Data About Violence Against Women

Zeenat opens a Pandora's Box ahead of the International Women's Day (March 8) with disturbing facts and figures, followed by a news item about rising suicide rates among women

(Ms. Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil, 27, was born in Srinagar, Kashmir. She did her schooling from King George (Mumbai) and later Cambridge (New Delhi), and received her Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Kashmir in 2008. Presently, she is also pursuing her second Masters degree in Mass Communications through the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). In 1998, she began her career as a freelance journalist with leading national newspapers and simultaneously joined ‘Fazil Kashmiri Publications’ as Editor and Publisher, and is also an editor of the ‘Focus’. Ms. Fazil has written a book on Mass Media and Linguistics (2006), and ‘Falcons of Paradise'(2009), a reference book contains 100 Eminent Personalities of J&K starting from 14th century till date. After working for ‘Daily Etaalat’- a Srinagar based Newspaper in 2007-2008; she joined ‘Daily Kashmir Images’ as a Senior Correspondent by the end of 2008. She is also currently associated with ‘Charkha’, a foundation that highlights the developmental concerns of marginalized section of Kashmiri society particularly in rural areas and to draw out perspectives on women through their writings. Ms. Fazil is also associated with ‘Interchurch Peace Council Netherlands’ which is intensely involved in several conflict areas such as in Kashmir. In 2009, she joined the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA). She has received numerous awards for her meritorious contribution in the field of literature. Her interests are reading, writing, poetry, music, travel,and gender related topics.)


Kashmir: Violence Against Women Goes up by 22.1 Percent

Srinagar: Despite having a strong backing of law to check discriminatory practices against the fair sex in Kashmir, violence against women continues and in fact has shown an increase of 22.1 percent in 2011 in comparison to 2010.

As the world gears up to observe International Women’s Day on March 08, the data compiled by the J&K Police Crime branch reveals that in past two years, it has registered 4066 cases of crimes against women. It includes1797 cases of molestation, 187 rape cases, one gang rape case, 1279 cases of kidnapping and abduction of woman /girl, 426 eve teasing cases, one case of dowry death, 177 cases of cruelty at the hands of husbands, 195 suicide cases, four cases under Dowry Restraints Prohibition Act, two cases of suppression of immoral trafficking.

In comparison, only 1832 such incidents were recorded thus showing an increase of 405 incidents of violence against women in Kashmir.

Gulshan Akhtar, Station House Officer (SHO), Women’s Police Station, Rambagh
Srinagar, says the dragging of feet by the women to go for legal recourse against their tormentors has led to unprecedented increase in domestic violence in Kashmir.

“As per surveys and information we receive, domestic violence in Kashmir is increasing and thousands of women bear it silently. Unfortunately, most of them are reluctant even to lodge complaints owing to the social stigma perceived being attached to it,” Akhtar opines.

A sizeable chunk of them don’t want to register their complaints to avoid legal hassles and other cumbersome procedures, adds she.

“From 2006 till date, out of 166 registered cases, challans were produced against accused in 138 while as 39 are under investigation. Most of the cases that we received were related to domestic violence or matrimonial disputes and through counseling, we were able to resolve around 650 cases of domestic violence and that too without registering any of them”, informs Akhtar.

However, social activist and lawyer, Abdul Rashid Hanjura sees other things also adding to the problem. “Human rights violations in Kashmir are in direct disregard of the principles of international human rights and humanitarian law and no attention has been paid towards the women having been victims of such crimes,” he says.

“During past two decades, Kashmir is witnessing unprecedented crimes against women which many attribute to the ongoing political turmoil. Besides incidents of rape, molestation and domestic violence, particularly at the hands of husbands and in-laws, have seen a dreadful upsurge”, Hanjura adds.

“What aggravates the situation is that many such incidents go unreported, thus guilty get no punishment. Even if reported due to low (negligible) conviction rate, criminals dare committing crimes unabashedly because they know stringent action will not be taken against them”, says he adding that more than 10,000 cases of rape come in the court for hearing annually.

To get the crime graph down, he suggests amendments in Acts like Dowry Restraint Act and Child Marriage Act so that stringent action is taken against the guilty.

State Police Chief, Kuldeep Khoda told Kashmir Images, “We are aware about most cases not getting registered in police stations not only because our administration mechanism is weak but for other reasons as well.”

In order to curb crime against women, Khoda said that three women police stations
(Srinagar, Jammu, and Udampur) had been set up in the state and the department intended to set up such police stations in all the districts.

“This would provide women with greater access to get their grievances registered and attended for speedy action”, he said.

When asked why the amendments are not being made in certain laws, he said, “We have already written to the state government about it and I am sure soon something concrete will come up.”

Suicide Rate Among Women on the Rise

Srinagar: Over 10 suicide attempts were reported last month in the Valley alone, giving a snapshot of the roughly 17,000 suicides that have been reported in the past 21 years, experts say.

In studies conducted by B.A. Dabla, a sociologist at the University of Kashmir, it was revealed that there has been an average of 227 suicides been reported in 27 months in Kashmir, based on medical reports.

The study showed that 62 percent of all suicide cases involve females. Youth in the age group of 17-26 are found most likely to take their own lives, although teenagers as young as 13 years old have also committed suicide over the last two decades.

The National Crime Bureau Records of India states that Kashmir has a higher suicide rate than the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, since one person in the Valley commits suicide every day.

Experts believe these numbers are conservative estimates, as media reports and police and hospital records do not present the real scenario of just how rampant suicide has become in Kashmir.

"The actual rate is higher than what is being reported. Because of the social stigma (and shame attached to the act), people do not report suicide attempts or death," psychiatrist Mushtaq Margoob says.

Suicide cases go largely unreported in rural areas here.

"It is an unfortunate fact that the suicide rate is higher than what we know and (steadily) mounting," Margoob said.

With the increase have come even more "efficient" ways of committing suicide. People in Kashmir would previously threaten their families with suicide, without actually doing themselves any harm. They would jump out of first floor windows or slash their hands, which while harmful, still left them alive.

