Changing Dynamics Requires Changing Attitudes

Nazir says Kashmiris need to change their political and social habits

(Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani, 59, is a jurist. He was born in Naranthal (Jalshree) village near Baramulla and was a student at the Government Degree College in Baramulla. Subsequently, he studied English Literature and Politics at the University of Kashmir, Law at the Sindh Muslim Law College in the Karachi-Pakistan, Islamic Law at the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), International Law at the Queen Mary University London, Victimology at Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik - former Yugoslavia, Peace Keeping/Humanitarian Operations & Election Monitoring from Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento S. Anna - Pisa Italy, and has a Ph.D. in the Jurisprudence of UN Resolutions and Kashmir Case. He successfully argued a constitutional writ petition in the High Court of Azad Kashmir from December 1992 to April 1999 on the question of self determination and duties of AJK Government. As a lead human rights advocate he has faced a sentence of 5 years imprisonment and 15 lashes and a death sentence during the Martial Law of General Zia in Pakistan. Dr. Gilani has introduced awareness around the title of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to a Rights Movement since 1877 and the respective sovereign claims of India and Pakistan since 1948.)

Guiding in the Right Direction

Neelofar and Asiya tragedy has started cascading from the newspaper headlines. It would eventually fade away in favor of other events that make news. We seem to be a people driven by incidents and not by a social agenda. Kashmiris seem to have given up on self confidence and on the need that it is time to change our political and social habits. The only thing that we have specialized post 1990 is to refuse to listen, accommodate, accredit and respect each other while holding a political opinion at variance to each other.

As a follow up to incident oriented politics, Kashmiri politics used the issue of the death of a generation, which is calculated at over 70,000, violation of human rights, rape, disappearances, sex scandals, Shrine Board land issue, elections and myriad other issues to justify their respective schools of politics. Militancy and politics of the manner of early 1990s has also rolled up its spread sheet.

People of Kashmir, at least those who have access to Newspapers may have woken up to read that a suicide attack has taken place for the first time since 1947 in Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir, a place heavily supervised by the eyes of secret services, than any other habitat in Pakistan. Angels dare not escape the intelligence network here but the dedicated suicide bomber moved to its target in Shaukat Lines. Many others would have read the report of Community Drug Abuse Study Survey Kashmir by Valley’s renowned psychiatrist Dr. Mushtaq Margoob. According to this report Kashmir has 24.32 lakh drug abusers and Kashmir tops the world in the list of opium abusers.

A nation which has lost almost 100,000 in the last 19 years, has 24.32 lakh drug abusers, has lakhs of educated unemployable and more uneducated unemployable, thousand in prison and missing and has leadership split on the understanding of Rights Movement and on the question of allegiance, has scarcely a future to look for. There is a desperate need to change political and social habits.

At the top of all these scary details we are following a serious agenda to secure the Right of Self Determination for our people. Our Rights Movement has graduated through various stages in the last 132 years. Unfortunately the weaponry and the craft used in the last 19 years have killed the right of self determination as a realizable right for a long time to come. We have suffered a number deficit and the poise of this loss does not remain in our favor. Therefore, right of self determination shall have to be defended as a ‘principle’.

Our people and the social structure is more at fault than our leaders. It has now turned into a fashion to welcome international leaders for their reference on Kashmir. At home in Srinagar it has become a status symbol to receive officials of various foreign embassies based in Delhi. Kashmir in all inclusive is discussed in these meetings and news items bedeck the headlines the next day.

We fail to reconcile the incident or event oriented politics with the fact that Hurriyat had an ‘Awareness Bureau” in Delhi and it had the time and opportunity of working in close proximity with these foreign missions and the civil society of India. What happened? At best our leaders turned the Awareness Bureau into a rest room and at worse it became a gossip office, to negotiate personal interests in and outside Kashmir. It was packed lock, stock and barrel and all those involved in the Bureau are no more part of the present Hurriyat political discipline. They have been forced to reconnect with their previous vocations in Government or in private.

Over the years in the last 19 years civil society in Kashmir, in particular in the Valley has developed a behavioral pattern which encourages it to fake evidence to make believe that all is flawless. We know that all is not well in Hurriyat or Mainstream, except that the former is not under oath and accountable as the latter. We as a people have failed to induct accountability in Hurriyat and have failed to test the performance of Mainstream under the oath. The statement of former president Pervez Musharraf in his TV Interview to Dunya News is one more eye opener that Kashmiris have developed a second habit to fake things to create a make believe environment. According to him during his Agra visit he held talks with all stakeholders including the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference and the leadership of Azad Kashmir for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute “but no one could guide me in the right direction”.

It is time that we start examining the political and social character and habits in Kashmir. We may have made a serious mistake in allowing the Hurriyat play it all free and all alone with no holds barred. At the same time we may have erred in absolute in not using the Mainstream political agenda to empower the common man and woman and to change the process of life into a quality of life. We need to understand that the daily life in Kashmir is conducted in reference to the Mainstream political agenda. It is the duty of every conscientious and responsible Kashmiri to ensure that this character of politics remains accountable and in accordance with its oath. Mainstream political parties have made it clear that the Kashmir dispute needs to be resolved. So they have outsmarted the Hurriyat discipline of politics, at least in principle.

If we take the evidence provided by the Government of India and the leaders in Pakistan on the present political and social habitat in Kashmir as credible, Hurriyat has a serious threat to its existence. It does not seem to have worked out any convincing agenda and has been sucked into an incident driven political reflex. It is a dangerous option and Kashmir can’t afford to cause many more regular tragedies for Hurriyat to survive. We seem to have wasted 19 years and a generation without convincing India or Pakistan that we are a people with all the nobility and dignity associated with any people on earth.

There is an urgent need of a fresh rethink. It seems that Mainstream political discipline could deliver more on the question of self determination than Hurriyat. Mainstream political parties have a duty to ensure that the Government of India as another contracting party in the Instrument of Accession, on the basis that it is provisional, has to be put to a final vote and meanwhile Indian Government is responsible to protect ‘life’, ‘honor’ and ‘property’ in Jammu and Kashmir. This political discipline which is ridiculed as ‘pro India’, has an obligation under oath to keep watching that the Government of India keeps to its case and argument made at the UN under article 35 of the UN Charter.

The representatives elected by the people of Kashmir for State Assembly and to sit in the Indian Parliament remain under oath to “discharge faithfully and conscientiously the duty upon which they have entered”. One and the principal duty remain to ensure that the Government of India keeps to its statement made at the UN.
Kashmiris need to stop to reappraise their social and political behaviour. It may be that we are misleading into disowning the Mainstream School of politics. We should not waste our vote for electricity, water, road and a job. We should put the elected representatives through a higher burden of responsibilities. We are caught between a paid and accountable politics and a paid but unaccountable political culture. Two different results would follow from the two.

For a Civil Society Obsessed With Politics, the Rest Does Not Matter

Shocking news of the day (but be forewarned that it is not about politics), followed by State government's approach - two stories

Kashmir is World's Top Opiate Consumer: Report

(Rising Kashmir News)

Srinagar: As International Day Against Drug Abuse is being observed on Friday, 26 June 2009, Kashmir has earned the dubious distinction of topping the world in using the Opiates related drugs with 3.8 percent leaving behind Iran where the percentage has been pegged at 2.81 only. Experts blame the Civil Society for not rising to the occasion to arrest the trend which is potent enough to derail the entire social fabric.

Concerned over the disturbing increase in the number of drug abusers, leading psychiatrist Mushtaq Margoob believes that this was the opportune time to formulate a comprehensive policy to counter the menace. “It is not the government only but the Civil Society has a potential role to play in making people aware what was happening” Dr Margoob, who has conducted extensive studies on the issue, told Rising Kashmir on Thursday. According to a survey conducted by him, the percentage is increasing in all the areas of drugs which are responsible for causing disturbances in a human mind.

The district wise survey shows startling results. While the Alcohol consumption is 0.7 percent, use of Cannabis has been put at 2.4 percent, Bzd at 0.87 percent, and Opiates at 3.8 percent. The cigarette smoking is still prevalent among 25 percent population of Valley with 10.63 percent resorting to other forms of smoking and 4.63 to smokeless tobacco. “The findings are certainly disturbing,” says Dr Margoob. Surprisingly the Opium related drugs are being used in Kashmir at a high level. “The percentage is highest in the world,” Dr Margoob says.

There are a few factors responsible for pushing the people into drug abuse in this fashion. And the first and foremost is the trauma the people have been facing on account of the turmoil since 1989. The situation has made people including women psychological wrecks due to loss of one or other family member. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the main reason for driving people to drugs. “I have seen many such patients who have not been able to sleep because of trauma and they resort to easily available drugs in the market and then become dependent on them”, says Dr Margoob. This has emerged as a pattern among such cases as they are left in lurch by the society following their traumatic experiences. The conflict apart from other issues has contributed a lot to this situation which apparently is not comprehensible.

Likewise the youth in Kashmir is of late driven to drugs with codeine ingredients. Not only that many are using iodex, boot polish and fevicol as something to quench the thirst once they are pushed into this abuse. Not only the poor class which is most vulnerable but also the wards of rich and high profile are in the net. At the Advanced Institute of Management in Stress and Life Style Problems (AIMS) in Nigeen, Dr Margoob and his coulleagues treat scores of people who are coming with mixed reasons. “It is tough time to deal with them and many things are unimaginable” says Dr Surraiya at AIMS. Besides the drugs which are easily available in the market, other forms are smuggled from rest of the states. The wrong notion in India, according to experts is that the drugs only come from the area between Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent which they say is not true. “India is the only country where the opium is produced legally over 11000 kanals of land for making opium gum” says Dr Margoob adding “but most of it is diverted for drug abuse and those responsible for it do not agree and blame outsiders”.

In Kashmir the poppy and charas cultivation has been main concern and despite government claims to take on violators it is flourishing like an industry. Every other day police claims to have destroyed Fukki but who takes care of the bushes which are left in that process. If they are used for heroine production it will create havoc, experts opine.

The process to tackle the drug abuse in Kashmir is full of faults. Experts point out that the absence of drug policy in the state is the main reason for growth of this menace. Any person can get any medicine from the market without having a prescription from Registered Medical Practitioner. It is possible with the mushrooming of chemists, which have come up out of malpractices. “Unless we have a strong Drug policy and Drug Act we cannot control this,” said a senior doctor. “You have to crack a whip on this illegal industry”.

Inspector General of Police Crime, S M Sahai, agrees that the menace is growing but he says that government was putting its efforts to counter it at various levels. “We are looking at two aspects-reductions in demand and reduction in supply” he said adding “there are various agencies working and results are coming to the extent these agencies work”. But we need to do more, he adds.

Dr Margoob made a passionate appeal to the Civil Society to come forward and play the vital role in reaching to the people. “It is a multi-cornered responsibility and all the conscious people should play their role to save the society especially youth from drifting away,” he adds.


AT DRUG CONFERENCE, MINISTER SPILLS BEANS: Says for six decades JK has no drug policy

(Greater Kashmir News Network)

Srinagar: In Drug conference on 26 June 2008, the Health Minister, Sham Sharma, said the government has no drug policy for last six decades and accused the top officials of the state for exploiting the department for their own benefits.

He was speaking at a function, organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Police (Crime Branch) in connection with the observance of International Anti- narcotics Day here in B.Ed College.

Sharma said since 1950 the state government has no drug policy.

He however, said the government would come up with the policy within a month. He said the policy would help the government check the menace of over the counter sale of drugs which was major cause of medical opiates.

Sharma said rural and backward areas require attention and “it needs doctors who get reservations on backward category to render their service as a duty and commitment towards their people.” However he said the doctors who obtain the degrees on backward area certificates were preferring postings in cities rendering the whole concept of backward area useless.

He said the government spends crores on the doctors when they get selected for the MBBS and it was painful when after obtaining the degree they rush to foreign countries.

“The government might make it mandatory for student who qualifies MBBS and the post graduation to give an undertaking that after completing the degree they would work in the state at least for ten years,” the Minister said. The Minister said the Government might decide not issue passport to the doctors till they complete ten years of services in Kashmir. He said in case the professionals wish to have passport they should obtain the no-objection Objectionable Certificate (NOC) from heath department.

He stunned the audience saying that there are places where 40 doctors have been posted to treat 40 patients. He said 35 doctors were trained for the mental health programme and none of them were working in proper position. He said three doctors trained in the mental health were posted in Chanakyapuri in New Delhi. He said these people use connections to get away with everything.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda sought cooperation from all sections of the society to deal with this social problem subject. He said that Police Department has established a counselling and rehabilitation centre which is operating very successfully, adding the Centre is providing, free treatment and guidance to the drug abuse sufferers.

Clinical Psychologist Dr Muhammad Muzaffer Khan said Kashmir has witnessed turmoil for about two decades which had led to great increase in psychiatric illnesses and o
ther psychosocial disturbances.

“The alarming scenario of drug abuse in Kashmir has made the experts to comment, “we lost one generation to bullets and we may lose another generation to drugs”

He said the number of patients who visited drug de-addiction centre on daily basis is 2000 and number of registrations for inpatient treatment is 255.

“The Common drugs of abuse- Medicinal opiods and sedatives 75%, Alcohol increasing trend, Cannabis, and Volatile substance (correction fluid) alarming and often found in young school children .which is difficult to detect and more deadly,” he said. Dr Arshad Hussain, consultant psychiatric Disease Hospital also spoke on the occasion.

Institutionalized Corruption

Ghulam Nabi Mir explains how certain amendments to service rules give arbitrary powers to a particular class of top level bureaucracy

Encouraging Sycophancy

Advocate Gulam Nabi Mir


The Government, vide SRO-27,1 dated 28th July, 2007, made certain amendments in the J&K Administrative Service Rules, 1979, inserting sub rule 6-B in the said rules. However, this sub rule is not only arbitrary and harsh but smells of malice. The sub-rule needs to be repealed in view of the fact that it is against mandates of law, besides being violation of human rights. These rules are prone to misuse and manipulation, especially sub section d, e and f of sub rule 6-B; these are reproduced as under:

If the Vigilance Organization has received any complaint(s) against any officer, the gist and nature of such complaints shall be made available by the Vigilance Commissioner to the General Administration Department for placement before the Establishment-Cum-Selection Committee for taking a view.

Inputs obtained by the General Administration Department from sources other than Vigilance Organization about the reputation and integrity of the officer shall be placed before the Establishment –Cum Selection Committee for taking a view;
In case the officer has been acquitted in any criminal/vigilance case, the Establishment-Cum-Selection Committee shall examine the grounds of acquittal, i.e. technical grounds or merit. In case, the officer has been acquitted on technical grounds, the Committee shall make specific recommendations whether the officer deserves to be empanelled for promotion to the Special scale/Super Time Scale or not;

These sub sections of the sub rule 6-B appear to be inserted with bias and vendetta against a section of employees who either are not posted in the Secretariat or do not enjoy close proximity to the persons at the helm of affairs. These Rules can become a tool of coercion to make people fall in line. It is a potential threat against those who are against Sycophancy and dare to take bold initiative to fight this menace of in the Administration or plead for transparency in the dealings which is often seen as undesirable.

By virtue of these rules any officer can be deprived of promotional benefit merely on an imaginary case either contemplated or likely to be contemplated against him and even false implication would mar his career.

The canons of law of land are clear that unless a person is convicted by a Court of law he cannot be treated as guilty or said to have committed the crime and nobody can be condemned unheard while as the sub sections referred to above vest all legal/judiciary powers with the Establishment Committee and the persons in corridors of Secretariat. These rules are even abusive to most stringent anti corruption rules of state and by inserting these sub rules the Government proves that it does not either trust these rules or the agency implementing these. No law of any place suggests double penalty for a crime. However, under these rules if a complaint of corruption or misuse is established against an accused he would be twice panelized, and if proved innocent even then he stands penalized.

These extra constitutional powers provided to a particular class and agency are bound to tell upon the imitative of officers and would compel them to either camp in the corridors of Secretariat or in the kitchens gardens of their bosses. In case present Government is sincere in allowing officers to work transparently and without prejudice to any section of society it must ab initio repeal the rules on the grounds put forth above and as the same are not applicable to human society, admitted principles of law, and principles of natural justice.

Demanding Rights Without Accepting Responsibilities

Kashmiris complain about lack of power, but are not willing to pay for it either

J&K govt fails to meet power tariff collection targets

Ishfaq Naseem (Indian Express)

A month before the Jammu and Kashmir government will present the annual budget at Srinagar, the State government review of the power collection targets has found that the there has been a shortfall in the collection of tariff by over Rs 200 crore by the close of last financial year.

According to sources, before finalizing the budget a Jammu and Kashmir Finance department review has revealed that the collection of power tariff targets have not been met. The assessment of the tariff collection targets in state was taken up late as after the Jammu and Kashmir government led by Omar Abdullah took over in the state it presented an interim budget in March this year to get the authorisation of the assembly to spend Rs 9,503 crores till the end of August this year.

According to Finance department officials from the target of Rs 850 crores kept for the last financial year, Jammu and Kashmir power development department has only collected the tariff of Rs 633 crore by 31 March 2009. According to officials the targets were kept in the last year's budget with the government presenting a separate power project last year in which it gave a grim picture of power sector reforms and also the deficit in the collection of targets. “The collection of tariff in the power sector was a constant worry as the targets have not been met,” said, a top official of the state's Finance department, adding that the government will further build a pressure on the Power Development department (PDD) so that the tariff collection picks up.

Officials however also add that while the targets have not bee met in the collection of tariff, Jammu and Kashmir government has asked the Centre to continue provide the annual power reform grant of Rs 1300 crore for the next six years to upgrade the power distribution system in the state. Centre had started providing the power sector reform grants to Jammu and Kashmir government from 2006 which was to last for only three years.

However last year nearly Rs 1000 crore were not released to the state as it showed also poor performance in checking the transmission and distribution losses. Commissioner Secretary, Power, Sundeep K Nayak, admitted that the targets were not met last year. He however said that in this financial year government was aiming to perk up the annual revenue collection. “We were aiming at increasing the revenue collection in the state. The shortfall in the revenue collection targets has been mostly due to the fact that people didn’t pay the revenue,” he added.

Officials in the PDD said that the government has recently issued a circular fixing the revenue collection targets and even asking the staff of the PDD to take measures to reduce the transmission and distribution losses.

Barter Trade Across LOC Requires Trust and in Kashmir There is a Trust Deficit

Kashmiri traders may not admit it publicly, but Indian market prices are better than what across-the-LOC has to offer

More Kashmir based firms opt for Poonch route

Jammu: More Kashmir based business firms have started giving preference to cross-LoC trade from Poonch-Rawlakote route in Jammu region instead of Uri-Muzaffarabad in the Valley, mainly due to the fact that there was no report of any misunderstanding between the traders importing and exporting items on the barter system.

Only this week, two new trading companies from Kulgam district in the Kashmir valley conducted trade with PoK based firms through Poonch-Rawlakote route exporting tonnes of imli and rajmash.

Confirming that two new companies from the Valley joined the cross-LoC trade through Chakan-Da-Bagh route this Tuesday and Wednesday, official sources said there was no bar on the businessmen of entire Jammu and Kashmir to carry out trade with their counterparts in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from either of the two routes—Poonch-Rawlakote and Uri-Muzaffarabad.

However, they declined to comment on the reasons for Kashmir based traders opting for Poonch-Rawlakote route instead of Uri-Muzaffarabad.

Reports said Business Lines Trading Company, Kulgam conducted trade with Business Lines Trading Company, Muzaffarabad exporting tonnes of imli.

Mehmood Dar, Proprietor of Business Lines, Kulgam and Zahoor Dar, Proprietor of Business Lines, Muzaffarabad were in blood relation, reports said, adding they were divided in 1971 when Zahoor Dar left for PoK.

Both of them have kept same names of their company and were reported to be dealing in wholesale business of karyana and other items.

Yet another firm from the Kashmir valley conducted trade with a Muzaffarabad based company from Poonch-Rawlakote route on Wednesday.

M/s SAT Traders, Yaripora (Kulgam) exported tonnes of rajmash to Maud Trading Company, Muzaffarabad.

Both the firms of Kashmir valley were, however, yet to receive items and the consignments from their trading partners in PoK. It couldn’t be ascertained as to which items they have asked for from their counterparts in other part of the divided State.

Prior to this, about half a dozen firms from the Kashmir valley had conducted cross-LoC trade from Poonch-Rawlakote route.

According to sources, most of the companies in both parts of the divided State, dealing with barter system of trade were fully satisfied with import-export of items. The companies on both sides were receiving an equal amount of items after working out the currency variation of India and Pakistan which was the major factor that none of them had any complaint with each other.

It may be mentioned here that in the absence of any currency guidelines between India and Pakistan, cross-LoC trade between two parts of divided State on both Poonch-Rawlakote and Uri-Muzaffarabad route, which were simultaneously opened on October 22 last year, was going on barter system.

(Daily Excelsior)

Legacy from the Budshah Era

The 15th Century bridge was the first to connect two sides of Srinagar


AALI KADAL BRIDGE

Jamsheed Rasool (Greater Kashmir)

Thrusting aside its submissive meandering up to the Zaina Kadal Bridge, river Jhelum shows off its latent ferocity on reaching near Aali Kadal Bridge, which is also the first bridge to be constructed on river Jhelum in Srinagar.

The bridge was built between 1413-1420 by Sultan Ali Shah, the brother of Zainul Abiddin (Badshah).

Maharaja Pratap Singh, who ruled from 1885-1925, got it reconstructed at its own place and than it was G M Sadiq, the then chief minister, who got it repaired in 1964.

Five years ago a new bridge has come up at the place of the same old bridge.

The channel of the river compresses as one reaches the Aal-i-kadal Bridge, the river flows so strong that sometimes it is just a pleasure squatting on the nearby Ghat and airing the gentle breeze that the river carries with it.

In the earlier times when boat used to sweep under this bridge it was tossed about on the waves caused by swirls and eddies.

This bridge has been a doubtless witness of Kashmir’s transition to Islam.

To the north of Aal-i-Kadal lies the Masjid of Roentgen (some people call him Rinchan Shah) said to be the first Masjid in Kashmir.

Close to it lies the highly revered Jamia Masjid and Aastan-i-aali of Shah Woosi Sahib (RA) where it is a common sight to see women in large numbers busy in prayers.

To the south of Aal-i-Kadal bridge is the Mohalla of Rehbab Sahib wherein lies the relics of Peer Dastageer Syed Abdul Qader Jeelani (RA) and the Sehyaar Masjid where according to elders of the area Rinchen Shah, the first Muslim Ruler of Kashmir, saw Bulbul Shah pronouncing Azaan for the first time in valley.

Historians say the spiritual vacuum of Rinchan Shah finally got filled with prudence and contemplation when he got under the studentship of the great saint Bulbul Shah Lankar and embraced Islam.

Khalid Basheer in his Jhelum-the river through my backyard quotes an interesting story from Shamsuddin Ahemad’s Shah-e-Hamdan-Hayat Aur Karnamay. It is said that after being annoyed over an un-Islamic cultural show of dance and music organized by Zain-ul-Abidin on the completion of Zaina Lank which was an Island built by him on the Lake, Woosi Sahib(RA) jumped into the Wullar lake.

A frantic rescue effort was launched and the divers were put into service but to no avail. Dejected and heart-broken, the King decided to return to Srinagar. During his upstream journey Zain-ul-Abidin to his utter disbelief spotted Woosi Sahab near Asham, a place upstream of Wular, washing his Khirqah (dress of a religious mendicant) on the banks of river Jhelum.

After having expressed regret, the King made him to embark on the boat. The Boat journey concluded at Aal-i-Kadal where the Woosi Sahib spent the rest of his life in devotion to Allah.

Like the shrine of Woosi Sahib many other shrines adorn the banks of the River Jhelum and have remained a focal points of religious activities for the Muslims of the valley.

The various Ghats on the banks of the river Jhelum served as the present day bus stands and railway platforms where people would collect in numbers to go to their destinations in different types of boats and also to send and receive cargo. Every devotee before going to the shrines on existing on its banks would first bathe or perform ablution (wadu) in the river Jhelum.

Thus these Ghats remained crowded with people all times of the day.

A Ghat and a Yarbal is a platform made of a local stone on the river bank and connected with a stone-stair going up to the Bund. Since the river transport has ceased to operate in Kashmir, these Ghats including that near the Ali-Kadal Bridge, are used by washermen to wash clothes and carpets.

The Ghat near Ali Kadal Bridge known as Daeb Ghat or washermen’s Ghat is famous for washermen and even today it is a common sight to see washermen smashing clothes against the stairs or twisting the clothes by putting their feet on one side and twisting the other side of the cloth.

“We have been doing this job from many generations. Government is unconcerned about the plight of the Daeb Ghat as the stairs have roughened and they need to be repaired if our business has to continue” says Ghulam Rasool pointing towards the bumpy stone of the Ghat.

Yarbal was used by people, especially women folk, to wash clothes and fetch water for drinking and cooking purposes.

There are several places in Kashmir with Yar connected with their names like Khanyar, Naidyar, Surasyar, Shahrayar, Badyar, Sehyar, Ganpatyar etc. “This bridge was the first to be constructed on river Jhelum. It has tremendous significance in the history of Kashmir and this bridge has been witness to many events of great political and social importance” says Farooq Fayaz, a teacher of History at the University of Kashmir.

As the river swiftly roars towards Nawa Kadal, this bridge reminds us about the measureless resilience that the Kashmiris are endowed with.

The boys swimming near the river cutting across the unsparing waves tell us about the vigor of both the Kashmiris and the river Jhelum.

Should Kashmiri Leaders be Cheering a Meeting With a "Missing Topic"?

Mr. Bukhari comments on the recent talks between the Pakistani President and the Indian Prime Minister where the topic of Kashmir simply did not come up

(Syed Rafiuddin Bukhari, 72, was born in Kreri in Baramulla District. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Kashmir Media Group that publishes the English daily, Rising Kashmir, and soon-to-be launched Urdu daily, Bulund Kashmir. He had his early education in Sopore, Beerwah and then in Srinagar where from he got his post-graduate degree in English from the University of Jammu and Kashmir, and took up job as a teacher in higher education department. He taught English in various colleges in Kashmir took voluntary retirement in 1995 as Professor. Even though not a professional journalist by training, he has been extremely successful in the field, launching SANGARMAL, the first ever multi-coloured Kashmiri newspaper from Srinagar which is now in its fourth year. Later in 2008, he created the Kashmir Media Group. His interests are reading and writing and building value based institutions.)

Indo-Pak Thaw and Kashmir

Kashmiri separatists have a unique characteristic. They do not lose time to react to a meeting, particularly between India and Pakistan. As stake holders in Kashmir issue, they are supposed to make their responses, but any meeting which discusses Kashmir merits a response and not the one in Russia, between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in which the latter was on back foot. The only positive side of the development was that both the leaders met for the first time after Mumbai attacks. And Kashmir was no where in the short conversation half of which took place in full media gaze.

Instead Dr Singh took on Zardari like a Headmaster of the School. He shook his confidence leaving him nervous. His (Dr Singh’s) focus was on terrorism and did not move beyond that. Zardari responded with a meaningless grin and had nothing to offer him when asked about what his government did to tackle the terror directed towards India. A fumbled Zardari did try to mollify him but Dr Singh was clear cut in driving home the point that if Pakistan can launch a crackdown on Taliban why not on those who according to Dr Singh were hell bent upon creating disturbances in India.

So Kashmir figured nowhere in the talks about which more hype was created by Kashmiri leaders here by welcoming “God Knows What”. Both sides did agree that Foreign Secretaries will meet in July. But the meeting, according to those privy to the development, will be uni-focal and Pakistan will be asked to produce the “Report Card” on what it did to reign in the terror against India. This is substantiated by the wrath Zardari is facing back home where he was asked to explain as to why he failed to rake up the Kashmir issue and was like a lame duck in front of Dr Singh. That is why he has put of his proposed visit to Egypt where during the NAAM Summit both leaders were again expected to meet and carry forward the dialogue. Now Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani is likely to attend the meeting.

Pakistan’s failure to miss Kashmir at the meeting should be seen in the backdrop of its disturbances within the country. Pakistan is going through the worst face of instability and tackling Taliban, which is its own creation, in collaboration with United of America, is becoming difficult with each passing day. Till a few years back its (Pakistan’s) sole attention was focused on Kashmir and no opportunity was lost to push India to the wall. But now the situation is entirely different. India’s ostensibly strong diplomacy and increasing proximity with Washington is playing a significant role in cornering Pakistan on the issue of “terror”. Ironically Pakistan is America’s ally in “War on Terror” but India has found a place in “Victims of Terror” category alongside America. This advantage is going in favour of New Delhi to brand even a genuine political struggle as an off shoot of “International Islamic Terror Network”. But in this game of pushing one another to corner, both Washington and Delhi are playing safe. While Obama administration is prone to pressure from New Delhi on Kashmir, but it subtly kicks off the Kashmir issue as it was done recently by Burns. This is being done to sooth the Pakistani sentiment keeping in view its importance in taking on Taliban-Alqaeda nexus which the Washington thinks is detrimental to its existence.

India is also playing safe and giving an impression that it was not washing its hands off the solution to Kashmir issue. Dr Singh’s well tailored strategy to send a strong message is something to kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand he responded to Washington’s desire to resume the dialogue with Pakistan and on the other he made it possible to assert his country’s position vis-a-vis terror. He clearly told Zardari that his mandate was to tell him that what he was doing on terror. So the talks, though resumed do not have any bearing on Kashmir as of now.

This becomes more interesting in the wake of recent agitation. Pakistani analysts believe that Zardari was better placed in that sense to raise Kashmir issue but he was so weak that Dr Singh didn’t allow him to even sweat. Any dialogue between India and Pakistan, in the recent years has centered on Kashmir. This is in spite of the u-turn made by former Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf when he talked about out of box solution. But this time, Pakistan’s quagmire is redefining the contours of dialogue between the two countries. This certainly pushes Kashmir out, unless Pakistan takes a radical line, which in the given situation seems impossible. It goes beyond any doubt that Pakistan is one of the principle parties to Kashmir dispute and its role can never be ignored. But at this stage when the Pakistani government is grappling with the worst ever crisis, the Kashmiri leadership should stop looking towards Islamabad and think independently to charter their own course.

This is imperative as the situation on ground does not show any signs of reconciliation and the people’s mood is defiant. If separatists claim to be representing true aspirations of Kashmir they should have their own roadmap, otherwise will have to bear with the accusations like one by Dr Singh that they have nothing to offer on table. Leave Pakistan aside for the time being and let the country recover, but wake up and think big to deliver on resolution. This is the demand of the time.

Environmental Degradation in Kashmir is Occurring on Both Sides of the LOC

Zafar says that development at the cost of destruction of environment is self defeating

(Mr. Zafar Iqbal, 32, was born in village Tarar, Rawalakot, in the Poonch district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He did his early schooling in a private school, matriculating through examinations conducted by the Mirpur Educational Board, and completed his higher secondary education from the Government Degree College in Rawalakot. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Rawalakot campus), and his M.A. in Mass Communication from the Punjab University in Pakistan. He received international scholarships to attend the International Summer School at the University of Oslo in 2005 receiving a Graduate Diploma in Media Studies, and the Nottingham Trent University, U.K., in 2006-2008 receiving M.A. in Media & Globalization. Mr. Iqbal has been a journalist working in the print and TV media since 1999 and is very active in human rights, earthquake relief and rehabilitation especially involving women and children, and inter-faith harmony. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Press for Peace (PFP) and the Founder-President of the Environmental Journalists Forum, both based in Muzaffarabad. Mr. Iqbal has been invited to numerous national and international seminars and workshops related to human development.)

Perilous Development

Pakistan has initiated a mega power project in its administrative part of Kashmir without fulfilling mandatory environmental obligations required for development projects. Contemporary international environmental laws and standards bound all governments and their publics to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and ecological surveys (both phase1&2) in every developmental project to achieve goals of sustainable development.

Nonetheless, Pakistan’s official Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), has started the construction of US $2.16 billion- Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Project in a remote and scenic Neelum Valley, 100 km to the north-west of Islamabad, through a consortium of Chinese firms in order to generate 969 Megawatt electricity, without fulfilling the set global criteria.

The project will divert Neelum River, which originates from Indian part of Kashmir and also called as Kishangana, through a 47-km long tunnel system to another river Jehlum near Muzaffarabad, capital of the Pakistan-administered Kashmir. After 8 years of its completion period, it will be the first underground hydropower project of its kind in Pakistan which the government claims is under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 reached between India and Pakistan, and the country would get “priority rights” to the use of its waters trough this significant project.

The officials of local Environmental Protection Agency working in project area have confirmed that WAPDA has started the construction work on this mega project discarding environmental considerations. The builders, however, insist that the proposed project does not pose any threats to the ecological system of the area, as an initial study conducted in 1990s had suggested ‘limited environmental impacts of the project’. On the other hand, local ecologists contradict these claims of WAPDA authorities.

“Much has been changed during this period in terms of people’s conditions, needs and ecology and necessitates fresh evaluation of the concealed damages, says an EPA source, forecasting alarming hazards to local ecosystem due to hurriedly-launched commencement of this mammoth development venture, which excruciatingly ignores required mechanisms envisaged for the protection of environment and rights of local populations.

Today, Pakistan, with 40 per cent population without electricity, is facing severe energy crisis. In some areas the duration of load-shedding has reached to 16 hours a day, paralysing national economy and daily routine life as well. Government has already scrapped its long disputed Kala Bagh Dam project after uncompromising reservations from its federating units. The country, crippled by a surge in extremism, suicide attacks and recent military operation against the Taliban, is struggling to overcome its energy deficiencies in order to run its day-to-day affairs in a smooth manner. Apparently, newly initiated mega power project in northeast area is part of its attempts to alleviate huge shortfall in electricity sector which has increased 5,000 MW range.

Ostensibly, in their hastily convalescing measures, Pakistan’s development pundits seem to negate parameters of sustainable development and public concerns. The power authority of the country is being criticised harshly for bulldozing rights of indigenous population, which maintain that government is going to deprive them from their cultivable land and fruit orchards, which already, have been affected by Indo-Pak rivalry along LoC, the de facto border of divided Kashmir, and subsequent earthquake of 2005. Similarly, the package offered for the compensation of farmers’ lands do not equal to the market price of property and it has been termed as disgracefully low, and has created profound resentment among affecters.

