Bengaluru, Sep 15 (IANS): In recognition of her leadership and service to empower women, the Singapore government selected Karnataka's additional chief secretary K. Ratna Prabha to participate in the 'Women and Leadership Programme' in its consulate general in Chennai from Wednesday.

"The Singapore government has sponsored Prabha's participation in the three-day programme, organised by its Chennai consulate general, to provide women executives with leadership skills for overcoming gender bias and achieving success in their workplace," an official release said on Tuesday.

Prabha, a bureaucrat in the state commerce and industry department, will share her thoughts and rich experience in the programme for aspiring women leaders to achieve success in higher echelons of any organisation.

"During her administrative tenure spanning over three decades, Prabha encouraged hundreds of women to utilise their talent and face challenges in the male-dominated society," the statement recalled.

As deputy commissioner of Chikkamagaluru district, about 250 km from Bengaluru, Prabha implemented a pilot project for development of women and child in rural areas and rehabilitated 'Devadasis' in Raichur district by allotting lands and made them self-reliant in the 1990s.

Raichur is about 410 km from Bengaluru in the state's northern region.

Similarly, as deputy commissioner in Bidar district, about 700 km from Bengaluru, Prabha covered women beneficiaries in the zila parishad (local body) action plan with the cooperation of local representatives.

"As principal secretary in the state ITC department, Prabha unveiled a unique programme - Jawahar Knowledge Centre to provide jobs to rural educated girls," the statement noted.

As revenue secretary later, Prabha encourage women to register properties in their names by giving one percent discount in stamp duty.

"Prabha encouraged women to drive buses and become bus conductors as principal secretary in the transport department," the statement said.

Prabha also promoted setting up of working women hostels in cities, towns and rural areas and took steps to check women trafficking in vulnerable areas.

"In the state's new industrial policy (2014-19), Prabha introduced a chapter to encourage women entrepreneurship and women enterprises across the state to help the socio-economic development of families," the statement added.