Before the partition of the country in 1947, Kashmiri women had little social role to play. While those Kashmiri women belonging to the aristocratic families would remain confined to their homes only, the rural Kashmiri women would participate in almost every domestic and agricultural chore right from working in the fields, harvesting of the paddy etc with their men. But even this active economic role did not give them complete economic independence and higher social status as it was predominately a patriarchal society. They always remained under-represented in political and decision-making positions; hence there could not be a perpetuation of policies and practices that could serve the needs of women.
After independence, Kashmiri women got a boost when reforms took place in various fields including the field of education which brought Kashmir women out of the shackles. Encouraged and motivated by all the respective state governments, many Kashmiri women entered jobs in various fields in the past 60 years of Indian independence.
But even in these past six decades, a strong women's political activism is still not visible on part of Kashmir's women. Women in Valley are not only under represented in political and social life, but the conservative Kashmiri society is the main barrier and constraint in their participation.
Ironical is the fact that in the 89-member state assembly, there are just three women members. While Kanta Andotra of the Congress is an elected legislator, she is in politics by virtue of being the wife of Congress Member Parliament Lal Singh who vacated his seat for his wife when he won the parliamentary elections. The other two, Khem Lata Vakhloo and Shanti Devi, are nominated members.
As Professor Hari Om, a former Head of history department, University of Jammu and member Indian Council for Historical research (ICHR) puts it, "The only visible face in Kashmir politics has been that of Begun Sheikh Abdullah, wife of Sheikh Abdullah who remained a Member Parliament twice, but that too by virtue of being the Sheikh's wife.
And now Mehbooba Mufti, MP, president of Peoples Democratic Party and the daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Sayeed." Prof Hari Om also believes that all of these handful of women have been able to carve some political space only because of their political family background.
Political patronage or background may be alright but what the Kashmiri women have witnessed in the past 17 years of violence in Valley is something different. They have not only lived through political turbulence but also negotiated and renegotiated their roles in the conflict that also does not remain static but keeps on changing.
In these past few years, Kashmir women donned a new role when they came out of their houses to work in the absence of their men folk in the family who become prey to the mindless violence, thus breaking the stereotypes related to women, especially in the background that they had no work experience and were forced to support their families and thus take over the role of a head of the family.
This clearly gives us an insight into the fact that they aren't the passive recipients of conflict as most of the agencies see them but have an inborn, innate resilience, the will to survive the most challenging situations.
But then has anyone pondered over the fact that why women voices from Jammu and Kashmir have been conspicuous only by their absence in the dialogic processes that are now unfolding in the terrorism-hit state? Even none of the Kashmiri women, except the high profile president of People's Democratic Party Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, was part of Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh's five working groups on Kashmir which were set up after second Round Table Conference on Kashmir. Not a single Kashmiri woman from the state was included in the conference or in the five working groups.
Does it also mean that women are no stake holders to the peace in Jammu and Kashmir?
Ask Hameeda Nayeem, who teaches English at Kashmir University and is a founder-member of the Women Waging Peace, an initiative of Harvard University's Kennedy School and she responds: "Ironically, in our society, there has been a cosmetic empowerment of the women. Ours is a very parochial society. Even if we assume women have a greater role, we need to know who are they representing? Only the daughters of politicians contest polls, that too if there are no sons to carry forward the legacy," adds Prof Nayeem, whose passport has been confiscated by the Union government for her activism.
Women in Kashmir are greatly bothered by the non-representation of women at various intra-state dialogue processes too. Mrs Seema Khajooria Shekhar, Additional Advocate General, J & K ( who incidentally is the first women AAG in the history of Jammu and Kashmir) strongly believes that the absence of women in these working groups is both unacceptable and short-sighted, especially as the women and children are the worst affected by the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Steps should be immediately taken to address this serious gap," she says suggesting women of Jammu and Kashmir should throw their weight behind any initiative across the LoC that promotes better people to people interaction rather than restricting themselves to gender specific initiatives.
Women who have working at the grassroots believe that women's equal participation in political life, as voters, candidates and members of electoral committees, could play a crucial role in the advancement of women and the reconstruction of violence-ridden society.
Professor Rita Jitendra, renowned women rights activist who was also member of Jammu and Kashmir State Women's Commission believes that though women haven't come forward in political sphere in the real sense, yet for the first time in past 27 years in the troubled history of the state, the local bodies (Civic) polls held in Jammu and Kashmir in February-March 2005, have shown given us enough proof of women activism.
"What else you require? Involve women in all decision making levels as she understands about peace much better than anyone else," she advocates adding never before in the troubled history of Jammu and Kashmir, women came forward and participated in the elections which were held after a long gap of 27 years, even in troubled valley as the contesters. If women can come out in huge numbers desisting terrorist threats, why cannot they be included in the peace negotiations, argues adds Professor Jitendra adding after all, nobody can understand the meaning of word 'peace' better than a woman who has lost her husband, son, brother and father in the past 17 years.
In the first civic polls in which women participated, a total of 934 women contested the elections, indeed a significant number keeping in the fact that women never tried to break the stereotypes and entered politics. Of these, 270 women ultimately made it to the municipal council in 2005 and committees through out the state.
What surprised the world was the fact that Kashmiri women, despite facing strong barriers at these polls due to coercion by male relatives, threats or intimidation by militant groups contested and women. One sixty one women contested civil polls for Jammu Municipal Corporations, 61 for Srinagar Corporations, 27 for Kupwara, 75 Baramulla, 51 Anantnag, nine Pulwama, 108 Kathua, 22 Budgam, 89 Udhampur, 66 Doda , 19 Poonch and 36 Rajouri. At least for the first time in the history of state Kashmir women ultimately got some say in decision making though these civil polls.
"Real progress towards gender equality will be seen when women have more say in the decisions that affect their lives. Even though it could be termed as beginning, these elections gave an opportunity to Kashmiri women to express newly found political impact," says Professor Rekha Chowdhary, Department of Political Science, Jammu University.Till now, local women associated politics with fear and violence and saw them as synonymous but when some efforts were made by the government to give them opportunities to strengthen the democracy at grass root level, Kashmiri women, enthusiastically, came forward to contest the polls. "Give them some space and see how their confidence can do wonders besides inspiring other local women into political activism," adds Jitendra.
Agreeing no less, Seema Khajooria Shekhar adds that affirmative action for adequate representation of women in the state legislature should be actively encouraged. Jammu and Kashmir, she argues, has a Constitution of its own and Article 370 will give it added leverage in doing so. What the State requires is the political will of the decision makers who are mostly men for women's equal participation in deciding the political and economic future of Kashmir and a commitment at the governmental and administrative level.
Dr. Sumona Das Gupta, assistant director, Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP), says that a peace process that excludes more than half the population greatly risks the possibility of keeping several creative solutions and options out.
'When we talk about a gender sensitive discourse on Kashmir, we don't mean to exclude males. It's about building partnerships between men and women who agree that if conflict affects them differently it's only natural that they may want to access the peace process differently,' Gupta adds.
Empowering women would shape the path for peace and reconciliation that would organically grow out of participatory dialogue and lead to peace and development of the state, opine Professor Poonam Dhawan, Director, Centre for Women Studies, University of Jammu adding peace building attempts, in order to promote sustainable peace, need to address and transform structures which not only refer to the system of access and distribution of resources, but also social and political institutions, situations and relationships.
In this process, she feels, principles of democratic participation, human rights and gender equality are crucial elements for the longer-term process of building peace based on social justice and equality for women.
By Kavita Suri
(Kavita Suri is a journalist based in Kashmir and this article was written for the Sanjoy Ghosh Fellowship she got for 2006-07)
Showing posts with label Matters of Jammu - Kashmir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matters of Jammu - Kashmir. Show all posts
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Monday, 21 May 2007
The Untouchables of Modern India
Afsana Rashid of Kashmir unearths the shameful conduct of people towards healthy children of those suffering from leprosy.
As India continues to make confident strides in the fields of healthcare and medical technology, age-old attitudes have remained in a state of flux, with the result that India remains a nation of contrasts in more ways than one. One such contrast is her people’s outlook to a long-dreaded illness: leprosy.
Despite the WHO and India declaring that leprosy had been “eliminated as a public health problem” in 2005, India remains one of nine countries with the highest leprosy patients in the world. 64% of all new leprosy cases registered worldwide are from India. Since the mid-1990s, the Indian government has integrated leprosy treatment in the regular health service. It is, therefore, now possible to get treatment for leprosy at almost every health station. The social stigma associated with the disease, however, remains a formidable challenge.
In the picturesque city of Srinagar, on the banks of Nageen Lake, stands the Barhar Leper Hospital. In a bid to make progressive efforts towards tackling the social stigma faced by the patients, administrators and local health officials encouraged patients at the leper hospital, a few decades ago, to marry and start life afresh. It was a dream come true for many young couples, who used the opportunity to lead a near-normal life and build towards their future and that of their children.
However, what started as a rehabilitation success story is now turning indelibly sour. The afflicted parents continued to be looked after by the State with the implementation of suitable programmes. These government schemes could not rid their children – youngsters now seeking to build their own lives – of the social stigma associated with their parents, since they grew up with the dreaded tag of being residents of Barhar leper colony. Although healthy and free of the illness, these youth are not accepted in employment and elsewhere for fear of ‘catching the disease’.
Not supported by any special government schemes like their parents were, these youth face an impasse not of their making. Many have been working since childhood since their parents were unable to earn a living. “These marriages were not the marriages of our parents but the sins they were ordered into by society. They did not consider how the young would live when their parents are purely dependent on charity”, the boys reflect bitterly.
Sharing his own experience, Fayaz Ahmad (name changed), narrates, “I was working as a salesman but the moment my employer realized that I am from Barhar, he asked me to leave. He would not let me return to that workplace.” Others have similar experiences to share. “This is the reason why we do not disclose our identities when we go for private tuition or any educational institution or workplace. We are looked down upon by society. Don’t we have the right to live with dignity?” Questions Masood Ahmad (name changed), also a resident of the leper colony, “We are also creatures of the same creator then why this indifference? Is it our fault that we have been born in a leper colony?”
In a nearby compound, a group of boys in a jovial mood turn grave when queried about their lives. “We are a healthy generation”, they point out. “The government has adopted our parents but not us. Our life is made miserable. The government disowns us and society is reluctant to accept us as one of their own. In such circumstances, where shall we seek refuge? We are alien in our own land.”
Elders among the community view these marriages as a “burden” on the younger generation and fear that this desperation, based on genuine grievances, could lead to unwanted outcomes. Warns Shaheena, a social worker, “The desperation of these people would definitely germinate evil in society if not guided and treated properly.”
Indeed, not everyone takes a passive stand on the injustice they face. Manzoor Ahmad and Latief Ahmad, both residents of the leper colony, are forceful about the tight spot they find themselves in. “We demand that the state government provide us with plots of land and employment. We are considered as ‘untouchables’ in society. People try to avoid us. Who will come to our rescue under such circumstances?”
Despite the launch of several schemes/grant-in-aid to beneficiaries by various departments of the State and Central government under Women and Child development, Handicrafts promotion and other empowerment programmes, few have stepped forward to support the Barhar residents. As everyone turns away, these youth have yet to make a breakthrough to a stigma-free life.
(Charkha Features)
As India continues to make confident strides in the fields of healthcare and medical technology, age-old attitudes have remained in a state of flux, with the result that India remains a nation of contrasts in more ways than one. One such contrast is her people’s outlook to a long-dreaded illness: leprosy.
Despite the WHO and India declaring that leprosy had been “eliminated as a public health problem” in 2005, India remains one of nine countries with the highest leprosy patients in the world. 64% of all new leprosy cases registered worldwide are from India. Since the mid-1990s, the Indian government has integrated leprosy treatment in the regular health service. It is, therefore, now possible to get treatment for leprosy at almost every health station. The social stigma associated with the disease, however, remains a formidable challenge.
In the picturesque city of Srinagar, on the banks of Nageen Lake, stands the Barhar Leper Hospital. In a bid to make progressive efforts towards tackling the social stigma faced by the patients, administrators and local health officials encouraged patients at the leper hospital, a few decades ago, to marry and start life afresh. It was a dream come true for many young couples, who used the opportunity to lead a near-normal life and build towards their future and that of their children.
