A Tragedy of Immense Proportions

In March 2009, Lal Ded Maternity Hospital records the highest number of infant deaths in any month in its history

Deliveries go wrong in Lal Ded

Srinagar: Eleven newborns died in Lal Ded (LD) hospital during March, allegedly due to mishandling of deliveries and wrong use of vacuum extraction method by the hospital staff.

According to medical record section of LD hospital, 11 death certificates were issued to families whose newly born babies died in the hospital in the previous month.

“Senior doctors who want to spend most of their time in private clinics use the easy method of vaccum extraction for deliveries. This method, at times, results in the death of newborns,” hospital sources said.

The medical record section of the hospital reveals that from March 3 to March 27, 11 newborns died during operative delivery or the normal delivery process.
Hospital sources said 11 deaths a month is the highest for any month in the history of hospital. “It is an abnormal trend. Government should take a serious note of it,” said a doctor, Shabir Ahmed.

While hospital authorities attribute the “abnormal” death rate to the shortage of staff and huge rush of complicated patients from peripheries, sources said doctors remain negligent while handling patients.

The 500-bed LD hospital is the biggest maternity hospital in Kashmir.
Hospital records reveal that everyday around 350 to 400 patients visit the hospital’s Out Patient Department of which 250 are obstetric and 150 gynecological patients.

The records reveal that everyday about 115 patients are admitted in Indoor Patients Department with about 80 obstetric and 35 gynecological cases. According to the records, the hospital performs 45 major and 30 minor surgeries everyday.

“About 20 normal deliveries and 40 to 45 lower segments caesarian sections are performed daily,” said a senior doctor at the hospital wishing not to be named. “The hospital has a good laboratory backup, well established radiology department, laundry CSSD and the blood bank. Despite this patient care has come down drastically.”

The doctor held the successive State governments responsible for the “virtual mess” in the hospital. “The hospital is a victim of lobbyism. We have a lobbies of paramedic staff and doctors. They are always at loggerheads. This, coupled with negligent attitude of the hospital staff, is severely telling on the patient care,” the senior doctor said.

The doctor said that the recent decision of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of transferring the medical superintendent of the hospital won’t do any wonders.
“The chief minister should have transferred the entire paramedic staff and made senior doctors more accountable. Private practice of doctors should also be banned like it is in SKIMS,” he said.

Medical Superintendent of LD Hospital Dr Mohammad Shafi termed the 11 death in the March as an “abnormal trend”. He said the matter would be investigated. “I will see what the cause of these deaths is and take appropriate action if necessary. The hospital is overcrowded with patients. The rush at times is unmanageable.”

However, Principal Government Medical College Dr Sahida Mir said vaccum extraction could not be the cause death of baby. "I will find out the reason why there had been 11 deaths in the month of March,” she said. Dr Mir said LD being the referral hospital receives all complicated patients from peripheries.

“Most of the times these patients are handled by untrained people in the peripheries and reach the LD hospital at a later stage. If a mother is in labour for long, we use vaccum extraction in the interest of the patients. It cannot cause the death of a baby but can cause the head injury to the baby,” she said.

(Rising Kashmir)

Bridging the Industry-to-Industry Divide in J&K

Mehmood discusses dilemma in reconciling needs of vocal businessmen with rural activists on industrial policy

(Mr. Mehmood-ur-Rashid, mid-30's, lives and works in Srinagar. His commentary is published by the Rising Kashmir.)

Talking industry

Sectoral typology of economy into Agriculture, Industry and Service becomes really beneficial when each of them contributes to the overall economic health of a nation independently and in visible forms. It still benefits if the problems related to each sector are specifically targeted. The typology is denuded of any benefit when people lose the consciousness of being a part of any particular sector.

This has happened to Kashmir. Our failure to institutionalise these sectors of economy, and deepen the understanding of how things specifically work in a particular sector, has resulted in our economy becoming an undifferentiated mass of random economic efforts. Our farmer works in the field or takes care of his orchard but he is least informed about his sectoral belonging. Our Small Scale Industry (SSI) unit holder has the mindset of an ordinary shopkeeper and our government employee could not give a damn to what this Service means. Talking in economic terms might have become a matter of little pride for our ‘vocal businessmen’ and ‘rural activists’, but fact of the matter is that we participate in a terminology laden economic discourse without being serious about what all this means. The change will begin to appear only when while talking Industry we mean Industry.

Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) organised an interactive leadership briefing session titled, ‘Kashmir’s Industrial Growth and Development – The Road Ahead’. The organisers of the event explained why the industrial sector in Kashmir hasn’t picked up well, the way it did elsewhere in India; inadequacies in the Industrial policies that were introduced from time to time and what industrial sector in Kashmir expects from current dispensation. Dr Drabu made his point by alluding towards the status of industries in Kashmir and rubbished the very idea of having an Industrial Policy for Kashmir. He instead emphasised on having a strident Enterprise Policy. Omar Abdullah, as politicians always do, brought in the talk of Sangarsh Samiti and the diabolical precedent that the traders in Jammu set by cooperating with the rightwing Hindu parties, to sustain the agitation in Jammu and prolong the economic blockade of the valley. An entrepreneur, an economist and then the politician; all three expressed their mind on how things stand in Kashmir and how is the Road Ahead.

