Puducherry : Puducherry Lt Governor Dr Kiran Bedi launched the week-long Women’s Day celebrations on March 4.

The rally with the theme `Women Provide Security, Stability and Progress’ was led by Kiran Bedi who was the first woman Indian Police Service officer. Accompanying her in the rally were Superintendent of Police Rachna Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Apoorva Gupta. Bicycling from Raj Nivas, the rally covered around 12 km before reaching Gandhi Thidal on the beach.

The rally was to provide recognition for women who contributed in their own little way for the prosperity of Puducherry. Women engaged in sanitation, students, staff of Swatchata Corporation and Self-Help Group members would be encouraged and motivated during the week, organisers said.

The celebrations would culminate in Karaikal on March 10 in the presence of Welfare Minister M Kandasamy and Agriculture Minister R Kamalakannan.

“The week would be dedicated to pay gratitude to all women members who, supported by their male counterparts, were contributing every bit towards the progress of Society,” Kiran Bedi told the gathering.

She also praised women beat officers, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme who were the `perfect launch pad’ for this event.

Some of the notable dignitaries present during the rally included Secretary to the Lt Governor G Theva Neethi Dhas, Additional Secretary G. Srinivas, Deputy Inspector General of Police Rajiv Ranjan and Private Secretary to the Lt Governor R. Sridharan.

Acharya Media team, Cluny Band, Mother Teresa Post Graduate Institute of Research and Heal Sciences, Alpha Engineering College lent support to the rally.