JAMMU APRIL 27 (KNS): Former minister and senior National Conference leader Mr Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today called for socio- economic and political empowerment of women, saying their role in the decision making will ensure harmonious growth of the society.
“Without their political empowerment, the objective of empowering women socially and economically will remain a distant dream”, Mr Sadhotra said while addressing the party workers at Raipur in Jammu North Assembly Constituency this afternoon, adding that this calls for attitudinal change to achieve the desired goals.
He said the National Conference has all along stood for women empowerment and emancipation by giving them adequate space and providing a larger platform so that they play their designated role in every sphere. He said the women have excelled well over the years by dint of their hardwork and determination and they have proved second to none especially in the field of education. This odyssey has to be carried forward with a missionary spirit, he maintained.
Mr Sadhotra also enumerated various measures taken by the successive National Conference governments in Jammu and Kashmir with regard to women empowerment, saying the party has a track record of undertaking female literacy in a big way and facilitating women to launch their income generating units. He recalled the achievements of women in different fields and discerning marks they have made in academics, administration and politics. He also made a mention of 50 per cent increase in the seats for female students in medical colleges by NC Government as also 33 per cent reservation for women in grass root level democratic institutions, saying
these have instilled a sense of confidence among them. He said reservation for women in Panchayats, the basic units of democracy, has proved highly beneficial for executing various schemes aimed at their welfare at the ground level under the successive popular and representative governments.
“Women have already made their mark in all the fields and this phenomenon is required to be taken on a higher plank by ensuring opportunities to their counterparts in rural and other disadvantageous areas, " Mr Sadhotra said and stressed the need for generating awareness among the women folk in far-off areas. He said the National Conference workers can play a huge role in this regard as the party is deeply rooted in every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir.
Prominent among those present on the occasion are Anju Jamwal, Raj Kumari Panch, Meena Jamwal, Mamta Jamwal, Makhni Manhas, Shallu Jamwal, Anita Jamwal, Raghubir Singh Manhas District President, Randhir Singh District Secretary, Ghar Singh Corporator, Rakesh Sharma District Youth President, Ankush Abrol Provincial Joint Secretary, Dr. Vikas Sharma, Zonal Secretary Jammu, Tilak Raj Bhagat and Charan Dass Bhagat.(KNS)