New Delhi: National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which is "forcing people to participate in poverty alleviation initiative of the country," is a right step to empower rural women, Ramon Magsaysay Award winner social activist Aruna Roy said here today.

"Empowerment is synonymous with poverty alleviation, and this act is doing that fantastically by offering job all over the country," she said while addressing the 13th Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture.

"We should feel proud of this act," she added while speaking on Democracy: Women s Struggle Against Poverty . Pointing out the fundamental requirements in rural areas of the country, the IAS officer turned social activist said "hunger is the biggest atrocity as many people can t have even a square meal even today".

Vice President Hamid Ansari, participating in the programme, outlined the importance of "caring and sharing society". "How the question of the poor section is being addressed is the litmus test for a society," Ansari said.

Source : PTI