The decades old conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir have badly affected the people. In this, women were the worst sufferers, physically, psychologically, socially as well as economically.
The state and the Central government has taken some major policy interventions for women empowerment in the Valley. The concern is to highlight their plights and address the concerns with appropriate decisions.
Gianna Gancia, a member of the European Parliament from Italy, said in a report that one of the main reasons for the sufferings of women in the valley is the patriarchal society resulting in stereotype mentality, gender discrimination, objectifying woman. In this sense, Valley is not different from the rest of India. Ironically women in the Valley are destined to face more victimisation as natives of a hardened conflict zone.
\u201cResilience and empowerment are interrelated. Forced and acquired resilience is a long debate but understandable. Empowerment enhances resilience and empowerment needs internal and external support both. Women of the Valley are resilient but more because of inherent hardship being faced by them rather than measures taken by the system for their empowerment,\u201d Gancia said in the report.
The Jammu and Kashmir Women Development Corporation has declared a channelising agency of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh to provide loans to the poor women affected by the violence. Those below the poverty level would get microloans at an interest rate of 9.5% as against an interest rate of 8% charged by Rashtriya Mahila Kosh.
The corporation could charge interest at 12% per annum from the beneficiaries keeping in view the economic condition of the poor women artisans of the state; the Board of Directors has fixed the same at 9.5%.
The Swayam Sidha women empowerment programme (SWEP) is another example of government intervention. The J&K State Women\u2019s Development Corporation has been appointed as a nodal agency by the administrative department like Social Welfare Department Government of Jammu and Kashmir to implement the scheme of Swayam Sidha Women Empowerment Programme (SWEP) in J&K.
This integrated scheme for women\u2019s empowerment is basically designed for the organisation of women into Self Help Groups (SHGs) wherein awareness and confidence will be generated in them both economically and socially regarding their status, health, nutrition, education, sanitation, legal rights, upliftment, control over resources, saving habits, access to microcredit and involvement in local-level planning.
The women of the Valley have become resilient and have learned to live with their destiny preserving the culture and traditions of Kashmir, said Gancia. After decades of suffering in a conflict zone, the old generation has adapted to it but at the same time there is fear for the next generation.
Women are the pillars of the social fabric, the Parliamentarian said further and the government needs to focus towards the girl child education, health issues, especially mental health issues of women.
\u201cI stress the results will be striking, beyond imagination. Incentive-based skill development programmes, especially, designed for women with no interest or very low-interest rates are yet another very important way of empowerment,\u201d she said.
\u201cWith educational, health and economic empowerment, legal and psychosocial counselling aligned with campaigns against stereotype patriarchal mentality can change the future of the valley,\u201d Gancia added further.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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