“The government must pay the compensation of affected land according to market price and arrange alternative residential towns”, demands Tariq Ali, a representative of Action Committee of affected farmers.

Likewise, local environmental groups also carp deliberate violation of laws by government’s own officials and have expressed their concerns related to prospective environmental hazards on local economy and biodiversity. Ecologists say the project area has significant conservational importance due to abundant of forests, aquatics life and presence of many species of wild life, which have been declared endangered globally.

This scenic valley, where the said project is being built, plays a key role in the configuration of Himaylan ecosystem. It is also serves as the habitat of various rare species considered on the verge of extinction. Pheasants are abundant in this locality and conservationists suggest that developmental activities would impact their natural habit, wildlife nourishment (both terrestrial and aquatic). Ecosystem change also destroys feeding as well as breeding grounds, with a resultant loss of fish species. Projection of large area reduces public access to certain localities, and thereby affects outdoor recreation opportunities. Interestingly, Global Environment Facility (GEF) has contributed millions of funds to protect local natural resources through Machiara National Park Projet which is one of the three globally significant national parks selected for a GEF-funded project.

Paradoxically, this severe deviation of conservation laws and measures by WAPDA in this area is also contradictory from world bodies and governments’ efforts for the protection of natural resources and wild life in this important ecological zone.

In Kashmir, 88 per cent population lives in rural areas and depends upon forestry, livestock and agriculture for their existence. Water of rivers and natural springs is also considered a major source for drinking and irrigation of lands located at the banks. Local population around the flow of Neelum river also concern that the diversion of the river would cause an acute water scarcity, making life of inhabitants miserable, particularly, a huge population of capital city of Muzaffarabad would be at the stake, because Neelum river is the chief source of water provision for this population through lifting and purification process.

No doubt, power generation is vital resource of energy in development, which is basic human need but it must not be done at the cost of disruption in biodiversity, habitat loss, fragmentation and the displacement of indigenous populations. Many hydropower plans and strategies are made without looking at the ‘big picture’, and as a result these projects can have negative impacts on the environment. Luckily, some of the damage done to biodiversity by hydropower can be reduced by equipment upgrades, mitigation measures, and proper management. Local user groups and other stakeholders should be involved in decision-making, to keep good relations concerning peoples’ livelihoods and the sustainability of aquatic resources. River systems should be thoroughly studied jointly with concerned agencies (e.g., electricity, irrigation and fisheries, environment authorities; and local authorities) during formulation and application stages of this project.

Professor Hamid Ansari Speaks at the University of Kashmir

Riyaz' commentary on the Vice President's speech followed by the text of the speech by His Excellency Hamid Ansari

(Mr. Riyaz Masroor, 37, was born and raised in Srinagar. He is a Srinagar based journalist who writes in English, Urdu and kashmiri. Besides working in the local press, his articles have appeared on BBC Radio online, Himal Southasia and the Journal of International Federation of Journalists.)


Let’s set the clock right

“Time, regrettably, does not stand still,” said India’s Vice President M H Ansari in his fairly admired speech in University of Kashmir’s Convocation Hall on 20 June 2009. Reading out from a carefully crafted speech that featured an interesting discourse on identity, assimilation and integration, the Vice President went on to say, “We never step into the same river twice; nor can we use a time machine to re-live a gone by era. This university campus, and its endeavor in different branches of knowledge, suggests a desire to move with time (“Time”).”

Mr. Ansari remained too scholarly to elaborate his opening metaphors but the message went down without any loss of meaning. The speech has a richer subtext. The VP, it may appear in the context of Kashmir situation, was pointing to the “time” when India had a poor international clout and its 'unofficial' ally USSR was falling apart; the “time” when Kashmiri boys rose up against Indian military and the country’s growth rate was at measly five percent or less; the “time” when Pakistan had enough wherewithal to continue a 'proxy war' in Kashmir and get away with it; the “time” when India would not find a single politician or intellectual to plead her case; and the present “time” when India is China’s ‘friend-at-large’ and America’s officially stamped buddy; now Pakistan gives out signs of implosion; many layers of Kashmir’s privileged classes are serving New Delhi’s cause in the guise of ‘regionalism’ or ‘soft separatism’ and the Americans or the Europeans find it difficult to pull up India publicly over the Kashmir mess. The Vice President, unlike a rhetoric-obsessed politician, did not tell all this, he just conveyed it decently. Mr. Ansari’s urging came rather more obliquely. He appeared suggesting Kashmiri people, especially the youth that they should not “step into the same river” once more. Precisely, it was a clear conclusion on part of the Vice President that the “time” for Kashmiris to pursue special political goals, which entail the alteration in the status quo, was long over.

The emphasis over this urging is of significant note: “…nor can we use a time machine to re-live a gone by era.” And even more significant is the historical context of this remark. Recall 1974 parleys between then Indian premier Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. Abdullah told Gandhi that he wanted to begin from where he had left in 1953 and got a terse reply: “While I respect your sentiments, I must tell you that the hands of the clock cannot be turned back." Between 1974 and 2009 New Delhi’s approach toward Kashmir, as Mr. Ansari’s speech may suggest, has gone through as much evolution as can be observed in a clock (of Indira Gandhi) becoming the time machine (of M A Ansari); the expression differs, the text is same. If late Mrs. Gandhi, in her politically blunt expression, had refused to turn the clock back in 1974, Mr. Ansari, in his academically subtle style, has only reiterated her remark in a modern slang: “…nor can we use a time machine to re-live a gone by era.” Both the statements have the nuanced message, which is DENIAL in soft words.

Back to the Vice President’s speech: Following his figurative assertion was a positive hope: “This University campus, and its endeavor in different branches of knowledge, suggests a desire to move with time (“time”).”

This too is an open-ended or we can say a ‘double-edged’ remark, which can lose the real meaning if not elaborated. After all which “time” did Mr. Ansari refer to when it appeared to him that the KU campus suggested a “desire to move with time”? And if it is the same “time” as construed above, then, can we safely assume that the educated youth of Kashmir have finally decided to repulse all the notions of Azadi or separation from India and allow themselves and their future to be integrated if not assimilated, as the Vice President would prefer, within the grand Indian Union? These are some interesting questions, which need elaborate answers.

Unlike the university culture Mr. Ansari may have experienced in Aligarh, our university here is a cut-out government institution where the free expression may not be visibly curbed yet it is not sincerely promoted and is subtly discouraged. Or, certain ‘enlightened souls’ prefer security to the job rather than free speech and end up in a self-imposed intellectual exile. After all what is a university? Describing the university as a utopian state, Edward Said believes that the university should not be, and cannot be, a place where a victorious party uses the university as a place to expand its program. (Power, Politics and Culture pp 189-190).

The Vice President candidly explained that the convocations are to academic life what festivals are to social life. Given the immediate context in which this convocation was held Mr. Ansari’s insightful comment pales before a massive security restriction on the eve. The students as well as the scholars were asked to leave the campus in order to organize the “festival” smoothly. It is not yet clear if the visiting dignitary knew all of this, but the sanctity and the grandeur of the convocation was all too smeared in the wake of irritating security curbs put in place days in advance.

Mr. Ansari’s incisive take on “assimilation” (fusing of a culture or civilization into another dominant one) and integration Which implies the coexistence of a weaker cultural group alongside a dominant one. It’s a huge debate for which intellectual heavyweights such as Late Edward Said, Chomsky and Late Eqbal Ahmad have produced enough material. But Mr. Ansari’s attempt to deconstruct the broader concept of civilization identity in case of Kashmir seems inspired by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s Identity and Violence –The Illusion of Destiny. Without going too deep into a weighty philosophical discourse, one can afford to assume that Mr. Ansari has attempted to view Kashmir situation as an extension of Indian Muslim problem, which it is not. That is, perhaps, why a 'generous' integrative enterprise from India has not paid off since 1947. True, the clock cannot be turned back. What if the clock were terribly wrong? Yes, we readjust our clock when it doesn’t show the right time. And the “time” has come to set the clock right so that the Kashmiris “move with the new times”. Time here, Mr. Vice President, has regrettably stood still for 62 years.

Following is the text of the Vice President, M Hamid Ansari’s, speech delivered at Kashmir University on the occasion of 17th Annual Convocation on 20th June:

“B’ naam-e-khuda-vand jaan aafarin
Hakim-e-sukhan dar zubaan aafarin

It is difficult to come to Kashmir and not be reminded of an admiring visitor’s
penned many centuries back:

‘Kashmir is a garden of eternal spring. Its pleasant meads and enchanting cascades are beyond all description. There are running streams and fountains beyond all count. Wherever the eye reaches, there are verdure and running water.’

Time does not dent the beauty of nature. Time does allow humans to enhance the benefits they derive from it. Time, regrettably, does not stand still. We never step into the same river twice; nor can we use a time machine to re-live a gone by era. This university campus, and its endeavour in different branches of knowledge, suggests a desire to move with time. It would undoubtedly please the spirit of saints and rishis who inhabited this land in yesteryears and imparted so much of wisdom and spiritual solace to the people.

I am happy to participate in today’s ceremony. Convocations are to academic life what festivals are to social life; they signify rites of passage, the passing of seasons, a celebration of achievement and benediction for facing the harsh world beyond the somewhat sheltered academic environment. The motto of the University –– From Darkness to Light – exemplifies the transition that graduating students undergo.

Convocations are also occasions to draw lessons from the experience of life. I too may be permitted to do so. Let me begin by recalling a couplet addressed to students of my own alma mater a long time back by a poet very well known to you:

Auron ka hai payam aur, mera payaam aur hai
Ishq ke dard mand ka tarz-e-kalaam aur hai

My message today pertains to the world of tomorrow. We live in an era of rapid change. A quarter of a century back an eminent historian wrote on the need to prepare for the twenty first century; he offered the prognosis that instead of a ‘new world order’ we confront ‘a troubled and fractured planet whose problems deserve the serious attention of politicians and public alike.’ The man and woman in the street, he added, know that their world is changing; they demand political responses in addition to technological ones.

I venture to suggest that these matters are of critical relevance to a society like ours. India is engrossed in challenges of development and political empowerment. It is one-sixth of the world in terms of population and is a microcosm of the diversities that characterise our world. It has been rightly called ‘the largest multicultural society in the world.’ The accommodation of diversity has been an Indian trait down the ages, made possible by an innate capacity for synthesis. How do we use this asset in the future? In what manner can we harness it for accommodating the competing demands of identity, autonomy and integration in a world that is perennially shrinking and inter-dependent?

How would this translate into institutions and practices? How would it impact on the daily lives of citizens? What may be the pitfalls that need to be avoided? What, in concrete terms, should be expectations of youth from society? A healthy society faces these, and related questions, and responds to them meaningfully.

The process of social cohesion proceeds from small groups to larger ones; each step enlarges the common agenda and reveals points of convergence and divergence; each divergence necessitates a choice: rejection or adjustment in the wider framework. In this manner rights and duties, as also adjustment and accommodation become integral to social life. The process also reveals a desire to distinguish between what is shared and what is held close to the chest. The latter generates the impulse for self-management or autonomy, to the exclusion of those who participate in managing the realm of what is shared. It thus becomes an essential characteristic of identity and reflects on patterns of governance. When transferred to the sphere of public life, it takes the shape of several autonomies – horizontal, vertical, political, fiscal and cultural - that may be sought. In this sense, autonomy ceases to be an exceptional principle in a democracy and, instead, becomes one of its essential ingredients functioning, in the words of one scholar, as ‘autonomies in perpetual dialogue among themselves, linked by respective

It needs to be admitted straight away that the question of identity, integration and social cohesion is complex and necessitates conscious and continuous efforts at calibration of challenges and responses. It requires identification and justification of areas of autonomy and integration.

Two other terms, deprivation and alienation, are contextually relevant in relation to groups. The former signifies persons who find themselves disadvantaged or lacking for reasons beyond their control; the latter denotes estrangement, social isolation and powerlessness. Both impact on social cohesion.

A clear distinction is to be made between assimilation and integration. The former implies the blending or fusing of minority groups or cultures into the dominant society or culture. It is usually reflective of the desire of the dominant group on grounds of cultural nationalism and is resented and resisted by minority ones. Integration, on the other hand, implies the movement of minority groups and the underprivileged sections of a society, without erasing their identity, into the mainstream of the society to give them full access to the opportunities, rights and services available to the members of the mainstream. It is always a two-way street and thus goes hand in hand with social solidarity.

The debate on identity, autonomy and integration was part of the Indian discourse in the Freedom Movement and in the formative period of the Constitution. In the words of a distinguished academic, ‘the Indian Constitution was well ahead of its time not only in recognizing diversities but also in providing for representation of the collectivities in the formal democratic structures.’ The special provisions for guarantees or affirmative action in six broad categories – caste, class, backwardness, religion, region, sex and language – is evidence of this approach for securing justice and ensuring cultural autonomy in a composite culture within a framework of a quasi-federal structure driven by an overriding imperative of maintaining territorial integrity.

Closer scrutiny shows that the multiple identities so recognized are amplified in our Constitution for legal and operative purposes and total as many as thirteen - identities grounded in religion; identities grounded in language; caste identities; tribal identities; community identities, such as in the case of the Anglo-Indian community; class identities, such as in the case of the socially and educationally backward classes; racial identities, notably prohibiting discrimination on grounds of race and permitting notification of specific races or groups within races to be deemed to be Scheduled Castes; gender identities; identities grounded in region, place of birth or residence, especially in the context of prohibition of discrimination and provisions contained in Part XXI of the Constitution; identities based on age, such as those provisions relating to children and the aged; minority identities, whether based on religion, language, script or culture; identities grounded in descent, especially in the context of non-discrimination on grounds of descent; and identities based on occupation, such as agricultural or industrial workers, defence personnel or civil servants etc.

Accommodation of diversity has thus been consciously incorporated as a distinctive feature of the Indian state. It implies that a standardized image of an Indian cannot be constructed; if presented, it is partial, incomplete, misleading. Despite this accommodative framework, there have been acts of omission and commission impacting on identity and integration issues.

Perceptions have evolved nationally and globally and highlight areas that remain to be addressed. Democratic politics and economic liberalisation has also strengthened regionalist trends. Linguistic reorganization has ceased to be the culmination of the process of expression of identities. Linguistically homogenous states have been subdivided over grievances of development. New demands for statehood continue to be made on grounds of ethnicity, culture or regional grievances. The imperative of better governance adds a sense of urgency to these.

These impulses of identity assertion and recognition confront two contradictory trends at the micro and macro levels. On the one hand, forms of identity assertion at national and state levels combined with existing patterns of political mobilisation have been perceived as thwarting the impulses towards internal integration and consolidation. A modern market economy does not coexist with autarky. On the contrary, societal transformation resulting from economic growth and urbanization has erased or downplayed certain identities while emphasizing new ones. Each of these impacts the political agenda at local, regional and national levels.

At the other end of the spectrum, we are living in a global village where new integrating impulses have gone beyond national boundaries weaving nations into a common fabric of economic and financial architecture, shared membership of multi-lateral institutions and common value systems governing individual and state behaviour. Countervailing forces have also emerged. Thus, globalization has produced a counter trend of resurgence of nationalism and of an emphasis on national and cultural identities.

Domestically, one notices certain unhealthy trends towards a homogenising nationalism that flattens diversities, and has little respect for local cultures, value systems and ways of life.

What do these developments mean to common citizens? What indeed is our vision of the interplay between identity and integration in the 21st century?

First, it is clear that living in isolation is not an option. It is nevertheless essential to realize that there are many ways of living together. Integration is necessary and desirable; assimilation is neither desirable nor practical. Throughout our history, we have seen identities being built on a series of inclusions and exclusions reflective of ground realities. The challenge in the future, as in the past, would be to maintain a balance in favour of inclusions.

Second, political management of identities and ethnicities has tended to vary between accommodation, polarization and manipulation. The only workable arrangement for a country of our diversity is accommodation in a constitutional and democratic framework. This necessitates negotiations with the state, and by the state. The politics of polarization and manipulation practices should have no place in our country.

Third, in an evolving polity and a developing economy, institutional dynamism plays an important role in making the conceptual transition from plurality to multiculturalism. The latter ‘is concerned with issues of equality: it asks, whether the different communities living together peacefully, co-exist as equals in the public arena.’ Such an approach would result in ‘a form of citizenship that is marked neither by a universalism generated by complete homogenisation, nor by the particularism of self-denial and closed communities.’ Such a vision of society would be contingent on the citizen body imbibing a new set of values.

Fourth, the youth in the age group of 15-35 years constitutes nearly 40 per cent of the total population of India. It is the same in the case of Jammu and Kashmir. This group represents the most vibrant and dynamic demographic segment and constitutes potentially a most valuable human resource. Youth empowerment would mean effective participation in decision making processes, with requisite knowledge, skills and capabilities. It is premised on attainment of higher educational levels and expertise by our young citizens, in line with their abilities and aptitudes, and access to employment opportunities.

How is it possible?

Two years ago I had, as the Chairman of the Working Group constituted by the Prime Minister on Confidence Building Measures, submitted a set of recommendations which also focussed on the Kashmiri youth. The issue was also addressed in the Report of the Working Group on Economic Development of J&K. The Prime Minister had expressed complete agreement with the view that implementation of the Working Group recommendations was the key to retaining the confidence of the people.

There is no option but to reconstruct the economy of the state ravaged by two decades of militancy. The potential of youth must be utilised to get out of the ‘backwardness trap’ of low economic activity, low employment and low income generation. Better education and health for the youth lead to inclusive growth where the poor continue to grow and benefit from it.

The graduating students today represent a minuscule and fortunate elite among youth having obtained tertiary education. We need to focus on creating adequate facilities for technical and vocational education, for skill up-gradation and improving employability of youth. New opportunities in services sector, including in the IT industry, must be made available to the youth of Jammu & Kashmir.

The youth of Jammu & Kashmir, like in the rest of the country, want to fulfil their potential, lead lives with dignity and honour and contribute to their communities and the nation. The Government is committed to enable this and thus herald a new future for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

How realistic is such an approach? The answer seems to lie in our experience with other innovative norms that challenged orthodoxy. The processes of devolution of power to Panchayats and Nagar Palikas, the acceptance of the need for transparency in governance, the insistence on fundamental rights and observance of human rights norms, are instances of new perceptions impacting on state practice. Each proclaims a new beginning; none can yet claim perfection; all need to be pursued vigorously. The challenge, as Richard Falk would put it, is for ‘morally sensitive and forward-looking political forces’ to ‘seek unexplored normative potential.’ No segment of public is better qualified to do it than the youth. For them immobility, retreat, or disinterest is not an option.

I felicitate the students graduating today and wish them success in life. They would, I venture to hope, hold aloft the banner of the University and adhere to its motto. As citizens they should remember Edmund Burke’s dictum that ‘the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ To do so meaningfully, they need to heed Allama Iqbal’s advice:

Jab tak na zindagi ke haqaiq pe ho nazar
Tera zajaj ho na sake ga hareef-e-sang.

The focus, above all, has to be on self development:

Taamir-e-khudi kar, asar aahe rasa daikh.

I am grateful to the Chancellor of the University for inviting me to participate in the Convocation today”.

Phrases Unfamiliar to Separatists - Can They Handle it?

Javed says that Hurriyat has to seriously work for the "socio-economic" and "psycho-educational" development of common Kashmiris

(Mr. Javid Ahmad Dar, 26, was born and raised in Srinagar. He received his Bachelor's degree from the Amar Singh College, Srinagar and secured first position (Gold Medalist)in Master's degree from the Political Science Department of the University of Kashmir. Mr. Dar passed the National Eligibility Test held by the University Grants Commission (UGC-NET) for lectureship position and started as a Guest Lecturer in the Department of Law, University of Kashmir, shifted for a short-term to the faculty of the Government Degree College, Baramulla, and presently holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Post-Graduate Department of Political Science in the University of Kashmir. He is also enrolled in the M. Phil program.)


Challenges for Hurriyat

The Hurriyat Conference over the past few months has been under a scanner for its, what many call, apparent failure of missing the historic opportunity. It was not only for the first time that the Separatist leadership failed to capitalize the situation rather it has a history of ‘missing opportunities’. Hurriyat faces challenges within and without. Internally, democratization and decentralization are to be carried out; sooner the better.

It has to reach to every corner of Kashmir and make people aware of their rights. It has to appraise the young generation of the Career opportunities and sponsor the education of the poor students. It has to initiate programmes of financial assistance on wider and deeper scales. It has to seriously work for the socio-economic and psycho-educational development of the common Kashmiris. There are many things which people can wait for but certain things, if left unattended, make achievements all but meaningless. The victims of violence whether targeted by militants or by coercive machinery of the State cannot be left to die in the open. Government has made only a feeble attempt for a particular ‘class’, but both the classes of militants (whether state or private) and civilians do need help in different proportions. The more you ignore the problem, the more complex it becomes. This problem has given birth to many other problems of drug abuse, flesh trade, child labour etc. and, thus, grows an urgent need to arrest the root of this complex whole.

Many a people argue that the decision of breaking the Intifada of summer 2008 proved immature and ultimately brought the movement to such a place where from it had previously started; Nowhere. They strongly lament for missing ‘something’ which was to come out of the box; may be 1953 position, complete Aazadi or…. May be their estimation was correct in their own over-estimations. This position has brought even Syed Ali Shah Geelani into a position of defense when he shifts the responsibility to Co-ordination Committee. The problem lies in fixing a balance between the problems and the prospectus. Probably ‘people’ or some elements over-estimated their achievements (of making empty stomachs dance on the tunes of Azadi) and under-estimated the strength (of fiercely chasing even the best runners) of the other party—the State. A velvet hand was too optimist of crushing an iron-hand when the latter had not demonstrated what it is known for. How long would have an average man living a hand to mouth life fought against a mighty Institution putting his survival at both the levels of being a combatant (which otherwise he is not) and at domestic front at risk?

How long would have some “haves” donated in cash or kind or both for all “Have-Nots” of both rural as well as urban Kashmir? People were crying for food and some people whose food containers had been empty for several days because of Hartals and stringent curfews did not appreciate the means and methods adopted by the leadership. There were some people who donated food grains in the afternoon only to ask for the aid in the evening and, unsurprisingly, some asked for the help despite having enough of it in their stores because the cause was dear but dearer was the family. The families which were about to starve would have breached the “code of conduct” and parents would have felt proud in being blamed as “traitors” than to allow children die of hunger. The business class was biting the dust because it was they who inflated the atmosphere for which they had to (unwillingly) pay a heavy price later on.

Needless to mention that Kashmiris agitated in unison, during summer 2008 uprising. But not only masses even the leadership could neither understand the situation nor decide the future course of action or foresee the implications of it. A journalist friend told me that they (Journalists) were hunting for a man (perhaps credible) to give out a strike call and thought of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. When the call was positively responded (which he initially perhaps was not sure of) he spearheaded the movement till the other flock (of leaders) followed and Co-ordination Committee was formed where Hurriyat was in minority. None could peep beyond the obvious! Co-ordination Committee deemed itself it as a State within a State; a similar situation which had forced the thinking people to strike against. Capital has its own interest and it is in pursuit of it irrespective of anything and everything which an innocent sentiment never comes to know of. No one can rule out the role of the capital but its role is to be determined, failure of which results in its dominance and subjugation of the cause for which it was called in.

Hurriyat should welcome every quarter but before handing over the reins to such elements it must look beyond the surface. It hurriedly embraced even such elements which had accidentally landed at its platform. They had their own agenda other than Hurriyat’s to work on. Hurriyat’s intentions of making it ‘inclusive’ have merits but inclusion of disgruntled elements is pregnant with serious ill-consequences. “Pretentious friends are more dangerous than known enemies”, advise wise. The way you never make them to wait to come in and handover the peoples’ aspirations whose representatives you claim to be, in the same fashion they are always ready to hijack your cause and peoples’ sentiments which none could easily make out from their words. Hurriyat must, first of all, strike against it. It is quite easy to call anyone in PDP or even NC to join the Separatist camp but taking a flood into the fold needs a proper assessment of the possible ingredients or threats of the muddy water that you wish to mix with, what you call, holy blood of devotees. Past mistakes cannot be undone today but, in any case, they should not be repeated.

One of the biggest outside challenges that Hurriyat faces is PDP, which is regarded as a ‘soft-separatist’ group by some quarters within India. It has emerged as a state party with reasonable strength, on the one hand, and tries to be an alternative voice of the alienated lot, on the other. Over the past few years, PDP has been using or abusing the stands of Hurriyat Conference—be it Self-Rule, Demilitarization or Revocation of Draconian Laws like AFSPA or People to People contact in which they made a progress by opening few traditional routes along the LoC. At one point of time, it talked about a separate currency for the State of Jammu and Kashmir. So far as its solution in shape of Self-rule is concerned, its content could be different than that of Self-rule which Hurriyat Conference talked about, at least during Musharaf period. Demilitarization is to be defined—does it mean sending military back to barracks which PDP demands (Pre-1989 Position) or 1949 Position or complete vacation as was proposed by Mc. Naughton Plan or reduction in troops’ level as suggested by Graham’s Mission. Usage of same term for different demands does not make the different organizations similar. Hurriyat has not only to expose the PDP agenda but also to precisely define its own demands and the terms it associates with such demands.

It has to be fully equipped with the contemporary currents of conflict resolution mechanisms and the history as it operates today. The political demands have to have contemporary relevance. Past cannot be negated in any case but the present cannot be dumped down for the sake of past rather it is to be used to make a better future. Certain slogans can be postponed for a time being until a mature time comes but, at present, priorities need to be thoughtfully fixed and pursued in such a manner which costs the least.

"It is Impossible to Analyze DNA of a Kashmiri"

A Common man and a regular reader of GK seeks answers to a wasteland called Kashmiri politics


KASHMIR - AT THE CROSSROADS

S D Shah

I am a regular reader of Greater Kashmir for the past of couple of years. Journalism in Kashmir is a very risky job and both print and electronic media have to walk on sword’s edge while reporting events. A healthy trend has started now where people of valley have started to speak out their minds. While going through mail addressed to editor of GK one comes across divergent views about events occurring in valley particularly about merits and demerits of Hartals and strikes.

This trend should get encouragement and we should be tolerant enough to give freedom of expression its due space. I am a common Kashmiri and no authority on political matters. I have my own viewpoint.

It was March 1990.There was a total chaos and government had no control. Every road and street was brimming with people of every age shouting freedom slogans and flashing ‘V’ signs. It was free for all and security forces were mowing down unarmed slogan shouting people with impunity and without any accountability. Freedom music sung by AJK singers resonated in every direction. In those days there was favorite programme on AJK radio station dedicated for the people of valley whose name I do not remember right now. There was one typical character “Amm Saeb’ in that particular programme. One evening while listening the programme the other character addressed Amm Saeb in Kashmiri with AJK accent and the loose translation sounds like this ‘ we will offer next Friday prayers at Hazratbal shrine, Inshaallah’. The atmosphere at that time was full of uncertainty and freedom sentiment was it its highest.

Two decades have gone by. A lot of water has flown in river Jhelum since then. Kashmiris have witnessed death and destruction at a mega scale. We have witnessed five parliamentary and three assembly elections since then. We have added many more lacs to our teaming population. A lot has changed in Kashmir and its surroundings. The whole world has witnessed massive changes since 1990. What was relevant at that time is a thing of past. Communism has disappeared and soviet union disintegrated. World has become uni-polar now and U.S.A is busy in establishing its hegemony. Few tiny Muslim dominated countries like Bosnia and Kosovo emerged in Europe after disintegration of Yoguslavia. At that time it were Russians dying in Afghanistan and the same country is now becoming graveyard for American and NATO soldiers. Pakistan is fighting a bitter war on its own soil for survival. U.S.A has invaded Iraq twice and now entangled in a bitter street warfare there. After 9/11 happenings the myth of America being invincible and economic powerhouse has been exposed.

Economic freedom is now outshining political freedom. Economic considerations are now driving force in creation of better relations among countries. Economic blocs are now more relevant now than defence ones. The economic meltdown of 2008 has shown that all that glitters is not gold. One could not believe his eyes watching on TV long queues of homeless people in front of community kitchens for free meals in USA. The huge joblessness even in developed countries has shown the fragility of capitalism. This has lead to depression among people, increase in crime and suicide rate.

This is just glimpse of what changes took place in the world in the past two decades and it will certainly have some effect on situation in Kashmir. In this time of cable TV and Internet it is hard for any government to conceal the facts. What we achieved in these twenty years is highly debatable. What we certainly got is ‘shaheed mazars’ in every nook and corner of valley and a bruised psyche. There will be hardly any person who has not suffered by gun. For the information of the generation born during this period we observed hartals and strikes for months together at a stretch. Full marks to Kashmiri as they have handled all shutdowns deftly and shrewdly. In even months of shutdowns they squeezed some days to provide opportunity for government employees to draw salary and store essential commodities.

The hartals and shutdowns will lead us no where because it affects small percentage of population particularly students and daily wage earners. For maximum number of people it provides reason enough to enjoy type of holiday. This has resulted making people lethargic and mentally sick. It is right of every citizen to resist any excesses and infringement of their human rights.

The agitation in June 2008 against the Amarnath Land Transfer was spontaneous reaction of people of valley as they perceived it to be conspiracy to change the demographic status of Kahmir. The government of that time buckled under public pressure and had to revoke the order. I still remember the brief press conference where President of Kashmir Bar Association Mian Qayoom who was heading co-ordination committee said in simple words ‘ we have won. Go and celebrate’ This showed people agitated under a particular set up and scored a victory against that particular establishment. Unfortunately this victory was short lived as the public anger was guided in another direction. The blockage of Srinagar-Jammu national highway by hindu fanatics added fuel to fire and was followed by chain of events resulting in the loss of precious seventy lives in prime of their youth. If that agitation would have been unconditional and complete opening line of control, I am confidant that I would not have been requiring passport to travel to other part of my home land. The economic integration with AJK will ultimately lead to political integration.

Recent horrific events in Shopian have again showed how attempts are being made to channelize the public anger in other direction like last years Amarmath Land Row agitation. Our focus should be not to rest till culprits are caught and handed down exemplary punishment. This is the demand of bereaved family and the residents of Shopian. It is the duty of every Kashmiri to show complete solidarity with the bereaved family and not forget like Tabinda Ghani and Romana cases. Why these double standards? Because killers of Romana were Kashmiris. At least leaders spearheading present agitation would just have appealed people to observe a social boycott of families of these goons.

My dear fellow Kashmiris freedom is not so cheap that it can be a achieved through efforts of few hundred stone pelters and shutdowns. If any outsider will visit Kashmir first time on a normal day when there is no hartal and seeing roads and markets teaming with people and vehicles, who can imagine what has happened all these years. A country fighting for independence should have bombed out buildings like Bosnia, vast swathes of refugee tents like Darfur Sudan and large chunk of population walking on crutches like Afghanistan. It looks like both present government and separatist camp are playing to gallery and there is someone checking their report card. On a normal day the winner is government and on a shutdown day it is the other group. Both sides are having ostrich like approach for situation prevailing in Kashmir. Both state and central government should realize that there is a perennial problem beyond bijli, sadak and paani. They should take immediate steps for its solution because what they perceive normalcy is superficial. The problem will manifest time and again and needs spark for ignition which agents of destruction are ready to provide.

It is the moral duty of separatist camp to unite and chalk out strategy for future course. They should put forth a road map before public for achieving the goal of freedom with its clear definition.They should realize that political freedom is meaningless without economic freedom. If they guarantee freedom then even a decade of protests and shutdown is worth it. They should take cue from recent history. The last years historic agitation where lacs took part had an anticlimax in shape of massive participation of people in assembly elections. Just before his death late Ghani Lone was asked a question in a press conference”. Lone sahib if you enjoy so much public support, why don’t take part in elections” The reply of Lone was terse ‘If I will field my servant against Farooq Abdullah, He will win with thumping majority’. And now see what drubbing his child got in recent assembly and parliament elections. While addressing mammoth gathering at Eid Gah last august our young Mirwaiz wearing shimmering and flowing white robe got so much carried away that he issued an ultimatum to leaders of mainstream parties either to join their movement or leave Kashmir and later events need not to discussed.

It is impossible to analyze DNA of a Kashmiri. He is highly unpredictable and no one has been able to decipher his original nature. It high time for Geelani Sahib, Mirwaiz Sahib and Malik Sahib to leave their differences and egos behind for sake of hapless Kashmiris to sit and chalk out a programme which will get us out of this nightmare. The whole Kashmiri nation has great faith in them at presnt. We all know that Hurriyat(G),Hurriyat(M) and JKLF are non-entities without these stalwarts. They sneeze we observe a shutdown. They should disassociate themselves from huge number of single person parties and prove themselves to be true well wishers of kashmiris. They should take every step with great caution because they know that it takes little time for Kashmiris to carry their leader on shoulders and to crush the same leader under feet.

The Voice and Conscience of Disabled Community in Kashmir

Javed makes a feverish pitch, denounces the State government for denying a peaceful march on the Helen Keller Day, and meets with the Vice President (three related stories)

(Mr. Javed Ahmad Tak, 35, was born in Bijbehara in the Anantnag district. He received his schooling from Government schools in Bijbehara, and his B.Sc. degree from the Government Degree College in Anantnag. Unfortunately, at the age of 21 he became a victim of a terrorist bullet which hit his spine and disabled him for the rest of his life. However, he overcome mental and physical odds to complete his Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Kashmir, and also completed certificate courses in Human Rights and Computers from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Although wheel-chair bound, Mr. Tak is recognized as a leader who has relentlessly and with extreme passion taken up the cause of disabled people in J&K, seeking full citizen rights guaranteed under the J&K Disability Act but never implemented in the past. He is a founder-member of numerous NGO's dealing with issues and sensitizing public about challenges faces by physically handicapped people in Kashmir. He has received numerous awards and citations for his selfless work and has attended numerous workshops on disability rights around the country.)

Allocate 3 p.c. budget for us: disabled community

Syed Basharat (Kashmir Times)

SRINAGAR: Ahead of budget session 2009-2010, Humanity Welfare Helpline Organisation (HWHO)-an NGO working for the welfare of disabled community in Jammu and Kashmir, has asked the minister for finance and planning to allocate three per cent budget as per reservation quota in favour of the disabled as a rehabilitation package which can improve the education, employment and access level of the community.
In its letter forwarded to state finance minister, Javed Ahmad Tak, chairman HWHO has said though under Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disability Act 1998, they are guaranteed with equal opportunities; protection of the Rights and full participation but at the policy level disabled community is kept at margins. "A sympathetic approach is related to us. This makes us more handicapped and victimised by social stigma," Tak adds.

The chairman HWHO has further said the government has failed to protect their rights which are guaranteed under various laws. He has added that the disabled community in the state does not seek any undue favours but their rights be protected under law. "The time has come that as per reservation quota three per cent budget allocation be made in our favour. That will decrease our problems."

Tak, in his letter, has lamented that disabled community is being denied reservations in professional courses and competitive exams. This is because there are no proper facilities for children with disabilities at primary schooling level, he has said and added that thus most of the children with disabilities turn to be dropouts and few reach to secondary level and fewer to the higher education level.

"So far we are a crippled lot who do not have access to courts, government offices, transport and public places. Because such places are not disabled friendly at all. We have to face humiliation at the every entry point," Tak said and added that the intelligent human resource is made handicapped by promoting and providing destitute pension in the name of social security.

"These funds on practical grounds create insecurity and disgrace to physically challenged in the society. A grant of Rs 400 per month or Rs 4800 per year is simply to add insult to our injuries. Can a person with disability manage his needs with such a little amount? Is it security or insecurity? We need a full time commissioner who would look after the matters of disabled community," Tak has demanded.

The letter reads further: "Before giving a finishing touch to the under process budget we should be taken in consideration and three per cent of budget should be allocated for the complete rehabilitation of physically and mentally challenged (the disable people) so that we can get proper education, appropriate employment and access to anywhere we need."

While talking to the Kashmir Times, Tak said that the government has always treated disabled community with a step motherly approach. He said the infrastructure needed by the community is a long pending demand before the government, which has always ignored the same on different pretexts.

"I fail to understand why the good sense does not prevail on our leaders? Why do they ignore us? Are we not human beings? Why the government fails to protect our rights? Is our disability our sin?" Tak rues.

Disabled denied permission to protest

Srinagar: At a time when, every political party and people with vested interests sponsoring engineered 'shows' in Srinagar have a free access to any pocket in city to hold what they called 'protest against muzzling their rights'; the genuine and the most neglected (disabled) community in our society has been denied permission by the district magistrate to highlight their genuine concerns.

Abiding by the legal procedure, Humanity Welfare Helpline Organization (HWHO) a group of few disabled youth working for the welfare their community, had sought permission from the deputy commissioner Srinagar to hold peaceful protest rally on the birthday of great and renowned (disability) activist Helen Keller on June 27. But the same has been denied by the additional deputy commissioner on a pretext that situation was not 'favorable' to allow any protest rally.

"We had planned to organise a rally which would include children, youth and women with disabilities. The protest rally was scheduled to march from press enclave and culminate near chief minister's private office at Church Lane in Sonawar, where we had decided to submit a memorandum to chief minister. But we have not been allowed to go with our programme for reasons best known to authorities," said Javed Ahmad Tak chairman of HWHO.

The group has been working for the rights of the persons with disabilities, running a school for disabled children at Bijbehara in South Kashmir and has collaboration with other NGO's in Srinagar as well, who also run schools or homes for the disabled people.

The aim of the rally, Tak said was to highlight the disability issues and sensitise the common man and state government towards the protection of rights of persons with disabilities. "We will not protest in ugly way or raise any slogan that might harm the national integration or communal harmony. But our rally will be peaceful just taking banners and play cards highlighting the problems of the persons with disabilities," reads the application submitted by Tak.

Tak in his application hopes that the administration will definitely allow them to highlight their issues to gain equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation as guaranteed by the JK- Disabilities Act 1998.

"The additional deputy commissioner denied any written denial. I fail to understand that when the situation is not favorable for us how the administration allows employees, political parties and other groups to hold protest demonstrations in this situation,' asks Adil Rashid, a member of HWHO who had submitted the application before DC Srinagar on behalf of Tak.

It is pertinent to mention here that Jammu and Kashmir has over three lakh disabled people and the major contributor this figure has been the two decade old conflict, which forced the state government to enact a law for the protection of their rights. Time and again, HWHO has called for an increased cooperation between the government and NGOs to ensure better care, protection, welfare and rehabilitation of the people with disabilities, as the number of number of disabled, both physical and mental, has increased manifold in the state due to the ongoing conflict.

What adds to the gravity of problem faced by these people is the government's failure to chalk out a comprehensive plan for rehabilitation of this vital component of the society. "In 2003 the state government had hiked the monthly pension of the disabled people from Rs 150 to Rs 200 and it was proposed to be taken to Rs 500 in a phased manner. But any sane person can understand that is it enough on government's part. The government treats us beggars but we want it to make clear that we are for the protection of our rights and not for your alms," Tak rues.

A delegation of persons with disabilities met Vice President of India

A delegation of persons with disabilities met His Excellency the Vice npresident of India under the leadership of Honorary chairman Humanity Welfare Organisation HELPLINE NGO working for the Rights of the persons with disabilities in J&K. The meeting took place at Raj bavan at 6: PM. The delegation requested Jenab Ansari regardding the implementation of the draft policy framed by the J&K social welfare department in 2006 for the Welfare of Persons with disabilities in lieu of JK persons with Disabilities Act 1998 and UN convention of persons with disabilities recently ratified by INdia. Instead of Pension the delegation demanded the rights based approach from the government. In addition the implementation of recommendations made by the working group meant for the rehabilitation of the victims of the armed conflict. The working group was formulated by the honorable PM of India of which Jenab Hamid Ansari is the headhead.

His Excellency The Vice President of India assure of taking the matter at both state and cental level.

Seeking Minority Rights in a Land Starving for Pluralism

Sanjay and his associates float an advocacy group to address the shrinking economic and political space for minorities in the Valley

(Mr. Sanjay K. Tickoo, 46, was born and raised in Srinagar. After graduating from Hindu High School in Sheetal Nath, Srinagar, he completed his B.Sc. degree from S. P. College, Srinagar. Currently self-employed, his hobbies are reading and traveling. He is among the 4,000 brave Pandit souls who have weathered the worst of the militancy in Kashmir, and is proud to call himself a citizen of Kashmir who stayed put in the valley. He is the President of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti - KPSS.)

'Kashmir Minority Forum' Formed

Srinagar: The members of the minority community still living in the Kashmir valley formed a '' Kashmir Minority Forum'' (KMF) today to safeguard their interests.

In a joint statement here this afternoon Sanjay Kumar Tickoo and Harvinder Singh Raina, who were elected Covener and General secretary of the forum, alleged that during the past twenty years of uncertainty and turmoil in the Kashmir Valley minorities have been deprived of their fundamental rights.

They said even the Right to Live has also been put under a big question mark due to the step-motherly treatment of the successive Governments of the State and the Centre. Mr Tickoo and Mr Raina said the local politicians are also treating the minorities as second class citizens but never miss a chance to cash our miseries for their petty political gains.

They said the minorities, who chose to live in the valley even after the armed uprising, in a historic move decided to form the forum as they remained neglected by the successive governments at the Centre and State.

We have constituted a Minority Forum under the name ''Kashmir Minority Forum'' having its head office at Jawahir Nagar.

They said the Forum was constituted by the various factions of the Society to make it a single platform for all the minorities living in the Valley.

Mr Tickoo and Mr Raina said the KMF will raise voice against the Human Rights violation against the minorities in the Valley, safeguard their interests and fundamental rights, impress upon the central and the state governments for budgetary support, including employment, establish minority institutions, re-construct minority religious places, business establishments, and Government sponsored re-building programmes and financial support for BPL families.

The KMF will also work for special budgetary allocations for financial support for medical assistance who are suffering from serious ailments, strengthen relations with the majority community and to start serious dialogue with them to assure safe existence of minorities in the Valley.

State's Mantra: Go Where the Money is

But will anything significant be achieved? Does the sun rise from the west?

Protecting Kashmir Environment: Jairam flags off Rs 2000 Cr mega project


CONSERVATION PLAN
• Dal Lake : Rs 1100 Cr
• Wular Lake: Rs 386 Cr
• Forest protection: Rs 600 Cr


Srinagar: Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh Monday announced a number of monetary packages of the Government of India to the tune of over Rs 2000 crore to protect State’s green pastures, forests, rivers and lakes.

Addressing a press conference here at SKICC on the banks of Dal lake, Ramesh said Rs 1100 crore will be spent on cleaning of the lake and rehabilitation of Dal dwellers.

“However it will go in a phased manner which will initially involve Rs 300 crore to be spent on cleaning of the lake, 40 per cent of which has been completed,” he said.

Ramesh said the next phase would take up Rs 800 crore that will be used not only to provided land to the Dal dwellers but “it will be a complete resettlement which will involve both land and houses granted to the Dal dwellers”.

Flanked by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister for Forest and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad, he said: “I and the chief minister have agreed on this issue. We will not only offer land for relocation but houses too would be made available for the 10,000 families that make the Dal dwellers.”

He said the State government was, in this regard, making a proposal while New Delhi was ready to offer assistance of Rs 800 crore for this phase and “once I fly to Delhi I will take this issue with the prime minister and the Planning Commission”.

Ramesh said: “Besides the 13th Finance Commission will visit the State very soon, I will also seek financial assistance from it for the restoration of the lake,” Ramesh said.

He said the entire process will take two years to complete while New Delhi was planning to buy heavy duty water de-weeding equipments from Finland.

“Besides three more sewerage Transport Plants (STPs) will be installed in the lake,” he added.

Ramesh informed that the State government had identified almost 7000 kanal of land, which would be the new home of Dal dwellers.

Ramesh, who arrived here on June 21, visited the Dal, Nigeen, Khushalsar, Anchar, Manasbal and Wullar lakes and his visit involved reviewing of the projects under execution for the conservation of water bodies in the state.

For the restoration and protection of one of Asia’s largest fresh water lake, Wullar, the union environment minister informed that Rs 386 crore had been proposed and plans submitted before the Government of India. “I promise that I will put my weight behind the project and get it approved for the Wullar lake restoration. I would love to champion the restoration of Wullar lake which is three times than Dal Lake and has strategic importance,” he said.

He said another project which New Delhi would initiate on River Jehlum would involve sewerage plants at Islamabad, Srinagar and Sopore.

“And the estimation cost on this project will be around Rs 250 crore,” he said.

Ramesh also asked the CM to provide a Detailed Project Report which would pave way to clean and beautify the river on the pattern of river Ganga and Yamuna.

“Once the State government submits DPR, we will pursue the issue which will see River Jehlum being cleaned on the pattern of River Ganga and Yamuna,” Ramesh said.

The union environment minister also informed that Japan's International Cooperation Agency, the second largest organisation of aid to development in the world behind the World Bank, has offered Rs 600 crore for the forest management of the State which is pending with New Delhi for the past 7 years. “I will ask the government to release that money.”

The union minister said he would also take up with the Union Finance Ministry the issue of funding of World Bank projects for integrated watershed development programs.

Keen to exploit an amount of nearly Rs 11,000 crore garnered under afforestation fund, Ramesh said the funds collected by the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority, a body appointed by the Environment Ministry on the direction of Supreme Court had been released which include Rs 181 crore deposited in the name of Jammu and Kashmir State.

“This money is collected from states for projects that divert forestland to non-forest use and your share is Rs 181 crore in it. All this money will be made available to the state government very soon,” he explained.

He also announced separate projects for the safety and protection of endangered animals which include Snow Leopard and Hangul.

“The projects will work the way ‘Tiger project’ does,” he said.

On the fast retreat of Himalayan glaciers and possible scarcity of water in future, he said the process was being monitored through satellites and “we are soon going to organize a national level seminar in September in which suggestions from State experts will also be taken”.

On whether there was any monitoring body that would review the Dal lake project, he informed that a team from IIT Roorkee had prepared the DPR 9 years ago for the restoration of Dal lake and added that they would keep on reviewing the developmental works of this project.

“I also want Pollution Control Board to make public its reports that it submits to government after every quarter,” he said.

Meanwhile in his brief address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the government was exploring an extensive program to upgrade degraded forests.

“A large portion of our forest area is degraded. We are looking for ways and means to implement a project for upgradation of degraded forests,” he informed.

Minister for Forest and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad informed that there was an immediate need of assistance which would help restore forest lands that are constantly degrading.

Giving figures, he said: “Forty nine per cent of the forest land of the state excluding Ladakh stands degraded while 10 to 12 per cent has been encroached.”

(Rising Kashmir)

Misplaced Priorities in an Agrarian State

Proof that the State bureaucracy does not cater to the agricultural sector which is the back-bone of Kashmir's economy (and the reason why)

Mission failed

Directorate of Agriculture must explain its failure to utilize the funds released under Technology Mission

Economic exploitation and pathetic scenario of development in Kashmir may have its roots firmly placed in the depths of the conflict politics but it has become an excuse for us to desist from digging into the mismanagement of economic opportunities by our officialdom. Why a significant portion of funds remains unutilized in Kashmir is a question that needs to be asked with an increased vehemence now. Without taking our gaze off from more violent and devastating ways of economic exploitation, media and civil society need to engage with this matter.

The story about the funds released by the Central government under the Technology Mission Scheme for procurement of hybrid seeds reaming unutilized this year also is an indicator of how a common man in Kashmir is losing an opportunity just because certain officials don’t pass it on to him. Since our bureaucracy and the ways in which funds come and go have remained a mystery land for a commoner in Kashmir, it hardly becomes known how much money is siphoned off, how much is wrongly utilized and how much gets lapsed. Otherwise a scandalous act, here it passes off as something of a routine. Take this Technology Mission case and it becomes clear that how deep the rot is. An amount of one crore, according to the officials, has been sanctioned by the Government of India to the Directorate of Agriculture for procurement of hybrid seeds from various MNCs.

These seeds are meant to be distributed free of cost among the farmers of the Valley. If the Directorate spends all the money and produces the utilization certificate more funds can pour in, meaning an expansion in the circle of beneficiaries. Since the seeds are high quality and yield more produce, it can significantly add to the vegetable production of the valley. The advantage from marketing point of view is also huge. The time when vegetables are produced here is the lean period of production for outside Kashmir areas, because of the temperature factor. This could easily mean a ready market for our vegetables outside.

The benefits of this scheme, thus become easily understandable, but what pesters is the fact that still the funds have not been utilized. Contrary to Valley the same scheme is being briskly followed in Jammu. Here the comparison between the functioning of departments in Kashmir and elsewhere becomes sharp. Now that the funds remain unutilized farmers acquire seeds of lesser quality from the open market on meaty prices. This way we lose from both ends. The officials of the directorate must explain their position on this matter and ensure the procurement of seeds and their distribution among the farmers of the valley.

(Rising Kashmir)

Battle Over Pashmina

It is a doggy dog world out there

Indo-Pak Battle Over Pashmina

New Delhi: A new thread was added to the Indo-Pak tussle over a patent for Pashmina. At loggerheads for a while over a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the prized wool, Pakistan said it is “open to a joint GI tag”, shared by both sides of Kashmir. India said this is possible only if Pakistan’s Pashmina is the same quality for which it has sought a patent.

If Pashmina gets the patent — Kashmir Pashmina — it will join the league of Darjeeling tea, Alphonso mango, Assam orthodox tea and Muga silk. New Delhi’s efforts to give Pashmina the tag hit a hurdle with two Pakistani trade lobbies contesting its claim.

President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Pakistan-administered-Kashmir, Zulfikar Abbasi, told HT: “Pashmina is common Kashmiri heritage. A patent for Srinagar Valley would be unfair just like a patent only for Pakistan. We are open to a joint GI status.”

On whether India would consider a joint patent, Srinagar’s Craft Development Institute Director MS Farooqi said: “A joint GI is possible only if it is proven that Pakistani Pashmina is the same wool as our. The finest Pashmina is found only in the Srinagar Valley.”

(Hindustan Times/Greater Kashmir)

Presrving Kashmir's Unique Wildlife

Everybody knows that Hangul is special

Hangul: Pride of Kashmir

Fida Ali Lankar (Rising Kashmir)

Hangul or Red Deer (Kashmir Stag) is mostly found in Dachigam. It feeds on broad leaves of herbs and shrubs. A large number of tourists attract Dachigam National Park because of “Hangul”. Mostly foreign tourists are fond of Hangul. The extent of the where Hangul used to feed used to be was very vast, but because of encroachments it has reduced to a great extent. Another factor that is disturbed the life of Hangul is that during summer flocks of sheep and goats come from distant areas for grazing in meadows and hilltops, creating disturbances in the months of May and June which is the period for Hangul to breed. The huge flocks of sheep pose threat to Hangul as they are being accompanied by dogs. Sometimes a young Hangul falls prey to these dogs which results in the decrease in the number of Hanguls.

As if the threat of summer grazing by sheep and goats of Bakerwals were not enough, a government sheep breeding farm took a four square mile chunk out of the lower Dachigam area which was a prime habitat of Hangul. This farm laid a claim to the grassland on the south facing slopes of Dachigam up to the “Droophama”, VIP bungalow and a little beyond. These grasslands are a rarity and were already getting affected because of sheep grazing. The presence of sheep naturally increases the danger of disease as was illustrated in 1977 when a Capdone Hangul in an enclosure died of Shane’s disease. This was believed to have spread from nearly sheep farm. This farm continued to pose problems for the winter feeding. Up to 1987 the Hangul were seen at the entrance point of Dachigam Park. But due to encroachment from last 10 decades Hangul is now rarely visible in this area.

It is heartening to find out that the Wildlife Department has played a very vital role in the preservation of all the wild animals including Hangul. Due to prevailing turmoil extra burden came on the shoulder of Wildlife Department, preferably ward and watch employee. The number of Hangul, which as per latest census is about 180, would have been less due to turmoil and other unfavorable conditions had the employees not put in their bit.

We must note the fact that besides saving Hangul from dangers, new methods must be applied for their artificial breeding as is applicable in various countries of the world. Further Government sheep breeding farm may be shifted to some other places to do away with the apprehension of diseases as well and to restore the earlier catchment area.

Committing Harakiri

Why is the Broader Civil Society silent when the state is gasping for economic revival?

Grenade Incident Attempt to Paralyze Tourist Industry

Srinagar: Several tourist trade organisations and prominent citizens of society have condemned and expressed deep anguish over the grenade attack that took place yesterday at Dalgate, the tourist hub of Kashmir.

President, Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, Mr. Abdul Khaliq Wangnoo expressed surprise that whenever tourist trade starts picking in Kashmir, particularly tourist hub of Srinagar area, these anti-people incidents occur, which are directly against the economical interests of lakhs of people, whose trade is associated with arrival of tourists in Kashmir.

Wangnoo said that it is unfortunate that on one pretext or the other, uncomfortable atmosphere is being created by vested interests for large number of tourists, who are destined to come to Kashmir, particularly in summer months.

Wangnoo said travel associations have invested a lot of money in travelling abroad to convince people to visit the State, but incidents like these drift the tourists away from Kashmir. “This is the peak tourist season. We receive pilgrim tourists as well as those on pleasure trips. Yesterday’s grenade attack has been of concern to them and they are already shortening their stay,” he added.

Chairman, Travel Agents Association of India, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Siah, while expressing shock and anguish over the Dalgate incident, said that projection of violence and such grenade incidents directly affect the psyche of lakhs of tourists, who make schedule every year to come to Kashmir. He said that consequently for the last several years, people have suffered huge losses because of some abrupt incidents of this nature.

Thousands of persons associated with tourist trade, industry, handicraft and other related business establishments were of the opinion that during the tourist season, violence of any kind or any nature is not good to survive this tourist industry in Kashmir for long.

The parents of school and college-going children were also of the view that these types of incidents create scare among student community to go to schools as well as colleges due to which their education is directly affected and we are leading to such society where our educated youth will not be able to compete with others in this competitive world.

Siah said it is unfortunate that whenever tourist season starts in Kashmir, such incidents push away tourists, incurring huge loss to the people involved with tourist trade. “Thousands of people plan to visit Kashmir every year and once grenade attacks like these occur, they cancel visits and go to some other place, collapsing the State’s economy,” he said, adding people in Kashmir are of considered view that no such incident should happen again.

Lost City, Lost Souls

Ashraf takes a drive down the memory lane in a time and place that was once vibrant with diversity and culture but today has been reduced to ugly mansions and failing infrastructure

(Dr. Mirza Ashraf Beg, 69, was born in Sarnal, Anantnag. He did his primary schooling at the Primary Hanfia School in Anantnag and completed his F. Sc. from the Government Degree College in Anantnag. He completed his medical degree (MBBS) from the Government Medical College Srinagar, University of Kashmir, in 1967, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pathology from the Government Medical College Jammu, University of Jammu, in 1981. He served as the Medical Director of the Civil Hospital, Pahalgam, until 1983 and subsequently held senior administrative positions in the health service system of Saudi Arabia, including participation in a joint program with the Johns Hopkins University and the University of South Florida for a United Nations project related to environmental and ecological impact of the 1991 Gulf War. He is an Executive Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Red Cross (nominated by the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir), Member of General Medical Council, Jammu and Kashmir, Medical Council of India, Saudi Medical Council, and General Medical Council, London. He is proficient in Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, English, Arabic.)

Tagore Hall, my Taj Mahal

With the passage of time certain objects or bits and pieces become landmarks not to be forgotten ever. Thus they carve out a position in our minds and once they are removed, desecrated or neglected for one or the other reason you are shocked and mourn their absence and pity their fate. The giant size white wooden horse at Dhan Ji Bhai properties at residency road, Mir Pan house near Regal Chowk , Chaurasia pan house at Lal Chowk and Ahdoos hotel were some of the landmarks of sixties of Residency road in Srinagar. These landmarks were the centre of social and political activities during my training period in government medical college at Srinagar.

Besides that despite the rough roads travel from peripheries of north and south to central Kashmir was safe and hassle free. There were no traffic stampedes, no reckless driving - hence no road traffic accidents of the present days. Driving licenses were issued after proper scrutiny, bribery was negligible and law enforcing authorities were prudent towards their duties. Admissions to medical college and regional engineering college were on merit. Donations and caption fees were unheard of. Government had engaged the best teachers from all over the country to teach in these institutions of learning.

Tagore Hall built in late fifties rose to its fame because of hosting hundreds of cultural and social programmes during the last half a century in the city of Srinagar. Despite being in a dilapidated condition today its unique architecture is still attractive and focus of attention for anybody travelling on the link road carved out of Iqbal Park in the vicinity of Bakhshi stadium. Its close proximity to the medical college that was established in 1959 in a couple of old buildings on the banks of river Jhelum where the busy and crowded Lal Ded hospital stands today gave shelter to the students for their extracurricular activities. I am talking of the days when coeducation in the valley had just been introduced and eve teasing was an unpardonable sin. The divine teacher - taught relationship was based on reciprocal affection and respect. I am sure every scholar of those days must have scores of his sweet memories buried in the four walls of the historical building known as Tagore hall of Srinagar. Incidentally Srinagar medical college has attained its fiftieth anniversary this year and needs to celebrate its golden jubilee with all the festive. It should be proud of hundreds of its alumni who have reached to their zenith all over the world and added grace to the already graceful medical college Srinagar that has always imparted a class education to its students. The memories of the celebrations of college day in 1962 in Tagore Hall are still fresh with me.

“Ay Jazbay dil ghar main chahoon Jo cheez muqabil aajayay
Manzil ki taraf do gham chaloon to samnay manzil aajay.”

The song sung by a senior student in her melodious voice still reverberates in my ears while she kept her word and proved her mettle. She is an eminent gynecologist of the state we should be proud of. Similarly a folk drama was played by a group of students all of them though retired from active life have been an asset to the community.

Due to the influx of automobiles in recent years one has to wait in long queues on filling stations. During one such tiring waits a couple of years back I noticed a pair of beautiful but fading eyebrows focused on me with very romantic goggles sheltering labyrinthine depths of a pair of eyes behind the dark shadows that were unsuccessfully trying to hide her age. Despite the changes that age is bound to bring in we succeeded to dig the days of youth in each other and forgot to fill the gasoline in our automobiles. Hence there was a traffic jam and life came to a standstill. For a while we were lost in the memories of past when my better half the conscience keeper sitting next to me in the passenger seat reminded me that I was getting late for the prayers . It was a pleasure to learn she had had a successful tenure--- was a proud grandmother thus I hurried to offer my Friday prayers in a nearby mosque at Hyderpora crossing.

“Time you old gypsy man where have you been
Last week in Rome and last week in Babylon”

During the last twenty years of turmoil in the state the valley of Kashmir got a severe set back while Jammu has vividly progressed a lot. Its excellent roads with flyovers, its multi story buildings, well planed colleges and schools speak of its developments. To fulfill a long desire to see some of my friends who after their retirement have taken refuge in Batra College I had a chance to visit this magnificent institution where we need to take a lesson and pass a word of appreciation. At the same time it was shocking to see one of my old friends bereft of his beautiful tuft of hair holding his brainy head like an island on his lean neck, lost in the reveries of the struggle for existence, sipping black coffee in the common room. Despite the tragic separation with his life partner he is as humble as ever. Though it took us some time to recognise each other after a lapse of forty years yet for a while we returned to the days of gossip in the dark corridors of our medical school in Karan Nagar.

As I said certain objects become a landmark of a place and it becomes our duty to save and protect these landmarks. Just like Taj Mahal has memories of Shah Jehan and Mumtaz buried in that monument with verses of Qur’an cut out of black granite engraved in white marble and millions of people come to pay their homage to the bereaved souls besides seeing this seventh wonder of the world. Similarly Tagore Hall at Srinagar where you don’t need a moonlit night to appreciate its beauty has been a home to scores of historical events and it needs due attention so that it does not die with the passage of time for want of proper repairs and a face lift.

Victim of Circumstances

Tanveer has quite a story to tell

(Mr. Tanveer Ahmed, 37, was born in Gurutta, Tehsil Sensa, in the Kotli district of Azad Kashmir. He received his school education in Luton, Bedfordshire, U.K., and completed his college education from Dunstable College and the Thames Valley University, where he received his B.A. Honors in Economics. He has done various professional courses relating to financial markets and IT. His personal interest are diverse covering sports, reading, music, travel, adventure and food.)

Crying for Reunion

Before 2005, my Nana was the main obstacle between my Nani [in Pakistan] and her family [in India]. Now it’s the relationship between India and Pakistan, narrates Tanveer Ahmed the pain of a Sundered Hindu-Muslim, Indo-Pak-Kashmiri Family that cries reunion

I AM a 37-year-old British Mirpuri Kashmiri. Four years ago, I came to Pakistan with the sole intention of taking my Nani, my maternal grandmother, across the Line of Control to meet her family on the other side of Kashmir.

She was born into a Hindu-Brahman-Saasan family in the early 1930’s, on the Pakistani-administered side of Kashmir, not far from what is described as the Line of Control (LoC). The communal frenzy and folly that was August 1947 in the Punjab was replicated in Kashmir by October 1947. My Nani’s life changed for ever.

Misplaced from her fleeing family, destitution was quickly evident, dishonour imminent and death almost certain. What transpired as a rescue mission by my Nana, maternal grandfather, led to her having to convert from the faith of her forefathers, marry a stranger in a strange environment, bear children, rear grand-children, even great-grand-children and engage in almost 61 years of constant extemporisation to combat the persistent estrangement she endured. Her background was literally a closed chapter, sealed and suppressed. Not too unlike the border that has un-naturally divided Kashmir.

My Nani had probably accepted her predicament as fate as soon as she had entered my Nana’s house, way back in October 1947. I, however, have increasingly felt otherwise. I’ve always considered this to be part of a perverse political drama. Lack of imagination by the rulers accompanied denial of creative expression for the ruled. Improvising a constructive alternative has been my self-imposed mission for the past four years.

I had learnt of her story in 1988, while I was visiting my grandparents in Mirpur, in Pakistani-administered Kashmir. News had filtered through the 70 kilometres or so of mountainous terrain that her mother had passed away. We listened to a cassette recording of her kid brother’s forlorn attempt at getting a Pakistani visa a few years earlier.

A year later, after my GCSEs, I took a year off to explore my “origins.” I visited my Nani’s family in Rajouri, in Indian-administered Kashmir in December 1989. Three days was all I got with them — my father had accompanied me to India, and, being a staunch, orthodox Muslim, could not prolong the prospect of spending too much time with non-Muslims. The emotions of my Nani’s siblings and their offspring etched a permanent impression on my mind. I promised them that I would reunite them with their sister.

Traveling from India to Pakistan and relaying my adventure to all and sundry had a mildly sensational effect on the local population. Forty-two years of jingoism was momentarily set aside and human emotion was purposefully reflected on. This cut little ice with my Nana though. He remained rigid and paranoid over the idea of my Nani visiting her siblings, fearing she may never return.

The 1990’s raced past, conflict in the region easily overshadowing all else. Nevertheless, I made an attempt in 1993 when I tried to insist on my Nani accompanying me to India. Eventually, after a month of unsuccessful insistence, I crossed the Wagah-Attari border by myself. The lonesome figure that I was, instead of venturing north to visit her family I decided to ride my sorrow and angst by proceeding south to Bombay and Goa. The mere idea of meeting them without Nani was unbearable.

Life carried on but the emotional baggage increased. Nani’s kid brother’s death in February 2004 proved to be the final shock that I was willing to passively endure. It wasn’t until March 2005 that we were informed of this tragedy. A subsequent emotional verbal exchange between me and my Nana secured his long-sought acquiescence for my Nani to visit her family.

I arrived again in Pakistan in April 2005. The three of us applied together for an Indian visa in Islamabad. That was the advice the Indian visa officer in London gave me after getting over his disbelief that I could be related to both a Muslim and a Hindu family. We waited in vain. The Indian High Commission told us they were waiting for a No Objection Certificate to my visa application from the High Commission in London. The Indian visa delay prompted my Nana to revert back to his original stance of not allowing my Nani to travel. In effect, the Indian government had inadvertently done him a favour as he was not overly keen in the first place.

In October 2005, in the wake of the deadly earthquake that struck Kashmir, I applied for a cross-LoC permit, under the impression that people would be allowed to travel in a matter of weeks if not days. Finally, in February 2008, my cross-LoC permit came me through. I visited my Nani’s family in Mendhar, in the Poonch district of Indian-administered Kashmir. There was mutual elation. I witnessed the fourth death anniversary of my Nani’s younger brother, Sita Ram Sharma. He, along with his parents, had lived in constant anxiety over their sister and daughter respectively. They all died in vain. Anyway, meeting my Nani’s remaining two siblings after 19 years evoked a sense of mutual revival of hope. I explained my Nana’s intransigence and they eventually managed to convince him to apply for a cross-LoC permit so that he and my Nani could visit them. My Nani’s heart condition had become such that traveling via Wagah-Attari or Lahore-Delhi would be almost impossible.

In March 2008, I returned to the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir and promptly made applications for cross-LoC permits for myself and my Nani and Naana. It took many months of haggling with the local authorities and the ISI to get them to send the forms across the LOC, but not before October. It is understood that the authorities on the Indian side cleared our applications in March this year. However, their counterparts on the Pakistani side maintain that they have not received our applications to date.

Although I have received email confirmation from the sorting centre in Srinagar, Muzaffarabad is adamant on a ‘dispatch date’ in order to locate the files. My Nani, in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and her 2 siblings, on the Indian-administered side, are ailing, and 63 years of separation will not withstand the test of time for much longer, I fear. This thought has been etched on my mind for the past several years. Not a day passes without it continuing to haunt me.

Before 2005, my Nana was the main obstacle between my Nani and her family. Now it’s the relationship between India and Pakistan. My Nani is now 79 years old. Please help me reunite her with her family, separated for over 60 years by a distance not much more than 60 kilometres.

I desperately hope this story doesn’t culminate in that most antagonising of cliches: “So near yet so far.”

Increasing Drug Addiction Mixed With Decreasing Funds for Treatment is Alarming

Jehangir sounds the alarm about changing budgetary priorities and politics in Srinagar and New Delhi

(Mr. Jehangir Rashid Malik, 36, was born in Srinagar, and did his primary schooling at the Green Land Educational Institute in Hawal, Srinagar. He studies at the Sri Partap Higher Secondary School for classes XI and XII, and completed his Bachelor's degree through distance mode from the University of Kashmir. He subsequently graduated from the Media Education Research Centre (MERC) of the University of Kashmir with a Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. As a journalist, he is associated with the Civil Society, a New Delhi magazine, and is the Editor of Kashmir Plus, a news and feature based portal of Srinagar. He began his career in journalism as a correspondent with the Kashmir Times, and later worked at the Daily Etalaat (English) and as a news editor with the Daily Khidmat (English). He has been awarded the Sanjoy Ghose Humanitarian Award for story writing by the Charkha Development Network, New Delhi, and has received fellowships from the Action Aid India, the Centre for Science and Environment, and the National Foundation for India, all based in New Delhi. In his leisure time, Mr. Malik likes watching cricket and listening to radio programs especially old melodies sung by legends, Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar Ganguly.)


Treating Drug Addicts

Kashmir valley is already facing dearth of de-addiction centres and Hindustan National Social Security, popularly known as HNSS de-addiction centre has also stopped its functioning. The funds have been stopped to the centre and as such the de-addiction authorities are neither admitting any drug addict for treatment nor providing counseling to any drug addict.

“I became a victim of politics arising out of Amarnath land transfer row and funds were stopped to HNSS. The reason which was put forward was that my proposal reached four days late. If that was the case then the grants should have been stopped for de-addiction centres functioning in Jammu division as their files too reached late to the Ministry of Social Justice at New Delhi,” says Dr. Ghulam Nabi Wani, founder HNSS located at Khanyar just a few kilometres from city-centre.

Following this the de-addiction centre authorities stopped admitting drug addicts since April 1, this year. This has come as a serious setback to overall welfare and betterment of people who have taken to drugs over the years. With the help of counseling and subsequent treatment available at HNSS, many drug addicts were motivated to say goodbye to drugs after being counseled at de-addiction centre.

“The funds are due to us for 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 financial years and our losses have run into lacs. My estimate is that the centre has suffered a loss of one million rupees and we cannot afford to incur more losses. I have written to the Ministry of Social Justice that I am closing down the unit and the whole blame lies on them for the closure,” says Dr. Wani.

The HNSS founder says that he has lost interest and as such is no more enthused to run the centre which was one of the ways in making Kashmir a drug and narcotic free society. He says that his Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) was set up for a noble cause; but still then funds are needed for running an NGO, irrespective of its nomenclature.

“The affairs are sluggish as far as state of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned. It takes a lot of time in disposing off the files and then sending the same to the union government. We had sent our file to state government well before due date and it was due to delay on their part that the file didn’t reach the concerned ministry within stipulated time. But still then this is not a big issue and relaxation can be given at the direction of a cabinet secretary. But that is not the case vis-à-vis Kashmir valley and it is here we have been discriminated against,” says Dr. Wani.

HNSS provided counseling as well as treatment to people who had fallen in dragnet of drugs and narcotics. As a mini-hospital was being run by the centre some of drug addicts used to be admitted for two weeks there. These people would return to their homes and carry on with their routine work after being treated at the de-addiction centre.

In addition to Dr. Wani, his wife Dr. Hameeda Jan along with some counselors and psychologists comprised the team of HNSS. The HNSS team would motivate drug addicts and make them aware about ill-effects of drug abuse. In most of the cases they were able to bring about a change in the life of a particular drug addict; while as in certain cases the drug addict would find it difficult in saying no to drugs.

The HNSS de-addiction centre carried out a month long programme from April 9 to May 9 last year for detoxification of female drug addicts. As a result of the programme seven females who had taken up drugs were detoxified. The detoxified female drug addicts were literates and they had been lured to the menace of drug addiction by different sources.

The detoxified female drug addicts belonged to the age group of 18-33 years. While two of them belonged to rural areas the rest were city residents. These female drug addicts were found using synthetic drugs like Spasmo, Codeine, tranquilizers and glue. All these drugs are smell less and they are easily available in market.

In addition the centre received 20 telephone calls from other female drug addicts during the month long detoxification programme. These people got online counseling from Dr. Wani and his team.

Dr. Wani believes that counseling at three levels helps in motivating drug addicts to say goodbye to drugs and live a normal life. “Group counseling, individual counseling and family counseling are three important components in one’s life and they should be given due consideration,” he says.

Not only simple literate girls or females have taken to drugs, but professionals like female doctors too have fallen into dreaded net of drug addiction.

One month prior to detoxification course for females, Dr. Wani and his team treated five cases of female drug addicts at the centre and they were able to rehabilitate these affected girls. These girls belonged to the age group of 17-27 years and felt depressed due to one or the other reason.

(The article is a part of series of articles to be published in connection with the fellowship offered to the writer by National Foundation for India (NFI), New Delhi on the topic, ‘Drug addiction among females in Kashmir valley’.)

The Menace of Drug Addition in Kashmir

Iftikar says that it takes the whole community to eradicate the menace of drug addiction

(Mr. Iftikar Rashid Wani, 30, was born in Bandipora. An avid chess player, he completed his M.sc. in Environmental Studies from the Guru Ghasidas University in Chattisgarh, and his M.Ed. from the University of Kashmir. He also completed a one year Diploma from the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL). Mr. Wani is a teacher in the J&K Department of Education based in Bandipora Ward No. 4. He participated in 4th National Science Teachers Conference organized by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, at Dehradun in 2007. In 2008, he participated in the 4th J&K Science Conference held at the University of Kashmir in 2008. In his leisure time, he enjoys reading, writing, and of course, playing chess.)


Sweet Suicide

The situation in J&K has victimized the younger generation to such an extent that a considerable portion seeks refuge in sedatives turning drug addicts. In psychological terminology drug addiction is a habit which directly affects the brain and nervous system, rendering a person unfit for the society. In our Valley it is mostly due to the stress and lawlessness that youth take to drugs. This should be an eye-opener to everyone that Kashmir division alone has 70,000 drug addicts, including 4000 women according to a United Nation International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) sponsored survey. It is unfortunate that educational institutions have become the hub of such activities. Drug peddlers run their operations in educational institutions by poisoning the thoughts of student community.

Drug abuse is the use of illicit drug or misuse of legitimate drug resulting in physical or psychological harm. It includes smoking ganja, taking heroin or cocaine or LSD, injecting morphine, drinking alcohol and so on. The abuse becomes addiction, and sooner or later the person totally become dependent on such things to sustain his or her life. It is a fact that such drugs relieve a person of his tensions, depressions and other such problems for some time but in the long run it acts as a sweat poison which slowly destroys a person, both socially and emotionally. Students use the drugs to improve the studying abilities, enhancing memory power, sharpening religious insight, deepening self understanding and solving personal problems, without caring for the consequences and thus becoming the hardcore drug addicts. As per the recent survey 65-70% student community in Kashmir are drug addicts which include 26% female students. Indeed the local media have highlighted many times the incidents where the females were involved in dangerous practices of addiction.

Currently nail polish, ink remover, shoe polish and dozens of such are used as the alternative addiction by such student community. According to a well known psychiatrist of Valley, around 35% of boys of very prestigious schools from 8th standard to 12th standard use these substances daily. In majority of the cases, accounting 45.5%, such students take it because of psychological reasons, 15.2% because of physiological reasons, 10.9% because of social reasons and 28.4 because of other reasons.

Besides educational institutions some billiards, snooker points and other youth hang outs are now the common places for drug addiction. Such a trend if not addressed well in time is dangerous for our society .This problem may become beyond proportions to control. Isn’t it an irony that the drug de-addiction centers started a year ago with great pomp and show have turned defunct for want of follow up actions and proper infrastructure? Government of Jammu and Kashmir needs to formulate drug de-addiction policy to curb the growing menace of drug addiction.

Remember where there is unemployment, depression, anxiety, household disputes, and bad company there will be drug addiction. The excessive outdoor indulgence of house wives and general tendency on part of educated women to get a job has hampered the harmony of family structure of Kashmir. The modern woman is no longer confined to her domestic duties, with the result the internal discipline of the family has disrupted. Due to this a child is overpowered by the evils of frustration, hatred, jealousy and dejection. Thus the lack of care and affection on part of parents results into detachment from family and ultimately lead children to the world of drugs.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir may be trying its best to curb the problem by various means and methods but still a lot of work is to be done. At the same time people and government agencies should accelerate their efforts by targeting the students at their bases. For this educational institutions form the biggest organized sector that can play a significant role to impart such type of education and training to the student community which can help to curb this menace from the society. The college and university authorities should wake from deep slumber and prepare a proper mechanism to check this menace which emanates from hostels and other boarding places. A change in the attitude of doctors and pharmacists selling and prescribing drugs can go a long way in controlling the abuses of drugs. Doctors must check the efficacy of the drugs they prescribe regularly while pharmacists should refuse the drugs without proper prescription.

Unless we get our act together we will not be able to eradicate the drug abuse from our society.

Right to Information (RTI) Saga Continues ...

Basharat says that implementing the RTI Act is proving tough but activists intend no let up

(Mr. Syed Basharat, 29, was born in Kreeri, Baramulla, and did his schooling in Kreeri, and later in Uri and Sopore. He graduated from the Degree College in Baramulla and completed his Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Kashmir University in 2005. He has been a reporter for Kashmir Images, a Srinagar based daily, London based website Gaashonline.Com, and a Srinagar based journal, Globe. Currently, he is working as a special correspondent with Jammu based daily newspaper, The Kashmir Times.)

J&K RTI Act 2009: Rules yet to be made public

Srinagar: Around three months have elapsed since the Jammu and Kashmir Right To Information (J&K RTI) Act 2009 was enacted in the state but the government seems slow in making the much awaited rules public. Experts in the field believe that the present state government seemingly serious about transparency and accountability in the system should have made the draft rules public before their formal issuance.

It is pertinent to mention here that the J&K RTI bill 2009 was tabled in the state legislative assembly on March 7, and the Act was passed by the state legislature. It received the assent of the governor on 20 March 2009.

Venkatesh Nayak, an expert in RTI in India believes that unlike the central RTI Act which was 'implemented in a staggered manner', all provisions of the J&K RTI Act have come into force from the date of the gazette notification.

While talking to Kashmir Times on phone, Nayak said: "The Act is technically fully operational even though all systems and procedures have not been set up yet. This places a responsibility on the state government to issue rules for implementing the RTI Act immediately. Rules are necessary to clarify the detailing of the processes for seeking and obtaining information."

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an RTI Activist of valley, opined that the delay in issuance of RTI rules is acting as an impediment between people and the government. "For example, how much money will be charged as application fee and additional fee for photocopying, inspection, or obtaining information on CDs and floppies etc. must be laid down in the rules. Unless these rules are prescribed Public Information Officers will not be able to entertain RTI applications from citizens," Bhat added.

The experts further said that the procedure that the appellate authorities and the state information commission, although not set up yet, will follow while deciding appeals and complaints filed by citizens will also be prescribed in the rules. Therefore, it is important for the state government to come up with the rules without further delay, experts added.

Nayak stressed that detailed rules must be drawn up for collection of fees, submission of applications, proactive disclosure of information under section 4, guidance for allowing inspection of documents, method of collecting and providing samples of materials used by a public authority and procedure to be followed by the first appellate authority hearing first appeals.

A number of people especially students who are interested in using RTI Act as a tool to make government accountable, believe that the draft rules must be placed in the public domain for people's comments and finalised on the basis of the comments received. "When this process had been adopted by the state government while the draft Bill was prepared, I don't think there is a reason why public consultation should be left out of the rule making process," said Dr Faisal, from Kupwara.

When contacted commissioner secretary General Administration Department (GAD) Basharat Ahmad Dhar said that RTI Act 2009 rules have already been framed and will be issued within a week.

"Actually, we had framed the rules much earlier but after receiving valuable suggestions from India's Chief Information Commissioner Mr. Wajahat Habibullah, we revised the whole set of rules. Now it is much elaborate and a detailed document. The same has been vetted by the department of law and now we have forwarded it to the chief minister for his approval," Dhar said.

He added that people's suggestions vis-…-vis draft rules are most welcome, before the same are issued and posted on the GAD website. "We are not averse to public suggestions and in fact the suggestions are welcome. If all goes well, I think the rules will be issued in this week only."

State Assembly Wakes up From its Slumber to Save Dal and Nigeen

It is that classic case of doing too little, too late


Efforts needed to save Dal, Nigeen lakes’

Srinagar: Stressing on the urgent need to save water-bodies including Dal and Nigeen lake, Chairman Environment Committee (EC), Legislative Assembly, Nizam-u-Din Bhat said more efforts are needed to put an end to pollution, construction of houses, growth of weeds, mushrooming of vegetable gardens and occurrence of azolia in these lakes.

Bhat said Dal and Nigeen lakes are national assets and natural beauty of the valley is incomplete without these lakes. He was addressing a high level officers meeting here on Tuesday after inspection of ongoing restoration and development works under execution in these two lakes.

Members of the Committee which include legislators Nasir Alsam Wani, Radhay Sham Sharma, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Shamima Firdous, Durga dass, Javid Ahmad Dar, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Sukhnandan Kumar, Indu Pawar, Baldev Raj and Mushtaq Ahmad Shah and senior officers which include Commissioner/Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department Mrs. Naseema Lankar, Chairman Pollution Control Board Lal Chand, Joint Commissioner of SMC, Tufail Matoo and Chief Engineer UEED, Ashwani Kumar Sharma accompanied the Chairman during his visit.

Expressing his concern over the attempts to encroach and spoil the ecology of these lakes, Nizam-ud-Din said that with generous flow of funds and expertise available, these lakes could be restored to their pristine glory.

Referring to the Environment Committee constituted for the purpose, Nizam-ud-Din said that this committee shall leave no stone unturned in identifying the reasons of degradation of environment in and around these lakes and also shall submit a comprehensive report with tangible suggestions to the government so that it is in a position to take stringent measures for restoration of these lakes within the shortest possible time.

Earlier, Chairman inspected functioning of Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Nishat Laam and STP, Hazratbal.

Later, Vice Chairman LAWDA, Irfan Yasin gave a power point presentation at Nigeen Club about the works under execution in Dal and Nigeen lakes.

(Rising Kashmir)

The State of Governance in J&K: The Blind Leading the Lame

Harvard educated Chidambaram finds top J&K bureaucrats either ignorant or ill-informed

Top bureaucrats embarrassed Government during Chidambaram’s meeting

Srinagar: Incredible it may sound but it is a fact that top bureaucrats of the State are lacking even important information about their respective departments.

This came to fore during Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram’s meeting with Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, his Cabinet colleagues and all the top bureaucrats of the State, held in Srinagar on June 12. The meeting was convened as Mr Chidambaram wanted to take brief about State’s development.

As soon as meeting begun, Chief Minister made detailed presentation about the developmental programmes under implementation in the State. He touched all issues concerning State which includes unemployment, delay in start of work on Qazigund-Udhampur railway track, losses suffered by State due to Indus Water Treaty, construction of Shahpur Kandi Barrage by the Punjab Government and providing electricity share from Ranjit Sagar Dam to J&K, industrial scenario, four laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, simplification of cumber-some travel procedures across Line of Control (LoC), banking facilities for traders exporting goods across the LoC, restoration of Mansarovar Yatra through Ladakh, upgradation of infrastructure at Srinagar International Airport, two campuses of Central University and 6th Pay Commission.

According to the authoritative sources, following Mr Abdullah’s presentation, the Union Home Minister started posing questions directly to top bureaucrats to get more information on certain points.

But much to the surprise of all none of the top bureaucrats could reply upto the satisfaction of Union Home Ministry thereby giving an impression that J&K’s bureaucrats attend such high-level meetings ‘unprepared’, the sources said, adding every-time, the Chief Minister was seen covering up the failures of officers which clearly indicated that Mr Abdullah was more prepared than the officers.

The team which had come with the Union Home Minister was highly critical of the performance of the J&K’s top bureaucrats and expressed concern over the same, the sources said, adding even State Cabinet Ministers were feeling embarassed due to un-satisfactory replies by the top officers of their respective departments.

Financial Commissioner Planning, S L Bhat was not even aware of revenue receipts of the State and instead of giving satisfactory reply to the Union Home Minister, he preferred to pass on the question to Economic Advisor, Jaleel Ahmed Khan, sources said.

But Mr Khan was also not fully aware of the revenue receipts of the State and the figures which he revealed were far far lower than the actual figures, sources informed, adding "it is really shocking that even Economic Advisor to the Government is lacking important information about the finances of the State".

Another top bureaucrat—Commissioner Secretary, Power Development Department, Sandeep Naik also failed to give satisfactory reply to the Union Home Minister when the latter wanted to know as to how the State would manage equity for the power projects.

The ill-preparedness of the officers crossed all barriers when Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Naseema Lankar could not inform Mr Chidambaram about the number of projects taken up in Housing and Urban Development sector, the sources further disclosed, adding Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Atul Dullo was lacking information about ASHA workers.

(Daily Excelsior)

Lack of Adequate Environmental Laws is Another Common Denominator on Both Sides of the LOC

Zafar describes how mega projects are being authorized on Pakistani side of Kashmir without adequate environmental assessments. He could as well be describing the situation on the Indian side of Kashmir where the approach is no different

(Mr. Zafar Iqbal, 32, was born in village Tarar, Rawalakot, in the Poonch district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He did his early schooling in a private school, matriculating through examinations conducted by the Mirpur Educational Board, and completed his higher secondary education from the Government Degree College in Rawalakot. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Rawalakot campus), and his M.A. in Mass Communication from the Punjab University in Pakistan. He received international scholarships to attend the International Summer School at the University of Oslo in 2005 receiving a Graduate Diploma in Media Studies, and the Nottingham Trent University, U.K., in 2006-2008 receiving M.A. in Media & Globalization. Mr. Iqbal has been a journalist working in the print and TV media since 1999 and is very active in human rights, earthquake relief and rehabilitation especially involving women and children, and inter-faith harmony. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Press for Peace (PFP) and the Founder-President of the Environmental Journalists Forum, both based in Muzaffarabad. Mr. Iqbal has been invited to numerous national and international seminars and workshops related to human development.)


Development at the cost of destruction

Pakistan has initiated a mega power project in its administrative part of Kashmir without fulfilling mandatory environmental obligations required for development projects.

Contemporary international environmental laws and standards bound all governments and their publics to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and ecological surveys (both phase1&2) in every developmental project to achieve goals of sustainable development, nonetheless, Pakistan’s official Water And Power Development Authority (WAPDA), has started the construction of US $2.16 billion- Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Project in a remote and scenic Neelum Valley -100 km to the north-west of Islamabad, through a consortium of Chinese firms in order to generate 969 Megawatt electricity, without fulfilling the set global criteria.

The project will divert Neelum River, which originates from Indian part of Kashmir and also called as Kishangana, through a 47-km long tunnel system to another river Jehlum near Muzaffarabad, capital of the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. After 8 years of its completion period, it will be the first underground hydropower project of its kind in Pakistan which the government claims is under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 reached between India and Pakistan, and the country would get “priority rights” to the use of its waters trough this significant project.

The officials of local Environmental Protection Agency working in project area have confirmed that WAPDA has started the construction work on this mega project discarding environmental considerations. The builders, however, insist that the proposed project does not pose any threats to the ecological system of the area, as an initial study conducted in 1990s had suggested ‘limited environmental impacts of the project’. On the other hand, local ecologists contradict these claims of WAPDA authorities.

“Much has been changed during this period in terms of people’s conditions, needs and ecology and necessitates fresh evaluation of the concealed damages, says an EPA source, forecasting alarming hazards to local ecosystem due to hurriedly-launched commencement of this mammoth development venture, which excruciatingly ignores required mechanisms envisaged for the protection of environment and rights of local populations.

Today, Pakistan, with 40 per cent population without electricity, is facing severe energy crisis. In some areas the duration of loadshedding has reached to 16 hours a day, paralysing national economy and daily routine life as well. Government has already scrapped its long disputed Kala Bagh Dam project after uncompromising reservations from its federating units. The country, crippled by a surge in extremism, suicide attacks and recent military operation against the Taliban, is struggling to overcome its energy deficiencies in order to run its day-to-day affairs in a smooth manner. Apparently, newly initiated mega power project in northeast area is part of its attempts to alleviate huge shortfall in electricity sector which has increased 5,000 MW range.

Ostensibly, in their hastily convalescing measures, Pakistan’s development pundits seem to negate parameters of sustainable development and public concerns. The power authority of the country is being criticised harshly for bulldozing rights of indigenous population, which maintain that government is going to deprive them from their cultivable land and fruit orchards, which already, have been affected by Indo-Pak rivalry along LoC-the defecto- border of divided Kashmir, and subsequent earthquake of 2005. Similarly, the package offered for the compensation of farmers lands do not equal to the market price of property and it has been termed as disgracefully low and has created profound resentment among those affected.

“The government must pay the compensation of affected land according to market price and arrange alternative residential towns”, demands Tariq Ali, a representative of Action Committee of affected farmers. Likewise, local environmental groups also carp deliberate violation of laws by government’s own officials and have expressed their concerns related to prospective environmental hazards on local economy and biodiversity. Ecologists say the project area has significant conservational importance due to abundant of forests, aquatics life and presence of many species of wild life, which have been declared endangered globally.

This scenic valley, where the said project is being built, plays a key role in the configuration of Himalyan ecosystem. It is also serves as the habitat of various rare species considered on the verge of extinction. Pheasants are abundant in this locality and conservationists suggest that developmental activities would impact their natural habit, wildlife nourishment (both terrestrial and aquatic). Ecosystem change also destroys feeding as well as breeding grounds, with a resultant loss of fish species. Projection of large area reduces public access to certain localities, and thereby affects outdoor recreation opportunities.

Interestingly, Global Environment Facility (GEF) has contributed millions of funds to protect local natural resources through Machiara National Park Projet which is one of the three globally significant national parks selected for a GEF-funded project. Paradoxically, this severe deviation of conservation laws and measures by WAPDA in this area is also contradictory from world bodies and governments’s efforts for the protection of natural resources and wild life in this important ecological zone.

In Kashmir, 88 per cent population lives in rural areas and depends upon forestry, livestock and agriculture for their existence. Water of rivers and natural springs is also considered a major source for drinking and irrigation of lands located at the banks. Local population around the flow of Neelum river also concern that the diversion of the river would cause an acute water scarcity, making life of inhabitants miserable, particularly, a huge population of capital city of Muzaffarabad would be at the stake because Neelum river is the chief source of water provision for this population through lifting and purification process.

No doubt, power generation is vital resource of energy in development, which is basic human need but it must not be done at the cost of disruption in biodiversity, habitat loss, fragmentation and the displacement of indigenous populations. Many hydropower plans and strategies are made without looking at the ‘big picture’, and as a result these projects can have negative impacts on the environment.

Luckily, some of the damage done to biodiversity by hydropower can be reduced by equipment upgrades, mitigation measures, and proper management. Local user groups and other stakeholders should be involved in decision-making, to keep good relations concerning peoples’ livelihoods and the sustainability of aquatic resources. River systems should be thoroughly studied jointly with concerned agencies (e.g., electricity, irrigation and fisheries, environment authorities; and local authorities) during formulation and application stages of this project.

Diploma Churning Shops

Basharat says experts fear that flawed education syatem may lead to a major crisis

(Mr. Syed Basharat, 29, was born in Kreeri, Baramulla, and did his schooling in Kreeri, and later in Uri and Sopore. He graduated from the Degree College in Baramulla and completed his Master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Kashmir University in 2005. He has been a reporter for Kashmir Images, a Srinagar based daily, London based website Gaashonline.Com, and a Srinagar based journal, Globe. Currently, he is working as a special correspondent with Jammu based daily newspaper, The Kashmir Times.)

'Colleges in J&K nothing but degree awarding institutions'

Srinagar: The flawed educational system, coupled with government's frivolous approach to perk up, is slowly and gradually simmering into an unmanageable crisis in the state. A crisis, if not addressed now, can plunge the generation next into an abysmal obscurity, believe many academicians in the Valley.

A comprehensive plan, in addition to a separate budget is what can act as a remedy to cure the current rotten and inoperable educational format, opined experts in the field. In Jammu and Kashmir the colleges and universities like in other states of the country, have become nothing but degree awarding institutions, a number of students believe.

The existing educational institutions, in the state neither prepare the youth for advanced research in social science, physical and biological sciences, engineering, technology and management nor for employment in various productive sectors of the economy, opines a teacher, Zahoor Ahmad Wagoori.

The successive state governments have added to the gravity of problem, by permitting the opening of scores of one-room schools, colleges and universities just by one stroke of pen. Prof. Wahid Qureshi, former vice chancellor University of Kashmir, believes that the government should consolidate instead of promoting an expansion policy, in order to curb the production of unemployable youth.

"There is overcrowding of students in educational institutes. We have failed to determine the intake capacity due to political interference. Besides we lack infrastructure both in terms of men and material. So we compromise on quality," he said, while suggesting, that the government should supplement the existing educational institutions in development of infrastructure and not be in race of opening new educational institutions without proper resources.

"By opening new educational institutions especially colleges we deprive the students of quality education by restricting the choices of various streams," the former VC added. Many teachers believe that various operations and schemes have failed to deliver, especially in primary and secondary schooling levels.

"Primary and secondary education systems are in real bad shape. Despite several high sounding projects like 'operation black board', most of the primary schools are understaffed, and ill-equipped to educate children and prepare them for secondary and higher education," said Mir Altaf, a government school teacher who is posted in a far flung area in district Baramulla.

Most of the teachers also opine that the much hyped Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) is good in theory but bad in practice. It is like any other government-sponsored project whose progress is measured in terms of money spent rather than target achieved.

"The teachers have been turned into contractors, cooks, and clerics by the SSA authorities," said a teacher working in district Budgam, wishing not to be named. He added that there are hundreds of understaffed and ill equipped schools which were opened under SSA scheme. "How can one expect quality primary education in such schools where a single teacher is supposed to teach more than 80 students, arrange their mid day meals, besides teaching and working as a cleric for the same school," he observed further.

Learning Kashmir's Rich History Through Numismatics

Iqbal bring the age of Kushans to light through coins minted in the 2nd Century A.D.

(Mr. Iqbal Ahmad, 48, was born in Parigam Chek, Kulgam. He is a graduate with Diploma in Numismatics, Archaeology and Heritage. He is an archaeologist, writer, and a cultural historian. He is employed by the Jammu and Kashmir State Government. Mr. Iqbal Ahmad has published 12 reference books on Kashmir archaeology and heritage.)

The unique Kushan coins

In numerous passages of the Rajatarangni and other chronicles of Jonaraja, Srivara and Kshenedra, there are reference to term dinara to have served as a monetary token in ancient Kashmir.

Perhaps Kashmiri term dyar also reflected the same name when we say dyar-wol we mean any person possessing huge sums. Dinar has been a very popular term used in terms of monetary token in ancient Kashmir and its influence have been so strong that locally even today the term is very often used. Scholars have been identifying this dinar with ancient gold coin, issued by Kushana princes in early centuries of the Christian era. Although the term dinar later got wrongly used in literatures for mentioning of other coins too but the term actually refers to the Kushan gold coin.

The copper coins of Kushans and tetra dirhams are commonly known from Kashmir. Numismatists and Archaeologists have found thousands of Kushan dirhams and tetra dirhmas and several dinars from various places of Kashmir. There are several such types, which have been found and believed to have been current here while few of those types are viewed to have been exclusively issued to meet the currency requirements of this province. Such coins are known as provincial series coins, numismatists like Cunningham, Roshan Field, David Macdowell, Michel Mitchner and several others have got this view. I personally feel that such coin types as are found were not only current here but also minted somewhere within Kashmir borders.

One such earlier copper coin type of Kujula Kadphsis is of bull and camel type depicting camel on one side and bull on the other side of the coin. Perhaps, is the earliest Kushan type coin found in Kashmir. This type has been found absent in the Kujulas Afghanistan finds as the study undertaken by noted numismatists Dr. David Macdowell. He has come across few pieces from Khotan region, G B Bleazby and R C Kak have recorded few pieces of this type from Kashmir. The type on obverse bears humped bull and on reverse humped camel. In year 1987 state Archaeology Department came across three copper pieces of this earlier Kushan coin at village Maidan Chagul in frontier district of Kupwara. These coins are in poor condition but could be deciphered as Bull Came type coins.

Carrying the motif of humped bull walking to right on obverse and camel as well walking to right on reverse. The letters of the Kharoshti legend are partly visible. This discovery was followed by a remarkable purchase of small coins of this type called dirhams by the state Museum authorities at Srinagar. About one hundred coins of Bull camel type coins were purchased by the Museum management in 1996. These coins could easily be denominated as drachms (dirhams) and I am hundred percent sure that such coins were definitely minted to meet the domestic currency needs of Kashmir province. Not only this but such type was found absent in other finds of the empire and also assumed to have been minted somewhere in Kashmir. My investigations of few numismatic collections revealed number of such smaller Bull camel type coins. I could see them in several kgs once in the Zarab Khana Bazar of olden city of Srinagar.

My observations and investigations led me to believe that as such coins were found exclusive in Kashmir hence these have had to be minted in Kashmir. I could also found several forgeries of this type, which speaks of the popularity of this coin type. Another types of Kujula found in Kashmir are Bust/Pallas type and Roman head/seated king type coins but these two types are extremely rare, I could not find any such type in Kashmir collections but few other numismatists had claimed of their such discoveries. Kujula’s coin finds are followed by a single type of unknown king tilled on his coins as Sotar Megas. This is his imperial issue, of which few pieces are recorded in numismatic cabins of SPS Museum, Lal Mandi, Srinagar. The obverse carries Heliocles but and on reverse mounted horseman. Vima Kudphsis few gold and copper coins in standing king and Siva Nandi type are also know from Kashmir.

I could see few of its copper pieces in a private collection. There is standing king on obverse offering something to fire altar while the reverse has given way to Siva Nandi motif. Siva is shown standing with his typical common vehicles Nandi (Bull).

Vima’s provincial series coins are not known from anywhere, perhaps he did not struck his money in provincial series. Kanishka was the most popular Kushan monarch of Kashmir. His gold and copper coins are very much known in Kashmir. Like his other coin finds, the local finds also displayed various Indian and Persian deities on their reverse. This is the specialty of his coins found in Kashmir.

Michel Mitchener and David Macdowell (European numismatists) have recorded several provincial series coins of this prince. I could see his two gold dinars in the numismatic cabins of the Srinagar Museum. The obverse of these coins bears typical standing Kushan figure introduced by Vima and the reverse of the one depicts Iranian goddess MAo (Moon God) while on the other Indian Oesho of Siva. The reverse of copper coins of Kaniska have also displayed Oesho and MAO. The remarkable numismatic discovery of Kushan period came from Bandipura area of North Kashmir in 1987.

These were two hoards of provincial series coins of 137 and 339 respectively. I could decipher 238 coins out of these two hoards. The obverse of these coins displayed typical Kushan dressed standing figure of the king and the reverse depicted different Iranian and Indian deities.

Following are the types classified on the basis of reverse of these coins.
Nana 109
Oesho 50
Ordo 3
MAO 24
Miro 37

Huviska’s gold and copper coins are also known from Kashmir. I could see one gold coin depicting half-length figure of the king with Greek legend Oeski on obverse and depicting Miro (Sun god) on the reverse. But I could not see any copper coin either in imperial series or in local series of this king in Kashmir collection. Few crudely devised provincial series copper coins numbering 15 with invisible legends can be attributed to another Kushan prince namely Vasudeva on the basis of their typology. Although such coins as per their type can also be assumed to have been issued here by Vima Kadphsis, as the coins are in light weight and of low craftsmanship hence are grouped under Vasudeva’s collections.

These coins on obverse bear the figure of standing king and on the reverse very crudely devised Siva Nandi motif. This type initially was introduced by Vima Kadphsis but went out dated till later it was again imitated on his copper as well as on gold by Vasudeva. A single gold dinar of Vasudeva is also preserved in Srinagar Museum. It depicts standing king on obverse with legend Greek. Bazodeo (While in Rajatarangni this king is known by the name of Jushka) and on reverse Siva Standing with his vehicle Nandi (Bull). Vasudeva on coins is known by the name of Bazodeo

Tourism Fails to Recover

Customers always take their business elsewhere if their needs are not met

Tourism fails to recover even as normalcy returns

Sana Altaf (Kashmir Times)

Srinagar: Even as normalcy has returned to Valley, the tourism sector is yet to show signs of revival after the agitation over Shopian incident.

The rush of tourists witnessed rapid decline following protests and strikes after the incident. Thousands of tourists who had planned their holidays for Kashmir either cancelled their trip or changed their destination. This reduced the tourist arrival by 80 percent. Fearing trouble, large number of visitors, who were here, rushed back to their destination.

President House Boats Owner Association, Azim Tuman revealed, "The disturbed condition which prevailed here reduced the tourist rush by 80 percent. Even large number of tourists left without completing their visit as they feared for their lives amid heightening tension. Some of them returned to their homes as they had to remain confined to the hotels and house boats, in which they were staying, because of curfew, general strike and protests."

Tuman said thousands of tourists cancelled their trip to Kashmir. "Most of them changed the tourist destinations and rushed to Simla and Kullu Manali for holidays instead of coming to Kashmir."

However, despite improvement in the situation here now, there is no sign of increase in tourist rush No significant fresh arrival of tourist is presently taking place.

"Despite normalcy, we are not receiving fresh tourists in good number presently. People have already got their trips cancelled to Kashmir. Normalcy now cannot make much difference to tourism," said Tuman adding that they do not hope for good tourism again this year.

"May and June is the major tourist season here which is lost due to strikes and shutdowns. People hardly come here after that. However normalcy in coming days can not help us in this season now."

Meanwhile, the Amaranth pilgrimage is scheduled to start from June 15. Lakhs of pilgrims are expected to the Valley. But this too is unlikely to bring much relief to the tourism industry, viewed Tuman.

"Though pilgrims in large number come to Kashmir, it has no major effect on the tourism," Tuman stated.

He stated that as most pilgrims come by road and go straight to the Amaranth Cave. After performing pilgrimage, most of them then go back to their homes without heading for other tourist places in the valley.

Tuman added that most of the pilgrims are being provided with accommodation and food either by the state government or Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). Even some religious groups provide them these facilities.

"Be it food or accommodation, all is provided to them so they do not come to stay in hotels or houseboats," said president of House Boat Owners Association.

Tuman said it is just countable number of pilgrims who come by air on their own expense, and stay in house boats and hotels, and their number is really small.

While large number of tourists are not coming here, the small number of visitors currently here say they are very happy being in Kashmir.

"Kashmir is really a heaven. These protests and strikes cannot take the charm away from this place. Protest takes place every where in the world. It is a part of a societal function,"

said Vikram Suri, a tourist holidaying in Kashmir along with his family for last four days.

Gautam Kumar, a visitor from Mumbai said despite knowing that the situation in Kashmir was deteriorating, he did not change his plan to visit Kashmir.

"I and my family were here during the strike but we did not face any problem. I want to tell people that Kashmir is the best place to visit. There is no danger to life. They should come and relax here," Gautam stated.

The Tragedy of Living in Today's Kashmir

Sajjad says destruction of the social order due to incessant strikes is very visible and totally unacceptable

(Mr. Sajjad Bazaz, 45, was born in Srinagar. He attended the Khalsa high school and the Sri Pratap College in Srinagar. He received his bachelor's degree in Media and his master's degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir. Mr. Bazaz has over two decades of experience in journalism (both print & electronic), and he is author of the book "Bankwatch" which is about a financial scenario with particular reference to the J&K state. He is currently incharge of corporate communications department in a leaduing financial instution in J&K. Mr. Bazaz likes to spend leisure time watching movies and enjoying company of his friends.)


Rebuild Kashmir

After eight days of continuous strike, life jumped to normal in Kashmir. However, intermittent strikes continued till date in different parts of the valley. A government employee in mid thirties, instead of going to office first came to his bank to withdraw his salary. After waiting for more than an hour in a long queue, he was told by the bank official at the counter that his salary was yet to be disbursed. In a state of confusion, he rushed to the branch manager’s cabin and pleaded him that he wants money urgently. The branch head expressed his helplessness, as his department had not sent his salary amount.

“Sir, I have no ration at my home and I have to feed my three children. What will I do now?” said the anguished employee to the branch manager.

Even as the branch manager asked him to wait for a day or so till his salary is credited to his account, the annoyed employee in a state of frustration which was visible on his face, requested the branch manager to borrow him Rs.500/- so that he could buy ration for his family. The branch manager paid Rs.500/- from his own pocket and the person left hurriedly.

Next was a lady employee of Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Her salary too was not credited to her account, as the Corporation was yet to forward her salary to the branch. Her eyes were wet, as she was not having any money to buy medicines for her ailing husband. The branch manager gave her Rs.100/- and she left somewhat contended.

These small but significant incidents have become order of the day and are off shoots of frequent strikes observed in the valley. Everybody is expressing concern over the frequent strikes, which have adversely affected the livelihood of the people here. During the past two decades, in spite of cost of living having increased many times and apparently income being the same, the living standard is rapidly increasing.

Amid these crises, a common man is in a dilemma as to how to manage this rising cost of living when his earning opportunities have been curbed because of frequent shut downs and undeclared curfews. These frequent shut downs have badly affected every sector of economy. On education front, academics in the valley are in total mess. The students have lost the curiosity for learning. Teachers are incapable to insist on their lessons and in fact, teaching is not less than a burden for the teachers. Precisely, in the current atmosphere, which is engulfed by panic and violence, destruction of our social order is visible. In fact, a ferocious atmosphere exists in every nook and corner of the Valley.

Meanwhile, there is a group that maintains that stone throwing and hartals are very important means of indulgence to remain sane to a reasonable degree. They even argue that at one point these activities help the youth to manage their anger and at the other the activity gives a meaning of usefulness to their ‘process of life’. By indulging into some kind of physical expression, in this case stone pelting and a hartal, when there are no jobs, educated are either not geared for the job market, are piling up as unemployable generation, alongside with another army of uneducated unemployable, these youth at least return to their homes or localities as still ‘valid’ members of a civil society.

But one thing is important. Things have to change. Stone pelting and frequent hartals have no bearing on the nature of Kashmir case. No number of stone pelting or hartals is going to pull Kashmiris out of the current mess prevailing here in the name of Kashmir cause.

Kashmir is a place where anytime is trouble time. It is said that fortune turns like a wheel. Here this fortune wheel turns at a greater speed, leading to uncertainty. That is why, for most of the time uncertainty looms large here. This element of uncertainty is not something new, but exists since 1947.

For India, Kashmir is an ‘integral part’ of the country. For Pakistan it is not less than a ‘jugular vein’. Between these claims, it is the Kashmiris who suffer suffocation for all these decades in one-way or the other. Both the countries became nuclear powers because of Kashmir issue. Both give any consideration to Kashmir more for their personal sake and certainly not because Kashmiris are suffering. We have seen that every time when Kashmir comes for discussion, the atmosphere of anticipation all of a sudden turns into anguish and both the nations fail to reach a consensus over the issue.

Under these circumstances, the state government has a huge responsibility to help out its citizens of suffocation and sufferings. There is urgent need to realise the responsibility of helping the youth to come out of disillusionment, worthlessness and idleness through genuine and unending endeavours so that permanent opportunities of dignified employment and enjoyment of all the rights are ensured to him not only here but anywhere in the world. Let concrete measures be taken to prevent the people from sending their children to prematurely to grave. In fact, those who matter in the Kashmir case need to realise to tackle the growing menace of unemployment in Kashmir. Precisely, under all circumstances the the government led by youngest chief minister has to remain on the side of the people, especially the Kashmiri youth. And above all, Kashmir should not remain as a battlefield for India and Pakistan.

The government can take new initiatives for the prosperity of its citizens. There is no harm to appeal various international forums or organizations like the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the United Nations, the European Union, etc to carve out ways and means so that Kashmiri youth get jobs. Even pursuing these organizations for taking economic measures in Kashmir will help the Kashmiri civil society to bring economic revolution in the state.

How long Kashmiris have to suffer? What is the solution of the problem? Who are the real representatives of Kashmir? These are a few commonly asked questions, which have remained unanswered for decades. Now a point to ponder. Can’t there be a mechanism put in place where everybody, be it from mainstream camp or separatist camp, board the bus for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri civil society?

Finding Political Gains in a Colossal Tragedy

Khayal laments about utterly poor quality of Kashmiri leadership without recognizing that in most cases people generally get what they deserve

(Mr. Ghulam Nabi Khayal, 70, was born in Srinagar. He received his schooling and college education in Srinagar, and completed his Masters degree in English. Mr. Khayal is considered a doyen among Kashmiiri journalists, having worked for both Indian and international newspapers like the Statesman, India Today, the Guardian, Voice of America, and others. He is also a topnotch Kashmiri writer having bagged numerous awards at local, national and international levels, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975. Mr. Khayal has published 24 books in Kashmiri, Urdu and English languages. He is the owner of a journal, Voice of Kashmir, published weekly from Srinagar.)

Kashmir on boil

And a leaderless nation wanders aimlessly

Any sensible person, or a group, or a party, that too having a deep sense of patriotism and claiming to be the saviors of millions of suffering and humiliated people, cannot rely upon a meaningless practice of giving frequent calls for strikes and shut downs. But a new and ugly chain of unnecessary hartals have been there disgustingly, further crippling Kashmir’s shattered economic set up and causing unimaginable hardships to the people in general. The so called people’s representatives should not forget that a colossal loss of seven billion rupees suffered by the people alone during one week long shut down last week, cannot be justified by them for, it amounts to playing with the bruised psyche of the hapless Kashmiris.

The fresh fuel, added to already simmering fire of discontent and dejection among the tortured and subjugated Kashmiri nation, has been a very deplorable act of reported rape and brutal murder of two women of Shopian in south of Kashmir Valley. Such heinous happenings, invariably attributed to the Indian forces, need to be strongly condemned and authorities forced to a time bound probe to dig out truth of such incidents through an impartial judicial system. But, as has been a long political practice in this State, such occasions provide a readily available opportunity to both the so called nationalist and secessionist political activists to foment further trouble and not to extinguish menacing flames of this wild fire engulfing the honour of Kashmir. They lure the common man to offer sacrifices for the sake of the nation and its dignity but themselves, they are playing the role of the merchants of death and destruction.

During the last 20 years, they have not contributed to the uprising in a positive way but have only amassed wealth beyond their genuine and known sources of income. The entire Kashmir knows where from this wealth running into crores of rupees came and for what purpose it was given to them through underhand means. One may ask as to what kind of sacrifices these hypocrites have offered from their own families. What right they have to ask others to face teargas shells, cane beatings, thrashing and even bullets in the streets. Have any of these tear-shedding crocodiles ever led a street protestation facing the wrath of the police and paramilitary forces? Instead, they enjoy staying comfortably in posh drawing rooms of their clandestinely purchased sprawling bungalows and pass dictates to the people with impunity.

Syed Ali Geelani’s call for shut down beginning 1st June, when Molvi Omar Farooq stayed out of it, stands disapproved by one and all for obvious reasons. This bitter reality is also known to these politicians of Kashmir today. They should still hold themselves answerable before millions of suffering people to the question that have their miseries not been multiplied with these frequent calls ultimately proving detrimental to a hard working poor Kashmiri?

In connection with the prevailing Kashmir situation, both the authorities and the secessionists are seen waiting for any development so that they earn political mileage out of the situation created by the circumstances automatically. on their own they are almost paralysed. About the Shopian incident, people’s spontaneous response was very much in solidarity with the affected and agonised family and not to appease Geelani. This, he must bear in his mind clearly.

The fragmented Hurriyat leadership must be quite tired. After all, they have achieved the goal of plebiscite, freedom, dignity, and honour for the people. It is therefore high time that it doesn’t subject itself to further exhaustion but take rest, rather permanently. As usual, the non-existent and incompetent State government has also been playing to its ugly tune of casually ordering judicial inquiry whenever an incident like Shopian takes place. These imaginary inquiries are never held honestly, and their outcome is never made public. May we ask how many para military troopers were punished for killing of more than 60 innocent Kashmiri youths in streets during last year’s Amarnath row and how many were brought to justice for murders in Khaigam, Aloochi Bagh, downtown Srinagar, Pulwama and several other areas across the Valley? Would the government reveal their names and other antecedents before the public?

Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Chief minister Omar Abdullah also lost no time to announce that an impartial inquiry into the Shopian incident would be conducted and completed within one months time, but in the same breath, he surprisingly stated that rape or murder of two Shopiani ladies have not been proved. This is ridiculous.

On top of these unsavoury current developments, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq has now offered initiating talks with the Indian government again staging a U-turn against his earlier stand that his Hurriyat faction could only open a dialogue with New Delhi if the later accepts that Kashmir was a disputed territory and its resolution would be sought in accordance with the wishes of the people of the State. Before making this pronouncement, Mirwaiz should have waited for a couple of days to go thorough the statement made by William Burns, US under secretary for political affairs, who said in clear terms while addressing media in New Delhi Thursday, “it remains our view that a resolution of Kashmir issue has to take into account wishes of the Kashmiri people.”

One may not presume as early as today that the cat is out of bag and behind the scene maneuverings are very much on for yet another “1975-like sell out” of the people and their suppressed emotions and natural feelings. In his 5-point charter of demands, for the Central government, Mirwaiz has not made even a passing reference to his Conference’s stand to ascertain the wishes of the people for the final settlement of Kashmir issue. What does it mean? As far as the current chain of uncalled for anti-people shut downs and a viable solution of the Kashmir tangle is concerned, these are two separate identities and need to be dealt with a different outlook in different perspective.

It is imperative that the Kashmir leadership learns a lesson from the people of Jammu who came out in streets under the banner of Hindu communal forces most violently during the Amarnath controversy last year, but did not opt for any business shut down because they are too conscious about their commercial life and its significance. They imposed an economic blockade for the people of Kashmir but didn’t affect their own normal economic activities under any circumstances.

Whereas continued peaceful, and not violent, protestation is the people’s basic right which cannot be denied to them and they have every right to go for it undauntedly till the culprits are brought to justice, self-styled Kashmiri separatists, playing havoc with a devastated Kashmir, must think twice before imposing yet another futile hartal as to what purpose it serves for the people whose champions they say they still are? Does it help them achieve expediently their invisible goal of “nothingness” on the path of their ambiguous and vague politicking? No, not at all.

Can There be Durable Peace in Kashmir Without Sanction of the ISI?

Rekha describes the three changing phases of alienation and insurgency in Kashmir without acknowledging permanency of the core link between Mr. Ali Shah Geelani and radical state actors in Pakistan

(Prof. Rekha Chowdhary, 55, was born in Jammu and has been a university teacher for the past 30 years. She is currently the Professor of Political Science, University of Jammu. During her distinguished teaching career, she was the visiting Fellow under a Ford Foundation grant at the Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford, in 1992-1993; winner of the Commonwealth Award availed at the University of Oxford, 1997-1998; and the Fulbright Fellow availed at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at the Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC, in 2005.)

Present political unrest in Kashmir

Kashmir has been on the boil once again. This time it is the case of rape and murder of two women in Shopian. There is a sense of outrage and people have been out on the streets to show their resentment and anger. But this is not the first time that situation has evolved like that. For more than two years now, there is a pattern of the popular outburst which establishes in reality the zero tolerance to any kind of indignity and abuses of the basic rights. It is of course not the zero tolerance that Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of the country had committed to, but the zero tolerance of the people towards any kind of Human Rights abuse in the Valley. Since the beginning of 2007 there have been numerous cases of public protests, not necessarily in the streets of Srinagar but in small and big towns, in villages. At times these protests have remained confined to the places where they have originated while many other times it has engulfed the whole of the Valley.

For anyone keenly observing the situation in Kashmir, this moment can be captured to understand the changing context of the political realities in Kashmir. It is certainly reflective not only of the changing mood of people of Kashmir but also of the changed context of the political conflict. One can say that it is the third stage of the conflict since it manifested itself in its present form in 1989. While the first stage lasted from 1989 till the middle of nineties, the second phase lasted till the middle of the current decade.

The conflict at the internal level has entered its new phase now. What is so specific about the present phase of conflict and how is it different from earlier two phases? To answer that it is important to understand as to how conflict manifested itself in the first two phases.

The first phase of conflict was defined by four factors: first the onset of armed militancy and the beginning of a violent struggle; secondly, the immense popular response against the state as demonstrated by the massive protest marches (a peculiarity of the year of 1990), thirdly not only the explicit public support for armed militancy but also its legitimacy by the society (it was the period of indigenous militancy and the young militants were treated as heroes, 'our boys') and fourthly the de-legitimisation of the mainstream political processes including the process of governance and the electoral politics (the 1989 Parliamentary election of reflective of this mood when people completely boycotted the elections and did not enter the polling booths and there were not many candidates willing to come forward to contest elections)

It was by the middle of the decade of nineties that the conflict had entered the second stage. This was the period when militant violence had impacted the social fabric of Kashmir and people had started developing a sense of fatigue with the continued state of violence and abnormality. It was in this context that 1996 Parliamentary elections (followed by the Assembly elections) had taken place. However, despite the mainstream and electoral process being restored after a gap of six years, the legitimacy to this process was not attained. Though an 'elected' government was put in place, its legitimacy was clearly contested. What defined this phase however was not the restoration of the electoral process but the internal response of the Kashmiri society towards violence and armed militancy, particularly the jehadi factor. Without abandoning their separatist sentiment, the people had started distancing themselves from the armed militancy. By the end of the decade of nineties, the Kashmiri society had clearly de-legitimised it. Much before 9/11 had de-legitimised terrorism as an instrument of political struggle at the international level, it was clearly disowned at the internal level. A G Lone's declaration at the turn of the last decade that armed militancy had served its purpose of internationalising the Kashmir issue and that the jehadi or the guest militants were no more needed in Kashmir - was a reflection of the mood of the society. It was in this background that one could see the manifestation of the huge support to the peace process initiated by A B Vajpayee. The demands of people from the separatist leadership were also changing. The 'movement forward' was demanded and the politics of hardcore and rigid separatism was rejected. In sync with the popular mood, the separatist leaders, especially in the moderate camp, saw 'dialogue' as a positive step and expected their 'flexible' approach to deliver and bring around a solution to the intricate problem.

It is the failure of the moderate voices and the 'flexibility' of political approach that has ushered in the third stage of the present phase of conflict. The stalling of the peace process both at the external as well as at the internal level has brought about a general sense of disappointment in Kashmir. This sense of disappointment is aggravated by the changed international environment (wherein the focus on Kashmir has receded) on the one hand and the continued crisis in Pakistan, on the other. People in Kashmir feel that they are almost on their own and their sense of responsibility to their own 'cause' has increased. Fearing that in the given circumstances when there is not much international attention on Kashmir and even Pakistan may be pressurized to putting Kashmir at the back-burner (as Zardari had stated), the movement might wane and the 'sacrifices' made during the prolonged years of conflict may go waste - the people have become all the more aggressive in their response. The renewed commitment by the common Kashmiris to their 'cause' is one of the most important features of the present stage of the conflict. (Reference can be made here to the massive participation of people in the demonstrations like during the Amarnath agitation reminding one of the early 1990 scenario and the frequent protest demonstrations during last two years!) The urgency to exhibit their support for the movement is not only related to the emerging international scenario but also due to the changing internal situation, especially the expansion of the mainstream political space.

Interestingly, the expansion of the electoral and mainstream politics in Kashmir is at the behest of people themselves. It is here that the peculiarity of the present phase of conflict lies. Unlike the first (and even the second) phase when electoral and mainstream politics was de-legitimised, in the present phase it has gained sufficient legitimacy due to the willing participation of the people. Over the period, people have themselves responded to the need of 'governance' based on democratic principles. However, rather than substituting governance to their separatist sentiment, people have worked out a clear cut approach in which they can deal with the issues of governance without abandoning their separatist orientations. But this poses a constant challenge to people - lest their participation in the politics of governance be seen as a step towards 'normalcy' or a retreat from their 'cause' - they need to assert their separatist sentiments and exhibit them in forceful manner.

The peculiarity of the present stage is the assertion of the political means. The role of the armed militancy as an instrument of the movement politics seems to have been exhausted and its place is taken over by the protest politics. It is also the stage that reflects a reversal of relationship between the leaders and the people. Rather than the Hurriyat or other separatist leaders leading the movement and giving it a direction, it is the people who are taking the initiative and the leaders are finding their relevance in the process of the movement. That the separatist leaders are merely reflecting the ground level situation and are not playing autonomous role - became clear during the 2008 Assembly elections when the Hurriyat leadership had called for boycott but people took the decision to defy this call.

It is in this context where political initiative is lying in the people that one can locate the present unrest. In their response one can see a sense of disappointment, skepticism, fear and urgency. And the issues related to the basic rights of people, like the one in the present case not only enhance these feelings but give a sense of urgency to them for pursuing their cause.

Neelofar and Shakeel's Baby

Monisa shares the pain and agony of the precious life that is no more

(Ms. Monisa Qadri, 23, was born and raised in Srinagar. She has been a Mallinson Girl and studied bio-chemistry at the Women's College, Srinagar. She has studied mass communications and journalism from Kashmir University, and works in the Corporate Communications and Public Relations Department of the J&K Bank. She writes as a freelancer.)

…And three of us were murdered

“They were not two, I too was with them.” This is a painful story of a child, murdered inside the womb of his mom. An unborn child, yet to know what it meant to be ‘being alive’, was killed. This part of life-the pre-natal phase, normally when unborn babies, in other parts of the world, experience simply physical growth, he had to bear a trauma. It was a dreadful night, when he along with his mother, his teenage aunt, was to meet their end. His sobs don’t let me sleep and he keeps asking me, “why did it happen to me? Why?” I have no answers. Honestly, I don’t!

He was yet to be born, but he heard his mother’s heartbeats and felt her pain. He knew that his mother had been thinking about her coming life and waiting for the day when he would be born to call her ‘moujee’. Her day started praying for his health and she went into the lands of slumber, thanking Allah for him.

He tells me, how his aunt would be scared at night even inside her house and how horrendous would that ugly night have been to her. She was a child, he mocks at her killers. A child! This baby, who is dead now, narrates their story of misery, which sends shivers down my soul. I am told of a death, which came so slow that its pain was so extreme, even the dying, wanted a mercy from lord that it came sooner. Now his smiles reflect in his tears as this angel went back from where he had come-heaven.

He keeps on coming back to me, to us seeking answers for questions, which our brothers and sisters living there with him, want to have. Their sighs patiently wait till their tears ask, “Till when do we die with the sword of cruelty and poison of disgrace? We want it no more.” He keeps on coming back.
He sings his own lullabies and sang one to me:

My angel, my mom, with her ‘wings’, I travelled
Far to the blissful lands of sunshine unraveled
I saw with her eyes and together we smiled
Now her dreams are frozen and all her hopes shattered
My aunt was so young, she played with me
She loved to call herself ‘a birdie so free’
And one day the monsters wiped all off,
My mouj and aunt Asiya and with them ‘me’
They ran for their lives, she (mouj) did more for me
The monsters so cruel; little knew we
They took them to thorns in the black of night
Screeching, the moon hid in pain and in fret
I heard their cries. I heard their woes
Vampires kept drinking blood and roaring like foes
For they knew not the lingo of my homeland!
That of honour and that of pride
Though they stole all the fragrance my angels had,
Their wings they burnt. But to paradise we led.
Now my angels sing to me, the hymns of my land
Those of sufferings and sorrow; but all of pride
I ask my aunt the meaning of life.

Surprised, she replies, “I was too young to know
My age too tender, my heart yet to glow.”
This girl, I asked, “Do word my tale of cries”,
Visiting her dreams in her haunted eyes.
She smiles to me in the sleepless nights,
“You were too blessed to fly to paradise.”
Promises me revenge for our hapless story
Ah! She cries, praying for our glory
Only thing that hurts in her elegy
That my mom dreamt of days with dad and me
Of dawn and the moon forever to be
But the cruel hands of my killers snatched life from ‘we’,
We were going home, which ceased so to be
We are going home. We are coming back to thee,
We are coming back to thee!!

Preservation of Mughal Gardens

Indian National Trust of Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is doing the right thing

State govt, INTACH kick start the preservation drive of Kashmir's Mughal gardens

Srinagar: In order to revive the pristine glory of the world renowned Mughal gardens of Kashmir valley, the state government has taken initiatives for undertaking preservation drive of the three prominent Mughal gardens of the valley.

The project, first of its kind, is a joint venture of the state's floriculture department and Indian National Trust of Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The tentative cost estimate of the over all project has been worked out to be Rs 16 crore.

The funding sources for the maiden project are the Union Ministry's Tourism department, the state budget and 12th Finance Commission Scheme for restoration of Mughal gardens.

Director, Floriculture department of Kashmir, G S Naqash said that no restoration work of the Mughal gardens has been ever undertaken like this at a massive scale before since the construction of gardens several hundred years ago by the Mughals.

"In the absence of any big renovation work, the condition of these heritage gardens has deteriorated over the years," Naqash added.

He asserted that the restoration of the Mughal gardens will help a great deal in not only preserving the heritage gardens but also in promoting tourism especially the inflow of foreign tourists to the valley.

"Foreign tourists usually prefer to see the old culture and heritage monuments so in my opinion this project will greatly help in enhancing the tourism here," he opined.

He maintained that a project report for the renovation of the gardens was prepared after a survey was conducted by INTACH in collaboration with state's Floriculture department and the Ministry of Tourism in 2005.

"Though we were allocated Rs 75 lakh for the renovation of Nishat Bagh soon after the survey of 2005, the work could not be started because of certain reasons. Later we approached the state government to get the permission for the long-pending project of the restoration of all the three gardens and finally started the work," the director said.

The restoration work is presently going on in all the three Mughal gardens, viz, Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Achabal garden. "The most interesting part of the entire work is the restoration of paper machie painting of the 400-year-old monument in Shalimar Bagh without demolishing the old structure, the first of its kind in the valley. Earlier, it was done in Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the president of India in New Delhi," chairman of J&K Chapter of INTACH, Saleem Beigh pointed out.

Rather than opting for glitzy modern structures, efforts would be made to ensure the old layout of the heritage gardens under the project. "The main elements of the conservation plans supervised by INTACH include ensuring of authenticity of original layout, materials and historical fabric," Saleem Beigh said.

According to Beigh, one of the main objectives of the project is to get the valley's heritage gardens enlisted in the tentative list of the world heritage website. In this regard, a proposal is being prepared by INTACH which be later forwarded to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) with the assistance of the state government.

The J&K INTACH chairman hoped that depending on the availability of funds the project will be completed within three years, except Achabal garden where the restoration work will be hopefully completed this year.

Built in Mughal era, the Mughal gradens of Kashmir are a combination of beautiful artifacts, rare flowers, fountains, impressive lawns and terraces. (Kashmir Times)

Long-Term Disaster for Near-Term Convenience

Dal Lake is dying because of major social and ecological changes in Kashmir, but Kashmiris fail to look understand that the "green bowl" will die when the lake dries out

Dal interiors serve as green bowl

Srinagar: While the Dal lake generates a huge business by serving a prime attraction for the tourists visiting the Valley, its interiors support a large scale economic activity by producing hundreds of tons of vegetables every year.

According to growers cultivating vegetables on the floating gardens in the interiors of the lake, over 6 to 15 quintals of vegetables are being cultivated on each kanal of land inside the lake.

“While one kanal usually gives a production of 15 quintals of radish and turnip in four months, the leafy vegetables give less yields,” says Rahat, a vegetable grower at Chowdhary Bagh, Khan Mohalla.

Vegetable cultivation is a round the year activity in the interiors. “From February to May seeds like that of tomatoes, saag, radish, brinjal and others are sown in the month of February,” they say.

For past over a couple of years, they say, they have adopted a new method of growing vegetables during winters, where in they cultivate them in a glass houses.

“Then in May, summer vegetables like chilies, beans, rajmah, cucumber and other vegetables are sown that are reaped in June. The season of summer vegetables lasts till August,” says Rahat.

The third season is of winter vegetables, when carrot, radish, turnip, Kashmiri or Hanji saag, G M Dar saag, onion and garlic are sown in September. “These vegetables are reaped in December. This season lasts till February,” she says.

Rahat (53) and her husband Ghulam Nabi Khan (58) have been cultivating vegetables on their three-kanal land in the area for several decades. Rahat’s father too had been into the same profession.

At Khan Mohalla, there are three families cultivating vegetables, where as in its adjoining area namely Zari Mohalla, around a dozen of families grow vegetables at their respective places. Almost every member of these families engages himself or herself with vegetable cultivation.

“Almost everyone here takes up this job right from the childhood. I too was a child when I started growing vegetables,” said 50 year old Misra.

She and her husband Ghulam Nabi Bhat, along with two other families, cultivate vegetables on their 10-kanal land at Zari Mohalla.

The male members in the families sell the domestic vegetables to shopkeepers at the main vegetable market in Dal Lake.

As per the growers, the vegetables that are not grown in Dal lake are brought from the outside. “We collect those vegetables from the Parimpora market and sell them as well in the market along with the domestic vegetables,” says Javed.

He says most of the vegetables in Kashmir are received from outside the Valley.

“In winters, there is usually a dearth for vegetables in the Valley, when only a few vegetables are grown here. Hence the rest of the vegetables have to be imported from the outside. This is why when the highway is blocked, we feel shortage of the vegetables here and the prices too get high,” says Javed.

“In summers we don’t face shortage of vegetables,” he adds.

“However, the trend of outside vegetables has not affected our business at all.

Since the vegetables produced from Dal interiors are fresher and better in taste than those received from the outside, many customers prefer our vegetables,” asserts Khatija Begam selling vegetables on the footpath along Foreshore Road

The growers say the vegetables of the Valley are even sent to rest of the state including Jammu and Ladakh. “However, we don’t supply the vegetables directly to outside places, but indirectly through the traders in the market,” they say.

Growers, however, say they make a very little profit on the vegetables they sell in the market. “This is because we have to spend a lot on the fertilizers and chemicals required for the vegetables,” says Rahat.

“The chemicals are usually very costly that we usually can not afford to buy. In the absence of requisite chemicals, many of our vegetables have attained certain diseases, due to which we are facing huge losses. Government should provide us with the chemicals free of cost,” says Ghulam Nabi Bhat, another vegetable grower.

Growers accuse the government for “its indifferent attitude towards them.” They say previous year they had suffered tremendous losses because of flood, followed by a sharp decrease in the vegetable prices.

“All the vegetable growers of Dal Lake had suffered huge losses of lakhs of rupees, for which the government had promised us for compensation, but did nothing,” says Rahat. (Greater Kashmir)

Strikes in Kashmir Produce a Mixed Score Card

While tourism and marriage season have been negatively impacted, online shopping picks up in the Valley (three stories)

Strike leaves tourism shattered

Srinagar: The cool wind blowing across the Dal lake and crowded market lanes with traders hawking Kashmiri handicrafts made for ideal summer destination today as the eight-day- long strike was lifted by separatists.

But such is the unpredictability of this ever-volatile land that travel operators and tourism officials believe that it would be a huge task to revive an industry which feeds more families than any other enterprise here.

Summer vacations are more than half way through, Houseboat Association president Azim Toman says, and they would be lucky if tourists return in the same number as looked likely a fortnight back. “We were partially hit by the Taliban scare but the scorching heat in the plains helped us. But this eight-day strike has been very cruel. We are most hospitable people but tourists suffered during these days. I don’t think they would be a good advertisement for us,” Owais Jan, a shikara owner, says.

Srinagar Airport’s director NV Subbarayudu told The Tribune that 11 domestic flights landing in Srinagar everyday were hardly 50-60 per cent full, a far cry from almost 100 per cent occupancy a fortnight back. On a more disappointing note, he adds that all outgoing flights have been full as the sudden eruption of protests and strike after the Shopian incident caught thousands of tourists already in the valley by surprise and they made a beeline for flight tickets.

However, most of the tourists have already left. Due to lack of demand, the prices of plane tickets have come down from both sides. Many tourists, who had found spiralling plane tickets in the light of strikes prohibitive, have travelled out of the valley by road. Toman says tourists are still coming but their flow has come down drastically. An official says from more than 3,700 tourist arrivals two weeks back their numbers have slowly come around 2000. Groups of travellers could be seen around the Dal lake, a hub for tourists. Khursheed of Hotel Imperial, a hotel with an enviable location at Nehru Park, says they are still getting tourists but they have also begun offering a discount of over 30 per cent to attract them. In normal times, customers would have paid a premium to stay in the hotel.

Rajiv Ghai, a telecom company employee hailing from New Delhi, says he has been in Srinagar for the past five days. “I met many tourists who complained of bad quality food during the strike days. I was staying in Nehru Park where most of the shops remained open. I could not get a taxi for two days. I would think twice before coming here. We come here to enjoy ourselves, not to suffer,” he says.

But the onset of Amarnath yatra, which will begin from mid-June, could act as a catalyst for tourism revival in the valley. There is a near unanimity among travel operators that pilgrims’ arrival in large numbers would be just the medicine needed for the crippled industry. “So far, there has been only a few cancellation by pilgrims. Not more than 2 or 3 pe rcent,” Yaqoob Khan of Sita Travels says.

If separatists do not start another round of protests and strikes, the arrival of over four lakh pilgrims may turn the tide for lakhs of people depending upon tourism for their livelihood. Travel operators recall that almost every hotel was full during the beginning of the yatra last year before separatists brought life to a standstill over the land issue. “Things are bad now. It could get better, or worse” a travel operator says. (Tribune News)


Marriage cancellations in Kashmir cause Rs 10 cr loss to mutton dealers

Srinagar: In eight day continuous strike over the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian, the Valley mutton dealers have suffered an estimated loss of more than Rs10 crores owing to cancellation of marriages.

“The mutton dealers have received cancellation orders from most of the marriages and at this point of time, we are left with mutton stocks worth Rs 10 crores,” President All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association Mehraj-ud-Din Kanoon told Rising Kashmir.

Kanoon said nearly 30 lakh sheep are annually consumed in the Valley, making it a Rs 9000 crore industry. “Each day nearly 8000 sheep worth around Rs 3 crore are consumed in the Valley. In the eight day strike, orders, particularly for marriages were cancelled incurring loss of Rs.10 crores,” Kanoon said.

He said that people preferred to celebrate Nikah ceremony in an austere manner and usually cancelled the feast.

“For Nikah ceremonies people purchase hardly 25-50 Kgs of mutton. More than 90 per cent of our stock is unsold,” Kanoon said.

Abdul Gani Mir, a mutton dealer of Jamia Masjid said that local dealers were suffering as their shops continued to remain shut since last eight days of strike.

“The situation is all the time tense here. Both police and CRPF lay a heavy siege around the whole neighborhood and restrict the movement of people,” Mir said, adding that the dealers of downtown were ready to observe strike unless justice was given to the Shopian victims.

“We import sheep and goats mostly from Delhi markets besides Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Before the strikes we purchased stock worth Rs 1.5 lakh in view of the marriage season. Since last 10 days I have hardly sold 70 Kgs of meat,” Mir added.

Meanwhile, the consumers allege that the mutton dealers were exploiting the situation by giving excuses of strike. “They (mutton dealers) deceive us as they say trucks carrying stocks are stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. They are creating the hysteria of mutton shortage,” Muhammad Altaf, a resident of Gojwara said.

Altaf said more than 20 sheep laden trucks have arrived in Srinagar before the occurrence of Shopian incident. “The mutton dealers of Nowhatta received around 5 sheep laden trucks,” he added. (Rising Kashmir)

Online shopping picking up in Kashmir

Srinagar: Online retailing that has taken firm roots in cities and metros world over is beginning to take hold in Kashmir. Online shopping is a new trend that has caught up among Kashmiri youth but delay in postal delivery is impeding e-tailing from gaining momentum.

E-tailing helps retailers build varied customers across regions and is aimed at selling in areas where they don’t have a physical presence. Scores of cyber savvy young individuals surf online web sites that offer variety of products for sale and place orders for the products of their choice. However most of the shoppers complain that a slothful courier service delays the delivery of goods purchased through a credit card transaction.

Rukhsana, a young banker from uptown Sanatnagar, said that she purchased some jewellery and kitchenware from a particular online store of India but “the items take exceedingly good time in reaching my house as the postal agencies, private as well as government run, don’t deliver the goods on time,” she said.

Appreciating the benefits of e-commerce, Rukhsana said, one gets a surplus choice without having to run after shops and malls. You save time and simultaneously free yourself from being caught in a violent incident in a conflict zone like Kashmir, she said.

The products are also cost effective, she revealed.

Jehanzeb Bhat, a company executive recently purchased a book to be gifted to his loved one through an online e-site. “We have the most unreliable courier service existing in Kashmir otherwise it is an effective medium of purchasing.”

Hadi Yousuf however complained that he was handed over a shirt of different stuff than what he had ordered for.

Saeed purchased some apparels designed by a leading fashion designer in Bombay. In fact one can buy clothes from around the world and designed in style beyond ones imagination, he said.

Online Shopping has emerged into every corner of life, linking people to the culture of capitalism in frequent and daily ways, said Zubeida, a web designer.

“It holds significance in Kashmir where life remains out of gear for most of the times due to frequent strikes,” she added.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has pegged the e-commerce market in India at Rs 9,210 crore. The market is estimated to grow 30 per cent year-on-year. E-retailing comes under e-commerce.

Saqib, an engineering graduate differs and urges his fellow Kashmiris to encourage local trade. ‘We are passing through difficult times of our national history. Our trade has suffered. We should support our trader community by purchasing locally,’ he argued. (Rising Kashmir)

Developing Manasbal as a Tourist Attraction

A native to the area describes the beauty of the place and his mixed feelings towards its future

(Mr. Shyam Kaul, 76, was born in Safapur, near Lake Manasbal, in the Gandarbal District. He did his schooling in the local area (then part of Baramulla District) and his graduate studies from the Sri Pratap College and the Amar Singh College. He obtained double Master's degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Lucknow. Subsequently, he moved to Mumbai and obtained diplomas in Advertising and Journalism. His first job in 1950's was with the Jaico Publishing Company in Mumbai as an Editor. Following a brief stint at the Filmistan Studios as the Marketing Manger, he returned to Kashmir where he became associated with the All India Radio (AIR) and various media outlets before joining the National Herald where he stayed until his retirement in 2002. He is now a free lance journalist and his commentary appears regularly in various J&K dailies. In his leisure time, Shyamji enjoys writing poetry in Urdu and cooking.)

