STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: As part of International Women’s Day, the District Social Welfare Office, Jammu, on Thursday organised International Women’s Day under the theme “Invest in Women-Accelerate Progress”. The department launched and a series of events and initiatives to celebrate and promote gender equality on this significant day. Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare, Sheetal Nanda, inaugurated the celebration comprised of several events including the walkathon, marathon and cyclothon at Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, where around 700 youth participated. The mega event was held in the auditorium of Government Women College Gandhi Nagar where different activities including nukkad natak, demo on self defence, group dance, song performance, cultural activities, games, puzzles, tongue twister were presented by women youth. The women entrepreneurs were encouraged through their stalls established in the exhibition organised by the National Rural Livelihood Mission and Women Development Corporation. The Commissioner Secretary visited the stalls and had feedback from the women entrepreneurs regarding their performance and progress as well. She appreciated the promising entrepreneurs for their creativity and hard work. While addressing the gathering, the Commissioner Secretary stressed on providing equal opportunities and power to women for financial independence, education and personal development. Later, the Commissioner Secretary felicitated the women achievers including Navneet Kour, NGO support; Nirmal Pawar, JKRLM; Pooja Devi, first female JKSRTC bus driver of J&K, Bindiya Raina Tickoo, Nationally known Anchor, Author and Poet and Advocate Meenu Padha, child and women activist. Dr. Paras Khanna also delivered brief lecture on awareness about malignancy among the women youth.
Director, Mission Shakti/Mission Vatsalaya, Harvinder Kour, Director, Social Welfare Department, Jammu, Bharat Bhushan, District Social Welfare Officer, Jammu, Reasi and other officers were also present on the occasion.