the varmul post march 13

13 - 19 March 2015 P/2

By Zahid fayaz

Much is being written these days wherein it is argued that Islam puts women in chains and doesn’t give her any rights, whatsoever. With certain acts done by some organisations, these self proclaimed proponents of liberty and feminism get all the more space to spread venom against Islam.

In this piece I would try to put forth the view point of Quran,the divine con-stitution of Muslims regarding the rights of women.

All are equal and no discrimination: Islam considers both men and women as equal. But being Deen e f itrah (Natural Deen), Quran recognizes the inherent dif ferences existing between the two sexes and accordingly divides duties and rights amongst them. Barring this, there is no dif ference between them.

“ And for women have rights over men, similar to those of men over wom-en.”(2:228)

Economic Rights:

Islam grants equal status to both sexes. Man is duty bound to earn and maintain their families, while as woman has freedom to earn if she wishes, oth-erwise her husband is duty bound to look after her.

“To men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn.”(4:32).

Islam was the f irst religion to pro-vide inheritance rights to women. At a time when the so called “godfather” of

liberty (West) was treating women as no less than slaves, it was Islam which considered them as no less than prin-cesses.

“From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large-a deter-minate share.”(4:7).

“It is only in last 20 years that Chris-tian England has recognized the right of women to property, while Islam has allowed this right from all times. It is a slander to say that Islam preaches that women have no souls”.(The life and teachings of Mohammad).

Right to choose soul mate:

Islam believes in giving freedom to women to choose her soul mate. If a bridegroom is chosen for women against her wish, she can decline the said of fer. And no power on earth can force her into that relationship. “Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower ye have given them.”(4:19).

Rights of widows:

Unlike other religions, Islam doesn’t consider widows as soulless creatures, who are condemned for all the bad things. Instead Islam gives full rights to widows as well. They have been giv-en the right to remarry so as to bring some colour back to their lives. Similar-ly widows have been given right to ask for their maintenance as well.

“If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days. When they have fulf illed their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner. And God is well acquainted with what ye do.”(2:234).

“Those of you who die and leave wid-ows should bequeath for their widows a year’s maintenance and residence, but if they leave (the residence), there is no blame on you for what they do with themselves, provided it is reason-able.”(2:240).

Women and education:

Islam has always emphasized on ob-taining education and while doing so, no discrimination is made between men and women. When Quran pronounces, Iqra (read), It doesn’t discriminate be-tween men and women. This order is for both men and women. Similarly when seeking knowledge is made Fard by Islam, it ’s made Fard for both men and women.

Just a cursory glance on the verses from Quran quoted above makes it ab-solutely clear that Islam believes in jus-tice. And hence doesn’t discriminate be-tween men and women on the basis of sex. Yes being Deen e Fitrah, Islam keeps in consideration the limitation of both the sexes and accordingly gives rights to both of them, which helps in the proper development of all.

(Much help has been taken from the book “The essence of the divine verses” by Dr Javed Jamil while preparing this piece).

Email id: [email protected].

Rights of women in Quran.

P/3Interview 13 - 19 March 2015

At 19, Jaasindah Mir from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district

has the distinction of being the youngest female novelist of the Val-

ley. The Varmul Post brings you the excerpts of the e-mailed

conversation.

1.Tell us something about yourself?

I’m a twenty one year old who has grown up in Baramulla and lives in Srinagar with her family. I am pursuing my graduation in English Literature and Psychology. It’s not diff icult to guess that I’m a huge lover of books. My f irst book, The Escaped Moments- a young adult f iction- hit the stands in January last year. I own a personal blog, a book blog and often review books.

2.Where from the idea of writing a novel came?

I’d been at a weeklong residential creative writing workshop in 2009 which was organized by INTACH- J&K. At the end of the work-shop we were given a project- we had to write something that ex-ploited as many of the skills that we had grabbed in the workshop as we could and had to submit it by the end of the month. While every-body planned on poems and short stories, I thought to have a novel written as the project.

