Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday called for greater empowerment of women and girls through education, sports, skill development and awareness, as she presided over a felicitation ceremony in Kulgam honouring girl sportspersons and NEET qualifiers.
The event was held under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme at the Auditorium Hall of Government Degree College, Kulgam. It was organised by the Social Welfare Department Kulgam in collaboration with the Sports and Higher Education departments and other arms of the district administration, with the aim of celebrating the achievements of girls in sports and academics and promoting the message of women’s empowerment.
Addressing the gathering, Itoo, who holds the portfolios of Social Welfare, Education and Health and Medical Education, underlined the importance of making girls self-reliant through learning, sporting opportunities and skills. She also stressed the need to raise awareness among women and girls about the government schemes and welfare initiatives that different departments run for their benefit, noting that benefits reach families only when they know of them. Participation in sports, she said, helps girls build confidence, discipline, leadership qualities and teamwork, while giving them a platform to showcase their talent at different levels.
Director General ICDS Sajad Hussain Ganie, DPO Zaheer Ahmad Kaifi, ACR Kulgam Reyaz Ahmad Shah and District Social Welfare Officer Kulgam Rameez Ahmad Ganie also spoke on women’s empowerment, education, sports participation and the initiatives available for women and girls. The programme drew girls, officials, sports personnel, students and other stakeholders, and the speakers encouraged young women to pursue their aspirations with confidence.
As part of the ceremony, medals and trophies were presented to the winners and runners-up of the Girls Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Cricket and Badminton tournaments held at the Inter-Block and Inter-Municipality levels under the scheme in the district. Twenty girls from Kulgam who qualified NEET were also felicitated with certificates, a recognition that links sporting talent and academic ambition in a single platform.
Earlier in the day, the Minister inaugurated the Inter-District UT-Level U-17 Girls Netball Tournament at Shri Nazir Ahmad Wani Higher Secondary School, Kulgam. Organised by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, J&K, and hosted by YSS Kulgam, the tournament brings together teams from eight districts of the Union Territory, giving young players valuable competitive exposure.
The pairing of academic and sporting honours at one event reflects a broader push to treat girls’ achievements in the classroom and on the field as parts of the same story. For south Kashmir, where families are increasingly encouraging daughters to compete in sport and prepare for medical entrance examinations, such recognition can strengthen that trend and widen the pool of role models for younger girls.
