Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today met members of women self-help groups here and asked them to make use of several schemes run by the Centre for improving their lot.

On a day-long visit to his Parliamentary constituency Amethi, Gandhi told women members to take advantage of several schemes run by the Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojna and the Union government for their development.

The Congress leader said those already involved in such programmes should motivate others to utilise these schemes for their benefit.

Impressed with activities of the women groups, Omar said he would implement such programmes in Jammu and Kashmir and if required take some people from here to train them.

In a brief interaction with mediapersons, Gandhi said when he went to Jammu and Kashmir, Omar told him he wanted to see for himself what work the self-help groups were doing here.

"He has come here to see how the self-help groups work so that he can implement this programme in his state," the Congress general secretary said.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Saifuddin Soz and the party in-charge in the state Mohan Prakash accompanied the two leaders on the visit to Amethi.

Both Gandhi and Omar attended two meetings, one in Kasbapur village and the other in the office of Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojna in Jais, and interacted with women members.

At the meeting in Jais, Omar told the participants that whatever he found here was more than his expectations.

"This is the result of Rahulji's thinking and your hard work that such good results can be seen," he said.

Omar asked the participants how they were working and how it was helping in the development.

Earlier on arrival, Gandhi had a brief interaction with locals.

He asked his party workers for a cup of tea in view of the nip in the air. As they rushed to offer him, he moved away saying he would have it later because he was running short of time.

Gandhi and Omar inspected a milk cooling centre before leaving for Delhi.

This is Gandhi's second visit to his constituency this month.