Getting Real on Solving the Kashmir Dispute

Shujaat's commentary in the Rising Kashmir is followed by comments from the author

Pakistan’s reality check on Kashmir

Shujaat Bukhari

 “On the issue of Kashmir, we have to see if our efforts and our strategy in the past have produced desired results. Now the question is, the attitude and formulation we adopted over past 60 years, if we continue sticking to them, will they give us a resolution even after next 65 years? The answer to that is a resounding no. When I say we did not succeed, I mean to say both countries," Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to DNA’s Iftikhar Gilani.

 A day before the foreign minister level talks between India and Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar made this significant statement about her country’s policy on resolving the Kashmir dispute. However, this was ignored by all the stakeholders as well as media in India, Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir. Hina’s statement takes Pakistan back to a nuanced approach adopted by former President Parvez Musharraf, though the current dispensation in Islamabad led by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had apparently divorced the “changed track” set out by Musharraf by spelling out his much famed four point formula to resolve the vexed issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Not only did Hina hinted at this “changed mindset” in Islamabad, but the immediate former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani also told NDTV’s Barkha Dutt that they were looking at Musharraf’s formula and had been working at “tightening the loop-holes in it”. One can say that Hina has emphatically made it clear that past 60 years had not yielded desired result for Pakistan as for as its Kashmir policy is concerned. In other words, Pakistan’s stated policy of sticking to United Nations resolutions and the demand for Right to Self Determination had not helped it to see Kashmir getting resolved. This “struggle” not only involved intense diplomatic efforts but also an active support to armed rebellion in Jammu and Kashmir and three full fledged and one low scale war with India. Killing of thousands of people coupled with thousands getting maimed, widowed and orphaned did not bring much change in the situation except that Kashmir was recognized internationally. Unprecedented abuse of human rights and disproportionate presence of armed forces in Kashmir made its people to suffer to the hilt. But with the September 11 attacks on United States of America and subsequent so called “war on terror”, Pakistan’s diplomacy received a hard beating, thus again pushing Kashmir issue to backburner. Its problems on home turf increased to an unimaginable level and the extremists took a heavy toll on Pakistan’s internal stability. This not only left Pakistan to fend within its own territory but also gave India an “opportunity” to use the US and its allies against Islamabad. This eased its situation on Kashmir front, which of late Delhi has been seeing as a “less troubled” area.

Hina’s statement cannot be seen only in the backdrop of above-mentioned facts. But it could be based on a reality check with which Pakistan’s establishment has been handling Kashmir for last few years. A slewed role for Pakistan’s powerful Army and ISI must have helped Islamabad’s political set up to think on more pragmatic lines. That is why Hina emphasizes that past 60 year’s formulations and adaptations had not yielded any result and in next 65 years such a strategy would not take both the countries to a logical goal. By all accounts it is a very positive development with which both countries need to move forward, though without compromising on the basis of the dispute. Hina’s statement, however, should not apply to Pakistan only but it throws up a lesson for New Delhi also to adopt a more pragmatic approach towards the resolution of Kashmir dispute. Its mishandling with the internal dimension of the problem has given severe jolt to any genuine process in the past 60 years and a level playing field for stakeholders inside Kashmir is must for linking it with the pragmatic part of external dimension.

Notwithstanding her assertion that Kashmir remains a core concern for Pakistan, Hina has clearly indicated that Pakistan needed to review its policy over Kashmir. However, she is cautious enough, keeping in view the opposition from hardliners—both in Pakistan and Kashmir. In the same interview to Iftikhar Gillani she maintained that it was time to find convergences without compromising on the centrality of the issue. "Let me first clarify, movements on other issues should not be misinterpreted, that we have compromised on the centrality of Kashmir issue. For us, the issue means rights of Kashmiri people and also to stop ammunition to hate mongers, who are out to destroy our relations," she said repeatedly referring to hate mongers on both sides, who according to her should not get ammunition in the shape of keeping the issue (of Kashmir) as burning port. “We need to disarm them from this ammunition”.

What is evident from the tone and tenor of Pakistan Foreign Minister is that Islamabad has hooked itself back to Musharraf’s four-point formula though not owning it publicly. The much talked about formula had been favoured at various levels not only in India and Pakistan but also in Kashmir where the Hurriyat Conference faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had publicly endorsed it. The extremist line adopted by hardline leader Syed Ali Geelani was well understood at that time. But for any changed policy on Kashmir, Islamabad needs to take the hawks on board. Kashmiris were genuinely disappointed over “no mention” of Kashmir in the just concluded talks, but if this “silence” is for a broader solution then wait could be worthwhile.

