Rameez Makhdoomi, Only Kashmir News Desk
Under the auspices of ‘She Leads’- a unique leadership training program designed to support aspiring women leaders across all backgrounds, a one day session was held on 10 May at State Guest House Srinagar on the topic “Women Pioneering Change for Peace and Prosperity.”
The meet was organized by Rekha Mody, founder of She Leads, Stree Shakti- The Parallel Force with the support of Farzana Mumtaz Editor, News Kashmir, who also anchored the entire program.
Safina Baig, Chairperson DDC Baramulla, and Hajl Committee Jammu and Kashmir, Researcher Dr. Ovee Thorat, Professor Shafiya from Baramulla College, educationist Javed Kamli, social entrepreneur Dr. Ritu Singh, State Commissioner taxes Dr. Rashmi Singh IAS, Researchers Mushtaq Ul Haq Sikander and Sheikh Sameer, Journalist Mir Sabeen Gulrez, AIWC member Roshan Ara attended the session.
Rekha Mody affirmed that reservation is an issue of utmost importance as Chattisgarh currently has the maximum number of women MLAs in India. While J&K in the last assembly had only 2.2 percent women MLA. For several years there is no State Commission for Women in J&K . Half of India’s population is waiting for the last 30 years to get reservations in political parties and in legislatures.
Dr. Javed Kamili stated financial empowerment of women is the need of the hour.
Safina Baig, Chairman of DDC Baramulla opined that the Political participation of women should be encouraged and it depends on cooperation from her family and society too.
She shared her vision that an inclusive approach is essential, India lives in villages hence we need to take along all the stakeholders. She stated,
“Self-help groups are a game changer for women. Women exploring financial avenues through Self Help Groups are changing the face of many areas towards betterment.”
Professor Shafiya observed that patriarchy-related barriers have to be broken so that women can achieve maximum representation in politics and other fields.
Mushtaq Ul Haq Sikander observed that women at the top of the political ladder have an important role to play in the political empowerment of women and urged political parties to give adequate participation to women.
Sheikh Sameer urged to touch the grassroots and remember the unsung heroes among women to achieve a humane world for women.
Dynamic educationist Dr.Kuwarani Ritu Singh termed education as the basic fundamental for achieving women’s empowerment in every sense.
She also underscored the importance of self-help groups. Empowerment at grass root level As well as bridging gaps between government and private sector.
Madeena Mir from PHDCCI evinced her support for the cause of women’s empowerment and the demand for free travel in public transport.
Effective participation of women in local governance is a key to good governance- Dr. Rashmi Singh added based on her experience as a prabhari officer of a Gram panchayat as part of the Back 2 Village campaign of Govt of Jammu and Kashmir
It was resolved that the goal should be to increase women’s participation fully in the development process. This can be done by building the leadership capacity of women in all spheres ie social, economic, and political.
The role of women leaders is especially important for overall human development through a focus on sectors like education, increasing social awareness, etc.
