By Qudrat Ullah, LIPR Research Writer in Islamabad
Since 5th August 2019, Indian Occupied Kashmir has remained under restrictions in the form of communications, curfew, and political space has shrunk both for people and regional political parties. Regional leaders remained in captivity for over a year and communication was worst hit, as internet was down for seven months. As other security measures hampered the daily life in the occupied territory, education was also among the worst hit.
The uncertain security situation and coronavirus pandemic brought the education to standstill. After a partial lifting of lockdown, the education was about to start in the valley, the pandemic left everything on the mercy of measures taken to tackle the pandemic.
In these two years, more than a million schoolchildren in Kashmir have been hit hard by the restrictions on public life and movement. While low-speed internet and fixed broadband services were gradually restored, high-speed 4G internet on mobile phones remained cut off.
Since the revocation of Article 370, the 590-day closure made it worse for education than even in 1990s when the mass struggle against Indian rule. The other reason that has delayed the schools and universities to run normal, are the encounters between militants and Indian forces, which is another form of atrocities by India. Kashmiri locals are of the view that “Education is important, but it can’t be at the cost of our children’s lives”.
Many of the parents worry that lack of schooling will impact the mental well-being of students. Children are disproportionately affected, having been exposed to conflict at an early age without subsequent access to mental health support or treatment. Dr Syed Karrar Hussain, a child psychiatrist at Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, is of the view that “the closure of educational facilities are known to have implications on the behavior of children and it gets worse if it’s prolonged amid uncertainties and the backdrop of conflict”.
The other drawback of the security situation on the education is that the children, who in some sort heard, witness or experience the encounters, will have a phycological impact and they for the larger part of their life will not be able to focus on their studies. By keeping the Indian stubbornness regarding the Kashmir issue, it is highly likely that Kashmiris in the near future will remain affected, as the world’s so-called largest democracy is not in position to let the people of the occupied territory to have their full and legitimate rights.
After 5th August, 2019, international human rights organizations overwhelmingly spoke on the Kashmir issue, but with the passage of time, less concern is being expressed by them over the continued Human Rights violations by India. Pakistan, so far has, taken the gross violations of human rights by Indian armed forces on global level, and with each opportunity, Islamabad has drew international attention towards the issue.
The continuation of Indian actions is disturbing and what is more worrisome that global community has ignored it but much attention will be given by the same if such violations do occur in any other part of the world. The dual policy in reference to Kashmir has left Kashmiris in disarray and hope that those who make tall claims of being human rights champions will eventually realize that the people of Indian occupied Kashmir are not the deprived souls.
