India has rich history of women empowerment: CM

Jammu, Jan 9: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday remarked that this country has a rich history of women empowerment and emancipation from the very beginning as it was born on the core idea of equality.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while delivering the presidential address during the valedictory session of weeklong first women’s National Integration Camp on ‘Women Empowerment and Emancipation through NSS’ at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev (PSPS) Government College for Women at Gandhinagar.
The weeklong camp was organised by Regional Directorate of National Service Scheme (NSS), Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with GCW Parade and PSPS GCW Gandhinagar Jammu.
In his address, the Chief Minister said that this country has born on principles of equality and gave women right to vote in very first election. “This country has seen women in leadership roles before countries who tried to teach us lessons. Our country had women Prime Minister before many developed countries had even thought of it”, Omar said.
He added, “Our Country had more than one women President and currently the occupant of our highest office is a Woman”.
The Chief Minister further said that our country also had a woman Lok Sabha speaker in the past, which speaks volumes about the ideals of women empowerment and emancipation in our democratic country.
The Chief Minister underlined that in one area where we are still lacking women empowerment is in public representation.
“The sad fact is that we have not been able to take this empowerment to its logical conclusion. We keep talking about reservation as the way forward, but true empowerment will have been achieved when women occupy an equal number of positions in the day-to-day governance and decision-making of this country without having to rely on reservation to get there”, Omar Abdullah said.
“At the end of the day women make up 50% of the population of this country but do not make up 50% of the elected representatives”, he added. The Chief Minister on the occasion also expressed gratitude to the participants from 16 different States and UTs for coming to Jammu and participating in this camp.
He asked the participants that whichever corner of the country you are going to please go as our ambassadors and carry from us a message of goodwill, message of love and friendship. Addressing the gathering, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo said that it is pleasing to see people from different states participating together under one roof.
She emphasized on the importance of national integration in today’s diverse society and encouraged the young participants to become ambassadors of peace and unity in their communities.
She added that Women are marching ahead in every field and profession.
In his address, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Shantmanu briefed the gathering about the main activities held during the camp. Director Colleges J&K and State Director, NSS, Shiekh Aijaz presented the camp address on the occasion.
During the valedictory session, the Chief Minister also felicitated the winners and participants of different categories.
Pertinently, the camp featured range of activities, including cultural performances, community service projects, sports competitions, workshops and interactive sessions on varied subjects.
Vice-Chancellor Cluster University of Jammu, Professor K.S. Chandrasekhar, Regional Director NSS & Principal GCW Gandhi Nagar, Dr. Saraswat, Principal GCW, Parade Ground, Dr. Tikku, Camp Commander, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur and other concerned were present on the occasion.