However, what started as a rehabilitation success story is now turning indelibly sour. The afflicted parents continued to be looked after by the State with the implementation of suitable programmes. These government schemes could not rid their children – youngsters now seeking to build their own lives – of the social stigma associated with their parents, since they grew up with the dreaded tag of being residents of Barhar leper colony. Although healthy and free of the illness, these youth are not accepted in employment and elsewhere for fear of ‘catching the disease’.
Not supported by any special government schemes like their parents were, these youth face an impasse not of their making. Many have been working since childhood since their parents were unable to earn a living. “These marriages were not the marriages of our parents but the sins they were ordered into by society. They did not consider how the young would live when their parents are purely dependent on charity”, the boys reflect bitterly.
Sharing his own experience, Fayaz Ahmad (name changed), narrates, “I was working as a salesman but the moment my employer realized that I am from Barhar, he asked me to leave. He would not let me return to that workplace.” Others have similar experiences to share. “This is the reason why we do not disclose our identities when we go for private tuition or any educational institution or workplace. We are looked down upon by society. Don’t we have the right to live with dignity?” Questions Masood Ahmad (name changed), also a resident of the leper colony, “We are also creatures of the same creator then why this indifference? Is it our fault that we have been born in a leper colony?”
In a nearby compound, a group of boys in a jovial mood turn grave when queried about their lives. “We are a healthy generation”, they point out. “The government has adopted our parents but not us. Our life is made miserable. The government disowns us and society is reluctant to accept us as one of their own. In such circumstances, where shall we seek refuge? We are alien in our own land.”
Elders among the community view these marriages as a “burden” on the younger generation and fear that this desperation, based on genuine grievances, could lead to unwanted outcomes. Warns Shaheena, a social worker, “The desperation of these people would definitely germinate evil in society if not guided and treated properly.”
Indeed, not everyone takes a passive stand on the injustice they face. Manzoor Ahmad and Latief Ahmad, both residents of the leper colony, are forceful about the tight spot they find themselves in. “We demand that the state government provide us with plots of land and employment. We are considered as ‘untouchables’ in society. People try to avoid us. Who will come to our rescue under such circumstances?”
Despite the launch of several schemes/grant-in-aid to beneficiaries by various departments of the State and Central government under Women and Child development, Handicrafts promotion and other empowerment programmes, few have stepped forward to support the Barhar residents. As everyone turns away, these youth have yet to make a breakthrough to a stigma-free life.
(Charkha Features)
The Search Goes On
Pain of separation turn Hajra Bhanu restless, increase in its intensity worsens her condition to the extent that she wishes to dig a graveyard for herself, which she believes would relieve her of her “subtle but torturous” pains and a perplexed situation.
Finding herself “ruined”, Hajra, in her mid seventies, recollects the “good old” days when her four sons used to live happily with her. Narrating her woeful tale in nutshell, she said, “Akye waqt asas bae chouran shuraen hinz moej, wane chhum ni kahaen”, (there was a time when I was mother of four sons but today I yearn for a support).
Aged Hajra and her husband live alone in Wanigam village of Bandipora district in Kashmir. Left to fend on their own, the couple hardly finds any one to share their agonies and trauma. “There is no one with whom we could share our pains and sufferings. We had two daughters who are married now and they seldom visit us. At times, our agonies turn unbearable and we wish to end our lives. I wish to dig a graveyard for myself at least that would relieve me from this perplexed situation,” lamented Hajra.
One of the Hajra’s sons is missing for the last 11 years and other three have been killed. Living a hard and miserable life, her agonies have adversely affected her. She finds no words to explain her situation. Tears gushing through her eyes narrate the untold part. Hajra’s husband is ailing and too weak to earn. In their old age they are left to support each other.
Despite all this Hajra mustered courage and filed a case in State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). However, she is not satisfied with the pace of work there and is doubtful in getting a verdict in her favour from the commission. “For the last three years I have been going to State Human Rights Commission to seek justice but till date my efforts have borne no fruits. There is no one except Almighty who might come to our rescue, rest is all turning tail”, feebly commented
Hajra.
Disappearance of her son has added to the mental agonies of Taja Bano again from the same village. Taja fails to understand as how could an “illiterate and helpless” mother (as in almost every case of disappearance) trace her son in this land of conflict where every moment of life adds to their bruises. “Where to look for him since the whole matter seems so confusing and complicated. Exhumations in the Ganderbal fake encounter cases have worried us more with the apprehensions hogging our minds that our dear ones might have faced the same fate,” narrated Taja.
Missing her “disappeared” son badly she feels as if her life has come to a sudden halt. Failing to comply with this trauma her husband had a nervous breakdown. Consequently, she was left to feed and support her family that she at times finds cumbersome. Posing a volley of queries she asked, “What is the alternative left for mothers in such grave situations? Who would take the trouble of providing us with the necessities of life? We are all a helpless, hapless and ignored
lot who are left to fend for themselves,” she quipped leaving rest to be conveyed by her abrupt silence.
Misra Bhanu went into depressive fits and finally lost her life. Obsessed to trace the whereabouts of her son, Shabir Ahmad, who went missing since 22 January 2001 Misra failed to bear the separation and bid farewell to the world. Residing at Boatman Colony-Bemina, Srinagar Ghulam Nabi, husband of Misra said that he first lost his son (whose whereabouts he is still tracing. He does not even know whether he is dead or alive) and then his wife.
Frustrated Ghulam Nabi, a fruit vendor by profession has no other source to sustain his family that includes his daughter-in-law and two grandsons. “Now they are my responsibility but how long can I support them. Where will my daughter-in-law go? She has no other source to support her life. Only Allah knows what will happen to her and her siblings. I have reached that stage of life where I myself need a support,” he argued.
Though his case too lies with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the High Court but that is not where his struggle ends. So far, he has received no assistance in the form of cash. He added that he has to shoulder the responsibility of the family till he reaches the end of his life.
Getting emotional about his young daughter-in-law and grandsons, Ghulam Nabi pleaded for some sort of assistance for these children keeping into consideration his own limitations, the age factor in particular. “They do not have a secure future. What will they do when I will be no more, this thought sends shivers down my spine and haunts me all along but what to do as I am absolutely helpless,” he asked.
In a bid to catch a glimpse of her son, Fazi Begum (75), makes it all the way to the Saddar Court,
Srinagar irrespective of time, money involved and the type of weather. Being aware of the fact that her son would be brought to the court for hearing, she left no stone unturned to make it to that place.
Rehti Jan, in her late sixties, often walks down the riverside to share her tears with the gushing stream flowing by. She lost her son to the ongoing insurgency in the state. Her son was the lone bread earner of the family and they lived a happy life. Immediately after his death their family went in the grip of miseries and pains. “Life has turned miserable for us and we are living from hand to mouth,” exclaimed Rehti.
Mukhta Bano, a middle-aged woman, remembers her last meeting with her son. Down the memory lane, she recollects the memories of the day when she was waiting for her son only to find that the wait would turn endless. Her eyes always look for that “familiar” face in the crowd. “All my efforts fail to trace him. Now it seems an endless search still I will never give up,” reiterated Mukhta.
Another middle-aged woman, Zainab Begum still waits for her son who is believed to be dead. “I have not seen his dead body or for that mater his grave. How can I believe that he is no more? Show me either his dead body or grave only then I will believe your words. Till then I would continue my struggle the way I can,” insisted the mother.
Sara Begum, a young mother, finds solace the moment she happens to pass by the graveyard of her son. “He is safe here. At least, I know he is lying here and nobody can harm him,” she uttered.
To trace the whereabouts of her only son, Fatima Bi, an elderly woman wishes to get tossed from post to pillar hoping that someday she might locate her son or get any information pertaining to him. “Only then I can die in peace,” she stated.
The wait, however, seems unending for Zoona Akthar, a widow and mother of five children, who have put in all her energy, efforts and other resources to find out her son missing for years together now.
Age seems not to be a barrier for Mala Jan (70), who moves from jail to jail to look for her son and to know about his well-being. “Back home I have to look after his family as well as there is no other source of income. I try to eke out a small living by doing petty jobs,” she said.
“Stop disappearances and stop crimes against humanity,” plead the family members of the disappeared persons whenever they assemble and carry out silent protest demonstration in Srinagar. “Hamaray bachoun ko azad karo, La pata bachoun ko riha karo” (release our missing children, set them free and provide us their whereabouts), are the slogans that they usually raise. Finally, tears and shrieks give vent to their feelings.
The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) is an organization of families of victims of enforced disappearances in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and has been campaigning against phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearances since its formation in 1994.
Pertinent to mention, at the very beginning of this year the Association got split into two factions for the reasons best known to them. One faction continues to be the sister organization of the J&K Coalition of Civil Society (J&KCCS) and the other being headed by Parveena Ahangar (earlier President of APDP), independently.
Last year, on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared (August 30), APDP came out with a paper that contained contradictory statements of the ministers as well as chief ministers issued from time to time about the number of the persons disappeared in the state since 1989.
The document while quoting the statement made by Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Minister of State (MOS) for Home during the National Conference rule on July 18, 2002 said that 3,184 persons disappeared from 1989 to July 2002. Then the document while quoting the former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that 3744 persons were missing during the year 2000, 2001 and
2002. The statement that was made in the Legislative Assembly at Jammu on February 25, 2003 said that 1,553 persons disappeared in 2000; 1,586 in 2001 and 605 in 2002. On March 25, 2003 former Law & Parliamentary affairs minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh had said that out of 3,744 persons missing during the period 2000-2002, 135 have been declared dead up to June 2002.
The document revealed a U-turn approach taken by the former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who during a joint press conference with former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Srinagar airport, in April 2003, declared that only 60 persons have disappeared since the inception of militancy in the state. Later, the document said that Mufti while giving the statement on June 11, 2003 said that 3,744 persons are reported missing from 1990 till 31st December 2002. Ten days later, the then Minister of State (MOS) Home, Abdul Rehman Veeri said that 3,931 persons have disappeared from 1989 to June 2003.
The chairman of National Panthers Party (NPP) Prof. Bhim Singh on October 7, 2004 said that 4000 disappeared persons are lodged in Jammu jails. The document further quoted various statements made by the chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and the former deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh about the custodial disappearances that have taken place from time to time.
The document while quoting Azad, during the question hour of the state legislature during February-March 2006 session at Jammu said that 693 disappearance cases have been registered, so far. In the same session he made a statement that four cases of custodial disappearances were recorded between 1-1-2004 and 15-2-2006.
The document while quoting the then deputy Chief Minister on August 1, 2006 said that there were 60 cases of disappearances during the National Conference (NC) rule. Later the document while quoting the statement of Azad made in the legislative council said that that there were 12 cases of custodial disappearances from 2003 to July 28, 2006. The document added that the Chief Minister on the floor of the house during the same session said that there have been 33 custodial disappearances during 1990-1996 in the state. He added that 60 cases of custodial disappearances have come to the forefront during the period 1995-2002, the document added.
The chief minister while making a mention in the state legislature said that 15 custodial disappearances have taken place during 2003-2005 and that a single case of custodial disappearance has occurred from November 2, 2005 to August 5, 2006, as per the document. It added that Azad in the house said that during the Governor’s rule and NC regime 33 and 60 cases of the custodial disappearances were reported respectively.
The APDP believed that in Jammu and Kashmir the successive governments have not even acknowledged the phenomenon of enforced disappearances and it is imperative that the cases are investigated. The question of identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to justice, according to the Association, seems to be a remote possibility.
Since 1989, APDP records that 8000 to 10,000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearances during different regimes. According to them, 122 people were subjected to enforced disappearance from November 2, 2002 to November 2, 2005. The Congress government led by Ghulam Nabi Azad has been no different and more than 42 cases of enforced disappearances have been reported from November 2, 2005 to this date revealed the Association.
Parveena Ahangar, former president, Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and currently heading one of the APDP factions reiterates to continue the struggle, till the last breath.
“We won’t rest till we know the truth,” she stressed. She was of the opinion that even courts have failed them. “Courts have failed to provide us the justice. We have been asking about the setting up of a Commission under the Commission of Inquiries Act with a mandate to probe into all the disappearances taken place since the insurgency, here. But that did not happen. We asked them to stop such violations. Contrary to that, cases of disappearances keep pouring in,” she maintained. The Association, according to her, is persistently campaigning against phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearances since its formation in 1994.
