Opinion | Nari Shakti: A Scheme and an Initiative to Build Empowerment

In the snow covered valley of Kashmir, at the junction of history, perseverance, and hope, a revolution is brewing. Kashmiri women, traditionally defined only as objects of conflict and oppression, are rising to claim their position as leaders, businesswomen, scholars, and active participants in society. And at the center of this transformation is the concept of Nari Shakti, a program and a policy that has ultimately become a way of life in Kashmir. “Nari Shakti” translates into “women power,” a policy designed to empower women socially, economically, and politically in society.

Nari Shakti is literally “the power of women,” and to this end, it is based on the premise that there can be no development, no sustainability of development in any community or country, without the active involvement and participation of the women who reside there. This means that the Nari Shakti program should ensure that there are provisions for developing women’s education and skills, financial empowerment, health care, and their involvement in making decision-making policies in the same way as men. Education and skills, financial empowerment, health care and decision making are vital components of women’s empowerment in Jammu & Kashmir, where women represent a significant portion of the population..Women have faced numerous social and political challenges; they have faced decades of socio-political turbulence and had very few job options to choose from all the while living under a system of patriarchal control in most aspects of their lives. The Nari Shakti Project provides a platform to recognize the challenges women have faced and to offer a means for the empowerment of women in Kashmir.

Education as the first step

One of the main focuses of the Nari Shakti Project is to use education as a means of empowering women in Kashmir. Increased participation of girls in school and college is indicative of a changing social climate. Through national government initiatives within the Nari Shakti framework such as scholarships, vocational training and digital literacy programs for young women, women are being educated at a greater rate than they have ever been in the past, which is giving them greater expectations for themselves. Young women who live in areas where there have been high levels of female dropping out of school/career are now considering goals such as doctor, civil servant, IT and teacher.

Women’s Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship

Women’s economic empowerment is a primary aspect of Nari Shakti, and the women of Kashmir have made an incredible impact in this area. Many women have successfully developed their traditional crafts into sustainable businesses, as a result of self-help groups, female-led cooperative societies, and skill-enhancing programs. Throughout this area, from handlooming to creating paper from papier-mâché, from processing saffron to creating organic food, Kashmiri women are bringing together their cultural heritage with entrepreneurial purposes. Because women benefit from access to microfinance and training through various Nari Shakti programs they often create small businesses, often right from their own homes, and that is very important in Kashmir, where women can often encounter restrictions on mobility due to cultural or security concerns. Therefore, home-based businesses provide women with not only an income but also the confidence and authority to be part of their family’s decision-making. As women contribute economically, they gain greater recognition and voice in areas of their community previously considered solely to belong to men.

Political participation and leadership

An essential component of Nari Shakti is the ability for women to be leaders and have access to positions of authority. As women are encouraged to become engaged with their local governance bodies, community committees and civic forums, we are seeing transformations of the power dynamics exist on a grassroots level. For instance, in Kashmir, there has been an increasing number of women sarpanches, council members and social workers who have been successful in breaking through the traditional barriers to leadership. Women leaders have unique perspectives regarding many social issues such as water supply, education, and health care. Because women leaders are involved in decision-making, the resulting policies are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the community they serve. As this cultural shift towards acceptance of women leaders continues to grow, the challenges posed by women in positions of authority will be less significant than in the past.

The Nari Shakti initiative for the empowerment of Kashmiri women does not involve turning away from their traditions but rather changing their meanings to fit contemporary life. Many women are able to combine their cultural values with modern-day ambitions; for example, wearing traditional clothing while running a business, following customs and traditions while obtaining an education, and taking care of their families while pursuing their own objectives. These contrasts create the contemporary Kashmiri woman.In the long term, achieving this balance will be essential to achieving success with any empowerment program. Working within the cultural context rather than outside of it will also lead to greater community support. Many families who were once reluctant to let women work outside of the home or attend school are now seeing many of the benefits of empowerment, including increased household income and improved education for their children.

Nari Shakti’s path is still full of hurdles and is by no means done, as Nari Shakti has made strides, which includes progressive advancements for women. Economic barriers such as high unemployment rates and little access to the marketplace affect women’s ability to access the employment market due to the proliferation of digital barriers and lack of acceptance from an array of societal groups represent an ongoing challenge, as well. In addition, empowerment alone cannot be defined in terms of government schemes. Sustained and ongoing investments, accountability, and active community participation must all be present for true empowerment to take hold amongst women throughout Kashmir. Amplifying the voices of women at the bottom of society in terms of rural, economically disadvantaged, and those living in areas affected by conflict will be essential to creating true mass movements behind Nari Shakti, rather than just creating a few, individual success stories for specific groups of women.

Kashmiri women’s stories have very commonly been depicted as generally afflicted. In contrast, Nari Shakti portrays Kashmiri women as having their own sense of power and agency. Women are claiming their rights, from classrooms to craft shops, Panchayat and District Development Board offices to digital platforms.

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