"No progress can come to a nation that does not involve half of its population in the nation-building activities", said a U.N official after visiting the rural areas of South Asia. That is so true. How can we call a nation democratic when half of its population is sitting on haunches at home and, thus, cannot even avail their right to vote? It is said the progress of a society depends on the empowerment of its women. The first step to empower women is to build awareness in the people. Women must know their rights and their status in society. Unless women are made aware of their rights, no drive for economic progress or freedom would help. Then comes the basic need of everyone living in a society-education. If women have education, they are likely to educate their children as well. And education empowers everyone that gets access to it. Educated women are likely to know their rights and nobody can use them or do any kind of violence against them. Many NGOs are currently working to build awareness and empower women in South Asia even though our governments have not shown enough interest in women development. -MAHA SABIR, Karachi, September 17.