She however, reiterated that they do not want relief, job or compensation making it clear that they simply want their children back. “What more can a mother’s heart urge for and what else would children demand. No one can gauge the pains and sufferings of a widow,” she said. She went to the extent of saying that if they are sincerely told that their “missing” relatives are no more, they are ready to take that as well. “At least, we will stop looking for them and stop spending everything we have in trying to trace them. But, it appears as if no one is moved by the pains we are undergoing,” she advocated.
Either show us their dead bodies or let the international agencies intervene, she maintained. “How long shall we continue like this?” Parveena asked. “I can understand the pains of a mother, a sister or a wife who has lost her son, brother or husband. I have gone through all this and I am fighting for this for the last so many years,” she reinforced. Parveena’s son is missing since the last 16 years.
Lashing out on the government, a relative of a disappeared youth asked the government to show them the dead bodies of their dear ones. “You talk about resolving Kashmir issue, what about our issues. Return us our children”, he asked. Questioning further, he said which provision in the Constitution authorizes the government to take away their children not to be returned. “Tell them their crime, punish them, but at least show them to us. This is a grave injustice done to us,” he submitted.
Pervez Imroz patron J&K Coalition of Civil Society (CCS) stated that this situation is confronted by 3, 00,000 family members. He added that the government has been too insensitive to this issue. “We are planning for the international pressure because we feel only that works. We want to expose this indifference to the whole world. More shocking is the indifferent attitude of the civil society groups especially the women activists (elitist women group) who are observing silence over this grave issue,” Imroz explained.
”Since 12 years of the formation of APDP we have been fighting against disappearances in the state. We want the perpetrators to be brought to book,” he stressed. “Disappearance is a crime against humanity. Government is answerable for the disappearances,” emphasized Pervez Imroz.
Parveena Ahangar too demanded to make government answerable for the disappearances. “One hundred sixty four people have disappeared during Mufti’s government, 44 during Azad’s regime so far and about 35,000 during Farooq Abdullah’s time. How come Mufti led a delegation to United Nations General Assembly? Was there no one to question him about the disappearances during his regime,” Parveena asked.
Other members of the Association added, “Day in and day out we hear that both India and Pakistan want to solve the Kashmir issue, but there is no one who would stand up and mention about the disappearance of our kids. We are not against peace but at the same time we want that the whereabouts of our wards are known to us. If they are no more in this world then hand over
the bodies to us so that our mental agony comes to an end”.
Afsana Rashid
(Charkha Features)
Finding herself “ruined”, Hajra, in her mid seventies, recollects the “good old” days when her four sons used to live happily with her. Narrating her woeful tale in nutshell, she said, “Akye waqt asas bae chouran shuraen hinz moej, wane chhum ni kahaen”, (there was a time when I was mother of four sons but today I yearn for a support).
Aged Hajra and her husband live alone in Wanigam village of Bandipora district in Kashmir. Left to fend on their own, the couple hardly finds any one to share their agonies and trauma. “There is no one with whom we could share our pains and sufferings. We had two daughters who are married now and they seldom visit us. At times, our agonies turn unbearable and we wish to end our lives. I wish to dig a graveyard for myself at least that would relieve me from this perplexed situation,” lamented Hajra.
One of the Hajra’s sons is missing for the last 11 years and other three have been killed. Living a hard and miserable life, her agonies have adversely affected her. She finds no words to explain her situation. Tears gushing through her eyes narrate the untold part. Hajra’s husband is ailing and too weak to earn. In their old age they are left to support each other.
Despite all this Hajra mustered courage and filed a case in State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). However, she is not satisfied with the pace of work there and is doubtful in getting a verdict in her favour from the commission. “For the last three years I have been going to State Human Rights Commission to seek justice but till date my efforts have borne no fruits. There is no one except Almighty who might come to our rescue, rest is all turning tail”, feebly commented
Hajra.
Disappearance of her son has added to the mental agonies of Taja Bano again from the same village. Taja fails to understand as how could an “illiterate and helpless” mother (as in almost every case of disappearance) trace her son in this land of conflict where every moment of life adds to their bruises. “Where to look for him since the whole matter seems so confusing and complicated. Exhumations in the Ganderbal fake encounter cases have worried us more with the apprehensions hogging our minds that our dear ones might have faced the same fate,” narrated Taja.
Missing her “disappeared” son badly she feels as if her life has come to a sudden halt. Failing to comply with this trauma her husband had a nervous breakdown. Consequently, she was left to feed and support her family that she at times finds cumbersome. Posing a volley of queries she asked, “What is the alternative left for mothers in such grave situations? Who would take the trouble of providing us with the necessities of life? We are all a helpless, hapless and ignored
lot who are left to fend for themselves,” she quipped leaving rest to be conveyed by her abrupt silence.
Misra Bhanu went into depressive fits and finally lost her life. Obsessed to trace the whereabouts of her son, Shabir Ahmad, who went missing since 22 January 2001 Misra failed to bear the separation and bid farewell to the world. Residing at Boatman Colony-Bemina, Srinagar Ghulam Nabi, husband of Misra said that he first lost his son (whose whereabouts he is still tracing. He does not even know whether he is dead or alive) and then his wife.
Frustrated Ghulam Nabi, a fruit vendor by profession has no other source to sustain his family that includes his daughter-in-law and two grandsons. “Now they are my responsibility but how long can I support them. Where will my daughter-in-law go? She has no other source to support her life. Only Allah knows what will happen to her and her siblings. I have reached that stage of life where I myself need a support,” he argued.
Though his case too lies with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the High Court but that is not where his struggle ends. So far, he has received no assistance in the form of cash. He added that he has to shoulder the responsibility of the family till he reaches the end of his life.
Getting emotional about his young daughter-in-law and grandsons, Ghulam Nabi pleaded for some sort of assistance for these children keeping into consideration his own limitations, the age factor in particular. “They do not have a secure future. What will they do when I will be no more, this thought sends shivers down my spine and haunts me all along but what to do as I am absolutely helpless,” he asked.
In a bid to catch a glimpse of her son, Fazi Begum (75), makes it all the way to the Saddar Court,
Srinagar irrespective of time, money involved and the type of weather. Being aware of the fact that her son would be brought to the court for hearing, she left no stone unturned to make it to that place.
Rehti Jan, in her late sixties, often walks down the riverside to share her tears with the gushing stream flowing by. She lost her son to the ongoing insurgency in the state. Her son was the lone bread earner of the family and they lived a happy life. Immediately after his death their family went in the grip of miseries and pains. “Life has turned miserable for us and we are living from hand to mouth,” exclaimed Rehti.
Mukhta Bano, a middle-aged woman, remembers her last meeting with her son. Down the memory lane, she recollects the memories of the day when she was waiting for her son only to find that the wait would turn endless. Her eyes always look for that “familiar” face in the crowd. “All my efforts fail to trace him. Now it seems an endless search still I will never give up,” reiterated Mukhta.
Another middle-aged woman, Zainab Begum still waits for her son who is believed to be dead. “I have not seen his dead body or for that mater his grave. How can I believe that he is no more? Show me either his dead body or grave only then I will believe your words. Till then I would continue my struggle the way I can,” insisted the mother.
Sara Begum, a young mother, finds solace the moment she happens to pass by the graveyard of her son. “He is safe here. At least, I know he is lying here and nobody can harm him,” she uttered.
To trace the whereabouts of her only son, Fatima Bi, an elderly woman wishes to get tossed from post to pillar hoping that someday she might locate her son or get any information pertaining to him. “Only then I can die in peace,” she stated.
The wait, however, seems unending for Zoona Akthar, a widow and mother of five children, who have put in all her energy, efforts and other resources to find out her son missing for years together now.
Age seems not to be a barrier for Mala Jan (70), who moves from jail to jail to look for her son and to know about his well-being. “Back home I have to look after his family as well as there is no other source of income. I try to eke out a small living by doing petty jobs,” she said.
“Stop disappearances and stop crimes against humanity,” plead the family members of the disappeared persons whenever they assemble and carry out silent protest demonstration in Srinagar. “Hamaray bachoun ko azad karo, La pata bachoun ko riha karo” (release our missing children, set them free and provide us their whereabouts), are the slogans that they usually raise. Finally, tears and shrieks give vent to their feelings.
The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) is an organization of families of victims of enforced disappearances in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and has been campaigning against phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearances since its formation in 1994.
Pertinent to mention, at the very beginning of this year the Association got split into two factions for the reasons best known to them. One faction continues to be the sister organization of the J&K Coalition of Civil Society (J&KCCS) and the other being headed by Parveena Ahangar (earlier President of APDP), independently.
Last year, on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared (August 30), APDP came out with a paper that contained contradictory statements of the ministers as well as chief ministers issued from time to time about the number of the persons disappeared in the state since 1989.
The document while quoting the statement made by Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Minister of State (MOS) for Home during the National Conference rule on July 18, 2002 said that 3,184 persons disappeared from 1989 to July 2002. Then the document while quoting the former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that 3744 persons were missing during the year 2000, 2001 and
2002. The statement that was made in the Legislative Assembly at Jammu on February 25, 2003 said that 1,553 persons disappeared in 2000; 1,586 in 2001 and 605 in 2002. On March 25, 2003 former Law & Parliamentary affairs minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh had said that out of 3,744 persons missing during the period 2000-2002, 135 have been declared dead up to June 2002.
The document revealed a U-turn approach taken by the former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who during a joint press conference with former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Srinagar airport, in April 2003, declared that only 60 persons have disappeared since the inception of militancy in the state. Later, the document said that Mufti while giving the statement on June 11, 2003 said that 3,744 persons are reported missing from 1990 till 31st December 2002. Ten days later, the then Minister of State (MOS) Home, Abdul Rehman Veeri said that 3,931 persons have disappeared from 1989 to June 2003.
The chairman of National Panthers Party (NPP) Prof. Bhim Singh on October 7, 2004 said that 4000 disappeared persons are lodged in Jammu jails. The document further quoted various statements made by the chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and the former deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh about the custodial disappearances that have taken place from time to time.
The document while quoting Azad, during the question hour of the state legislature during February-March 2006 session at Jammu said that 693 disappearance cases have been registered, so far. In the same session he made a statement that four cases of custodial disappearances were recorded between 1-1-2004 and 15-2-2006.
The document while quoting the then deputy Chief Minister on August 1, 2006 said that there were 60 cases of disappearances during the National Conference (NC) rule. Later the document while quoting the statement of Azad made in the legislative council said that that there were 12 cases of custodial disappearances from 2003 to July 28, 2006. The document added that the Chief Minister on the floor of the house during the same session said that there have been 33 custodial disappearances during 1990-1996 in the state. He added that 60 cases of custodial disappearances have come to the forefront during the period 1995-2002, the document added.
The chief minister while making a mention in the state legislature said that 15 custodial disappearances have taken place during 2003-2005 and that a single case of custodial disappearance has occurred from November 2, 2005 to August 5, 2006, as per the document. It added that Azad in the house said that during the Governor’s rule and NC regime 33 and 60 cases of the custodial disappearances were reported respectively.
The APDP believed that in Jammu and Kashmir the successive governments have not even acknowledged the phenomenon of enforced disappearances and it is imperative that the cases are investigated. The question of identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to justice, according to the Association, seems to be a remote possibility.
Since 1989, APDP records that 8000 to 10,000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearances during different regimes. According to them, 122 people were subjected to enforced disappearance from November 2, 2002 to November 2, 2005. The Congress government led by Ghulam Nabi Azad has been no different and more than 42 cases of enforced disappearances have been reported from November 2, 2005 to this date revealed the Association.
Parveena Ahangar, former president, Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and currently heading one of the APDP factions reiterates to continue the struggle, till the last breath.
“We won’t rest till we know the truth,” she stressed. She was of the opinion that even courts have failed them. “Courts have failed to provide us the justice. We have been asking about the setting up of a Commission under the Commission of Inquiries Act with a mandate to probe into all the disappearances taken place since the insurgency, here. But that did not happen. We asked them to stop such violations. Contrary to that, cases of disappearances keep pouring in,” she maintained. The Association, according to her, is persistently campaigning against phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearances since its formation in 1994.
