Mandya: Principal district and sessions judge Subramanya JN, on Friday, stressed that legal awareness is crucial for empowering women and enabling them to assert their rights in society.He spoke after inaugurating a district-level workshop on the prevention of gender-based violence held at Cauvery Hall of the zilla panchayat in Mandya.The programme was organised jointly by the district administration, zilla panchayat, and the District Legal Services Authority in connection with International Women’s Day 2026.The judge said the increasing representation of women in the judiciary reflects the growing strength of ‘Nari Shakti’. He said that 13 women are currently serving as principal district judges across 31 districts in the state, which demonstrates the significant progress made by women in the legal field.He emphasised that local community resource persons (LCRPs) working under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) should possess adequate knowledge about women’s rights and legal provisions so that they can effectively guide and support women in rural areas.Zilla panchayat CEO KR Nandini noted that LCRPs play a crucial role in creating pad-free panchayats by promoting menstrual cups and organising self-help groups for adolescent girls and women.Senior civil judge M Anand observed that although the Constitution provides several laws to safeguard women, social awareness and education are equally important to ensure gender equality.District labour officer Savitha also spoke on the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan pension scheme and urged workers in the unorganised sector to enrol in the programme to secure their future.
