Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 08 (Only Kashmir): Today i.e. on 8th March the world is observing Women’s Day aimed at empowering this beautiful creature of God on earth. We have many inspiring stories of women around us, which reflects the capacity, dedication and energy of the women folk among them. Onlykashmir[dot]in, today brings the incredible story of Srinagar City’s young woman Irfana Zargar who trampled all the odds to continue her unparalleled social work.
Here are the excerpts of the conversation between the writer and Irfana:
Irfana Zargar belongs to a posh colony of Srinagar city, since her father’s demise she is working as an employee on contractual basis in Grievance Cell of Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Irfana’s spends each day being a brave lady, breaking stereotypes, managing expectations and building dreams.
Passionate about social work Irfana has a credit to construct the maiden toilet for ladies in the centre of the Srinagar city near Court Road, this development turned breakthrough for her social career. She could collect money from surrounding shopkeepers besides appointing a caretaker for its maintenance.
“The construction of washroom was not easy. on one hand I had limited funds and secondly a women carrying out this work in patriarchal society makes it more difficult. I used to unload constructing material on roadside, on the very second day it disappeared. Finally I managed to build it, thanks to SMC officials who later extended its capacity for both genders. The emergence of toilet becomes a reason of bread and butter for an old aged person who could charge Rs 2 for single visit,” Irfana said.
The social work of Irfana is not limited to washroom, it is her passion, that this lady has dedicated a piece of land for graveyard purpose who have no kith and kins, yes you correctly read, she has donated a piece of land near Nowshara Srinagar for those who lack the facilities of graveyard out of poverty.
On her job site Irfana misses no opportunity to help the poor old aged persons, she awares people about the different government schemes related to downtrodden people.
Irfana now dreams of a ‘Sunday Café’ where she could offer free food and other means of entertainment for poor and old aged couples. We wish that her dream comes true..!!
