JAMMU, MARCH 08 (KNO) : Minister for Public Works Naeem Akhtar, today underlined the need to talk about the women issues at every forum and highlight the role they play in shaping a prosperous society.
The Minister was speaking at International Women’s Day function organized by Rotary Club, Jammu Tawi to felicitate women with extraordinary achievements. Stressing on the need to change patriarchal mindset, the Minister said the subject of women empowerment is marked more by hypocrisy than pragmatism. “The crisis that present day society is facing is outcome of the lack of respect for women of every age,” the Minister observed and noted that a nation can’t prosper unless women are given their due place in the society.
Referring to the various incidents of crimes against women in the state and outside, the Minister said it is very shameful and menfolk need to ponder, introspect and adopt compassion towards women. Expressing concern over the skewed gender ratio, the Minister said there is a need to sensitize women to stop taking part in conspiracy of girl feticide which is not only an offence but also a moral sin. He regretted that most advanced parts of the country top in the skewed gender ratio in comparison to backward areas.
“There are many social evils still prevailing in our society which need to be eradicated,” the Minister said, adding that the dowry system is one of the major evils as despite excelling in every field girls are being compelled for dowry. “Women empowerment doesn’t mean only providing facilities to them but to consider them as gender parity,” the Minister said, adding that women’s rights need to be protected by giving them a chance to excel in their chosen fields. He further said that the slogan of women empowerment should not be rhetoric but needs to be implemented at grassroots level.
The distinguished women who were honoured on the occasion included Dr Shashi Gupta, Dr Heena Shafi Bhat, Meenu Mahajan, Sunaina Mehta and Veena Gupta who have excelled and outshined opposite gender at miles. President of the Rotary Club, Jammu Tawi Jaswant Rai Gupta, Secretary of the Club Raman Sherpuri, President chamber of Commerce and Industries Rakesh Gupta also shared the podium.(KNO)