3.What were the impediments you faced while

writing this book. Did you face any challenges,

due to your gender so far?

Managing my academics hand in hand with writing the book was the biggest challenge as I was just a ninth grader when I wrote the f irst draft. I was posed with the same challenge while writing the consecutive drafts as well.

About the gender, yes, you always have challenges to face when you live in a patriarchal society as ours. I am no different than the rest of the females out there.

4.How was the family support in becoming an

author?

My family has been very supportive all through the process right from day one. I can’t thank my mother enough for all that she’s done for me all along.

5. As a Kashmiri girl, were there any problems

in getting your book published?

If we specif ically talk about being Kashmiri, no. I didn’t face any

problems because I was a Kashmiri girl. If you have worked hard, it would pay you, no matter who you are or where from you belong. At least, that worked in my case.

6. What are your future plans?

I plan to have my next book in market by the end of this year. It is called “The Kohl Girl” and is a book of the young adult romance genre. I’m done with the f irst draft and am working on the second one.

7. What according to you is women

empowerment?

Because our society is very patriarchal, the women are always kept in ‘check.’ It’s a taboo for many if they try to do have their way in a way that’s different than what has traditionally been accepted. They still can’t try the unconventional. For me women empowerment would be to let women have their way without having any stigma or labels attached to them. They need equal growth as men do. That needs to be understood and women need to be given freedom to do that. That’s equality, that’s empowerment.

8. What is your message to the young girls of

Kashmir who want to be successful in different

fields?

I would say that they should be passionate about what they want to do and what they want to be. Treading the unconventional needs courage, and if they have courage, there’s no stopping for them. Strive, f ight and you will have what you want. Sooner or later, hard work and courage do pay off.

“Have Courage and There is No Stopping”

P/413 - 19 March 2015

Women - Making a Difference

By Adnan Dar / Mir Mushtaq

EducatingFutureFive kilometers away from the main town Baramulla, Nusrat Bashir, a 27 year old girl, started utilizing all her energies on eight students of her school for complete two years, facing all the hindrances’ single handedly. She wanted to contribute her bit towards the betterment of society, for the kids of her village Chakloo, Baramulla. Her dedication and social activism is her strength. New Soft Educational Trust, started way back in 2009, Nusrat shifted her school from one rented building to another, with a lim-ited number of students facing all the odds, but she never looked back. Studying for her post graduation degree during the nights and teaching the students during day time is not that easy to think, but Nusrat did all this by securing good marks in her Post Graduation besides an increase in student roll. She did her PG through Moulana Azad National Urdu University. Besides that she also passed the examination of PG Informa-tion Technology. She passed all her degrees through distance mode right from B.A Sec-ond year up to PG Information Technology.Earlier a private school teacher, Nusrat had meager sources of income to support a fam-ily of two younger sisters, mother and the youngest brother. But where from she got the idea of running a school? Nusrat believes that Allah gave her the opportunity to work effortlessly for people of her village, for the society, after her father’s death who too was a noble man. “There was no one to guide me but Allah. Being a girl in such a society is a tough job, but with ample support from my family, I took this initiative and I myself am of this opinion that there is no better job than teach-ing the kids and when you have a yearning to help, to do something for the society, then this job is greatest of all,’’ said Nusrat.In such a society, where working women are not welcome, she faced all the odds not to look back but to excel. She said that people around tried to demoralize her, defame her by using various cunning tactics, her school and even blamed her for running the school under Christian missionary organizations. But she never paid a lending ear to their blames and kept her busy with teaching the children of the same society. “ Alhamdulillah same people want their wards to get admission in my school, after my suc-cess and dedication through which I teach my students. I now get applauses from the parents, who watch their wards to excel both in curricular and co-curricular activities,” added Nusrat.Nusrat Bashir is of the opinion that being with students, dealing with society, taught her what social service actually means. Now,

the girl who started the school in a rented building with eight students on roll, have acquired a school building with the number of students rising up to 140 in a short span of time. That speaks a lot about her dedica-tion. Not only this, being the eldest, the girl who was supposed to take care of her fam-ily is now providing employment to a few female colleagues also. Significantly, Nusrat who was blamed and defamed by the patriarchal society now wants other girls to excel in their fields, work hard, not to waste time and to stay away from immorality, which has engulfed our society badly. Her message to every girl is to work for the betterment of society.