"But now, the most deadly substances are being used for suicides."

In urban areas, hanging, jumping into rivers and consuming poison are some of the most common methods. In villages pesticides are often used. Women commonly set themselves ablaze during suicide attempts.

There are several reasons for this surging rate. In addition to the insurgency, the level of life-or-death desperation in the Valley has been linked to the drastic rise of psychiatric disorders, which currently affects roughly 800,000 people across Kashmir.

"Impulse control disorders, psychiatric disorders, materialist lifestyles, psycho-social and socio- economic problems are some of the major causes for the increase," Mushtaq says.
Depression, panic disorder and anxiety are all linked to suicides as well.

Independent psychologist A.G. Madhosh categorizes the causes of suicides in Kashmir into social, psychological and anticipatory. "Social" causes are mostly linked to family pressure, marital status, career, strained relationships and the inability to compete at social levels.

"In urban areas, employment and education are compounding factors," Madhosh says.

Amongst teenagers, poor impulse control, examination stress, love affairs and parental pressures are found to be prominent reasons for suicides. Experts suggest adoption of a practical system of education, counselling and religious education as a mean of prevention.

(Kashmir Monitor News Desk)

Treating Women as Equals

Roshan says celebrating Women's Day is a good idea, but wonders if there ever will be a change in the society

(Ms. Roshan Ara, 45, was born in Warihama, in Budgam district. She attended the Government High School Aripanthan, and the Government Higher Secondary School Beeru. She graduated from the Government Womens College (GWC) Srinagar, University of Kashmir, and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. Ms. Roshan Ara has degrees in B.Com, M.Com, M.A. Economics, B.Ed, M.Phil, Diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development, and Ph.D. work underway titled 'Managing Work and Family Roles: A Study of White Collar Working Women in Kashmir.' Until her teaching position is made permanent, Ms. Ara moves from assignment to assignment. She was previously a Lecturer in Commerce, Department of School Education, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar. Presently she is a Senior Lecturer in Commerce, Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Amirakadal, Srinagar. During leisure time she enjoys reading newspapers & journals, staying engaged on Women's Issues, and writing articles for newspapers & journals.)

Towards Women Friendly Policies

8th March is the International Women’s Day. Every year we celebrate this day with great fervour. On the occasion many seminars and workshops are organised and strategies are chalked out to make women equal participants in the process of development. But on the same day of the next year, we see that no change has taken place. Women continue to suffer from various forms of violence, be it domestic violence, sexual harassment or dowry deaths. Crimes like rape, molestation, eve teasing and female foeticide are showing an increasing trend. Women continue to be a neglected and exploited lot. Since women constitute a major component of our society, their backwardness, poverty and exploitation is a big blot on the face of the nation. There arises a need for women friendly policies which will help in raising the status of women in the society and address to their needs and aspirations. Women’s equality in power sharing and active participation in decision making has to be ensured for the achievement of the goals of empowerment. All possible measures should be taken to provide women equal access to and full participation in decision making bodies at every level including the legislation, executive, judicial, political, cultural, economic and social fields. No nation can flourish until it makes its womenfolk active agents of social transformation. World wide experience shows that supporting and strengthening the role of women contributes to higher economic growth, improves child survival and family health, reduces maternal mortality and helps in slowing down population growth. The policy makers and administrators should see through gendered lens.

Before taking any decision in the area of societal development, an analysis should be made of the current responsibilities and contributions of men and women. The issues of gender equality should lie at the centre of policy formulation and resource allocation. It becomes imperative for the government to identify the areas of concern and to ensure that socio-economic data are recorded separately for men and women. Many areas related to the development of women need special attention of the government like education, health, nutrition, drinking water, sanitation, housing and shelter.

Every type of empowerment begins with education as education is the basic agent of social change. Attention needs to be focussed on the enhancement of literacy rate of women, opening of more schools for girls, recruitment of more female teachers at school, college as well as the university levels. Girls need to be provided with free education and other incentives to enable them to attend schools. Keeping in view the growing demand for female doctors, the women participation in medical education needs to be increased. Opening of medical and engineering colleges for women, establishing separate women’s universities and management institutes for women’s greater equity and access to higher education is the need of the hour. It is heartening to note that the 12th Five Year Plan is laying greater focus on women’s higher education. We need to create a gender sensitive educational system, increase enrolment and retention rates of girls and improve the quality of education to facilitate lifelong learning as well as development of occupational, vocational and technical skills of women. Gender biased curriculum needs to be changed at all levels of education system in order to address sex stereotyping as one of the causes of gender discrimination.

Regarding the health status of women, government needs to take immediate steps to safeguard the health of women. The maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate has to be reduced by providing women access to free and quality health care. Improving maternal health is one of the Millennium Development Goals. The slogan- a healthy mother, a healthy nation- has to be turned into a reality. A balanced and nutritious diet has to be provided to expectant mothers as well as teenage girls. Women need to be provided with clean drinking water and sanitation in order to protect them from women related health hazards. A survey recently conducted in states having an unfavourable sex ratio reported forty eight percent cases of malnourishment of girls compared to boys. Malnutrition constitutes a greater threat to the development potential of young girls. These girls are at a high risk of anaemia and mental and behavioural disorder. A nation can prosper and grow only when it is composed of healthy and happy families. Economically backward women should be provided with the facility of housing and shelter.

Violence against women is one of the biggest challenges that threatens women empowerment and development. Violence against women affects the lives of millions of women in all socio-economic and educational classes. It cuts across all cultural, regional and religious boundaries and thereby impedes the right of women to participate fully in the society. We should be aware that violence against women is the violation of the most fundamental human rights and therefore steps have to be taken to curb it. The legal structure should be reviewed and more stringent laws framed to tackle the violence against women. The law makers should be gender trained and gender sensitized while framing such policies. Strict enforcement and speedy redress of grievances of women has to be ensured.

