Opinion | Empowering Women: Pioneering Change and Progress in Kashmir

With the introduction of women-centric schemes, reservations, and policies by the government, Kashmiri women are now emerging as dynamic leaders and active participants in shaping the future of the region.

Kashmir, a region that was always sketched and portrayed through the lens of conflict and turmoil, is now witnessing a sustainable transformation. This place has borne the brunt of strict norms of patriarchal rule and culture, unequal sanctions on men and women and gender discrimination for decades. Females are raised to such a divine status that she is called and often considered “Devi, Laxmi, Ghar ki Izzat”, she may be called Rani (queen) at home, considered a laxmi (goddess of wealth), then after marriage she becomes Bhai (Maid) among in-laws. This journey of Rani, Laxmi and Bhai is way different and opposite to the role of Rani Lakshmi Bai, a brave queen who fought a battle with English to save her country and got martyred in the battle field symbolising the strength of females in India. Considering the gender inequality, restricting women access to resources and education, dictating her what to do and what not, calling her “ghar ki izzat” and depriving her of basic right to life, education, freedom and relegating her to the four walls only puts her on a lifelong dependency on male counterparts which finally becomes a reason of her exploitation, violence against her and finally takes a toll on her life, hence raising one to divine status also becomes a reason for their exploitation and deprivation of basic rights.

Gender Equality is a concept that denotes when each and every individual has the same opportunity as humans. Debates around gender and gender roles have become a heated discourse now. Gender roles are defined and attached by the society hence can vary from society to society. Here in kashmir we found a strict division of labour among males and females, even agrarian families present their own pattern of this division. In South Asian culture, women don’t have rights over their earning salary that is being taken away by husband and in-laws despite women contributing to the economy. Women have been contributing in every field especially the agriculture sector as India is an agrarian economy, but her contributions are not calculated and considered in the GDP of the country. She works tirelessly in the fields and orchids but has no say in transactions, buying and selling of her resources and property. Domestic work goes unaccounted and unpaid. In that sense economic independence has not empowered women to such an extent where they become decision makers or property being registered in their names. She suffers doubly as the notion of patriarchy is “kitchen belongs to women”. Her kitchen work goes unshared even if she is contributing to the family’s income and puts a double burden on her. One who strives hard and pushes to limits for achieving both, gets entitled as a super woman and in that race of becoming super women, she has been suffering differently.

This poses a serious question of real empowerment and emancipation. If despite earning women don’t hold any decision making power on her own money experiencing an alienation from her own resources under patriarchy, How is she empowered then? Is there any need for gender justice?

Men and women were never considered equals, women were considered second class citizens, had no voting rights due to social structures and religious activities. Economic reasons have driven humanity to a level and a course where gender justice is felt natural. There is a perpetual struggle going on in many societies and now humanity has evolved to this level where men and women are considered equal, due to the LPG (Liberalisation, Privatization and Globalization) model. It has become incumbent on all genders to play their part in the economic activities of humanity. Epistemology of the west and their context of evolution is different but in our country this course evolved differently.

Women are changing trends in kashmir. From restrictive cultural norms, limited access to education and economic opportunities and lack of political representation we find women’s representation in politics is gaining momentum. Recent elections in kashmir witnessed a huge participation of women accessing their voting rights and choosing their representative. On the other hand women activists in kashmir are breaking the barriers and a notion of women fit for easy jobs like teaching, serving in creches, nursing etc that has a specific time so that she gets back home and engages herself in household chores. Now the shift is being seen, with hardwork, reach outs, travelling distances, social activists are showing themselves at the forefront of social reforms
A very inspirational example presented by Kounsar jan, a first female e-rickshaw driver in srinagar city has completely shattered the stereotypical wall of gender roles in kashmir unlike other works like of fisherwomen that is very normal here in kashmir, driving a vehicle commercially is something pathbreaking.

Women are accessing schemes of the government like Tejaswani from Mission Youth JK that is offering assistance upto 5 lakhs to young women to start their own businesses. Under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Official figures reveal that in the last four years 20,691 women owned enterprises have come up in jammu and kashmir. These women are rewriting the innovation in the male dominated society. This trend is witnessed both in rural and urban areas. Women are now treading the path of business to have economic stability and live a life with an identity and dignity.
Education is an instrument which plays an important role in improving socio-economic conditions. Women’s education in particular is a most important aspect as most of the kashmiri women are trapped at the border of society due to factors like domestic violence, social discrimination that resulted in their limited exposure. Therefore in order to overcome these issues government has established specific programs and policies like One-Stop Centres, Mission Shakti, National Policy for Women Empowerment, Working Women Hostels, Women Helplines, SWADHAR Greh, Ujjwala Yojana, STEP, Beti Bachao Beti padhao like initiative that created a system of empowerment in kashmiri society and recognized women as equal citizens and participants of the nation’s development and progress as the progress shifted from women in development to women led development. It aims to mainstream the half of the population of the country and drive women towards social, economic, and political progress. It surely helps in achieving gender equality and contributes to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
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