Being always grumbling about the policies of government and asking more in terms of sops and subsidies has been the hallmark of business community in Kashmir; although they cannot be blamed for that because they think and do things in a particular mindscape that has developed in Kashmir over many decades. Further they tend to draw comparisons between how governments in other states of India bolster industries in their respective areas and how Kashmir is being ignored by the central government. In this kind of a situation Shakeel Qalander is absolutely right in highlighting the inadequacies of earlier policies and talk openly about what is needed by this sector if it has to grow.

All this granted, we need to gear up for a real change. Dr Drabu’s reading may actually act as a point of departure from our fossilised approach towards industrial growth in Kashmir. Who knows when the government at Delhi gets really serious to infuse life into Kashmir industries, and Drabu has his wish granted, but if people in the industrial activity give heed to this suggestion they can turn it into an Enterprise Initiative. If governments have policies they are only to strengthen an already present public initiative or to create one. Since the political construct of Kashmir is never going to allow people to grow beyond the confines that Indian colonial cartography has permanently drawn, expecting government to come to our rescue is actually barking the wrong tree.

How the political eye of India gazes at Kashmir was well demonstrated by last year’s economic blockade by Rightwing Hindu parties in Jammu. The way our arm was twisted is proof enough that sky is not the limit, but the limit is our sky. Omar might have his own reasons to talk about Sangrash Samiti and his disgust with the big houses that once pitched their industrial tents in the lands of Kashmir; nevertheless, he has underlined the brutal truth about Kashmir’s relation with India.

Now that our sky is limited how can we keep flying till we actually dream of a horizon! May be one way of doing it is to make our younger generation conscious about the importance of economy in the overall growth of a nation and also equip them with the knowledge of how to do it here and how to explore possibilities elsewhere. While we are here we can press for concrete things like making land available easily for industrial activity, reclaiming the land that is registered against someone who has not started any industrial activity from past some years, making it compulsory for government department to buy the products manufactured here, and also connecting the companies like IRCON, ERA, and other big construction companies that are working in Kashmir with the local industries. Beyond Kashmir our top industrial houses can collaborate with the industries in India and beyond. That way they can expand their markets significantly. If we cannot stretch the limits here we can step into open lands, at least.

Reviving Agricultural Sector in Kashmir Requires Change in Priorities

An editorial in the Rising Kashmir puts emphasis on money, but equally or even more important is a change in public perception about the importance of agrarian economy on alleviating poverty in rural countryside of the State

Reviving agro-economy

Now that the new government has started taking measures for reviving the ailing economy and is trying to improving all the essential sectors of the State’s economy, one of the sectors that needs more than mere focus is agriculture. There is now a unison agreement that agriculture development is impossible if timely and adequate credit is not available to the farming community.

In a recently “State Credit Seminar for 2009-10” organized by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development(NABARD) in Jammu, it came to light that banks and financial institutions in the State need to tap the vast potential in agriculture and rural development sector. Speakers at the seminar including the Minster for Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs were apt to point out that Credit Deposit ratio is much below the levels prevalent in other states of India, besides the schemes that have been formulated for the uplift of agri-sector of the State are not being pursued by nationalized banks operating within Jammu and Kashmir. This directly has affected the agriculture production as a cycle of savings and investments has not been generated to adequate levels by making credit available to farmers.

The formation of Farmers Club has not received any focus from either NABARD or the government. The formation of Farmers Club in every village on the pattern of other States would help the agri-community to get proper extension service, technological know-how and credit facility.

The need for opening Compressed Atmosphere Stores and Cold Chain Facilities for increasing the fresh fruit life was also emphasized by speakers during the deliberations of the seminar. The credit potential for priority sector in the State by Reserve Bank of India has been projected at Rs 2315.65 crore including Rs 536.17 for agriculture, Rs 648.66 for non farm sector, Rs 59.87 crore for agro and food processing and Rs 12.12 crore for micro credit sector. Now this sounds adequate given the credit absorption capacity in the state economy and in primary sector like agriculture. NABARD has also been asked to help the State in development of vital infrastructure pertaining rural economy. Besides the agricultural bank has been advised to come forward and provide safeguard to farmers through insurance cover to crops in collaboration with the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS).

Now the question remains that is this enough to revive the rural economy of the State more particularly the Valley given the level of existing infrastructure available in rural areas? Definitely not, as sectors like irrigation, flood protection, rural drinking water, roads, bridges, schools, primary health centers, agriculture clinics, and host of other areas need the push for bringing the rural economy within acceptable levels.

KPSS Holds an Exhibition Displaying Photos of Desecrated Temples in Kashmir

Sanjay's organization hosted an exhibition that drew audience from all major separatist organizations 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.)


