Empowerment of women imperative for development of society: Abdul Haq

Inaugurates All-Women Milk Collection Centers at Samba

GHAGWAL (SAMBA), FEBRUARY 28: Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq today inaugurated Automatic Milk Collection Centres (AMCC) in Ghagwal block of Samba district. The centres have been setup under ‘Umeed’ Scheme and managed by all-women Self Help Groups.
The AMCCs is a prompt solution to automate the milk collection process making it efficient, transparent and less time consuming as the system incorporates complete solution right from capturing weight, measuring Fat and can automatically check the type of milk (Cow milk or Buffalo milk). Based on the parameters collected, it calculates rates, saves transaction record and prints the detail of transaction. The system allows less adulteration of milk as the rates are decided by the content of fat in the milk not by the quantity.
The AMCCs were inaugurated at Madwal and Paloora village of Ghagwal village which are managed by the women associated with Self Help Groups (SHG) created under Umeed scheme of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in collaboration with J&K Milk Producers Cooperative Limited.
After inaugurating the AMCCs, the minister interacted with various women associated with various SHGs of NRLM and listened the success stories of various SHGs.
While complimenting the SHG members for writing their success stories and contributing positively to their families, Minister said that an empowered woman guarantees an empowered society and that the Government has launched many schemes and programmes for the welfare empowerment and development of women. He said the empowerment of women is imperative for the development of the society and that more possibilities would be explored so that these SHGs get the requisite market support and their products are sold across the country at good prices.
Minister said the Umeed scheme has helped the rural women to contribute in the family income and meet the expenses of the family thus making women self reliant and socially, economically and politically more relevant and educated.
Addressing the gathering, Abdul Haq Khan exhorted upon the participants to avail the benefits envisaged under the mission and strive for their economic uplift. He said the UMEED initiative is highly beneficial for poverty alleviation in rural areas through capacity building and generating livelihood avenues. He further said that the mission will help in economic empowerment of women
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 sectors including Pashmina weaving, horticulture, handicrafts, agriculture, dairy farming, provision stores, poultry farming, saffron cultivation, dress making etc” , added the Minister and asked the concerned to create requisite awareness among the stakeholders.
Minister stressed on the women to be part of the decision making in their village and directed the officers to ensure presence of at least 50 percent women in Ghram Sabhas held in the village. He said this after women raised various developmental issues of the village and appealed the minister for redressal of their grievances.
Abdul Haq said the women should participate in Gram Sabhas so that they decide about the development of the village. Minister also stressed on the women to actively participate in the upcoming Panchayat election by not only voting but also by contesting elections.
Reviewing the achievements under JKSRLM, the Minister said that this mission envisages reaching out mobilizing and supporting nine lakh rural poor households across 22 districts (143 blocks) in the State. Minister was informed that there are 502 SHGs in the block and 10 AMCCs are functional in the block as most of the villagers rear cattle in the area and is among one of the leading milk producing villages of the district.
Others who were present on the occasion include Additional Mission Director JKSRLM Kapil Sharma, ACD Samba SK Attri, District Officer JKSRLM Owais Mir, BDO Rajpora Ram Diyal and Exen REW Bashir Ahmad Sheikh.