Kashmir

International women’s equality day celebrated in Lunahare, Kupwara

Peerzada Zubair

KUPWARA — Women’s Equality Day, celebrated every August 26, to commemorate the passage of women’s suffrage in the U.S. and reminds us of the hurdles overcome by the heroic women who faced violence and discrimination to propel the women’s movement forward.

Indian Army conducted an event based on the theme “Gender equality today for sustainable tomorrow” on the occasion to promote the agenda of women equality and women empowerment in the area of Panzgam, Kupwara.

Bisma rasool who is an Influencer and Law student from Handwara was invited to conduct an interactive session on Rights of Women in the society. She cleared all the misconceptions that exist among the minds of young girls with respect to their rights and are subjected to domestic violence and child abuse. She gave them guidance on and the ways to file the complaints.

The event organised in Girls Higher Secondary School Lunahare witnessed a huge gathering of 540 young girls and women from the surrounding villages of Panzgam.
It was heartening to see the participation by the girls who overcame their fears of stage fright to put up a display of group song, a skit to bring out the need for women to fight for equal rights within their homes.

The young women actively participated in the Quiz competition organised on the occasion that tested their knowledge and gave them a platform to exhibit it in front of a large gathering.

The emerging star in sports from Kashmir Ms Tajamul Islam (International Kickboxing Gold Medallist) delivered motivational talk to inspire the women folk to take up sports as a way of life. She candidly brought out how she faced the similar challenges in her house and the society, where everyone dissuaded her to take up her passion for sports and how her parents supported her during her journey towards achieving the success she always dreamt of.

The event culminated with prize distribution to participants and pledge by the locals to empower women and ensure gender equality.

The Indian Army in Panzgam has been actively involved to give impetus to women to come forward and share the same platform with men by creating and operating skill development centres where women are trained to become frontline health workers and developing skills in cutting and tailoring so that they can earn their own living from such talent. More than 270 girls and women have been trained in these skill centres in last one year.