The Suffering Agrarian Economy

Even a rudimentary analysis will show that Government policy enriches the rich by investing in tourism and big contracts and neglects the poor who live off the agrarian economy 

JK worst Performing Agriculture State


Srinagar: Apart from number 2 in corruption, Jammu and Kashmir has earned another distinction of being only state in the country which has miserably failed to increase net-sown area, cropped area as well as annual growth rate of crops despite having increased use of technology significantly since the year 1962.

J&K has been rated as the worst performing states in terms of increasing profitability from agriculture which is regarded as mainstay of an emerging economy. State has registered dismal 5 percent increase in irrigated areas when the use of technology has increased 10 times to what it was in 1962 when the first survey was conducted by the Planning Commission of India.


Besides, none of the 22 districts have been able to make it to the list of high crop yielding districts of Jammu and Kashmir. More importantly, cropping intensity has shown 22 percent increase (125 to 147) over the last 48 years while the cropped area has increased from 684, 000 hectares to 750, 000 hectares during the same period, thereby registering a meager increase of 66, 000 hectares when compared with rest of the states.

These spine-chilling revelations have been made by Planning Commission of India in its final report based on district level study on the growth of agriculture conducted by centre for study of regional development of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), a copy of which is with Kashmir Monitor newspaper. Study has been conducted on 44 crops being grown in various districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The two crops which have been left out are garlic and onion.

The report has pointed out that while the use of tractors grew from 2 per thousand hectares in 1962 to 70 in 2006, Pump sets from 0 in 1962 to 28 per thousand hectares in 2006, fertilizers from 2 kg per hectare to 119 kg per hectare; it has not been able to increase agricultural output on the analogy. Hinting out at the impending disaster, reports says that rapidly receding ground water in many areas across Jammu and Kashmir is leading to harmful salts getting accumulated on its surface.

Report has stated that overexploitation of land resources and excessive use of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals has resulted in serious deterioration in the quality of land with soils becoming deficient in many crucial nutrients and adversely affecting its productivity.

Nailing the lie of J&K agricultural ministry, report has revealed that agricultural workers productivity has not shown an appreciable change. It has added that the productivity has increased from Rs. 2018.07 per worker in 1962 to Rs. 3245.54 per worker after a span of 48 years. Post-reform period 1990-93 to 2003-06 is characterized by a serious retrogression both in the matter of levels and growth rates of yield and output and a slowdown in diversification towards oilseeds, says the report.

Regarding Jammu and Kashmir, report has maintained that decline in public investment in irrigation, water management and scientific research has adversely affected profitability of farmers. It has added that agricultural workers who constitute 58 percent of the total workforce are facing deceleration in their productivity and income levels as well as facing distress. Report has maintained that high and ever increasing population pressure on land in the backward districts is a major contributor to the ever widening disparities.

It has concluded that high productivity districts are characterised by low population pressure and the opposite holds true for low productivity districts. It has recommended that there is an urgent need for rejuvenation of agricultural growth and shift of agricultural work force to non-farm employment activities in the underdeveloped areas for raising levels of agricultural worker productivity and for reversing trend of widening gap in productivity of agricultural workers.

It has further laid stress on devising region specific policies alongside increasing public investment in irrigation and other rural infrastructure in particular in agricultural research and extension in all parts of Jammu and Kashmir. It has also called for investing heavily in agricultural and bio-technology research for developing cost reducing and water saving technology for wheat and particularly rice. (Kashmir Monitor)

Pahalgam in Shambles

The word will not take long to spread

Pahalgam in Shambles: Dilapidated Roads, Poor Sanitation, Messy Healthcare, Troubles Tourists

D S Ahmad (Kashmir Times)

Pahalgam: Despite being the world famous tourist destination, Pahalgam continues to face the official neglect in terms of infrastructure development causing severe inconvenience to all the locals, hoteliers and tourists visiting the spot. Roads, sanitation, health care and electricity everything remains in a messy state with locals and other people associated with the tourism industry crying hoarse for attention of the concerned authorities.

All the roads leading to the areas where the A-class hotels and sophisticated huts are situated are dotted with such a big potholes that the tourists prefer to stay in B-class hotels on the main road passing through Pahalgam town.

“Most of the A-class hotels and huts here are located in surroundings of the main town but the roads leading to these hotels are totally in a dilapidated condition which does not only cause severe agonies to the tourists but affects the business of the hoteliers and hut owners also,” said a hotelier Mohammad Imran. Laripora road, Circuit road, Aru road and other link roads resemble that of the roads of an undeveloped remote village.

“It was a bitter experience to choose the circuit road for entering the Pahalgam town. The road is in such a bad condition that I had to even face the abuses of the tourists I was carrying for choosing the road. The road besides being in worst condition is too narrow also that we had a narrow escape at many places,” said Manjit, a driver from Jammu.

The condition of the Laripora road, Golf Course Road and Aru Road where many famous A-class hotels are located is no better thus causing immense hardships to the tourists. “Seeing the condition of the roads leading to our hotels the tourists always narrate bitter stories after making it the hotel. They have to face lot of inconvenience as their vehicles also suffer damages while traveling on the roads dotted with potholes,” said a manager of the A-class hotel wishing anonymity.

