Jammu, Mar 8 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today called upon women, particularly educated, to come forward and play an active role in politics to help achieve deserved empowerment.

Addressing at a function on International Women's Day, Mr Azad said women should come forward actively in political field and ensure their all round socio-economic progress.

He also threw light on the need for skill upgrading and promotion of female education, as these help in creating greater awareness among them about their rights and privileges.

The Chief Minister asked intellectuals, academicians, opinion makers and women activists to pool their efforts and create awareness among women about their rights, adding that seminars, symposiums and interaction sessions would prove highly beneficial in this regard.

In his message, Mr Azad said though women have attained place of prominence and achieved excellence in different spheres, but still more needs to be done particularly in rural areas for their empowerment. ''Education is the basic tool to achieve this objective,'' he said.

Reiterating his government's commitment for empowering women, he said ''this day also provides us an opportunity to march ahead with still greater resolve for overall socio-economic development of women folk.'' UNI