Women’s PrideA few steps away from the Mother and Child Care Hospital Sopore, there lies a small shop in a lane, “Women’s Pride”- a ladies only shop, where men hardly visit. Yes, it is actu-ally pride of women folk of this town and the adjoining areas. A society where women doing business is somehow a curse, Rohi Ayub, is doing wonders. A resident of this town, Rohi has social activism in her genes.“Despite being a woman, she shares wonder-ful ideas with me regarding uplifting the conditions of women folk and other social services through which we can help women,” says Mohammad Ayoub, husband of Rohi Ayoub, who runs a medical shop.Both the husband and wife duo are that much dedicated towards this cause that besides the first of its kind ‘ladies only shop’ which caters to services related to women, they want to start a ladies only restaurant in near future. Rohi Ayoub, a 12th standard pass out has employed few salesgirls too, who work ef-fortlessly at this ladies only shop. But where from this idea of opening a ‘ladies only shop’ came to her mind? Mohammad Ayoub narrated a woeful story. There are no such shops where women can go, sit and shop freely according to their wishes. Alhamdullilah, we have a society, where our women folk feel shy asking for undergarments to a salesman, which is the higher essence of morality. One day, a sales-man hurled few unwelcome gestures towards a passing girl and joined other shopkeeper in cruel laughs. She blushed and ran away. This sent shivers down my spine as I couldn’t resist this. I felt sad about this episode as it could have been my sister, daughter or moth-er. That day, I discussed this thing with my wife and we started this project. But now the girls have no problem is asking for items which they want as Rohi Ayub has provided them a ladies only shop.“Last time she advised me to visit the local Municipal Council Officer, to construct a lavatory for women folk. She feels the pain and even wants to contribute in construction of that lavatory,” said Mohammad Ayoub. I feel glad when I see girls who are like my

daughters, entering ‘Women’s Pride’. Here they can shop freely, ask for whatever they want, as here is no interference of men. Rohi Ayoub is happy, as she is offering a service to society besides being a role model to all those ladies who spend their days in hope-lessness and blame the society for their mis-eries.Not only in business, education and other jobs, the women folk of this apple town So-pore fought side by side during the initial years of resistance movement, facing wrath at the hands of forces simultaneously. Sopore where the courage of women has no bound. Despite all odds, this town of North Kashmir has produced women of valor. These wom-en earn, live, care and fight the odds simul-taneously. Rohi Ayoub is one such example. Women’s Pride is such an initiative.

Single ParentIt was summer 2007 when people at Doabgah Sopore, were busy with their work in fields. Like others, Mehbooba’s mother Khatijah with her husband were working in their fields. Mehbooba’s daily work was to take food for their parents to the fields. She has to look after her parents. Mehbooba was the only daughter of her parents. Like other parents their dream too was to see her settled in good family, for which they were working hard day and night.Mehbooba wearing her bridal dress was very happy. Dreams in her eyes and new life wait-ing for her, she got married to Manzoor Ahmad. Their relationship was very loving. Manzoor used to run a shop in the locality. A year after their marriage, Allah blessed them with a baby girl. That was most hap-piest moment for them. But two months after her daughter’s birth this happiness vanished in thin air, when Manzoor came to know that he is suffering from a deadly dis-ease Cancer. This was shocking for her wife as well as for the whole family.Her in-laws blamed Mehbooba and her daugh-ter Qurat for Manzoor’s disease. But she didn’t care about what people said? She kept upright with her husband until his last breathe. And Manzoor breathed his last at Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi. Few months after Man-zoor’s death, Mehbooba started running aprovisional store for supporting her family, for her only daughter. Fingers were raised on her. “My in-laws disinherited me and my daugh-ter Qurat from their property. So I started running this provisional store. I have to manage my family and have to run this shop” said Mehbooba. “But the respect in the village is lost because I am a widow and a single mother,” she add-ed. For young widow like Mehbooba the journey has been very painful. How is it possible to be single? Where from she gets all these things? Mehbooba has heard people raising questions on her character. But she has a will to face all this and move forward.

