Minister for Higher Education,Mohammad Akbar Lone, Tuesday, inaugurated the 3-day J&K Women’s Science Congress here at Government College Parade Ground, Jammu.Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Feroz Ahmed Khan and Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma were also present during the inaugural function.The 3-day Science Congress on the focal theme ‘Empowering Women through Science and Technology’ organized by Government College for women in collaboration with State Council for Science and Technology, will also showcase the contribution of women in the areas of Science and Technology. It will cover subject areas of Life Science, Environment Science, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Applied and Allied Sciences. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Lone highlighted the need to identify avenues for enhancing the involvement of women in various Science related projects. He said greater participation of women in Science education will not only secure maximum possible utilization of their potential but also ensure development of scientific approach in them, to cope up with difficulties they encounter besides ensuring their overall Socio-Economic development. Lone said, State Government supports the idea of greater presence of women in Science and Technology. He said there has been a sharp increase in the number of women Science graduates and post-graduates in the State adding that women present a great human resource and their role in every field including the field of Science will definitely and directly contribute to the advancement and progress of the State in sync with modern times.
Lone while appreciating the Principal Government College for Women Dr. Hemla Aggarwal and all those associated with organizing the Women’s Science Congress, wished for fruitful deliberations and successful outcome of the event.Earlier, Mr. Lone along with both the Ministers of State inaugurated the newly constructed college canteen besides inaugurating the Children Science Exhibition in which students from various schools of Jammu showcased their Science models highlighting the application of Science and Mathematics in areas related to our daily lives. The Exhibition has been hosted to encourage, popularize and inculcate scientific temper among girls and boys.
Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology, Mr. Bipul Pathak, Secretary, Higher Education, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmed, Director Colleges, Tariq Ahmed Kawoosa, Joint Director, Science and Technology Council, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, organizing Secretary 2nd J&K Women’s Science Congress, Dr. Pragya Khanna and other faculty members and students were present during the inaugural function.
The participants of the Congress include scientists, researchers, academicians from University of Jammu, Kashmir Central University, SMVDU, Katra, BGSBU, Rajouri, SKUAST, Jammu, Government Medical College, Jammu, ASCOMS, Jammu, SKIMS Srinagar, Government Engineering College, Jammu, IIIM Jammu and other leading institutions of the State.