Women and Conflict

New Delhi (Women's Feature Service) - "After my father's death, I learnt that he was a militant. At that time, I was too young to know who a militant was. But very soon I understood the meaning when my mother and the rest of my family began to face difficulties. Why does the army harass us? We are not militants. Can't they be stopped?" asked Manzoor Ahmad, 16.

This innocent question posed by a schoolgoing teenager from Srinagar silenced a packed audience in Delhi, which had gathered to interact with children from Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Assam and West Bengal - states affected by militancy, terrorism and communal strife. Even Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Prakash Jaiswal, who was present at this unique initiative organised by Guild of Service (GOS), a Delhi-based NGO working for children, widows and women's empowerment, and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), was taken aback.

But Manzoor wasn't about to leave without an answer. After all, this was what he and approximately 100 other children had come for. "The purpose of bringing the children here and giving them a platform to speak was that their stories be heard by a larger audience. We want them to have a normal childhood. We want to lessen their trauma and bitterness so that they can grow up to be normal citizens," said Mohini Giri, chairperson, GOS.

Although Jaiswal apologised for the trauma children like Manzoor underwent because of militancy, he said that people with vested political and social interests continue to fuel conflict. He added that the government was trying to wean back those who had lost their way and turned to militancy.

But it is not just the families of militants that have a hard time. The loved ones of those who have surrendered suffer a similar fate. When Nikhat's father decided to give up militancy, things did not really change for the better for the family. "My siblings and I faced problems in getting admission in schools. Teachers viewed us with suspicion and we were discriminated against only because our father was a former militant," said the 16-year-old.

Fortunately for Nikhat and Manzoor, they were able to find a way to pursue their education, thanks to an intervention by GOS. "Many of these children have seen their fathers being gunned down and, in the absence of proper education, they can be misled by anti-social elements. So we set up Rahat Ghar (Relief Home), a shelter home in Srinagar, to ensure that these children do not miss out on education. We believe that it is much better to ensure their healthy and safe development right away, when they are at a vulnerable age, rather than gunning them down 10 years later as terrorists," said Giri.

Almost two decades of militancy in the Valley has led to an alarming rise in the number of orphans in the region. Although there are no official statistics, a 1996 survey conducted by Yateem Foundation, an NGO in Kashmir, enumerated 15,000 orphans. Now, the number is estimated to be over 50,000.

Studies conducted by various NGOs have found that children in Kashmir suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), which arise from being witness to the killing of a family member and/or destruction of homes and property.

According to the Indian army website (www.armyinkashmir.nic.in), an ongoing independent research in PTSD by Dr Akash Yousf Khan, has found 64.28 per cent children between the age group of three and 16 years suffer from somatic complications like loss of appetite, altered sleep patterns or headache. These children have either witnessed a shocking incident, or have had it narrated to them. Further, 21.42 per cent of the 70 children that participated in the research performed badly in school, while 17.8 had lost interest in all activities. What has been disturbing is that 32.14 per cent displayed an increased outburst of anger.

Zahida, who has been the supervisor at Rahat Ghar for six years now, knows what it's like to be homeless. Her house was burnt down during crossfire between the militants and the army in Sopore, in north Kashmir, many years ago. So she understands the psychology of the children that live at Rahat. She said that the children wanted to fight back. Zahida believes that the Rahat Ghar intervention has been able to channelise their anger and frustrations positively towards education. However, a long-term plan was needed as the children were on the threshold of adulthood.

Although the Council for Rehabilitation of Widows, Orphans, Handicapped and Old Persons (Victims of Militancy) in Jammu and Kashmir was created by the Centre and state government in 1996, there has been an inordinate delay in providing relief. The Council has several schemes like providing a monthly pension to widows and old persons, giving marriage assistance in the form of Rs 10,000 per case (US$1=Rs 39.5) to young widows and grown-up daughters of old widows; and creating scholarships for students to pursue professional studies. But to be eligible, a 'non-involvement' certificate from the police, absolving the parent of any association with militants has to be produced. And getting these certificates is far from simple.

Justice has been just as elusive for the victims, especially children, of the communal riots in Gujarat, in 2002. Zuber's father was killed in the riots. But the killers have not been punished. "Who will give me justice?" asked the 15-year-old. His mother, Sabina, who is bringing up five children single-handedly, is afraid her son will turn violent. She had hoped that the monetary relief promised by the government would help to distance her son from violence. But even five years on, no compensation has been given.

Samin, 16, said he doesn't expect any relief from the government. After their house was burnt down in the Gujarat riots, cases were filed but there has been no outcome. Hearings have been postponed and they have been shunted from one courtroom to another.

Pranjal, 16, from Assam said that people were afraid to send their children to school because of the prevailing atmosphere of fear in his state. Jayanto, 14, whose brother was brutally murdered, wanted to know who would ensure that the killers would be brought before the law.

Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, Chairperson, Institute for Gender Justice, and one of the national coordinators for the initiative, said that a special package was needed for the children, as they cannot file Public Interest Litigations (PILs). She said that the children had indicated their helplessness in understanding the legal complexities during their meeting with Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, and 22 Supreme Court judges last month and the judges have promised to look into the matter.

Giri believes that the government should prepare a special scheme to integrate these children into the mainstream. "I met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to request that conflict-affected children be granted admission and provided free education in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Sainik Schools. These schools should reserve three per cent seats for these children because they too have a right to education," she asserted.

Several other suggestions for relief and rehabilitation have been put forth. These include the setting up of a national security scheme and a national surveillance team to counter the recruitment of children by militants a special welfare package per child per family to allow them to exercise their rights and to create a legal framework to ensure their protection.

While the GOS initiative presented a rare opportunity for the children to voice their grievances to the people in power, who expressed their commitment to upholding their rights, only time will tell whether the promises made were merely words.