Jammu, Feb 14:  Asserting that empowerment of women in all respects was the priority of the Government, Minister for Social Welfare, Ms Sakina Itoo today said that various measures have been taken to enable them to lead a dignified life in the society.
 Ms Sakina was interacting with participants, after inaugurating an awareness camp at Rajouri Township, here. The camp was organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Women’s Development Corporation (JKWDC) to acquaint the women folk of the area about their legal and socio-economic rights.
 The Minister of State for Forests,   Shabir Ahmad Khan, MLA,  s. Bimla Luthra, District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, S. J. P. Singh, SSP, Rajouri,   Shafat Ahmad Watali, Executive Director Rehabilitation,    Irshad Ahmad Jan and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
 The Minister distributed cheques worth Rs. 8 lakhs among 16 Self-Help Groups to enable them to take up various economic activities. She also went round the stalls installed by the Self-Help-Groups and evinced great interest in the products displayed by them. The Minister said Government has launched various schemes to help women to take up various activities, including food processing, weaving, spinning, handicrafts, setting up Dairy units, Sericulture and other   activities.   She said under these schemes women are imparted training in various crafts and provided incentives, financial assistance and loans from   for setting up   income generating units.
 Calling for promoting women education, she said, education was the most effective tool for their all round development. Citing the example of late Prime Minister  s. Indira Gandhi who lead the nation of decades, she said, in today’s modern age a women are working   with men  shoulder to shoulder in every field of activity.   
 The Minister also announced that a women hostel will be established in Rajouri Township for which, she directed the concerned officer to identify State land so that necessary steps would be taken for its early construction. She said Government was contemplating to provide computers to all Bal Ashram’s of the State to enable children of tribal areas an opportunity to excel in modern education.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST