The Story of the Kashmir Welfare Trust

Introduction

In October 2005 there was an earthquake in Kashmir, in the part of the region that is divided between India and Pakistan. On top of nearly two decades of conflict, political violence, and harsh living conditions, the earthquake was brutal. On both sides of the border there were minimal resources to respond to the devastation. The Kashmir Welfare Trust is a small local NGO that was started in response to the damage on the Indian side of the state. It began its work on the day of the earthquake.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster we built basic shelters, collected blankets, food and medical supplies to be taken to the remote higher areas of the Kashmir Valley that had been the worst affected. We then began to rebuild homes and buildings that had been destroyed or damaged.

We set up a school and orphanage in the Valley’s capital, Srinagar, for children who had either lost their families in the earthquake, or whose families were unable to support them as a result of losing their livelihood. We are in the process of setting up other schools.

The on-going aim of The Kashmir Welfare Trust is to address the deep-rooted economic and conflict trauma of the areas where we are working through education and rehabilitation.

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