Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday gave a strong call to women to step forward as equal partners in shaping the Punjab’s future, asserting that the state could not become a front runner in the country without their participation in governance, economy and politics.While addressing a state-level International Women’s Day function in Ludhiana, the Chief Minister highlighted how the state government was actively dismantling barriers that kept women away from key sectors. He stressed on merit-based recruitment where a majority of the over 63,000 government jobs have gone to women, the opening of firefighting services to them after removing unrealistic conditions and the growing presence of women officials in top administrative positions.Mann also urged young women to enter politics and become active participants in decision-making, stressing that a stronger democracy and a more progressive Punjab would only be possible when women play a central role in shaping public policy and leadership.The Chief Minister said the state government had made concerted efforts to empower women across the state by giving them opportunities in governance and administration. He said: “Our government has appointed several women officials as DCs and SSPs. A number of women officials have also been appointed as ADCs. No other government had ever bothered to appoint women to such coveted posts in the past.”The Chief Minister said “Girls have already outnumbered boys in many fields but politics still remains an exception. This field has long been considered the domain of men but the time has come for women to excel here as well.”Paying tributes to women freedom fighters, the Chief Minister cited the example of Durga Bhabhi, a close associate of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. He said: “Durga Bhabhi played a major role in the freedom struggle. At a time when Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his colleagues needed financial support, she even sold her ornaments for the national cause. Girls of the state have inspiring role models such as Mai Bhago and Durga Bhabhi. It is high time that they follow their footsteps and serve the nation.”He also announced a historic step for women’s participation in emergency services.“Punjab will be the only state in the country to have women in the firefighting services. Girls aspiring to join the services had met me and explained difficulties they were facing due to certain basic conditions. Taking a sympathetic view, our government relaxed these unrealistic conditions, paving the way for them to join the firefighting services,” he said.Mann also felicitated several women achievers, including girls, who recently cleared the UPSC examinations.