Jammu: On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Sakina Itoo, the only woman in the Jammu and Kashmir government, delivered an empowering message for the women of the region.
Reflecting on her journey in politics, Itoo shared how the landscape for women has dramatically changed over the years.
“I would like to say that things have certainly changed. It’s not like it was before. We used to say that working in a male-dominated society was very difficult,” she began. “When I started in politics in 1996, there were only two women in politics—myself and the president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who fought from Bijwara. I contested from D.H. Pora and we were the only two women who were elected. At that time, she was with Congress, and I was with National Conference (NC). I’ve always been part of NC and, Insha Allah, will continue to be.”
Itoo highlighted the challenges women faced back then, but she also emphasized the progress that has been made since. “Now, there’s a noticeable difference. Women are advancing in various fields like education, health, and administration. In my own department, I see that our sisters are leading the way—whether in health, education, or as professors, they have excelled.”
However, Itoo also pointed out that while women have made strides in several professions, the political sphere still has a long way to go. “In politics, the real change will happen when personal implementation takes place. It’s important to pass laws, but more important is their implementation. As we saw recently, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced some significant reforms for women in Jammu and Kashmir, like the free bus service and pensions. But these initiatives need to be implemented effectively.”
She further stressed that political parties must make it mandatory to provide women with seats in political roles, ensuring that women can play their rightful part in politics. “I believe that women can take on important roles in politics as well,” she said.
