Srinagar, Mar 29: The “closure” of special cells for women in Jammu and Kashmir has sparked widespread condemnation with political leaders and civil society organisations urging immediate intervention to restore and institutionalise these critical support units.
The J & K government has already requested the National Commission for Women to extend its special cells by at least a year. The funding for these cells is set to stop after March 31.
Peoples’ Democratic Party Legislative Party leader, Waheed Parra expressed serious concern over the abrupt discontinuation of special cells for women, calling it a reckless decision that endangers the lives of vulnerable women.
In a statement, Parra said that the special cells, established in 2021 under the “Violence-Free Home—A Woman’s Right initiative,” were instrumental in providing support to victims of domestic and other forms of violence.
However, their funding, provided by the NCW, is set to end with the close of the financial year, leaving their future in limbo and raising concerns over the government’s commitment to women’s safety in J&K.
“Shutting down special cells for Women in J&K is a grave mistake. These cells have helped hundreds of women survive violence, and we continue to receive calls for their restoration. This reflects the apathy of the administration towards the suffering of women in our region,” he said.
Parra urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo, and National Commission for Women to immediately restore and institutionalize these cells, ensuring they remain operational and effectively address gender-based violence.
He further added that over the past four years, these cells have recorded nearly 10,000 cases of violence, offering legal, social, and psychological support to survivors.
“The shutting down of these cells raises serious questions about the government’s priorities and whether women’s issues are being deliberately sidelined,” he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Saturday wrote to the NCW, seeking immediate intervention to restore and institutionalise the Special Cells.
National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that despite the project’s impact, the NCW’s decision to withdraw funding has put thousands of women at risk, leaving them without support.
He stressed that the abrupt shutdown of these special cells is a severe setback in the fight against gender-based violence, forcing many victims to abandon their cases mid-process.