In the past, however, Kashmir was discussed substantively in the bilateral dialogues and the Confidence Building Measures across the Line of Control where in sharp focus. After a major breakthrough in November 2003 with the ceasefire along LoC, a new chapter was opened in the relations between two countries with focused attention towards Kashmir. It was followed by the historic resumption of bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawlakot. The dialogue continued in February 2005 but was derailed with 2006 train bombings in Mumbai, which later came to know was the handiwork of home grown militants. Both countries were back on the table and the November 26 attack in Mumbai derailed everything. Its origin was traced to Pakistan. In all these cases whether the home grown terror in India or the terror linked to Pakistan, Kashmiris have been made to suffer.

Besides a mellowed approach on Kashmir from Pakistan, delinking the issue of terrorism from the ambit of composite dialogue has in a sense helped both countries to create an atmosphere of reconciliation. Both sides repeatedly maintained that they stick to their guns on Kashmir and terrorism but the movement forward on easing the visa regime and other cross border issues could be a well beginning for addressing all the issues at a larger well. In any case Khar’s statement should not be addressed in isolation but it needs to be looked at with a broader perspective in the backdrop of losses gains of past 60 years. 



http://www.risingkashmir.in/news/political-future-of-kashmir-has-been-fantasized-33140.aspx

Political future of Kashmir has been fantasized

 Dr Vijay Sazawal

This is in response to the article, “Pakistan’s Reality Check on Kashmir” written by Shujaat Bhukhari in Rising Kashmir. I have read the article with great interest. As much as some Kashmiri commentators and columnists like to fantasize on the political future of Kashmir, the reality is that what will happen at the end, to a large extent, will depend on the deal that India and Pakistan will cook among themselves and get the major powers to endorse. Kashmiris can have a decisive role in the process, but that will not happen unless Kashmiris realize that such a role will only come out of a well thought out political strategy and not because these parties will come begging to Kashmiris to hear their wishes and grant them unconditionally.

Kashmiris have two choices – they can continue to ignore reality and aspire for impossible dreams (in my childhood we would call such wishful thinking as khayali pullao), or we can make the best out of a bad situation. The former approach is not only a favorite of the hard-core lobby personified by Syed Ali Geelani, but I would also lump the JKNC and the PDP with the same lobby, since fuzzy rhetoric apart none of those entities really want to see a change in the political status quo.

The Mirwaiz faction, on the other hand, knows the reality but this group does not command loyalty or passions to the same pitch that leaders of the status-quo lobby do. The media could show its smarts, but prefers the wishful thinking in so far as the solution to the Kashmir dispute is concerned. So Farooqs, Bhats and Lones do not know how to carry masses along. The net result is that the political status quo will continue.

In my commentary on “The American Policy and Kashmir Dispute,” published by this esteemed newspaper about 6 weeks back, I mentioned the prescription that some American policy makers have suggested. I strongly believe that if Kashmiris are proactive in demanding demarcation of the international boundary, many options for self-governance are possible on either side of the international border that will not be finalized without the assent of the major powers who do want to see Kashmiris treated with dignity and fairness. In return, the entire deal – from international border demarcation to quality of self-governance – forms a single package that will involve approval of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). I would like to propose that we move towards that goal now, rather than later, when India has a strong possibility to be a permanent member of the UNSC.

Such an approach will require courage on the part of Kashmiri politicians, and Kashmiri commentators and columnists have to get real to allow such a process to proceed. In my humble view, we can continue as usual or do something remarkable to bring peace and prosperity in the entire region.

J&K Government Caught in a Web of Lies Related to RTI

Fida reminds the J&K Government that people's right to know is paramount in a democratic society

(Mr. Fida Iqbal, 49, was born in Sopore. He attended the D.A.V. School in Nayadyaar, Rainawari, and the Government Higher Secondary School in Sopore. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Agriculture/Floriculture and Landscaping from Chowdhry Chottu Ram College at Muzaffarabad Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Iqbal works with the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department as a landscape architect. He enjoys kitchen gardening, reading writing, and is very a passionate and dedicated golf player.)

 

The Pitfalls of Democracy

In almost all parts of the subcontinent so far democracy is in evolutionary phase, particularly democracy in our state is relatively in its infancy. Gradual belittling of State Accountability Commission to the extent of its virtual extinction has exposed emerging democracy in Kashmir to vagaries of exploitation. 

 

Accordingly the recent curtailment in powers of the State Information Commission and veiled confrontation between Chief Information Commissioner and the government does not auger well for people’s rule (read Democracy), we made a choice in 1947 after long drawn struggle for empowerment.
During the last several years the whole country and consequently the Jammu and Kashmir as well experienced many radical changes by enacting several laws and acts to explore vistas of accountability.

