CHANDIGARH, Sept. 9 -- The women representatives are not merely witnesses to change, but the architects of change, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Tuesday underscoring the importance of active and effective participation of women representatives in making democracy more sensitive, inclusive and accountable. Addressing the concluding ceremony of two-day "She Is a Change Maker" programme organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) at Surajkund in Faridabad on Tuesday, chief minister said that when women participate in the decision-making process, along with their voices, the aspirations of families, society and the nation also reach the centre of decision-making. MLA from Ballabhgarh Mool Chand Sharma, Badkhal MLA Dhanesh Adlakha, municipal corporation (MC) mayor Praveen Batra Joshi, Haryana State Commission for Women chairperson Usha Priyadarshini and Odisha legislative assembly Speaker Surama Padhy were also present on the occasion. Women MLAs and legislative council members from 20 states and two union territories (UTs) also participated in the workshop. Various sessions were organised on a range of subjects, including deliberations, innovation, legislative procedures, leadership, communication, policy-making and the effective role of elected representatives. Saini thanked NCW chairperson Vijaya K Rahatkar and the entire team of the commission for organising the workshop. He said that the commission's initiative to strengthen the legislative knowledge, leadership capabilities, communication skills and effective participation of women representatives in policy-making was commendable. "Women representatives do not merely represent their constituencies, they represent a force that guides society, a voice that makes democracy more sensitive, and leadership capabilities that shape the future of the country," Saini said, adding that in the past two days, women representatives from different states had shared their experiences, ideas and working methods. Saini said that when women's voices are included in the decision-making process, sensitivity in policies, inclusiveness in decisions and a sense of justice in governance are strengthened. Women's participation does not merely change the picture of democracy, it also strengthens the character of democracy, he said. He said that under the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana (DDLY), around Rs.2,000 crore has so far been transferred to the bank accounts of beneficiary women in 10 instalments, while through Har Ghar-Har Grihini scheme, around 15 lakh families in the state are being provided LPG cylinders for just Rs.500. More than Rs.340 crore in subsidy has so far been provided to beneficiaries under the scheme, he added....