Orphaned Childhood in Jammu and Kashmir
Mansi Aneja
DUCATIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN IN ORPHANAGES OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR by Kuldip Kaur CRRID Publications, Chandigarh, 2018, 211 pp., Rs.695
January 2020, volume 44, No 1

The book could not be timelier, given that so many people live in perpetual fear, insecurity and life-threatening circumstances in different parts of the world. The context of Jammu and Kashmir highlights a growing trend (as observed in other contemporary political-ethnic conflicts as well) wherein civilians are increasingly getting caught in the conflict, often leading to certain ‘cultures of violence’ and ‘civilian stressors’ in their everyday existence. This includes adults and children alike. The last few decades have witnessed a momentous rise in orphanages for the children who have either lost one or both parents as civilian casualties of the conflict. There are others who are left abandoned or are taken care of by their extended families, often living in conditions of extreme poverty, abysmal socio-economic conditions or other hardships.

Continue reading this review