An Appeal for Unconditional and Immediate Release of Sheila Didi

To:

Chairperson,
The National Commission for Women

Dear Madam,

Sheila Didi is a popular women's activist among the most deprived women of Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar. She was the former President of Nari Mukti Sangh, Bihar.

Sheila Didi was arrested on 7 October 2006 at Aamjhor Village under the police limits of Lathikata, Sundargarh district of Orissa. The police fabricated cases against her in the name of waging war against the state. After the arrest they immediately shifted her to a nearby CRPF camp where she was tortured physically and psychologically for two days. Later she was produced before a magistrate court which allowed four more days of police custody. She was once again tortured physically and psychologically. She sustained injuries on forehead and stomach during the police torture. The police brutally tortured her constantly by inflicting severe blows on her legs and the soles of her feet. The police, after blindfolding her, kept on shifting her from one place to the other. She was interrogated by the teams of police from West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Since then she has been incarcerated in Rourkela prison. Her health has deteriorated as she has been denied any medical care. She hasn't been given even a pen or a sheet of paper, let alone books or periodicals to read. After she was given bail in all existing cases on 11th July 2007 she was arrested again as soon as she came out of prison with more cases being foisted on her.

Sheila Didi belongs to a poor Adivasi family. A woman of courage and conviction, she was convinced about the need for building up a strong women's movement as she realized that women in our country had to fight every step for their rights and freedom, to do away with the customs and traditions that treat her as an inferior being, a second class citizen. The founding of Nari Mukti Sangh along with a host of other women was the result of this realization.

Soon this organization developed into a strong women's organization. Thousands of the most deprived women today are conscious about their rights. This organization has been consistently fighting all forms of patriarchy while at the same time resisting any kind of exploitation, domination or discrimination. Hundreds of women, along with Sheila Didi have become literate in the due course of empowerment of this real and genuine movement.

The condition of women in our country is so pathetic and wretched that if they stand on their own legs in order to move ahead in their lives, patriarchic oppression along with all kinds of attacks of the contemporary society will brow beat them to submission. It is in this context that Sheila Didi has evolved as a valiant and uncompromising leader of the oppressed women and waged several struggles for the betterment of their lives in these regions. It is highly deplorable and is a grim reflection of all of our sensitivity that this women's activist who has emerged from the most oppressed rungs of Adivasi life and who worked day in and out to awaken thousands of oppressed women, has been incarcerated in the jail.

We the undersigned demand that Sheila Didi be released immediately and unconditionally. In this context we urge you to intervene immediately and ensure that she receives proper medical care and relief. We also demand that she be treated as a Political Prisoner as she has been arrested and incarcerated for her convictions to fight for women's rights.

In this connection, we also appeal to all democratic, civil and human rights organizations, women's organizations, youth and students organizations, workers' and democratic individuals to raise their voice against the continued incarceration of this senior women's activist while demanding for her unconditional release.

Please sign the petition by clicking the foolowing link.Do circulate this link widely after you sign.

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/didi123/petition.html

By -- Vasantha

Women as peacemakers - Contributing to the Kashmir Dialogue

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)

Doctor's bribe not paid; Dalit woman gave birth under tree

Jagatsinghpur (Orissa in India),

Doctor refused attention insistant on his bribe, a poor dalit woman gave birth to a child under a tree in Orissa in India on 10th of July।

The shocking incident took place near the government hospital in the coastal Jagatsinghpur district, around 100 km from Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa on Tuesday. It came to light on Wedneday after the women's husband lodged a police complaint against the doctor. Ranju Sethi, 23, was the woman came from Jhimani village to the Community Health Centre at Kujang town with her husband after she started experiencing labour pains.

Abhaya Kumar Dash, a doctor at the centre, demanded Rs.2,000 to admit the woman to the hospital, but the poor family failed to pay that fees."When I expressed my inability to pay the amount the doctor abused us and refused to admit my wife in the hospital," woman's husband Gandhrab Sethi said to the police. "Finally my wife could not bear the labour pain and delivered a baby under a tree outside the hospital," he continued. "It is government-run Comunity Health Center and doctor gets a good figure as salary from the government. So we never not he would ask bribe from the poor dalit villager like me," Gandhrab Sethi told to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. Dr. Abhaya Kumar Dash Dash fled the scene after some 200 locals demanded action.

Dr Binod Kumar Mishra, the Superintendent of the hospital said that they are investigating the case and a report will be submitted to the chief district medical officer within two days.

://salemvoice.org/news200.html

BRITISH OUT TO EXPLOIT GURKHA WOMEN AS SACRIFICIAL LAMBS

It is reprehensible that UK is poised to exploit the poor Gurkhas of Nepal, this time their women, who have never in history had been pressed to fight for their daily bread.

BBC report is selling the whole project as selling a dream to the Gurkhas, as they will be paid ten times their salaries in Nepal.

One can imagine, what will be the reference salary figure for these poor women, for the British to be boasting about paying them a fortune.

The BBC report does go on to admit that Britain's armed forces are facing shortages while its forces are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The colonial British had fought world wars in the past by employing colonials in their armies around the world.

With liberated nations, out of their colonial stranglehold, having their own ideas if they should be fighting a colonizing war against oppressed people of their own kind, like those in Iraq and Afghanistan, who are illegally invaded, in blatant wars of conquests, the British attempt to press and exploit Gurkha women to fight their illegal wars, is sure to be opposed by the whole comity of non-aligned nations of the world, who cannot be fooled with the propaganda blitz by the likes of Bush and Blair to sell their cruel killing expeditions in Iraq and Afghanistan as some noble cause that should be supported rest of the gullible world.

US, UK and their allies should be made to pay for the blood of the innocent they shed on foreign soil, where they had or have no right to even step on.

It is here that Non-alignment Movement will become more and more relevant, for its members. India has been very farsighted in shooting down Condoleezza Rice's audacious demand that India should better disband the whole movement.

By Ghulam Muhammed, Mumbai

Notes on Indian Muslim Women

Since Independence, India has achieved significant growth and development. It has also been successful in reducing poverty and improving crucial human development indicators such as levels of literacy, education and health. There are indications, however, that not all religious community and social groups (henceforth socio-religious communities – SRCs) have shared equally the benefits of the growth process. Among these, the Muslims, the largest minority community in the country, constituting 13.4 per cent of the population, is seriously lagging behind in terms of most of the human development indicators. However, one cannot explain the development of Muslims from the prism of homogenization. Indian Muslim community is very much heterogeneous and divided along the caste, class, and sectoral line. This essay will focus on the socio-economic condition of the Muslim women, who constitutes 48.35 percent of total Muslim population.
In Indian context, the question of Muslim women has been largely moves around the issues of marriage, triple talak, and maintenance aftermath. The obsessive focus on select cases of Muslim women passionately discussed in the media results in identifying the Islam as the sole locus of gender injustice in the Community. Consequently, the civil society and the State locate Muslim women’s deprivation not in terms of the ‘objective’ reality of societal discrimination and faulty development policies, but in the religious-community space. This allows the State to shift the blame to the Community and to absolve itself of neglect. Consequently, an oblivious silence over the real issues like employment, health, education, security has been maintained by all the political and social actors.
Recently, Sachar Committee report draws our attention towards the deplorable condition of Muslims in general and women in particular. At the educational level, the literacy rate among rural Muslim women is 43 percent, which is below the national average of 46 percent, whereas, in urban area, Muslim women are 10 percent behind the national average of 73 percent. The major external factors, as pointed out by Sachar Committee, are poverty, lack of schools and educational institutions in the Muslims majority areas. This, in effect, produces bleak job opportunities for women in regular salaried jobs or high paid private jobs.
Against the stereotype notion that Muslim women are confined to their household following Islamic injunction - which is anyway nothing to do with it - 25.2 percent of all Muslim women population age group between 15-64 years are involved in various types of works in 2004-05. Out of that 50.7 percent women are involved in agriculture, hunting and related service activities, 11.9 percent are employed in tobacco industry, 9.9 percent and 4.7 percent Muslim women are further employed in textile and apparel industries respectively. Their work conditions are characterized by low income, poor work conditions, absence of toilet and crèche facilities, lack of social security benefits like health insurance and the absence of bargaining power. In several states, home-based industry has virtually collapsed due to the negative impact of economic reform, leaving poor Muslim women spiraling downwards to penury. The distinct pattern of Muslim women’s employment in home-based work is in part due to discrimination in formal employment. In part, it is due to the vicious cycle of poverty, lack of education and technical skills, leading to low-skilled, low income work, and back again to poverty. Muslim women are unable to bargain for better work conditions because much of the work they do is sub-contracted. This restriction of mobility (based on social and cultural factors) restricts their employment opportunities and wages. They do not have independent access to credit facilities, opportunities for skill up-gradation, or access to markets. There is active discrimination in giving Muslim women credit facilities it was pointed out. The increasing ghettoisation of poor Muslims leads to the seclusion of home-based female workers, cutting them off from channels of communication and hindering their ability to organize into collectives. Many home-based workers are so low down in the assembly line of production that they operate entirely through middlemen and do not even know who their employer is. Muslim women have minimal participation in Government micro-finance programmes such as Self Help Groups (SHGs), Watershed Programmes and Panchayati Raj.

On the issue of health too, Muslim women have not done well. As reported by Sachar Committee about the encouraging record on sex-ratio, Muslim women have nothing to be proud of. Their problems of health is directly linked to poverty and the absence of basic services like clean drinking water and sanitation - leading to malnutrition, anemia, a variety of diseases and poor life expectancy. In conflict prone areas there is alarming evidence of a host of psychosocial problems, including stress, depression, and post-traumatic disorders among women. At some places, higher than average incidence of TB was reported amongst the Muslim women. This was partly due to the nature of their work but largely owing to poor sanitation. TB amongst Muslim women affects the entire family as there is no awareness amongst them regarding the disease. Lack of any other facilities in Muslims’ ghettoisation, government and local authorities have shown little or no interest in providing health services too.
On the hand, they face violence within their community by their male counterpart, on the other side, always targeted by offenders during communal riots. Latest instance was the Gujarat riot, where women were consciously targeted to terrorize and abuse the honour of the Muslims.

While concluding this essay, I can suggest that the multiple approaches should be applied to discuss the factor/s responsible for bad condition of Muslim women. Social, cultural, religious, legal, economic and political reasons are broad areas, which are generally talked about. But, far more vital is the analysis of those areas and emerging trends which can be worked out in providing more choices, freedom of action and operational space to Indian women in general and Muslim women in particular. Muslim women are not the exclusive agent; they share operational space with all other sections of Indian society. They should be taken as part of Indian women folk, who have multiple roles to play in different capacities as economic, social, cultural and political actor. She is participant in all processes and suffers of all ills. She is to be taken beyond marriage, divorce and guardianship syndrome.


By Manzoor Ali
(Manzoor Ali is doing his research study in Jawaharlal Nehru Universiy, New Delhi. His research topic is around the same issue tackled in this article)

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)

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

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

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