KASHMIRI PANDIT SANGARSH SAMITI (KPSS)
Sathu Barbar Shah, Srinagar, Kashmir - 190 001


Press Release


From the past so many years it has been the primary agenda of the KPSS to protect the religious places and its properties from the unscrupulous elements from being desecrated or alienated by way of deeds and agreements. And to this effect KPSS is already pleading the cause before the Government and its functionaries so that the identity of the Kashmiri Pandits could be saved in practical terms. But till date nothing positive is yielded from their side except the hollow promises and lip sympathy. In addition to that some Non-State Subjects having very good nexus with some locals, Government officials and blessings of some high profile politicians are alienating the properties of our religious places and institutions to mint their fortunes and vanishing the culture and identity of the Kashmiri Pandits in particular and the age old heritage of a Kashmiri in general.

As this is a well known fact that after the mass exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit Community from the Valley in 1990, the worship places were the most neglected ones. Neither the successive Governments never tried to protect them nor a single word came from the local or Separatists leadership side, even after our repeated appeals through press or one to one meetings.

Worship places play a big role as the identity of a Community and so without these religious places the identity of the Kashmiri Pandit Community is under a big question mark, as unfortunately some person’s within the Kashmiri Society are working in hand with some vested interest persons to vanish the existence of this miniscule community from the Valley for their petty political gains and interests and the blame is put on all the Kashmiri Society. So we feel that it is duty of all common citizens of the Valley to contribute in their own ways and means to protect these religious places belonging to the minority community.

Today’s photo exhibition under the theme “PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS PLACES (Challenges & Responsibilities)” is an attempt to protect the religious places with the active support from the Muslim Majority Community living in the Valley, obviously, which is our last hope.

So we appeal who so ever is part of this Kashmiri Society whether it be the local Leadership (main stream or separatists), Civil Societies, Intellectuals and Religious Scholars to come forward to denounce these acts which cause the moral and religious imbalance in the Society and impress upon the general public to protect the worship places belonging to Minority Community.

Paranoia Runs Deep in Kashmir, Especially When it Comes to Dealing with the Success of a Miniscule Minority

It is unfortunate that some Kashmiris display characteristic insecurity in coming to grips with the success of a handful of minority Pandits, forgetting conveniently that significantly higher proportion of the majority community - intellectual or otherwise - work for the Indian State, including many Separatists

(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.)

Kabul, Kandhar and Kashmir

Mohan Lal (1812-1877) was an ethnic Kashmiri Pandit who pursued a career in British intelligence during first Afghan war; it was the time when the East India Company was relieved from managing India and the country was taken (or enslaved) into the direct domain of the RAJ. Mohan Lal was less likely to go with the freedom struggle because his father, a high-caste Brahmin, had also participated in a British mission to Afghanistan in 1808. He, therefore, went with the family tradition.

Credible historians have recorded that in early nineteenth century Mohan Lal was the first Kashmiri to speak fluent English as he had graduated with first-class degree from Delhi English College that was founded by Charles Travelyan. It was Travelyan who had spotted Mohan Lal and sensed a spark of 'coercive diplomacy' in this dynamic Kashmiri young man. He had so impressed Sir Alexander Burnes that when Burnes was appointed British Resident in Kabul he invited Mohan Lal to become his partner in the mission.

Mohan Lal assumed the charge of Mir Munshi in 1831 amidst the Afghan resistance against the installation of Shah Shuja, a British prop. "In Kabul, he (Mohan Lal) was the Resident's ears and eyes, his silent partner and agile fixer, capable of becoming a fly on the wall, or a figure in the carpet," writes Karl Meyer and Shareen Brysac, who have jointly authored an exhaustive account of South and Central Asian conflicts. Pandit Mohan Lal's knack for counterintelligence was superb. He had engineered defection within Afghan warriors during the famous British siege of Ghazni. Historical accounts suggest he had long before recruited a defector at Ghazni who would later tip the British troops about a less walled up gate (other two gates were impregnable) that could be easily stormed.

When Kandhar fell and things were calm under Shah Shuja, Mohan Lal got reports about a clan chief Abdullah Khan having vowed to slay Burnes. The Kashmiri spy informed his mentor in advance but Burnes ignored the warning and stayed put in his Kabul mansion; two mornings later the British officer and his visiting younger brother Charles were hacked to death in the Resident House. Later, Mohan Lal would organize a sort of “operation clean-up” at the behest of Sir William Macnagten to eliminate the resisting Afghan chiefs. He would distribute Rs 10000 for the head of each of the “rebel Afghan chief”. Two chiefs including Abdullah Khan, who had slain Burnes, were assassinated during this “operation”. This too did not work to the Empire’s advantage and Mohan Lal could only ensure his own safety; he survived the disaster of British retreat that saw many bigwigs dead including Macnagten, returned to Delhi where he died almost unnoticed in 1877.

More than 170 years after Mohan Lal believed he could facilitate a British victory in Kabul, another bright Kashmiri Professor Amitabh Mattoo visited the war-ravaged Afghanistan in the spring of 2008. Mattoo, then Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, was received in Kabul by Afghan President Hamid Karzai with official protocol on 16 April 2008, two weeks after Professor Mattoo had been nominated as Government of India’s nominee on the Board of Directors of India-Afghanistan Foundation (IAF) for two years.