The sanitation at the scenic resort is also out of gear with garbage, filth and horse shit could be seen lying scattered everywhere around. Health care too is in a messy state with only health centre remaining devoid of all the basic facilities causing inconvenience to the locals.

President of the Pahalgam hoteliers and owners association (PHOA), Javed Ahmad Burza, discredits the claims of the authorities about the infrastructure development at the tourist place.

“Everything including roads, sanitation, cleanliness and electricity remains out of order here. The claims of the authorities about the development in Pahalgam is nothing more than a big lie. There is no comprehensive plan with the authorities about the development of this world famous scenic spot,” Burza said. He said that even during the slight rains mud instead of water comes out of taps causing inconvenience to the guests. Burza added that their repeated pleas to the PDA authorities about the repair of roads in Pahalgam always fell on deaf ear. “We several times approached the PDA authorities for repair of at least the link roads but every time they promised us to repair those. But the promise was not kept," Burza said.

When contacted chief executive officer, PDA, Mir Altaf Ahmad, admitted the bad condition of the roads and said only the link roads fall in the jurisdiction of PDA. "The main road and the circuit road are the jurisdiction of R & B department while link roads fall in our jurisdiction which will be repaired soon," CEO said. He said once the work on the drainage system is completed they will undertake the repair work of link roads.

Dwindling Exotic Wildlife

The only one of the kind goats in Asia, found in Kashmir, is disappearing

Kashmir's Spiral-Horned Markhor Goat in Peril

Rajat Ghai, IANS


Srinagar : It is an animal that is as much an icon of Kashmir as the beautiful Dal Lake and its shikaras. The magnificent spiral-horned Markhor, the largest member of the goat family, has for centuries inhabited the high mountains of Kashmir. But human greed and interference have placed this graceful animal on the 'critically endangered' list with barely 350 members remaining.


Which is why the notification of the Tatakuti Wildlife Sanctuary near Shopian in South Kashmir by the Jammu and Kashmir government April 27 has come as a big boost to conservationists fighting for the very survival of the Markhor.


Tatakuti is the latest addition to the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks already declared to conserve the Pir Panjal or Kashmir Markhor (Capra Falconeri Cashmiriensis). Others parks are Hirpora (Shopian), Limber and Lachipora (Baramulla). There is also the Kajinag National Park (Baramulla).


The Pir Panjal Markhor is one of five distinct species found in Asia. It is found only in India's Jammu and Kashmir. "They were once distributed from Banihal, through the Pir Panjal range, crossing the Jhelum river over to the Kajinag and Shamsabari ranges, into Gurez and then into Pakistan-administered Kashmir. But the present Markhor population is very small and unconnected," Yash Veer Bhatnagar, Senior Scientist for the Mysore-based Nature Conservation Foundation, told IANS.


Most experts maintain that barely 350 of this species remain. "As an informed guess, I will put the population at 300-400, with close to 250 being in Kajinag itself," says Bhatnagar.


Though the Markhor is included in the Indian (Schedule 1) and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Acts, the threat against its survival remain very much in place. Insurgency, cross-border firing, competition with livestock for grazing ground, poaching for its antlers as trophy and for its meat, fragmentation of habitat due to LoC fencing, lack of awareness and developmental projects, all threaten the Markhor.


Given the multi-fold threats facing the Markhor, is it enough to just declare another sanctuary?


"No. Declaring a protected area is just the starting point and not the end of the crusade of conservation. A sanctuary or a national park does give you the necessary legal teeth to fight the odds, but implementation of the laws and execution of strategies on ground is what matters most," Intesar Suhail, Wildlife Warden, Shopian Wildlife Division, told IANS.


Perhaps the greatest threat facing the species is competition from herders. In late May-early June, migratory (Bakkarwals) and local herders arrive with their livestock in the protected areas meant for the Markhor. They occupy the grazing grounds and force the Makhor to graze in other, mostly sub-optimal areas. 

Speaking for the herders, Mian Altaf Ahmad, state Forest Minister, told IANS: "These people have been doing this for decades. It is the only economic activity they pursue. They have their rights. You cannot deny them those." How can a balance be then found? "The best way to address the issue is to have a rehabilitation plan for the herders which should include providing alternative grazing areas and if possible, alternative means of livelihood," says Suhail.


"Critical areas like fawning grounds should be spared at least for some time during the fawning season. Similarly, critical habitats like those used in early spring should not be disturbed during that season," Riyaz Ahmed Peerzada, Manager, Mountain Ungulates Project, Jammu and Kashmir, told IANS.


Another threat is that the Markhor's habitat borders the volatile Line of Control. Can wildlife conservation override national security? "LoC fencing is thought to have affected the Markhor movement in Limber and Lachhipora. National security is indeed paramount but the interests of wildlife and biodiversity need to be safeguarded simultaneously," feels Suhail. Then there is the Mughal Road project, which is being built to connect Srinagar and Rajouri. It would slice through Hirpora, endangering the 50 individuals that reside there. "The permission to construct the Mughal Road was granted by the Supreme Court only after putting some conditions like extension of the sanctuary area and fencing of vulnerable areas which have been accomplished. Further measures like traffic regulation, closure of road during nights and compensatory afforestation of eroded road-sides shall be taken up once construction work concludes," promises Suhail. 