She however, reiterated that they do not want relief, job or compensation making it clear that they simply want their children back. “What more can a mother’s heart urge for and what else would children demand. No one can gauge the pains and sufferings of a widow,” she said. She went to the extent of saying that if they are sincerely told that their “missing” relatives are no more, they are ready to take that as well. “At least, we will stop looking for them and stop spending everything we have in trying to trace them. But, it appears as if no one is moved by the pains we are undergoing,” she advocated.
Either show us their dead bodies or let the international agencies intervene, she maintained. “How long shall we continue like this?” Parveena asked. “I can understand the pains of a mother, a sister or a wife who has lost her son, brother or husband. I have gone through all this and I am fighting for this for the last so many years,” she reinforced. Parveena’s son is missing since the last 16 years.
Lashing out on the government, a relative of a disappeared youth asked the government to show them the dead bodies of their dear ones. “You talk about resolving Kashmir issue, what about our issues. Return us our children”, he asked. Questioning further, he said which provision in the Constitution authorizes the government to take away their children not to be returned. “Tell them their crime, punish them, but at least show them to us. This is a grave injustice done to us,” he submitted.
Pervez Imroz patron J&K Coalition of Civil Society (CCS) stated that this situation is confronted by 3, 00,000 family members. He added that the government has been too insensitive to this issue. “We are planning for the international pressure because we feel only that works. We want to expose this indifference to the whole world. More shocking is the indifferent attitude of the civil society groups especially the women activists (elitist women group) who are observing silence over this grave issue,” Imroz explained.
”Since 12 years of the formation of APDP we have been fighting against disappearances in the state. We want the perpetrators to be brought to book,” he stressed. “Disappearance is a crime against humanity. Government is answerable for the disappearances,” emphasized Pervez Imroz.
Parveena Ahangar too demanded to make government answerable for the disappearances. “One hundred sixty four people have disappeared during Mufti’s government, 44 during Azad’s regime so far and about 35,000 during Farooq Abdullah’s time. How come Mufti led a delegation to United Nations General Assembly? Was there no one to question him about the disappearances during his regime,” Parveena asked.
Other members of the Association added, “Day in and day out we hear that both India and Pakistan want to solve the Kashmir issue, but there is no one who would stand up and mention about the disappearance of our kids. We are not against peace but at the same time we want that the whereabouts of our wards are known to us. If they are no more in this world then hand over
the bodies to us so that our mental agony comes to an end”.
Afsana Rashid
(Charkha Features)
Friday, 18 May 2007
Unseen go their wounds : Unheard go their woes
Absence of proof of death makes life miserable for half - widows, women whose husbands are missing in a conflict situation in Kashmir. This is the irony they are faced with and they continue to live with uncertain future.Waiting for twelve years (after the disappearance of her husband) Sara Bano (name changed) re-married but faced the wrath of the society in general and family in particular. “I had children to feed and had no other source of income and nobody helped me. Now, when I am re-married, they don’t let me live in peace, either. They keep taunting me in a way or other. The fact is that hungry stomachs cannot be fed on illusions and hopes”, Sara maintained.Sara does not stand alone in this struggle. Waheeda, Shahzada and many others follow and the list is unending.Waheeda Bano (name changed) lost her husband in 1991. Left with six children she found it impossible to feed them. Living in abject poverty, her pains never receded. “They kept piling up and nobody offered me a genuine help. I was left on my own’, said Waheeda sorrowfully.Consequently, Waheeda was forced to do petty jobs in the neighbouring houses, but that could not make a sustainable earning for her. “I worked as a labourer, but earned a meagre amount. The day’s labour could not, at times fetch me an amount in double figures and many a times, we had nothing to eat and had to satisfy our belly with water”, said the mother of six children in an awful tone with tears rolling down her cheeks.After putting in so much labour and exhaustion, for about four years, her own health deteriorated and one of her kidneys had to be removed on health grounds. Ailing Waheeda finally went for re-marriage. “No one objected to this decision and why should they? No one comes forward once you are in need, then why to pay heed to them, even if they interfere”, she stated. Shahzada Bano another widow from district Srinagar, in her early thirties was suggested by her acquaintance to re-marry. She had no source of income to sustain herself and her two children. She however, dropped the idea on the ground that her in-laws, in such a situation, wanted her to surrender her girl children which are two in number. In her words, “How is it possible to\n leave my two kids and that too in a situation where they (in-laws) have already drove us out of their house”, Shahzada argued. Caught in between, Shahzada is tossed from pillar to post in order earn a morsel for her younger siblings. Society is not always encouraging these “silent victim’s” second marriage. Consequently, women have to do menial jobs to keep the pot boiling. Absence of organizations, both government and voluntary, working for such women, at the grass root level, has further aggravated the situation. Most of these widows and half-widows are illiterate and unemployed. Suddenly a situation arises where they have to shoulder the entire responsibility of their family. “They are caught in the dual responsibility of managing and maintaining the family. In this process they neglect their ownself and fall prey to various curable and incurable ailments”, observed Dr. Rukhsana Khan, a general practitioner in Srinagar. Emotionally,\n economically and psychologically such woman feel detached, her status in the society changes the moment she looses her husband. Sheema, a social activist described society as supportive towards widows and half widows. In her opinion relatives of this suffered lot encourage them to re-marry. She goes on to say that widows and half widows face innumerable problems and it becomes very difficult for them to sustain the family once the entire burden is shifted to their shoulders, as restrictions are imposed on their re-marriage. After putting in so much labour and exhaustion, for about four years, her own health deteriorated and one of her kidneys had to be removed on health grounds. Ailing Waheeda finally went for re-marriage. “No one objected to this decision and why should they? No one comes forward once you are in need, then why to pay heed to them, even if they interfere”, she stated.Shahzada Bano another widow from district Srinagar, in her early thirties was suggested by her acquaintance to re-marry. She had no source of income to sustain herself and her two children. She however, dropped the idea on the ground that her in-laws, in such a situation, wanted her to surrender her girl children which are two in number. In her words, “How is it possible to leave my two kids and that too in a situation where they (in-laws) have already drove us out of their house”, Shahzada argued. Caught in between, Shahzada is tossed from pillar to post in order earn a morsel for her younger siblings.Society is not always encouraging these “silent victim’s” second marriage. Consequently, women have to do menial jobs to keep the pot boiling. Absence of organizations, both government and voluntary, working for such women, at the grass root level, has further aggravated the situation.Most of these widows and half-widows are illiterate and unemployed. Suddenly a situation arises where they have to shoulder the entire responsibility of their family. “They are caught in the dual responsibility of managing and maintaining the family. In this process they neglect their ownself and fall prey to various curable and incurable ailments”, observed Dr. Rukhsana Khan, a general practitioner in Srinagar.Emotionally, economically and psychologically such woman feel detached, her status in the society changes the moment she looses her husband.Sheema, a social activist described society as supportive towards widows and half widows. In her opinion relatives of this suffered lot encourage them to re-marry. She goes on to say that widows and half widows face innumerable problems and it becomes very difficult for them to sustain the family once the entire burden is shifted to their shoulders, as restrictions are imposed on their re-marriage.Contrary to her, her counterpart, Dr. Rouf Mohi-ud-Din, social activist and consultant Child Rights and You (CRY) holds an entirely different view. He does not find society cooperative in this regard. According to him, it is mostly women who oppose her if she decides to remarry. “Local support system is lacking. It is hard to convince families for her remarriage especially her in-laws and in certain cases they\n themselves are not willing to re-marry. In case of natural death of husband, widows remarry. The widows who do jobs also go for second marriage as they are financially secure and very few people point fingers towards their second marriage. On the whole, society dislikes such practices especially in present context. Transfer of property does not take place in most of the cases and that too creates additional problems for the widow or half-widows”, explained Dr. Rouf. He insisted that the survival of 15,000 - 25,000 young widows is not only lurking, but it is a grave issue that needs to be addressed with care and caution. “Islam, the dominant religion being practised in the valley allows woman to go for re-marriage after three months and ten days. This period is known as IDAT and if she carries a child then again the same period of time is prescribed, but after the birth of the child”, he added. The sufferings of those who share the maximum heat of\n the conflict around go unseen. Failing to meet their family related needs and requirements re-marriage could have been an alternative available to them. But social stigma, traditional taboos and other compulsions come in between. Sometimes the circumstances leave them with no option and they get captured in between the ravages of time and conflict. In the absence of head of the family, many try to carry the responsibility of their family to the extent they can. Whereas others fail to share the responsibility and are bent under the burden of responsibility, opt for re-marriage. Sophiya, advocate J&K High Court considers remarriage of widows and half-widows as the best option. She even finds society mature enough to accept it but attaches a rider to it saying that the sympathy from the common masses is timely. Being permissible under Islam, she finds no reason why people should oppose it and finds re-marriage as a sensible decision.Contrary to her, her counterpart, Dr. Rouf Mohi-ud-Din, social activist and consultant Child Rights and You (CRY) holds an entirely different view. He does not find society cooperative in this regard. According to him, it is mostly women who oppose her if she decides to remarry.“Local support system is lacking. It is hard to convince families for her remarriage especially her in-laws and in certain cases they themselves are not willing to re-marry. In case of natural death of husband, widows remarry. The widows who do jobs also go for second marriage as they are financially secure and very few people point fingers towards their second marriage. On the whole, society dislikes such practices especially in present context. Transfer of property does not take place in most of the cases and that too creates additional problems for the widow or half-widows”, explained Dr. Rouf.He insisted that the survival of 15,000 - 25,000 young widows is not only lurking, but it is a grave issue that needs to be addressed with care and caution. “Islam, the dominant religion being practised in the valley allows woman to go for re-marriage after three months and ten days. This period is known as IDAT and if she carries a child then again the same period of time is prescribed, but after the birth of the child”, he added.The sufferings of those who share the maximum heat of the conflict around go unseen. Failing to meet their family related needs and requirements re-marriage could have been an alternative available to them. But social stigma, traditional taboos and other compulsions come in between. Sometimes the circumstances leave them with no option and they get captured in between the ravages of time and conflict.In the absence of head of the family, many try to carry the responsibility of their family to the extent they can. Whereas others fail to share the responsibility and are bent under the burden of responsibility, opt for re-marriage.Sophiya, advocate J&K High Court considers remarriage of widows and half-widows as the best option. She even finds society mature enough to accept it but attaches a rider to it saying that the sympathy from the common masses is timely. Being permissible under Islam, she finds no reason why people should oppose it and finds re-marriage as a sensible decision.“This can help her to start her life afresh and above all she can find financial support and security. In case her ex-husband is alive, the children will go to him under the Muslim Personal Law especially the male child or to the grandparents”, she said. But if economically she is sound, she does not need to remarry even if she has children, Sophiya opined. However at the same time she believes that children should not be made an excuse with her feelings being looked into properly. For children, other alternatives like sending them to boarding schools can be looked into, feels the advocate. Referring to local traditions, where in many cases widows have been re-married to their brother-in-laws, Sophiya feels that under such circumstances both widow and her children are safe and secure. “NGO’s have a role to play here. Not only can they help them to sustain, but they can provide them with proper counseling and the same would help these\n widows in the long run”, she suggested. Widows and half widows suffer on all fronts, she admitted. Financially they are dependent and at the same time they have to support their children and to look after their own security as well. “Society is not that much supportive. Sympathy is shown, but that is timely. Assistance in real sense is hardly provided and sometimes, they even get exploited”, admitted Sophiya. Either shelter homes, where both mother and children could live together should be provided or they should be assisted on economic fronts, in terms of providing them financial assistance so that they can set up their own self-employment units, so that they can earn and live their life, she added. “Economic independence should be taken care of,” insisted the female advocate. Jammu and Kashmir Women Initiative for Peace and Disarmament (J&KWIPD), a member organization of J&K Coalition of Civil Society (J&KCCS) claims to\n help widows and half widows with free legal aid and counseling.