Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 8: Seeking larger participation of women in development process, Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo today said time has come when they have to play a pro-active role in shaping the destiny of the State.
Addressing a gathering of women at Vijaypur, Ms Sakina made a fervent appeal to women to realise their potential and put in their best in socio-economic development of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Women have made their presence felt in every sphere of activity and there is nothing that can retard their growth as equal partners in the decision making of the state”, she said and exhorted upon the women to participate in social, economic and political affairs alongside attending to their domestic chores.
Former Minister and MLA, S.S. Slathia, MLA, Bimla Luthra, Sarpanchs, Panchs and a large number of women were present on the occasion.
Sakina highlighted several measures initiated by the Government for women empowerment and asked women to take inspiration from such enterprising women.
Spelling out achievements of the Government in different fields, the Minister said that various employment schemes like SKEPWY have helped the youth of the state establish their own income generating ventures thus minimizing the unemployment problem to a great extent. She added that a number of model villages have been developed by Rural Development Department besides successful implementation of various rural emancipation programmes with focus on unattended areas. Besides, a notable improvement has been recorded in water and power supply scenario especially in kandi and border belts, she added. She said that various reformative steps have been taken to further streamline functioning of agriculture, health, horticulture and social welfare departments so that people could get enhanced services.
The Minister assured the people that all the ISSS pending cases would soon be cleared. She said that the officers have been directed to establish more Anganwari Centres in Vijaypur constituency as per need of the specific areas.
Advocating 33 per cent reservation for women, the Minister said that it will open up new vistas for women to exhibit and utilize their worth in the political world. She asked the women to assert on their part for occupying a significant place in the society as mere launching of schemes and empowerment programmes would not serve the purpose.
Speaking on the occasion, Slathia said that during the past four and half years the Government has made tremendous achievements under different sectors which has been well acknowledged by the people.
Earlier, Slathia inaugurated a Community Facility Centre, constructed with a cost of Rs. 1 crore, at Vijaypur.
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