Hundreds of young women representing colleges and schools took part in the 2k run held as part of the National Women’s Parliament on Sunday.
The run was flagged off by Olympic Silver medallist P.V. Sindhu and Chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy from the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium and culminated at the Tummalapallivari Kalakshetram.
Ms. Sindhu said women were in no way inferior to men and exhorted them to strive to achieve distinction in their chosen fields. “I am happy Andhra Pradesh is organising NWP for the first time which will pave way for more laws towards empowerment of the women.”
She said she was proud of being born as a woman and the fairer sex was equal to men on all fronts. “If I can achieve glory with hard work and dedication, others can also achieve and what is needed is self belief.”
Ms. Humpy said several successful women who spoke at the seminar inspired the younger generation.
Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao said several women he interacted with said they had gained confidence and courage after attending the seminar. “More than 20,000 people witnessed the event,” he added.
Minister for Information and Technology Palle Raghunadha Reddy said the seminar would set a direction for policies on women. “It is a milestone in the history of Andhra Pradesh.”
Minister for Water Resources Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao said the NWP would change the mindset of people who believed women not as equals.
Minister for Sports Atcham Naidu, District Collector Babu and others took part in the run.