What else can be done to manage Markhor population? "Strengthen infrastructure and increase manpower, control grazing, release sites like fawning grounds and spring habitats from grazing, spread awareness, involve locals and punish poachers," advocates Peerzada.

Losing the Touch

Declining arts and crafts industries impacts cultural identity as well

Diminishing Arts and Crafts of Kashmir

Dr. Farooq Ahmad Peer

The arts and crafts of Kashmir reflect the emotional life of Kashmiris. During my childhood, I had a chance of seeing some of the most fantastic works by some major personalities of arts and crafts culture. The hard work put into their craft oozed out from the material they made. Their material was fine and looked well-tuned. The art and craft, be it Papier-Mâché, Wood Carving, Carpet, Shawl, Pottery, Embroidery and Iron-Warring, all looked delightful and appealing to the eye. Never in my life, had I come across something with regard to art and craft that demanded respect I had for these artists. I always felt that the toil and drudgery put into the making of a material would remain the same, but my perception was changed a few days back. 

Just, I had a chance of meeting some of the new artists from Kashmir who had recently honoured their skills in this field. The artists who introduced themselves as new comers looked all set to try their luck in this field. I asked them to show me some of their fine works. They put forward before me a bundle of Papier-Mache balls, Carpet samples, embroidery pieces, Iron-Warring, delicate pieces of Pottery, Wood carving and Shawl making. I picked up the pieces one by one, trying to see them as minutely as I could and trying to observe every bit of the information I could gather from them. I could sense that the way of making art had changed. The finishing touches in the earlier crafts which were clearly visible to the eye had gone. Even the thinking had changed. The old art and craft legends had done their craft for the passion that they shared for this job. But I could not perceive this passion from the works that the present group of artists are doing in our valley which was gorgeous in this culture two decades before. The contemporary artists of the valley have elapsed what the word passion means and have supplanted this with the desire of earning money. I ruminated about this and the riposte I received from my mind was the art for which Kashmir had has proud is devalued, diminishing and declining and its ashes are surviving and waiting to be cremated for the sake of money. Paradoxically, the show casers indicated that their families or ancestors have been doing this sensitive job since decades/ a century.


Days later, I visited the Museum of the School of Designing of the Handicrafts Department to carve out the real datum’s and see for myself whether the present group of artists I had seen were just an exception or had the whole group of artists taken to this route? As I entered the School of Designing showcase room, I clearly sensed a difference between the present and past works. The older works manifested, as it were the allegorical language of the passions and the virtues of the people of Kashmir. Some of the works and the marvelous examples of craft told the story of the famous personages; others depicted historical episodes, poetic fantasies or religious and philosophical themes. All these emanated from the mind of the designer or the crafts man whose free-hand drawing was astonishingly accurate. He was inspired by Nature, which was his instructor. Since art in human civilization is social expression, the artist or the craftsman did not merely emit his individual mood or quirk, but he explicated with loving artistic meticulousness, in the very universal language of art what he felt worthy of replica in his milieu and to this went a wealth of upkeep and imagination. Though patronised by the ruler or government and encouraged by the nobility of the time, the true artist worked under the pressure of his own creative urge which our present artists have left somewhere far behind.

We all must think seriously about our past graceful culture which would lure the tourists of the world to our Valley. (Greater Kashmir)

No Higher Cause

Saima introduces us to one of the brightest "stars of hope" for mentally and physically challenged children in Kashmir - the Chotay Taray Foundation (CTF)

(Ms. Saima Qayoom, 24, was born in Srinagar. She passed her 10+2 grade from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (CBSE). She completed her Diploma in Rehabilitation Therapy under the Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment in 2008 and then completed the Bachelor’s in Arts from Women’s Degree College M.A. Road Srinagar in 2011 In the same year she was appointed as an Special Educator in a Special School cum Rehabilitation centre namely Chotay Taray Foundation and completed B.ED From Kashmir University through Distance mode. Presently she is pursuing post graduate degree in Psychology from Indra Gandhi National Open University. Still she is involved in the Rehabilitation of the special children and was promoted as Administrative Officer from Senior Special Educator.)

Mental Retardation in Kashmir

 hen a petal of the rose falls down, we still call it a rose. Though many leaves fall from the tree, we still go to the tree and enjoy its shade. When this is the case, why should we isolate a human being when he loses a faculty of his body or is challenged congenitally. The society should learn a lesson from the nature and try to understand that a person with disability is a human being too. The famous Helen Keller states that the most unfortunate person in the society is one who has sight but no vision. For understanding the abilities of the persons with disabilities one should have a broad vision of humanistic values.

Disability is a universal cause. However, if we focus on the persons with disability in the state of Jammu & Kashmir we will understand it is one of the most neglected groups due to lack of facilities and Rehabilitation programs for them, and from last 20 years the ratio of Disability is at the alarming rate because of the undue circumstances in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In this regard Chotay Taray Foundation (CTF) is an organization working for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. We are working since 5th May 2003 and in November, 2006 our organization was registered under the Societies Registration Act, VI of 1998. It aims for the Rehabilitation of children with Multiple Disabilities including those having Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, and Autism etc. These children are provided with special education, health facilities and vocational training as per their requirements. Currently CTF is catering to the needs of 60 children belonging to various communities. In addition to this we also work on 9 field areas in which 8 areas are in district Srinagar and 1 area is in district Budgam, where we work for overall development of children both differently able and normal children.

