Women’s Commission organizes Legal Awareness Programme at Bandipora

Bandipora: The Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women in collaboration with National Commission for Women, New Delhi organised a day-long legal awareness programme here at Bandipora today.

The programme was presided over by Chairperson, Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Women, Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor.

District Development Commissioner (DDC) Bandipora, Khursheed Ahmad Sanai, Secretary of the Commission, Aijaz Abdullah, resources persons from University of Kashmir and Legal Services Authority Bandipora officers, District Social Welfare officer and a large number of women and students participated in the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Nayeema Ahmad Mehjoor said that the Commission has launched a vigorous outreach programme during which women-folk are being made aware about their legal rights and the means to address their issues confronting them at different levels.

She further said that the outreach programme got a tremendous response and has yielded better results.

Addressing the women during the legal awareness programme, especially girls, the Chairperson said that she attended the programme to listen to them about their pent-up feelings, adding that the strong society is built only when people interact with each other to resolve issues.

She stressed that girls need to come forward and avail the benefits from the different schemes of the government.

Regarding basic amenities, the Chairperson said that she will project all issues, including road connectivity, before the government.

DDC in his speech appreciated the Commission for organising such a programme in a far-flung area like Bandipora. He said such awareness programms need to be organised at inaccessible areas also, for which he offered full support from the administration.

Resource persons delivered lectures on various spheres of women’s rights and other legal aspects. The speakers threw light on the social status of women in Kashmir, gender based violence, sexual assaults, Domestic Violence Act and issues.

They said that women are in no way inferior to men and have achieved laurels in every field of life.

On the occasion, District Social Welfare officer, Altaf Hussain informed that under State Marriage Assistance Scheme, 210 girls have been provided Rs 81.90 lakh at the rate of Rs. 39,000 cash or Rs. 25000 + 5 gram gold during last financial year in the district.

He said 497 such cases have been recommended to Finance Department for release of funds.

During the awareness programme, a Question/Answer Session was also held during which queries raised by the participants were answered.