Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and Member parliament, Mehbooba Mufti today said objective of observing the International Women’s Day is to change the way the society treats the women and ensure a world where the only limit on them is their talent not their gender.She said the responsibility to provide a conducive and protective atmosphere to the girl child rests first with the family and then the society at large. “We together need to put in concerted efforts to achieve the desired objective of securing the future of the girl child,” she said and added that we need to focus on empowering women by providing her better education, healthcare and parity.Terming women as harbingers of peace, Ms Mehbooba said if we want to bring peace in the world, we have to first create peaceful atmosphere at home for the women. She also laid stress on economic empowerment of the women so that they can earn their livelihood and become financially empowered.
Mehbooba said women suffer heavily from the consequences of conflicts as has happened and is happening in Jammu and Kashmir. “In our State women have underwent enormous tragedies because of the conflict,” she said and added that while mothers have to bid farewell to the coffins of their young sons, the younger ones have to bid farewell to the coffins of their brothers and husbands.“This vicious circle of death and destruction has to end to allow our women live in peace,” she said and added that at the same time I am contented that despite going through the gloomy era of turmoil our young girls are making us proud not only in education, but in various professional spheres as well and I wish them all the best.Mehbooba said the PDP-BJP coalition government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had introduced some path-breaking women welfare schemes including Laadli Beti, Aasra and Marriage Assistance in the State to address the concerns of girl child right from the birth to adulthood and provide financial security to them.“As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year let us also bear in mind that the struggle is far from over. Women’s empowerment should never be reduced to individual success stories. It should be about collective well-being,” Mehbooba said. (CNS)