Our Vision:

We want to assist and develop differently able children in such a way that the roots of their dependency are uprooted so that they can live like other normal children independent of others. We also want to make people realize that such children are not an encumbrance on the society instead they can contribute equally towards the society. We also want to see our society develop in such a way that they perceive no discrimination between two children on the basis of their mental and physical attributes. We want that these children should be loved and respected in the society.

We strive for the:

• Right to development
• Right to education
• Right to participation
• Right to protection

We not only Rehabilitate the Special Children but also strive to prevent the Disabilities at very early stages by orienting the pregnant mothers, nursing mothers and the ICDS workers that how they can identify the signs of Disability at very beginning so, that their Rehabilitation may commence at that very stage which will prevent further deterioration. In addition, parent workshops, parent-Teacher meetings community meetings are held once in every month for involving the parents in the Rehabilitation regime of their wards. Teacher Training Programmes are conducted in association with Sarva Sikhsha Abhivan for training the Teachers of Government and Private schools, how to deal with the special children if enrolled within the school. Consultation meetings are held with different Stake holders in order to address the issue of Disability at the higher levels because Disability is the only issue that is being denied in the state and this very section is being considered as the weaker section of our society.

The rate of Disability is terrifyingly increasing day by day and no such steps are being taken to curb this burning issue. No doubt, Chotay Taray is delivering its services to the needful but to the limited areas because of the limited funds and resources as it is an organization which runs on the local donations, Sadqa Zakat what about other/far flung areas where Chotay Taray cannot reach out. So, let’s join hands to curb this menace by making the people aware about the different issues of Disability as the only thing that the people suffers from is “The lack of Awareness”.

Email: Ctf.inst@gmail.com
Website: www.chotaytaray.org

The Nag and the Cave

Iqbal brings us close to Kashmir's historical gems

(Mr. Iqbal Ahmad, 51, 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.)

Verinag- the Love of Jahangir

Jahangir, the famous Mughal emperor, who expired at Chingas near Rajouri on his return from Srinagar to Lahore, wished, while on death bed, to be carried to Verinag and buried there. This was the charm of Verinag of which its royal founder seems to have been quite sensible; Verinag with its shady trees, cold-water and murmuring streams over shadowed by the somber pine-clad hills is situated in South Kashmir about 74 Km from Srinagar.

It is considered to be the real source of river Jehlum. Abul Fazl, in ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ says of Verinag, “A pool measuring of a Jarib, which tosses in foam with an astonishing roar and its depth unfathomable and is surrounded by a stone-embankment”.

The construction work over the spring was taken under by Jahangir (AH 1014-1073- AH, and completed by Shah Jahan (1037-1068 AH). The developmental work over Verinag included the laying of garden, raising pillared pavilions constructing royal bath rooms and an octagonal arcade around the spring.

Jahangir (1014-1037 AH), while providing a brief account of the spring writes, “It is an octagonal reservoir about 20-yards. Near it are the remains of a place of worship for recluses; cells cut out of the rock and numerous caves. The water is exceedingly pure, although I could not guess its depth. A grain of poppy-seed is visible until it touches the bottom. There are many fish to be seen in it. As I had heard that it was unfathomable, I ordered them to throw a cord with a stone attached and when this card measured in gaz it became evident that the depth was not more than one and a half the height of a man. After my accession I ordered them to build the sides of the spring with stone, and they made a garden round it with canal and built halls and houses about it and made a place such that travellers the world over can point out a few like it”

Of the buildings, that Jehangir ordered to be constructed here, only the range of twenty-four arches round the spring remains partially intact. The rest are either in ruins or completely invisible. The arcade originally formed of stone was repaired by Maharaja Rambir Singh (1857-85 AD) in bricks.

The two inscriptions raised into the wall of arcade one by Jahangir and the other by his son Shah Jahan retain the physical memories of these two monarchs one of the inscriptions that belongs to Jahangir-runs as;
Padshahi haft-Kishtiwar `adalat-gustar’Abu-al-Muzaffar
Nurud-ud-Din Jahangir Ibn Akbar Shah Ghazi Batarikhi
Sanah 5 Julus darin Sarchashma faiz-amin nazul ajlal formudand Tarikh.
Az Jahangir Shah-e-Akbar Shah.
Inn bina Sar Kashidah bar aflak
Abani-e-equal yaft tarikhash
Qasr abad-o-chashma-e-Verinag
This inscription carries the foundation date as 5th regional year of Jahangir with Kings higher titles in Persian.

The other inscription of Shah Jahan’s period read as:

Haider ba Aukmi Shahi
Jahan padasi dahr.
Shukre Khuda Ki Sakht
Chunin ab shar Jui.
In Jui dada ast Ziju-e-bahish yad.
Zin abshar yafta kashmir abrui.
Tarikh-e-jui guft ba gosham.
Az chashma-e-bikhif birum amadast Jui.
This inscription provides the date of the completion of the work as 1036 AH by one Haider, on orders of Shah Jahan.

Although Verinag, alongwith other tourist sites of south Kashmir, is receiving some tourists, though lately, a lot remains to be done yet. Steps are needed to be taken to showcase and also boast the tourist potential of this site besides preserving its arcade and inscription as these are the past glories of this historic spring. Like many other such historical sites, Verinag also suffered human vandalism and utmost neglect.

Kashmir Caves

Kashmir valley carries evidences of few such caves, the identity of many of which remains a great mystery even hundreds of years after they were first discovered. Who built these caves and for what purpose? These and many more questions remain unanswered to this day and are likely to remain a mystery for times to come in the absence of a thorough and empirical research. Although the land has a very ancient tradition of cave digging as, earlier people used to dig out the underground caves to live in and provide shelter for the people of the community. In was during this time that people probably found many natural caves as well and settled in them.

In early sixties and seventies underground cave pits were discovered on the plateaus of Burzhama (Srinagar) and Gufkral (Tral). In recent past few caves were identified in Manasbal locality as well. These discoveries stand well interpreted and their meaning well understood. Archaeologists tell us that such caves served as manmade and natural shelters for the earlier habitants of this land who preferred to live in the caves instead of building structures on the surface of the earth.

There are other caves attributed to various Hindu deities. Few of these caves are still being worshipped by Hindus while some other caves are believed to have served as meditation sites for various saints of the land. The caves attributed to Hindu deities include the world famous Amarnath Cave, which houses the Siva Linga. Hindu pilgrims from far off lands of India visit the cave during the Amarnath Yatra and pay obeisance at this site.

One another cave which really is an archaeological wonder and houses internally five feet high temple is seen at village Bumzu about 65 kms from Srinagar on a plateau on the left bank of river Lidder. It has been carved inside the massive limestone rock. Who carved it and for what purpose is not exactly known while legends have numerous stories to tell us. It is locally known as Gufa Mander. Cunningham (Archaeologist) describes it as a very old construction while other archaeologists are attributing it to medieval period and say that the cave was either carved out during the tenure of Bhimshahi or Queen Didda. It is the only site where we find that a temple was built inside the cave which, many archeologists believe, is very much significant as well impressive one. Visitors have to climb a flight of 22 steps from the road to reach to the gate of the cave.

There are other two famous caves with one at Gufabal (Kulgam) and other at Ashmuqam. These are attributed with celebrated saints of the land, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din (RA) and his disciple Sheikh Zain-ud-Din Rishi (RA) respectively. The Peer used to meditate in the cave at Gufabal and his disciple made Ashmuqam cave as his last abode. These caves are still extent and visited by devotees of the saints.

Apart from these known and well identified caves there are several caves found in Kashmir. The proper identity of which still remains a mystery. One such group of caves is seen in Kupwara in frontier district of the land at Lasthiyal, Kalaroos. These are not natural caves some people have carved them in a proper sequence from the massive lime stone rocks. These are in a row and uniform in size. No scientific study of these caves has yet been under-taken while few scholars who tried to identify them could not come up with concrete picture of these caves.

However the famous historian of Kashmir, Dr. Fida Muhammad Hasnian, has something to say about the caves. He says that these caves served as the indicators of some major historical events, which might have taken place in this area during ancient periods. He emphasizes for a major archaeological survey of the area.

Recently, one more prehistoric cave, used by some ancient settlers, was found in village Hefseermal on the right bank of Nallah Rembara in Pulwama District. This cave has been dug out from a side of low plateau.

All these caves found at various places have been left uncared and unpreserved and are in utter ruins. Infect, these caves have to face human vandalism while the concerned department seems snoring over the issue. Steps are required to be taken to preserve the cave heritage and to explore it for heritage tourism as well.

Thanks to Archaeological Survey of India authorities who have been maintaining the Bumzo cave and have been successful not only in its restoration work but also in bringing on the tourist map of the land.

Consequences of Promoting Patronage Jobs Over Private Sector Jobs

Kashmir's elites loath to give up control on job creation, with attendant consequences

Unemployment Woes

The grave unemployment issue continues to haunt Jammu and Kashmir. Whenever the issue is raised, chief minister Omar Abdullah comes out with a routine statement that it was not possible to provide government jobs to everyone. While no would contest the statement, the government on the other hand has not done much to generate employment in the private sector. The private companies that have come to the state are here as a part of their routine business expansion plans and not because the state has attracted them with sops.

Even though to win over the hearts of the youth, in an effort to keep them away from street protests, both the state and the central governments every now and then keep on announcing ambitious job packages, unfortunately the required implementation of these promises to the youth is hardly done. In fact, whenever a minister visits the state from New Delhi, we hear tall announcements. Besides the centre, the local ministers too have been making similar promises as Minister for Information and Science Technology Aga Syed Ruhullah recently had said the government was hopeful that the upcoming Information Technology (IT) Park in central Kashmir's Budgam district will create job opportunity for 10,000 IT professionals. In the given scenario, the people have every reason to have disbelief in the promises that are made to them.

