Azad announces raising of one women battalion in JK police

Srinagar, Sep 10 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today announced that one battalion of women police would soon be raised in the state.

Addressing a Women's Meet here organised by the Central Social Welfare Board under the aegis of the Union Women and Child Development Ministry, he said the move would provide employment opportunities to women in the state.

He thanked UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who attended the conference, for taking keen interest in the upliftment of women and children.

Mr Azad said the women and children in Jammu and Kashmir had suffered the most during the past 18 years of turmoil. ''All of us had to come forward to help them,'' he added.

The Chief Minister also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his economic reconstruction programme to address the development issues of the state. He also referred to various programmes launched for women and child welfare in Jammu and Kashmir, saying more such schemes were being formulated for them.

Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury said a bill had been passed by Parliament for prevention of domestic violence against women and suggested that Jammu and Kashmir should also enact this legislation.

Ms Chowdhury said adequate funds were being provided for women and child development schemes. ''Today's impressive gathering is an indication of women empowerment in the state,'' she added.

Ms Chowdhury said, for the first time during the past 60 years, a separate Ministry for Women and Child Development had been set up in the country to ensure that they get the rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

MORE UNI