he sparkling, alert eyes don’t quite fit in with the rest of the picture: the deeply-lined face partly hidden by the closely-wrapped hijab, the ageing body bundled in layers of warm clothing, the weathered hands dis-playing the bundle of vegetables for sale on the roadside kerb. But the youthful spirit shines through when she starts to speak, as does her steely determination to remain self supporting as she has always been, through the vicissitudes of life. Courage, she believes, comes from unflinching faith: first in the Almighty and then in one’s own strength.

Meet Marzi Banoo, hailing from Tsanra, a village where all the marvels of Nature’s beauty coexist, fifty kilometers from Kargil town. At the age of twenty-nine, when her peers were well entrenched in the duties of a homemaker, Marzi followed the voice of her restless soul and took a cab down the main borough to earn a living for herself. Today at the grand age of sixty, she has achieved a decent standard of living and continues to accomplish more.

With empty pockets and a heart brim-ming with hope, the young Marzi started off, thirty one years ago, as a helper at a private school in the Suru Valley in Kargil.

She would carefully save from her meager earnings, and invest those modest savings in buying vegetables at the princely sum of six rupeesfrom places like Lhonche and Tsaleskot in the outskirts of the valley, where their production is abundant. Man-aging to sell them for eight rupees, her prof-it-making business venture had begun.

For nine years now, Marzi has been occupying the same corner in the main market of Kargil, with a wooden slab to sit on and her vegetable sacks lined in the frontFresh spinach, green leaves, turnip, carrot and radish - her offerings earn her up to 150 to 200 rupees daily.

Helping Marzi and several other women like her is the agriculturally favorable topog-raphy of Kargil that offers a great reserve of suitable soil and water supply for irrigation purpose, coupled with the right amount of solar energy. Recognizing the wealth of nat-ural resources, an agency called the Kargil Renewable Energy Development Authority (KREDA), established in 2010, has imple-mented several schemes that incorporate Biodegradable Projects and Solar and Ther-mal Energy Assignments, which are a great success. These also include the establish-ment of greenhouses in far flung villages to help the community sustain on them both domestically and commercially, especially during the daunting winter spell. And this has benefited the women folk remarkably in terms of livelihood.

Yet another step taken to sustain the production of vegetables and women’s employment is the establishment of Kitch-en Gardens. Along with personal kitchen

gardens put up by households, several Women Self Help Groups also encourage similar proposals to help housewives and unschooled women folk earn their living. The local authorities have been providing subsidies to such groups to strengthen the dual benefits, further enhancing the socio-

economic status of the region.Gaining from such prospects, Marzi

Banoo reiterates, “Considering any work trivial and worthless is the greatest blun-der one could possibly make. We must not fail to avail opportunities.” She strongly believes in development in every respect, and proclaims that work and progress should be one’s dictum in life.

Marzi Banoo belongs to a Muslim soci-ety, where pilgrimage to the Holy Mecca is mandatory, at least once in a lifetime, with an exemption made for those who cannot afford it. A woman with her background, who earns nothing or very little, is depen-dent on the husband, brother or son to go on the holy pilgrimage, called Hajj. Breaking this conventional trend, she not only per-formed Hajj in 2008 on her savings but has also successfully completed her fifth Umra, the ‘minor pilgrimage’ to the Holy Mecca, undertaken at any time of the year.

“Sleeping won’t help and indolence is a sin”, pronounces Marzi. Making profound sense, she asserts that staying idle leads to immoral conduct, like stealing, slaying and debauchery. “Kasab” (honest work), she reaffirms, makes humankind reverent and reminds us to celebrate life.

A mother of one and grandmother of two, Marzi Banoo, a Class I pass out, under-standing the import of schooling and has done well in educating her only child. Today, her daughter is an able nurse; one of her grandsons is a computer instructor and the other, in the transport business. Both are settled, earn well and their chil-dren also go to school.

Governing her whole life on the premise of individualism, she does not remember ever asking for what she had not earned herself. ‘It is a disgrace to spread out our palms asking for charity”, she proclaims. With such absolute determination and without seeking any monetary aid from her family, she built a three-room house for her family. But sticking to her principles, she herself lives in a two-room apartment with a helper girl in Lchangchik, situated in the main bazaar of Kargil.

A traditionally rooted woman with a con-temporary stance, Marzi doesn’t believe in unnecessary intervention in her children’s lives. “As long as I am in good health, I shall not depend on my children (referring to her grandchildren as well). They have their own lives and families to look after and I do not intend to bother them,” she professes with composure and prudence.

Marzi Banoo reflects a trait common among all the women folk of Kargil: a wholehearted plunge into the ocean of manual labor for the family’s nurturing. . Grabbing every opportunity to work that gives them immense satisfaction and a sense of productivity. Workaholic is per-haps one clichéd word that describes these women of great vigor and faith. Even as they dedicate their lives to their home and hearth, they have earned the freedom to grow as individuals, to not be burdened with household chores at the expense of their progress in other spheres.