Besides Karzai, Professor Mattoo had a long chat with the Afghan government’s National Security Advisor, Dr Zalmay Rasool whose great grandfather was the last Afghan governor in Jammu and Kashmir. It is interesting to note that in 1831 a Kashmiri academic reached Kabul with a mission and earned a significant if short-lived victory for the Empire and in 2008 another Kashmiri academic landed in Kabul to bolster India’s policy toehold in Afghanistan. Though known in the annals of history as a spymaster, Mohan Lal was a ‘principled intriguer’ who would advise his mentors to the best of his knowledge about Afghan resistance to British occupation.
Burnes ignored his advice and lost his life; Macnagten put down his word of caution against a withdrawal pact with Akbar Khan, son of the deposed ruler Dost Mohammad, and was shot dead with the pistol he had gifted Akbar sometime back; Macnagten’s body was dismembered, his head borne like a trophy and his corpse impaled on a meat hook. Not just this, in all around 12000 British troops and agents died in the much quoted “Death March”, which Mohan Lal had opposed. British did not listen to Mohan Lal and the war went wrong; we don’t know if Professor Mattoo will follow Mohan Lal’s principle, of being honest and accurate while assessing Afghan situation for the mentors, during his tenure as India nominee in India-Afghan Foundation.

Indeed Professor Mattoo and Mohan Lal represent two different eras of Kashmiri disempowerment. While Mohan Lal earned Kashmir a broader mention in the elite war history of British Empire, the community is keenly watching Professor Mattoo. Will he forge a grand reconciliation between Muslim and Pandit sections of the same ethnic stock of Kashmiri society or allow himself to become just an extension of Mohan Lal’s nineteenth century network of secret agents, more politely called as diplomats.

Tailpiece

Speaking in a seminar about Pandit heritage on 31 March 2009, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Chairman of JKLF, advised Kashmiri Pandits against collaboration with the government. “As a student of history I should say it is dangerous for minorities in conflict societies to be affiliated with the government.” Unlike their Muslim natives Pandits don’t lack intellectual capital but in order to stage a social comeback they should listen to this vital piece of advice from a non-intellectual Kashmiri liberal.

Life in a Refugee Camp

Aditi details health issues among displaced Kashmir Pandit women languishing in refugee camps for nearly two decades

(Ms. Aditi Bhaduri's bio sketch is available from the webmaster.)

In Jammu's Camps, no Relief

Usha Pandita, 45, feels tired even after the smallest of chores. But that's not unusual for her. She suffers from Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). For her, it all began with abdominal pain, which she initially disregarded as routine until it steadily increased. Usha then started to notice a heavy discharge and the feeling of being perpetually run down. That was when she visited the doctor. Tests confirmed she was suffering from PID - the inflammation of the organs in the pelvic region because of infection. It is during menstruation particularly that the uterus becomes more susceptible to this condition caused by unhygienic conditions.

Usha is one of the 10,000 residents of the Purkhoo migrant camp, one of the several camps set up on the outskirts of Jammu for the Kashmiri Pandit community forced to flee the Kashmir Valley when militancy gained ground in the 1990s. From Kupwara, Usha and her family made their way to Purkhoo, which they have called home since 1990. Years have gone by and even militancy is on the wane, yet time seems to have stood still for the inhabitants of the camps. Living in a one-room pigeon hole with a family of four can be trying in itself but the lack of sanitation has only added to the woes. For women, in particular, it is horrifying.

The Purkhoo camp has four phases and each phase has around 300 to 500 rooms. There are 10 toilets each for men and women. So there is one toilet per 150 men/women. The water supply lasts only an hour each day. Every time Usha, who lives in Phase I, goes to the toilet, she walks about 150 metres. What's more, she has to carry her wash water along. But there is only that much water she can carry. On numerous occasions the water is found insufficient to keep both herself and her surroundings clean.. It is because of these abysmal facilities that she ended up with PID.
Veena Pandita, 40, also lives in the same deplorable environs of Purkhoo. She too has acute PID. Dr Indu Kaul, a well-known Jammu-based gynaecologist treating these women, explains that the symptoms for PID include abdominal pain accompanied by heavy discharge and backache. She finds that in the case of women like Usha and Veena, PID continues for years. Usha, for instance, has been suffering from it for the last four years. The medicines don't really help, as the toilet she visits roughly four times a day continues to be poorly equipped.

Unfortunately, even the medication includes heavy doses of antibiotics, the intake of which has major side effects. When PID is deep rooted then surgery is usually the final recourse. Usha has been recommended surgery but her financial condition doesn't permit the procedure. "We still have four 'kanals' (one kanal equals 605 sq. yards) left in Kupwara. We had our own 'chashm' (well) there," she recalls wistfully. She adds, "I did not have to go to a toilet that was used by hundreds of others there."