Demand for a separate gender budget is on the rise for quite some time. Research needs to be conducted to study the priority areas for women. Women’s problems need to be studied through gender analysis which can identify the existing gaps of inequality. Resources should flow into these areas to bridge the gender gap and a workable mechanism should be developed to plan, implement and monitor the bridging of this gap. Women need to be given a role in decision making and planning through adequate representation. In order to promote gender equality and empowerment of women, plans and budgets have to be gender friendly and not gender blind. Economic policy makers aiming to improve the overall economic efficiency should be aware that the real value of women’s work is not often visible. Women’s work needs to be given economic recognition. Investment in women skills leads to higher productivity and more efficient use of resources. Women face barriers in benefiting from development initiatives. In the labour markets lower wages are paid to women for the same work as done by their counterparts as a result of which much of their work remains unpaid and its opportunity cost is mostly zero.

The agencies working for welfare of women should be monitored and supervised by women. In order to make women economically self reliant, women entrepreneurship needs to be encouraged. They need to be provided access to banks and other financial institutions so that they can easily establish their own enterprises. They also need to be provided trainings to manage these organisations properly and efficiently and profitably. Successful women entrepreneurship will on one hand strengthen the economy of the country and on the other hand curb the growing menace of unemployment among women. Women will be the job providers and not the job seekers. Various entrepreneurial development programmes are required to train prospective women entrepreneurs as there is a wide gap between men and women in their role in activities of business.

Gertrude Von Le Fort writes “a woman is at the very roots of social life. If she keeps the sources of life pure and healthy, the entire social order will be renewed reinvigorated by her effort”. It is she who inspires and enforces the code of social behaviour. She is the keeper of tradition, custodian of culture, morals and manners. It is essential to recognise the connection between women’s health and food security and other economic and environmental conditions. Legal and regulatory frameworks have to be modified accordingly. Well designed policies and programmmes are not enough. These need to be implemented effectively. Involving women directly in project designing can make programme delivery more effective. It is important to realize the challenges to our development process to ensure an equal and a just society.

The Culture of Gender Inequality

In recognition of the International Women's Day (on March 8), Adfar's moving commentary on the state of women after marriage is both heart rendering and a sad reflection on society that wishes to remain passive on this issue

(Mr. Syed Adfar Rashid Shah, 28, was born in Watlar, Ganderbal. He did his basic schooling at the Government High School in Watlar, and then went to the Government Higher Secondary School, Ganderbal, for 11th and 12th grades. He completed a diploma in computers through The Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Ganderbal, followed by a diploma in the urdu language through the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language in India (NCPUL). Mr. Shah completed B.Ed in 2009, his Masters in sociology from the University of Kashmir, and enrolled in M.Phil at the Center of Central Asian Studies (CCAS), University of Kashmir when he accepted admission to the Ph.D. program in social sciences at the Jamia Millia Islamia Central University in New Delhi, where he is currently enrolled. He is interested in diaspora studies, and sociology of religion, change and development. He loves interactions with people of all religions and creeds, and enjoys writing.)


The Culture of Violence Against Women

Zamrooda,33 (name changed) has two little boys. She got married to Sajad (name changed) in what could be termed as a love-cum-arranged marriage, the most common trend in Kashmir, nowadays. She insisted to marry him despite serious questions raised by the family members regarding caste, social and financial status of the guy who, they saw as no match to her. She remained firm to ultimately see the marriage solemnized with great show.

The first eight months of married life went good but things started changing passively. She was now asked for things and articles by her in-laws who began avoiding and neglecting the poor girl and never cared for her health, expenses, etc. To her utter astonishment, her husband too changed color and kept mum at the atrocities inflicted on her.

It was the dawning of difficult times for this poor lady who would see her husband sitting idle and demanding money from her every day-a torturous way to frustrate her when she could not afford offering money each day.

Out of humility, Zamrooda brought this complain to her father who, sensing the urgency of the situation and out of the sheer love for his daughter, provided her everything including the cooking gas cylinder and also food to cook over it. Things continued this way for several months.

When she gave birth to her second baby, the situation was worsened to the lowest levels and none from her in-laws’ would bother to attend her. Her husband had turned totally indifferent for the mere reason that he was not gifted a house by her parents. On the other hand, her in-laws were hell-bent upon torturing the girl to suicide. They didn’t want that the gold and other articles of value she had brought along should be returned and that is why they never thought of divorce as, in such a case, they were required to return the things.

Zamrooda, squeezed and shrunk, awaits her husband to wake up from the slumber and shun the greed for material gains while he, on the other hand, is desperate to see her hanging or consuming poison so that he can grab everything she has! Tragic!

The fact is, there are numerous Zamroodas’ out there facing the same brutality and violence while we observe, celebrate and brag about women’s’ day and other such events. Many of our reputed academicians extend a great lip service to the cause of women when reading papers in seminars and symposia. Our leaders talk big about setting things right and our Moulvi’s (religious preachers) deliver sermons to this effect. But Eve continues to burn in the flames of lust, greed and voracity of masses!

Instead of speeches, we should have been busy educating people about the man-women equality and warn them of dire consequences against crimes committed against women. One must not neglect to highlight the achievements of women and their participatory approach in the overall socio-economic and cultural aspects of a society. We are there, we must know, when they are there, we are because of our mothers.

We should desist from talking about women in ivory towers and instead form and apply stringent laws to curb the gross exploitation and injustice meted with them in every second house. Let us help, encourage and assist them in accomplishing their dreams.

A deeply patriarchal society, Kashmir has ultimately ensured a different and ill-treatment of the girl child in comparison with the male child. The practice of female feticide is now so rampant that, over a period of just a few years in holistic India, there has been a greater urge for male child while the extent of sex determination tests are frequently conducted.

We act overburdened, overnight, when a girl child is born considering the responsibility of growing her in a good way as cumbersome and tedious. But when it is a male child, our celebration has no limits and the festivity is shared by relatives and neighbors besides the family members.

