It is a matter of pride for Jammu and Kashmir that Sheetal Devi, a distinguished Para-archer and Arjuna Awardee has been named as the icon for the Lok Sabha elections of 2024.She has been roped in by the Election Commission to sensitive and motivate the physically challenged persons and senior citizens about the importance of their vote. So that they can contribute in this national festival of Indian democracy to choose the candidates of their choice. Her name was announced at an exhibition cricket match between the teams of Indian deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) and Delhi and District Cricket association (DDCA) held on Saturday in Delhi. This event was also attended by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. The Election Commission of India (ECI) in Association with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had organised this exhibition match to foster voter education and inclusivity. This daughter of Jammu and Kashmir has shown that physical disability cannot hinder the success and achievements if one is determined to use adversity as opportunity. Sheetal Devi of Jammu and Kashmir is the best role model for women empowerment and women education. Not only that she is a role model for the physically disabled to overcome their challenges and achieve new horizons of professional excellence. This proud daughter of Jammu and Kashmir has become the national sensation and this makes us all proud. Time has come to provide our daughters with equal opportunities and allow them to shape their destiny as per their will. India can achieve its goal of a developed nation with full bloom of resurgence when all sections of society contribute to the national good. And in achieving this objective we have to create women leaders in all sections of the society. Educating a woman means educating an entire family and this triggers a chain reaction educating the society. Women are gifted with maturity and patience that makes them great leaders and managers. Sheetal Devi has more significance in her native place Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the worst level of bloodshed due to terrorism that has left many children orphans and numberless women as widows. Her success and achievements will surely motivate numerous women and girls who aspire to achieve professional excellence. Numerous studies have proved that in a conflict women are the worst victims at various levels.As anchors of home and family they face sufferings at different levels. Be it at social level or family level. This leads to deterioration of their mental and physical health. This results in degradation of the family. These challenges have to be countered and icons like Sheetal Devi will act as social catalysts to improve the life of women in different areas. We have to create more women icons in various fields so that our daughters are encouraged to contribute immensely in the national development. Various schemes like “Beti Padhao Beti Bachao” are worth appreciation that have sensitised the masses about the responsibility of the parents and society to encourage women education. But more needs to be done. We must envision a society where there is no need for government sponsored schemes to encourage women education and upliftment. Women empowerment must be integral to every sector in India, The eternal youth icon of India, Swami Vivekananda had envisioned the Indian society led by women. As he said that Indian ancient wisdom and society was developed due to women empowerment. The moment women were disempowered, India witnessed social degradation. Time has come that daughters of India are empowered for resurgent Bharat.
