Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday the state government plans to establish women’s parks across the state to encourage women entrepreneurs.

Speaking after inaugurating ThinkBig 2016, a two-day mega event focusing on women entrepreneurship, here at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre, chief minister Siddaramaiah said the government thought of developing one women’s park at Harohally near Bengaluru but surprisingly there was a great response from all over the state to set up parks for women. “Recently, I came to know that women entrepreneurs of Kalburgi, a backward district, have also demanded a park. Such is the enthusiasm generated among women entrepreneurs. At this rate, I am sure we would have women’s parks all over the state shortly,” the chief minister said.

He said the Karnataka’s diversity ratio in employment and entrepreneur ship is amongst the best in the country. “Our eco-system is regarded as the bench-mark for women to live and work and I am happy that we are in the right direction. Recently, the government has appointed women bus drivers and the government has provided 40 to 50 per cent reservation for women elected representatives in local bodies,” he said.

He said as per the fourth medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) census, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have 51.9 per cent of the country’s women-based business indicating the potential exists in Karnataka and the country. “I am sure with the initiatives taken up, Karnataka will soon be in the top slot for women entrepreneurship. Our government is rolling out the red carpet to women entrepreneurs and I urge all women entrepreneurs to explore entrepreneurial opportunities and to scale up your business,” he said.

He said the new Industrial Policy 2014-19 focuses on equitable and sustainable development with a special focus on manufacturing sector, creation of employment opportunities and promotion of MSMEs and all sectors of the society which have a strong base in Karnataka. “Women entrepreneurs have been given special attention to encourage enterprise creation and industrial capacity building by them for an inclusive growth and sustained development. However, I did not anticipate this kind of unprecedented response from the women entrepreneurs in such a short span,” he said.