(This article has been generated under Sanjoy Ghose Media Fellowship)Charkha Feature exclusively for GK

9Greater Kashmir

Srinagar | August 7, 2013, Wednesday

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Together with Orphans, Widows and Destitute

Workaholic women of KargilAs long as I am in good health, I shall not depend on my children

ow did the idea of starting J&K Yateem Foundation strike?

It was through a research by Prof. Bashir Ahmad Dabla in 2000 that we came to know that there are around one lakh orphans in J&K. This touched our heart and we realized our duties towards these victims. With the grace of Almighty Allah we started J&K Yateem Foundation in the same year to work for the welfare and rehabilitation of most deserving and underprivileged orphans, widows and destitute.

Initially we used to collect donations from our friends, relatives and colleagues and slowly we earned both trust as well as fame in the field and now J&K Yateem Foundation is one of the trusted names in the society. We help the needy irrespec-tive of caste, creed, region or religion. We have district level units in J&K includ-ing in the difficult mountainous areas of Kishtwar.

How many children are presently lodged in your orphanage?

We have two branches of Bait-ul-Hilal - Jawahar Nagar, where we have 49 chil-dren, Chawalgam, Kulgam where we have 40 children. We send them for normal schooling and have also a permanent tutor for them. They are given Islamic and moral education at the respective Bait-ul-Hilals.

How do you identity an orphan?We have our officials and volunteers

at different district headquarters who identity the orphan who is really in need of our help. A thorough on-the-spot verifi-cation is carried out so that genuine and deserving people get our help. The re-veri-fication is carried out on a yearly basis so as to keep track of the people we help.

What is the total expenditure on a child per month?

Approximately we spend 2000 per month on a child for food, clothing and schooling. The menu at both the orphanages at Srinagar and Kulgam is prepared by a nutritionist, and it is followed strictly. We are happy to see people realizing their duties towards their brethren who are in need of help. A sense of helping poor and needy is developing in the society and we see people visit our office every month with cash as well as kind. The inmates of these orphanages are sent back to their ancestral homes, genuine relatives after passing 10th standard examination. So far, 66 such children have passed out of Bait-ul-Hilal and the total expendi-ture from inception upto March 2013 is Rs 2.26 crore. During year 2012-13, an amount of Rs 55 lakh has been spent on these two orphanage projects.

What is the source of income other than public donations?

Apart from public donations, we are implementing various welfare pro-grammes in J&K with the financial

assistance of international welfare orga-nizations like Mercy Universal London, Save the Children, Action Aid, Interna-tional Development and Relief Founda-tion (IDRF) Canada, Kuwait Kashmir Circle and Human Concern International Canada.

What about the cooperation with inter-national welfare organizations?

J&K Yateem Foundation in collabora-tion with international welfare organiza-tions like Mercy Universal London, Save the Children, Action Aid, International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) Canada, Kuwait Kashmir Circle and Human Concern International Canada, is implementing several welfare programmes through their financial assistance to JKYF. During 2012-13, an amount of over Rs 2.13 crore has been spent on various welfare and rehabilita-tion programmes.

Besides this, we do offer various sur-geries on concessional rates in collabora-tion with Amandeep Hospital, Amritsar.

What about the Healthy Kashmir scheme?

J&K Yateem Foundation dedicated its medical project ‘Healthy Kashmir’ to people in July 2012. Under this project, four healthcare services units are func-tional at the following places: Al-Hilal Diagnostic Centre, Karan Nagar: Over 53,000 patients have benefitted with

50 percent concession on various basic investigations.SMHS Pantry: Over 95,000 patients and attendants have benefitted with the cook-ing gas facility, water bottles and blankets till date.Patient Guidance Counter SMHS: This counter guides patients and their atten-dants about various facilities in the hospital. Hundreds of patients have been benefitted through this counter started from current financial year.Ambulance Service: Over 600 patients have benefitted through ambulance ser-vice being provided at LD Hospital and SMHS Hospital by using two ambulances. Similarly, hundreds of patients have benefitted through ambulance service available in the accident-prone areas of Chenab valley with headquarter at District Hospital Kishtwar. JKYF’s three ambulances were part of ambulance fleet, which played a pivotal role in providing succor to the needy patients during 2010 uprising, in association with Help Poor Voluntary Trust (HPVT), Srinagar.Street collection by fake organizations is a huge problem?

Recently in Dargah, Hazratabal, one of the persons in a Maruti van was appealing for donations after Friday prayers pleading that his brother was suffering from a kidney failure. People were helping this ‘gentleman’ and he had collected a lot of donations. Suddenly, one person came and stared at the person

who was requesting for donations. He revealed that the person asking for alms was lying as he is his brother and the photograph pasted on front of the car was his and that he was fit and fine. On hearing this, people there gathered and started beating the person and scattered the cash and goods he had collected. One more incident happened in a Masjid in Sonawar area where a person of a far-flung area was appealing for help to cure his kidney. Accidently, one of our volunteers was offering Nimaaz there and he told him that he would take him to the doctor. He denied to come along but our volunteer took his address for verification. It was found that the person was lying and he was from a well-off family having transport business. We don’t practice stray or door-to-door col-lection. It has been our policy since day one. This is humiliating and a detestable thing, which has a negative impact on the orphans for whom the monetary sup-port is raised.