While it is no secret that the state’s Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for the youth has only remained a political slogan, the centre too has drawn flak for not implementing its promises. For example, the Kashmiri Pandits have been demanding full implementation of Prime Minister's Employment Package, a scheme launched for the youth of the community. Recently, during a protest they alleged that only 1,700 jobs have been filled up in the last three years while the rest of 4,300 jobs are yet to be announced and filled up. Even as the list of unkempt political promises made to the people of the state is very long, the state and the centre has to ensure that the promises made towards generating employment avenues do not face the same consequence.

Some youth may have got jobs under the ‘Himayat’ scheme but most of them were recruited for just Rs. 5000, that too outside the state. Under the scheme, one lakh youth would be provided trainings for enhancing their employability and ensuring their absorption in private job market within five years. However, the government has to ensure that the youth get good jobs. Getting salaries of Rs. 5000 initially may be decent within the state but the amount is peanuts if one has to set up a new home outside.

And what adds insult to the injuries of the unemployed youth is the brazen nepotism in recruitments, not just in the government sector but also at the universities. Recently, one RTI had found the KU guilty of other brazen violation of rules in the filling up of other posts. And it has been observed that even if the KU in the past followed the recruitment rules, it still managed to employ its “chosen ones” through a “match fixing of sorts”. Even though the interviews are conducted, the candidates have often complained that the procedure was a “mere formality” to select the blue-eyed ones. And the fact that the selected candidates usually turn out to be the children of the KU faculty, as seen during the filling up of the assistant registrar and PRO posts, only adds weight to these claims. Therefore, if the government cannot do much about the unemployment issue, it should at least ensure that the deserving candidates are hired. (Kashmir Monitor)

The Race Against Time

There is very little hope ...

Efforts on to Save Dal and Nigeen Lakes

Ehsan Fazili (Tribune)

Srinagar: An alarming increase in human population within the lake body from over 6000 to 70,000 people during the past 25 years has been a significant source of pollution in the Dal and Nigeen lakes, endangering their ecology and tourist attraction.

To save the lakes from ecological deterioration and to maintain high tourism potential, the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) has undertaken a Centrally-sponsored Rs 298.76 crore project since 2005, which is to be completed by the end of 2013.

“There has been a lot of human interference over the years, which includes coming up of hotels along the Boulevard road,” said Irfan Yaseen, Vice-Chairman of the LAWDA.

The population in and around the lake has increased to 3.5 lakh, which adds to the enrichment of nutrients, resulting in excessive growth of weeds. “The weeds are regularly being removed, relieving the lake of nutrients trapped in weeds,” adds the LAWDA chief.

During the past seven years, about 1,500 kanals have been converted into water and added to the lake, Irfan Yaseen disclosed. As part of the conservation and management project, the LAWDA has also rehabilitated 1,500 families in nine colonies set up away from the lake area, he revealed.

The menace of illegal constructions in and around the lake is unabated even as various measures have been taken to check it. “We have intensified the demolition drive against illegal constructions in and around the Dal Lake during the last six months,” Yaseen said.

Around 101 illegal structures have been removed while 21 trucks and tippers transporting illegal construction material have been seized so far. “The people have been asked to restrain from carrying out any sort of construction, encroachment and transportation of construction material in the area under the LAWDA,” Yaseen said. Yaseen pointed out that there has been no decline in the lake area and satellite imagery had put its area at 25.76 sqkm against 25.86 sqkm as recorded in 1895.

Similarly, the lake’s water surface stands at 20.21 sqkm against 18.21 sqkm in 1895, while the land mass and fixed cultivation stands at 5.55 sqkm against 7.65 sqkm in 1895.

The LAWDA has been working on reducing the pressure on the lake by establishing a settling basin having a capacity of 80,000 tonnes of silt.

The Dal Lake is unique because it is probably the only lake in which people live in hamlets and houseboats inside the lake and cultivation is carried out on floating gardens.

Civil Society in Disparage

The Kashmir Monitor says that NC, Cong, PDP all are to be blamed

SAC, SHRC, SVO all Rendered Toothless?

Srinagar: The state governments commitment to uphold human rights, ensure accountability of those manning state administration and penalize guilty security force personnel does not hold good on ground since democratic institutions meant for the same have miserably failed to assert their supremacy over impunity enjoyed by all including Babus and Mantris.

Institutional collapse is evident. Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission (JKSAC) has been rendered ineffective. Ministers and Babus have managed to get penalizing recommendations against them stayed in the courts. State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has not bothered to take to task the state home department which has time and again devalued its recommendations which are made after thorough investigation into a complaint lodged aggrieved people. Records bear testimony to the fact that its recommendations in cases of human rights violations have been implemented in parts.

The commission does claim that its recommendations are being observed in letter and spirit but facts rebut these claims out rightly. Commission has been unable to bring guilty to the book and has been reduced to a recommendatory body by the state home department which has reserved the right to approve or disapprove cases of even confirmed human rights abuse. Despite conducting a full-dressed investigation, commission’s recommendations are seemingly looked with an eye of suspicion. To add to this, judges who have an aversion to anyone questioning or criticizing their judgment prefer to remain mute spectators to the complete disregard shown to their well-investigated and legally tenable recommendations in various cases of abuse Jammu and Kashmir.

The commission is at loss of words when asked to refer to one such case where it has managed to accomplish its dutiful obligations. Even justice in the infamous custodial killing case of Human Rights Lawyer Jalil Andrabi’s is yet to be delivered. However, the commission does boost of having fulfilled its mandate by deciding a case of human rights abuse and making a recommendation to the government.

“It is for the government to decide about implementation. We cannot force them to take decisions as desired by us,” said an official of commission. He did threaten me with a legal notice for criticizing commission’s functioning which according to him has been doing wonders and has passed landmark judgments in various cases in the past few months. “Don’t criticize us too much. It won’t be tolerated anymore,” said the official.

Reports of Probe Commissions constituted by the state government in various cases of human rights abuse, custodial disappearances, killings, corruption cases, embezzlements and other related issued have vanquished in the thin air. From mass rapes in Kunanpuspura to rape and murder incident at Shopian, recommendations of the probe commissions have nowhere been implemented.

Jammu and Kashmir government has never missed an opportunity to order probes into incidents and issues which have had some news value. Judges who have been given the task of finding the truth have compiled reports, submitted it to the government and thereafter, never bothered to look into whether their recommendations have been respected and honoured or not for the reasons best known to them.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his pre-election speeches especially when PDP raked up the demand for demilitarization talked about constituting a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) but within days of taking over the reins of the government out rightly said that the same cannot be constituted without the help of two governments of India and Pakistan. Records do not showcase even a single instance where he would have sought help from the two governments for the same after taking over.

State Vigilance Organization (SVO) which claims of having brought the level of petty corruption down has been unable to explain the mystery behind Jammu and Kashmir still being at number 3 corrupt state of the country. Besides, it is yet to react to the accusations of being selective in choosing its prey on religious basis.

Even the court while deciding a case of corruption observed that while the corruption resides in glass houses and golden halls, SVO is searching the same in broken houses and unfurnished rooms. Moreover, allegations galore that SVO has always been used by ruling parties earlier and now coalitions for settling scores. None is penalized in Jammu and Kashmir, is how a senior minister in Manmohan Singh’s union ministry reacted when asked about the state’s reported denial to allow invigilators to oversee the implementation of a Rural Development Scheme.

“They have become habitual of getting scot free for whatever they do. You talk about impunity enjoyed by security forces alienating Kashmiris. Be sure, state government has alienated more people more by its actions,” is how the minister reacted. He went on and said that funds meant for developmental schemes are being spent on giving salaries to the over-staffed state administration.

Once Kashmir had Normalcy

Before Wahabis moved in, Kashmiris had normal yearnings

Forgotten, Forbidden Cinema Culture of Kashmir

Nasrun Mir (Rising Kashmir)

Srinagar: Iftikhar’s last cinema experience came 22 years back on a beautiful summer day of July in 1989. He still remembers the joy of the bright sunshine, aroma of the flowers and melody of the song, he had heard in the Broadway cinema in Srinagar. It was one of his most blissful walks home. He was extraordinarily happy that day. For him, future was bright, just like the dazzling sun in the blue skies.

“Nothing special happened that day, but I felt this happiness, which was never there with me,” said Iftikhar, who has forgotten that joy in the 22 years of bloodshed and violence that has engulfed Kashmir since 1989.

Political tension was already brewing in Valley after rigged elections of 1987 brought coalition of National Conference and Congress to power, leaving leaders like Syed Ali Geelani and Hezbul Mujahedein supremo Syed Salahudin high and dry. Some of the opposition activists were jailed and others went underground, preparing for a full-scale guerilla war against India. The rumors of “mujahids” in mountains were in whispers. Iftikhar heard them all. But he still didn’t believe a word, not they were gossip, but he didn’t want to. For him being happy was essential, irrespective of if anyone else was.

A lesser known militant outfit ‘Allah Tigers’ appeared on the scene and its chief, Air Marshal Noor Khan on August 18, 1989, announced a ban on cinemas and bars through local newspapers. The aim to shut these popular public hangouts was to create an atmosphere for an Islamic movement and to wage full-scale jihad against Indian rule.

Quite contrary to his earlier avatar, Noor Khan now sells stamp papers in the Srinagar High Court. The slogan from the 1979 Iranian revolution, “La Sharakeya Wala Garabeya, Islamia, Islamia - Nor West nor East only Islam is the best” became the banner of the uprising, which many in Kashmir believe was inspired by the fall of Soviet Union, a key ally of India and formation of Islamic Republic of Iran.

“These joints acted as the places of evil and symbolization of normalcy in Kashmir,” said Javaid Mir, one of the founding members of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, which is now split into three factions. Mir is the chairperson of JKLF’s Haqeeq (original) splinter group. “To generate a scoop for a mass movement, cinemas and bars were essentially the first targets.”

In 1984, Anthony Quin’s, ‘Omar Mukhtar- Lion of the Desert’ was shown in Srinagar’s Regal Cinema. The impact of the film was so strong that after watching it, Mir started shouting pro-freedom slogans along with those who were inside the theater in Lal Chowk. The film was taken off next day.

“It was a film which showed us the way forward,” said Mir, who was one of the most celebrated militants of his era and the only guerilla to make it on the front page of the ‘Time’ magazine. But these days, Mir pitches for a non-violent solution of Kashmir dispute and frequently visits the newspaper offices to give his own press handouts.

