The violence of Kashmir’s armed conflict has given rise to a
category of women known as “half-widows.” These are women
whose husbands have ‘disappeared’ during the decades-long
conflict or who have gone missing and are often presumed
dead. Half-widows live their lives in limbo, oscillating between
grief and hope. Even though there are no official records, it is
estimated by the Association of Disappeared Persons (APDP)
there are nearly 2500 half-widows in the Kashmir region.
Since there is no proof of the husband’s death, half-widows are
often deprived of any monetary compensation or benefits.The
half-widows cannot claim pensions and widow relief until after a
period of seven years. All of this combined makes the struggle
for justice painful, endless and hopeless.
Awards 1st Place, Portrait Series, Best of Photojournalism of NPPA
