SRINAGAR, May 17 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that the mainstreaming of Jammu & Kashmir under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led to a visible aspirational surge among women, marked by rising self-confidence, growing competitiveness and expanding leadership across sectors.
The Minister said, women from Jammu & Kashmir are increasingly emerging as equal stakeholders in India’s growth story, excelling in competitive examinations, startups, self-help groups, science, technology and public service.
Addressing “Shakti Samwad”, an interactive meeting with State Women Commissions organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW) at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Dr. Jitendra Singh said the last decade has witnessed a democratization of opportunities, enabling women to move from participation to leadership roles across professions and institutions. He said the transformation calls for a corresponding change in societal mindset as women increasingly lead from the front in almost every sphere.
The event was led by NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar and attended by kunAdditional Secretary NCW Ms. B. Radhika Chakravarthy, senior officials, members of State Women Commissions and representatives from various States and Union Territories. Organised under NCW’s continuing initiative to strengthen coordination with State Women Commissions, the programme focused on institutional collaboration, women empowerment, grassroots outreach and sharing of best practices for ensuring safety, dignity and equal opportunities for women across the country.
Dr. Jitendra Singh appreciated the National Commission for Women for taking institutional engagement beyond conference halls and policy discussions by directly connecting with women at the grassroots level. Referring to the holding of the national-level interaction in Srinagar, he said the initiative sends out a strong message about the importance being accorded to Jammu & Kashmir and its women strength. He expressed confidence that the ongoing “Shakti Samwad” interaction would further catalyse the contribution of women from the region in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
Recalling Jammu & Kashmir’s rich civilisational legacy, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the region has historically produced iconic women personalities such as Lal Ded and Habba Khatoon, who played a significant role in shaping and preserving the composite cultural ethos of Kashmir through literature, spirituality and social influence.
The Minister said women in Jammu & Kashmir endured enormous social and emotional hardship during nearly three decades of terrorism and instability, with many families suffering irreparable losses. He said the improving environment in recent years has created new opportunities for women to reconnect with the national mainstream and participate fully in the developmental transformation underway across the region.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that after the abrogation of Article 370 and the rapid expansion of welfare initiatives, women in Jammu & Kashmir are increasingly receiving the same opportunities and benefits available to women in the rest of the country. Referring to flagship schemes launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said initiatives such as Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Mudra Yojana and the Lakhpati Didi programme have brought far-reaching socio-economic changes by improving ease of living, enhancing financial independence and strengthening self-confidence among women.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the impact of these interventions is now visible in the growing presence of women in competitive fields and leadership positions. Citing examples from Civil Services, space technology, scientific research and engineering, Dr. Jitendra Singh said women today are leading major national missions and excelling in frontier sectors through merit and capability.
The Minister also referred to inspiring success stories of young girls from remote districts of Jammu & Kashmir who have excelled in national-level examinations despite limited resources and challenging circumstances. He said technology-driven democratization of education and access to information has enabled talented youth from remote regions to compete with confidence on national platforms.
Highlighting the initiatives of the Ministry of Science & Technology for promoting women in STEM sectors, Dr. Jitendra Singh referred to programmes such as Vigyan Jyoti and WISE-KIRAN, aimed at encouraging girls and women to pursue careers in science, research and innovation. He said dedicated provisions have also been introduced to support women scientists seeking to resume their professional careers after family-related interruptions.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the transformation witnessed in Jammu & Kashmir today reflects the larger national vision of inclusive development and women-led progress. He added that women from the region are now moving forward with confidence and aspiration as active participants in India’s developmental journey towards 2047.
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