Economic independence key to women empowerment: Abdul Haq

Asks womenfolk to avail benefit of self-employment schemes 

JAMMU, NOVEMBER 22- Minister for Rural Development Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq on Wednesday stressed on the women to avail the benefit of various schemes  launched to uplift their socio economic condition.

Minister said was interacting with members of various Self Help Groups at a function organised by State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) here at Dansal block. The meeting was attended by Additional Mission Director Kapil Sharma, BDO Dansal and other senior officers of the district.

While complimenting the SHG members for writing their success stories and contributing positively to their families, the Minister said that an empowered woman guarantees an empowered society. 

Listing the intervention schemes, the Minister said empowerment of women is imperative for the development of society adding that many schemes have been launched to make them self dependent. 

He said more possibilities would be explored to provide SHGs requisite market support and their products are sold across the country at good prices. He said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has flagged women’s welfare as a priority area and efforts are being made to achieve the targets in this regard.

Abdul Haq said the Umeed scheme has greatly helped the rural women to contribute in the family income and meet the expenses of the family thus making them self reliant as well as become socially, economically and politically relevant.

Exhorting upon the participants to avail the benefits envisaged under the mission and strive for their economic uplift, Haq Khan said   UMEED initiative has become a driving force for poverty alleviation in rural areas through capacity building and generating livelihood avenues. 

The Minister said that livelihood mission mainly focuses on women empowerment, providing them avenues through formation of self-help groups for which State Government is providing adequate financial support. ”Women are supported in different trades including handicraft production, cattle rearing, Weaving, Horticulture, agriculture, dairy farming, running provisional stores, poultry farming, saffron cultivation etc”.

Abdul Haq said the main aim was to reach out to all the poor families, link them to sustainable livelihoods opportunities and nurture them till they come out of poverty and enjoy a decent quality of life.

The Minister impressed upon the Self Help Groups to work with more zeal and dedication and avail the benefits of the state and centrally sponsored schemes.

Earlier, the Minister inaugurated a Milk Collection Centre at Gajarkotli in Dansal block. The collection centre is managed by the Self Help Groups of the district. The women involved in dairy farming collect the milk in the Milk Collection Centre which is fitted with a Bulk Milk Cooler.

 The Minister appreciated the efforts of the Self Help Groups for managing the Milk Collection Centres in the block and said that the dairy farming by SHGs have helped in increasing the production of milk in rural areas and increased the income of these households.