Women’s Day sparks new Initiative at Amar Singh Club: ‘The Greenhouse Intervention’ for children

9 March 2025

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Srinagar: The Amar Singh Club, Srinagar, marked International Women’s Day with a thought-provoking session that has led to the conceptualization of a significant new community initiative, aimed at tackling the growing problem of digital addiction among children. The program, held under the Club’s ongoing Common Interest Conversations series, was presided over by Tanveer Jehan (IAS), former Commissioner/Secretary, and saw spirited participation from prominent women leaders and members of the Club’s Managing Committee.

The discussion focused on The Cashmere Recuperation, a community-driven intervention launched by the Club to address digital dependency, particularly among the younger generation. During the session, participants proposed a new initiative titled The Greenhouse Intervention, which envisions the establishment of women-run sanctuaries to nurture children and protect them from excessive digital exposure.

Welcoming the participants, Nasir Hamid Khan, Secretary of Amar Singh Club, highlighted the urgency of addressing digital addiction, particularly its impact on children during their formative years. Drawing on neurological insights, Khan explained how overexposure to digital devices hampers the development of the pre-frontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, decision-making, and emotional regulation.

“Our younger generation is struggling with anger, anxiety, and confusion. Structural changes to their brains, combined with a toxic erosion of values, threaten their future,” Khan warned. He emphasized that The Cashmere Recuperation initiative is rooted in scientific research and calls for immediate, collective action to safeguard children’s mental and emotional well-being.

The women participants, including Qurat-ul-Ain, Hawa Bashir, Asiya Murtaza, Shagufta Qazi, and Shahala Ali Sheikh, acknowledged the increasing societal challenges caused by digital addiction. They voiced concern over the growing reliance on digital devices to pacify children, particularly in households where both parents are working.

After in-depth discussions, the group proposed The Greenhouse Intervention, a plan to establish micro-level community sanctuaries or “greenhouses” run exclusively by women. These spaces would offer children opportunities to interact, socialize, and engage in learning about Kashmiri art, culture, traditions, history, and language—while being shielded from excessive screen time. The concept is to create nurturing environments that foster resilience, self-confidence, and life skills among children.

“The idea is to move children out of their comfort zones and into supervised spaces where they can develop naturally, learning to face real-life challenges,” one participant said.

The participants proposed that the intervention operate on a public-private partnership model, utilizing existing infrastructure such as government schools and other underutilized assets. They suggested collaboration with various departments, including Education, Health, Sports, Handicrafts, Forests, and Floriculture, to support the initiative.

A detailed blueprint for The Greenhouse Intervention is being prepared for submission to the government. The initiative aims to combine community involvement with institutional support to create sustainable change.

In addition to the intervention plan, the Amar Singh Club announced a public competition to design the logo and trophy for The Cashmere Recuperation program. The winning design will earn a cash prize of ₹25,000.

Nasir Hamid Khan underscored that reversing the tide of digital addiction requires not just interventions for children but also a transformation in family dynamics and societal values. “We must change ourselves first—our thought processes, our lifestyles, and how we function as family units,” he said.