Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq Khan today said the Government has made serious efforts to empower the womenfolk of Jammu and Kashmir and the Cooperative Movement has also helped them to establish their own identity in the society.Mr. Khan was speaking at the interactive session with SHG (Self Help Group) women at Panchayat Bhawan, Jammu who were recently on ‘Amul Yatra’ to Gujarat. The tour was comprised of 75 SHG members from various districts of the State.The Minister encouraged the members for their active participation in the tour and said the only aim of the tour was to provide the firsthand exposure to the most successful cooperative in Asia.“In future, our womenfolk will also be provided with the opportunity to visit other cities of the country as well,” he said.The SHG members informed the Minister that the ‘Amul Yatra’ benefited them in real sense as they got the chance to see women in Gujarat running dairy farms which are highly motivating for them.
Such opportunities, they said, help women in Kashmir who have least opportunities of interaction with outside world.“I had never been outside my village and this was the first time when I interacted with professionals working in Amul and the women who are working in a modernized way and earn good livelihood,” said a SHG member on the occasion.Mr. Khan was informed that SHG women are direct beneficiaries of the State-Run Pilot Project in Kathua and Pulwama where 17 AMCs (Automatic Milk Collection Systems) have been installed.The Minster was further informed that AMCs will help SHG members for procuring the milk at their door steps and help them to determine the rate of milk on spot. Each AMC caters to about 150 SHG members and will get an additional profit of Rs 9 to 15 per litre.The Minister directed the officers for imparting scientific and modern methods of dairy enhancement to the SHG members in the State so that their livelihoods will be enhanced from traditional with new technological interventions.The interactive session with SHG Women was also attended by Secretary Rural Development Department Kifayat Rizvi, Mission Director Dr. G N Qasba and members from JKMPCL.