Women empowerment must for societal growth, says CM

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 7

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said empowerment of women was imperative for the development of society and the government had launched many schemes and programmes for the welfare and development of women of the state.

Addressing a public meeting after interacting with members of women self-help groups set up under the UMEED programme of the J&K Rural Livelihood Mission at Bishnah this afternoon, the Chief Minister said the state government had flagged women’s welfare as a priority area and efforts were being made to achieve targets in this regard.

Mehbooba said that keeping this in view, the state government had launched a scheme called ‘Ladli Beti’ to support and finance the expenses of the girl child. Similarly, she said, the state government had introduced women police stations in many districts of the state for the speedy disposal of cases of crime against women.

The Chief Minister said the government was contemplating to set up a maternity and child health centre along a hospital in every area of the state so that women in the far-flung areas did not have to travel miles for their treatment. She said the government had recently launched Scooty scheme for girls to encourage the meritorious students and equip them with exclusive transportation.

An exclusive bus service for women was introduced to give the working women and students a secure atmosphere not only at the workplace but also on the road and in travel, she added.

Mehbooba complimented the self-help group members for writing their success stories and contributing positively to their families and society. She said possibilities would be explored so that these self-help groups get the requisite market support and their products were sold across the country at good prices.