Head of Jammu & Kashmir Haj Committee and chairperson of District Development Council Baramulla, Safina Baig, speaks to Ziraat Times’ North Kashmir Bureau Chief, Saadat Ahmed, about a range of issues during a free wheeling interview. Ms Safina, who won the District Development Council (DDC) election from Wagoora constituency in North Kashmir, has studied law and is known for her sharp articulation and deep insights into J&K’s development and politics. Ms Safina is wife of Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, former Deputy Chief Minister of J&K and one of the state’s leading legal experts. Interview excerpts:Q: Safina ji, thank you very much for speaking to us. Let us begin with your early childhood and education – I would like to know how did your early upbringing shape your life to become an active politician?
SB: My father was a government official, an Administrative Officer., and we would live in Jammu with the Darbar Move every year. But I have spent my early childhood both in Jammu as well as in Srinagar. My education started from a school in Jammu, and then in Srinagar. I aimed to study medicine, but missed the Entrance Exam cutoff by 2 points. So I then studied B.Sc. from the Women’s College in Srinagar. After graduation, I applied for admission at the Jamia Millia and also in Delhi University. I took several entrance exams and got an MBA admission offer. Also in Bio-Technology. But I settled for an LLB from Aligarh Muslim University. And that is where I studied law.
After my LLB I practised law in Delhi for some time, but also pursued LLM. I stood first in the exam for LLM, and even got an LLM scholarship. But due to certain circumstantial reasons, I came to Srinagar and started law practice from here. That was my destiny, otherwise I had thought of something else.
Q: As a woman, how did you see the law field as a career?
SB: This field made me learn so many things. It empowered me in many ways. Still, in fields like law, journalism, it is not easy to establish yourself, especially if you are a woman. These are generally male-dominated career fields. I worked as a lawyer until 2008, and then due to an accident I had to take a break for about two years. And thereafter my journey in public life began.
Q: As a woman who has made a mark for herself with a transition from a law career to active politics, how do you see women’s education in Kashmir?
SB: Kashmir and its women have done so well in education. We are not a conservative society like many other societies. As comparted to rest of India, thanks to our culture that encourages women’s education, about 80% girls don’t face discrimination in education as compared to boys. Although in our society, in certain instances, there is priority to boys, and that there is an incidence of crimes against women; but, when it comes to education, including higher education, J&K’s women are doing so well. Our women have made a mark in every field, and they are not lagging behind men. Even our girls are pilots. This is a very healthy sign about our society.
Q: How do you think girls could be empowered in Kashmir economically, considering that their work avenues are limited?
SB: Firstly, education is very important for girls. Then their economic independence. These days both men and women have to work to make ends meet in a family. Girls must be economically empowered. That is very important for them. Nowadays, we see that everyone cannot get government jobs. In Kashmir we have tourism and agriculture as important sectors where there is good potential of job creation. Agriculture sector is so good for women of Kashmir because it can give them the right setting to thrive in their own environments. There are so many government schemes and they can also take advantage of those schemes. Our women don’t even know about those schemes. They should come forward.
Q: What do you think women can do to enhance their footprint in agri-entrepreneurship in Kashmir?
SB: Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. It is easier for women to build a career in agriculture and its allied sectors like horticulture, dairy farming, etc etc. them if they have some land available. In certain cases, women would also need finance from banks. But quite often finance is not available to them on easy terms. Handicrafts used to provide lots of jobs to women in Kashmir but nowadays we see the sector is not doing well. Women must come forward and adopt innovations and technology in agriculture. Some people are hesitant to venture in the agri sector because these days labour costs are very high. Labour costs can be brought down if we adopt mechanisation. Women must embrace mechanised farming.
Q: For the women of Baramulla district, what role do you see in the apple sector, especially in value addition activities?
SB: Lately, we have seen a trend began in South Kashmir when they adopted new methods and technologies in apple farming. Development of cold storages being one. But in North Kashmir, we have observed adoption of innovation and technology was resisted. North Kashmir has to embrace modern ways and technology for horticulture. On our part, we are trying to bring cold storages to the area. 450 kanals of land have been identified in north Kashmir for the purpose of industries and the proposal is with the government. Some people here are scared about bank finance. They are not willing to go into HD farming because it involves bank loans. Fake agro chemicals are a major issue. Even as we have few labs in Kashmir to test the efficacy of agro-chemicals, they are not enough. Fake pesticides are a big mafia. Environment is changing. So women who aspire to venture into the apple sector should consult experts for value-addition techniques and feasibility.
Q: We see road connectivity to North Kashmir is a major issue. Srinagar-Baramulla four-laning is lingering on for a long time. Is there any update about that?
SB: In 2004-2005, when Baig sahab was part of the government, they had agreed for 4-laning of the highway both in North and South Kashmir. The South part of the highway was done but for the North four laning was not even considered. I have taken up with the government the 4-laning of Narbal and Uri Road. Baramulla is strategically very important. Our demand has gone to the right quarters now. As you know, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has already announced approval of the Narbal-Uri highway expansion. Some work has started in the Sangrama area, but we are getting complaints that the executing agency – BEACON – is slow in implementation and that is delaying the work. We have communicated to the government that if this agency is not able to undertake the work in time and with good quality, we may consider other options.
Q: You mentioned cold storages are needed in South Kashmir. What steps should be taken in the North to encourage local people to invest here?
SB: I spoke to farmers and officials on this matter. We have also invited Atal Dullo ji to Sopore in October. We are impressing upon farmers and trdaders to invest in cold strorages. Farmers and traders have to take the final decision. We can only facilitate.
Q: Finally, what would be your message for women of Kashmir in general and women of Baramulla in particular?
SB: When societies evolved distribution of labour happened between men and women. Women are emotionally stronger than men. Intellectually they are at the same level as men. While family care and tending to children is a natural role for women, they should not ignore their education and economic independence. My message is that women should be well educated and economically empowered. Economically our women should be independent and stable, irrespective of which social status they come from and which family they are married to.
Interviewer: Thank you very much Safina ji for taking the time for this interview.
SB: Thank you very much.