Purkhoo's water supply, too, is contaminated. Residents complain that they have to replace their utensils every few months as they get coated with a white sediment. The pipes leak at multiple locations and so germs and dirt merge with the water. Near the toilets at Phase I, there is a water hole from which people draw out water to flush. But not only is the water filthy, it is even difficult to draw it out, especially when there is a long line of people waiting for their turn to use the toilet. Although help has been hired to clean the facilities once every two days, because of insufficient water and the sheer number of users, it is impossible to maintain a basic level of hygience. Moreover, there is no electricity in the toilets, so going after dark is another hazard, especially for the women.

That's why the maximum number of cases of PID in the city come from these camps. In fact, according to Dr Kaul, while the national average of PID is six to eight per cent, the cases reported from the camps can be 15 to 20 per cent, which is extremely high. The most affected age groups are the adolescents and those above 35 years. In adolescents, chronic PID can lead to a loss of fertility, so the increasing trend is cause for alarm.

Sarla Kaul, 28, who lives in the Mishriwalla camp, a kilometre from Purkhoo, suffers from Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). The sanitation situation at Mishriwalla is worse than at Purkhoo as toilets for both men and women are common here and no one comes to clean them. Many toilets are simply holes in the ground. Sarla has UTI, caused by poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions that make her vulnerable to other infections too. Lately, she has been suffering from menstrual dysfunction, with heavy blood loss and pain around her abdominal area.

Expectant women are particularly vulnerable to UTI, as pregnancy causes hormonal changes that lead to the relaxation of the urethra, which if exposed to poor sanitary conditions is quick to contract infection. UTI leads to anaemia, itching and swelling, which could eventually endanger the life of the child. It also often retards the growth of the foetus and results in stunted babies or those with low birth weight. That was the case of the baby Rajni Raina, who is in her mid-twenties and lives in Purkhoo Camp's Phase II, gave birth too. Not surprisingly, Rajni had chronic UTI during her pregnancy. Once again, Dr Kaul points out that while the national average of UTI is about 10 to 15 per cent, it is about 20 to 30 per cent in these camps.

Besides this there are other water-borne diseases prevalent here. Shetu Pandita, 17, of Purkhoo, has been ailing from a recurring hepatitis for the last five years. As has Puneet Bhatt, 16, of Mishriwalla - since he was 10, in fact. According to the World Health Organization, 80 per cent of such cases are caused by lack of safe water and sanitation. Five of the 10 top diseases of children are also related to water and sanitation. According to Dr K.L. Chowdhury, of Jammu, Hepatitis A and E are common in the camps. Again, in pregnant women, Hepatitis is particularly dangerous as it can put the lives of both the mother and child at risk.

The Third South Asian Conference on Sanitation held in New Delhi recently called for according priority to sanitation and reiterated that sanitation and safe drinking water are basic rights. Such declarations need to be translated into a reality if life is to improve for women like Usha and Veena, who are rendered without proper homes because of the politics of division and hate.

Delinking Azadi and Self-Empowerment

Abid notes that "excuses" that were made to justify unexpectedly high voter turnover during the previous State election do not apply to the Parliamentary election and hence a repeat performance would be bad news for Separatists

(Mr. Abid Bashir Wani, 27, was born in Srinagar. He attended the National School, Srinagar, and went for college studies to the Government Degree College, Srinagar. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Commerce from the University of Kashmir and then finished his Post Graduation in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Kashmir branch. Mr. Wani was trained in journalism by his uncle (mother's brother) who is the head of the Jammu and Kashmir bureau of a national weekly magazine and was writing for a Pune based paper for some time. His own break came at the Rising Kashmir, where he joined as a staff reporter in 2008. In his leisure time he likes to read books and listen to music.)

One More Election

Remember last summer, when everybody – young and old, men and women - even the toddlers, joined the chorus of Azadi. People flooded streets, and millions gathered in the grounds, demanding freedom. Such was the intensity of the sentiment that youth, especially teenagers, climbed the 500 meter tall cellular network phone towers. The sight of and Lal Chowk’s Clock Tower, with young boys unfurling the green flags is an enduring memory in the public mind. That was really an expression of deep anger against India.

At that point in time political observers named it resurgence of freedom movement. Hurriyat Conference-backed Coordination Committee called the shots all around the Valley and it seemed that the State administration had lost control over people. It seemed that they had almost surrendered, not before the pro-freedom leadership, but surely before the people’s power. Slogans echoed from every corner of the valley. The entire space reverberated with the slogans depicting pain, anguish, and an intense desire to the the political condition of the valley. More than sixty people received bullets on their chests. And above 1500 were left injured; some of them still being treated for their injuries.

It was followed by undeclared curfews, aimed at scuttling the chance of people gathering at any place to carry a freedom procession. Here, State administration succeeded in getting the control back over the situation. People were confined to their houses. When the renewed sentiment of freedom and undeclared curfew were playing hide and seek, Election Commission of India (ECI) was thinking of conducting election in the state. ECI was in a fix, unable to decide whether to hold elections or not. It was for the first time in the history of strife-torn State that ECI held more than 10 rounds of talks with the political parties, State Administration and the State Police Chief to gauge the mood, and assess the situation in totality before taking any decision.

