Minister for Social Welfare, Bali Bhagat today inaugurated 31st exhibition of handicrafts and handloom products organized by J&K Women’s Development Corporation (WDC) at Kala Kendra here today.As many as 40 stalls exhibiting various products have been set up by about 80 beneficiaries sponsored by WDC drawn from different parts of the State. The objective of the Exhibition is to promote local handicrafts, handloom products and to provide a platform and market support to the women entrepreneurs sponsored by WDC to sell their products.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the State Government is committed to the welfare of women folk and several initiatives have been taken to make them self-reliant. He said market support is one of the most important aspects for making the women self-reliant and to ameliorate their socio-economic condition. He appreciated the Women Development Corporation for extending valuable support to the women folk, especially the destitute and backward sections of the society. He hoped the exhibition will provide appropriate opportunity to the entrepreneurs to showcase their skills and sharing their experience to further promote their activities.The Minister stressed the need for organizing special awareness camps in the far-off areas to educate the women about the self-employment schemes so that more and more beneficiaries are helped.
He assured to support the Corporation for strengthening its infrastructure to expand its activities at the broader scale across the State. He called upon the functionaries of WDC to be proactive in making the functioning more vibrant and transparent and achieving the targets.Mr. Bhagat also honoured some beneficiaries for exhibiting excellent skills and distributed certificates of merit among the prospective beneficiaries.Managing Director, WDC, Ms Nahid Soz gave detailed account of the exhibition and said that the Corporation organizes such exhibitions to encourage and support the beneficiaries who have been sponsored by it and it helps substantially to the beneficiaries for exhibiting and selling their products. This is the best way to market their products and also give them of exposure in the business activities. She said the Corporation has been making relentless efforts to help the women folk under the State and Centrally Sponsored schemes.Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Managing Director, SC/ST Corporation, Y.P. Suman, Director of the Board, Ms. Updesh Andotra and officers of the Social Welfare Department and other Corporations.