Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 29: The 2-day Conference on “Empowerment of Women in Panchayats: The Road Ahead”, organized jointly by the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, and the University of Kashmir, concluded here this afternoon.
N. N. Vohra, Governor, was the chief guest at the concluding session of the conference.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor observed that women have to play a vital role if the State has to achieve speedy progress and prosperity. He impressed upon the women Panchayat representatives to take keen interest in their new role and contribute in a big way for securing efficient implementation of welfare and development programmes in the villages.
Quoting constitutional provisions in support of women empowerment and decentralization of powers, the Governor stressed the need for enlarging awareness among women Sarpanchs and Panchs so that they are fully aware of their rights and duties. He added that devolution of powers at the grassroots level is the key for securing balanced all round development.
The Governor complimented the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, and the Kashmir University and their collaborators for organizing a conference on an extremely important theme and hoped that both the institutions would join hands to organize more such programmes in the coming time.
Prof. M. Aslam, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi, in his valedictory address, extensively spoke about the varied aspects of women empowerment and the need for further strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State.
Seema Khajuria, Additional Advocate General, J&K, dwelt on the constitutional aspects of the empowerment of women.
Dr. George Mathew, Chairman, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, emphasized the need for ensuring adequate representation to women at all levels of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State.
In his welcome address, Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University, dwelt on the aims and objects of organizing this conference.
Prof. Nilofer Khan, Dean Students Welfare, Kashmir University, presented a vote of thanks.
Heads of Departments, functionaries and resource persons from the Institute of Social Sciences and participants of the conference were present on this occasion.
Meanwhile, Governor inaugurated Safa Marwah Medical Centre at Iqbal Colony, Soura, here last evening.
This 50-bedded multi-storey hospital will have both Outpatient and Inpatient Departments. It is jointly owned by Dr. Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Dr. Nazira Farooq, a well known plastic surgeon and gynecologist, respectively, from Srinagar. Both of them had been working in Saudi Arabia for the past about 20 years.
The Governor went around the different sections of the hospital and was briefed about the various diagnostic and treatment facilities which would be available at this newly set up medical centre.
Prof. Showkat Ali Zargar, Director, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, a number of medicos and prominent citizens, were present on this occasion.
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