A girl child is welcomes in a mournful atmosphere to suggest that some sort of catastrophe has hit the family. This time, neighbors, relatives and even the family members seem sharing the mourning while forgetting that many among them are women and welcoming a gril child should have been a pride in itself. It is estimated that six million abortions are performed every year outside the ambit of the pregnancy termination act.

Today’s girl child is tomorrow’s woman and future mother. Instead of feeling happy on her birth, we try to get rid of her in the womb, which reflects in the adverse sex ratio leading to the increase in crimes against women. Crime against women had risen to catastrophic levels as she appears no better than an endangered entity, a drudge who is deliberately kept illiterate, fed inadequately, and married off as earlier as possible to shun the burden.

A girl child is, at the very first instance, identified in the womb and killed. Those who survive for one or the other reason and see the light of the day, 80 per cent of her time is spent helping mothers in daily chores while boys enjoy parental services. Mere contemplation of government to earmark an amount of Rs.5000 in the name of a new born girl child for BPL families is, seemingly, not enough and will never do the needful. But the government is liable to make those involved in violations of her human, social and gender rights, accountable.

Here we have an urgent need for better documentation, monitoring and reporting of the extreme sufferings caused by armed conflict or turmoil inflicted on girls. We have to see their killing and maiming; we have to see the cases of rape and sexual violence against them, sexual exploitation, abduction, forced marriages, increasing girls exposure to HIV/AIDS etc.

Organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have reportedly documented cases of shooting, stabbing, mutilating, carving, amputating and burning girls alive.

Not to talk of the world, we have many cases of dowry deaths in India and honour killings are increasing like anything. We have to equip boys with respect towards girls and women. We have to equip girls with skills so that they can take care of themselves and become independent and self reliant.

Focus should on girl child programmes, the government should start campaigns against domestic violence, discrimination and girl child neglect. All the schemes meant for their progress and advancement must be assessed and evaluated and the need of the hour is to introduce more such programmes instead of observance of a day dedicated to them which is mere cliché.

We have to treat them as humans and be affectionate to them right from their childhood. Let us learn the art of parenting, art of being good husbands, good brothers and let us listen to their heart; let us guide them without oppression to make them familiar with religious ethos. Let us give them their due and safeguard them in every respect. We have to be respectful towards them and guard their identity and individuality. After all, we are all born to our mothers!!!

Messy Srinagar

An eye opening commentary in the Kashmir Monitor speaks for all Srinagarites ....

Srinagar Crying

By Citizen Journalist

Srinagar: The present administration in Kashmir claims to be honest. But the officials and the ministers cannot see the the mess that has become of Jehangir Chowk, Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Residency Road, Dalgate, Batamaloo or any major intersection in the city. PSA can be slapped on minor boys without batting an eyelid, and repeatedly on that, but the same cops cannot make the public transport drivers to follow the traffic rules, the municipality officials cannot keep footpaths clear for pedestrians, the shopkeepers have a right to occupy half the pavement and all this happens in presence of the officials of law enforcing agencies.

Why has the road outside old assembly complex in Srinagar become yard for Tata Sumos plying to Anantnag? Why has Budshah Bridge become bus stop for buses plying to Batwara and Downtown? Why has Jehangir chowk become a yard for autorickshaws, Tata 407s and Sumos alike? And all this happens right under the nose of those who are supposed to prevent it -- High Court, Assembly, Civil Secretariat and Zonal Police headquarters are less than a kilometre away from this place.

The Government in Summer of 2009 announced construction of a Flyover from Jehangir Chowk to Natipora to ease the traffic congestion on this vital link and the project was to be completed in three years. Less than seven months are left for the intended three years to be completed but the Chief Minister has not even laid the foundation stone for the project so far. He will, and I am sure of that, before he relinquishes office in 2014!!!
The flyover on Panthachowk-Parimpora Bypass is in the works for last nine years -- already five years behind schedule -- and unlikely to be completed even this year, irrespective of peace prevailing or not in the valley.

There are many more problems facing the unfortunate residents of Kashmir in general and Srinagar City in particular but the tasks mentioned above, if accomplished at the earliest, would have made the lives of these very politicians, High Court Judges, top Bureaucrats and Police officers a lot more easier.

Does it need any further elaboration that if these flag bearers of various important institutions of the state have not been able to put their immediate surroundings in order, how they must have fared in areas where they only go for votes once in six years (politicians) or visit when they are appointed as head of a commission to probe a mystery (read the judges) or investigate a gruesome crime (read top police officers)?

I have spent most of my energy in finding fault with the system – and rightly so -- but we as a PEOPLE have also failed. We will have to start with 'I' -- do what is expected of us, not be greedy or seek too much comfort. Why cannot we walk a 200-yard distance to the designated bus stop. Why should we force the transporters to make a bus stop right on the intersection of a busy road. We may not have the powers to remove the footpath vendors but it is within us not to buy anything from them. Why shall they sit on pavements when no one is buying from them?

These are small beginnings I suggest but can go a long way if we, as Kashmiris, want to reclaim our place among the civilized people.

The Courage to Shift the Paradigm

Junaid takes a leap of faith with conviction that deserves an all round applause. He explains his reasons for joining murky politics of a corrupt State. However, Ghulam Jeelani is unimpressed, saying what amounts to, "been there, done that." Jeelani's comments are noted at the botton of Junaid's commentary

(Mr. Junaid Azim Mattu, 26, was born in Srinagar. He partly completed his schooling at the Burn Hall School, Srinagar, and partly at the Bishop Cotton School, Shimla. He attended college in America and graduated with a degree in Business and Finance from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University. He is a consulting financial analyst and telecom-IT entrepreneur based in Srinagar. A seeded national varsity debater throughout his school and college career (his grandfather - Khwaja Ghulam Ahmed Ashai - was one of the founding fathers of the Muslim/National Conference), Mr. Mattu also played under-19 cricket at national level for J&K. He is a founder of the World Kashmiri Students Association (WKSA), a global youth association for Kashmiris based in Srinagar, Kashmir, working on social, economic and political issues through constructive and informed activism. WKSA, as of today has 1,700+ registered members in Kashmir. He is also a nominated alumnus of the Global Young Leaders Conference. He is also the Srinagar District President of J&K Peoples’ Conference, led by Mr. Sajad Lone. In his leisure time, Junaid likes to engage in reading, gardening, watching movies and listening to music.)