Rebirth of a Temple, a Lake

Decades ago, during the Maharaja-ruled days, the only symbol of progress and modernness in my village, Safapur, was a primary school, in a two storey structure of Sunbaked and bricks, with a staff of two oft-smoozing and less-teaching teachers. As younsters our only recreation was to walk over to the banks of our village lake, Manasbal, to spend hours playing, frolicking about and bathing in the lake waters. A more absorbing pastime was to watch fishermen, standing motionless on the stem of their boats, with pronged spears in their hands to strike the unwary fish. Nets could not be used by them because of the heavy underwater growth of weeds. We would also often make trips of about two kilometres to Qazi Bagh, on the south-east periphery of Manasbal. It was a thrilling experience to watch the shimmering waters of the lake when the sun set over it as we sat under the huge chinars on the terrace of Qazi Bagh. Sometimes we would also have rare experience of seeing white visitors there, whom all Kashmiris held in awe.

The Qazi Bagh slopes present a tastefully decorated spectacle today, with beautifully carved out stretches of greenery, flowers, shapely dwarf treees and plants. The surroundings have been completely transformed, with many structures having come up for the convenience and pleasure of tourists.It was later in my life that I read about sunset view at Manasbal being among the finest anywhere in the world.

When at Qazi Bagh we would always have a look at the temple nearby. In summer it was only the crest of the temple which would be visible, the rest of it being submerged in swampy periphery of the lake. During winters, however, one could see a little more of the temple downwards due to the fall in the water level. But the whole structure would never be visible. It took ages for this ancient temple to free itself from its marshy confines and make itself visible in its completeness. It is the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department which deserves kudos for having reclaimed this ancient legacy from the jaws of oblivion. As far as I know, it was the former secretary of Tourism department, Nayeem Akhtar who took great pain in spearheading the task of the reclamation of the temple. All researchers, scholars and lovers of Kashmir's past legacy, owe their gratitude to Nayeem Akhtar.

We find the reference of the Manasbal temple in the writings of Fredric Drew, a visiting geographer in Jammu and Kashmir territories, who came to Kashmir during the 19th century. He visited Manasbal in 1875 and wrote that the temple was submerged beneath the water of the lake. He says: "It may be that the rise of the waters over the base of the temple is due to the supply of water brought by the later-made artificial canals not having been able to rain off to the river (Jhelum) except after a general rise of the lake."

The temple, situated to the south-east of the lake is fairly intact. According to the literature so obligingly provided to me by an avid researcher, Dr. R.K. Tamiri, the temple depicts the tradition of Pandretha and Payar temples.

Noted archeologist, Dr. R.C. Agarwal, says that the Manasbal temple was built by a minister of King Jayasimha, who ruled over Kashmir from AD 1128 to 1149. It was built along with other temple in the valley including, Payar, Pandrethan, Mamal, Kothar and others. The temple, he writes, has been built in two blocks and is smaller than the Payar temple. It is the third temple after Pandrethan and Payar, with a Shikhara (crest) which is intact.

At the entrance of the Manasbal temple is the figure of Lakulisa, besides those of Ganesh and Ghandarvas. Lakulisa is shown seated on a pedestal in 'Dhyanmudra' (meditation) under a tree. The left hand holds a staff and the right is damaged. The facial impression is also eroded due to weathering. The figure of Ganesh in Lalitansan holds an axe in the left hand while the right is in Abhayamudra. The Ghandarva figures are shown with a garland of flowers, on either side of the Lakulisa figure.

Manasbal temple, with its main entrance on the west, is externally square but internally circular. The walls of the sanctum are plain except for the pilasters which are decorated with lotus and other flower designs. The brackets of the pillar are lentil-shaped and decorated with the lotus petals and occur on all sides except on the main entrance.

The shikhara of the temple is pyramidal and made into two parts. The lower part is built within the block of the sanctum and separated by a recessed course of the upper portion. On both sides of the entrance there are fluted pilasters. Over these rests a trefoiled arch surmounted by a pediment. In the trefoiled portion a chaturmukhi Ganesha and ghandarva figures are shown. The sanctum is circular internally and possibly in the Centre of the sanctum of Shivalingam must have been enshrined which is now missing.

The reclamation of Manasbal temple is a part of the adornment drive of the lake and its surroundings, by the Tourism department. The objective is to develop Manasbal, less than thirty minutes drive from Srinagar, as an alternate tourist resort, and also to ease the pressure on the capital city during peak tourist seasons.

The metamorphosis of Manasbal lake from nature's gift of virgin beauty to a glamorously embellished tourist location, is defined by the three photographs.

These photographs represent the visual setting of the lake during three successive centuries, i.e. 19th, 20th and 21st. The first photograph was taken in 1864 by Samuel Bourne, the second in 1936 by Mahattass, and the third in 2008 by Tourism department.

No doubt, the lake now looks prettier, more attractive, and beautiful, and tastefully organised, but one wonders whether the man-made adornment is more captivating, than was the lake's pristine naturalness.

The lake known for its imperturbable placidity had been defined in these columns once as a hermit in deep meditation.

One hopes that the modernisation of Manasbal, will not bring with it the impurities, contamination and environmental degradation, which we have seen, with our own eyes, happening to Dal and Wullar lakes. We fervently hope and pray that Manasbal, a godsend marvel for the people of Kashmir, especially those of Safapur and neighbouring villages, will not be made to suffer the same fate as its sister lakes have.

Legal Instruments Exist to Curb Domestic Violence in J&K

Rifat says that there is a legal mechanism to fight the social menace

(Ms. Rifat Kawoosa, 31, was born in Srinagar. She went to the Presentation Convent High School in Srinagar, and received her Bachelor's degree from the Government College for Women in Srinagar. Mrs. Kawos is an advocate based in Baramulla. She won the Best Essay Writer Award during an orientation course organized by South Asia Forum for Human Rights, and currently serves as the Legal/Advocay Officer for the Lawyers Collective Women's Rights Initiative. In her leisure time she enjoys reading and listening to music.)

Law and Domestic Violence

The law on domestic violence against women passed by the parliament is effective from October 2006, but our legislature till date has not seen the passage of this Act. Domestic violence implies violence at home in its various forms but the legal connotation given to it by the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 defines it as ‘omission or commission of any act or conduct that harms or injures or endangers the health, safety, life, limb or well being of a person, any other act of threat or coercion that includes any form of physical, sexual, verbal and emotional and economic abuse’.

A very significant development recently on the subject has been made by Prof. Bashir Ahmed Dabla, Head of Department, Sociology, University of Kashmir by bringing forth an empirical research in the form of a book, ‘Domestic violence against women in the Kashmir valley’. As we all know that domestic violence is found in our society as well.

In the following passages wherein some highlights of the domestic violence Act will be given, the readers will understand how the Act has recognized all the possible relations in the ambit of this problem as the stake holders.

In the recent past, our valley has witnessed a number of cases of domestic violence, be it in the heart of the city at Zaina Kadal or in the villages of Chadura and Pulwama. These instances have resulted into deaths of girls who were tortured physically as well as mentally by their husbands and in-laws either for dowry or for bearing a girl child.

Women have been traditionally considered to have adjustability/adaptability as one of their virtues irrespective of the conditions, be it in the parental or marital homes. They are conditioned to the fact that they have to compromise whatever be the circumstances particularly after marriage. Here are sown the seeds of her suffering that ultimately ripens into domestic violence. Now if we see the recent victims of domestic violence, all of them were domesticated girls. Here, if we analyze the findings of Prof. Dabla, the attainment of the role of working woman has developed a degree of jealousy among the family members of the marital side and this has contributed to the enormity and intensity of domestic violence. Now who is safe; a woman who is a submissive homely girl or a professional working woman?!

Therefore, domestic violence is a challenge to our society. If we roughly analyze our laws it will take us to some of the sections of Ranbir Penal Code. Section 498A of the RPC speaks of the cruelty by husband or relatives of husband, Section 304B speaks of dowry death. These sections are punitive in nature and a weapon in the hands of the state. I am sure that as a student of law, I and all my colleagues very well understand the fate of such cases. These either get misused during investigations for reasons known to all of us or are not properly investigated or for that matter at the stage of examination, most of the witnesses baring few turn hostile (contradict with their statements given to the police). If all this does not arise then the matter gets delayed for want of witnesses in the court baring a few of cases.

A very important issue that needs a clear mention here is that a family is and should be a priority for a man as well as a woman and attempt should be to save a family from being thrown to winds. This is because a family not only involves a man and a woman but their children, parents, and siblings as well. It cannot be denied that all of them are affected.

About the Act:

The Protection of women from domestic violence Act in contrast to the existing penal laws has opened multiple options of redress for a woman who is a victim of domestic violence. It is a civil law which is directed towards providing compensation and support to the woman. It is victim driven and not police driven. Therefore it gives more scope to a woman for direct accessibility in the court of law. It recognizes a woman’s right to reside in a shared household. It aims at provide relief to women facing domestic violence. It may be used in addition to criminal laws on cruelty. Any woman who is or has been in a domestic relationship includes wives, sisters, mothers, daughters and widows. Relief under the Act is designed to end violence immediately in the form of protection orders or stop violence orders.

Support systems in the form of residence orders providing for shelter to guard woman from being rendered homeless. Orders for monetary relief compensate loss suffered including maintenance and temporary custody orders. Protection officers are the chief implementing authorities under the Act and they most importantly serve as a link between the victim and the court by facilitating a woman’s access to court and support services. Service providers under the act which include the NGOs working for such issues provide the victim with necessary support including medical relief.

Applications under the law are to be filed before a magistrate or in any other pending proceedings. It provides for disposal of the application within 60 days. An appeal against any order of the magistrate can be filed within 30 days.

It, although being a non punitive law attracts an offence for breach of orders which carries with it an imprisonment up to 1 year or fine up to Rs 20,000 or both. An order under this law remains in force till the aggrieved woman applies for its discharge. Any order under the law can be modified or altered on an application by the aggrieved party.

Also the single window clearance system which is an inbuilt mechanism within the Act keeps open the option to a woman asking for any order pending any civil/criminal complaint.

One of the significant features of the Act is that under Section 14 of the Act, option is open to a magistrate to direct the respondent or the aggrieved person singly or jointly to undergo counseling with any member of a service provider who possesses such qualifications/experience. This has been mentioned in the previous passages as a family savior tool with the courts.

The Act has succeeded in many cases in dealing with the menace of domestic violence particularly in the state of Andhra pradesh as has been mentioned in the reports of Lawyers Collective, Women’s Rights Initiative. It has also a negative side to it wherein the lack of proper implementation and technical difficulties are creating hurdles as was pointed out recently at a press release of the Hand Book on domestic violence in Delhi.

Conclusively I insist that domestic violence is with us today, so why not to end this menace by proper passage and effective implementation of the Domestic Violence Act and last but not the least bring a change within ourselves and the system by changing our attitude towards the role of women and families in our society.

Srinagar Stinks on the World Environment Day While Tourists Find an Alternative

The filth and garbage upsets both natives and tourists and visitors discover an alternative to the valley (three reports)

Plight of river Jehlum no different in Baramulla

Srinagar/Baramulla: The Srinagar city remained virtually buried under huge piles of garbage and filth even on the 'World Environment Day' which went unnoticed today due to general strike and undeclared curfew restrictions.

Heaps of garbage could be seen on the streets in the city, including civil lines and uptown, as the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) failed to lift the garbage, including polythene bags, owing to the ongoing general strike and shutdown.
Obviously while people have been forced to remain indoors, the stray dogs and cows are having a virtual field day near the places where the SMC workers are dumping garbage.

People who have to venture out of their homes to go places for some emergency couldn’t help but cover their mouths and noses because of foul smell emanating from the piles of waste while passing through the areas where garbage could not be lifted for the past five days.

The SMC said they could not operate sufficient number of vehicles to lift the garbage owing to the strike.

Well, this is the plight of Srinagar, which can be described as a ‘stinking city’, the situation elsewhere too is no different.

Take the river Jehlum for instance, thanks to the beautification of its banks in uptown Srinagar, parts of it might no doubt look pleasant, but the rest of this river is as pitiable as ever.

The river which has all along been Kashmir’s life-line is dotted with huge mounds of filth and garbage along its banks in all major towns it passes through. The river has practically turned into a garbage-dumping site, mostly in the north Kashmir district Baramulla.

Notwithstanding the huge amount of money spent by the Municipal Council Baramulla (MCB) on cleaning and beautification of Jehlum banks, the accumulated heaps of filth and rubbish continue to be a characteristic feature of once pristine water-body.

Right from Khwaja Bagh to Khanpora and Veerwan, besides the common people the MCB employees are using the river banks as a place to dump all sorts of filth. And as if it was not enough, a lot of rubble and debris from construction sites too is being unloaded by trucks and tippers along the banks of the river.

“The historical river is dying right under authorities’ nose but nobody cares. Government may claim spending huge funds on its cleaning and beautification but nothing has happened on ground,” says a businessman and social activist Bashir Ahmed Kanroo of Baramulla.

“Almost everyday tons of garbage is being thrown into this river and the municipal authorities prefer not to see it,” Kanroo says, adding just pass through Azad Gunj pontoon bridge, Khanpora, Kakar Hammam, Old Town areas of Baramulla and “you are greeted with the foul smell of the garbage piled on the banks of this historic river.”

"Where can we dump garbage? The dumping site is too far away and we have all along been dumping it in the river,” says a sweeper working with MCB. He believes that water will carry away the garbage and “there is no need to worry”.

"The people in this town are utilizing the free services of river Jehlum and they do not care about the pollution of this important water resource," believes an elderly person Abdul Khailq of Khanpora Baramulla.

"When I was young, I would perform ablution five times a day for prayers on the river but now the water is so polluted that I do not want to look towards it," he adds.

Just from Khwaja Bagh upto Khanpora, there are over 200 toilets that empty directly into the river. Besides the fecal matter from these toilets and lavatories, even the dead animals are dumped into the river which has only added to the amount of river’s pollution.

And ironically, it is the same water from river Jehlum that is supplied to the people for drinking by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department. Of course they do so after carrying out its filtration. But then how much can people actually trust the PHE is subject to personal discretion – just remember PHE’s track record is not very healthy!

When contacted, president MCB, Abdul Rashid Malla, denied that scavengers of MCB have been throwing garbage on the banks of river Jehlum.

Exonerating the MCB staff, Malla put the blame on people saying that it is the common people who are polluting the river by throwing filth into it.

"Though we have built garbage-bins but unfortunately people have been throwing the garbage in the river and at its banks,” he adds.

He, however, promised “necessary measures” to stop people from throwing garbage and other hazardous things on the river banks. (Greater Kashmir)


Dal pollution, garbage in city irks tourists

Srinagar: The tourists on trip spending huge amount for holidays here feel depressed once they have a glimpse of the banks of the Dal Lake at Boulevard Road and the stink emanating from the heaps of garbage in the city irks them.

Visiting Kashmir for the third time is Mukesh of West Bengal is upset over the growing pollution in the Dal Lake.

“This lake is the face of Kashmir. If this lake is not taken care of then the whole tourist industry will die its slow but sure death,” warns he, while sitting in front of illuminated houseboats on the bank of Dal Lake.

Sharing same views are the number of his friends who point towards the bank of Dal at Boulevard Road.

“We can walk for kilometres on the border of the bank as weeds and lot of waste has made it concrete,” added Mukesh’s friend Mukul Gangopadhyay.

Donning warm clothes due to the dip in the mercury here for the last couple of days, tourists from various states can be seen strolling along the Boulevard road.

Mukul said that he visited Saraf Kadal, Habbakadal and many more places but all there was the reeking smell of garbage.

“Though the place is good, but civic sense is absent. I hope it will be better next year when we visit here again,” he said.

In the twilight when the sun hides away in the far-off mountains, the Boulevard road comes alive with foreign as well as domestic tourists thronging it.

Popping out of hotels and houseboats where they are putting up during their stay in Kashmir, the tourists enjoy a leisurely walk in the evening on the banks of Dal Lake.

Though mesmerized by the beauty of Dal Lake, Anil Deshmukh from Maharashtra who is here in valley for the very first time, regrets the pollution in the Dal Lake.

“It is great lake but its pollution hurts me,” Anil said.

He is also concerned about the garbage present everywhere as well as improper roads.

“Where is the Municipal and other department which are responsible for the maintenance of roads in the city,” he added.

Dr S K Jain of Delhi also echoes the same views as others and demand immediate removal of the garbage from the city roads.

“I don’t see any reason for the Municipal officials to keep the garbage in beautiful Srinagar city,” he explodes, while sitting with his wife in front of the raised embankment of Dal Lake. Though, his only disappointment is the closure of shops in the city.

However, it does not deter him to cut short his itinerary as he leaves back to his home on his scheduled date. Jain is here for the second time but “I will be here again next year with my entire family. My children at Delhi are very much curious to see this place,” he hopes. (Kashmir Images)


Tourists prefer Bhaderwah to Kashmir

Jammu: Srinagar’s loss of tourists owing to violence, protests and bandhs has become a gain for Bhaderwah, popularly known as mini Kashmir of the state.

Owing to its icy peaks, rivers, gardens, lakes and the journey along the gushing Chenab, this hill station, 280 km from Jammu, in Kishtwar district is witnessing a heavy rush of tourists for the first time in many years.

“There is a sudden rush of tourists. Against the capacity of 200 tourists in hotels and guest houses here, we have registered 250 tourists yesterday. So we had to request local residents to provide emergency accommodation to the tourists in their houses,” Talat Parvez, Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA) director, said.

To reach Bhaderwah, one has to turn to Batote from Patni Top hill station instead of following the Srinagar road.

Mukesh Kumar, who has come here along with his wife, from Patna said: “We had planned to visit the Srinagar valley after paying obeisance at Vaishno Devi shrine, but due to the ongoing unrest in the valley, we had to cancel our plans. Then our tour operator suggested us to visit Bhaderwah. We were awestruck when we saw Baglihar reservoir over the Chenab. I was so thrilled to feel the snow at the Mini Kailash parbat.”

Ganpat Prasad Gupta from Chhattisgarh said: “We have heard that the Jai valley, near Bhaderwah, is an excellent trekking spot. If all goes well, we can even spend night in the tents erected in the forests for the tourists. (Tribune News)

Kashmir Through the Eyes of a Young Expatriate

Noor shares her views about Kashmir which she visits with increasing frequency. She can be excused for getting her politics mixed-up, but there are no two ways about her feelings towards Kashmir

(Ms. Noor Shah Mubarak, 20, comes from a family who lived in Srinagar, Kashmir. She was born in Hong Kong, and raised in Hong Kong, and London. She studied at the Brighton University in Hopitality and Event Management, and recently transfered to a university in London to study journalism. In her leisure time she leads an active life of enjoying outdoors, reading poetry, watching movies, and spending time with her friends.)

My Kashmir!

To me Kashmir was a magical place that I would visit every summer, a place where the whole family would come together. Where I would spend my mornings and afternoons playing in the garden with all my cousins and brothers, visiting relatives at their homes and eating all the delicious pastries and meat dishes they’d offer us - chicken patties, mutton patties, kantee, black forest cake, pineapple cake, washing it down with either Kahwa or Nun chai (Kashmiri tea). A land in my perspective filled with happiness, love, colour and life; where the grass was emerald green, the lakes were sapphire blue and the sky was crystal clear, but that was until I grew up and opened my eyes.

During these yearly visits up to the age of 9, I wasn’t aware of the Kashmir conflict, the militancy, shooting and bombings that took place within the valley. I couldn’t even recall the summer of 1991 when my father’s sister’s wedding took place during the high peak of militancy. Till date my mother tells me about certain incidents that occurred during the wedding. How at night, rocket attacks and firings would take place, and how we would all be rushed into the corridor to be protected from the bullets that could break through any of the windows in our house. As a child I had never even realized that most of our time was spent indoors because of the cross firing that would take place on the streets between groups. And those who dared to go out would easily end up getting caught in the middle of it. I guess I was never aware of these surroundings because I was too engaged in playing with my cousins, who I’d only see once or twice a year, after all I was only a child.

In Summer 2004 we made a trip to Srinagar, Kashmir after 7 years. At that time I was 16, my eldest brother was 20 and the younger two were 13 and 7. As we arrived and were escorted to our home, I had noticed a change in the streets of Srinagar. It wasn’t the Srinagar I knew from my childhood. This one was dark, gloomy, depressing and lifeless. A place filled with police, soldiers, guns, tear gas, bombs, explosions, shootings, firings and so on. What happened to my Kashmir? The land filled with happiness, love, colour and life? Did that land ever exist? Did I imagine this magical Kashmir as a child to protect myself from the hideous truth? Was I blinded by my love for Kashmir? I wish I knew the answers to my own questions, but sadly I didn,t.

In September 2008 I had decided to visit Srinagar to spend time with my maternal grandfather. This visit took place during the huge anti-India protests, where lacs of Kashmiris came to the streets to protest against the transfer of land to SASB (shrine board) which was an outside state organization as it was a direct violation of article 370 of the Indian constitution. The whole city was under government curfew during these times, no one was allowed to leave their homes without a ‘curfew pass’ and if they did, then they would either end up getting shot at or beaten up by the Indian army who were patrolling the streets. In some areas people couldn’t even open their windows without getting fired at; the 1990’s were back. Kashmir was once again drowning in the blood of its own people.

In the past 20 years over 80’000 civilians have been killed. Many girls/women between the ages of 8-80 have been gang-raped/molested, 8-10,000 disappearances, about 7’000 killed in custody, 23’00 widowed, 1,10,000 plus orphans, an approximated 50-1,00,000 Kashmiri Muslims and up to 3,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits have been internally displaced. Where 330 people have died in police custody and 110 have disappeared from cells without a trace. A state that is known to be the highest militarized zone in the world, 7,00,000 armed forces within the Jammu and Kashmir state, but approximately 75% of the above statistics are within the Kashmir Valley and it’s a population of 5 million.

This is my Kashmir, a dying land that was once alive, a terrorized state once secured, a disputed region once in peace, a paradise turned into hell. This is the Kashmir of the people, its people, to whom it has always belonged to. This is our Kashmir. The Kashmir of the Kashmiri’s: the forgotten people.

Kashmir - The Land of Hartals

Zulfikar wonders why people fail to realize that there can be no nation building if people are not productive. He is not alone, an editorial in a competing daily in Srinagar says the same. Two related stories

(Mr. Zulfikar Majid, 31, was born in Srinagar. He matriculated from the Sri Pratap School and completed his Bachelor's degree from the Sri Pratap College, Srinagar. He is currently pursuing Master's degree in English Literature from the Maulana Azad National Urdu University through its open university system. Mr. Majid is a senior correspondent for the Greater Kashmir, covering socio-economic and political issues and has written several features regarding the impact of violence on youth, drug abuse and mental health in Kashmir. He is a member of the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow network, and writes for the American journal, Counterpunch. Mr. Majid is associated with the U.K. based charity, Save the Children, Kashmir chapter. He was awarded by the Home Minister of India for his work in earthquake-affected areas of North Kashmir.)

Hartal yesterday, Hartal today, Hartal tomorrow

We are complicating the problem for ourselves. A weak nation goes weaker as there are no days to work in. It’s paramount duty of separatists to devise a new way to protest. This one has damaged a lot, comments Zulfikar Majid.

While the recent rape and murder of two innocent girls in Shopian (south Kashmir) has sent shock waves across the Valley and beyond, subsequent strikes called by separatists against the incident have multiplied the woes of the already suffering Kashmiris.

The Shopian incident is so grave that no sane person can close his eyes. It happened with innocent Aasiya and Nelofar today, it can happen with anybody tomorrow. But can we save honor and dignity of our women by calling strikes? Or we need to do something beyond strikes. Is strike only weapon with us? Whom we are punishing by calling strikes on every small and big issue?

Incidentally there is no evidence of strikes in Muslim history. Neither is there any significant correlation between strikes and successful liberation movements across the world. Striking work emerged mainly as a communist concept where the daily waged worker wants to inflict economic costs on the capitalist owners.

But whom we are punishing here and how does India get affected if we boycott economic activity and work. Indian state must be feeling elated when Kashmiri children do not go to school, the sick can’t go to doctor, the daily waged lose their daily wages.

I don’t subscribe Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s theory that a nation which aspires for independence has to give some sacrifices like strikes. History is witness that no country or nation has achieved freedom by abstaining from the work. I ask Geelani Sahib what a person, who earns his livelihood on daily basis and has to feed his family, will do when you call strikes for weeks together. The families of street vendors and daily wagers might be starving during strike days. Is anybody bothered about those poor souls? How hapless patients feel when they aren’t able to visit a doctor.

Is'nt Geelani punishing the victims (read Kashmiris) who are already at the receiving end of Indian establishment? The unending era of strikes started right from 1990 when armed insurgency broke in Kashmir. From an arrest of a militant commander to the killing of civilians, everything was followed by days or at times weeks of strikes. This crippled the economy of Kashmir. Students of that generation were the worst sufferers as their studies got severely affected by the strikes. Separatists groups never gave rethink or debated the hartal strategy. Infact, at times different separatists groups to show their presence call unnecessary strikes.
Hundreds of days of work has been lost in the past two decades due to the strikes. If we could have achieved freedom by continuously abstaining from work for a year, still it wouldn’t have been a bad bargain. But I want to ask Geelani Sahib and other separatist leaders would India leave Kashmir, because of strikes.

No nation can achieve freedom when it is feeble and strikes makes Kashmiri nation even feebler. Our students had started to compete at national and international level from the past few years. Starting from last years Amarnath land row agitation till this time, there was complete or partial strike almost 50 percent of the days.

Nations aspiring freedom have to be economically self-reliant. By calling unnecessary strikes our economic dependence on India increases every day. These illogical strike calls would scuttle any move by Kashmiris to achieve economic self-reliance. Not only on local issues, at times strikes are enforced on Kashmiris on death anniversary of any leader of Muslim world.

Nobody can deny that troops commit human rights violations in Kashmir. An alternative strategy needs to be evolved to protest and counter the HR violations. If we would provide conducive atmosphere to our students for studies, they would thrive at national and international level where they can project the plight of Kashmiris at bigger forums. This is the age of Internet and modern means of communications can be used to protest the HR violations. When last year whole Kashmir was under siege and media was gagged, Kashmiri students outside the state used youtube to highlight the HR violations.

Blackout in the night, pen down strikes in offices for an hour and other ways can be devised to protest against the atrocities committed by the troops. Students, lawyers, doctors wearing black badges during work is a better way to protest and can be sustained for long.

Strikes have never been able to attract international attention towards Kashmir. How many times due to strikes international human rights organizations have taken cognizance of any HR violation and pressurized New Delhi to be cautious? Strikes remain localized to a few localities of Srinagar and other towns. They miserably fail to achieve their objective which is to internationalize HR violations in Kashmir.

If one tries to introspect what went wrong with last year’s uprising when lakhs of people were on streets demanding freedom, frequent strikes was one of the main reason for its failure. People were fatigued which was even acknowledged by Geelani Sahib himself when on October 6, 2008 strike call was taken back. Geelani that time agreed that children have to go to schools, farmers have to reap the harvest and marriages had to be solemnized.

From November 2008 to March or April 2009, it seemed separatist leadership was in deep slumber. They were in shock and awe after massive participation of people in the Assembly elections immediately after massive uprising against Indian state. Massive participation of people in Assembly elections wasn’t vote in favour of India, but anger against wrong policies of separatists. Kashmiris are politically mature enough now and they can’t be fed with hollow slogans. Beware Geelani Sahib, calling a press conference and announcing strikes won’t be acceptable to the people for long now.

Leadership in Kashmir is in desperate need of strategy. Hartals, protests, sacrifices are means to an end. They cannot be an end in themselves. We need a mission statement, a clear demarcation of short term, medium term and long-term objectives.

One hartal or two hartals in a year, is understandable. If we don’t allow our children to go to the schools, where will be the human resources to make it a great nation which we dream of? It is a self-inflicted wound, which desperately needs a re-think.

Stuck in the strike (Editorial in Rising Kashmir)

Failure of extended agitations leads to loss of belief in Resistance politics

Last summer Kashmir witnessed an extended call for shutdown and protest. When the point of exhaustion reached because of the breakdown of routine activities of life and its disastrous consequences on economy and education, Hurriyat Conference called off the strike and a detailed chart for protest was handed down to this people. Except making the mockery of things nothing came out; neither did the strike materialize into any concrete gain nor did the yielding in favour of public concerns fetch anything positive.

On the contrary the lasting impression was that by calling off the strike midway the purpose of entire agitation was defeated. So in the end we had loads of disappointment and nothing else. We lost dozens of lives; we lost a prominent political leader; and we lost billions. On the other side no land was returned back to us, no changes were made in the conduct of Yatra, no alternative roads were opened up, and even those who were arrested during that agitation were not released when the agitation ended. So it was all loss against no gain.

This year we replicated the blunder. The first thing that went wrong was that instead of pushing for concrete demands that were strictly about doing justice to the victims’ family, we talked in terms of larger political demands. If summer 2008 agitation would have revolved round just one demand; make changes in the conduct of Yatra so that the popular apprehensions are addressed, we might have made some political gain. But the agitation that started for reclaiming the 40 hectares of land ended up with losing months of business and dozens of lives. Similarly if the present agitation is strictly narrowed down to Shopian incident there is a chance of breaking the layers of arrogance and obduracy that have settled on government’s mind. But by talking in terms of absolute political demands we will neither get justice for the Shopian victims nor will leave any scope for future protest. If we press for demands that this government can never fulfill, we will be left with only two choices; either continue with the strikes indefinitely or concede defeat.

Continuing strikes is not practically possible, and conceding defeat has huge psychological effects. Consequently it all ends up in detailed charts for protest that try to accommodate conflicting assertions from people, and give birth to suspicion and weaken the belief in Resistance politics. People first ask for the logic of making the strikes endless, and when called off without any breakthrough in the situation they question the wisdom of calling it off. So before any thoughts of calling for a strike this question should strike the Hurriyat mind.

Exercising the Rule of Law in Moments of Great Emotion

Tanvir says democracy means letting the law run its course

(Mr. Tanvir Sadiq, 31, was born in Srinagar and attended the Burn Hall School. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Information technology and management from Orissa University. He is the youngest Municipal Corporator of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and was elected from Zadibal Constituency. He has contributed regularly to local newspapers like the Kashmir Times, Kashmir Images, Greater Kashmir, and Kashmir Monitor. He was associated with many programs on Disaster Management of J & K and did a couple of programs on highlighting urban poverty. He is active in State politics and his interests are writing and social work.)

Truth will triumph

It is a given for any person to become enraged at the suggestion that two innocent girls were raped and murdered in Shopian. But it is very easy to join the mob and participate in a witch hunt than to suggest that we stand back and think calmly. After all, one can never be criticized for saying things that are the popular sentiment at the time. Sadly, without any witnesses and strong evidence, the common sentiment in Kashmir is that our two little sisters in Shopian were raped and murdered. I am not denying that a heinous incident took place in Shopian, but I would like to suggest that we wait till all details of the incident are investigated by experts.

The truth is that we still do not know all the facts that surround these tragic deaths. Just like all Kashmiris, I have read all the news stories, confirmed from reliable sources, and have come to the conclusion that the experts should be given time to find out the truth about this most unfortunate incident. If the forensic experts conclude that the girls were in fact victims of rape and murder, then no stone should be left unturned to hunt down the perpetrators, and in bringing them to justice. But the emphasis is on the term “if”, which means that we should trust the doctors, investigators, and the Kashmir police ( Considering they are themselves Kashmiris, perhaps with young daughters of their own) to perform their job thoroughly and only then draw our conclusions.

The other option is that we leave our justice system to the mob and various other political groups with their own vested interests, who will decide the outcome of any tragic incident that happens in Kashmir. In that case, we would not need any forensic experts, no DNA testing, and no police investigation because the leaders of the mob will be deciding the outcome of any unfortunate incident that takes place in Kashmir. It makes me so sad that people are not able to see through the crocodile tears of PDP leaders such as Mehbooba Mufti. As if any complaints against the security forces were ever investigated, let alone concluded, during the time her party was in power. Therefore her antics of attempting to march to Shopian makes no sense other than make her look desperate for attention.

I am fully aware that there is a trust deficit for the administration in Kashmir because of the actions and hollow promises of successive previous governments here. But is it fair that we banish the word “trust” from our vocabulary for ever? I do not think it is fair because I truly believe that the saying “When deeds speak, words are nothing” applies to our current CM. He squeezed out the truth about the Bomai murders even when everyone saw a dead-end. He made sure that justice was served in the Khaigam murder even when the perpetrators were calling it a militant encounter. Given these facts why should I not believe Omar when he asks me to wait till the experts conclude their investigation?

Let me for a moment examine the argument of the leaders currently inciting Kashmiris. They want us to believe that the current administration is hushing up the case somehow. This argument is preposterous. If this were the case then the inquiry into the Bomai murders would not have implicated the army personnel against tremendous pressure from the army or the investigation into the Khaigman murders would not have concluded that the CRPF men committed a murder. The investigation in both cases was called by Omar Abdullah and was carried out independently by the Kashmir Police without outside pressure from the CM’s office. If the CM was somehow trying to hush up all cases of human rights violations, then he would not discriminate about which case to hush up and which case to proceed forward with.

I fail to see why the current investigation would be hushed up or altered in any way. Not only is a man of impeccable character like Justice Jan leading this investigation, there is also a team of doctors assisting in the investigation. It will be very hard for the truth to be suppressed collectively by all these respected Kashmiri professionals investigating this case. I have full faith in the investigators, forensic experts, the doctors and the DNA specialists to determine whether the young girls were raped and murdered.

