SRINAGAR, 11 September 2007 — UPA chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday praised the courage and spirit of Kashmiri women who she said had been through the worst during the violence in the state.

Sonia arrived here yesterday morning to inaugurate a women empowerment conference. She was accompanied by union home minister, Shivraj Patil, union minister for water resources, professor Saifuddin Soz, union minister of state for women and child development, Renuka Chowdhury and M.M. Jacob, Congress working committee member and in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sonia said that she had “always felt happiness in visiting Kashmir but was today taken over by a feeling of pride for being among the women of the valley who, by putting a brave face against all odds and difficult situations, had emerged as a symbol of resistance against terror for the entire womenfolk of the country.”

“Kashmiri women have suffered much during the last two decades, inflicting deep wounds on their hearts and minds. It is the responsibility of the state and central governments to nurse these wounds. Already several measures have been taken in this direction. But more required to be done to reach out to this important segment of the society,” Sonia said while addressing the conference.

“Women always bear the brunt of any disaster, whether natural, social or political. It is they who had to suffer the most and at the same time keep their homes intact by gathering confidence and strength,” Sonia said.

Referring to the confidence-building measures taken by the government, the UPA chairperson said that the plying of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote buses had facilitated people to people contact.

Sonia said that “people’s support was necessary for success of any political initiative” adding that “militancy could not sustain before the determination of people.”

Sonia described education and ample opportunities as basic ingredients for women empowerment.

Sonia said that with the progress of women the country also moves forward. She said role of self-help groups and voluntary organizations was important for achieving the objective of women empowerment.

Sonia exuded confidence that the government in Jammu and Kashmir would take required steps for promotion of self-help groups for development of women.

She called for making their lives smooth adding that although the loss of a human life could not be compensated but one could try to make the lives of the bereaved families easy. Sonia asserted that the benefit of any welfare scheme should reach first to the widows and orphans. She said this task had to be accomplished with a missionary zeal.

Union minister of state for women and child development, Renuka Chowdhury, said a bill had been passed by the Parliament for prevention of domestic violence against women and suggested that Jammu and Kashmir should also enact this legislation.