The Courage to Dream

Today’s column is not about a particular issue. It's about the necessity and courage to dream. People often ask me why I – a young financial analyst with a US education and a green-card, decided to move back to Kashmir and then go a step further and plunge into the murky, vaguely defined world of Kashmiri politics. People also often ask me that once I had decided to be in politics, why I chose to join a party that’s in a nascent stage on the mainstream map. Today’s column is an attempt to answer those questions – not an attempt to talk about myself but a humble effort to define my dream for a New Kashmir.

My people, I have gradually realized, have been trapped – with great use of mischievous imagination – into a world of conspiracy theories, history and myths. Conspiracy theories about remote controls and red buttons in Delhi that decide the fate of Kashmir, its politics, its weather, its culture and its economy. Most of these myths have been engineered, propagated and self-validated by our traditional politicians – our ‘Muftis and Abdullahs’, not by Delhi; to ensure that Kashmiris look at mainstream politics with an invective of cynicism. In medieval times villages had these witch-doctors who proclaimed with great resolve that a new motorable road to the village would lead to calamities and social rot – a channel for the devil to enter the village. They did so to ensure that the villagers remained uneducated, disconnected and ignorant – disempowered because their empowerment would lead to an erosion of the witch-doctor’s larger-than-life importance. In 21st century Kashmir, our ‘Muftis and Abdullahs’ have replaced those witch-doctors to design and enforce election boycotts; willfully ensure that Kashmiris are economically persecuted. All this because a cynical, voluntarily disempowered nation is easy to exploit and easy to be ruled over as a family fiefdom. I’m out to debunk that cynicism by reinforcing the power of the common man to choose his leadership and to choose a future for his children, if not his own self!

When it comes to political analysis, a sizeable chunk of elitist Kashmiris – even those who would fail at analyzing their own lives and immediate surrounding atmospheres, become political scientists. They know how Delhi rigs elections to this day, how Mr. X is Delhi’s chosen man and how Mr. Y is not acceptable. These pontificators are generally of a certain type, a vague generalized caricature. The pontificator is a government employee or most often than not a retired government officer. His children have attended illustrious schools and colleges and are either already settled in US or UK or are planning to flee to greener pastures in the first opportunity that comes their way. These pontificators, who form less than perhaps 3% of our population, as government employees or bureaucrats, rule over the remaining 97%. The moment they retire and cash their provident fund, they grow a dignified beard and beeline to the nearest mosque to head the Masjid Committee. Their past sins – corruption, embezzlement and disservice to the nation are all washed away to pave way for moral torchbearing. This 3% of Kashmir that includes government employees and expatriate Kashmiris besides other privileged sections of our society are quick to undermine an individual’s patriotism to effect Change in Kashmir – of charting a new, bright future for the remaining 97%. I have joined politics to sideline this 3% of Kashmir. I have joined politics to work for the 97%. I have joined politics to work for the 97% - unaffected by cynicism and the ever-ready torchbearers of hypocritical morality.

This privileged 3% of Kashmir has access to all public services and utilities and the right to crib and whine without having to exercise their responsibility to elect their government. That’s a moral losing-battle that the remaining 97% has to fight at the inevitable risk of being called foolish traitors who are poor students of history and politics. I joined politics to stand up for that 97% of harassed, exploited and harangued Kashmir – a Kashmir where ration-cards, water connections and motorable roads are luxuries.

I joined politics not for my own vested, personal interests but on the bedrock of an inspiration from my leader, Sajad Lone – an inspiration from his valiant, visionary, pro-Kashmir leadership. For the fact that in his politics the common man forms the center of attention. My party, compared to NC and PDP, is small. In the minds of analysts and moral torchbearers, we are the underlings who are out to conquer the moon with a step-ladder. But in my heart, that of my leader and our workers and supporters – we are all revolutionaries of thought who have decided to overcome disempowerment and cynicism with the courage to dream of a New Kashmir. We are out to translate our history by putting it in the context of our day-to-day realities, the needs and dreams of ordinary Kashmiris. In this arduous journey, our spirits are high and our gaze is lowered in humility. We are dreaming of a New Kashmir – a prosperous, dignified and economically independent existence for our people. Now Kashmiris have a choice – be a part of default cynicism or join the caravan of Change. Let’s hope that we pass on to our children what our forefathers couldn’t pass onto us – a glimmer of hope, for hopelessness is a sin.

New Kashmir

This refers the column by Junaid Azim Mattu in which the author has pledged to work for a bright future for the Kashmiris.

About Late Sheikh Abdullah it used to be said, rather it was talk of the town then, that while at Tangmarg once, before 1947, he went out of the residence of his host in the evening. When he returned he looked sad, shed tears and was reluctant to enjoy the sumptuous dinner his host had prepared for him arguing that most of the people whom he had visited had not even an ordinary loaf to eat. Then after assuming power what he as well as his descendants have done is well known. His first term reminds us of the Nazi rule when his henchmen didn't even spare radio sets.

If the author's party at all attains power can he convince us that he and his avowed leader would not sail in the same boat.

Ghulam Jeelani
Sanatnagar, Srinagar

Reason for Hope?