The amount of anger that people had displayed indicated that Kashmir would hardly witness 5 to 10 per cent voting, and the election boycott call given by the CC would prove more than successful. Political parties, especially National Conference and Congress expressed their willingness to participate in the elections and anxiously impressed upon ECI to announce the elections. People’s Democratic Party was the exception. This party was reluctant, and wanted ECI to postpone the elections. PDP emphasised that there was an acute sense of alienation among the people following economic blockade enforced on Kashmir by right-wing forces in Jammu. PDP also wanted ECI to take into account the situation where Kashmir was still wailing over the 60 deaths, making an exercise like election a cruel cut inflicted on the minds of people. However, ECI gravitated towards NC and Congress, satisfying itself by the fool-proof security cover promised by the security agencies. Finally ECI announced seven-phase poll schedule placing Srinagar in the 7th phase as it was the hub of protests. Bandipore district of north Kashmir was the first to go for the polls. All eyes were set on Bandipore, gossip lounges in Srinagar predicted that no polling would take place. Just weeks before truckloads of fruit, rice and vegetables had arrived from this district to Srinagar in a bid to help people fight the effects of economic blockade.

But reverse happened. Bandipore registered 70 per cent voting. This deflated the balloon of boycott call given by pro-freedom leadership. Though boycott was not altogether absent but voting overpowered it. Same happened in the subsequent phases. Srinagar witnessed 21 per cent voting, highest ever after armed rebellion erupted in 1990.

The point to be noted is that those who voted were the same people who were part of freedom marches, especially youngsters; and after exercising their franchise, they maintained: “We stand very much for the freedom of Kashmir. We voted for jobs, better road connectivity, electricity and other issues that pertain daily life.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made this point as his poll plank. In his all election rallies, he stated that Kashmir issue and elections should be delinked. “These are two different things,” he emphasised. J&K witnessed historic turn out and zero violence. PDP won 21, NC 28 and Congress 17 seats. BJP won 11 owing to the radicalization of public opinion in Jammu in the wake of Amarnath land row. Rest of the seats was pocketed by independent candidates. PDP tried its every effort to persuade Congress for marriage but to no avail. Had it not withdrawn its support from the Congress earlier, there was no problem for Congress to enter into alliance with PDP once again. But memories of “last minute ditch” by PDP were very much afresh in the Congress mind. Since NC emerged as the largest seat wining party, talks of forming NC-Congress government gained pitch and New Delhi finally consented for forming NC-Congress coalition, but with the condition that NC’s chief ministerial candidate should be Omar Abdullah and not his father, Farooq Abdullah.

The senior Abdullah accepted the demand and the deal was done.

After more than 100 days behind us Kashmir can better judge how the politicians, who made tall promises, have performed. The same people who flooded the streets and voted for the resolution of their basic problems have to face another election. This time it is for the Indian Parliament. For voting in the State Assembly elections, they had some kind of reason, but what reason do they have voting for a person who wants to become a Member of Parliament. People should think over it and evolve a consensus about how to deal with elections, after all sacrifices, sentiment and accepting the Indian constitution by casting votes can’t go together.

Public-Private Partnership for Cleaning up Nageen Lake is Long Overdue

The state that enjoys per-capita consumption rate among the highest in India can afford to contribute finances towards societal issues like environmental degradation

Operation Clean Up for Nageen Lake Begins

Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries Saturday offered to adopt the Brari Nambal lagoon to help clean it up. This was a announced by the President of The KCCI, Dr Mubeen Shah at the inaugural function of Operation Clean up organized by the Nageen Lake Conservation Organization (NLCO).

Principal Secretary to Chief Minster, Khurshid A Ganai who was the chief guest on the occasion appreciated the work done by NLCO and said, Saving the environment is not the job of the government alone, it requires a joint effort on part of all sections of the society from the School children to business men to religious leaders. This is what NLCO has achieved. I visited the peripheries and Pokhri-bal and the NLCO has done a commendable work by removing the polythenes from natural springs in the area. Referring to the failure of the previous ban on polythene which had been put in place by the SMC, he said. The previous ban failed because there were no alternatives available. Polythene cannot be banned successfully until and unless there are alternatives available. There need to be effective alternatives like Jute bags and paper bags to replace them.

The Registrar of Kashmir University, Prof. Syed Fayaz, who was representing the university at the function said, The Dal and Nigeen lakes are our neighbours and we will extend all support to help save these lakes. The Kashmir University has always taken a pro active role in saving the environment he said and added that KU will support all initiatives which are taken in this regard. Our VC Prof Riyaz Punjabi has already banned polythene in the campus and we are hopeful to take more steps in future which will help save our valuable heritage, he informed the audience . He informed the audience that Kashmir University has already formed a core group to save the precious body of the Dal lake and the group which has closely worked with LAWDAÂ is to submit its report to Vice chancellor soon, we will do every thing to save Dal lake which is our identity, he said.

The function had been organized for last ten days. The volunteers from National service scheme. Directorate of sports and physical education , and members of literary and cultural club participated in today event besides many schools and collages of the valley .

