Srinagar, March 21 (KNS): Kashmiri women embarking on Hajj this year are facing a major setback as not a single female State Hajj Inspector (SHI) or trainer has been appointed to assist them, raising concerns over gender discrimination and negligence by the authorities.

In an open letter to the CEO of the Hajj Committee of India, Saima Shafi, a Kashmiri female who performed Haj last year, popularly known as “Kralkoor” wrote an open letter to CEO Hajj Committee of India highlighting the repeated exclusion of female SHIs for Kashmiri women.

She said this oversight creates significant hardships for female Hajis, particularly elderly and illiterate women who struggle with communication barriers.

“Many aspects of Hajj require gender-specific guidance, and male SHIs are not the right choice to assist female Hajis, especially from Kashmir, where cultural sensitivities restrict open discussions on women’s issues,” Saima said in the letter to the CEO.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

 She emphasized that the absence of female SHIs during crucial moments, such as visits to Riyaz-ul-Jannah and stays in Mina and Arafat, leads to unnecessary confusion and distress among Kashmiri women pilgrims.
Recalling her experience she said, Last year Kashmiri women faced similar challenges due to the lack of female assistance, and with no corrective measures taken, history is set to repeat itself.

Shafi urged the authorities to adopt a fair and structured approach, ensuring that at least one female SHI is assigned for every 150 female Hajis, facilitating their journey and upholding their right to proper guidance.

The issue has sparked widespread disappointment among the Hajj aspirants and their families, who are now calling on the Hajj Committee of India to take immediate corrective action to address this long-standing concern.(KNS)