Ayaz sees signs of an emerging civil society

(Mr. Mohammad Shafi Ayaz, 47, was born in Anantnag, and continues to live in the same town. He studied in various state schools, colleges and universities. He has completed his MBA, and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers(CAIIB), and is working on a doctorate thesis on “Non Performing Assets in Indian Banks." He is a banker and presently associated with the Jammu & Kashmir Bank as Senior Executive. Mr. Ayaz has three publications - two in Urdu, one comprising of fictions/short stories titled as “Dard-i-Pinhan” (Hidden Pain), and the third comprising of poetry titled as “Talash-i-Sahar”(In Search of Dawn). He has also published another short book in “Interest Free Banking.” He writes on various topics in the Daily Kashmir Images, Weekly Shuhab and Weekly Sabzar. Earlier he contributed articles to two leading Urdu dailies of the Valley - ‘Aftab’ and ‘Srinagar Times’.)


CIVIL SOCIETY

The civil society in Kashmir is emerging in an organized way for the obvious reasons to project various demands and issues of the masses or, in other words, the civil society. The concept might appear new to many but it is not alien to us. We have had many iconic persons who stood for the issues of the society and tried to rectify wrongs in whatever way they could.

The civil society activism is something that runs across the borders and over the boundaries. In almost every country, we see civil society standing up for the issues concerning the masses. When the respective rulers or administration fails to redress the genuine grievances and demands of the people, the civil society automatically emerges as a united forum and advocates the cause of people. No government or administration or even society is perfect and the imperfection (s) give rise to civil society which tries to set right what has gone wrong. Every issue, therefore, falls into its domain.

With the contemporary societies pitched against all odds, Civil Society is, nowadays, emerging as more powerful than the Government, media or even judiciary. That is probably why it is termed as ‘Third Force’ in present day world.

Every society comprises of individuals who live, interact, share and suffer in their own respective societies. When people chose their representatives, in democracies, to the echelons of power, there exists a gap between the powerful and the powerless or, in Karl Marx’s diction, Have’s and Have not’s. The gap is sometimes fulfilled and eradicated by excellent governance and administration. But most of the times the have not’s are at the receiving end and are dictated upon. In this process many issues are born and numerous problems take birth. It is here that a few of the society members join hands and come forward to fight for what is rightfully theirs and are ready to make great sacrifices. When people of such motivation and dedication join hands, it is a civil society and represents the whole lot of the people.

The people of Kashmir, caught in a conflict, have suffered on all fronts as the place has remained a constant flash point in South Asia for more than 60 years. This perplexing situation has left the masses in a quagmire of sorts while as issues relating to life have risen abnormally. The situation, thus demands a proactive and vibrant civil society which would look into the issues faced by the masses and try to echo them in the higher echelons of power. Though difficult it might appear in the backdrop of a constant turmoil and lack of security, the real testing time is only now.

We do have civil society groups working for the issues faced by the masses, no doubt about that, but the ambit of the activities has, unfortunately remained confined to politics and issues of politics alone. There are certain activities on the human rights front as well. But seems completely neglected is the environment of the valley. Let the civil society or activists, here, know that environment too falls int ehri domain and to fight for the masses in this regard is also their job.

The continuing conflict has, perhaps, never allowed the people to think beyond politics and other issues of life and security. I appreciate that since it is the biggest concern for all. But at the same time, nobody seems bothered to think about other dimensions which may appear feeble now but, in the future, would result in great destruction.

Our natural resources, for instance, were either looted or ill presented in a considerably well- thought- over scheme to arrive at a picture to suggest that, even after having so much, we still depend upon external aid. We could have easily exploited our natural resources including water for our own benefit and self reliance. But things are never too easy for people who, at the very first place, do not know their own potential.

Having said this I do not, neither will any conscious people, blame the masses. But the lack of a sound civil society is what could be one among the possible reasons for this mess besides government and the administration which are not taken as people-friendly any more.

Imagine, Rajasthan has more tourists than Kashmir even when we believe and keep repeating the famous line that we are ‘The paradise on earth’. It is not just Rajasthan but many other parts of India which receive more tourists than us. It is definitely not because we are not a match, we are even better in many cases, but the projection has never been to the levels of excellence. This is an issue nobody would be interested to deal with. But the civil society must rise up to the occasion and see that a huge chunk of our population is entirely dependent upon tourism and its better presentation would result in better economic benefits to the masses.

Besides, the scope and significance of civil society in Kashmir is immense as it can play a vital role to serve the distressed people of the state who have numerous issues and problems. Its role becomes much more important in our state keeping in view its peculiar political, geographical and cultural status, besides other issues that are a result of the immense flow of mediated life that is creeping in at a rapid pace.

The highly debated issue relating to water resources of state and its exploitation by NHPC has been a blessing in disguise for the people of the state as it has made the people as well as rulers of the state to think about the natural assets and their proper utilization. It is in the backdrop of this issue that the civil society has tremendous scope to come to the forefront in a big way. This is not the only issue which is to be dealt with, there are a number of varying issues related to basic needs of people including water, electricity, road connectivity, health, education and other issues of preservation of natural resources. Issues of drug abuse, social abuse, corruption invasion, cultural degeneration etc.

Our civil society has a lot to do and needs strenuous, continuous and dedicated efforts at all levels. The first thing, I guess, should be informing and educating the people about their rights and duties and also about their natural resources. The approach must be corrective and not punitive.

Though civil society has no administrative or judicial powers or authority to punish anybody for a crime committed but it has somewhat different role and approach. It can take suggestive measures for eradicating the evil by reporting and highlighting the faults and faulty and bring them to the notice of the agencies meant to deal with them.

It is a good beginning as people from different walks of life are joining the civil society and standing for the issues confronting the masses. It is the question of survival, respect and honor of the people of the state and every step aimed for economic independence of the state, preservation of cultural standards and heritage, upholding moral standards and safeguarding interests of the people of the state should be appreciated and supported by one and all.

The Corrupt System

Wadoo has a point about how dynastic rule has perpetuated corruption in Kashmir


Electing the Corrupt

G. N. Wadoo (Greater Kashmir)


The election process in J&K State has all along faced a setback due to misuse of administrative machinery, biased election campaigning, rigging, capturing the polling booths, manhandling of election staff and many other undemocratic ways and means to regain power in the game of so called impartial and fair elections.