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mubeen Shah said, we should make countries like Singapore our model, where nothing goes waste and waste management is an industry in itself. The need of the hour is to emulate them and start industries which deal with waste. We also need to encourage industries which can provide us with an alternatives to polythene like paper bag or cloth bag industries. Mufti Nazir Hashmi spoke about the importance of preserving the environment in light of Islamic values and teachings.

Commissioner, Srinagar Municipality, Khawaja Farooq Renzoo said. The SMC has played a very a pro-active role in helping clean up the Nigeen and we had involved the full team this time. But we need full support from civil society only then can we change the city and make it among the best in the world He further said, If we can clean up Nigeen Lake in these few days we can save even the Anchar Lake. All it needs is efforts from our side

Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, who was the guest of honor on the occasion said that banning polythene is a matter of will, People who take refuge by saying that banning polythene will increase unemployment need to be told that even narcotics supports a large number of people but that does not justify its existence.

(Kashmir Observer)

Making Borders Irrelevant by Reviving the "Silk Route"

Willayat says that such a revival must also take into consideration the needs of people in the Ladakh region

(Mr. Willayat Ali, 28, was born in Hagnis, Kargil district, and did his schooling from Jawahir Navodiya Vidyalaya, Kargil. He completed his Bachelor's degree from the Maulana Azad Memorial College, Jammu, and post-graduation in history from the University of Jammu. He subsequently received M. Phil. from the Department of Strategic and Regional Studies(DSRS), University of Jammu, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree in the same department.)

Reviving Silk Route in J&K

Silk Route has served as a confluence of civilizations and the reopening of the old route will make Jammu and Kashmir a favorite spot of tourism. The major roads which connect Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the world are Jammu-Sialkot, Poonch-Rawalkot, Uri-Muzafarabad, Kargil-Skardu, Leh- Mansarovar and Leh- Yarkand. A casual look at history also reveals that these routes contributed greatly to economy, cultural and political development of Jammu and Kashmir as it known for their historical and cultural contacts with outside region-Central Asia, Xinjiang and Tibet. The fact that the section of "Silk Route", ran through this region, highlights the historical, economic and cultural significance of the various routes. All that need to be done is to learn from history and re-establish the cultural and economic contacts along these roads and will revive the Silk Route. Opening of these roads will totally change the nature of present interactions between the various communities of these regions that include Jammu, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan and Leh Kargil.

Subsequently, this process will provide positive inputs to the Indo-Pakistan peace process, Sino- Indian relation and also further contact with Central Asia through land route. Muzaffarabad-uri Road which opened in 2005 was the biggest confidence building measures between India and Pakistan relating to Jammu and Kashmir. The opening of this route for trade recently would benefits to apple industry, shawl and wooden furniture industry, since 80% people are engaged in these sectors. As it will be seen subsequently, the Kashmir valley has adequate goods, which could be exported successfully across the LoC. Poonch- Rawalakot Road was also opened in 2006 for divided families. A beginning has been made but this need to be consolidated and expand further. Beside trade, tourism is another important sector in the Kashmir valley and this region could also become an important hub for educational activities. Politically, it would also allow both sets of Kashmiris to appreciate the levels of political freedom, governance and security issues on the other-side.

Another route Jammu-Sialkot is yet to be open. In terms of trade transaction, economy, divided families or history, the linkages of Jammu with its neighboring regions - Punjab, Mirpur and Muzaffarabad can't be ignored. The Jammu-Sialkot links both road and rail in particular has great significance. Before independence, this road was the primary link for the people for this region with the outside world and the railway line from Lahore to Jammu ended in the heart of Jammu city. If there are train services like - Thar Express between Munabao and Kokhrapar and Samjhauta Express between Wagah and Atari why not have Chenab Express between Jammu and Sialkot.

Government of India is also considering the opening of Kargil-Skardu road. However, the government seems to be reluctant to take any decision over the opening of this road; though the leaders make promises during the elections to maintain their vote banks but they forget the given words once they come to power. The LoC not only divided the Paharis in Rajouri and Poonch and the Kashmiris in the valley, but has also divided the Baltis in Kargil and Skardu regions who would love to visit the other side and see their relatives. Skardu is 130 km away from Kargil. If the road is open, it would take just five to six hours to reach Skardu. Today it takes five to six days to reach Skardu from Kargil via Delhi. People of this region from Leh to Gilgit, believe that they are distinct, historically and politically. Geographi- cally, Ladakh and Northern Areas comprise two third (78%) of the entire Jammu and Kashmir territory and historically from times immemorial, these region from Leh to Gilgit were interconnected economically, politically and culturally. Until 1947, trade and movement of people took place continuously from Tibet to Central Asia through Leh, Kargil, Skardu and Gilgit. Traders, caravans, people and religions moved along the "Silk Route". Today this region cut off from rest of the world during winter session as the Zojila pass closed for six months in year and the road is also one of the most dangerous in the entire region. since two year army has started courier service from Kargil to Srinagar once in week during winter which is too much depend on the mood of the pilot as they often make excuse of bad weather and do not come as per schedule which always creates unnecessary headache to the passengers. Being an important region of the state it needs to be connected by air and land routes.

