STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Tuesday called for greater participation of women in the political process, saying this will lead to their economic and social emancipation on a larger plank.
“National Conference has all along worked towards carving out a significant role for women in decision making”, Rana said while addressing Women Convention organised by the party’s Women Wing at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon.
He said though women constitute half of the electorate yet their representation in decision making bodies is insignificant. “This trend is required to be reversed”, he said and urged women to come forward and shoulder their responsibilities towards shaping the destiny of the state. He said the essence and spirit of democracy will become a reality only when women are politically and financially empowered. For achieving this objective, the civic bodies, apart from legislature and parliament, would be appropriate forum for them to get elected in good numbers and priorities the schemes and programmes for women emancipation. He said their involvement in decision making at grass root level democratic institutions will be a game-changer for women empowerment.
Rana said that a duty has cast upon women activists to highlight difficulties faced to people in the wake of inflation and scarce availability of essentials and defunct utility services.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial President Women Wing, Satwant Kaur Dogra pledged that women will shoulder their responsibility in steering the state to peace and progress by isolating elements inimical to unity and amity. She cautioned against machinations of divisive forces, who were bent upon dividing society on regional and religious lines.
She reiterated that the Women Wing will work pro-actively to empower the women, particularly those having little avenues in far-off and remote areas.
During the Convention, Daljeet Sharma District President R.S. Pura, Kuldeep Kour District Jammu Rural A, Puspa Dogra District President Samba , Satya Jamwal District President Jammu Urban, Nirmal Sharma District President Poonch, Neelam Sharma District President Kathua, Mariyam Sheikh District President Kishtwar and Khurshid Begum District President Rajouri Rural, detailed various issues faced by women, especially after the present dispensation took over. They expressed concern over delay in financial assistance and pension under various schemes tailored for welfare of old and destitute
Prominent among those present included Bimla Luthra Ex-MLA, Deepender Kour Ex-MLC, Veena Oberio, Manveer Kour, Rita Gupta, Dilshad Malik, Rashida Begum, Pinki Bhat, Sunita Sharma District Secretary Reasi, Amrit Versa Provincial Secretary Ramban, Puspa Dogra Provincial Secretary Chenani, Rama Gupta District President Udhampur, Rekha Langeh Block President Nagrota , Dr. Shamshad Shan, Ashu Rajput, Lata Sharma, Anju Sharma, Naseem Akhtar , Sunita Nayab, Kousar Parveen, Anju Grover, Rekha Manhas, Raksha Manhas and Raj Kour.