In fact our election machinery is moulded for the purpose “Might is Right” and the political parties already in power or in opposition are elected by some magic wand of polling, hence the history of our Assembly elections is disillusion and deceptive as far as the political power has always rested with families rather than other growing and budding political parties of the state. With the result a permanent dynasty rule is deep-rooted forever. Infact the people of the State have also been fighting elections only for family victory and least for good and transparent governance. The outcome of such elections is the growing corruption, shameful scams and scandals, party indiscipline, misuse of political power, economic depression, increased graph of poverty, unemployment and price index.

Governor of J&K, Shri N.N. Vohra has rightly said that elections especially of 1987 have frustrated the youth of Kashmir (refer GK 12th February, 2012). He was chairing a panel discussion on Kashmiri youth and media which was organized by the Institute for Research on Indian and International Studies in the backdrop of releasing to the study report regarding Media Impact on Kashmiri Youth by its honorary Director Navinta Chadha who laid emphasis on giving sense of security and democratic freedom to the Kashmiri youth. The participants in the panel discussion were the journalists, academicians from Kashmir University and Islamic University, Vice Chancellor of SKAUST, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Editor-in-Chief-The Tribune and top businessman and social activists who expressed their views about the problems of Kashmiri youth. However, the recent Home Ministry survey report vis-à-vis Kashmir also came under discussion which emphatically reiterated to engaging the Kashmiri youth productively for which the Governor said certain larger sample size surveys are needed in far flung areas of Kashmir.

It appears that addressing the grievances of the people of Kashmir is a core issue of the Government of India. Government has rightly realized that the youth of Kashmir have fallen victim to fraud elections and the apathy of leaders and politicians and have not been tolerated outside the State where they feel that they are not safe in their own country.

Whatever the pros and cons of the panel discussions and Home Ministry survey reports on Kashmir, one thing is evident that the people of Kashmir have all along cast their votes with the eyes shut or proceeded on an election boycott with their eyes half shut and have therefore altogether forgone their political obligations either way. With the result the Government of India has always installed the government of its own choice in the State and the election process have failed utterly in voting a popular government to power. Obviously as the election manifestos do not serve the purpose of the people at large and only favourtism, nepotism and red-tape are in vogue, the Government in power becomes meaningless for the people.

The recent example of Peerzada Muhammad Sayed-the former Education Minister is an irrefutable proof of how he made the State Government meaningless for illegally helping his foster son in connivance with the Board authorities to pass his matriculation examination in 2009. As Peerzada enjoys the patronage of Ms. Sonia Gandhi, no action could be taken against him. The gentleman did not submit his resignation to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and openly mentioned that Sonia Gandhi is his boss and not the Chief Minister. With these and many other details of the State Government, it is clear that our elections do not bring honest, upright and compassionate people to power and hence we are always wronged by the process of elections.

J&K Has Over a Million Unemployed

Government estimates are traditionally 50% of the actual figures since those who are long-term unemployed and not registered are not counted in official figures


JK has 6 Lakh Jobless Youth

Sumit Hakhoo (Greater Kashmir)


Jammu: With the number of registered unemployed youth crossing 6 lakh mark, Jammu and Kashmir has the highest unemployment rate of 5.3 per cent in comparison to its four neighboring states.

The number of unemployed youth registered in various District Employment and Counseling Centers is 6.01 lakhs ending September 2011, Economic Survey for the financial year 2011-12 has revealed.

As per the figures, 3,21,562 youth have registered themselves in Kashmir region while the number is 2,80,285 in Jammu province. Out of the registered unemployed youth only 3203 are illiterate, while 77,087 are middle pass and 1,65,208 are matriculate. More than 85,000 graduate and more than 20,000 post graduates have also registered themselves with the employment cells to seek jobs.

As per the Economic Survey, when it comes to overall unemployment, Punjab (4.5 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (2.8 per cent), Delhi (2.7 per cent) and Haryana (2.6 per cent) are much better placed than Jammu and Kashmir. All-India figures for unemployment rate stand at only 2.6 per cent only.

Official figures have further revealed that unemployment rate for males in J&K was 3.6 per cent whereas that of females was 17.1 per cent which is far too high when compared to the neighboring states Punjab 11.7 per cent, Haryana 2.8 per cent, Delhi 2.8 per cent and Himachal Pradesh 2.5 per cent.

“The problem of unemployment amongst females is predominant in Jammu and Kashmir based on Usual Principal Status (UPS) as the gap between unemployment rate of females in J&K (17.1 per cent) and that of all India level (3.6 per cent) is huge”, says the report.

It is pertinent to mention here that there are two main sources of unemployment data, NSS Surveys on Employment-Unemployment and District Employment and Counseling Centers (DECC).

Further the report says that unemployment is more prevalent in urban centres of the state than in rural areas. “Unemployment rate in urban areas based on 66th Round of NSS stood at 6.5 per cent as against 4.9 in rural areas, which is matter of concern”, says the report.

The Survey says that while the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has shown increasing trend both at the national and state level but growth is not inclusive and benefits of development initiatives programmers do not percolate to all the sections of the society especially poor at the grass root level. This leads to various problems like regional disparities, poverty and unemployment.

Further the Survey says that work opportunities have not kept pace with the increasing population. The problem is more acute as the incidence of unemployment is more among the educated sections of youths and nearly 70 per cent of the marginal workers are associated with agriculture and allied activities.

Report says that number of registered job seekers have increased form 1.11 lakh in 2007 to 6.01 lakh in 2011 (ending September) thereby registering an increase of 439 percent.

As per the census 2001, the literacy rate of state stood at 55.5 per cent which has increased further to 68.74 percent as per the census 2011. The provisional population (7 years and above) of state as per census 2011 is 125.48 lakh persons out of which 72.450 lakh persons are literate.

The report pointed out that the ground situation with regard to unemployment may be altogether different as the statistics of employment exchanges does not provide accurate picture of unemployment in the state.

