DURING the past more than twenty years the life in the Himalayan state has been plagued by tragedies. More than a hundred thousand of people lie buried in graves while many bodies could not get even a decent burial. Thousands more have been maimed for life and others who survived the injuries continue to live with one or the other after effects impairing their physical activities. The violence also consumed property worth billions of rupees during the more than two decades period. While a large number of the victims have somehow managed to wriggle out of the difficult situation there are hundreds, nay thousands of families who continue to live on the edge and are faced with a very pathetic situation. The sad plight of the tragedy stricken Sheikh Family of Nowhatta and that of Dars of Lawaypora, Narabal are classic examples of the victims’ suffering in silence. Set aside who did to them and how, the society too has not been any kind to them. A visit to the Nowhatta family would melt and even bring tears even to heartless. They are the victims and they need be treated like victims. After all we owe a responsibility to each other. We must not be callous to those who suffer. Similar is the plight of the Narbal family the shell-shocked members of which are holding their bodies and souls together with whatever little support that comes from their neighbours. Unfortunately our divided leadership is impervious to the sufferings of the people at large. With their unwise and un-thoughtful actions they are only adding to the woes of the people in general and the victims in particular. They refuse to learn a lesson from their own follies, faults and continue to play politics with the sentiments of people. They must have concentrated on building institutions through which such hapless people would have been taken care of. Instead the institutions they had floated with fanfare for reaching out with aid and help to the victims of the violence have since disappeared from the scene. There is no organised effort at alleviating the sufferings of the poor victims. The State Rehabilitation Council which was established with the avowed objective of rehabilitating the victims of violence has adopted a mechanism for identifying the victims which is cumbersome and impracticable for the victims of state repression. The procedure set by the Council for the victims to claim relief are too complicated to follow. Under the circumstances there is very little scope for such victims to get the much needed help and support to sustain themselves. The society as a whole is turning a blind eye to the sad plight of the unfortunate victims. Regardless of our claims of being faithful we are individually and collectively guilty of negligence towards the poor victims of violence. Each one of us including the leaders, belonging to the mainstream and pro-freedom camps, social groups, religious leaders and everybody who counts – all must do some soul-searching so that the neglected victims of the violence are duly taken care of.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST