PDP’s Parra demands restoration of special cells for women in J&K

Srinagar, Mar 29: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed ur Rehman Parra on Saturday expressed serious concern over the abrupt discontinuation of Special Cells (SC) for women in Jammu & Kashmir, calling it a reckless decision that endangers the lives of vulnerable women.
In a statement issued here, Parra said the Special Cells, established in 2021 under the Violence-Free Home—A Woman’s Right initiative, were instrumental in providing support to victims of domestic and other forms of violence. However, their funding, provided by the National Commission for Women (NCW), is set to end with the close of the financial year, leaving their future in limbo and raising concerns over the government’s commitment to women’s safety in J&K, he said.
“Shutting down Special Cells for Women in J&K is a grave mistake. These cells have helped hundreds of women survive violence, and we continue to receive calls for their restoration. This reflects the apathy of the administration towards the suffering of women in our region,” the PDP leader said.
The MLA urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo and National Commission for Women to immediately restore and institutionalise these cells, ensuring they remain operational and effectively address gender-based violence.
He further added that over the past four years, these cells have recorded nearly 10,000 cases of violence, offering legal, social and psychological support to survivors. The shutting down of these cells raises serious questions about the government’s priorities and whether women’s issues are being deliberately sidelined, he said.
Parra added, “The dismantling of these cells reflects a broader pattern of governance failures in J&K, where essential social welfare initiatives are being neglected or discontinued.”
He accused the administration of failing to prioritise women’s rights and safety, calling it yet another example of how the Central government and the UT administration are failing the people of J&K.
“The government must act swiftly to preserve these cells. We cannot afford to abandon women who are in distress. I urge the Chief Minister to immediately intervene and ensure the continuation of these crucial support centres. The administration needs to recognize that neglecting women’s safety is not just a policy failure but a moral and political disaster,” he asserted.