And lastly, if we do not see reason then I believe that the greatest tragedy in the deaths of our dear sisters is the hijacking of this incident by some self obsessed leaders for their own narrow interests. I believe that law should take its course in all such unfortunate incidents, and for any civilized society it is imperative that we let the investigators thoroughly do their job and get to the bottom of a case without outside pressure. We want the truth to emerge no matter how bitter it is.

Gender Politics or Criminal Assault, Either Way Shopian Murders are a Tragedy

Nida touches the raw nerve on an issue that has gripped the valley

(Ms. Nida Rafiq Shiekh, 22, was born in Srinagar. She passed her Matriculation from the Presentation Convent High School and completed her 12th grade from the Mallinson Girls High School, both with distinction. She graduated from the Women's College, Srinagar, in 2007 and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in mass communications from the Media Education Research Centre (MERC) of the University of Kashmir. She is a free lance writer who likes writing about the Kashmir issue and other topics like communal violence that have torn apart the Kashmiri society with tragic consequences. She loves writing and reading, and hopes to become a serious journalist and a documentary film maker some day.)

Kashmiri Women in Rage

The alleged rape and killing of a teenage girl and her pregnant sister in law at Shopian and the subsequent hostile attitude of the state government in dealing with the sensitive issue has created a lot of anger and resentment among the Kashmiri women.

In the recent times a number of incidents have taken place where the victims have been women. As a result the growing violence against them has increased the insecurity of Kashmiri women and filled them with rage.

“It’s a shocking incident and every woman should feel the pain of the Shopian victims and it’s high time that we stop being silent spectators to the brutalities done against us and raise our voice for our own safety” said a zoology professor at Womens College, M.A. Road, Sadaf Bashir.

The editor of Media Education Research Centre (MERC), University of Kashmir, Muslim Jan considers this incident a shame on the democratic set-up. “The culprits should be punished and the inquiry process should be speedy. Otherwise we should not call this a democratic set-up.”

Many feel that the on-going protests should not stop till the truth is brought to the fore. Dr. Zahida who runs Mother Care Clinic for women in Srinagar, said, “The strike should not stop till justice is done with the family who has lost their two young daughters, even if it means to increase the problems of the common masses. We should keep in mind that this could have happened with anyone here.” She said adding that the on-going strikes are the only way through which people can show their resentment currently.

While some feel that it is a tragedy which has been politicized. The owner of Ramzaan College of Education, Rabia Khanday said, “I have a daughter too and I can understand what the family of the victims are going through. People who are responsible for this should be immediately punished so that the sense of insecurity that is prevailing among the women in the valley stops.” She also believes that this very sensitive issue should not be politicized.

Mantasha Binti Rashid a student of social work in Kashmir University is in pain because of this cruel incident. She said, “This kind of incident has not taken place in the valley for the first time. It happened in Kunanposhpora and now again in Shopian but every time the government fails to deliver justice which is highly disappointing.” The one month period that the government wants for the inquiry is to cool down the sentiment and then to forget about it, adding she said.

Medical Care in Kashmir is a Disgrace

Bone and Joint Hospital suffers from inadequate facilities, poor sanitation and insufficient resources common to all hospitals in Srinagar

Bone & Joints Hospital suffers due to lack of referral system

Samaan Lateef (Greater Kashmir)

Srinagar: The lack of referral system in the state is causing huge inconvenience to the patients admitted in the Valley’s lone Bone and Joints (B&J) hospital at Barzulla here.

Established in 1982 for the population of about 30 lakh, the B&J hospital infrastructure has not been upgraded to cater to the growing population.

The hospital has 140 beds and the influx of patients admitted per day is more than 200, which adds to the congestion of the hospital.

The hospital is getting budget for 140 beds and has to distribute this budget into more than 200 patients, which affects the medicare and the other facilities.

This reporter visited the hospital and saw it being overcrowded, ill equipped, understaffed with inadequate medical facilities.

The condition of the hospital is unhygienic and surrounding is stinking. An insufficient stock of vital drugs and other essential articles reflect on the claims of the hospital administrators that they are coping to the needs of the patients.

In the general wards, many patients complain about the absence of paramedical and other staff even during the duty hours.

“We hardly see any para-medic when we need him,” said a patient admitted in Ward No 3. According to attendants, the food supplied to the indoor patients is below the specified quality.

“The air in the wards and corridors is sickening. Patients who want to get treated here fall sick because of the suffocation and the stink everywhere in the premises of the hospital,” said Abdul Hameed of Gojwara, an attendant.

Huge mounds of garbage, both domestic and bio-medical, lie unattended.

A large number of patients can be seen in queues awaiting the medical officers in the hospital.

Syringes, packets of unused blood, outdated foils of medicines, cotton smeared with blood, body hair are strewn around in this huge dump.

A patient Ghulam Ahmad from Sangrama in Ward No 3, expressing his anguish said, “Lack of medicare, paucity of medicine, screaming and stink is making life difficult here. Hospital authorities are in deep slumber and least bothered.”

Another patient Gowhar Shafi from Natipora accuse paramedical staff of taking bribe said, “My brother had to pay hundred bucks to paramedical staff to let me out of theatre after being operated.”

Stagnant water in trenches provide congenial environment for mosquitoes to breed and proliferate. Old tyres of hospital ambulances are heaped one over the other with stagnant water.
The hospital administrators blame its condition on the referral system.

“Lack of referral system in the health department across the valley is creating the congestion in the hospital. Patients for a single stitch also come here to be treated making the deserving patients suffer,” said Medical Superintendent Bone and Joints hospital, Muhammad Ramzan Mir.

“We have proposed to health department to make referral system implement but they don’t have open policy for it,” he added.

On infrastructure, he said the renovation of hospital will be started very soon and railway type commodes are to be fixed.

In response to the lack of open policy for implementation of referral system by health department, director health Dr Muzaffar Ahmad said, “People don’t approach district hospital for treatment instead come directly to Bone and Joints hospital. Why B&J hospital is taking those patients, which can be treated in district hospitals. They can send them back to district hospitals."

Greater Kashmir Agrees That Separatist Leadership is out of Touch With Consequences of Unending Strikes

The editorial in the Greater Kashmir takes off from where the Rising Kashmir editorial left off

Rethink needed

Kashmiris are once again at the cross roads of history. Once again they have been pushed to a situation from which they don’t know how to wriggle out. No where in the world have resistance movements resulted in the amount and the kind of self-infliction as we have suffered during the last twenty years.

If we have a cursory look at the Palestinian resistance movement even as they have their own share of divided leadership with a divided territory and divergence in control, the people there have learned to live without resorting to collective self-infliction like unending strikes. If we go by our recent history during the last two decades we have had more time whiling away in homes than doing any productive work at our work places. With repeated strikes we have done an incalculable harm to the work culture in private as well as in public offices and then we blame others for our self-destruction.

It is ironical that our young children faced with uncertainty of future plan their sleep only after verifying if there was a call for a shutdown next day. During these years we have produced dullards unable to compete in competitive exams and we blame others for our poor representation in elite services although there may be many more reasons and factors contributing to it than this one alone.

Our production of various crops, cereals, vegetables and other eatables has quantitatively and qualitatively reduced increasing our dependence on imports. Our new generation is not at all ready to take up jobs which involve any kind of hard labour and that is why we are now seeing people from distant lands replacing our local labour in every conceivable area. We have aliens doing jobs from our domestic chores to field jobs.

No body should wonder then if we have aliens doing us mouth-feeding in near future should we continue with present kind of shut downs. It is unfortunate that we don’t learn from either our past mistakes or from the follies of others. We are not able to have any other kind of way or means to register our protest or to build pressure to get our demands met. There are hundreds of ways to register protest or agitating issues. In a place where you have helpless rulers who rely more on police and armed forces than on people for their power or continuation of their writ, resorting to unending strikes is useless and meaningless.

Our leadership must understand the import of their decisions on the society which they represent. We have lost a full work season last year in the wake of the land row and this year we are on the way to losing another season that could otherwise contribute to our sustenance. Moreover the question that disturbs us all is that why is it happening at a time when Kashmir is in full swing. That breaks the back of our economy. The timings makes is more lethal.

Our leadership needs to understand that economic deprivation is going to produce us more renegades and criminals. They need to go in to the reasons for the increase in criminal activities like burglaries, robberies, thefts and murders. There are several instances where our unemployed youth were found involved in crimes like car lifting, burglaries, robberies and even murders for money. This is the sum result of the collective self-infliction we have been resorting to over the years coupled with machinations at official levels that aim at destroying us economically and ethically.

It is the economic deprivation that keeps us weak and forces our youth to take to activities that are grossly inconsistent with our cultural ethos. The programmes beamed by various channels are reflective of the degradation that has set in our society and one of the main reasons is economic. We need to understand that the strikes are more beneficial to the government than to the people as it has to spend less on security, save every penny that otherwise could go in to creating infrastructure or its maintenance. Strikes provide it alibis for its non-performance.

We need to have rethink on our strategies and have mutual consultations as is ordained by our faith.

Shining Light in a Valley of Smoke and Mirrors

Finally an Editorial in the Rising Kashmir with a bit of common sense and a whole lot of truth!

Hartal won’t do

APHC’s strike calls are never turned down, now is the time to review the old tool of resistance

Chairman of one of the factions of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani has extended the ongoing strike for two more days. The announcement came at the height of expectations that normal life would resume from Thursday, though the popular concern for the heinous crime committed in Shopian remains firm. In the current phase of Kashmir struggle that started off in 1989, Kashmiris have always been responding to the calls for strikes and shutdowns. There has been a hectic debate within newspaper columns and between academicians around the question whether Hartal as a tool of resistance is any longer relevant.

There are views and counterviews. Dominant view pegs on the argument that shutting down of businesses and other routines practices does not inflict as much a cost on the state government as it does inflict on the common masses. Hartal, as has been highlighted in these lines earlier, used to be a communist mode of resistance against the wealthy factory owners. General strikes, back then, would halt the production thus causing massive loss to the factory owner. This goes without saying who is at loss when a Hartal is observed in Kashmir. Of course not the bureaucrats or wealthy businessmen, but the common masses. Both the factions of Hurriyat Conference and the forces outside its ambit should give a serious thought to this view. To say that is not to object to the cause APHC is espousing. But it is a genuine popular reaction to a mode of resistance that is harming the public interest rather than the interest of the state.

Take for example the recurrent strikes during summer. It is common knowledge that Kashmir, owing to inclement weather conditions and poor access to outside markets, remains landlocked for more than six months. The summer is always seen as promise of earning for a variety of sectors including tourism.

Then there is education sector. This is the only season when Schools and Colleges and University campuses function. True, the Hurriyat Conference leaders are being debarred from all other democratic means, but that does not require to be handled through an action that harms public interest. APHC’s calls are rarely refused. People honor their calls and halt their businesses to show solidarity with the cause APHC shares with them. But, if the Hartal becomes a norm, as it has now, this support-base should not be expected to remain intact.

Hurriyat leadership would do well by reviewing its strategy of expression. It’s being heard on variety of media; TV, Radio and newspapers. People show solidarity when there is an occasion. The leadership will have to rethink on whether it needs Hartal in its primitive communist model, or it should modify this tool of resistance and synchronize it with the current needs and challenges.

The simple conclusion is this: Hartal won’t do!

Emerging Opportunities in the Poultry Meat Processing Industry

Altaf says that the poultry meat processing industry in Kashmir can offer ample employment opportunities to educated youth

(Dr. Altaf Gilani, 39, was born in Srinagar, and attended the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) School in Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar. After his graduation from the school, he completed his college studies from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Kashmir in Srinagar. As a professional Veterinarian, he is employed by the J&K government as the Poultry Extension Officer in Srinagar.)


Broiler industry in Kashmir

Our State is badly hit by unemployment and it is assuming enormous proportions with every passing day. Youth, after finishing their education, prefer government jobs, but due to limited capacity, the state government cannot provide jobs to most of them. To counter the problems we can turn to the self employment schemes. This provides us with plenty of avenues to absorb the educated unemployed youth. The poultry industry is one of the activities which could generate employment.

As poultry production is a prime example of a vertically integrated agricultural industry, with intensive rearing systems of birds of efficient feed conversion ratios and products of handy size and ready marketability, it is not surprising that it is currently showing the strongest growth in the output of any category of meat. World-wide, it is a huge industry. The National Committee on Human Nutrition in India has recommended per capita availability of 180 eggs (one egg every two days) and 10.8 kgs of meat per year in comparison to the present availability of 33 eggs and 630 grams of poultry meat at the national level. This shows that there is implausible scope for growth. It is estimated that, at present, Indian poultry industry contribution to the GDP is about Rs. 300 billion.

The present set up in our State is unlikely to meet the challenges thrown open by the changing lifestyle of the common Kashmiri and the expected rumble in the tourism industry. A holistic approach towards the issue will lead us to the conclusion that such an enterprising industry is dependant on imports which are increasing with every passing day and the situation will go out of hand, if not taken care of at the earliest. Presently due to non-availability of requisite infrastructure, the economy gets drained to outside States and the middlemen enjoy the swag. As per the latest data available, about 350 lakh birds are being annually consumed in Kashmir province alone, while as about 125 lakh birds are being produced locally including 15 lakh of backyard poultry which is indicative of substantial imports of about 65 per cent from outside Valley. Annually, economy in the order of Rs. 400 crores from Kashmir Valley is being sapped to outside States for the poultry imports. The huge production potential of poultry needs to be harnessed by the unemployed youth which is capable of generation of employment to thousands in our Valley alone.

The demand and supply gap has to be met by local production involving unemployed youth for which the associated activities of the Animal Husbandry Department in creating general awareness about this promising enterprise needs to be reinforced. At the secretarial level, the status of an industry needs to be granted to the poultry for attracting the educated unemployed youth towards this activity wherein various incentives available under predictable industrialized poultry sector could be made available to the farmers.

Poultry industry is a large sector which covers activities such as:

• Breeding of foundation stocks including pure line and grand parent stocks and hatcheries.
• New technology in poultry housing viz environmental control houses, automatic feeding and watering systems, sprinklers and foggers for cooling, gas brooding, feed pellet production, pollution control systems etc.
• Vertical integration systems for broiler production, processing and marketing.
• Commercial broiler production.
• Duck and Turkey.
• Poultry meat processing plants of different capacities.
• Poultry fast food joints.
• Poultry feed manufacturing plants.
• Poultry disease diagnostic laboratories.

The local poultry industry has to meet the biggest challenge of high cost of inputs which is mainly due to imports of feed and feed ingredients from outside States. A long term plan and campaign on “grow more maize” backed by incentive prices for farmers is required. At farmers level, extension education to prevent wastage of poultry feed is necessary. If a farmer can manufacture his own feed, the savings can be obtained to the extent of Rs. 2000 per ton.

In our Valley, consumer preference is increasing for “clean”, “safe”, “hygienic” “nutritious” and “properly packed, labeled and presentable” food items including poultry meat. Introduction of modern state of the art technology in processing, packaging, labeling, preservation of poultry meat and meat products is required to improve quality for domestic markets. The open market retail outlets are mostly unsanitary and the birds are slaughtered in extremely grimy conditions paving way for serious public health hazards. The situation is further complicated by disposal of offal and feathers in the open providing feast for scavenging dogs which outnumber local human population in many areas resulting in the emergence of many zoonotic diseases. The apprehension of pandemic avian flu demand stern action against the peril of local on-shop unhygienic slaughter of birds.

According to a recent study, poultry meat is the fastest growing animal protein in India. It has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 12 per cent in the last 11 years and is expected to continue growing at similar rates in the near future. In distinction, the growth of broiler industry in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is just a meager 1.9 per cent per annum owing to it being chiefly unorganized and the processing sector being totally mislaid. The poultry meat processing industry thus offers a bright prospect in our Valley keeping in view its potential for growth.

Common Denominator Between Forests and Urban Sprawl: Disappearing Trees

What good will the government machinery do if common citizens do not stop delogging and stealing? Two related reports on timber smuggling by mafia and tree thefts from public landscaping by individuals

Our Forests and Timber Smuggling

Aijaz Ahmad (General Secretary, State Forest Corporation Employees Union)

The present article is about timber smuggling the discussion is being restricted to only three sub departments which are directly connected i.e. Forest Department, Forest Corporation and Forest Protection Force. If these three sub departments are managed on a rational pattern there will be no smuggling of timber in the state, unfortunately this doesn’t happen. As a result of manipulative tactics of a strong timber mafia in our state (which has political patronage) the whole system has been derailed deliberately.

If we examine the original forest policy, the forest department is the overall custodian of the forests. However due to the political instability in the state the Forest Department has taken up extraction and transportation work with sale of timber in conccesationl zones. This is main flaw in the system as the department which is to act as custodian is allowed to extract and sell timber. In simple terms it means that in a forest range along with one or two persons is having all the powers, to felling the trees, transport the timber and finally sale the timber of. Since administrative control of forest check posts, timber sale depots and sawmills of the area are also with territorial forest department it makes the system quite vulnerable and prone to misuse. In absence of an effective checking and controlling squad it makes smuggling of timber quite easy. Thus the officials who are basically responsible for protection and development of forests have been empowered to extract and sell timber. Since check posts and control of sawmills have been vested with Territorial Forest Department, the timber mafia has to just develop contact with other persons.

The highly powerful timber mafia manages all the things and ensures cover and backup of higher level forest officers, security agencies including local police authorities, bureaucrats and politicians. If regular and prescribed duties, as were assigned as per original plan, were adopted then Forest Department would have to identify and mark the stuff which has to be extracted and then it would ensure that marking is done accurately which would then handed over to SFC against proper receipt and account. Felling carried out by SFC have been closely scrutinized by officials of forest department who would have maintained an account and allowed transportation of only legitimate timber from forests after maintaining an account of the same. For effective control of smuggling the territorial controlling agency should not have any direct involvement regarding extraction and sale of timber. Forest protection force would have acted as another deterrent in checking any mischief anywhere.

Due to lack of accountability and mismanagement our forest officers at the helm of affairs have lost the will and aptitude to protect forests, whereas the basic aim should have been to avoid damage to the forest. With the result the pace of destruction of forests has assumed alarming proportions and the day may not be far off when timber like deodar and kail will be a rare commodity.

The scenario calls for wholesale revamping of our forest department. First of all the trade unions of Forest Department, SFC and Forest Protection Force need to be controlled as all these trade unions are being managed by timber mafia which have their leaders on its payroll. In my opinion these trade union leaders need to be shifted from their present place of posting and districts, secondly their business activities need to be got verified as most of these trade union leaders have side business related with timber.

Furthermore the focus should turn to get those people who have professional integrity. There is urgent need to create a sort of competition between officers of forest department and forest protection force in tackling timber smuggling. For this both the departments need to be given independent setting and proper accountability. Conditions are to be created so that these two departments do not join together and form a nexus with timber smugglers as is going on presently. Deputation of forest officers to Forest protection force from territorial forest department is to be kept at minimum.

The present transfer policy of deputing officers from forest department to protection force has started giving negative results as it helps them to form a nexus.

The need of hour is to spell out independent role and responsibilities for these two departments to check smuggling which may include transfer of forest check posts to forest protection force. If this proposal is found feasible it could help forest department to utilize its personnel in safeguarding forests to minimize damage there.

By introduction of two agencies in the field the smuggling will become difficult. Any smuggled timber caught outside a forest area should be basis for explanation and action should be taken against the concerned in charge of the compartment and range from where it has been smuggled out. However this can be effective only when forest protection force is controlled by officers who have independent existence and are ready to confront officers of territorial forest department.

Similarly all extraction, transportation should work together with sale of timber and should be managed by Forest Corporation. Timber to be used in all government works need to be supplied by it. It should be made mandatory for all government work to allow cost of timber only as per bills provided directly by corporation. The idea is to minimize scope for sale of smuggled timber. Conditions are to be created to make it less lucrative whereas efforts are to be made to create hurdles in smuggling of timber from forests. Foolproof system is to be devised to minimize misuse of supply of subsidized timber.

All the three sub departments should be given powers and made accountable for checking smuggling of timber which can be checked and cross-checked. For this first step will be to make timber available to common citizens of state.

Deputation of forest officers from Forest Department to Forest Corporation and vice versa as was ordered by former government need to be continued but simultaneously it has to be made result oriented. Only those officers are to be deputed to corporation who can put in efforts needed for running a commercial organization, for this time bound targets for each division are to be set, circle need to be fixed which should cater to demands of timber requirements in state. Failures in achieving the targets should be viewed seriously and the defaulters taken to task as it can cause problems for common man of the state. Good workers need to appreciated and encouraged. Corporate culture needs to be introduced in corporation for which a delegation of power is important; by making it foolproof and target oriented it is possible to streamline the working and to encourage good performance. Excess staff in SFC can be absorbed in protection force to provide it with necessary manpower. However the corporation employees need to be given better service conditions which should be at least at par with those in forest department if not better than them as they are expected to work in difficult situation and circumstances and the success of forest working is dependant upon their efficiency.

Second important thing action should be taken to implement a transparent uniform rational, well-defined transfer policy. All officers having questionable integrity who have not been able to check activities of timber smuggling need to be sidelined, the action should start from top. Efforts are to be made to get those people who have professional integrity. Recently there was a press report in local media wherein it was reported that transfers are being made as per paying capacity of a forest officer. It was alleged that those officers who can afford, manage good posting irrespective of their professional capacity and capability. Under the influence of money power senior, honest officers are sidelined whereas juniors are given prime postings. After recent transfer orders issued (10/10/2008) there was a general resentment among forest officers, it was alleged that some officers have been holding a post for years together whereas others are transferred quite frequently without any reason or cause. Some officers have been attached without any reason whereas some junior ones are made to function on higher posts. Reportedly some junior officers are so powerful that they ensure to get senior officers of their own choice. Unless and until this type of transfer policy is changed there is no scope for improvement. The transfer orders should simple the objective of better results and efficiency not political or monetary position.

All this can be done only if government is serious about protection of forests, politicians of state have not given a good performance so far and all of them without any exception have encouraged the loot of our forests. Present government has a golden opportunity to reverse the trend provided it has will to do so, and can effectively check manipulations of paid agents of timber mafia. This group has its sympathizers at important places that are experienced to sabotage constructive efforts.

Tree thefts deprive city roads of greenery

Srinagar: The efforts to develop city greenery are being marred by the theft of plants from the road verges. Besides, places where the drainage repairs and construction of fountains are undertaken, the concerned people use the pavements and road dividers for dumping the dig-out mud and building material.

The Landscape Division of Public Works Department (PWD) is finding it difficult to secure the plantations.

Executive Engineer of the landscape division, Gani Ahmad told Rising Kashmir the newly planted trees are the most difficult to secure “as tree thefts have become a norm even though the trees are secured within iron tree guards.”

Ahmad said last year trees planted on the central verge at Batamaloo went missing and only few exist now.

The official said common people too do not care for plantations in the city.

“Most of the refuse and waste material is dumped inside the tree guards which affects the plantation growth,” said Ahmad

“The replacement of damaged trees is tough as the season may not be favourable every time. Even if we want to replace the trees it will not be possible as the planting season is limited,” he said.

The official added that they continue to plant trees that have been grown in pots or polybags and do not wither after planting.

The second biggest threat to trees are the various civic works carried on roads.

Almost all the plantation on North-South Corridor last year has been damaged as the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) is laying a sewerage network and dumping the material on the verge that has damaged the new plantation.

“Similarly, Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s fountain project has also damaged our plantations at roundabouts,” Ahmad said.

(Rising Kashmir)

Kashmiri Politicians, Promises Undelivered

Khayal brings a new sense of objectivity in assessing the Kashmiri political landscape

(Mr. Ghulam Nabi Khayal, 70, was born in Srinagar. He received his schooling and college education in Srinagar, and completed his Masters degree in English. Mr. Khayal is considered a doyen among Kashmiiri journalists, having worked for both Indian and international newspapers like the Statesman, India Today, the Guardian, Voice of America, and others. He is also a topnotch Kashmiri writer having bagged numerous awards at local, national and international levels, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975. Mr. Khayal has published 24 books in Kashmiri, Urdu and English languages. He is the owner of a journal, Voice of Kashmir, published weekly from Srinagar.)

Big Farooq, Little Omar: APHC apart, Your Time Starts Now

Time for pelting stones on others while staying in glass houses, should now be over. Though it has once again been all in once family, but recent Assembly and Parliamentary elections have been held also in this State and a local government has been formed with the active support of the electorate which used its franchise without any coercion or misuse of state power as has been the regular practice in this ill fated state for a number of years.

No one can deny this fact that Boycott calls given frantically by factions of the Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have not been heeded by the people who have been undergoing unparallel and colossal problems faced by them during the last 20 years. The APHC must be feeling rather cornered and humiliated and having been thrown in frozen ice boxes of an obsolete politicking not to be accepted as a hard reality of the contemporary world in the realistic perspective of the current situation.

The wavered functioning of the fragmented Hurriyat particularly during the last one year has been like wobbling in an imbalanced boat. The people’s spontaneous and massive uprising over Amarnath controversy in Kashmir was consigned to the cold storage of nothingness by the APHC for, its voices of dissent coming within could not lead the common man to a path of sustainable peaceful movement not aimed at creating of lawlessness and adhering to stone pelting like bizarre acts usually indulged in by street urchins.

The Assembly elections also brought the APHC into the cobweb like fold of uncertain mind and action with the result that electorate out rightly rejected its mere slogan mongering. The voters were quite conscious that Hurriyat was not going to heal their wounds and that Azadi was still a far distant dream so they preferred much needed solution to their day to day problems.

During the Lok Sabha poll, APHC was again found wanting in its political far sight, maturity and time-bound strategy for the people and in particular for its blind followers. The conglomerate again failed to fill up the void. First, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq refuted any boycott plea saying that elections were no issue for them or the people, Suddenly, he took a U-turn, probably out of a grave threat coming from across the western border, and was thus forced to contradict his own politicking, taking people for a ride that they might have forgotten his anti-boycott appeal made only a few days ago.

Expectedly, there was no boycott and people did what they thought was in their own interest and not that of the Hurriyat. For a while, APHC thrived on artificially created bubbling events like Pampore chalo, Muzaffarabad chalo or Eid Gah chalo and then unmindfully slept over things as if all that, they had on their agenda for the last 16 years, had been accomplished most honourably and successfully. The sorrowful outcome of this ill conceived political maneuvering is very much before our eyes that more than 65 Kashmiri Muslim youths were shot dead by the Indian forces, Kashmir’s already shattered economy was further crippled and an ugly phase of uncertainty engulfed the scenario because of unjustified and senseless calls for strikes and protestations across the Valley.

For adding chaos and humiliation to the disturbing situation and for indirectly causing more state suppression on the people, credit must indeed go to all factions of the Hurriyat and other secessionist organisations and groups, all put together. Of late, Syed Ali Geelani has come out with yet another interesting proposition that people in Kashmir go for torch light protests. He has urged people, especially the youth, to organise torchlight rallies between the evening and night prayers. How nice it would have been on the part of Geelani had he, instead, provided candles for those tens of thousands of citizens who are facing the curse of most erratic power supply?

Mirwaiz has also warned the Central government to initiate dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue within two months time. Otherwise, otherwise what? Let Mirwaiz himself answer this question. For the time being, we reserve our comments and wish him all success. And the present state government: The so called 100-days of state chief minister Omar Abdullah were lionised with a hype by the government’s propaganda band wagon of the information department, news section of Doordarshan and the National Conference “more loyal than the king” enthusiastic activists. They however miserably failed to spell out any of the achievements of the government even if it was to boil down to ensuring regular supply of electricity to the consumers or timely repairing of the most dilapidated roads all over the Valley and in the capital city of Srinagar in particular. Omar is seen busy with inaugurating functions, delivering speeches, laying of foundation stones and delivering speeches with oratory and attending unending but fruitless official meetings where the traditionally corrupt administrative high ups mislead him on various matters ascertaining that all is well when factually, all is seriously infected by the deadly virus of inefficiency and dishonesty practiced by one and all in the bureaucracy right from an small employee up to the level of commissioners and ministers.

It is probably in store for the hapless Kashmiris that those who talk very loud of good governance are by themselves proving the worst of the lot. The bitter reality is there very much that the existence of the present government is not felt in a solid way even like a feather touch beyond the four walls of civil secretariat but its invisible achievements are eulogised by traditional sycophants and opportunist political vested interests impudently. Now that big Farooq has been provided also a berth in the Union ministry, and the little Omar is a crowned king of the state, the father-son duo may not forget that their promised, made ten thousand times during their electioneering, have not been rubbed off from the minds of the electorate. They shall have to perform and deliver to the satisfaction of a common Kashmiri who has been lured to reported fulfillment of all his aspirations he deserves to be presented in practice.

If the NC government thought that they will continue serving their own interests and the party loyalists as usual, their days might come to an unsavoury end much before the scheduled period of time.

Muzaffar's passion in educating public on RTI is second to none

(Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, 34, was born in Wathoora village in the Budgam district and matriculated from Tyndale Biscoe Memorial High School in 1993. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery from from the Karnatka University in 2000. He has a private dental practice in Chandoora and is a social activist dedicated to educating public on the Right To Information (RTI) legislation. He is the Convener of the J&K RTI Movement and associated with the Commonwealth Human Rights Intitiative (CHRI) office in New Delhi.)

Understanding Right to Information

Article 19(1) (a) of the Indian Constitution guarantees the fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression. The prerequisite for enjoying this right is knowledge and information. The absence of authentic information on matters of public interest will only encourage wild rumours and speculations and avoidable allegations against individuals and institutions. Therefore, the Right to Information becomes a constitutional right. This will also help the citizens perform their fundamental duties as set out in Article 51A of the Constitution. A fully informed citizen will certainly be better equipped for the performance of these duties. Thus, access to information would assist citizens in fulfilling these obligations.

Right to information is not absolute

As no right can be absolute, the Right to Information has to have its limitations. There will always be areas of information that should remain protected in public and national interest. Moreover, this unrestricted right can have an adverse effect of an overload of demand on administration. So the information has to be properly, clearly classified by an appropriate authority.

The usual exemption permitting Government to withhold access to information is generally in respect of the these matters: (1) International relations and national security; (2) Law enforcement and prevention of crime; (3) Internal deliberations of the government; (4) Information obtained in Confidence from some source outside the Government; (5) Information which, if disclosed, would violate the privacy of an individual; (6) Information, particularly of an economic nature, when disclosed, would confer an unfair advantage on some person or subject or government; (7) Information which is covered by legal/professional privilege, like communication between a legal advisor and his client and (8) Information about scientific discoveries and inventions and improvements, essentially in the field of weapons.

These categories are broad and information of every kind in relation to these matters cannot always be treated as secret. There may be occasions when information may have to be disclosed in public interest, without compromising the national interest or public safety. For example, information about deployment and movement of armed forces and information about military operations, qualify for exemption. Information about the extent of defense expenditure and transactions for the purchase of guns and submarines and aircraft cannot be totally withheld at all stages.

Need for Right to Information

The Right to Information has already received judicial recognition as a part of the fundamental right to free speech and ex-pression.The new J&K Right to Information Act 2009 which was passed very recently by the state legislature is far better than the previous one (J&K RTI Act 2004).The new RTI Law has provisions to penalise any public authority who does not share the information with the applicant or provides misleading or wrong information. This law will lay down the procedure for translating this right into reality.

Information is indispensable for the functioning of a true democracy. People have to be kept informed about current affairs and broad issues political, social and economic. Free exchange of ideas and free debate are essentially desirable for a democratic country.

In this Age of Information, its value as a critical factor in socio-cultural, economic and political development is being increasingly felt. In a corrupt state like Jammu and Kashmir availability of information needs to be assured in the fastest and simplest form possible. This is important because every developmental process depends on the availability of information and RTI can bring about transparency and accountability in our administration.

Right to know is also closely linked with other basic rights such as freedom of speech and ex-pression and right to education. Its independent existence as an attribute of liberty cannot be disputed. Viewed from this angle, information or knowledge becomes an important resource. An equitable access to this resource must be guaranteed.

Soli Sorabjee, a noted jurist, stressing on the need of Right to Information aim at bringing transparency in administration and public life, says, "Lack of transparency was one of the main causes for all pervading corruption and Right to Information would lead to openness, accountability and integrity".

Right to Information in other countries

In recent years, many Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have passed laws providing for the right of access to administrative information. USA, France and Scandinavian countries have also passed similar laws. US Freedom of Information Act (FOI) ensures openness in administration by enabling the public to demand information about issues as varied as deteriorating civic amenities, assets of senators and utilisation of public funds.

It is not only the developed countries that have enacted freedom of information legislation, similar trends are seen in the developing countries as well. The new South Africa Constitution specifically provides the Right to Information in its Bill of Rights--thus giving it an explicit constitutional status. Malaysia operates an on-line data base system known as Civil Services Link, through which a person can access information regarding functioning of public administration. There is thus a global sweep of change towards openness and transparency.

Sweden has been enjoying the right to know since 1810. It was replaced in 1949 by a new Act which enjoyed the sanctity of being a part of the countrys Constitution itself. The principle is that every Swedish citizen should have access to virtually all documents kept by the State or municipal agencies.

In Australia, the Freedom of Information Act was enacted in December 1982. It gave citizens more access to the Federal Governments documents. With this, manuals used for making decisions were also made available. But in Australia, the right is curtailed where an agency can establish that non-disclosure is necessary for protection of essential public interest and private and business affairs of a person about whom information is sought.

Even the Soviets, under Mikhail Gorbachev, have realised that "the State does not claim monopoly of truth any longer". Glasnost has cast away the cloud of secrecy and stresses the priority of human values. Even as steps are taken to ensure openness in matters affecting the public, there has to be a greater sense of responsibility on the part of users of information in the media and elsewhere. Journalists must ensure that they seek information in public interest and not as agents of interested parties.

Landmark judgments

The need for Right to Information has been widely felt in all sectors and this has also received judicial recognition through some landmark judgments of Indian courts. A Supreme Court judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Mathew is considered a landmark. In his judgment in the state of Uttar Prdesh vs. Raj Narain (1975) case, Justice Mathew rules-In a government of responsibility like ours, where all the agents of the public must be responsible for their conduct, there can be but few secrets. The people of this country have a right to know every public act, everything that is done in a public way by their public functionaries. They are entitled to know the particulars of every public transaction in all its bearing. Their right to know, which is derived from the concept of freedom of speech, though not absolute, is a factor which should make one wary when secrecy is claimed for transactions which can at any rate have no repercussion on public security. But the legislative wing of the State did not respond to it by enacting suitable legislation for protecting the right of the people.

