Jammu, March 9: The State Government has launched “Empowering skilled young women 2009” a Self Employment Scheme, under State Government’s Sher-i-Kashmir Employment Policy, to enable capable young women to set up their income generating units.
 Under the scheme, the beneficiaries will get loan facilities on easy terms, besides marketing and expertise support.
 The Scheme was launched by Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, at a function organized by State Women’s Development Corporation in connection with the International Women’s Day., here.
 The Managing Director National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation Abrar Ahmad, Secretary to Government Social Welfare MS Khan, College staff, Students and Women from different walks of life, besides 650 members of various Self Help Groups who had come all the way from far- flung areas of Jammu, participated in the function.   
 Sakina emphasized upon Women in general and Self Help Groups in particular, to come forward and work united to become self-reliant. The Minister said that the Government has initiated numerous schemes for making women economically self reliant and giving them their due place in the society.  She said that the women, who have achieved success in various walks of life, also owe the responsibility of such women to play a significant role for empowerment of those who are lagging behind.
 In her welcome address Managing Director Women’s Development Corporation Nahida Soz highlighted the activities of the Corporation, particularly with regard to betterment and welfare of women of the State. 
 Giving details about the scheme “Empowering skilled young women 2009”, she said the scheme envisages loan facilities on nominal interest rates, besides marketing and expertise support to the women entrepreneurs willing to set up their income generating units. She said that the Corporation would act as facilitator in managing loans and other support for the beneficiaries, adding that the scheme would go a long way in promoting capable young women as entrepreneurs, particularly in small scale and cottage industry.

KU LAUNCHES SKILL DEV PROG FOR FEMALES
 The Kashmir University’s Women’s Studies Centre today conducted the screening and counselling of females for its skill development programme. 
 According to a varsity communiqué, the faculty from the centre interacted with the students.
 During a seminar organized to observe the International Day for Women yesterday, the Dean, Students Welfare, Prof Neelofar Khan, said. “At the grassroots level, women are not aware of their rights. We need to make efforts to address the women’s issues,” she said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST