Rebuilding the Civil Society in Kashmir: Role of the NGOs

10 Dec, 2001    ·   655

Karan Sawhny and Nidhi Narain highlight the significant role NGOs can play in post-conflict reconstruction towards sustainable growth and stability
The compelling force behind the conflict in Kashmir comes from the incompatible ideologies driving Indian and Pakistani nationalism and their incompatibility with the separatist aspirations of some people in Jammu and Kashmir . After nearly twelve years of deadly conflict, most protagonists in the conflict wish an end to the violence, as also the people of Jammu and Kashmir . 

 

 

Post-conflict situations call for physical reconstruction. But a well-developed civil society, along with an independent media and judiciary, are equally essential for sustainable growth and stability. The importance of efforts to rebuild civil society by the establishment of the rule of law, stimulation of political dialogue and public participation must not be under-estimated, as they provide both formal and informal institutions for reconstruction in post-conflict situations. Therefore, efforts to strengthen civil society is a necessity that can be facilitated by NGOs, both local and otherwise, in a number of ways – by assisting local communities and individuals in the design of programmes, providing capacity building services, access to financing, and establishment of legal entities like cooperatives.

 

 

During a recent visit to Kashmir , a International Centre for Peace Initiatives team observed signs of developmental work undertaken in the last few years and an upswing in the local economy, despite a stagnant tourism industry. Real estate prices in Srinagar , for instance, have increased dramatically, whereas they are depressed in cities like Bangalore and Mumbai. These changes in urban life are occurring alongside a deteriorating rural economy and the flight of capital outside Kashmir . Most businessmen have migrated to other parts of India , and there is an absence of capital infusion into the villages. As a result, there is rampant unemployment, which is affected by the security environment that discourages private investment.

 

 

The absence of a vibrant civil society, the bedrock of any state system, owing to the many years of conflict is apparent from the lack of social institutions and the failure of the political leadership to harness the energy of the people in a constructive direction. There are a handful of youth groups, blood banks and orphanages, but no development NGOs or trade associations. 

 

 

NGOs can work at different levels in Kashmir and deal with the short and long-term consequences of violence by enabling locals to remove the structural, behavioral and attitudinal conditions leading to violence. Focusing on reconciliation and healing is another area where NGOs could play a role to help people who have suffered and to forgive those who have perpetrated harm on them, and to begin contemplating the next steps beyond civil war and insurgency. 

 

 

One such attempt to set up a NGO in Kashmir is by the Development Studies Centre at the University of Birmingham, UK, for an integrated research, training and dissemination programme to revive civil society organizations in Jammu and Kashmir for conflict resolution, peace-building and development. They propose to work with other NGOs as partners towards restoring the cohesion of civil society through a process of facilitating and developing interaction among Kashmiris in the trading, commercial, cultural and religious communities across both sides of the Line of Control.

 

 

Efforts at reconciliation by NGOs could entail; (a) facilitating the creation of a porous border for an intra-Kashmiri dialogue, (b) rehabilitation of the Kashmir Pandits who had fled the Valley due to various reasons, (c) action against human rights violations, (d) encourage visits by prominent political leaders, (e) creation of a memorial for people who have disappeared and help assuage the feelings of the people, (f) encouraging religious, social, civic, and youth leaders to promote communal harmony, (g) reintegrating former militants in the society, and (h) encouraging contact between Kashmiri people and those from other parts of India as a confidence building measure.

 

 

While reconciliation measures help in the short-term, it is necessary to prepare the ground for long-term efforts. NGOs need to examine possible measures for reconstruction, which are as follows:

 

 

·                     Improvement in the daily living conditions;

 

                  

 

·                     Promotion of tourism by dispelling the perception of an insecure environment;

 

                  

 

·                     Training of youth for employment and self-employment;

 

               

 

·                     Empowering women in Kashmir and rebuilding the lives of those affected by violence;

 

                 

 

·                     Rehabilitation of orphans and widows without discrimination;

 

                 

 

·                     Improvement of education in terms of course content and employment opportunities – reforming education keeping in mind the damage caused to the minds of children due to years of unending violence;

 

                  

 

·                     Promotion of horticulture, food-processing, agro-processing industries and creating cold-storage facilities by encouraging public and private investment;

 

                 

 

·                     Harnessing the hydro-electric potential of the state;

 

                   

 

·                     An environmental action plan – centered on curbing timber smuggling –afforestation, and urban water management going beyond just the cleaning the Dal lake.

 

                  

 

There is no single path to peace and no magic solution to any of the challenges facing Kashmir ; hence it is necessary to acknowledge the contributions NGOs can make to post-conflict peace building. 

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