panchayati Raj Institutes has led to lakhs of women occupying positions of power.

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