Despite the ban from Allah Tigers, cinemas continued to operate giving a blind eye to writing, now literally on the wall. By the middle of 1989, the mood on streets of Kashmir had changed. Thousands were participating in daily protests against the government and the Indian state. Many of Iftikhar’s friends were part of these processions. He was skeptical. His dreams were shattering; his helplessness caged him in his room. Iftikhar did not know which side to take.

The growing protests started to turn violent with killings, carnage, strikes and curfews becoming norm of the day. Finally, on December 31, 1989, his favorite hangout called it curtains, after months of losses, growing public outcry and death threats to owners. The following two decades of mayhem saw thousands of people lose their lives. The cinemas, once the source of entertainment, became home to Indian security forces and notorious detention centers.

The barbwires on the windows, the bunkers on the gates and bullet torn walls of cinemas became the poster of Kashmir’s new reality. In mid-nineties when militancy was still strong in Kashmir, government tried to open 3 out of 10 cinemas once operating in Srinagar. The move was aimed to revive the cinema as a sign of normalcy.

But a grenade blast outside the Regal in Lal Chowk in which one man lost his life, managed to keep the attendance in these cinemas restricted. After the incident, the government immediately closed the Regal. Neelam and Broadway, the two other cinemas, which reopened continued to run amid tight security. The losses and change in public mood made Broadway owners to turn their cinema into a hotel. Neelam operators also shelved the project after 2010 summer uprising in which over 120 people lost their lives and Kashmir remained on boil for over six months.

“The subject of cinema is like digging the old graves for nothing. The topic has the potential to take many inside the graves,” said a cinema owner, wishing anonymity. He refused to comment further on the issue. Some ticket blackers, who were once social outcasts turned to be famed militant commanders after armed conflict broke out in early 1990. Later many of them turned renegades and much later political activists of pro-India parties.

Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani said the government has nothing to do with the revival of cinemas in Kashmir. “If someone wants to open a cinema he can,” Wani said as he recalled that his last cinema experience in Kashmir was Tezaab, a super hit Hindi film starring Anil Kapoor. The film gave Bollywood a new superstar in Madhuri Dixit.

Iftikhar, on the other side, drifted into the haunted corners of the state run radio station, where he joined as a broadcaster. He was lucky to have a job, but it was dangerous. He had few choices as family compulsions were too strong to be ignored. “Working for State broadcast in those days meant you are taking an allegiance with India and are a part of propaganda machine,” said Iftikhar who was abducted by militants and was asked to leave the job, the threat he defied.

As militants released Iftikhar, he migrated to Jammu, like so many others did during that time. Being a Muslim Kashmiri, he was never entitled to the status of Pandit refugees who also left Valley; he survived and they never returned. Iftikhar now lives in Kashmir, stills works for Radio Kashmir and is happily married. On his off days, he watches films on cable, but misses the aura and enjoyment he was a part of in those sweet 80s. “Going to cinema was a taboo in my teenage,” said Iftikhar who comes from a middle-class family where social value system is a cultural necessity. “But families knew about our night outs and used to accept silly excuses for the delay.”

Two decades later, Kashmiri families still love Indian cinema, in fact the regular strikes, curfews and violence has made it stronger component of normal Kashmiri family as they spend most of their times glued in front of television and discuss Bollywood grapevine over dinners.

“The only shift is 70 mm experience has shrink to 21-inch TV screens, where local cable TV without any rights plays new releases on weekends,” said Iftikhar who finds it difficult to see a return of cinema in Kashmiri culture as the World Wide Web and DVDs have changed the dynamics the way films are watched now. “The new generation can hardly relate to cinemas as a culture here.”

Now in his early 40s, Iftikhar has never been to a cinema in last two decades, though he travelled outside the state many a times. “I don’t feel going to cinema anymore,” said Iftikhar who occasionally as joke to his friends says, he was 20 when he went to sleep, and when he woke up from the nightmare, he was already 40.

Recalling his youth, Iftikhar still manages a smile as he puffs his Gold Flake cigarettes. “Hardly few girls used to visit cinema in those days and you will consider yourself very lucky if a young woman sits next to you, while Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz go cozy on the silver screen.” Apart from girls, the film posters, their starts and timing of the release were some major crowd pullers in the pre-militancy Kashmir. “Sex aur maar dhaad say barpur (Film is full of sex and action)” used to be one of the favorite crowd pulling lines. There was also a specific group of filmgoers who used to watch movies of Dara Singh, a legendary Indian film actor with fanaticism. “All walks of people used go to cinema. Well-off families used to watch a lot of Hollywood films, particularly the western films of Client Eastwood,” he said.

There was also one major factor to bring massive crowds to cinemas – winter. Iftikhar remembers a December of mid 80s when heavy snowfall snapped power supply for over a month and brought Kashmir to a standstill.

Firdous, a popular downtown cinema, which had bad reputation of playing old and outdated films ran houseful for that whole month as people got bored in their homes. “I remember sitting near the window of my house when a friend called me and said Firdous is playing a 60’s film and is running houseful and he has a ticket for the night show,” said Iftikhar who still remembers the joy on his friend’s face. “Cinema was the only form of entertainment. Now we don’t have it nor we miss it,” he said as he asks his colleague to get him a DVD of a latest film, which will have lot of fight, but very little skin.