My Journey

I am Raihana Maqbool and i belong to one of the most militarised zones of world Indian Administered Kashmir. I belong to a Tangmarg, a place which is thirty nine kilometres from the capital Srinagar. The community in Kashmir is facing the worst of times since the last many years. Kashmir is one of the world's most militarised zones as well as the largest place occupied by security zones. The community in Kashmir is facing a lot of problems due to the militarisation and the conflict. 1155 people have received eye injuries due to pellets fired by security forces since July 8 when pro-freedom protests erupted all over Kashmir. any people have been killed and thousands injured. Apart from the conflict many other social problems are increasing in the valley which include Eve-teasing, sexual harassment molestation and domestic violence. Many women have been burnt by their in-laws for want of dowry. Some women have died due to the burning. Beating of the women by the husband and in-laws is also prevalent. The college going girls travelling by the public transport face molestation in the crowded vehicles. Women in my community have been subjected to systematic injustice in the society even though many initiatives were started to free them from the clutches of the patriarchal society but no desirable changes can be seen. Women lack of basic health facilities in Kashmir. The women living in far off places do not get the adequate gynaecological health care. A large number of women suffer from depression due to the ongoing conflict. Their sons or husbands have been killed or disappeared which has given rise to depression and mental health problems in my community. I am a journalist and work with Global Press Journal and through my reporting i have tried to highlight the problems that my community is facing. But a lot more needs to be done. I am now trying to reach the far off places in Kashmir where many problems about the women have not been reported so far. I want to focus on the problems faced by the women who live near the border areas of Kashmir. Through my reporting i would like to give a voice to such people at an international level. This is my fourth year since i joined journalism and in these four years i have reported about the issues and problems that women in my community face for some local and national newspapers. I have talked to many women on ground level and the problems they face are numerous. i want to bring a change in my society by reporting about such issues.