KULGAM: Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo on Saturday stressed the importance of empowering girls through education and sports while presiding over a felicitation ceremony for top-performing girls’ sports teams and NEET qualifiers in Kulgam.
The event, organised under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative at Government Degree College Kulgam, was held by the Social Welfare Department in collaboration with the Sports and Higher Education departments to recognise achievements of girls in academics and sports.
Addressing the gathering, Itoo said education, sports, skill development and awareness are essential tools for empowering women and girls. She also called for greater awareness about government welfare schemes and initiatives aimed at supporting women and girls.
The minister said participation in sports helps young girls develop confidence, discipline, leadership qualities and teamwork while providing opportunities to excel at different levels.
During the programme, medals and trophies were awarded to winners and runners-up of girls’ basketball, volleyball, football, cricket and badminton tournaments held at the inter-block and inter-municipality levels under the BBBP programme. Twenty students from Kulgam who qualified the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) were also felicitated with certificates.
Director General Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Sajad Hussain Ganie, District Programme Officer Zaheer Ahmad Kaifi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Reyaz Ahmad Shah and District Social Welfare Officer Rameez Ahmad Ganie also addressed the gathering and highlighted initiatives aimed at promoting women’s education and sports participation.
Earlier, Itoo inaugurated the Inter-District Union Territory-Level Under-17 Girls Netball Tournament at Shri Nazir Ahmad Wani Higher Secondary School, Kulgam.
Organised by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (YSS), Jammu and Kashmir, and hosted by YSS Kulgam, the tournament is being contested by teams from eight districts of the Union Territory. Officials said the event is intended to provide young players with competitive exposure and a platform to showcase their talent.
