M Aamir Khan
Srinagar: From noted writers to social activists, ‘ELFA International’ honoured eight young Kashmiri women achievers here on Saturday.
The women achievers were honoured during a function ‘Jashn-e-Parwaaz-e-Niswaan – the Lal Ded – Khatoon-e-Kashmir award 2021′ organised by the ELFA in collaboration with the Northern Railway Women Welfare Organisation (NRWWO) at the SKICC on the Dal Lake banks.
CEO of ELFA International Mehran Khan said the function was held to celebrate the success of women achievers from the Valley.
The awardees included Dheeba Nazir who, in 2018, won the Yuva Puruskaar award by Sahitya Akademi for her book ‘Zareen Zakham’.
Other women achievers awarded on the occasion included Urfa Mir and Dr Asifa Jan in the healthcare category, Naziya Hurra and Shafaqat Geelani in the social work category and Azra Mufti and Tabassum Firdous in the education category.
Syed Areej Safvi, J&K’s first female ‘Ladishah’, too was awarded on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, NRWWO president Namita Agarwal, who was the chief guest, said she was glad to see the work done for women and child welfare by the ELFA.
“I congratulate ELFA for the work done towards the welfare of women and children. We learnt during Covid (lockdown) that if we are strong ourselves, we don’t need anybody’s help,” she said.
Secretary DLSA, Budgam, Fozia Paul, who was the guest of honour on the occasion, said the women in Kashmir faced ‘very less discrimination’ as compared to other parts of the country.
She also lauded the work done by the ELFA International that has been carrying out its operations for the past four years now.
Young pilot Ayesha Aziz was also present on the occasion.
The function also saw lively performances of popular singers Reshma and Adnan Dolwal.
Award Winners
· Shafaqat Geelani is associated with the cause for kids affected by Autism and Early intervention diseases.
· Student of renowned Kashmiri poet Naseem Shafaie, Dheeba Nazir’s book ‘Zareen Zakham’ won the Yuva Puruskaar award by Sahitya Akademi New Delhi in 2018.
· Social worker Naziya Hurra served more than 600 families during the Covid lockdown.
· Dr. Tabasusum Firdous is an Associate Professor, Centre of Central Asian studies, University of Kashmir and has published several books and research papers.
· Azra Mufti is an author of two books – ‘Tearful Pages’ that talks about crimes against women and novel ‘Shattered Dreams’.
· Dr. Asifa Jan works at the LD hospital as Resident Medical Office and is assigned with the responsibility of coordinating Covid 19 duties as the Liason Officer.
· Ufra Mir is the ‘first & only peace-psychologist’ from Kashmir & South-Asia, and works at the intersection of the science of psychology and peace-building.
· Syed Areej Safvi is J&K’s first female ‘Ladishah’ and has started a ‘mental illness challenge’ series to make people aware about the challenges faced by mentally ill people.
PHOTOS BY: UMAR GANIE