“This can help her to start her life afresh and above all she can find financial support and security. In case her ex-husband is alive, the children will go to him under the Muslim Personal Law especially the male child or to the grandparents”, she said.But if economically she is sound, she does not need to remarry even if she has children, Sophiya opined. However at the same time she believes that children should not be made an excuse with her feelings being looked into properly. For children, other alternatives like sending them to boarding schools can be looked into, feels the advocate.Referring to local traditions, where in many cases widows have been re-married to their brother-in-laws, Sophiya feels that under such circumstances both widow and her children are safe and secure. “NGO’s have a role to play here. Not only can they help them to sustain, but they can provide them with proper counseling and the same would help these widows in the long run”, she suggested.Widows and half widows suffer on all fronts, she admitted. Financially they are dependent and at the same time they have to support their children and to look after their own security as well. “Society is not that much supportive. Sympathy is shown, but that is timely. Assistance in real sense is hardly provided and sometimes, they even get exploited”, admitted Sophiya.Either shelter homes, where both mother and children could live together should be provided or they should be assisted on economic fronts, in terms of providing them financial assistance so that they can set up their own self-employment units, so that they can earn and live their life, she added. “Economic independence should be taken care of,” insisted the female advocate.Jammu and Kashmir Women Initiative for Peace and Disarmament (J&KWIPD), a member organization of J&K Coalition of Civil Society (J&KCCS) claims to help widows and half widows with free legal aid and counseling.Parvez Imroz, patron J&K Coalition of Civil Society says that under normal conditions, widow remarriage is not opposed and it is their legal right under Muslim Law. But in the prevailing situation, society does not willingly support these marriages. “KWIPD and Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) adopt those families who have no other source of income and those who have discontinued their studies. This is not the final answer to their problems, but definitely it makes some difference”, observed Parvez Imroz. “Personally, I think they should go for re-marriage otherwise they\n have no option whatsoever. In many cases, after seven years they have remarried. More reaction has come from the women-folk itself. Those family members who have certain interests oppose such marriages. They want to exert control them and in case they want to remarry it is considered as a revolt. But since it is permissible under Islam, so it should be encouraged”, he said. Parvez added that most of the widows and half-widows re-marry because of the economic factor. Afroza Qadir, a political activist emphasized for special reservation to be given to half widows and widows in all the fields. “Not only orphanages, but widow-ages should be there and personally I am after that. I am also trying to establish small units for women especially widows so that they are financially sound and secure. They should come forward to carve a niche for themselves,” Afroza stressed. Abdul Rashid Bhat, Assistant Professor Shah-I-Hamdan Institute, Faculty of Social\n Science, University of Kashmir describes, “Widow is one whose husband has died in whatever way. Islam, however, allows her remarriage even Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) followed the practice”. Her age and her liabilities, her economic prosperity, psychological harmony necessitates her re-marriage, he added.“In addition, skill development training is provided to them. Then they are provided with raw material and are helped in marketing the finished goods as well so that they are able to sustain on their own”, said a female activist associated with this organization.Parvez Imroz, patron J&K Coalition of Civil Society says that under normal conditions, widow remarriage is not opposed and it is their legal right under Muslim Law. But in the prevailing situation, society does not willingly support these marriages.“KWIPD and Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) adopt those families who have no other source of income and those who have discontinued their studies. This is not the final answer to their problems, but definitely it makes some difference”, observed Parvez Imroz.“Personally, I think they should go for re-marriage otherwise they have no option whatsoever. In many cases, after seven years they have remarried. More reaction has come from the women-folk itself. Those family members who have certain interests oppose such marriages. They want to exert control them and in case they want to remarry it is considered as a revolt. But since it is permissible under Islam, so it should be encouraged”, he said. Parvez added that most of the widows and half-widows re-marry because of the economic factor.Afroza Qadir, a political activist emphasized for special reservation to be given to half widows and widows in all the fields. “Not only orphanages, but widow-ages should be there and personally I am after that. I am also trying to establish small units for women especially widows so that they are financially sound and secure. They should come forward to carve a niche for themselves,” Afroza stressed.Abdul Rashid Bhat, Assistant Professor Shah-I-Hamdan Institute, Faculty of Social Science, University of Kashmir describes, “Widow is one whose husband has died in whatever way. Islam, however, allows her remarriage even Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) followed the practice”. Her age and her liabilities, her economic prosperity, psychological harmony necessitates her re-marriage, he added.“It has been in practice in past as well as present, though it has declined at present. Changing social status is the main reason. Rate of re-marriage has definitely declined”, he observed. “It is a phenomenon here and some NGO’s are doing a good job, but still more needs to be done. As far as society is concerned, I feel people are more self-centered. The issue needs to be addressed at the earliest,” emphasized the academician.
BY AFSANA RASHID
SRINAGAR
BY AFSANA RASHID
SRINAGAR
Women, Children share maximum heat
Living a deplorable life under the shadows ofinsecurity, helplessness and trauma, the widows andorphans of the state have unending woes and agonies attheir disposal, heed to which can drive even a normalhuman being insane.Since they form the vulnerable group, it makes themthe ultimate sufferers in a conflict situation likeJammu and Kashmir. The group being mostly dependentsuffers the most.If any thing happens in the society, particularlyadverse, it affects them badly. Say for example, ifthe head of the family (usually the earning hand)dies, its immediate impact is, his wife becomes awidow and the children orphans. Their plight startsright from here. Many people come to mourn them,promise them many things, but finally they have tomove ahead with no outside support.The entire burden has to be shared by the women andthe children themselves. Generally, such situationgives birth to two major implications, as has beenobserved by the study, “Impact of conflict situationon women and children (1999-2000)”, carried out byProf. Bashir Ahmad Dabla, Head of the DepartmentSociology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar.The first implication, as per the study, is theincrease in the women labour force leading to asituation where more and more women come out to work.They are exploited and are paid minimum wages comparedto their male counterparts. Other implication is thatthe educational setback faced by the children. They labour, revealed the study.Mostly, after the death of the husband, women shift totheir parental house. Even as per Islamic Shariah theycannot maintain their claim over their husband’sproperty. They have to go to their parental home wherethey are welcomed initially, but later their brother’sfamily usually shows a sort of resentment and theyhave to opt for some rental or separate accommodation.Very few of them stay at their husband’s house and attheir parental home, added the study.The study further depicted the impact of the conflictin different fields of life. Women face the problem ofmaltreatment and harassment, drop out rate ineducational institutes among children increases (ithas gone up to 40 percent) and health of women andchildren has shown deterioration.“As per the study, both mental and physical problemsamong women have increased. Neurological and heartrelated problems that were not so common among womenearlier are prevalent now. Even the crime rate amongthe children can be partly attributed to the conflictsituation. In males, it has affected their attitudeand behaviour”, said Prof. Dabla.The study further added that the affected childrenface many psychological problems and at the same timeabnormal traits in them can also be partly attributedto the conflict situation. Behaviour and attitude ofchildren goes awry and there is an increase inchild-delinquency.Relations within and outside the family get severed.Within the family it results in conflicts and outsidethe family it affects the group or societal relations,the study added. Crime rate among the children hasshown a significant increase, as per the study.“When a child loses his/her family, school, parentsand face economic problems (s) he develops chronic".too get exploited and there is increase in childlabour, revealed the study.Mostly, after the death of the husband, women shift totheir parental house. Even as per Islamic Shariah theycannot maintain their claim over their husband’sproperty. They have to go to their parental home wherethey are welcomed initially, but later their brother’sfamily usually shows a sort of resentment and theyhave to opt for some rental or separate accommodation.Very few of them stay at their husband’s house and attheir parental home, added the study.The study further depicted the impact of the conflictin different fields of life. Women face the problem ofmaltreatment and harassment, drop out rate ineducational institutes among children increases (ithas gone up to 40 percent) and health of women andchildren has shown deterioration.“As per the study, both mental and physical problemsamong women have increased. Neurological and heartrelated problems that were not so common among womenearlier are prevalent now. Even the crime rate amongthe children can be partly attributed to the conflictsituation. In males, it has affected their attitudeand behaviour”, said Prof. Dabla.The study further added that the affected childrenface many psychological problems and at the same timeabnormal traits in them can also be partly attributedto the conflict situation. Behaviour and attitude ofchildren goes awry and there is an increase inchild-delinquency.Relations within and outside the family get severed.Within the family it results in conflicts and outsidethe family it affects the group or societal relations,the study added. Crime rate among the children hasshown a significant increase, as per the study.“When a child loses his/her family, school, parentsand face economic problems (s) he develops chronic thefts and pick-pocketing cases in the valley, but nowthe number has increased. Crime among children can bepartly attributed to conflict, which is an additionalfactor, other factors can be modernization andurbanization”, pointed Prof. Dabla.Conflict has serious impact on the society as a whole.“Attitude towards life changes, culture of intolerancecreeps-in, divisions in society are created, closerelations within the family get suspended. Moreover,conflicts result in no assessment, no accountabilityand no control”, warned Prof. Dabla.In conflict situation, differences are there and theycan be easily located. Firstly, normalcy goes out,attitude and behaviour of people gets disturbed,values take a severe beating. Conflict situationcorrelates with increase in violation and crime, useof drugs, violation of values and norms.The study further revealed that the affected womenmostly belong to educationally weaker section of thesociety and their social world is small, so many ofthem do not resort to drugs etc. The cultural andreligion values that bind them is another main factorwhich keeps them away from such immoral acts, addedthe study.However, suicide rate among women has increased. Theproportion of females is more than males and it ismore intense in the rural areas, revealed the study,“Suicides in Kashmir (2000-01)”. All through out theworld the suicide rate among the males is more and itis more intense in the urban areas but in the Kashmirvalley, reverse is true.“As per the study, the rate of suicides in females ismore than males and it was found more prevalent in therural areas. This too can be partly attributed to theconflict situation”, commented Dr. Dabla.Apparently, failure in the examination, unemploymentor family problem were the reasons quoted for the diseases. Before twenty years or so, there were lessthefts and pick-pocketing cases in the valley, but nowthe number has increased. Crime among children can bepartly attributed to conflict, which is an additionalfactor, other factors can be modernization andurbanization”, pointed Prof. Dabla.Conflict has serious impact on the society as a whole.“Attitude towards life changes, culture of intolerancecreeps-in, divisions in society are created, closerelations within the family get suspended. Moreover,conflicts result in no assessment, no accountabilityand no control”, warned Prof. Dabla.In conflict situation, differences are there and theycan be easily located. Firstly, normalcy goes out,attitude and behaviour of people gets disturbed,values take a severe beating. Conflict situationcorrelates with increase in violation and crime, useof drugs, violation of values and norms.The study further revealed that the affected womenmostly belong to educationally weaker section of thesociety and their social world is small, so many ofthem do not resort to drugs etc. The cultural andreligion values that bind them is another main factorwhich keeps them away from such immoral acts, addedthe study.However, suicide rate among women has increased. Theproportion of females is more than males and it ismore intense in the rural areas, revealed the study,“Suicides in Kashmir (2000-01)”. All through out theworld the suicide rate among the males is more and itis more intense in the urban areas but in the Kashmirvalley, reverse is true.“As per the study, the rate of suicides in females ismore than males and it was found more prevalent in therural areas. This too can be partly attributed to theconflict situation”, commented Dr. Dabla.Apparently, failure in the examination, unemploymentor family problem were the reasons quoted for the kind of undesirable situation created by the conflictsituation, added the professor.Impact of changing development, urbanization,education, modernization are the causes that lead tothe emergence of suicides and the conflict situationadds to that maintained the study. The professor,however, warned that if the same situation continuesfor the next fifty years it might create manyundesirable problems. Entire society will be affected,be it education, culture, politics, religion or anyother dimension of life.