Where do you see J&K Yateem Founda-tion in comparison to other such orga-nizations?

We are working tirelessly to build public opinion in favour of coopera-tion, unity and partnership through all inclusive efforts. Kashmir based NGOs Coordination Committee with J&K Yateem Trust, Sakhawat Centre J&K, J&K Yateem Khana and J&K Yateem Foundation as its four constituents, is an example. J&K Yateem Foundation is com-mitted to take forward the collective goal while joining hands with all the genuine, dedicated and committed welfare orga-nizations irrespective of their size and infrastructure.

How do you reach out to people for donations?

We are constantly working to make people aware about the challenges in social service sector. We do it by utilizing mass media like newspapers, website, radio, and audiovisual tools like posters, stickers, billboards and hoardings besides organizing seminars, refresher courses, workshops and film shows.

We bring out bilingual annual report publication ‘Ehsaas’ in which we cover related issues with opinion from media, academics, medicos and credible NGOs.

This year, we produced a film ‘Togeth-er with Orphans, Widows and Destitute’ - Ehsaas-e-Shafaqat - Yateemoun, Bewa-woun Aur Mohtajoun Ke Shana Ba Shana.

Why do most charity organisations gear up in Ramadhan while nothing is heard of them through the rest of the year?

This is not true. We remain active throughout the year. This can be accessed by the result-oriented schemes we offer. At the same time, we cannot deny the fact that people give away alms and Zakat in the month of Ramadhan as they feel that they will receive more blessings from Allah for this.

“Considering any work trivial and worthless is

the greatest blunder one could possibly make.

We must not fail to avail opportunities.”

Different schemes offered by J&K Yateem Foundation

Girl Upliftment in Domestic Environment (GUIDE): Under this programme, about Rs 4 lakh have been spent during the year 2012-13 benefitting 39 girls on a regular basis. A total of Rs 12.30 lakh has been spent on this programme with 58 orphan girls as beneficiaries, since its inception. Vocational trainings in knitting, sewing, handi-crafts and candle-making is offered.

Widow Welfare Programme (WWP): Under this pro-gramme, 539 widows benefited across the State incurring an expenditure of over Rs 21 lakh during year 2012-13. Till date a total amount of Rs 58 lakh has been spent on this programme.

Higher Education Scholarship Programme (HESP): Since 2002, 485 scholarships have been awarded that includes sizeable number of girl students. An amount of nearly Rs 71 lakh has been spent under this programme in J&K by March end. During 2012-13, an amount of Rs 12 lakh has been spent under this programme. In Jammu division, for the first time, 23 candidates including 7 female and 11 non-Muslim candidates were selected for the HESP scholarships.

HESP Professional: Started in 2004, an amount of Rs 9 lakh has been spent from 2004 to 2013 benefitting 21 students of which 14 have completed their professional degrees through medical and engineering colleges of the State.

Marriage of Orphan and Poor Girls (MOPG): Over 200 girls benefitted, which involved an expenditure of nearly Rs 11 lakh in 2012-13. An amount of around Rs 65 lakh has been spent on this programme by March 31, 2013 benefitting around 600 orphan girls for solemnizing their simple marriages.

Emergency Aid: Financial assistance to the tune of Rs 9 lakh has been provided to the victims of natural calamities during 2012-13. A total expenditure Rs 78 lakh has been made till date.

Medical Aid: Financial assistance is provided to the needy patients under which an amount of Rs 88,077 has been spent during 2012-13. A total amount of Rs 3.27 lakh has been incurred till date.

Old Boys (pass outs) of Bait-ul-Hilal (OBBH): The pass outs of Bait-ul-Hilal inmates after passing the 10th stan-dard examination are provided financial assistance to continue their studies at their own homes. Under this programme, an amount of Rs 80,000 has been spent during 2012-13. Rs 7.50 lakh has been incurred since the inception of this programme.

Iftiari/Qurbani: During the month of Ramadan, the donors provide financial assistance under ‘Iftari pro-gramme’ through JKYF. An amount of Rs 1.64 lakh has been spent under this programme during 2012-13. Simi-larly, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, the ‘Qurbani’ (sacri-ficial lamb) meat is provided to the needy families living in far-flung areas every year. During 2012-13, an amount of Rs 6.50 lakh has been spent under this programme. Rs 4.35 lakh and Rs 57 lakh respectively have been spent overall on this programme.

Vocational Training Centers (VTC): Widows, poor, and orphan girls are provided training in different trades to become self-reliant. An amount of Rs 46,580 has been spent during 2012-13 under this programme. Rs 5.53 lakh has been spent till date on this programme.

Sadaqa-e-Fitr: On Eid-ul-Fitr, an amount of Rs 1.24 lakh received as Sadqa Fitr, was distributed among the needy and poor people in due time during 2012-13. An amount of Rs 5 lakh has been spent on this programme.

Chairman J&K Yateem Foundation Mohammad rafiq Lone talks at length about the working of the organization in a chat with GK Izhar Wani internee arshad Bhat

Azra Khatoon

EXAMPLE

Marzi Banoo with her fresh vegetables