This was stated by the Minister for Social Welfare Department, Ms Sakina Itoo while inaugurating a Legal Awareness Campaign on the theme “Legal Rights and Empowerment of Women in J&K” at Miskeen Bagh Srinagar today. The Camp was organised by J&K State Rehabilitation Council and Sponsored by National Commission for Women.
Highlighting the main aim and objective of organising such awareness camps, the Minister said the basic function of the Rehabilitation Council is to provide physical, psychological and economic rehabilitation of the victims of militancy in
Ms Sakina asked women community to come forward and get benefited of the various welfare schemes launched by State Government. She said that the Rehabilitation Council is also providing Motorized Tricycles both fuel and battery operated to the physically challenged persons. She said that all the handicapped persons belonging to BPL category are eligible under this scheme.
Earlier, the Executive Director, J&K Rehabilitation Council, Ms Hafiza Muzaffer informed the Minister that during the last financial year, an amount of Rs.315.697 lakhs have been distributed among 3589 widow beneficiaries, Rs.204.572 lakhs among 2207 old persons under old age pension scheme, Rs.4.90 lakhs among 49 beneficiaries as marriage assistance to young widows and grown up daughters besides, Rs.79.97 lakhs to 1024 persons under the scheme of assistance to handicapped/disabled persons and Rs.162.01 lakhs have been provided to 1826 orphans of killed militants as scholarship.
Director Social Welfare Department Kashmir, Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Chairpersons, Madr-i-Meharban Women and Child Welfare Institute, Miskeen Bagh,
The Minister said that to reach out to the victims of the militancy hit areas and share information about the welfare schemes launched for empowerment and upliftment of the women folk particularly belonging to the backward areas, BPL, destitute and Poor, the Rehabilitaion Council should organise more such camps and provide full information to the common women folk as they are not yet fully aware about these welfare schemes. She said presently 5 lakh people are benefited under various scholarship schemes including post/pre matric. She said the Social Welfare department is providing scholarships from matric to PHD level for the students.
She also announced that a training programme would commence today at Miskeen Bagh in which 20 girls would be imparted training so that they may be able to earn their own livelihood with respect and honour. She said that Social Welfare Department is taking proactive steps to reach out to persons with disabilities. She said the persons with disabilities face dual challenges of marginalization on account of normal socio-economic challenges as well as on account of their physical and mental condition. She said J&K Women’s Development Corporation will serve as powerful tool in empowering women by making them self-reliant through various schemes being run by it. She said that women today work shoulder to shoulder with men and also contribute to the household income and help increase the stand of living of their families. She said that increasing the socio-economic political and spiritual strength of a woman refers to “women empowerment”.
The Minister said that empowerment of women is not only her birth right but a necessity for today’s challenges of the world. She said that when the world is moving towards one globalized structure, we need to resourcefully acquaint our women with greater capacities and help them to reach higher horizons so that they can walk shoulder to shoulder with men and establish a happy and healthy family. She said that economic empowerment of women plays a vital role in the overall development of the society which is only possible when a woman feels self reliant and fully sustained.
The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of accelerated economic growth, social progress of the society by involving the women in the process. She said efforts are continue to improve the quality of life of downtrodden, destitutes, needy, widow and other poor people.
A large number of Anganwari Workers, Helpers, Officials of Social Welfare Department were also present on the occasion.
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