FAISALABAD, Jan 15: The Citizens Action Committee, Faisalabad, has demanded that the government should immediately take measures for the protection of women rights.

The committee, at a meeting presided over by its president Dr Naveeda Zia on Thursday, expressed concern over the increasing incidents of violence against women and demanded that the government should take immediate steps to check the crime.

A large number of activists and office-holders of women organizations, who attended the meeting, noted that all efforts made by the government so far to arrest the upward trend of violence against women had not borne fruit.

The meeting observed that a comprehensive policy should be evolved by the federal government in consultation with women elected to the local councils and parliament, and leaders of women organizations. It was decided that the NGOs working under the umbrella of the Citizen Action Committee, would help the Citizens Community Boards to launch projects for the welfare of people, especially women.

FARM LOANS: A sum of Rs40.521 million has been loaned to small farmers of the district on soft terms during the last two months under the one window operation scheme of the provincial government.

This was claimed by District Officer (revenue) Aslam Qasmi in a meeting here on Thursday. He claimed that during the last two months, 229 pass books were issued by the revenue department at 33 centres set up under the one window scheme in six tehsils of Faisalabad district, while Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan provided loans to 149 applicants.

He directed the revenue staff deputed on these centres that they should provide every possible facility to the farmers. Meanwhile, in another meeting the DO claimed that Rs292.679 million arrears have been recovered from defaulters in 2003.