“There will be no economic or education development,quality of life will never be enhanced,underdevelopment will prevail and every singleindividual will have to pay the price and there willbe dearth of good jobs”, pointed Dr. Dabla.Another study, “Women and children under armedconflict in Kashmir”, conducted by renownededucationist and former head of education department,University of Kashmir Prof A G Madhosh has revealedthat after the death of their fathers, children mostlyfaced economic hardships, psychological set back,denial of love and affection and apathy from relativesand friends.The research says, “Children who continued with theirfathers relatives were usually harassed. They had tostop going to school and 51 percent of them gotengaged in domestic work”.Regarding the psychological condition of the orphans,the study showed that a sense of isolation wascreeping among the youngsters. Absence of education,no regular house, health deterioration, negativecharacter growth, negative social attitude, denial ofproperty rights and absence of positive attitudetowards life were the other problems identified by theorphans, as per the study.It was further observed by the research that orphansusually under took employment hazardous to their suicides committed, but the underlying factor is akind of undesirable situation created by the conflictsituation, added the professor.Impact of changing development, urbanization,education, modernization are the causes that lead tothe emergence of suicides and the conflict situationadds to that maintained the study. The professor,however, warned that if the same situation continuesfor the next fifty years it might create manyundesirable problems. Entire society will be affected,be it education, culture, politics, religion or anyother dimension of life.“There will be no economic or education development,quality of life will never be enhanced,underdevelopment will prevail and every singleindividual will have to pay the price and there willbe dearth of good jobs”, pointed Dr. Dabla.Another study, “Women and children under armedconflict in Kashmir”, conducted by renownededucationist and former head of education department,University of Kashmir Prof A G Madhosh has revealedthat after the death of their fathers, children mostlyfaced economic hardships, psychological set back,denial of love and affection and apathy from relativesand friends.The research says, “Children who continued with theirfathers relatives were usually harassed. They had tostop going to school and 51 percent of them gotengaged in domestic work”.Regarding the psychological condition of the orphans,the study showed that a sense of isolation wascreeping among the youngsters. Absence of education,no regular house, health deterioration, negativecharacter growth, negative social attitude, denial ofproperty rights and absence of positive attitudetowards life were the other problems identified by theorphans, as per the study.It was further observed by the research that orphansusually under took employment hazardous to their hours. “Jobs like carpet weaving, farming, carpentry,bus conductor, automobile filling service, domesticservice, casual daily wage engagements as helpers toshopkeepers, house builders and masons were taken upin order to earn a livelihood”, established theresearch.According to this study, 90 percent of the childrenwere either found in primary school or preparing toseek admission in private or governmental educationalinstitutions before they lost their fathers. Now, 65percent of children within the age group 11-18 yearshad to enter into a regular child labour market.Focusing towards the increase in the child labour atan alarming proportion during the last 16 years or so,surveys have found nearly 75,000 children below theage of 14 years have joined work force in order tosustain their families that entirely depend on them.According to UNICEF there are over 1,00,000 orphans inKashmir and just 20 orphanages take care of roughly1000-2000 children (JK Practitioner, journal ofcurrent medical science and practice).As against 1,762 patients registered during 1990 atGovernment Psychiatric Diseases Hospital, the numberof patients who visited the hospital in 2000 went upto a staggering figure of 38,696. In 2002, however,the figure rose to nearly 48,000. The figures havealready crossed 48,000 up to September 2003, revealeda report of Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society(J&KCCS). The report further added that before theeruption of conflict in Kashmir in 1989 there washardly any case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD).According to Dr. G.A.Wani, a psychiatrist, “Ten yearsago, we did not get more than 30 such patients a day.Today we examine nearly 200 such cases”. According tothe studies most Kashmiris today suffer from PTSD and health and were being forced to work for the longhours. “Jobs like carpet weaving, farming, carpentry,bus conductor, automobile filling service, domesticservice, casual daily wage engagements as helpers toshopkeepers, house builders and masons were taken upin order to earn a livelihood”, established theresearch.According to this study, 90 percent of the childrenwere either found in primary school or preparing toseek admission in private or governmental educationalinstitutions before they lost their fathers. Now, 65percent of children within the age group 11-18 yearshad to enter into a regular child labour market.Focusing towards the increase in the child labour atan alarming proportion during the last 16 years or so,surveys have found nearly 75,000 children below theage of 14 years have joined work force in order tosustain their families that entirely depend on them.According to UNICEF there are over 1,00,000 orphans inKashmir and just 20 orphanages take care of roughly1000-2000 children (JK Practitioner, journal ofcurrent medical science and practice).As against 1,762 patients registered during 1990 atGovernment Psychiatric Diseases Hospital, the numberof patients who visited the hospital in 2000 went upto a staggering figure of 38,696. In 2002, however,the figure rose to nearly 48,000. The figures havealready crossed 48,000 up to September 2003, revealeda report of Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society(J&KCCS). The report further added that before theeruption of conflict in Kashmir in 1989 there washardly any case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD).According to Dr. G.A.Wani, a psychiatrist, “Ten yearsago, we did not get more than 30 such patients a day.Today we examine nearly 200 such cases”. According tothe studies most Kashmiris today suffer from PTSD andUndoubtedly, women have suffered a lot during morethan 16 years of conflict and they are being subjectedto humiliation and trauma of various trauma. They havemostly been “silent, but worst sufferers.”According to the doctors at Government PsychiatricDiseases Hospital, women constitute 62 percent of thepatients visiting the hospital, stated J&K CCS report.The report further added that there are hundreds ofwomen who have no idea of medical counseling and hencecontinue to suffer. “Suicide rates particularly amongthe women and youth have also gone up. This, theexperts say, is sufficient to ring the alarm bell”,added the J&KCCS report.According to Medicines Sans Frontiers, MSF (Doctorswithout borders), a private international medical andhumanitarian organization, counseling can help tounderstand their problem and treatment throughcounseling is psychological and therefore a process,which may continue for a certain time period.This intervention, as per MSF, would take days, weeksor months depending upon certain factors like durationof the problem, person who is afflicted, severity,intensity and complexity of the problem, number andtype of symptoms. The organization offers freecounseling to the patients (clients). Most of thepatients (clients), believed the organization, feelbetter after they receive counseling.“Doctors without borders” believe that areas of armedconflict and mass violence generally give rise tostressful situations that can be difficult to copewith. “Violence has touched each family living inKashmir one way or another. This leads to detrimentaleffects on the well-being of the people of Kashmir”,MSF maintains.Physical, cognitive, emotional and behaviouralreactions occur under all stressful situations.Relationships get strained, accidents become common are in need of treatment.Undoubtedly, women have suffered a lot during morethan 16 years of conflict and they are being subjectedto humiliation and trauma of various trauma. They havemostly been “silent, but worst sufferers.”According to the doctors at Government PsychiatricDiseases Hospital, women constitute 62 percent of thepatients visiting the hospital, stated J&K CCS report.The report further added that there are hundreds ofwomen who have no idea of medical counseling and hencecontinue to suffer. “Suicide rates particularly amongthe women and youth have also gone up. This, theexperts say, is sufficient to ring the alarm bell”,added the J&KCCS report.According to Medicines Sans Frontiers, MSF (Doctorswithout borders), a private international medical andhumanitarian organization, counseling can help tounderstand their problem and treatment throughcounseling is psychological and therefore a process,which may continue for a certain time period.This intervention, as per MSF, would take days, weeksor months depending upon certain factors like durationof the problem, person who is afflicted, severity,intensity and complexity of the problem, number andtype of symptoms. The organization offers freecounseling to the patients (clients). Most of thepatients (clients), believed the organization, feelbetter after they receive counseling.“Doctors without borders” believe that areas of armedconflict and mass violence generally give rise tostressful situations that can be difficult to copewith. “Violence has touched each family living inKashmir one way or another. This leads to detrimentaleffects on the well-being of the people of Kashmir”,MSF maintains.Physical, cognitive, emotional and behaviouralreactions occur under all stressful situations.Relationships get strained, accidents become common abuse are likely to be followed.Single parent upbringing too has been reported to putthe children under immense physical as well aspsychological pressure apart from constant familyconstraints. Not able to cope up with the suddendisturbances, these children undergo emotionalimbalance resulting in fear psychosis, anxiety,depression, suicides and short temperament, reveal thestudies conducted. In case where the single parentremarries, many children are either not able to adjustin the atmosphere or are ill-treated and ignored....................................................",
BY AFSANA RASHID
SRINAGAR
BY AFSANA RASHID
SRINAGAR
Conflict-hit Kargil women turn entrepreneurs
Till three years ago, death loomed over Kargil in the form of Pakistani shells. On any normal day, every afternoon these shells would chase its residents into underground bunkers. As soon as the Kargilis would hear the big bangs, they’d rush for safety – some in the bunkers, some in the safe locations and others would simply flee the town. Pakistani army shells would pound the entire Kargil region with a ferocious intensity, hitting innocent people, shops, schools and hospitals. No one would know where the shells would fall as death loomed large everywhere.Thankfully, things are better for the past 38 months now. The ceasefire which came into place on the borders of Jammu and Kashmir in November 2003, has brought about positive changes in the lives of the people of the border region of Kargil. After having faced a war and displacement from their houses, life seems to be normal for the thousands of Kargil residents.As the peaceful Shia population dominating this extremely conservativeland-locked district is now reaping the benefits of the ceasefire, they don’t forget to pray for the longevity of this "fragile peace".Joining them in this prayer for permanent peace on the borders of Kargil, are hundreds of Kargili women and girls who, after tasting peace, want it to become permanent.Situated at an altitude of 2,704 m, 204-km from Srinagar in the West and 234-km from Leh in the East, this Shia-dominated conservative district situated close to the Line of Control in Ladakh suffered much devastation during the 1999-Kargil conflict.But since Kargil war, a number of developments are taking place in Kargil region. The IT revolution is knocking at Kargil doors, computer centres are being opened and army is expanding its network of Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) to the entire district. But the most prominent and positive change visible in this orthodox region is its conservative Shia girls and women coming out in big numbers for economic empowerment.As a bright Sun rises over the beautiful, barren hills of Kargil town situated on the banks of gushing Suru river, with her head properly covered with scarf, Razia Bano, a young Shia girl from Wakha village treads her way to the Women Empowerment Centre situated in the heart of Kargil town. So does dozens of other Shia Muslim girls who couldn’t remain untouched from the winds of change sweeping Kargil.A class 12 pass-out, Razia Bano could not go to college for her higher studies. As such, the conservative set up in Kargil does not encourage girls to come out of their houses, even for higher education.After sitting at home for a couple of years, this once brilliant student however persuaded her parents to seek admission in Women Empower Centre (WEC) which was opened in Kargil town few years ago under Operation Sadhbhavana(Goodwill) by the army.Successfully, she enrolled herself for one year diploma in DTP from the Kargil WEC which has also six internet connections. What would seems like a dream in such far flung and land locked region to Razia Bano, Zakiya Bano (who travels 21 kms everyday from Kumbathang to Kargil to attend computer classes) and many other girls, has became a reality today. Dozens of other girls from Kargil region are undergoing training in many other courses at the WEC.Since past seven years when the Kargil conflict broke out, the 14 Corps of Indian army which was set up in post-Kargil era, undertook massive developmental works in entire Ladakh region. In the area where the temperature touches sub-zero(Up to -60 degree C) and the state administration is literally defunct, the army has been doing a lot for the people of Ladakh. To win the hearts and minds of the people under Operation Sadhbhavana, a number of initiatives such as Women Empowerment Centres have been taken which has started yielding good results."Kargil is a very conservative society. When we opened up WEC and such welfare centres here, there was very less response as Kargil residents looked at us with suspicion,” informed an army officer posted in Kargil adding the Shia Muslims also do not encourage their daughters to move out of the houses-either for jobs or studies. Though women work hard at home and in the fields, but it does not fetch them any money.",1]);//-->As a bright Sun rises over the beautiful, barren hills of Kargil town situated on the banks of gushing Suru river, with her head properly covered with scarf, Razia Bano, a young Shia girl from Wakha village treads her way to the Women Empowerment Centre situated in the heart of Kargil town. So does dozens of other Shia Muslim girls who couldn’t remain untouched from the winds of change sweeping Kargil.A class 12 pass-out, Razia Bano could not go to college for her higher studies. As such, the conservative set up in Kargil does not encourage girls to come out of their houses, even for higher education.After sitting at home for a couple of years, this once brilliant student however persuaded her parents to seek admission in Women Empower Centre (WEC) which was opened in Kargil town few years ago under Operation Sadhbhavana(Goodwill) by the army.Successfully, she enrolled herself for one year diploma in DTP from the Kargil WEC which has also six internet connections. What would seems like a dream in such far flung and land locked region to Razia Bano, Zakiya Bano (who travels 21 kms everyday from Kumbathang to Kargil to attend computer classes) and many other girls, has became a reality today. Dozens of other girls from Kargil region are undergoing training in many other courses at the WEC.Since past seven years when the Kargil conflict broke out, the 14 Corps of Indian army which was set up in post-Kargil era, undertook massive developmental works in entire Ladakh region. In the area where the temperature touches sub-zero(Up to -60 degree C) and the state administration is literally defunct, the army has been doing a lot for the people of Ladakh. To win the hearts and minds of the people under Operation Sadhbhavana, a number of initiatives such as Women