Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta today called for encouraging women folk to go for self employment adding that women- empowerment can be achieved only through the improvement of their socio-economic condition.The Speaker was speaking at function after distributing Pehchan Cards among female artisans during a function organized by Aditi welfare Trust.The speaker congratulated the trust and applauded its role in spreading awareness regarding various schemes and programmes meant for welfare and development of women.Highlighting the need for women empowerment, the Speaker said that providing them opportunity to become self dependent would prove a game changer for the economic growth of the country. He said that various policies and schemes have been launched by both Centre as well as State government to encourage women self employment. ”Their unique abilities will definitely help them to become successful entrepreneurs, which has already been proved by many of them” he asserted.
Citing various examples of great female personalities, he said that women are achievers and all they need is an apt opportunity.Meanwhile, the Speaker appreciated the Union textile Ministry for launching the scheme of ‘Pehchan’ identity cards for artisans.Pertinently, Pehchan card scheme was launched as part of the Pehchan’ initiative of Union Textile ministry to register and provide Identity (ID) cards to handicraft artisans and link them to a national database. It is a new upgraded ID card for artisans that will be linked with their Aadhar numbers and bank accounts so that they can receive direct cash transfer benefit.“To expand the reach of such schemes and programmes, mass awareness is must”, he said. He also asked the unemployed youth to reap the benefits from various self employment ventures launched by the government.Senior Functionaries from EDI, Handicrafts and various departments besides President of Aditi Welfare Trust, Aditi Sharma along with other members of the trust were present on the occasion.