Gujjar Woman: Her Woes and Miseries

We are witnessing a century which has brought new possibilities for women. "Feminism" is the hot debate. "Feminism is a range of political movements, ideologies, and social movements that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve political, economic, personal, and social rights for women that are equal to those of men. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. Feminist movements have campaigned and continue to campaign for women's rights, including the right to vote, to hold public office, to work, to earn fair wages or equal pay, to own property, to receive education, to enter contracts, to have equal rights within marriage, and to have maternity leave. Feminists have also worked to promote bodily autonomy and integrity, and to protect women and girls from rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence." But few words cannot define Feminism as they cannot define "Feminity".

Anyhow, the purpose to put forth this Wikipedia definition is to help you understand most misinterpreted and misunderstood concept. While some of us still complain about unfair pay grade differences, which we should, there are others who never stepped in the classroom; While some of us throw tantrum that our parents do not get us, there are others who are married before they start getting anything; While we complain about the difficulties we face everyday 'being a woman' there are others who are murdered before they are born. The intention is not to tell you that your struggles are meaningless or in any way unimportant, the intention is to remind you that if you can speak your mind and when you speak your mind, speak for those who cannot do the same, yet.

Schedule tribe Status was given to Gujjars on 19th April 1991. Seats were reserved in Employment and Promotions as well in Technical and other institutions. Keeping in view the pathetic condition of Gujjar Tribe, the State level Gujjar Bakerwal Advisory Board was Constituted in 1976-77 .The main aim and objective of this board is over all and multi-dimensional development of Gujjars and to set right Social -Economical and Educational Scenario. The number of NGO’s working for Gujjar and Bakerwal sect is very less. A few NGO’s are presently active representing specific areas of the State. However a few NGO'S like Gujjar Desh Charitable trust, Tribal Research & Cultural Foundation and Gujjar Bakerwal Conference are working for the development of this down trodden community. These NGO's provides help in providing machinery for betterment and channel to tell about this tribe to the world. And the revelation is that early marriage system, illiteracy, extreme poverty and Nomadic way of life is casting dark shadows over the future of nomadic Gujjar women residing in the most backward, hilly and border areas of Jammu and Kashmir. We THE WOMEN brings you the insight of life of a Gujjar Women as told by J&K Tribal Research and Culture Foundatin. Here is a brief sketch of the present position of Gujjar women.

The woes and misery of Gujjar women of Jammu and Kashmir is surpassing the treatment meted to any other women belonging to 12 different Scheduled tribe communities of the State. It is an established fact that the Gujjar Bakerwal women are much more hardworking as compared to the tribal women belonging to Bot, Beda, Balti, Mon, Changpa, Garra, Purig, Shin Dard, Brokpa, Gaddi and Sippi Tribes of Jammu and Kashmir .Unfortunately her life is still passing through the darkness of superstition and illiteracy. Although she is quite aware of her duties and contributes her best for the betterment of the TRIBAL society of State but she is still unaware of her rights and so she continues to suffer as sacrificial goat at the hand of her family and society alike.

Since half century back, the women in the society have became enlightened and have brought revolution in their life style to the extent that they have entered the field of Space research but the unfortunate Gujjar Woman still lives a primitive life for away from the light of learning and also devoid of modern facilities.

Educational Scenario

The nomad Gujjar Women had been the victim of superstitions and despite her excessive workload she is not getting due respect and position in the Tribal Society. In Gujjar society where the men-folk are generally illiterate the chances of women education are quite dim and bleak. It can be understood by the fact that for a population of 12 lakh Gujjar Women which constitutes the 24% of total women population in the state, there is only one Government Girls Gujjar Hostel in Jammu and Kashmir situated at Jammu. Naturally, only a hundred girls are fortunate enough to board in the hostel. As for as the higher educational institutions are concerned, only a few girls have been able to get admission at University Level.

Only a few students can make it to their Graduation as regular students, from Gujjar community into University of Jammu every year. As far as the percentage of Post-Graduate Gujjar Girls is concerned, Such girls in the tribe can be counted on fingers. Most of the Gujjar girls drop out even before the high School level. Because of the early marriage system the girls belonging to Allhaiwal, Banharas, Manjhi, Ajjhari Sub Tribes of Gujjar community were not in a position to get admission even at school level and those who somehow take admission, the circumstances, including economic condition, compel them to leave their studies at different levels of education.

Social Condition

The Nomad Gujjar Women is suffering from various kinds of exploitations. They have to attend all the chores of the household from cooking to selling milk and helping their men at farming and feeding the cattle. The dull life style and hard work from morning to late night, makes her physically as well as mentally fatigued. The women and girls are supposed to tend their herds throughout day and walk long distances with their children and house hold luggage on their back as they are mostly nomads. They have to cook meals and do some washing on their temporary stops and again pack for the next destination. Ultimately they get no time even to think of their social status.

Government Schemes

Though the Central as well as the State Governments have launched a number of programs and schemes for the betterment of rural as well as urban women like Balika Sammiridhi Youjna, Swastik and Indira Mahalla Youjana etc. but the Gujjar Women are still unable to take any advantage of it. Living in faraway places in remote areas, they hardly get any information regarding such schemes. Their participation in social as well as in political institutions is almost nil. Neither any full time women welfare NGO works for them nor the state Government has started any specific welfare scheme for the Gujjar women. Unless the state as well as the NGO's start a special and extensive welfare scheme for the Gujjar women, their progress shall remain a distant dream. More than 12 Lac Gujjar women Folk are unaware of their basic rights and pace of progress in the Modern age. They are putting a question mark on the tall claims of government and other agencies working for the welfare of women and for securing social change for all the women folk in 21st century. Not that she does not feel it, one can observe her helplessness from her face and eyes -depicting her inner feelings.

Since 1947, the Gujjar women has made some slow progress in various fields, which can be categorized as Under :-

1. I.A.S and allied Services. Nill

2. K.A.S and allied Services. 2 Gujjar women

3. Distt. Officer. Nill

4. MLA/MLC. Nill

5. Head of the Departments. Nill

6. Universities Services. Nill

7. Lawyers 6 Gujjar women

8. Judicial Services one Gujjar women

9. Ph.D 3 Gujjar women

10. Journalist Nill