Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog

I launched the website and the Blog after having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents. The feedback was uniformly consistent. The bottom line is that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of priorities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity in all of Jammu and Kashmir.

The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.

Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.

The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.

This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.

Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
www.kashmirforum.org

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Social Activism

Ahmad represents the best among social activists. He wrote a compelling letter on a basic need, and the article on banking shows his desire to inform the public

(Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Reshi ("Ahmad Kashmiri"), 43, was born in Tangmarg. He attended the Government Middle School Kunzar, and completed his higher secondary education from the Government Higher Secondary School in Chandilora, Magam. Mr. Reshi attended the Government Degree College, Bemina, and received his graduate degrees B.Sc. and B.Pharma from the University of Kashmir, followed by the Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication (PGJMC) from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Mr. Reshi is a teacher by profession, and enjoys creative writing.)


Provide us Drinking Water

Dear editor

Up till recently the water of Nallah Ferozpora in Tangmarg was used directly for drinking as it was considered as naturally safe for drinking. But now the time has reached when many villages are running high and dry for the scarcity of it as the water supply schemes are worst hit.

Gonipora water supply scheme has remained the mere name for the pipeline that runs through these villages and is guarded by employees of public health engineering. The inhabitants of the villages that depend on Gonipora Water Supply Scheme do not get any water whatsoever, not to speak of
the portable drinking water.

The populace of the villages like Chanpora-Kunzar, Gonipora, Takiya and Kassayee mohalla has been running from pillar to post to get hold of the concerned officers in the PHE department to share their miseries. Though the officers gave a patient enough to listen, but they did nothing to address these issues.

People especially patients, old aged and children have been suffering for last few days for drinking water. The “Gonipora water supply scheme”, in itself is a joke, for the reason that there neither any filtration plant nor is any reservoir there to keep the water stored.

Instead, of resolving the issue, our supply pipes have been dipped into Nallah Ferozpora and the water running into the Nallah enters these pipes and reaches the villagers in the name of drinking water.

The hallmark of the situation is that many consumers in these villages possess registered water connections and pay the subscribed water fee to the department.

In fact there has been lot of uncontrolled digging in the Nallah Ferozpora for last several years. The residents expressed surprise for they failed to understand that why after all the authorities do not do the needful and why consumers who pay their fee suffer for want of this basic necessity. The people have demanded for construction of a filtration plant/ reservoir at a higher place for the safe drinking water. The populace of these villages have threatened that if the water supply is not restored that will be forced to come out on roads and approach the consumer court.

Bankers, Borrowers at Fault; Guarantors Exploited Socially!!!

The loan systems of the banks have resulted in the trouble of thousands of people who stand third party guarantors to these loans lend by the banks to different persons, parties and the institutions. Some people who are associated with the bank believe that the economic development is reinforced or to say strengthened by the dispensation of credit. But I believe that such type of development and credit system which lacks inbuilt and automated loan security system has rendered guarantors in trouble and desperation which does not implement any moral obligations and is bound to become counter productive someday. Though numerous people who as guarantors have been suffering for years now yet there is a dire need for giving knowledge and appraisal to general masses, also there is scope for a possible debate on the issue with regard to various dimensions of it.

“According to “Bank Norms “there are usually three parties in the contract of guarantee: Creditor/Banker, Principal Borrower and the Guarantor. Contract of Guarantee is complete when the Guarantors execute a deed of Guarantee on Non Judicial stamp paper of requisite value. The deed should be attested by a Notary Public and adhesive stamp of requisite value is affixed thereon.

The bank can proceed against the guarantor without proceeding against the principal borrower. The liability of the Guarantor is independent of borrower’s liability. In case where there is one borrower and he has died prior to institution of the suit, suit has been filed against a dead person; the suit abates to the extent of the borrower it survives in respect of Guarantors.

Lien empowers the bank with a qualified right to exercise over all the monies of the borrower which come into any account and can set off this amount with their outstanding. The banker is constrained to lay its hands on the guarantors account and exercise lien, what in borrowers language called, ‘account has been frozen.”

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