According to Soli Sorabjee - It was in 1982 that the right to know matured to the status of a constitutional right in the celebrated case of S P Gupta vs. Union of India (AIR) 1982 SC (149), popularly known as Judges case. Here again the claim for privilege was laid before the court by the Government of India in respect of the disclosure of certain documents. The Supreme Court by a generous interpretation of the guarantee of freedom of speech and ex-pression elevated the right to know and the right to information to the status of a fundamental right, on the principle that certain unarticulated rights are immanent and implicit in the enumerated guarantees.The court declared - The concept of an open government is the direct emanation from the right to know which seems to be implicit in the right of free speech and ex-pression guaranteed under article 19(1)a.

RTI in Jammu and Kashmir

It is hoped that the new Government in Jammu and Kashmir will train its officials about Right to Information law so that applicants do not face any problem while filing RTI applications. Government has to ensure that people are educated about this historic legislation and for this our state Government must conduct public awareness programmes through both electronic as well as print media. Above all I appeal Chief Minister to make sure that the new State Information Commission should be a transparent and independent organisation and its members must be selected on merit. It is this Commission which will look into RTI appeals etc and God forbid if this commission will not render justice to people due to political/ bureaucratic interference then our state can never ever be a corruption free state.

The Economy is Agrarian, but the Usual Focus is on Tourism

Yusuf Tarigami reminds public that Kashmir's future revolves around its farmers

(Mr. Mohammed Yusuf Rather, 60, was born in Tarigam village in Kulgam area of Anantnag district. He usually goes by the name Yusuf Tarigami. He is a member of the J&K Legislative Assembly, and was elected from Kulgam. Mr. Tarigami is the secretary of the J&K branch of the Communist Party-Marxist (CPI-M), and a member of its National Central Committee.)

One day state level Kissan Conference held at Srinagar

Srinagar: CPI (M) State Secretary and MLA Kulgam, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has said insufficient allocation for agriculture and allied sectors has made the State dependent on massive imports of food grains and other essentials besides, affecting the livelihood of millions of the people engaged directly or indirectly in agriculture, horticulture and related sectors. Tarigami was speaking at state level Kissan Conference held at Srinagar.

The one day conference was attended by farmers, growers and agriculture labourers across the State and was presided over by kissan leader Ghulam Nabi Malik.

Lambasting at government for ignoring agriculture and horticulture, the primary sectors of State’s economy, Tarigami said that due to the negligent and unplanned agriculture policies by the successive governments farmers have been subjected to deep economic crises and disgust. He said that all schemes under these sectors have proved ineffective and unproductive due to poor implementation. Tarigami urged the government for making the Kissan credit card and other lending schemes transparent, easy and farmer friendly.

Criticizing the State government for neglecting the core sectors of agriculture and horticulture, the CPI (M) state secretary alleged that farmers of the State have not been benefited under agriculture loan waive off scheme as has been done in other States of India. He said that under the said scheme loans worth thousands of crores provided to the farmers were waived off in rest of the country and added that the farmers of the State, who have availed the lending facilities and have paid off these be provided cash incentives as has been done in Andhra Pradesh.

Tarigami said that CPI(M) stands for safeguarding the interests of farmers, growers, labourers and common man, adding that it has time and again advocated for implementing the crop insurance scheme in Jammu and Kashmir for benefiting the farmers and growers in the event of natural calamities, which mostly cause severe damages to their crops. He demanded the government for providing relief to the farmers whose crops have got damaged due to recent hailstorms in some parts of the valley.

Asking the farmers and growers to be a part of organized movement that would compel the State government to pay added attention towards agriculture and horticulture sectors and protecting their interests, Tarigami said that CPI (M) would continue with its pro-farmer, pro-labourer and people oriented policies whether at national or State level.

Alleging that the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State was in shambles, Tarigami urged the government to ensure its streamlining and revamping. He said that due to mismanagement and malpractices in State’s Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution system, the consumers were suffering for want of food grains and other essentials through PDS. Tarigami also demanded for immediate implementation of the Cabinet decision wherein provision of 11 Kgs of ration per month per head was restored. Up-gradation of public utilities and services were also imperative, he said and urged the government for ensuring accountability and transparency in the delivery systems.

Malik addressing the conference demanded the government for providing quality fertilizers, chemicals and inputs to the farmers and growers during the current Kharief season.

The Conference also passed resolutions with regard to implementation of a broad based agriculture policy in the State, crop insurance scheme, provision of relief to hailstorm affected farmers, and protecting economic interests of farmers and growers.

The Third Most Prevalent Form of Cancer in Kashmir

Syed Sameer provides a technical update of his research in colorectal cancer in Kashmir

(Aga Syed Sameer, 26, was born in Srinagar. He passed his matriculation (10th grade) from the Islamia Public School and his 12th grade from the Iqbal Memorial Instiute, both in Srinagar. He completed his Bachelor's degree from the Sri Partap College, Srinagar, and his master's Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Kashmir in Srinagar. He is presently a Ph.D. Scholar in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology and Molecular Medicine in the Sher-i-Kashmir Istitute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura Srinagar. He has published numerous articles and conducted research in a variety of fields related to his graduate studies. He has a diploma in computer applications, and is a certified Civil Defense cadet, and won state level gymnastic competition for floor exercises. He takes pride in his perseverence, patience and problem solving skills.)

Colorectal Cancer in Kashmir

Colorectal cancer (CRC) also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. It is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the western world. The annual incidence of CRC worldwide has been estimated to be at least half a million. It is a commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women. In 2008, about 148,810 new cases were diagnosed, and almost 49,960 deaths from colorectal cancer were speculated world wide. High incidence rates are found in western world populations, i.e. Western Europe, North America, and Australia. The lowest rates of CRC are found in the sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Asia, but are increasing in countries adopting western life-style and dietary habits. And the scenario in the Kashmir valley is not different from that of the world. In Kashmir too, it is the most prevalent form of cancer after esophageal and gastric.

TYPES

Colon cancer is usually observed in one of three specific patterns: sporadic, inherited, or familial. Sporadic disease, with no familial or inherited predisposition, accounts for approximately 70% of CRC in the population. Sporadic colon cancer is common in persons older than 50 years of age, probably as a result of dietary and environmental factors as well as normal aging. Fewer than 10% of patients have an inherited predisposition to colon cancer. The inherited syndromes include those in which colonic polyps are a major manifestation of disease and those in which they are not. The polyposis syndromes are subdivided into familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and the hamartomatous polyposis syndromes. The nonpolyposis predominant syndromes include hereditary nonpolyposis CRC (HNPCC) (Lynch syndrome I) and the cancer family syndrome (Lynch syndrome II). Although uncommon, these syndromes provide insight into the biology of all types of CRC. The third and least understood pattern of colon cancer development is known as familial colon cancer. In affected families, colon cancer develops too frequently to be considered sporadic colon cancer but not in a pattern consistent with an inherited syndrome. Up to 25% of all cases of colon cancer may fall into this category.

ETIOLOGY

No one knows the exact causes of colorectal cancer. Doctors often cannot explain why one person develops this disease and another does not. However, it is clear that colorectal cancer is not contagious. No one can catch this disease from another person. Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop colorectal cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of developing a disease. The most important of these are the age, diet, obesity, diabetes & smoking, personal cancer history, alcohol consumption, large intestinal polyps, family history of colon cancer, race and ethnic background, genetic or family predisposition.

• Colorectal cancer is more likely to occur as people get older. More than 90 percent of people with this disease are diagnosed after age 50.
• Studies suggest that diets high in fat (especially animal fat) and low in calcium, folate, and fiber may increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
• Also, some studies suggest that people who eat adiet very low in fruits and vegetables may have a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
• A person who smokes cigarettes may be at increased risk of developing polyps and colorectal cancer.
• A person who has already had colorectal cancer may develop colorectal cancer a second time.

Two kinds of observations indicate a genetic contribution to CRC risk: a) increased incidence of CRC among persons with a family history of CRC; and b) families in which multiple family members are affected with CRC, the pattern indicates an autosomal dominant inheritance of cancer susceptibility. The molecular basis of CRC is multifactorial, and is likely to involve the actions of genes at multiple levels along the multistage carcinogenesis process. Examples of genes involved in pathogenesis of CRC include p53, Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β, SMADs, K-RAS, p16, p14, APC, β-catenin, E-cadherin, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, AXIN, STK11, and PTEN.

HISTOPATHOLOGY

Colorectal tumors present with a broad spectrum of neoplasms, ranging from benign growths to invasive cancer, and are predominantly epithelial-derived tumors (i.e., adenomas or adenocarcinomas). Pathologists have classified the lesions into three groups: nonneoplastic polyps, neoplastic polyps (adenomatous polyps, adenomas), and cancers. More than 95% of CRCs are carcinomas and among them 95% are adenocarcinomas. While there is no direct proof that most CRCs arise from adenomas, adenocarcinomas are generally considered to arise from adenomas based upon these two important observations: a) benign and malignant tissue occur within colorectal tumors; and b) when patients with adenomas were followed for 20 years, the risk of cancer at the site of the adenoma was 25%, a rate much higher than that expected in the normal population.

SYMPTOMS

A common symptom of colorectal cancer is a change in bowel habits. Symptoms include:
• Having diarrhea or constipation
• Feeling that your bowel does not empty completely
• Finding blood (either bright red or very dark) in your stool
• Finding your stools are narrower than usual
• Frequently having gas pains or cramps, or feeling full or bloated
• Losing weight with no known reason
• Feeling very tired all the time
• Having nausea or vomiting

Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer. Other health problems can cause the same symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Usually, early cancer does not cause pain. It is important not to wait to feel pain before seeing a doctor.

SCREENING TESTS

Because CRC develops slowly from removable precancerous lesions, screening & detection of the disease at an early stage during regular health examinations can reduce both the incidence and mortality of the disease. Some of the most commonly screening tests employed for the detection of CRC are:
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): Fecal hemoglobin Stool-based screening for CRC is simple, inexpensive and the least invasive method of screening available. FOBT, which is the most widely used screening modality for CRC, detects hemoglobin enzymatically or immunologically. If this test detects blood, other tests are needed to find the source of the blood. Benign conditions (such as hemorrhoids) also can cause blood in your stool.

Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy: A lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope a colonoscope is inserted inside the rectum and the lower part of the colon to check for any malignant growth. Sigmoidoscopy offers significant improvements in detection rates for CRC. However, the diagnostic value of both is limited with regards to costs, risks, and inconvenience.

Double-contrast barium enema: An enema with a barium solution and air is pumped into the rectum. Several x-ray pictures are taken of the colon and rectum. The barium and air help the colon and rectum show up on the pictures and help in detection of any unusual growth.

Who Should Get Them Done?
• People who have a family history of cancers
• People in their 40s and older
• People who are at higher-than-average risk of CRC (High Risk Groups)

All of these screening tests are done on regular basis in almost all health centres across the valley including SKIMS. If tests show an abnormal area (such as a polyp) of growth, a biopsy to check for cancer cells may be necessary. Often, the abnormal tissue can be removed during colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. A pathologist checks the tissue for cancer cells using a microscope to ascertain the malignant nature of the tissue. The patient is also simultaneously asked to perform the marker tests; serum markers -CEA, CA19-9, prolactin or gene markers – kras, APC, P53 etc.

KASHMIR CHAPTER

In Kashmir valley the trends of the lifestyle in both urban and rural areas are changing drastically and so are the trends of the cancers. Colorectal cancer now represents the third most common cancer in the valley closely following esophageal and gastric cancer. Almost 200 odd patients suffering from CRC are treated annually in SKIMS alone. And about 30% of these cases come in late advanced stage with complications and have to be operated in emergency.

As all of these cancers affect the Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT), the link between the dietary habits of the people and the cancers is immediately speculated. In three landmark studies conducted by Siddiqi et al in Kashmiri population an association between the presence of nitrosamines in various food stuffs used in Kashmir was shown (1991-1998). His studies also associated the consumption of noon chai with the progression and development of GIT related cancers. Mir et al (2005) also speculated the role of nitroso amines in the development of GIT related cancers, in addition the found females to be at increased risk of developing esophageal cancer.
In a study conducted by Me and Dr. Shakeel (2008) in CRC patients of the Kashmir we found the mutations of the p53 gene to be associated with the development & progression of CRC. Out of fourty two CRC patients 19 (45%) had mutations in p53 gene. This study also revealed the significant association in the incidence of p53 mutations in smokers rather than non-smokers and in Dukes Stage C and D than in A and B. A significantly higher frequency of p53 mutations was seen in rectal (75%) compared with colon (18.1%) cancers. However the comparison did not show significant association with age, sex, and dwelling. In another study on CRC for Kras gene mutations (2009), I found out that out of 53 patients studied 22% patients had mutations in this gene. These K-ras mutations were significantly associated with advanced Dukes’ stage, positive lymph node status and mucinous histotype. These studies mark the importance that both these genes can be used as the prognostic tools for the early detection of the CRC in conjunction with the other screening methods for better management of the disease. Further more, my year long study also observed that male & female sexes were being affected equally by CRC, although the CRC cases were more from rural areas than from urban ones. Also most of the CRC patients were from poor socio-economic background.

A Positive Parental Role is Pivotal in Promoting Quality Education

Amin describes how family responsibility is integral to educational development of the society

(Dr. Mohammad Amin Malik, 43, was born in Ayathmulla village in Bandipora District. He passed his Matriculation (10th grade) from the Government High School, before completing his 12th grade from the Government Higher Secondary School, both located in Bandipora. He attended the Sri Partap College and Bemina College, both in Srinagar, and graduated with his Bachelor's degree from the Government Degree College in Sopore. He obtained his Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree from the University of Kashmir with distinction. Subsequently, he completed diploma courses in computers before completing his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Kashmir in September 2005. Since 1996, he is employed by the Higher Education Department of the J&K Government, and has steadily risen up the ranks and is presently working as Reader/Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the Amar singh College in Srinagar. He has written 25 research papers, many of which have been published in leading technical journals, and loves to indulge in his favorite subject of physics snd science literature.)

Fine-tuning the Education Sector

During the presidential election campaign, the USA president Barack Obama once in a speech emphasized that “… And I’ve said this all across the country when I talk to parents about education, government has to fulfill its obligations to fund education, but parents have to do their job too. We’ve got to turn off the TV set, we’ve got to put away the video game, and we have to tell our children that education is not a passive activity; you have to be actively engaged in it. If we encourage that attitude and our community is enforcing it, I have no doubt we can compete with anybody in the world.”

The relationship between education and development is well established, such that education is the key index, backbone and soul of all developmental aspects of a society. German priest and scholar Martin Luther says; “When schools flourish, all flourishes.” With the new Govt in place, there is an urgent need for it, to prioritize the whole education sector in the state. It has suffered a lot and needs a special healing touch. The ailing and underfunded school system should be given a jump-start with a huge infusion of money for its infrastructure which includes lavish school buildings, lavatories, laboratory equipments, computers, matting, furniture, etc. Similarly the adequate infrastructure of the newly opened Colleges may be met on war-footing basis, as the students of these Colleges are eagerly waiting for the proper infrastructure which is presently available in other well established Colleges.

Education is primarily the responsibility of both the community and the state and only Govt cannot be held responsible? Therefore it becomes the duty of the society as a whole, to share the august responsibility in a proportionate manner. In this regard, the greatest obstacle a teacher faces is the home environment from which his students come. Parents expect the schools to do what actually they ought to do and thus shrink from their responsibility to provide their children the basis of a good education. Looking around we see too many parents are surrendering the responsibility for their children's education to schools and the results are self-evident.

A good teacher can only be built on the teaching a child receives at home. It has been established by studying that, enough good students come out of poor schools, which substantiates that the student and the family commitment to education matters the most. Better schools will come only after we have better students and that will require better parents. Therefore parents need to assume more of a hands-on role in educating their children and view teachers as professionals who serve to help the parents succeed. It will be detrimental to our nation's social, economic, political and moral stability, if parents play a minor role to that of the professional teacher. So parental involvement is must and it will not only lower the total cost of education, but strengthen the home and the society. It would also foster the individual growth of children--who want and need more than anything else than their parents time at their home schools.

Like in the previous years, the recent uproar on under-performance by the Govt schools is justifiable and a matter of serious concern. May be in the near future this evil may spread in the rest of the schools and in the end the Govt schools would become irrelevant and redundant. So this evil has to be arrested at the earliest by taking certain measures. We have to study how majority of the private schools in the state run successfully. We have to differentiate between their management and our administration. The system of education here requires as much care and planning as is needed for the efficient management of an industry or any private organization.

I have seen academics and educationists always talking about restructuring the education system, sometimes giving suggestions of changing it altogether. I think our scheme of education is appropriate as it has served us in the past in a brilliant manner and there is no need to make the system bigger and more complex. Beauty always lies in simplifying the complexities.

It has been well established throughout the world, that red-tapism, nepotism, inefficiency, lack of accountability, corruption, negativity and lethargy are the major barriers to the growth of any organization, whether it is education or any other department. In this regard, only our political leaders, bureaucrats and the enlightened public consciousness can solve the problem. Unless these three units make sincere efforts and show their commitment to the society, our education system will continue to deteriorate day by day. The education here requires courageous sharp administrative tuning with main focus on accountability and clean and correct administration. The system has to encourage its charactered, honest, dedicated, committed and bold employs, who can play a vital role in solving the problem.

There is a need for introducing e-governance in the whole education sector. The e-governance would be a paperless smart administration, which will be a strong tool for ensuring evil-free administration that will improve infrastructure and ensure effective and transparent administration. The problems of transfers, promotions, GP Funds, construction works and other office work, etc can be addressed instantly, so that, the administration is not cluttered with these non-academic components and forget what ought to be its main purpose. Once these office dealings become a secondary affair, the officials will be relieved of their stressful duties and will now be able to concentrate fully on the academics. Thus by monitoring the system efficiently, e-governance can play an important role to boost the academics. The system can further be stimulated by increasing the frequency of seminars, symposiums, workshops etc. The teachers must be made active participants and not passive recipients. An environment of education, knowledge and competition can be created in our home lives as well, if media coverage of these events along with further addition of education programs is given priority at the peak hours.

The great philosopher Socrates says, “A nation is known by its school, a school is known by its teachers.” An ideal teacher is one who has high intellectual ability, even though he teaches courses of low academic level. He/she should know his subjects thoroughly, should have acquired the ability to reason and critically examine information and arguments and should be worthy academic role models for students. He/she should be capable of spotting and correcting errors and misinformation in textbooks. He/she will certainly advocate and emphasize on learning by understanding rather than by rote methods. Having these qualities he will be far less likely to teach untruths, lies, myths, pseudoscience and immorality. He will grow through experience if he meets life honestly and courageously. The personality of a teacher can open doors for him and his character can keep the doors open.

Henry van Dyke (1852 – 1933) an American author, educator and clergyman says about teachers and teaching “Ah! There you have the worst paid and the best rewarded of vocations. Do not enter it unless you love it. For the vast majority of men and women it has no promise of wealth and fame, but they to whom it is dear for its own sake are among the nobility of mankind. I sing the praise of the unknown teacher, king of himself and leader of the mankind.” But now things have changed altogether for teachers especially in J & K state where they are now paid abundantly with good future prospects. So the society expects best from them. The buildings, laboratories, libraries, and all other equipments in a school will count, but it is the dedicated and committed teachers who make these worthwhile.

The information technology is rapidly changing teaching and learning systems through societies known as information and Knowledge societies around the world but it will not change the theme of good teachers and good teaching but rather it will further enhance their roles. While the information society is based on technological breakthroughs, knowledge societies encompass broader social, ethical and political dimensions. A knowledge society is one in which knowledge becomes a major creative force. It creates, shares and uses knowledge for the prosperity and well-being of its people.Being a teacher in the Knowledge Society requires new specific competencies: a teacher has to deal with new knowledge, new ways for accessing knowledge; with a networked world and with new types of co-operation and collaboration; with a society in which knowledge plays a crucial role.

There is a powerful driving force inside every person that once set free, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality. So we have to wake up from the deep slumber to save our progeny and posterity from degenerating further. We must now stop sleeping on uncertainty and discard saddest summaries of life like could have, might have andshould have. When there is a genuine desire to do things, God helps in mysterious ways. Let us spend our full energy before we die. A saying goes “In a completely rational society, the best of us would aspire to be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest honor and the highest responsibility anyone could have.”

Institutional Corruption Rears its Ugly Head in Pahalgam

Vigilance busts Pahalgam land scam but we all know that it is just a "tip of the iceburg"

Nearly 40 Kanals of state land transferred illegally

Srinagar: A land scam has surfaced in Pahagam with State Vigilance Organisation (SVO), after conducting verification, registering a case against revenue officials and beneficiaries for ‘illegal mutation of state land in Estate Pahalgam and its adjacent villages.’

SVO sources said that the organization had received complaints against illegal allotment of land in Pahalgam and its adjacent villages. “When it was prima-facie established that Shamilat land in estate Pahalgam and its adjacent villages had been illegally mutated in revenue records and allotted to beneficiaries in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy with concerned revenue officials, a case FIR No.16/2009 was registered in P/S VOK,” a statement issued by SVO said.

The verification conducted by the organization revealed that land measuring 3 kanals 17 marlas under khasra No.266-Min, basically a State land, has been illegally transferred in favour of one Abdul Gani Khan S/o Abdul Aziz Khan and Abdul Majid Khan S/o Abdul Gani Khan, of Anantang, sources said.

“Similarly state land measuring 22 kanals in village Nunwan has also been found illegally transferred in favour of one Mohammad Bashir S/o Alam-din and another patch of State land measuring 1 kanal under khasra No.292/167 situated in village Nunwan has been transferred in favour of one Bashir Ahmad Najar S/o Abdul Gani R/o Lazbal Anantnag,” the sources said, adding, “This land is recorded as Khalsa Sarkar in the relevant revenue records.”

Further verification revealed that State land measuring 10 kanal 11 marlas situated at village Laripora under khasra No.291-294 has been illegally mutated vide No.701-LB-06 in favour of one Ghulam Ahmad S/o Mehda R/o Sallar.

“Officers/officials of Revenue department Tehsil Pahalgam in league with beneficiaries under a well knit conspiracy, by abuse of their official position, have illegally transferred the State land in favour of beneficiaries, thereby causing huge loss to state exchequer,” SVO statement said.

The statement further said that the investigation of the case has been taken up on priority and more such instances of illegal transfer of state land are expected to be unearthed in the course of further investigation.

(Kashmir Images)

Ancient Architects Brought Greece to Kashmir

Iqbal says that the ancient Kashmiri architecture was influenced by contemporary Greek and Roman styles

(Mr. Iqbal Ahmad, 48, was born in Parigam Chek, Kulgam. He is a graduate with Diploma in Numastics, Archaeology and Heritage. He is an archaeologist, writer, and a cultural historian. Mr. Iqbal Ahmad has published 12 reference books on Kashmir archaeology and heritage.)

Ancient Kashmiri architecture

It included lofty pyramidal roofs, its trefoiled doorways, covered by pyramidal pediment and the great wealth of its calumniation.

The features resembled closely with the classical pre-style of Greece. The association is found more deeps on Kashmiri and Greece columnades. This influence is suggested to have reached here through Gandhara. As in 6th century BC Kashmir and Gandhara formed parts of Persian Achaemeind Empire.

There are few fragmentary evidences which suggest that in 327 BC Abhisara, the ruler of Kashmir succumbed to the might of Alexander, but it is not clear whether it became the part of Selucide empire or not. If on the other hand numismatists claim of finding of several Greek coins from Kashmir, on the other this entire period is fully overshadowed with confusion.

So to believe in the legend that the Kashmiri architects borrowed the above mentioned influences directly from Greeks is obscure. That is why many scholars, which include Alexander Cunningham also advocate that Kashmiri architects borrowed the style from the Indo-Greeks during their occupation of the land which is established to its sufficient end.

However, the pyramidal type roofs are being suggested as the imitation of great pyramids of ancient Egypt. The tradition is believed to have first reached Syria and from there to Persian empire. In expending this architectural tradition Grecians and Romans have performed effective role.

The recent past archaeological research in Kashmir has added new dimensions to the architectural history of Kashmir, the terra-cotta tiles discovered across Kashmir carry a series of interesting stamped motifs. A few of such motifs have been identified on several archaeological finds of the other countries too.

One such motif identified on few tiles of the Pahalgam finds is being suggested to be an imitation of an Egyptian motif discovered on a potshed of Egypt. The potsherd which depicts king Narmar of Egypt in an lower Egyptian crown below him appears motif of composite mythical animals dated to 2700 BC.

The motif of the similar composite mythical animal has been identified as one of the terra-cotta tiles of Hionar Pahalgam. The motif seen on the Egyptian potsherd is very excellent while on Hionar tiles it is a bit in a deteriorated condition. Although the purpose of these tile pavements is not fully established, there is an agreement in the thought that these tiles had been used to decorate walls and floors.

The tradition has also been in vogue in ancient Egypt where they used to lay beaten earth with bricks in a layer of plaster, which was sometimes painted. Even the tradition of covering the floors of houses by simple earthen plaster was still in vogue in Kashmir till recent past. One can find its evidences in the far flung villages of this land.

A State Infomatics Center Modeled after the National Infomatics Center (NIC)

Shakeel-ur-Rehman reacts to the announcement that J&K state plans to develop a State Infomatics Center

(Syed Shakeel-ul-Rehman, 32, was born in Qazipora, Tangmarg. He did his schooling at the Government Middle School in Katipora and at the Government Higher Secondary School in Chandilora, both in the Tangmarg Tehsil. He graduated in Social Work from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), being the first Kashmiri student to graduate with that major. He subsequently did his post graduate diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from the same University. He has taken specialized courses in computer hardware and software technology. He worked as a columnist and correspondent for the Greater Kashmir daily newspaper until 2005 and is currently the Opinion Editor of the Kashmir Images daily newspaper. He also anchors Doordharshan Kendra Srinagar's live phone-in show called, "Hello DD" since April 2005. Mr. Shakeel-ur-Rehman holds the distinction of having interviewed prominent personalities in all major fields and walks of life, probably more than any other Kashmiri journalist.)

Informatics Service

There is finally some good news for Kashmir’s IT professionals. The state government has decided to constitute J&K Informatics Service on National Informatics Centre pattern.

This was long overdue as the IT professionals working in various government departments across the state were facing a bleak future in absence of rules regarding career progression. Now onwards they can hope for better job prospects.This government decision is an offshoot of the earlier decision taken by the government in January this year whereby an e-governance agency was set up in the state with the stated aim of attracting IT projects. The best thing about the e-governance agency, which has finally started functioning, is that besides streamlining governance, it would also work for creation of employment opportunities in the state. For computer knowing professionals, who are in abundance in Kashmir, the recent decision will open myriad career opportunities.

As far as IT knowing workforce working in various state departments is concerned, to date it has had to face lots of hardships largely because of absence of a proper ladder system. As on date there are some 2,000 computer trained personnel working in various government departments on posts ranging from computer operators to junior computer assistants to computer analysts; all of them having fewer career progression opportunities. It is this area that the e-governance agency should focus on. Only then will it serve any real and significant purpose.

Another area that the agency should focus on is employment creation. As we all know the problem of unemployment has aggravated over the years. This is because the valuable human resource has not been put to proper use over the years. This is sheer wasting of the youthful energy, especially in a developing state like ours. The teeming population means more mouths to feed and more hands to seek jobs. Amidst this situation, the government needs to change its employment strategy.

Promotion of use of computers at the grassroots level would go a long way in helping the government find jobs for state’s computer knowing workforce. Admittedly, computers have revolutionized the way of thinking of people so far as the technology is concerned. In a span of just a decade, almost the whole nation is covered with computer network. Some states like Andra Pradesh and Karnataka have done exceptionally well.

In these two states and in many others also, computers are extensively used in almost all probable sectors and more so in education. The growing use of computers in every sphere of life has made their knowledge indispensable. While it cannot be denied that computers are an integral part of modern life, it can also not be brushed aside that in an absolutely corrupt state like Jammu and Kashmir those abreast of IT and computers face a dark future. Lack of encadrement and absence of career progression avenues has marred the career of many youth in the state. It is this issue the e-governance agency will have to focus on if it intends to move ahead in real sense.

Govt to constitute JK Informatics Service on NIC pattern: Committee to draft proposal in 3 months

Keeping in tune with major strides made the world over in use of Information Technology (IT), the government today decided to constitute J&K Informatics Service (JKIS) in the State, on the pattern of National Informatics Centres (NIC) across the country.

This was stated in the first meeting of Board of Governors of Jammu and Kashmir e-Governance Agency (JaKeGA ), which was chaired by Chief Secretary, S. S. Kapur, here today.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, immediately after assuming power, had on January 14, 2009 moved at top speed to set up JaKeGA with an empowered Board of Directors headed by the Chief Secretary.

Today’s meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development, S.L. Bhat, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary, Information Technology, Dr. Arun Kumar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Principal Secretary, Law, Akhtar Hussain Kochak, Commissioner/Secretary, Power, S .K. Naik, Commissioner/Secretary, Roads and Buildings, Mehboob Iqbal and Director, DOEACC, Dr. A.H. Moon.

It was decided in the meeting that a Committee headed by Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development, with Principal Secretary, IT and Principal Secretary, Law, as Members will draft the proposal of the JKIS within three months. The Draft Proposal for JKIS will be placed on the website of IT Department for eliciting comments and suggestion from the general public.

The meeting was informed that the Central government has been liberal in supporting JaKeGA and has already released over Rs. 15 crore for the purpose. It was also stated that the released outlay is meant for establishing projects as Capacity Building, State Data Centres, Service Centres, State Services Delivery Gateway and State-Wide Areas Network. It was given out in the meeting that four consultants from Price Water House Coopers have already been deployed to assist JaKeGA for capacity building besides an ace private player in the field, Wipro, has been engaged by the department for preparing e-governance, capacity building roadmap and DPR for State Data Centre.

Kapur, while speaking on the occasion, asked for exploring every possibility so that e-governance reaches every part of the State and facilities get extended on priority in revenue-related matters, health, consumer affairs and municipalities so that people get firsthand information of day-to-day grievances. He said public-private partnership should also be encouraged to further the benefits of e-governance and stressed the need for involving all Administrative Departments to promote e-governance in their functioning.

Modelled on similar agencies working in many progressive States like Karnataka and Punjab, JaKeGA has been registered as a Society. This is supposed to provide the Agency with much-needed flexibility to implement IT-related projects throughout the State and to receive grants directly from the Central government and other donor agencies.

JaKeGA shall also take the single point responsibility for procuring all types of IT resources and services like hardware, power, printing and networking peripherals for government agencies which will help in streamlining IT-related activities of all departments and help save time and money.

Brisk Business in Outdated Medicine Sales in Kashmir

An unspoken corollary from the massive exodus of Pandit chemists is the sad truth that many replacement chemist shops do not hold to the same highest ethical business practices that departing Pandits did

Illegal medicine business continues as authorities lament staff inadequacy

Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil (Kashmir Images)

Srinagar: Notwithstanding the mushrooming of unlicensed chemists' shops and sale of spurious and substandard medicines, the “unconcerned” Drug and Food Control authorities are seemingly in deep slumber.

“No they are not slumbering, they actually are the ones who patronize lawlessness in the business here,” says a chemist who didn’t want to be identified for obvious reasons.

“It is the officials of Drug Control Authority who have issued licenses to unskilled and ‘illiterate’ people and they obviously get regular commission from those indulging in the sale of spurious drugs,” the chemist alleges.

And as if this was not enough, there is practically no check on chemists’ shops supplying addictive drugs over the counter to their clients, young people in particular.

However, the Drug Control officials refute these allegations saying they are keeping a constant check on unruly elements in drug trade.

In April 2008-March 2009, they say the department sealed 105 unlicensed chemists’ shops and cancelled nine licenses under various provisions of Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1940.

During the same period, the checking squad of the Drug Control department, while inspecting various drug shops in Karan Nagar area sealed two drug firms dealing with highly addictive drugs.

They say a team of the Drug Control officials inspected various drug shops in and around Srinagar city. The team found a firm - S. S. Traders - of Nursing Garh (Karan Nagar) stocking various addictive drugs like Recodex, Corex, Rexcon, Ensdyl and Siricodin which was seized and later a case was filed in the court, officials says, although the incident they are referring to dates back to the winter of year 2006.

In April 2008, again the department was able to seize highly addictive drugs from the firm namely Sajad Ahmed and others (at Nursing Garh), officials claim, adding in these two cases the department seized highly addictive drugs worth Rs 5.20 lakhs.

Deputy Drug Controller, Kashmir, Nazir Ahmed Wani, told ‘Kashmir Images’ that the drugs that were recovered from these two firms at different times were sold to registered sales outlets and the money thus earned was deposited in the High Court.

Official records suggest that during April2008 -March 2009 the department has lifted 527 samples of drugs, out of which 335 have been analyzed in the state laboratories. About 320 samples were found to be of standard quality, while 15 were found to be of sub-standard quality and the reports for the remaining samples are still awaited.

Wani informed that in the last financial year 12 cases were registered by the department in which two cases who were found violating the drug norms and were fined Rs 6000 by the High Court. He informed 109 cases are still pending in the High Court.

The Deputy Drug Controller warned all the chemists to maintain proper purchase and sale records. He cautioned that laxity in this regard would warrant severe action from the administration.

“Whenever any such practice came to our notice we suspended licenses and also closed down their shutters as we can’t accept unethical practices,” he added. “I have already warned all the chemists to maintain proper purchase and sale record in order to avoid trouble,” Wani added.

He also informed that the department suffers on account of inadequacy of human resource as a result of which it is not able to monitor chemists properly or have full control over the trade.

“We have one drug inspector for two districts which hampers our job,” he says. Long time back 72 posts of drug inspectors were created by the administration; even the applications were invited for the post but until now no interview has been conducted by Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (SSRB).

“If SSRB conducts interviews the department will have 40 drugs inspectors for Kashmir Division which will ease our work,” says Deputy Drug Controller.