- Women granted voting rights in the inaugural election: CM
JAMMU, Jan 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah highlighted today that India has a profound legacy of women’s empowerment, rooted in the fundamental principle of equality from its inception.
His comments were made during the presidential address at the valedictory session of the week-long inaugural women’s National Integration Camp focused on ‘Women Empowerment and Emancipation through NSS’ at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev (PSPS) Government College for Women in Gandhinagar.
The camp was organized by the Regional Directorate of National Service Scheme (NSS) under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with GCW Parade and PSPS GCW Gandhinagar Jammu.
In his address, the Chief Minister remarked that India was founded on the principles of equality, granting women the right to vote in its first election. “Our nation has seen women in leadership roles long before other nations attempted to impart lessons to us. We had a female Prime Minister when many developed nations hadn’t even contemplated the idea,” Omar stated.
He further noted, “India has had multiple women Presidents, and currently, a woman holds the highest office in the land.”
The Chief Minister also pointed out that the country had a woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha in the past, which demonstrates the country’s commitment to the ideals of women’s empowerment and emancipation within a democratic framework.
He emphasized that one area where India still lags is in the public representation of women.
“The unfortunate truth is that we have not managed to realize this empowerment fully. While we discuss reservations as a path forward, true empowerment will only be achieved when women hold an equal share of roles in the governance and decision-making processes without having to rely on reservations,” Omar Abdullah said.
“Ultimately, women constitute 50% of the nation’s population but do not represent 50% of elected officials,” he added. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also expressed his gratitude to the participants from 16 different states and UTs for attending the camp in Jammu.
He encouraged the attendees to act as ambassadors of goodwill, love, and friendship wherever they go in the country. Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Sakeena Itoo, addressed the event, expressing delight at seeing people from various states gather under one roof.
She emphasized the significance of national integration in today’s diverse society and urged young participants to promote peace and unity in their communities.
She remarked that women are advancing in every sector and profession.
During the event, Additional Chief Secretary for Higher Education, Shantmanu, provided an overview of the main activities carried out during the camp. J&K’s Director of Colleges and State Director of NSS, Shiekh Aijaz, presented the camp address during the event.
In the valedictory session, the Chief Minister also honored the winners and participants across various categories.
Notably, the camp included a variety of activities, such as cultural performances, community service projects, sports competitions, workshops, and interactive sessions on diverse topics.
Attendees included Vice-Chancellor of Cluster University of Jammu, Professor K.S. Chandrasekhar, Regional Director NSS & Principal GCW Gandhi Nagar, Dr. Saraswat, Principal GCW, Parade Ground, Dr. Tikku, Camp Commander, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, and other relevant officials.
