Kashmiri women pray in Srinagar for end to violence that has rendered orphan over 2 lakh children in the past three decades. (Photo: H.U. Naqash)

The strife in Kashmir has led to an increase in number of orphans and widows. Many fake orphanages and special homes have also mushroomed in the Valley, which collect donations but spend very little on providing relief to the hapless.

Srinagar: Children are the worst sufferers of the nearly three-decade-old conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. The conflict has ruined thousands of homes, left families shattered, scarred them for life. In this danse macabre, the number of widows and orphans is increasing by the day. There appears to be no end to violence and mayhem in the Valley.

According to a survey, J&K has 2,15,000 orphans of which more than 37 per cent have lost one or both parents to the conflict.

In this crying shame, the number of private orphanages and special homes for the destitute, including widows, is growing. All are not engaged in charity, however. Many such centres are fake or simply fail to provide relief to the hapless. The number of unscrupulous people lining their pockets has also gone up over the years. In fact, setting up orphanages has become the order of the day.  Those who run them collect donations and fill their coffers. They spend very little on orphans or widows. Several such charities are just on paper.

“It is a fact that unscrupulous people are exploiting the situation and lining their own pockets. Unfortunately, there is no law under which the authorities could take cognisance of this sinful activity,” said Abdur Rashid Hanjura, lawyer and founder of Islamic Relief and Research Trust Kashmir (IRRTK) which has been engaged in charity work for last many years.

The IRRTK also runs two orphanages in Budgam and Baramulla districts in which 25 boys and an equal number of girls are enrolled. About 15 other NGOs are also working to help the orphans, Mr Hanjura said.

The state has more than 5,000 registered and unregistered NGOs, many of which claim they work for orphans. “But the fact is that not more than 30 of them are genuine,” Mr Hanjura said. The law enforcing agencies have failed to act against them as they enjoy political patronage or are shielded by intelligence and other official agencies.    

The J&K government through its social welfare department has established 15 Bal Ashrams where about 400 orphans are being provided board and lodging facilities besides assistance in pursuing studies.

Minister of social welfare Sajad Gani Lone had announced on the floor of the state Assembly that those living in orphanages across the state would be shifted to boarding schools where the government would provide them quality education. Mr Lone had also said that the government would create a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) hub for the orphanages. However, precious little has been done to achieve these lofty goals.

According to officials, at present not more than 6,000 orphans are accommodated in orphanages across the Valley run by various NGOs, voluntary organisations and the government.  “This is a very small effort being made towards tackling a huge problem,” said Mr Hanjura.

A survey in 2014 by Save the Children’, a London-based international non-governmental organisation, had said that J&K has 2,15,000 orphans of which more than 37 per cent have lost one or both parents. It also said that more than 15 per cent of these children live in orphanages. The rest live with their mothers, grandparents or other relatives.

Khurram Parvez, the programme coordinator of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), admitted that the majority of NGOs and individuals are running orphanages only on paper with the sole intent of making money. “Everyone knows the Valley has thousands of orphans and people out of sympathy give money to anybody who claims to be their guardian,” he said.

Investigations revealed that the racketeers show donors their fake documents and through photo manipulations convince them that they are running orphanages. These elements get more active during Ramazan when both fasting and acts of charity are obligatory for Muslims.

It is also reported that the inmates of the orphanages are not looked after well. There have been complaints of exploitation, beating and even sexual abuse. Several orphanages are in bad conditions.

The inmates are forced to cook themselves, wash their clothes and sweep the entire premises.

Suggesting a solution, Mr Khurram said, “Let people who can afford it take the responsibility of looking after the orphans without middlemen.”