DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
jammu, Apr 1
Member of Parliament from Jammu Sh Jugal Kishore Sharma, who is seeking a third term from Jammu-Reasi Lok Sabha seat, today said the Modi government has been working tirelessly to transform the landscape for women in Jammu and Kashmir, enabling them to participate more actively in the political and socio-economic fabric of the region.
Addressing a large gathering of women folk at a religious programme at Daipur in Akhnoor Constituency, Member of Parliament said the Parliament giving nod to 33 percent reservation for women in J&K Assembly was the testimony to the sincere commitment of the Modi government towards the political empowerment of the women in this restive region.
“Right from Mughal rule to the British rule to Congress governments, women’s rights were always snatched. Congress government never bothered to give adequate opportunities to women to grow socially and politically, besides grave injustice was meted out to them,” Sharma said, adding “It is the Modi government’s rule that women have got respect and the right opportunity. Women are now creating new records on the strength of their knowledge and talent while breaking the social taboos”.
“Through measures such as reservations in local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions, women have been given greater opportunities to actively engage in grassroots democracy,” he said.
“Initiatives such as ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ have been instrumental in promoting female education and addressing the gender gap in literacy rates. Additionally, various scholarships and financial aid schemes have been introduced to support girls’ education, thereby enabling them to pursue higher studies and fulfill their potential,” Member of Parliament said.
Sharma further said the Modi government has implemented several schemes aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and providing financial assistance to women. “The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has facilitated access to credit for women entrepreneurs, enabling them to start or expand their businesses. Furthermore, initiatives like Stand-Up India have encouraged women to venture into non-traditional sectors and become job creators rather than job seekers in their communities,” the MP said.
Sharma further said that the post-revocation of Article 370, widow pension has reached 100 per cent saturation coverage in Jammu and Kashmir and one-stop centres for the benefit of women have come up in every district of the Union territory.
The BJP candidate said the safety and security of women was paramount for Modi government for their overall empowerment. “In regions like J&K, women often face unique challenges regarding their safety and well-being. The Modi government has taken several steps to address these concerns by strengthening law enforcement agencies and implementing initiatives to combat violence against women,” Sharma said.
Vice Chairman DDC Suraj Singh,DDC Suresh Sharma,Ex-Mla & Distrist President Rajeev Sharma,Pardeep Choudhary,Ex-Sarpanches Panches and others were also present at the occasion.
