India is a glaring example of Gender inequalities in the world wherein since ages women have been barred from taking economic, social and political activities. Women particularly in the rural Kashmir face poverty, due to their lower access to productive resources, capability deprivations and underpaid employment. Apart from economical setbacks, women in Kashmir face domestic violence, harassment and sexual abuse. Reports published by UNDP (United Nation Development Programme) depict that 55% of Kashmiri women live below the poverty line. These women lack the basic human rights which are so necessary for existence of any individual. The barriers created by society are so strong that it is hard to break them. The community & society customs & unwritten laws are too rigid to question the very existence of these baseless norms.
According to a survey conducted by United Nation, the main causes of women abuse are domestic violence, gender inequality and sexual insultthat are leading them to becoming a victim of ‘inferiority complex’ and a low self-esteem, loss of confidence & courage to participate even in the family and domestic decision. Hence, they end up in the four walls with a myth that, woman cannot work with male community to earn a livingor lead a independent life. Narrow mind sets, superstitions&a conservative approach has Affectedthe status of women in Kashmiri society.
These Women who otherwise can be the true contributor of the economic reforms, become themselves, as the sufferers of social injustice. Everyday domestic violence in Kashmir is widely spreading. Advocate Arsheeda Bashir establishes incidents with facts that many cases of domestic violence are unreported and hence dispensation ofjustice is a dark reality. The reasons are many, but, the prominent one of these unreported cases is the stigma, that, it is the duty of the women to save the enstranged marriage at any cost. We cannot hope to establish the concepts of women empowerment, without eradicating the basic evils of the society, as, inequalities faced by Kashmiri women are endless. The illiteracy rate is too high among women, which, though has declined substantially and rapidly, but the quantitative and qualitative, emancipatory aspects of education are still missing. It is rightly said “if you educate a man, you educate a person to earn a living for the family but if u educate a woman, you educate a generation”. Educating women, empowers them to raise their voices and fight for their rights. This very education itself will empower them to eradicate the cruel social evils like child marriage, female foeticide, harassment for dowery, incidences of domestic violence. Educated women can impart better values in their children and make them good citizens of the society who can effectively participate in economic sphere more effectively and productively.
To reap the benefit of demographic dividend in Kashmir, it is necessary that women need to play key role, if it fails to do so,there would be a demographic disaster. It is very important for the women to lead this path of social transformation and reforms which would also improve their credibility,respect in the society and bring about the much-needed confidence. This “Heaven on earth” has as already amazed the world with its exponential talents from the time of famous poet ‘Lal Ded’, ‘Arnimal’ ‘Queen Didda’ and Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah. Recent example of pioneers of success are given by ACP Dr. Ruveda Salam “The women of many titles”. Captain Sami Ara suruny was the first Kashmiri women to earn the license to fly commercial plane backed in 1994.
To limpid the journey of women empowerment in Kashmir, one should have a perspicacity about the goals and roles that need to be clearly established. To begin with, the policy making needs to be gender oriented. Concepts of gender budgeting and gender impact assessment are good precedents. Macroeconomic policies need to be gender neutral to address the prevailing inequalities,while rendering employment opportunities. Kashmir commerce and business are skill oriented and hence investing in upgrading women skills in both traditional and non-traditional occupation would help us compete in national as well in international markets. Financial policies to promote the growth of small enterprises among Kashmiri women would help generate a favourable ecosystem. Many self-help groups have taken right steps in this direction.
Women deserve to lead an ‘independent life’ through‘awareness programme’ with due support from families. We need not forget that management & financial lessons start from home, run by the women of the family.Ifat Jahan is the daughter of Shahzuman. She is a resident of Uroosa village, Uri. Uroosa is one of the remotest villages in India and the first village on NH44 just before POK. She is pursuing MA Honors in Psychology from Srinagar University. Highly passionate and brilliant, she is the true face of Kashmir women.
