Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday said that women and children have been the hardest hit by policy paralysis of the incumbent administration which has reversed decades of progress made by successive NC-led governments on gender equity.
Addressing a one-day convention of party’s women functionaries here at Dak Banglow Kokernag, Party’s State Women’s Wing President Shameema Firdous highlighted the historic role National Conference played in socio-economic emancipation of J&K’s womenfolk. “Our vision of a just and equitable society enshrined in Naya Kashmir document has all along been our guiding force. Our policies have all along been in sync with the progressive outlook of our party and the foresight of our leadership. It was our party that sought to change the roles of women and girls from bonded mortal beings to empowered, confident, educated and self-reliant individuals. The network of women’s colleges and vocational institutes across Jammu and Kashmir are the landmarks of NC’s commitment towards empowering women and d girls,” she said.
Expressing concern over the poor response of the incumbent administration to post Covid-19 revival plan, she said the incumbent government has turned its face away from the intersectional impacts of the successive clampdown, Covid induced lockdowns on the women in poverty, vulnerability, and reproductive age.
She added that the pandemic and political instability has disproportionately pushed the women and girls of Jammu and Kashmir out of employment, excluded them from health care, ensnared them with gender-based violence and disempowered them from social and financial security, reversing the decades of progress made on these fronts by the various NC led governments from time to time. “The Incumbent administration has failed to give women a breather on other fronts. Nobody is talking about the basic issues which our mothers and sisters are confronting due to skyrocketing prices of edible oil, petroleum, and other household merchandise,” she said.
Er. Sabiya Qadri said that the great participation of women in the decision-making process will attune government policies to their needs. She said that under the capable leadership of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah through State-led Feminism under the revolutionary manifesto of Naya Kashmir saw women of Kashmir benefit from a number of economic and educational opportunities in the decades that followed independence. She said nowhere in world had the state itself become a purveyor of feminism as happened in Jammu and Kashmir. She added that the struggle of Madre Maharban bore anticipated results in improving women’s knowledge, self-confidence, voice and political and social standing.
On the occasion, party’s Vice President District Anantnag Reyaz Ahmed Khan, Women’s Wing Provincial Secretary Aisha Jameel, DDC Members Sameena Hussain, and Munera Jehangir also addressed the party functionaries.