cOveRstory

P/513 - 19 March 2015

Samiya Latief: With over five years experience in reporting on issues like Human Rights, Women Empowerment and Kashmir conflict, Samiya Latief’s pen-chant is to share the many untold stories that the mainstream media often snubs.

Studied from IIMC, Delhi, Samiya is currently working with DNA and is based in the city of Mumbai.

Her views: Women Empower-ment to me is when you feel happy about yourself, about your existence. Being a woman sometimes of course hinders your progress but that is where the challenge lies. That is the exciting part of being a woman, to overcome the hin-drances in your way. We are pretty empowered in many ways, and lag behind in many other important aspects. Every society has its own restrictions and guidelines particularly for women. Our society is un-doubtedly a male-dominated society, but over the past few years I have seen a change in the mind-set of the people over-all, in their attitude towards women but it cannot change until and unless we, the women of Kashmir want to change.

My message for girls of Kashmir: Love yourself the way you are. Try to be the change you want to see in your society. And yes, try try until you succeed.

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Sumaya Yousuf: A two time national baseball champion and winner of the Laadli Media Awards 2014, Sumaya Yousuf is currently working at daily newspaper Rising Kashmir. A post graduate student in Mass Com-munication and Journalism from Uni-versity of Kashmir’s Media Education Research Centre (MERC) was the lone reporter from entire north India who received the award at Raipur, the cap-ital of Chhattisgrah.The award was given to me for the ‘Gender Sensitiv-

ity’ category for highlighting stories on ‘Crime against women in Kashmir’.

Her Views: Women empowerment for me is not just what I understand from the word but for me it is to give women the space and dignity they deserve in public, family, politically and socially. They should not be entitled to reservations because I feel reservations are meant for minor community so if we stop discrimination here and put an equilibrium to status of women and their counterparts then only there will be a change in society. I don’t feel there is a need of reserva-tions for women because if a man can get 80 out of 100 quota then women have equal rights to get the same.. Woman empowerment doesn’t only mean to support women to move forward but it also is to end the societal constrains against women, to put an end to the stereotypical images of women. Besides educational support, there is a dire need to rethink over the status of women in present society.

I certainly do face some problems but then indeed I scathe through by the will I have inside me that being a woman does not mean I am weak. This is what every woman should feel that no doubt Allah had made us sophisticated but that does not mean he has made us weak. Believe it or not her presence in public sphere only makes the value of work or production more with a human approach.

In Kashmir women have always been targeted and victimized, as I already said stereotypical images of Kashmiri women is a famous thing (I should use the word ‘scar’ instead) I have come across during the 24 years of my life, let me give you an example that in Kashmir the dress-ing of girls was attributed to the cause of f loods in Kashmir, I still wonder how ? I think this much is suff icient to explain the status of women in Kashmir.

Women in Kashmir have gone through much worse phase during conf lict. Women has been the silent sufferer as their pain is least ac-knowledged.

Like other contemporary societies of third world, Kashmiri women too suffer disparity in patriarchal society. Nevertheless, I think Kash-mir’s girls have a lot potential. But the violence pushed the society into a f luid state. There is a lot of pulls and pressures for girls in everyday lives from the society. We need to raise both boys and girls in such a

way that there is no room for chauvinism. However, these everyday road eve-teasing, chauvinistic approach should not bog down their spirit. We need to educate ourselves and at the same time not forget to take care of who we are as a character as they rightly say that “the real ornament of a woman is her character”

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Samreen Mushtaq: Currently pursuing Ph. D on “Wom-en, Conf lict and Nationalisms in Kashmir” from the Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

Her views:Women are marginalized, no doubt. But a lot of troubles are also added because of the kind of system we are under. I personally believe we would have perfect life if we were guided by our faith and living in a system guided by the same faith. A military oc-cupation would certainly only add to the issues of people, especially women who face sexual violence which is one of the worst of its mani-festations.

Empowerment to me would make sense when it’s meaning comes from women themselves, rather than empowerment being a top down process to make you “capable” enough. As a woman, empowerment for me would never be complete under Indian military occupation. How does empowerment make sense when your basic rights are not ensured? So to me any policies at present do not make sense unless we are free of illegal occupation. Empowerment for me would mean to not have to look at the faces of military men every day I leave my home. Empower-ment would be when I get freedom to practice my religion (including the hijab and not being labeled backward). Empowerment would be Azaadi.

Being a woman has never hindered my progress. I have chosen my career. I study in Delhi. My family has never put my dreams on hold because they favoured the male child. And I feel that’s the story with many Kashmiri families. While we call Kashmir patriarchy and keep demonizing it for that, we do not look at the informal means of control where women usually have the upper hand. Yes, women face issues. And we, as a society, must come together to f ight the crimes. Women’s issues aren’t just women’s. For a society as oppressed as we are, who can understand rights and freedoms better?

My message for Kashmir girls: Stay f irm in the face of oppression and occupation, have the courage to stand up to injustice and dreams will be accomplished.

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Farhana Latief: Currently the Program Of-f icer in Access to Justice Pro-gram of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has a masters in Law in Access to Justice from TISS, Mumbai. Farhana hails from apple town Sopore and has worked as Le-gal Researcher with Associa-tion of Parents of Disappeared Persons in Kashmir.

Her Views: Being a woman would never hinder my progress, but the way woman is perceived in our society, it does affect the prog-ress of any girl. The manner in which her ability is doubted and her security is a matter of concern, it does inf luence the progress in a negative way. For me women empowerment means the ability to think for themselves, to stand for oneself whenever required and courage to be wrong at times and accept it when realized, and not be scared of being the one you are.

Women in Kashmir, like any other place, are courageous and strong spirited. However, this courage lacks being nurtured and the encour-agement. While some women are making great breakthroughs, major-ity continues to be under the customary and conformist inf luence which needs to be overcome. Our women are progressing and making headway while f ighting layered odds and hurdles at each stage. But we have to move much more ahead.

Her message: Pursue what you want to do. Do not be afraid of taking risks. Experiment with your abilities and explore the options. Success is very relative

WOMEN SPEAK

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P/613 - 19 March 2015

By Farhana Latief

Gender equality and gender discrimination are the two sides of same coin. When discrimination happens on basis of gender it hits the very notion of gender equality. In layman’s understanding, gender equality stands for mutual respect and value between different gender(s). Though gender equality continues to be an issue contested for variety of interpretations, worldwide, this subject has come up for discussions in Kashmir as well, at various points of time as a reaction over a range of incidents that have taken place in Kashmir. How-ever, the debate did not sustain itself in Kashmir. Reasons are diverse, but the fact that who is dis-cussing it and where it is being discussed are the primary ones. Are the women whose person and body are being violated a party to the whole debate and is she able to express herself at the spaces which are so called public spaces remain the ques-tions for introspection.

