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Plight of Kashmiri women who lost their husbands to militancy Doda (J-K), June 23: Two Kashmiri women who lost their husbands to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir narrate their plight. They are what a foreign journalist on her first visit to India termed as the "invisible community". One look at the demure, tear-eyed Perveza Begum and it's not hard to guess why. The 28-year-old's life was shattered when she found her husband's bullet-ridden body near her residence on December 15 last year. Uneducated, unemployed and left with three little children to provide for, Perveza is struggling to survive. Her children still wait for the biscuits their father promised. "I have told them that he (their father) will not be back. But they say I am lying and tell me he will be back and get them biscuits and clothes. "When they see other children with their parents then they ask when is he going to come back and when will we get to speak to him?," Perveza said. In the last 14 years, the continuing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir has left over 18,000 widows and 40,000 orphans in the state. Most are in no better position than Perveza. Though the state government pays some money to widows if they can prove that the men were killed in cross-fire and were not militants, establishing correct identities is near impossible. Making matters worse are the orthodox social norms. Despite their desperate need for income these women are generally discouraged from working. Even remarrying is complicated. But few like Safeera Begum, Pervaz's elder sister, also a widow, have decided to change things. A victim of militancy herself, Safeera refused a marriage offer and instead chose to provide for her sister and her children. A patriarch figure, she now works at a local school. "I have decided now that till the time I am alive I will take care of my children and her's and never leave them. I will show my children the right way. And let's see what God has planned for us. It's all upto Him now," Safeera Begum said. In 2000, the central government prohibited the use of the word widow in official records, after a national rights group argued the word was derogatory. Renamed, they are now referred to as "wife of deceased". Ironically though the government has been more than prompt ensuring that the nomenclature used for them is correct, little has been done to give them what they want most: employment and self- respect. Dependent on grants and help from relatives, most continue to live in extreme penury and fear. New life begins for 1053 poor couples married off by 'Amma' (Go To Top) Chennai, June 18: A new life began for 1,053 poor couples who were married off at state expenses in Chennai on Wednesday. The marriages were conducted at the initiative of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalitha, popularly known as Amma. The mass wedding was conducted at a huge marriage hall erected at a cost of 2.5 million rupees at Thriverakaadu, 25 km from Chennai. This is the second time that such a large scale mass wedding is conducted by Jayalalita after resuming office. In July 2002, mass wedding for 1008 couples was also conducted at the same venue. The couples were selected after they responded to an announcement of free wedding made by the department of Hindu endowment and culture. Jayalalitha blessed the sacred threads before they were handed over to bridegrooms who tied it around bride's neck at the appointed hour. For the couples, the marriage was a new life. "This is happening at such a large scale and so I am very happy," said Rajesh, a groom. In her previous stint as chief minister, Jayalalitha solemnised 2,500 marriages in 1995 and 5,004 weddings in 1996. She also donated gifts including clothes, beds and vessels to each couple. ANI |
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