Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday said that UMEED scheme has given fillip to the endeavours of government to seek holistic welfare and economic independence of women in the State. He said UMEED has in fact given impetus to the hope of achieving the goal of women empowerment. Addressing UMEED beneficiaries at a function here, Omar Abdullah said that among various gifts to people of the Country and the State by the UPA Government, the launch of UMEED scheme in the State projected and piloted by Rahul Gandhi is a special gift to the women of Jammu and Kashmir for their comprehensive development and economic independence. The Chief Minister said that since the inception of the scheme he is observing confidence, enthusiasm and zest to achieve economic independence in the members of the women groups established in the State during the last two years under UMEED scheme. “I am happy to observe your confidence to move ahead with a purpose and seek not only your own betterment but that of the entire women folk”, he told the UMEED members and recited the Alama Iqbal’s couplet“Khudi Ko Kar Blund Itna Ki Har Taqdeer Sey Pehley Khuda Bandey Sey Khud Puchey Bata Teri Raza Kya Hay” and said that this verse highlights the need of confidence and sincerity behind achieving the goals. He advised the women to take best advantage of the scheme and ensure their economic betterment as also the welfare of their sisters and mothers.
Omar Abdullah invited Rahul Gandhi to address similar functions at Lar, Basholi and Chenani where this programme has also achieved remarkable progress. Rahul Gandhi in response to the invitation accepted it wholeheartedly and said that he is ready to accompany the Chief Minister to any area which he wants him to visit and witness the progress of UMEED scheme. Speaking on the occasion, Vice President, Indian National Congress (INC), Rahul Gandhi referred to the progress achieved under UMEED in UP and said that when he launched the scheme in Utter Pradesh some eight years earlier many had predicted that it will not be a success but today the success of UMEED in UP is itself reverberating and speaking loud and clear that when intensions are clear and efforts sincere targets are achieved definitely. He said at present more than 10 lakh women are getting benefit under UMEED in UP. He said with this success in mind he has initiated launch of UMEED in Jammu and Kashmir to seek comprehensive welfare and economic betterment of J&K women. Rahul Gandhi said that UPA Government has focused on three issues in Jammu and Kashmir which are women empowerment, employment to youth and empowerment of Panchayats.Present on the occasion were Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh, J&K Rural Development Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Horticulture, Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Horticulture, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Minister of State for Rural Development, Vikar Rasool, General Secretary INC, Ambika Soni, President, Pradesh Congress Committee, Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz and local MLA, Aga Syed Ruhullah.