Women's empowerment key to J&K's development: Mehbooba Mufti

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said the empowerment of women is the key to the state's development.

Addressing students at a college in Kashmir's Pulwama district, the Chief Minister asked girls to focus on education as it is the only stream which has the potential to bring about the desired social change.

After inaugurating the new building of the Government Women's College in Pulwama town, Mehbooba Mufti said "women hold an important place in our society and their empowerment would signal a positive turnaround in the society".

She asked the students to attain different skills so that they not only become educated but empowered as well.

The Chief Minister also asked the students to take their studies seriously so that after attaining education, they are able to contribute positively to the society.

She laid stress on equal importance of curricular and extracurricular activities. She advised students of the college to take active interest in sports activities as well.

She said importance of education has been reiterated time and again in Islam and other religions.

The Chief Minister enumerated several steps her government has taken for the welfare of womenfolk in Jammu and Kashmir.

She said schemes like 'Laadli Beti' besides the scooty scheme would bring about the desired change among the women of the State.

Mehbooba Mufti is the first woman chief minister of India's only Muslim majority state.

--IANS

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