If the government can provide free air service to the Kashmiris during the blockage of Jammu- Srinagar highway for few days due to snow fall; why the government is so ignorant to provide an air service to Kargil once in a week as the region remains totally cut off from the rest of world for six month during winter session. Thus, the opening of this road is important. Apart from providing opportunities to the divided families and co-linguist people to meet, it might provide opening to the Central Asia. Skardu is already linked with Gilgit, at a later stage will give this region access to the strategic Karakoram Highway from Kargil and Leh regions. This will further link this region with China and Central Asia. Another important route lies across Line of Actual Control (LAC) is Leh- Manasarovar road and leh yarkand route between India and China, again ignored by New Delhi. This route is another option to India to reach Central Asia. Until 1947, the main roads of Ladakh were part of "Silk Route" spreading its fingers into Tibet via Demchok, into Yarkhand through the mighty Karakoram pass. From salt to oil, everything comes through Leh-once a connecting valley between Yarkhand and Central Asia. Today Nubra Valleys only links to the outside world lies through the Khardungla, the highest motorable pass in the world. The local in the Nubra valley are anxious to see the reopening of the old "Silk Route". Economically, the local population will greatly benefit out of this routes, mainly tourism. Kailash Mansurovar, one of the most revered Hindu pilgrim destinations, is only about 300 km from Demehok. India should make effort to develop the sub- region from Leh to Demchok and Karakoram areas in Nubra valley in terms of developing roads and reconsidering the permit system in the inner line. But unfortunately India did not see roads as of strategic importance, especially in its border regions. Now, the process has started, let it not be limited to only one region. A beginning has been made across the LoC, let it be strengthen further by opening all the routes. Thus, the opening of all above routes will revive the old "Silk Route" and Jammu and Kashmir once again could become the gateway to Central Asia.

Moreover, after opening of these routes, they could be used for linking Gas pipeline. The construction of road links would definitely benefits not only India and Pakistan in CBM, but also to the people of both sides of Jammu and Kashmir economically and politically. India energy needs can be accomplish by constructing pipeline from Central Asia via Afghanistan and Pakistan. As India - Iran - Pakistan Gas Pipeline proposal and Turkmen - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India Gas Pipeline proposal could be accomplish only by building good relationship with Pakistan over Kashmir issue. This age is one of looking for means of cooperation and integration despite whatever political difficulties may be involved. Given Indian growing energy needs, it has become imperative for it to tap into the huge energy reserves of Central Asia, whether in competition or in cooperation with the other major powers involved in the region.

However, given that energy pipelines will cross several national boundaries before they get to India, including those of Pakistan and China. India must necessarily adopt a cooperative approach. Either way, improving transport and other infrastructure in India's western border states and, in particular Jammu and Kashmir, is an absolute necessity not just in terms of energy concerns but also within a purely development framework. One positive point for India is that both China and Pakistan increasing keenly their concern in the development of bilateral trade keeping other disputes on backside. In Kashmir, both countries (India and Pakistan) showed their interest to open LoC for trade purposes by keeping the Kashmir issue on back. Hopefully, the planned road construction along the Line of Actual Control and Line of Control is a sign of a change in attitudes in New Delhi as well as of an increasingly confident Indian foreign policy in its neighborhoods.

Can we Talk About the Disposal of Biomedical Waste?

Typical Kashmiri approach of ignoring festering issues until these become unmanagable does not apply only to political controversies

Biomedical waste

The advances made in medical science and the technological interventions in the surgeries conduct these days, have given much relief to us. But with this a new problem has risen. One such serious issue is related to our environment. While our environment is facing many threats, improper and unscientific disposal of biomedical waste is menacingly looking at us, right in the middle of our face.

The production of this waste has increased manifold which has resulted in serious threat to environment. The reason for this is that the people are not very cautious while disposing off this waste. Improper and unhygienic disposal has resulted in a number of issues which need to be addressed at the earliest.

In this regard Jammu and Kashmir State Pollution Board, JKSPB, organized a workshop cum training programme on the scientific disposal of biomedical waste at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre. Although, the officials were upbeat about the fact that there is no financial constraint which can hamper the process, however, lack of awareness and knowledge among the medical practitioners about the proper disposal and dumping of the biomedical waste has been a matter of great concern. Medical professional make use of the equipment, but hardly bother about its disposal. However, before the situation goes out of control and take turn for worse, there are certain methods which can be effectively used to curb the problem from spreading any further.

First and foremost is to aware the people, particularly the medical fraternity, about how the waste can be managed. This awareness can be created by organizing seminars and by using the means of mass media. However, the scope of these programmes should not be narrowed down to Srinagar or its adjacent areas. It should cover every district, sub district, and every village. An important part can be played by NGOs and media; if these two organs of the society join their hands and launch a large scale campaign involving various sections of the society, a lot can be achieved. And hopefully we can be able to protect ourselves and our environment.

(Rising Kashmir)