The people’s way out: 

The people’s way out: 

Context:

At a time when Kashmir is in serious turmoil, the civil society should take a lead to stop Kashmiri youths from getting radicalized.

What is the situation in Kashmir?

• Bloodshed has become a common scene in Kashmir
• Al Qaeda has raised its head.
• The struggle in Kashmir has also lost its international attention. The declaration of Hizbul Mujahideen as a foreign terrorist organisation has weakened the theme of Kashmir problem as an internal struggle.
• The government’s approach has failed to appeal the people.

What can the civil society do?

• In Kashmir, there is an urgent need for strong civil society movement to end the crisis situation.
• The civil society should take a lead to stop Kashmiri youths from getting radicalized.
• To start with, the representatives of the three regions- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh should together to find a cohesive way forward.
• Though Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have many differences, there is common ground which can be found for people who have lived together for centuries.
• The existing civil society groups in Jammu and Kashmir like the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons and Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society have failed to go beyond their anti-army and anti-government stance.  These groups should urgently reform themselves.
• Local citizens of the state should take direct responsibility to arrest the problem

What are the previous successful civil society movements in India?

The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA):

• It was formed it 1984 to fight the drug and alcohol menace in Nagaland.
• Later, NMA made “Shed No More Blood” its motto and took on the task of negotiating between various underground groups to check violence in the state

Meira Paibi

• It was formed in 1977 in Manipur
• Its initial focus of fighting alcoholism and drug abuse
• Later, it expanded to countering human rights violations and the development of society at large.