Top Jobs For Valley Women: Jammu And Kashmir LG’s Move Changes Narrative
New
Age Islam News Bureau
13
September 2022
• Saudi Women Take Up Shooting After Gun Ownership
Legalized
• Taliban Harassed Female Staffers in Kandahar, Says
UN Mission
• Varanasi: Muslim Women Linked To Muslim Mahila
Foundation Hail Gyanvapi Verdict
• Middle Eastern Women Take the Lead in Global
Cybersecurity: Report
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/valley-jammu-kashmir-top-jobs/d/127941
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Top Jobs For Valley Women: Jammu And Kashmir LG’s Move
Changes Narrative
Photo: The Kashmir Monitor
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By M Aamir Khan
Sep. 13, 2022
Srinagar: Leading from the front, women are now
heading several key governmental departments and bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.
For the first time in J&K’s history, bodies like
the Waqf Board and educational institutions like the Kashmir University have
got women heads under the present government led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj
Sinha. Similarly, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council too is headed by a woman
and women continue to hold important posts elsewhere.
Many observers believe that LG’s move serves a dual
purpose of gender quality while the same time hitting hard at the allegations
of regional and religious discrimination post the reading down on Article 370.
“You can check data across the country. It will be difficult to find even one
state or UT where in women are holding so many key positions. Let us only look
at Muslim women on important posts in Jammu and Kashmir”, says a keen observer.
Sources within the Government say that it was almost
like a policy decision taken by LG Sinha to ‘empower women through role models
and Sinha was keen to start from the Governmental set up itself. District Heads
of Jammu and Baramulla are women as is Director Industries Kashmir.
“How can we now talk about being overlooked in
administrative machinery when so many of our women colleagues are at top jobs
in the administration. Plus all of them are doing stellar work. In cricketing
terms it’s a yorker to which we have no answer”, says another observer.
J&K Waqf Board chairperson Dr Darakhshan Andrabi
The Waqf Board had always remained in news for the
wrong reasons as question marks were raised over its functioning and
accountability vis-a-vis funds received by the body. Andrabi’s appointment as
the first woman chairperson of the Waqf Board surprised many. Just months after
her appointment, she took quite a few bold steps that included banning ‘forcible’
donations at the shrines. Amid resentment from several quarters, she minced no
words in saying that a huge amount of donations was pocketed by people having a
sound economic background.
She said constructing hospitals and educational
institutions was possible only if the donations were not gobbled up by a
certain section of people that occupied ‘windows’ and ‘staircases’ at these
shrines. Now, she has assured to lay the foundation stone of a cancer hospital
very soon and set up other facilities at the J&K shrines managed by the
Waqf. “Wakf belongs to the nation and its people. All shrines have been made on
Waqf land and whatever the income it gets is called bait-ul-maal. This
bait-ul-maal should be used to serve the poor and make hospitals. Setting up
hospitals is the need of the hour,” she said while outlining the Waqf vision.
J&K Sports Council secretary Nuzhat Gul
She was known as the first female golf course expert
and when Nuzhat Gul was appointed as the Secretary, J&K Sports Council, it
was seen as a move to give impetus to the sports infrastructure in the union
territory. The government has on many counts underlined the importance of
sports and engaging the youth. The LG has already stated that the government
aims to engage 35 lakh youth in various sports activities and the JKSC is
taking several steps to realise the vision.
Gul said they were aiming for mass involvement of
youth in ‘mission mode’. “The sports council across the UT is holding several
events and more will be held in the future. We want mass involvement of youth.
We are working in a mission mode of ‘My Youth My Pride’. Parents and the civil
society at large should ensure the success of government initiatives so that
youth take to sports and stay away from drugs and other social evils. The present
government is providing the best infrastructure and support and we have to take
full advantage of the facilities offered,” she said.
KU vice-chancellor Professor Nilofar Khan
The Kashmir University has seen several
vice-chancellors, both local and non-local, but a woman never held the post
till May earlier this year. And when Professor Nilofar Khan took over as the
vice-chancellor of the KU, it was seen as yet another step towards empowering
women in the Kashmir valley.
Soon after taking over, Prof. Khan said the welfare of
the student community and implementation of National Education Policy-2020
NEP-2020 would be amongst her topmost priorities. “The implementation of the
new education policy in our university and its affiliated colleges will be another
key area of focus and concentration, alongside exploring all areas where we can
focus on tie-ups with reputed international institutions, in line with the new
guidelines of the University Grants Commission. The doors of my office will
always be open for our students and research scholars. I shall be frequently
interacting and engaging with them to address their needs and requirements
vis-à-vis academics and research,” she said.
Women at other key posts
Though they had held prominent positions in the previous
regimes as well, other women continue to enjoy prime postings right now as
well. While IAS officer Syed Sehrish Asgar had become the first woman to hold
the charge of the Director, information department in J&K, she is presently
posted as DC Baramulla. Similarly, Hina Shafi Bhat was appointed the
chairperson of J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) in December
2018 and continues to hold the post.
As women can be seen in prominent roles elsewhere too,
analysts say these postings have sent out a clear message that the government
wanted to see women lead from the front.
“By appointing women in key positions, the present
government is sending out a clear message towards their empowerment. It wants
the women to lead from the front and they also have been given roles that were
not given before. Waqf or other religious bodies have mostly remained a man’s
domain but having a woman as a Waqf chairperson sends out a certain message and
so does having women lead KU or the sports council. It sends out a strong
message about the role the government wants women to take in society in key
areas of religion, education and even sports,” said a political analyst.
Source: The Kashmir Monitor
https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/top-jobs-for-valley-women-lgs-move-changes-narrative/
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Saudi Women Take Up Shooting After Gun Ownership
Legalized
Photo: The Florida Star
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September 13, 2022
By Joseph Hammond
RIYADH — Saudi women can now legally lock and load. In
barely two years, Saudi women have earned the right to both drive and to own a
firearm. While women have been legally behind the wheel since 2019, it was only
last year that they were allowed to own firearms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, shooting became popular
with many Saudis as a social distanced and outdoor activity. Yet, some women
have been shooting for far longer.
"At a young age my father taught me how to use
and train with air rifles. I later joined the Saudi Archery Federation,"
said Reem Alatawi, who later earned first place in a Saudi shooting
competition.
Alatawi pointed out how relatively straightforward the
process is. Potential owners first select the firearm they want to purchase
either online or at a store. Then they must complete a series of checks. If the
application is granted, they are allowed to make the purchase and pick up the
weapon. The process can take just a few minutes.
"We must thank the government and the Saudi
Falcons and Hunting Club for this opportunity. Now everyone can acquire weapons
legally and much easier than in other countries," she said.
At many American gun shows, one can spot efforts that
firearms manufacturers have made specifically to appeal to women. For example,
one can find popular Glock pistols in fuscia, teal, and pink.
"We haven't seen that stratification yet in the
market as the rule change was only recently announced," said Ahmed
Alrumaih, the CEO of leading Saudi firearm retailer Saleh Alrumaih Son's
Trading Company. "However, you can expect that there will be more emphasis
on target and practice shooting rather than hunting based on global
trends."
New regulations regarding firearms are part of reforms
instituted by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Defense. The aim is not merely to give Saudi citizens a new pastime
but to ensure the growth of a diversified economy. Under the government's
vision for sustainable conservation there is a place for both hunting and
tourism.
This year the Saudi government announced a short
five-month hunting season which is ongoing for 25 different species of birds in
which only air rifles can be used.
Women owning firearms is just one part of a young, but
emerging, market. Saudis were long time consumers of air rifles.
Alrumaih is the CEO of Saleh Alrumaih Son's Trading
Company which was founded in the late 1970s. The company has long been one of
the Kingdom's most prestigious air rifle retailers. They have also made the
successful transition. Over the years the company has become one of the largest
air rifle retailers in Saudi Arabia.
The company was one of the main exhibitors at the 2022
Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition which attracted some 500,000
visitors to the week-long event held near Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
A weekday visit to the exhibition found Saudi woman
inquiring about the purchase of a top of the line Berretta handgun suitable for
shooting competitions only to be told they had sold out. — SG/Zenger News
Source: Saudi Gazette
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/624891
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Taliban
harassed female staffers in Kandahar, says UN mission
Sep
13, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The UN mission in Afghanistan has accused Taliban authorities of harassing its
Afghan female employees, urging local officials to respect all its staff in a
statement on Monday. “There has been an emerging pattern of harassment of
Afghan UN female staff by the de facto authorities,” the statement said,
referring to the country’s Taliban rulers.
Three
Afghan women working for the UN were recently detained briefly and questioned
by “armed security agents of the de facto authorities,” it added. The UN called
for an immediate end to all such acts of “intimidation and harassment targeting
its Afghan female staff. ” A statement released by the Taliban denied that
local authorities had “detained” any UN employees. The statement added in
southern Kandahar province authorities had stopped a group of women, but when
they realised they were UN employees, stopped questioning them.
