| News Details |
| Mahila Congress Convention flags women’s empowerment gaps in J&K | | Demands urgent action on welfare, safety and political representation |
Jammu, May 06 (Scoop News)--A one-day Convention of the Mahila Congress was organised by J&K UT Mahila Congress President Shamima Raina, bringing into sharp focus the pressing issues confronting women across Jammu and Kashmir.
The event, attended by Senior Congress leaders including JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla and former Minister & District Jammu Urban President Yogesh Sawhney, witnessed detailed deliberations on women’s welfare, empowerment, and political representation.
Prominent women leaders including Inderjeet Kour, Parveen Akhter, Asha Chandan, Santosh Manjotra, Chandra Prabha Sharma, Suman Wazir, Pushpa Kumari, Kamlesh Manhas, and Veena Manhas also participated.
J&K UT Mahila Congress President Shamima Raina, along with senior women leaders of the party, today carried out a symbolic protest-cum-awareness initiative by visiting the Head Post Office in Jammu, where they collectively sent postcards addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pressing for immediate implementation of 33% reservation for women in legislatures.
Mahila Congress leaders asserted that women’s political empowerment has remained a repeatedly announced but long-delayed commitment, with little tangible progress on the ground. They said that while the Women’s Reservation Bill has been discussed for years, its effective and timely implementation is still awaited, leaving women underrepresented in decision-making bodies at both the national and state levels.
The Mahila Congress leaders strongly argued that this continued delay reflects a disconnect between promises made and action delivered, and called it unfair to the aspirations of millions of women who seek equal participation in governance. They maintained that symbolic assurances are not enough, and that constitutional provisions for reservation must be implemented without further procedural or political delay.
They further stated that women across the country have consistently contributed to social, economic, and political development, yet continue to face structural barriers in political representation. The leaders urged the Centre to take immediate corrective steps, ensuring that the 33% reservation is implemented in letter and spirit so that women can play a decisive role in shaping policy and governance.
Concluding their appeal, the Mahila Congress leaders emphasized that the issue is not just political but also a matter of democratic fairness and gender justice. They urged the government to avoid what they termed as “delay tactics” and to respect the long-standing aspirations of women by translating commitments into concrete legislative action at the earliest.
Shamima Raina, while addressing the convention, strongly underlined that women in Jammu and Kashmir continue to face systemic challenges despite multiple welfare announcements. She pointed out that widow pensions, old-age support schemes, and financial assistance programmes are often delayed, forcing vulnerable women into economic distress.
She stressed that bureaucratic delays and lack of accountability at the grassroots level have weakened the impact of welfare schemes meant for women.
She further raised concerns over growing economic insecurity among women, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, where employment opportunities remain limited. She said that while self-help groups and skill development initiatives exist on paper, poor implementation and lack of market access have prevented women from achieving financial independence.
According to her, women are still largely dependent on informal, seasonal, or low-paying work.
She also highlighted issues related to women’s safety and dignity, stating that incidents of harassment in public spaces, inadequate street lighting, and poor transport connectivity in peripheral areas continue to restrict women’s mobility.
She also stressed that without safe public infrastructure and stronger enforcement mechanisms, true empowerment of women cannot be achieved in the Union Territory.
JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, in his address, expressed concern over what he described as “growing administrative apathy” towards women-centric issues in J&K. He said that despite repeated assurances, the implementation of welfare schemes remains slow and uneven, particularly affecting widows, differently-abled women, and economically weaker sections.Bhalla further pointed out that unemployment among educated women is increasing, as recruitment processes remain delayed and job creation has not kept pace with demand.
He stressed that women are among the worst affected by rising inflation, especially due to increased prices of essential commodities, LPG, and healthcare services, which directly impact household budgets managed largely by women.
He also emphasized that women’s access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and housing continues to be hindered by infrastructural gaps. Bhalla called for time-bound delivery of welfare schemes, transparent recruitment processes, and targeted livelihood programmes for women, stating that empowerment must move beyond slogans and reflect in ground realities.
In a further intervention, Bhalla stressed the need for stronger institutional accountability to ensure that women beneficiaries are not forced to repeatedly approach offices for their rightful entitlements. He said that delays in ration cards, pension approvals, and housing assistance reflect a deeper governance failure that disproportionately affects women.
He also highlighted the need for improved healthcare access for women, particularly in rural areas where maternal health facilities remain inadequate. Bhalla urged the administration to strengthen primary health centres and ensure availability of female medical staff to address gender-specific health concerns.Calling for a comprehensive women empowerment policy, Bhalla said that economic independence, safety, and dignity must be treated as core governance priorities rather than peripheral concerns.
Yogesh Sawhney, addressing the gathering, emphasized the need for greater political representation of women at all levels of governance. He said that while discussions on empowerment are ongoing, actual participation of women in decision-making bodies remains limited and needs urgent correction.
He also reiterated that grassroots governance must be strengthened so that women’s issues are addressed locally and effectively without unnecessary delays. Sawhney stressed that women’s leadership should be encouraged not just in political spaces but also in social and economic institutions to ensure balanced development. He concluded by calling for a more responsive and inclusive governance structure where women’s voices are not only heard but actively shape policies and outcomes, ensuring real empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir.
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