Public spaces ordinarily belong to public in general which include all genders proportionally. However, public spaces in Kashmir are not so pub-lic, in the sense that it remains dominated by one gender outnumbering the other(s). Be it educa-tional institutions, professional spaces, markets or wherever. Most of these spaces have been the men’s space for long period of time, whilst women would not participate actively in many of the ac-tivities, that they are a part of now. With the change in times and realities of life, women having start-ed to come out of homes now is not going well with the established traditions of long time. Their pres-

ence in public spheres bothers many and many more, who consider public places exclusively for men and refuse to share these spaces with women through their abusive and offensive conduct and behavior towards women. And so, when women are sharing any public space, they get unnecessary attention and demeaning stares from men, who make even walking of a girl on the road malevolence of an action. And this unnecessary attention and passing of unwelcome comments towards women is the act of stalking in the contemporary language.

These acts of stalking, staring and gazing have become acts of every minute for women, whether walking down a road, commuting a bus, being in a coffee shop, school or wherever. You are being gazed un-interruptedly and if you try to refuse being gazed and question it, you will attract more unwanted attention and the comments from many more on the road or at the same place.

And, the burden is always on the girl to escape this unwanted attention from anyone. She is re-quired to maintain different routes to one place of destination. She is asked to follow a set pattern of dressing to avoid getting the attention. She is asked to refrain moving out of home most of times. Ev-ery time she moves out of home, she has to have a justif iable purpose to do so. And many more such options and alternatives are made available to her to respond to the behavior of vagabonds’. Here again the onus is on girl to handle the behavior of the one who is doing the wrong. Instead of putting the blame on one who is indulging in the act, who is a man, society burdens the one who is being wronged (women) to learn living with it, which makes it so patriarchal. Is it not?

Why is it that a woman can’t take a stroll on the bund without receiving uncalled-for attention? Why is it that women can’t drive on her own with-out getting stares from everyone else driving? Why is it that a woman can’t go to a “tapri ” (road-side tea shop) and enjoy a cup of tea without getting X-rayed through and through? What makes her

the centre of attention every time she is out there in public spaces? Ask yourselves. It is the idea that public spaces are for men. And that is patriarchal.

Gender violence is reality of any society, but what matters is whether any steps are ensured to address the issue. Instead of encouraging the wom-en to stand for themselves and f ight out any dis-crimination and violence, they are taught to toler-ate it and save themselves from any unwanted attention and gossip from society. Why? Because that affects the so-called esteem of the family, could also affect the marriage prospects of the girl, if unmarried, etc. The one who indulges in the abusive behavior holds no responsibility to the woman or to society, but the sufferer does. Why? Because, she is a woman and that is what makes her vulnerable.

The criminal nature of the violent act against a woman may be dealt with the laws but that does not address the whole issue as a social concern. Violence against women in any form is a gender issue which has its roots in the social practices, traditions and the patriarchal interpretations of the religious texts. Unless the problem is accept-ed to exist, there is no redressal.

Faking the high moral grounds, our society has failed its women and allowed the harassment of women by denying the reality and by putting the blame on the one who is wronged instead of the actual culprit. From acid attacks, to the domestic violence and the discrimination at workplaces to the everyday stalking of women on road, the victims belong to one gender and the culprit to another gender. This is not to stereotype any gender but the facts speak this way and denial is no solution. And is it not the expression of dominance of one gender over the other? Is it not the practice of patriarchy?

Farhana Latief (LLM)Program Officer, Access to Justice InitiativeTata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

FATIMA(SA) Leader of the women By Sadaf zahra

Women empowerment is one of the most discussed, debated and contemporary issues of human rights. Despite activism, the word ‘empowerment’ is still shad-ed. If we go back in the history, Islam has liberated women 1400 years ago by ensuring and governing their rights. The incarnation of female empowerment in Islam when female infanticide and oppression against women was at its peak, Fatima Zahra(sa) came to this world. Despite her short life of ‘18’ years, she is one of the most exemplary women in the history, and remains an inspiration for the followers of Islam. Her powerful personality is a pattern for the women folk to follow.

Fatima Zahra(sa) is a concrete proof of Islamic liberation of women, and a strong reply to those who question the same. Firstly, she reached to such a spiritual position at a young age that some narrations mention, angels used to speak to her. Reaching this peak of spirituality and calling on womankind to move towards that peak as well make her an ideal for women.

