Srinagar, April 14: Several Kashmiri women and men came together for an Eid Milan organized by the Kashmir Women’s Collective (KWC) at the Nigeen Club in Srinagar today to reflect on and discuss some of the most critical social issues faced by women in Kashmir.
The KWC, founded and registered as a trust in 2017, is a group of Kashmiri women professionals and students from J&K and around the country and the world, that focuses on amplifying the voices of women and addressing issues like domestic violence, sexual harassment, and lack of equitable access to financial resources.
The group, a brainchild of a prominent civil servant and researcher, Dr Mantasha Rashid, has also been successful in establishing an informal charity group that provides financial and other material support to vulnerable individuals and families. The group helped save scores of lives during the Covid pandemic by pooling financial and healthcare resources for Covid affected people.
The Eid Milan featured prominent people like Dr Vijaylakshmi Brara, Arjimand Hussain (founder of Ziraat Times) and other prominent individuals. The event also saw participation of other key members of the group, including Dr. Rehana, Dr. Mehreen, Ms. Mehvash, Ms. Aliya, Dr Ovee Thorat, Riddhi, Ms. Shaista, Ms. Nida, Ms. Rabiyaa, and Ms. Razia.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vijaylakshmi, who also happens to be the wife of Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, spoke about her wide-ranging research experience on vital gender issues across the country and her experience of engaging with women in J&K.
Dr Vijaylakshmi is an accomplished sociologist, specializing in Sociological Theories, Cultural and Gender Studies. Her PhD thesis was published as a book by Oxford University Press, titled “Politics Society and Cosmology in India’s North East in 1998”. Dr Vijaylakshmi has around 40 national and international publications to her credit.
Patiently listening to the participants’ experiences and journeys of growth and development, Dr Vijaylakshmi said she was impressed by the potential and resilience of women in Jammu & Kashmir.
Arjimand Hussain spoke about and highlighted the challenges of social media and artificial intelligence perpetuating social and cultural stereotypes jeopardising inclusive and harmonious societies. He said he sees immense hope and potential among younger generations in crafting more equitable and respectful societies for women and consolidating inclusive and multi cultural societies.
Dr Mantasha acknowledged the support of all those women and men who have been supporting KWC’s quest for supporting women in distressing situations in Kashmir.
“Women across the world are to shoulder the burden of multiple social and cultural expectations while their own dreams and aspirations often get overlooked”, Dr Mantasha said, adding that KWC has provided a platform and voice for many women in Kashmir to articulate and translate their ideas their reality.
Discussions also centered around a range of topics relevant to Kashmiri women, including “Gender and health”, wherein the participants talked about issues like access to healthcare, maternal health, and mental health concerns.
The participants also talked about how climate change could disproportionately impact women’s lives, and how women can be part of the solution.
Expressing concern over growing cases of domestic violence, the participants also committed to pool more coordinated efforts in overcoming domestic violence, and the need for forums like KWC to provide a space for open discussion and support.
The group has also been offering support, advice, and advocacy for Kashmiri women facing these challenges.
