Rajnandgaon, April 11 -- Social worker and Padma Shri awardee Phoolbasan Bai Yadav on Saturday welcomed the Centre's approval of draft amendment bills to operationalise the Women's Reservation Act, saying it marks a transformative step towards women's empowerment and will allow women to directly participate in national decision-making.

Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister and his government, she said the legislation would significantly expand opportunities for women to raise their voices at the highest level.

"On behalf of lakhs of women in Chhattisgarh, I express gratitude to the PM and his team, who have taken such a massive step towards women's empowerment. This will benefit women a lot directly. Sometimes, our thoughts remain ...