Empowerment Centres have been taken which has started yielding good results."Kargil is a very conservative society. When we opened up WEC and such welfare centres here, there was very less response as Kargil residents looked at us with suspicion,” informed an army officer posted in Kargil adding the Shia Muslims also do not encourage their daughters to move out of the houses-either for jobs or studies. Though women work hard at home and in the fields, but it does not fetch them any money.The WECs, on the other hand, not only empower women of remote Kargil areas by training them in knitting, weaving, tailoring, embroidery, carpet weaving etc. and making them self reliant but the women undergoing training at the centre also get paid while being trained. Such activities are in fact a step towards providing opportunity to the women of this area to generate additional income for their families and take part in decision making at village level.For the six months’ period of winter, when the Zojila Pass, the gateway to the frontier region of Ladakh, gets blocked due to heavy snowfall, the women empowerment centres and Adult Literacy Centres help the local women a lot. While they not only learn vocational skills at the empowerment centre and can also sell their products like shawls, sweaters, Bal Kalavas etc here, at the ALCs, they learn how to read and write.Women can weave a small carpet or do embroidery over a shawl which can fetch them anything from Rs 150 to Rs 1000. Besides, the WEC products like mufflers, gloves, Bal Clavas (monkey caps) woollen socks etc. are purchased by the families of the soldiers and officers. Besides, these are put on sale in the Cooperative melas organized by AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association).Initiatives such as empowerment centres are undoubtedly helping the women of this Shia Muslim-dominated area break the shackles. Scores of conservative Shia girls are now slowly and gradually coming out to get themselves trained in vocational training centres as part of the development coming through various state government schemes and Army’s Operation Sadhbhavana."For us, this is a big achievement that now we have about over 20 girls in the WEC. We have trained over 150 women at this centre which was established more than six years ago," informs Mohammad Hassan, the tailoring and knitting instructor at the WEC adding though few conservative Shia people are resisting to these positive changes taking place in this forbidden land, yet the younger generation is quite excited about the developmental projects. More and more women of Kargil now taste some degree of degree of economic independence.",1]);//-->The WECs, on the other hand, not only empower women of remote Kargil areas by training them in knitting, weaving, tailoring, embroidery, carpet weaving etc. and making them self reliant but the women undergoing training at the centre also get paid while being trained. Such activities are in fact a step towards providing opportunity to the women of this area to generate additional income for their families and take part in decision making at village level.For the six months’ period of winter, when the Zojila Pass, the gateway to the frontier region of Ladakh, gets blocked due to heavy snowfall, the women empowerment centres and Adult Literacy Centres help the local women a lot. While they not only learn vocational skills at the empowerment centre and can also sell their products like shawls, sweaters, Bal Kalavas etc here, at the ALCs, they learn how to read and write.Women can weave a small carpet or do embroidery over a shawl which can fetch them anything from Rs 150 to Rs 1000. Besides, the WEC products like mufflers, gloves, Bal Clavas (monkey caps) woollen socks etc. are purchased by the families of the soldiers and officers. Besides, these are put on sale in the Cooperative melas organized by AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association).Initiatives such as empowerment centres are undoubtedly helping the women of this Shia Muslim-dominated area break the shackles. Scores of conservative Shia girls are now slowly and gradually coming out to get themselves trained in vocational training centres as part of the development coming through various state government schemes and Army’s Operation Sadhbhavana."For us, this is a big achievement that now we have about over 20 girls in the WEC. We have trained over 150 women at this centre which was established more than six years ago," informs Mohammad Hassan, the tailoring and knitting instructor at the WEC adding though few conservative Shia people are resisting to these positive changes taking place in this forbidden land, yet the younger generation is quite excited about the developmental projects. More and more women of Kargil now taste some degree of degree of economic independence.Many pass outs from here have actually turned entrepreneurs and gained employment. Through Empowerment Centres, they are trying to make a living for themselves and educate their children. Many women who received vocational training have set up their own businesses.“Many girls started their own boutiques after being trained in tailoring or even started stitching clothes of the people while many others got jobs in the state and central schemes launched for the rural and border people of the state,” informs Colonel G.P. Kamat, who is looking after Sadhbhavana project at the 14 Corps, Leh.“Our main aim is to make the women of Ladakh especially Kargil self-reliant, independent and economically empowered so that they can contribute to the development of the local economy,” says Lt. General J.K.Mohanty, Leh Corp Commander adding that they have a deep commitment in carrying out this role through various projects undertaken by the troops deployed in this region."If a society, especially in remote areas, is to develop, both men and women have to contribute their bit. The women\'s empowerment centre provides technical and vocational skills to womenfolk so that they can supplement the income of their family," said Mohanty.In this cold desert where survival is the main question for the people who face so many difficulties, the Army believes that border management is a sum game of human security which includes Human Development and Border Security. While Border Security is being looked after by the troops up-front, human security is being addressed with such initiatives.A visit to Kargil which is divided into seven blocks namely Kargil, Drass, Sankoo, Taisuru, Shargole, Shakar-Chiktan and Zanskar and one sees for herself human development. In Dras, the second coldest inhabited place on the earth after Siberia where the minimum temperature recorded is -60 degree Celsius, the WEC Dras named as Zaito Empowerment Centre caters to the women of the area who want to stand on their own.",1]);//-->Many pass outs from here have actually turned entrepreneurs and gained employment. Through Empowerment Centres, they are trying to make a living for themselves and educate their children. Many women who received vocational training have set up their own businesses.“Many girls started their own boutiques after being trained in tailoring or even started stitching clothes of the people while many others got jobs in the state and central schemes launched for the rural and border people of the state,” informs Colonel G.P. Kamat, who is looking after Sadhbhavana project at the 14 Corps, Leh.“Our main aim is to make the women of Ladakh especially Kargil self-reliant, independent and economically empowered so that they can contribute to the development of the local economy,” says Lt. General J.K.Mohanty, Leh Corp Commander adding that they have a deep commitment in carrying out this role through various projects undertaken by the troops deployed in this region."If a society, especially in remote areas, is to develop, both men and women have to contribute their bit. The women's empowerment centre provides technical and vocational skills to womenfolk so that they can supplement the income of their family," said Mohanty.In this cold desert where survival is the main question for the people who face so many difficulties, the Army believes that border management is a sum game of human security which includes Human Development and Border Security. While Border Security is being looked after by the troops up-front, human security is being addressed with such initiatives.A visit to Kargil which is divided into seven blocks namely Kargil, Drass, Sankoo, Taisuru, Shargole, Shakar-Chiktan and Zanskar and one sees for herself human development. In Dras, the second coldest inhabited place on the earth after Siberia where the minimum temperature recorded is -60 degree Celsius, the WEC Dras named as Zaito Empowerment Centre caters to the women of the area who want to stand on their own.Here too girls from neighbouring areas like Muradbagh, Holial, Goshan etc come to learn vocational courses. Fatima Bano who learnt stitching and knitting here is now the supervisor/instructor of the Centre. In a small town like Dras, she has become a role model for scores of other village girls who come to learn various courses from here and then earn a living for themselves.Fatima herself believes that the Women Empower Centres at Kargil and Dras have helped in widening the vision of women besides enhancing their self confidence. Her aim too, she says, is to impart vocational training for upgradation of skill among women in various fields with the over all aim of making them better educated and more empowered.In this militancy-free district of Ladakh which was recently in news due to clashes between the Buddhist and Muslim communities, coming out of their houses, entering adult literacy centres and acquiring vocational skills to earn a living is something which these women could never dream of. Perhaps, the army rightly believed that women should be the main tools of change in the region and thus also for conflict prevention. Hence these WECs and the ALCs.For those Kargili women who couldn’t still come out of their houses to attend the welfare centres regularly owing to family circumstances but wanted to do start some work so as to earn a living or supplement their husbands’ meagre earnings, army took more initiatives. It invited a team of eight experts from Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO) Dehradun to Kargil which conducted a course here to train 46 women from all over the region in the preparation and preservation of items like agarbatti/ dhoop, jam, squash, pickles, baking of biscuits and so on using local resources.After getting trained here, these women have started working from their homes only. Besides, new vocations like candle making, basket weaving, biscuit baking, food processing, block printing etc are also being added to the WECs here.",1]);//-->Here too girls from neighbouring areas like Muradbagh, Holial, Goshan etc come to learn vocational courses. Fatima Bano who learnt stitching and knitting here is now the supervisor/instructor of the Centre. In a small town like Dras, she has become a role model for scores of other village girls who come to learn various courses from here and then earn a living for themselves.Fatima herself believes that the Women Empower Centres at Kargil and Dras have helped in widening the vision of women besides enhancing their self confidence. Her aim too, she says, is to impart vocational training for upgradation of skill among women in various fields with the over all aim of making them better educated and more empowered.In this militancy-free district of Ladakh which was recently in news due to clashes between the Buddhist and Muslim communities, coming out of their houses, entering adult literacy centres and acquiring vocational skills to earn a living is something which these women could never dream of. Perhaps, the army rightly believed that women should be the main tools of change in the region and thus also for conflict prevention. Hence these WECs and the ALCs.For those Kargili women who couldn’t still come out of their houses to attend the welfare centres regularly owing to family circumstances but wanted to do start some work so as to earn a living or supplement their husbands’ meagre earnings, army took more initiatives. It invited a team of eight experts from Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO) Dehradun to Kargil which conducted a course here to train 46 women from all over the region in the preparation and preservation of items like agarbatti/ dhoop, jam, squash, pickles, baking of biscuits and so on using local resources.After getting trained here, these women have started working from their homes only. Besides, new vocations like candle making, basket weaving, biscuit baking, food processing, block printing etc are also being added to the WECs here.How the winds of change are sweeping across the conservative Kargil well be gauged from the fact that more stress is now being given on the education of girls in Kargil.Since the institution of the Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council, special emphasis is being laid to promote girl enrolment in the district. As education can bring about desired changes, many schools have been opened in Kargil and girls are being encouraged to study.In the Kargil Hill Council which was constituted in 2003, there are 30 elected Councilors 26 and 4 are nominated. What is heartening is the fact that while there are two women councillor in Leh Hill Council, Kargil Hill Council has three women."As more and more Kargili women are opening up to the changes around them, they definitely want their children to get educated in good schools like the Goodwill schools which would surely be better than the government schools,” says Dr. Suba Chandran, Assistant Director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi."And if such efforts like women empowerment centres are running successfully, such initiatives can be a sound strategy for conflict prevention resulting in ensuring peace in Ladakh," adds Dr. Chandran asserting that this can pave way for "war prevention" and not"winning wars". EOM"In the silence of your heart,you\'ll receive the command" -The Mother
-KAVITA SURI
-KAVITA SURI
Resilient Sufferers:Breaking the stereotype
