Srinagar, Mar 7: Even as world observed International Women's Day (IWD), violence and discrimination against women remained a major concern at a function held in the City Monday. In an initiative for women empowerment, the Space Communications organized the conference Koor Chih Noor: Challenges and Opportunities at SKICC.
 On the occasion people from different walks of life highlighted the “pathetic state of women in the society and the steps that should be taken to get rid of their problems”.
 Most of the girls present in the jam-packed auditorium spoke about the violence and discrimination Kashmiri women, they said, are subjected to.
 A student of Government Women College, Baramulla, Mehreen Mushtaq said: “A large majority of poor women are still prisoners of social system and they are both economically deprived and socially discriminated.”
 “Today, even as women are financially independent, they are not socially independent. There are laws, but implementation needs to be focused on. Men need to understand that women are companions, not competitors,” she said. Speaking on the health issues of women, the Director SKIMS, Soura, Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar said diabetes was prevalent in Kashmir and awareness was “dismal.”
 He said the pregnant women were not well attended leading to different ailments. “These women need to be empowered with social recognition,” he added.
  “Majority of Kashmiri women are Vitamin D deficient, which affects their bone as well as overall growth.”
 The former president of the Federation Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Syed Shakeel Qalandar spoke about the means to empower women entrepreneurship in Kashmir.
  “Women can play a great role in development of agriculture entrepreneurship by working in clusters in their respective areas of Kashmir,” he said.
 He also divulged information about different centrally sponsored schemes for women belong to religious minorities.
 The director Svayam, an Initiative For Empowerment Of Disabled, Abha Negi said: “Through self-encouragement Kashmiri women could lead themselves towards prosperity.”
 The New Delhi based news channel, NDTV anchor Nidhi Razdan came under severe criticism from the girls sitting in the audience. They posed her questions about the “national media’s role in downplaying of Shopian double rape and murder case.”
 Soon after Razdan completed her speech about the resilience of Kashmiri women and their success in journalism, she faced was subjected to many questions from audience of more than 300 girls. A girl while referring to the Shopian double rape and murder case asked Nidhi how could Kashmiri parents feel secure about their daughters amid such insecure situation.
 “National media deliberately downplayed the Shopian double rape and murder case for their own interests,” the girl asked. To this Nidhi responded that she was not a political leader. The question answer session was finally cut short.
 The program host Dr Amit Wanchoo while talking to Greater Kashmir said more such programs would be organized in future.
 “Koor Chih Noor, I mean girls are blessings… This want we want the people should understand so that the female folk is truly empowered,” Dr Wanchoo said.
 District Development Commissioner, Meraj Ahmed Kakroo and poet Zarief Ahmad Zareif  also spoke on the occasion.
 Meanwhile, some of the personalities working for empowerment of Kashmiri women were awarded on the occasion. They include  famed singer Raj Begum, Registrar Judicial, High Court, Kanees Fatimah, GMC Principal, Prof Shahida Mir, DSP Traffic Nuzhat Aman, former president FCIK, Syed Shakeel Qalander, KU Media Guru, Nasir Mirza, Wafa Wakil aka RJ Haya, poet Zarief Ahmed Zarief and Manager Indigo Airlines, Aasiya Bashir.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST