Javed shah soura:-
Independent India over the decades saw a revolution in the way an average Indian woman was perceived in the society. But the same change did not take place in Kashmir. By the onset of militancy in 1989, the women of Kashmir have suffered and their empowerment saw a steady decline over the decades. Islamic terrorism which spread widely in the valley and beyond had a huge role to play in this decline. It is a worldwide accepted fact that Islamic terrorism abhors the empowerment of women fraternity. In the society of Kashmir, women fell prey to the spread of illiteracy, segregation, and loss of individuality. In the social life, they were subject to lack of freedom to pursue their aspirations and dreams. Their role was restricted to household works and menial jobs. In the traditional sphere, they are always considered inferior to the male supremacy. They were forced to remain under the shade of the men in their households, their initiatives to become independent were arrested and their opportunities to develop personality were shut. The social discrimination women had to face by the virtue of their gender was a catastrophe on its own created by the radical minds of extremists in the valley.
There have been multiple instances where militants have tried to suppress the women who were bold enough to aspire for a better future. They have used force and violence to either threaten or even kill the women who were a source of motivation to all the young girls of Kashmir. In January 2011, two sisters Arifa and Akhtar from Sopore were shot dead by LeT militants for working as informants only because they had a mobile phone in their hand. The two girls were poor and helped their parents in running their household. The killing was targeted to inflict fear among the girls of Kashmir and to prevent them from aligning with the security forces.
‘Pragaash’ the only girls’ rock band of Kashmir was another tragic story where they were forced to quit as they received threats of death, rape, and physical harm. The Islamic scholars accused them of breaking the code of Islam by singing songs . The Grand Mufti even made a public criticism of the band of ‘indecent behavior’ and went on to describe the soulful performance of the band at Battle of Bands, Srinagar as the ‘first step towards the destruction of Muslim society’. The band had received huge support online globally due to its performance.
On 16 April 2019, Khushboo Jan, Special Police Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Police was shot dead at close range near her house at around 1440 hours at Vehil village of Shopian District . The incident was a reminder from the terrorist group about the fate of women who wishes to pursue a career and move ahead in life would require to face.
These incidents are few in many which saw light in Kashmir. Numerous cases of domestic violence and rape by the militants and extremists have gone unheard in the valley for decades.
After decades of social suppression, the women in Kashmir started realising the unfair treatment they have received from the society as well as in their households. The media and policies of government have also motivated the Kashmiri women to pursue a career and come out of the delusion created by the Islamic extremists in the minds of people. Various initiatives by the public authorities to improve the educational standards of girl child have started reaping fruits. The upper-class Muslim women and the Pundits responded positively and were greatly benefited by the policies of the government. This gradually has spread to the rural areas and is gaining value in the households of Kashmir. The radical ideology of restricting the educational aspirations of a girl child, being spread by the militants and extremists holds no ground these days.
The abrogation of Article 370 was a turning point in the empowerment of women in Kashmir. The newly formed union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is benefitted from various policies of the central government which have been successfully implemented in the other states. The Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme. Sakhshat Bharat Mission Programme, Beti Bachao Beti Padao, Mid-Day Meal schemes are focussed on promotion of girls’ education, offering equal opportunities and removal of gender disparities.
Since the UT administration falls directly under the Central Government the stress on social and economic upliftment of women in J&K has become a priority for the government. Women will be provided with better job opportunities in the Government as well as in public offices. The government policies for women empowerment such as Ujjwala Yojana that aims to provide smokeless houses, toilets, and better sanitation facilities under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are milestones to maintain the dignity of women in the households. Mudra and Jan Dhan schemes are aimed at bringing economic stability and entrepreneurial opportunities to the women.
The girls in Kashmir are presently receiving quality education. However, the freedom they deserve to grab opportunities for a successful life in a free country is gradually coming their way. The change is required within the women to understand their importance in the society. They should not be carried away by the radical religious ideologies preventing women to spread their wings in the outside world. The opportunities in India for women have increased manifolds and their active participation and willingness to achieve them needs to be promoted by the people and authorities of Kashmir alike. Girls in Kashmir should try to broaden their horizons of knowledge about women power in the world today. The successful women who are leading various nations, companies, organisations, or corporates in the world should be their role models. The positive impact they can have in India and its economy is immense, provided they are nurtured in the best possible manner.
