SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s social welfare department has painted the identities of the female beneficiaries, mostly widows, on a school wall in Srinagar. It has angered people who poured it out on social media.
Social Welfare Department has painted the names of female beneficiaries with complete address on walls. This photograph taken on May 5, 2022 is from Nowgam in Srinagar.
.@socialwelfarejk has painted the names of widows who are the beneficiaries of “widow fund” on a public wall in Nowgam, Srinagar. How ethical is this?
A Twitter user uploaded two photographs of a wall that carried the names of the widows in bold letters. These widows, mostly aged, are receiving monthly support from the department. The photographs were from City School Lane, Nowgam. “How ethical is this?” he asked.
His tweet triggered a quick response with people sharing details about how this is a Kashmir wide phenomenon.
“It is everywhere,” one Twitterati responded. “..painted across every village in Kashmir,” another stated. Another person saw the same thing at many places in Anantnag. Another said a similar painting exists in Awantipora.
“This has been done in every village. Even in our village, the names of physically abled people too have been painted on the wall. I don’t understand the logic behind it and the purpose it serves,” another person replied.
This is being seen as a humiliation and comprising the dignity of the aged women.
Officials in the department said they are investigating the issue.
