New Delhi, Jan 17 (IANS): Jamia Millia Islamia has got its first all women-run canteen as part of the efforts of a self-help group towards women empowerment.

Launched as a symbol of gender equity and women's empowerment, the canteen was inaugurated Friday by Salma Ansari, wife of vice-president Mohammed Hamid Ansari.

It is being run by Ekta, a self-help group for women from the Jamia neighbourhood.

Salma Ansari lauded the efforts of the university towards women empowerment. "Jamia has done an impressive work by empowering these women," she said.

"The group has been providing training for entrepreneurship and business skills to the women," said Mukesh Ranjan, media coordinator, Jamia.

Ekta group was formed with assistance from Zakir Hussain Memorial Welfare Society and Jamia's Outreach Programme is helping the group to provide training skills among the women in Jamia neighbourhood.

The canteen will be run completely by the women entrepreneurs with the help of women workforce from the neighbourhood.

"This is one of the initiatives of the Outreach Programme of Jamia to reach out to the neighbourhood for community development of weaker sections of the society particularly the women," Ranjan added.

Gulshama, a woman who has joined the canteen, said she is excited to work here as cooking has always been her passion. "I have already undergone some training in Saket about catering and here I can earn some money for my family."