Dear Editor,
Malala Yousafzai,the child advocate from across the border who gained respect worldwide for the activism in the field of girls education,was recently conferred with Pakistan’s civil awards.This sixteen year old women rights crusader,who now lives in Britain was shot by a taliban gunman in 2012 for her outspoken views on children’s education in her home region in north west Pakistan.Yet this near-fatal attack did not deter her from speaking about the importance of education especially for girls. She is a firm believer that it takes merely one child, one teacher, one book and one pen to change the world.
Malala’s belief is shared by her peer, Shazia Kosser, a resident of this side of the border. Hailing from the border village Balnoi, fifteen kilometers from Tehsil Mendhar of district Poonch. Shazia has grown up with conflict.Coupled with isolation from rest of the country, this hostile environment has kept the inhabitants of this border village away from development. Worst affected is education more specifically,the education of girls.
There were days when women were simply not allowed to pursue education. Militancy is considered to be the main reason for this trend.
It was then, in 1980, that the first school was established in Balnoi.Today, over three decades later, there are only three primary and one middle school in this village catering to the needs of population of approximately three thousand and five hundred people.Both boys and girls are encouraged to go to school.Still,the absence of the higher secondary school in the village has resulted in high drop out rate after class 8, especially among girls.
“Girls often drop out from school after completing class 8 as there is no higher secondary school in our village, boys are allowed to travel long distance to other village and continue there studies but girls do not have permission from there parents” rues twenty year old Shazia . Another factor that plays an important role in the high drop-out rate is the close proximity of the village to the border. Villagers have been issued Identity Cards by the security forces and are allowed only restricted movement during the day, that, after strict security checks each time they cross the gate. Parents do not like their girls subjected to such security checks. The only thing left in a girl’s life, despite an avid interest in education, is to take care of the household and rear the livestock.
Poverty also plays a role in hindering the education of a girl child. According to Abdul Rehman, Naib Sarpanch Balnoi, in addition to fencing and road connectivity poverty is also to be blamed. In the absence of any regular source of income, most parents cannot afford the transport fare.
“I wish to continue my studies even after class 8th as my dream is to become a doctor and help the poor and disabled people living a miserable life in our village. I wish to provide them treatment free of cost but my dream looks like it will always remain a dream” says a saddened Saima, currently studying in class 8th.
There are many more Saimas in Balnoi village who have compromised with their dreams and accepted the current situation as their fate.The government has helped them till class 8th. They can only hope that the state realises the fact that they aspire to get a good education and need a higher secondary school to satiate their thrist for knowledge.These girls wish to change the world around them just like Malala.Whether their dreams comes true remains to be seen.
Haamid Shah Hashmi
Gandhi Nagar Jammu