Long ago before the violence erupted in Kashmir, Haseena Bano lived with her parents in a peaceful, picturesque village of Wangama in South Kashmir district of Anantnag. Times were peaceful and so were the days which she would partly spend by attending a nearby school and then lending a helping hand to her mother in the household chores while father Ghulam Nabi Shiekh would be busy in his postal department job. But as the destiny had it, Haseena’s mother died young and her father became so protected about her that he made her discontinue her studies.A few years later, a young Haseena was married off to Mohammed Amin Shah, a carpenter by profession in Zalangam village of Tehsil Kokernag in Vailoo block. Though her dreamy eyes had weaved a number of dreams about her married life, things weren’t that better as she had envisaged. The newly married couple had to live from hand to mouth within their limited income. While her husband would go out to work in people’s houses, Haseena would take care of the household.But her family could not remain untouched by the winds of change that were blowing across the state in early 90’s. Amin Shah quit his work, picked up the gun, joined the “tehreek” (freedom movement) and become one of the cadres of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit.Life could never remain same for Haseena thereafter. Her husband was killed by the security forces in Ashajipora in 1996 leaving her to fend for herself and their kids. Heavens seemed to have fallen on Haseena who had not even ventured out of her house without a male member, not to talk of going out to eke out a living for her family. From a sheltered life, she was suddenly exposed to the vagaries of life.Years later, Haseena is not only earning a livelihood for her family but is determined to give good education to her only daughter. For hours she works on crewel embroidery in local Social Welfare centre in Zalangam besides\n managing the entire household right from buying ration, grocery, schooling of her daughter Raeesa,14 and attending to other household chores. Sadly, her son Parvez Ahmed, 16, had to quit his studies after Class 8th due to economic conditions. “But I want my daughter Raeesa to study hard, she is in class 9th and I would do anything for her to continue education,” says the mother as tears well up in her eyes. Haseena is among hundreds of such women in Kashmir who were forced to come out of their houses and earn a\n livelihood for themselves as their husbands had either been killed by the security forces, militants or simply caught in the crossfire. Hundreds and thousand of widows and half widows (the women whose husbands have been missing for long but they haven’t been declared as dead) in Kashmir are trying to sustain their families in the conflict-hit region. As such, women of valley are deeply affected either directly or indirectly by the continuing conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. The rough estimates in the violence-hit state suggest that there are over 25,000 widows and 40,000 orphans in the state as a result of the protracted conflict in the mountainous Years later, Haseena is not only earning a livelihood for her family but is determined to give good education to her only daughter. For hours she works on crewel embroidery in local Social Welfare centre in Zalangam besides managing the entire household right from buying ration, grocery, schooling of her daughter Raeesa,14 and attending to other household chores. Sadly, her son Parvez Ahmed, 16, had to quit his studies after Class 8th due to economic conditions.“But I want my daughter Raeesa to study hard, she is in class 9th and I would do anything for her to continue education,” says the mother as tears well up in her eyes.Haseena is among hundreds of such women in Kashmir who were forced to come out of their houses and earn a livelihood for themselves as their husbands had either been killed by the security forces, militants or simply caught in the crossfire.Hundreds and thousand of widows and half widows (the women whose husbands have been missing for long but they haven’t been declared as dead) in Kashmir are trying to sustain their families in the conflict-hit region. As such, women of valley are deeply affected either directly or indirectly by the continuing conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. The rough estimates in the violence-hit state suggest that there are over 25,000 widows and 40,000 orphans in the state as a result of the protracted conflict in the mountainous state.Such Kashmiri women who have come out of their houses to work have broken the stereotypes related to women, especially in the background that they had no work experience and were forced to support their families and thus take over the role of a patriarch. Despite the adversities, the conflict has a somewhat empowering impact on Kashmiri women. It has provided them a space to resist, negotiate, cope and survive. Many ordinary Kashmiri women who have been affected by militancy- their fathers, husbands, sons having been lost to the violence- but\n after coming out of the initial shock and mourning, have taken up new roles. One among them is Shehzada Yusuf Begum who too has also survived the most challenging situations after her husband’s death. When a young and beautiful Shehzada married Idrees Khan, he was already a militant with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).A right hand man of JKLF chief Yaseen Malik, Idrees was killed in 1995 leaving behind his wife and two daughters. “My husband sacrificed his life for Yasin Malik and the party did not do anything for us,” rues Shehzada\n informing that things were really bad after the killing of her husband Idrees as she and her two young daughters, now 9 and 12 year old, were thrown out of the house by her in-laws.With nobody to look her after, Shehzada who got exposed to this ruthless world, also wore shields of insensitivity and worked for the betterment of her kids."Such Kashmiri women who have come out of their houses to work have broken the stereotypes related to women, especially in the background that they had no work experience and were forced to support their families and thus take over the role of a patriarch. Despite the adversities, the conflict has a somewhat empowering impact on Kashmiri women. It has provided them a space to resist, negotiate, cope and survive.Many ordinary Kashmiri women who have been affected by militancy- their fathers, husbands, sons having been lost to the violence- but after coming out of the initial shock and mourning, have taken up new roles. One among them is Shehzada Yusuf Begum who too has also survived the most challenging situations after her husband’s death.When a young and beautiful Shehzada married Idrees Khan, he was already a militant with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).A right hand man of JKLF chief Yaseen Malik, Idrees was killed in 1995 leaving behind his wife and two daughters.“My husband sacrificed his life for Yasin Malik and the party did not do anything for us,” rues Shehzada informing that things were really bad after the killing of her husband Idrees as she and her two young daughters, now 9 and 12 year old, were thrown out of the house by her in-laws.With nobody to look her after, Shehzada who got exposed to this ruthless world, also wore shields of insensitivity and worked for the betterment of her kids.and she herself working in the MNWA women welfare centre, Darishkadal ( a centre opened for the\n destitute women by a Kashmir based NGO Maqbool National Welfare Association run by Mr. Hashim Qureshi), where she teaches young Kashmiri girls stitching and tailoring, things seem to have fallen in place. valley is full of such examples of women who have survived the most difficult situations alone in all these years of turbulence. And as Kashmir observers say, it has given them some kind of supremacy too. “Kashmiri women have not only lived\n through political turbulence but have also negotiated and renegotiated their roles in the conflict that also does not remain static but keeps on changing. That becomes loudly clear when we see that most of these women became victims of militancy- lost their husbands, brothers, sons, raped and tortured, still came out of their houses to work thus breaking the stereotypes related to women, especially in the background that they had no work experience and were forced to support their families and thus take over the role of a head of the family,” says Rekha Chowdhary, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Jammu. This also gives an insight into the fact that they aren't the passive recipients of conflict as most of the agencies see them but have\n an inborn, innate resilience, the will to survive the most challenging situations. "With her daughters now studying in class 8th and 6th and she herself working in the MNWA women welfare centre, Darishkadal ( a centre opened for the destitute women by a Kashmir based NGO Maqbool National Welfare Association run by Mr. Hashim Qureshi), where she teaches young Kashmiri girls stitching and tailoring, things seem to have fallen in place.Kashmir valley is full of such examples of women who have survived the most difficult situations alone in all these years of turbulence. And as Kashmir observers say, it has given them some kind of supremacy too.“Kashmiri women have not only lived through political turbulence but have also negotiated and renegotiated their roles in the conflict that also does not remain static but keeps on changing. That becomes loudly clear when we see that most of these women became victims of militancy- lost their husbands, brothers, sons, raped and tortured, still came out of their houses to work thus breaking the stereotypes related to women, especially in the background that they had no work experience and were forced to support their families and thus take over the role of a head of the family,” says Rekha Chowdhary, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Jammu.This also gives an insight into the fact that they aren't the passive recipients of conflict as most of the agencies see them but have an inborn, innate resilience, the will to survive the most challenging situations.Ghulshan Bano, 22, too has survived the worst situations. A resident of Vilgam, a small village situated some 20 km from Kupwara district, one of her brothers Farooq Ahmed was killed in the initial years of militancy while another one was forced by the Hizbul Mujahideen to join their ranks. He too got killed in 1997. Things became worse after their killings as there was no bread-earner left in the family. Ghulshan Bano donned the role of patriarch, got herself trained\n in stitching-tailoring and now she earns Rs 1000 per month. The money is just enough to sustain the family and educate her younger sister Rubeena in the Government Higher Secondary school in Kupwara. Kulsooma Jan’s story is somehow similar. Her father Abdul Jabbar Dar, district President of Congress in Kupwara was killed by the militants in 1996 during the peak of militancy. Perhaps, this was the reason that not a single member from the party visited Dar’s family of a handicap wife and her five daughters. “My father served the Congress for 30-35 years. We did not get any ex-gratia relief after his killing. There was no job, no help from any quarters,” says Kulsooma Jan who has studied up to class 12. Out of the five sisters, Nusrat and Ameena are now married while she herself looks after her young siblings Saima and Iqra (who is class 2, Ghulshan Bano, 22, too has survived the worst situations. A resident of Vilgam, a small village situated some 20 km from Kupwara district, one of her brothers Farooq Ahmed was killed in the initial years of militancy while another one was forced by the Hizbul Mujahideen to join their ranks. He too got killed in 1997.Things became worse after their killings as there was no bread-earner left in the family. Ghulshan Bano donned the role of patriarch, got herself trained in stitching-tailoring and now she earns Rs 1000 per month. The money is just enough to sustain the family and educate her younger sister Rubeena in the Government Higher Secondary school in Kupwara.Kulsooma Jan’s story is somehow similar. Her father Abdul Jabbar Dar, district President of Congress in Kupwara was killed by the militants in 1996 during the peak of militancy. Perhaps, this was the reason that not a single member from the party visited Dar’s family of a handicap wife and her five daughters.“My father served the Congress for 30-35 years. We did not get any ex-gratia relief after his killing. There was no job, no help from any quarters,” says Kulsooma Jan who has studied up to class 12th. Out of the five sisters, Nusrat and Ameena are now married while she herself looks after her young siblings Saima and Iqra (who is class 2nd).Though the pain and agony suffered by these women is tremendous, yet these women’s strength of character is clearly visible from the various difficult situations that they got confronted with. What is more interesting is the fact that Kashmiri women who might have supported the “Mujahids” at some point of time in the past 17 years of violence, are now invariably emerging as agent of peace. “Tehreek Nein Humko Kya Diya, Tabaahi Aur Barbadi (This freedom movement did not get us anything but destruction and devastation),” says Shehzada Yusuf adding after all these years, peace is very important to her. Peace to her is a life with dignity and honour for her two daughters where there is no bloodshed and violence. Such statements from the women victims of violence is a clear insight into the fact that they aren’t the passive recipients of conflict as most of the agencies see them but have an inborn, innate resilience, the will to survive. “The donning of the role of a mother and father both in the conflict zones gives some supremacy to the women who have learnt to survive against existing odds. Besides, there is an increase in women’s adaptability to new challenging situations,” says Professor Bashir Dabla, a well known sociologist of Kashmir.Though the pain and agony suffered by these women is tremendous, yet these women’s strength of character is clearly visible from the various difficult situations that they got confronted with.What is more interesting is the fact that Kashmiri women who might have supported the “Mujahids” at some point of time in the past 17 years of violence, are now invariably emerging as agent of peace.“Tehreek Nein Humko Kya Diya, Tabaahi Aur Barbadi (This freedom movement did not get us anything but destruction and devastation),” says Shehzada Yusuf adding after all these years, peace is very important to her. Peace to her is a life with dignity and honour for her two daughters where there is no bloodshed and violence.Such statements from the women victims of violence is a clear insight into the fact that they aren’t the passive recipients of conflict as most of the agencies see them but have an inborn, innate resilience, the will to survive.“The donning of the role of a mother and father both in the conflict zones gives some supremacy to the women who have learnt to survive against existing odds. Besides, there is an increase in women’s adaptability to new challenging situations,” says Professor Bashir Dabla, a well known sociologist of Kashmir.And perhaps this yearning for peace is a big turning point in Kashmir. Now, these victims of militancy fervently hope that peace on the borders will extend to their villages, towns and homes. For most of them, peace begins with their immediate family and extends to cover the whole region, country and the world. And perhaps this yearning for peace is a big turning point in Kashmir. Now, these victims of militancy fervently hope that peace on the borders will extend to their villages, towns and homes. For most of them, peace begins with their immediate family and extends to cover the whole region, country and the world.Long ago before the violence erupted in Kashmir, Haseena Bano lived with her parents in a peaceful, picturesque village of Wangama in South Kashmir district of Anantnag. Times were peaceful and so were the days which she would partly spend by attending a nearby school and then lending a helping hand to her mother in the household chores while father Ghulam Nabi Shiekh would be busy in his postal department job. But as the destiny had it, Haseena’s mother died young and her father became so protected about her that he made her discontinue her studies. A few years later, a young Haseena was married off to Mohammed Amin Shah, a carpenter by profession in Zalangam village of Tehsil\n Kokernag in Vailoo block. Though her dreamy eyes had weaved a number of dreams about her married life, things weren’t that better as she had envisaged. The newly married couple had to live from hand to mouth within their limited income. While her husband would go out to work in people’s houses, Haseena would take care of the household. But her family could not remain untouched by the winds of change that were blowing across the state in early 90’s. Amin Shah quit his work, picked up the gun, joined the “tehreek” (freedom movement) and become one of the cadres of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit. Life could never remain same for Haseena thereafter. Her husband was killed by the security forces in Ashajipora in 1996 leaving her to fend for herself and their kids. Heavens seemed to have fallen on Haseena who had not even ventured out of her house without a male member, not to talk of going out to eke out a living for her family. From a sheltered life, she was suddenly exposed to the vagaries of life. "
BY KAVITA SURI
BY KAVITA SURI
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