The Fifth Economic Census, conducted in 2005, indicates that there are 3.24 lakh establishments in the state which are engaged in different economic activities. “The total number of persons working in these establishments was recorded to be 7.52 lakh, more or less equally distributed in rural and urban areas”, the report points out.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Number of registered job seekers has increased from 1.11 lakh in 2007 to 6.01 lakh in 2011 registering an increase of 439%

* 3,21,562 unemployed youth have registered themselves in Kashmir region, while the number is 2,80,285 in Jammu province

* Unemployment rate for males is 3.6% whereas that of females is 17.1%

* Unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 6.5% as against 4.9% in rural areas

Cultural Survival

Artists find it hard to make a sustainable living for themselves and their families

Introduce a Cultural Policy for the State, Singers tell Govt

Mukhtar Ahmed (Kashmir Images)

Srinagar: Demanding introduction of separate “Cultural Policy” for the promotion and patronage of artists especially the Sufiana singers in J&K, the Valley based veteran singers lamented that they are battling it hard to feed their families, and simultaneously sustaining their career.

“One fails to understand the logic behind government’s assertions of being very much concerned meting out a fair treatment in promoting and preserving the cultural diversity of the state, when we find it extremely hard to eke out a sustainable living for our families. By keeping cultural shows confined to government events, government may be appeasing some top notch dignitaries, but what about our career and families as singing is the only source of sustaining for us,” one of the leading singers, Waheed Jeelani told Kashmir Images.

He informed that J&K is the only state without a cultural policy for the artists. “We are facing a step motherly treatment as the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Government of India does not include the singers from J&K for various promotional activities for young and talented singers from all other Indian states. Moreover, the Union Ministry for Culture has totally failed in providing succor to us,” said Jeelani.

He alleged that the state government’s lack of patronage has made the life of veteran Kashmiri singers miserable. “The Sufiana music had taken a severe hit owing to the disturbed condition for the last 20 years here. As the governments support was the only ray of hope for us, its concerned institutions like the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages (JKCAAL) has failed to live up to our expectations. Despite pooling in all our efforts to revive the old glory of Sufiana Music, We are getting a paltry sum of money that falls short to meet our requirements,” added Jeelani.

Supplementing the grievances of Jeelani, famous singer and General Secretary of “Kashmir Glowkaar Society”, Abdul Gaffar Kanihami was more appreciative of the Sangeet Natak Academy than of the state government’s role in the preservation and promotion of the Sufiana Music here.
“At least the kind of monetary help and support we get from Sangeet Natak Academy is far sustainable than the pittance of annual 5,000 to 10,000 JKAACL pays, only to the registered cultural organizations in the state,” Kanihami informed.

“The state government may be taking young Kashmiri artists to perform on occasions like Independence Day and Republic day, but if one peeps into real situation of the plight of Sufiana singers, then it gets evident that how the state government is befooling the Indian government with the assertions that the artists that have performed here (on Independence and Republic days) are the real ambassadors of our culture and heritage,” Kanihami added.

Recalling the heydays when adoring the Sufiana singers was the order of the day in Kashmir, Kanihami recounted, “Those were our golden days as we used to be paid fairly and the then government ministers were admirers of the Sufiana Music. But today’s government is just playing with our sentiments and the career as lack of support from governments’ side is posing a serious threat for sustenance of our families and career.”

Underscoring the need of introducing the Cultural Policy in J&K, Kanihami asserted that it will usher in a new era in revitalizing the old strength and sway that Sufiana music used to have on the masses here.

“We demand that the cultural policy should be introduced forthwith. In case government fails to come up with such a boon for us, then no Kashmiri singer will allow his posterity to step into their shoes,” warned Kanihami.

Stinking Srinagar

The Editorial in the Rising Kashmir states that the city has suffered from lack of civic sense as much as it has from government apathy


Shabby Srinagar

Streets littered with garbage is a common sight in Srinagar city. At times with heaps of garbage lying unattended, the local residents and shopkeepers at many places are left with no choice but to remove it themselves. The Srinagar Municipality Corporation Karamcharies have reportedly stopped cleaning the roads and drains in these areas after local residents refused to pay sanitation fee. Perhaps people’s refusal to pay Rs 50 per month as sanitation fee stems from their bad experience about SMC’s performance as far as sanitation in residential areas is concerned.

Many locals also complain that despite several reminders, the authorities have not installed dustbins in their areas. People have long been concerned over the deteriorating sanitation conditions of the city. No wonder, the ranking of Srinagar as the fourth dirtiest city in India, in a survey by Urban Development Ministry, did not come as a surprise for most city dwellers. We have become used to dusty and garbage-littered streets. The authorities are yet to employ modern means of waste disposal and management. With the amount of waste growing by the day, there is bleak prospect for residents to have clean streets. Stray dog population has also increased manifold over the years adding to the unhygienic look of the city. Srinagar has traditionally served as one of the choicest tourist destinations, but with its worsening condition it won’t be a surprise if the tourist arrivals also show a steep decline in coming times. The state government can learn from the dramatic transformation of Delhi from a polluted metro to a better planned and greener city. Maintaining a city’s charm is not all about erecting fountains at main avenues or dismantling footpaths in the name of road widening, it is about maintaining the basic standards of sanitation and aesthetics. A casual tour through Srinagar city and one can realize the chaos it is descending into. The city is beset with plethora of civic problems.

Roads inundated with potholes, overflowing drains, non-functional street lights, long and frequent traffic jams, heaps of unattended garbage, packs of stray dogs, footpaths and roadsides encroached by bunkers...the list is endless. All these issues also deprive the city of its aesthetic charm. The government has failed to address all these issues despite announcing funds for various developmental projects from time to time. For making Srinagar a clean and orderly city, the contribution of people is vital. Without people’s active support, any ambitious project in revamping the city will fall flat. The city has suffered from lack of civic sense as much as it has from government indifference and shortsightedness. To help restore its lost glory is therefore a collective responsibility.