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| Sonia mixes up with participants | | | Early Times Reporter
Srinagar | Sep 10 – Srinagar today witnessed a massive rally of women who had come from various parts of the state to participate in the first-ever women’s meet held at the sprawling SKICC lawns in the backdrop of Dal lake. Since morning, several thousand women- young and old- were seen making a beeline towards the venue of the day-long rally.
The UPA Chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi flew in from Delhi to inaugurate the rally, organized jointly by the Central and State Social Welfare Boards in collaboration with the state government.
At the airport, Mrs. Gandhi was received by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi, Azad, Ministers, MP, Mehbooba Mufti and legislators.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Union Minister for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury and Member CWC and Incharge J&K M. M. Jacob accompanied Mrs. Gandhi. Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board, Mrs. Rajani Patil had already arrived in Srinagar.
At the venue of the rally, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi was given a rousing reception by the participating women who profusely raised slogans and cheered her as she started her speech.
Mrs. Gandhi was presented a traditional Kashmiri pheran that she put on before addressing the gathering. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad presented a samovar to the visiting dignitary as a memento which she received amidst thunderous applause from the audience.
Famous artists presented traditional songs from all the regions of the State to welcome Mrs. Gandhi.
After her speech and brushing aside security protocol, Mrs. Gandhi came down from the dais and mixed with the women participants who were happy to find her amidst them. She also shook hands with them and posed for a photograph with a group of local girls attired in traditional dress.
Later, Mrs. Gandhi left for Delhi where she was scheduled to have a meeting with visiting Mexican President in the afternoon. She was seen off at the airport by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and his ministerial colleagues.
The one-day women’s meet had been organized to focus on the over all development of women and children in Jammu and Kashmir with special reference to various schemes like awareness generation programme, condensed courses, vocational training, family counseling centres and crèches with an are based holistic approach. It also aimed at focusing on convergence and capacity building through training.
Mrs. Rajani Patil announced that the annual budgetary support for the State Social Welfare Board has been increased from Rs. one crore to Rs. Six crore.
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