Source:
Times Of India
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Varanasi:
Muslim women linked to Muslim Mahila Foundation hail Gyanvapi verdict
Sep
13, 2022
VARANASI:
Muslim women associated with the Muslim Mahila Foundation (MMF) here have
hailed the district court verdict in Shringar Gauri-Gyanvapi case on Monday.
The court rejected the plea of Anjuman Intezjamia Masajid, the mosque
management committee, against maintainability of the case.
Soon
after the ruling of the court, the Muslim women led by MMF president Nazneen
Ansari performed aarti of Lord Shiva with the chant of 'Om Namah Shivay'' and
sang in his praise to celebrate the occasion at Subhash Bhavan in Lamahi
village of the district.
Nazneen
said that the Muslim women have been with the truth from the very beginning in
the Gyanvapi case and want to wipe off the stigma of Aurangzeb from Kashi
Vishwanath temple. "When our ancestors were Hindus, they used to worship
Adi Vishweshwar," said Nazneen, questioning, "How can a Mughal
invader Aurangzeb capture Adi Vishweshwar?"
She
said that no Muslim should carry the sin of the Mughals. There are thousands of
proofs that the temple was demolished. "The Hindu is a great tolerant
community of the world, so it is taking the support of the court to free its
holiest place from the sins of Aurangzeb. We all respect the court's
decision", she said.
Source:
Times Of India
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Middle
Eastern women take the lead in global cybersecurity: Report
September
12, 2022
Over
94 percent of women in the Middle East are interested in pursuing a degree in
cybersecurity, according to a report from the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF).
Titled
“Empowering Women to Work in Cybersecurity is a Win-Win”, the report, a
collaboration between the GCF and the Boston Consulting Group, aims to answer
concerns about the growing gender divide in the field of cybersecurity and how
best to ensure women can play a role.
Women
studying in the STEM field from over 26 countries in six regions around the
world were surveyed regarding their opinions and views on cybersecurity.
Up
to seventy percent of the respondents said their primary reason for taking an
interest in cybersecurity was due to role-models encouraging them.
According
to the report, women currently make up only 25 percent of the workers in the
global cybersecurity field, while around 57 percent of cybersecurity companies
cite a various positions in need of filling.
Regional
overview
The
report highlights the Middle East and North Africa as the most promising region
for gender equality in cybersecurity.
In
addition to 94 percent of respondents expressing an interest in the field, 88
percent said they were aware of cybersecurity programs.
Sub-Sarahan
Africa showed promising results as well, with 84 percent of the respondents
stating they were interested and 73 percent crediting high school for
encouraging them into the field.
Next
is Europe, where 89 percent of those surveyed expressed an interest in
cybersecurity degrees and 82 percent are active.
However,
48 percent of the respondents feared that the field would be difficult for them
to achieve the proper work-life balance, and 77 percent consider cybersecurity
a male-dominated profession.
Respondents
in the Asia-Pacific were more optimistic about women in cybersecurity: only 35
percent see it as a man’s field, and 41 percent believe that women in the field
are received positively.
North
America, despite being the home of leading cybersecurity firms, only saw 61
percent of its respondents express an interest in cybersecurity and only 45
percent were even aware of cybersecurity programs at their place of study.
And
Latin America ranked the lowest with only nine percent of respondents
expressing any interest in studying the field, despite having a 70 percent
awareness of it.
Women
leading the future of cyberspace
Lead
of Initiatives & Partnerships at the GCF Alaa al-Faadhel discussed the
report, saying:
“The
results of this report have shown that women are ready and prepared to fill the
talent gap in the cybersecurity workforce. With the right encouragement from a
young age, women can not only begin to enter the industry, but can also become
leaders in their field. By bringing together the leading voices and minds of
the cyberspace at the GCF, we are confident that we can bridge this gap and
action impactful change for women in cybersecurity.”
And
the Boston Consulting Group’s Managing Director and Senior Partner Leila Hoteit
said that more women in the field would “fulfill an urgent demand in the field
that is only going to get bigger.”
However,
Hoteit noted that at current rates, it would take over 100 years to achieve
gender equality in cybersecurity.
“The
escalation in cybersecurity threats and their economic impact make it
imperative that urgent action is taken to address this mismatch,” she said.
Source:
Egypt Independent
https://www.egyptindependent.com/middle-eastern-women-take-the-lead-in-global-cybersecurity-report/
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