KL Desk
Srinagar
While speaking on the seminar tiltled “Gender Justice and Responsive Governance” in New Delhi organised by India region of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), a newly elected women MLC of J&K Dr Shahnaz Ganai talked about “plight of conflict affected women of Kashmir”.
“Kashmiri Women have lived their life under special circumstances all these years and they have passed through an ordeal during the period,” Dr Shahnaz told Kashmir Life over the phone. “I informed the gathering about the plight of destitutes and other conflict affected female folks of the Valley. There were many in the gathering who understood various issues concerning Kashmiri women today.”
Dr Ganai highlighted the role of former CM of J&K Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and his efforts on the issue in the Naya Kashmir Document. “It was an attempt, first of its kind at that point of time in the whole subcontinent, where the focus was laid on then empowerment of the women,” she informed the high profile gathering.
Shahnaz Ganai, a National Conference candidate defeated her nearest rival Ved Prakash Gupta of PDP by a margin of 6917 votes in last year’s Council elections. Out of the total 14812 votes polled for the constituency, Dr Ganai secured 9070 votes against Gupta, who claimed 2153 votes.
She said that she requested Lok Sabha Speaker Meera Kumar to hold the next conference in the J&K state so that the Parliamentarians can get to know the pain and stress the women in the trouble torn state are facing due to ongoing conflict.
“Jammu and Kashmir state has suffered a lot and highlighted the issues of thousands of widows and half widows, who have lost their husbands to militants, surrendered militants and security forces during past 24 yrs of militancy,” she said.
