Basera E Tabassum ("BeT") is an Indian girls' shelter. It was started in 2002 for girls who lost their parents as a result of

armed conflict War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular ...

terrorism Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...

during the ongoing Kashmir conflict. The mission of BeT is "To provide a secure home to the girls in the armed conflict". At the time of BeT's founding, no girls' shelters were available in this area. BeT is the first project launched in the Kupwara district, which is badly affected by

militancy The English word ''militant'' is both an adjective and a noun, and it is generally used to mean vigorously active, combative and/or aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in "militant reformers". It comes from the 15th century Latin " ...

History

BeT was started by

Borderless World Foundation Borderless World Foundation (BWF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization registered under India's Societies Registration Act, 1860. Working in Jammu and Kashmir, along the conflict-riven border region in between India, Pakistan & China, ...

, led by Bharti Mamani, Mohiuddin Mir, Bipin Takwale, Zahoor Sheikh and Adhik Kadam in Kupwara district. As of 2016, over 5 BeT Homes operate across

Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir may refer to: * Kashmir, the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent * Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory * Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered ...

Programs

BeT works mainly with girls who are unable to live normal, secure lives due to the loss of parents in the militancy. BeT provides shelter to the girls and cares for their

health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

and

mental health Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health ...

. More than 200 girls occupy the 5 homes. The shelters are located in Kupwara district, Anantnag district, Budgam district, Srinagar district, and Jammu district. BeT is supported by Asha for Education, National Securities Depository Limited and

HDFC Bank HDFC Bank Limited (also known as HDB) is an Indian banking and financial services company headquartered in Mumbai. It is India's largest private sector bank by assets and world's 10th largest bank by market capitalisation . It is the third lar ...

, GTL Ltd. BeT organizes national-level education exposure tours for better understanding of various cultures and educational methods. BeT also provides the girls with training and workshops. Local schools help BeT girls with admissions and regular classes. Colleagues and Kashmri University students join block field work courses via their undergraduate programs. Students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Nirmala Niketan, University of Pune, and University of Delhi send social work students to participate in field work as per the requirements of their master's degree. Under Education Exposure Tours, children visit cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Nasik, Kolhapur, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is a multi-campus public research university in Mumbai, India. It is Asia's oldest institute for professional social work education and was founded in 1936 in then Bombay Presidency of British India as ...

, Motiwala Education and Welfare Trust.

Visits and recognition

Children of BeT pursue higher education in cities including

Pune Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

Nasik Nashik (, Marathi: aːʃik, also called as Nasik ) is a city in the northern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated on the banks of river Godavari, Nashik is the third largest city in Maharashtra, after Mumbai and Pune. Nashik ...

, and

Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarter of the Kolhapur district. In, around 2 C.E. Kolapur's name was 'Kuntal'. Kolhapur is kn ...

, especially in Law,

Engineering Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...

and

Medicine Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pract ...

. Many younger girls take courses in computerized embroidery, making sanitary napkins, stitching, knitting, and various computer courses. Some girls are recognized as upcoming business entrepreneurs. Furthermore, in photography, girls won national awards. Prominent personalities including Shahu Maharaj

Kolhapur State Kolhapur State or Kolhapur Kingdom (1710–1949) was a Maratha princely State of India, under the Deccan Division of the Bombay Presidency, and later the Deccan States Agency. It was considered the most important of the Maratha principalities wi ...

Syed Ata Hasnain Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM & Bar is a retired General of the Indian Army. His last assignment in service was as the Military Secretary of the Indian Army. Prior to that, he commanded the Indian Army's 15 ...

and the

Holkar Dynasty The Holkar (Pronunciation: �o(ː)ɭkəɾ dynasty was a Maratha clan of Dhangar origin in India. The Holkars were generals under Peshwa Baji Rao I, and later became Maharajas of Indore in Central India as an independent member of the Marath ...

have sponsored the initiative.

References

{{Reflist, 30em Jammu district Srinagar district Budgam district Anantnag district Kupwara district Orphanages in India 2002 establishments in Jammu and Kashmir Peacebuilding in Jammu and Kashmir