Secondly, she reconciled her religious and personal responsibilities with her political responsibilities. In the book “The True Identity of Woman”, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei states that: “She was truly a tireless and stoic Mujahid. She was also a worshipper, she kept up prayers in the dark nights, rose up for the sake of God and showed humility to God. That young lady would worship God like old prophets.”

She despite of being a religiously upright woman attended her family, kids, husband and did her household chores with gratitude.

Thirdly, she claimed her rights without being afraid of the world of oppres-sion and arrogance. Women of today still learn from her the lesson of fearlessness and bravery. She went to the mosque after her father’s death to reclaim her in-heritance and a share in the produce of Khyber. This is recorded in almost all the significant literature related to (Islam and women).

Fourthly, she raised her children, took care of her husband and father while engaging in self-education.

Fatima Zahra(as) being a perfect example of Prophet’s (PBUH) teachings that add to our understanding of the women in light of Islam. She was educated, heroic, politically active, brave, wise and intellectually splendid. Nobody, can say that she wasn’t a successful women, she maintains her success even now, when women of this generation look up to her greatness and take inspirations from her life events. She is a proof against the stereotype that still prevails in our world that views Islam as a religion which oppresses women and deprives them of their rights; while the Prophet’s daughter safeguards and shows how free a woman is in the purview of Islam.

(Author is a Kashmir University Student and a Social Worker.)

Stalking and Gazing is Patriarchal

YOURVIEW

P/8

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13 - 19 March 2015News

Baramulla: In connection with International Women’s Day a seminar was held here under the chairmanship of Principal District & Session Judge Baramulla, Raja Shujat Ali Khan at District Court complex Baramulla. The Seminar was or-ganised by District legal Service Authority Baram-ulla. The Seminar was attended by Sr. Judges, Advocates and huge number of people including women.

During the function, various speakers throwed light on many important issues. The main focus of the lectures remained upon the issues viz. women empowerment, Women Property Rights, Rights of women Prisoners, Legal rights of wom-en, problems and issues faced by women in the present society and those being faced by the women since ages, position of Women in Islam and need for women awareness. The speakers highlighted the role of the women towards the society in the seminar. They termed the empow-erment of women essential for creation of a healthy society.

While speaking on the occasion, Principal District and Session Judge throwed light on the history of celebrating women’s day. He informed the gathering about the role of women’s Com-mission that was founded in 1992. He also gave a vivid picture of the Adolescent Commission, 2000 and the 73rd constitutional amendment and their role in the empowerment of women. He termed women awareness the need of the hour and stressed for the role of civil society in high-lighted the Rights of women in our constitution.

An interactive Session was also held at the end of the function, during which the participants present highlighted many queries and issues.

Women’s Day celebrated at Baramulla

In view of International Women’s Day and in order to highlight and show case the role of women police, many women police officers and constables were deployed at various policing jobs in different districts across the Kashmir Zone.

In North Kashmir, women police was de-puted in Baramulla town particularly around the work places, tuition centre’s and bus stands. To send out women’s empowerment message, Women Police conducted market checking , regulating traffic besides checking’s at special Nakas to keep an eye on eve teasing and im-moral activities, in Baramulla town.

“We want to send a message on Interna-tional World Women’s Day that we are for pro-tection and safeguarding rights of women; so we are conducting normal activities of police in the town,” said Station House Officer (SHO) Women Police Station Baramulla, Farooqa Khan.

In Sopore, the day was celebrated in court complex Sopore. Hundreds of women from all walks of life participated in the event. The participants were informed about the women’s rights and worldwide initiatives taken to em-power them.

WOMEN’S PRIDE

Near mother & child hospital,

Iqbal market sopore

ladies exclusive shopone stop for women related items.

Women Police Deployed for Policing

the varmul post march 13

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