GUWAHATI: Irom Chanu Sharmila, who is better known as the Iron Lady of Manipur for her legendary 16-year-long crusade against the ‘draconian’ Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for upholding the dignity of Manipur women in particular and people of North East in general, is making waves in Kashmir.
Sharmila, along with Sanjay Nahar, founder of ‘Sharhad’ met Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti this week in Sri Nagar. Sharmila was given warm reception by the CM and was wholeheartedly welcomed at all the places she visited, according to Dr Alaka Sarma, Social Activist from North East India
SARHAD (Pune) which works silently for nation building process by going deep into problems faced by the communities living on border areas and intensifying people-to-people contact, has initiated a new forum, AAASSH- meaning hope, which will provide a platform to market products produced by women artisans from conflict-prone zones.
Initiating at Pune in Maharashtra, the plan is to open outlets in important cities of Maharashtra and other states of India. The idea is to market not just the product, but a package. The customer while patronizing products at AAASSH help generate employment for women in conflict zones and get to learn about the communities and their problems faced during the long period of turmoil.
Irom Sharmila is the brand ambassador of AAASSH. She has been touring different parts of Kashmir for last few days, understanding the plight of Kashmiri women and children. She has met the Chairperson of the Women Commission, Kashmir and interacted with girls, students and ladies. During her visits, Sharmila was asked number of questions regarding people and culture of Manipur and North east. A bonding and a feeling of sisterhood is going to be established between the people of Kashmir and people of the North East thereby bringing together people of the two regions.
