Over 15000 Widows Participated At State Level Widows Convention By Bala Vikasa:- Biggest widows empowerment meeting in the history of India organized at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad by Bala Vikasa on 23rd June. On the occasion of International Widows Day, over 15000 widows participated in an effort to bring awareness and empowerment. Attended by delegates from all over the country, it brought to light how widows can be empowered and prevented from being abused at the hands of social stigmas.

Widows have been suffering in every sphere from financial, social and economical to even personal adversities due to prevailing social taboos in our society. Bala Vikasa founder Mrs Bala Theresa and Executive Director Shoury Reddy have been pioneering in the field of empowering the widows from 1990. And through this convention they brought their vision of helping communities help themselves.

Todays program had the most distinguished delegates joining hands to uplift and safeguard the rights of widows and enable their empowerment. Bala Vikasa has been reaching far and wide through its community driven development program to over 2.15 Lac women being empowered in Andhra Telangana region. Guest speakers from around the country and representing Government, NGO and private sectors came together to support the wisdom. Speeches by religious heads from Hyderabad including Sri Sri Sudhir Swami Ji from Mukkamala Peetadhipathi, Sri Gangu Upendra Sharma President of Telangana Archaka Sangam, Revered father S Bala Priest Director of Diocesan Women Cell, Mr Moulana Syed Maqdoom Mohinuddin Islamic Scholar.

Guests of honor speeches from Mr Naina Narsimha Rao Home Minister, Mr Madhusudhana Chary Honorable speaker of Telangana Legislative Assembly, Mr T Nageshwar rao Minister for women welfare roads and buildings, Mr T Padma Rao Minister for excise and prohibition Sports and youth services, Mr T Harish Rao Minister for Mining and Irrigation, Mrs Tulia Uma ZP Chairperson Karimnagar, Mrs Konda Surekha MLA Warangal, Mr Rasamai MLA Karimnagar and chairman of sanskruti saradhi, Mr Aroori Ramesh MLA Wardhannapet, Mr Errabelli Dayakar Rao MLA Palakurty, Mr Bonthu Ram Mohan Mayor Hyderabad, Mrs Amala Akkinneni, Mr Atul Palta Delhi Loomba Foundation, Prof Hemlata Talesra Indian Representative CCEAM and Chairperson Rajasthan Council for Educational Administration and Management and Mrs Ginny Shrivastava of Rajasthan Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan

Bala Vikasa in India and SOPAR in Canada founded by same founder members has been working hand in hand in highlighting the social causes and enabling community development from past 40 years. Promoting the cause of drinking water and sanitation, development of rural poor women, development of rural poor youth, development of marginal farmers, spreading education far and wide and also capacity building training programs. This convention aimed at empowering widows and bringing them opportunities for leading a better life.

- Minu.B