 

Establishment of State Accountability Commission in 2002 and enacting Right to Information Act (RTI Act) in 2009 in line with central RTI Act 2005 opened an entirely new and vast chapter of transparency in otherwise much flawed democratic system in J&K. With the introduction of RTI Act and free flow of information, corruption, the monstrous face of our society felt tremors of extinction. The effective penetration of these two revolutionary laws made many crooks in the administration and their masters in political hierarchy to feel the heat of answerability. Common man’s access to every page and note of administrative records send shivers through the much stressed nerves of exploiters and bands of illegitimate beneficiaries. Thus, scheming plots to undermine these revolutionary steps got rolling in the corridors of corruption and castles of nepotism. A modus operandi was devised to influence the pioneers of these laws with a logic that over-emancipation of people will encroach upon, ‘their own’ authority and future prospects of their success and superiority. These machinating motivations initially deflated authority of State Accountability Commission rendering it almost hollow. For last several years this institution of accountability is either headless or lacks quorum. After the untimely death of its first chairman Justice (Retired) R.P.Sethi the commission remained headless for years. After much reluctance and long drawn skewed selection procedure the commission was reactivated, but with revised and curtailed authorization to try the graft cases of public functionaries only (by enacting, Act. No.II of 2011).

 

Interestingly the recent stand of the government about powers of suo motto actions by the commission under regulation-9 being in conflict with the provisions of the Act and casting doubts about the status of the commission while invoking provisions under section-24 of the SAC Act clearly relate a different story about the intentions of the administration vis-à-vis unrestricted anti corruption powers of SAC. The fate of the State Vigilance Commission after its constitution in 2011 is an open story of indifference towards accountability.

In continuation to its hide and seek policy and the influence of unscrupulous elements government used its overriding powers to curtail the powers of the Information Commission with a plea that the present rules are not in compliance with the RTI Act 2009 and central Act of 2005 and were necessitated to be changed to remove certain anomalies. And thus on August 30, 2012 axe fell on RTI Act by notifying new RTI Rules through SRO 279 to replace RTI Rules of 2010 wherein the RTI Act has been curtailed to the extent of ‘information for the sake of information’ without any punitive provisions in case of any noncompliance by the information providing agency. With such sweeping changes in the Act the commission has been left more or less toothless. No doubt government in its capacity has absolute and overriding powers to change or cancel any of its earlier rules, Acts or laws, but before making any such sweeping changes with wider implication on the health of democracy and the interests of the common man government should take every stakeholder on board. In genuine democracy every step towards empowerment has to be made with honesty, sincerity and desirable levels of foresightedness. An iota of doubt or hypocrisy will ruin the whole process of equality as envisaged by our forefathers. People’s right to know about system and leaders of their government is paramount and any overt or covert move to scuttle this right will always prove counterproductive and will spoil the spirit of democracy.

Playing by Different Rules - 1

Amazing that no one in the authority cares!

Are J&K Ministers, bureaucrats and police officers immune to asset disclosures?

Jammu: Although the assets statements of the country's Prime Minister and all the Union Ministers are available for public scrutiny, it seems some of our politicians, senior bureaucrats and police officers believe they have a higher profile and better immunity than the Prime Minister of the country! Despite repeated directions that they must immediately disclose their assets so that these are made available for public scrutiny and information, many Ministers, senior bureaucrats and top police officers of the State have blatantly been ignoring these directives. It is the right of the common citizen of the State to know what the assets of our civil servants and Ministers are and therefore these have to be made available through official websites for all to peruse. Some of the top bureaucrats and police officers whose names have been disclosed in response to RTI applications are still avoiding the disclosures. There is no doubt that both transparency and accountability in public life have taken the worst beating during the last 20 years in Jammu and Kashmir. In the name of disturbed law and order situation many politicians and civil servants have been having a field day inflating their personal assets. Politicians, bureaucrats and police officers are now known to own shopping malls, prime properties and even hotels at health resorts. In the process of making Jammu and Kashmir the second most corrupt State in the country these unscrupulous bureaucrats, police officers and politicians have actually become business magnates. Some senior police officers are known land brokers and their roles in land mafia businesses are a common knowledge in Srinagar and Jammu. It is also known widely that civil servants and politicians are using their official position to increase their profits as land brokers, land mafia runners and patrons of those indulging in unlawful business practices. It is a sad commentary on the effectiveness of the State Government that its civil servants are brushing aside statutory requirements to furnish the details of their assets which is mandatory for every civil servant and politician in power. Not a single such civil servant has been booked under the provisions of the law for their resistance to disclosures of assets. While the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) has tried to give a semblance of its effectiveness by cracking its whip on the lower rung of State administration, the big sharks are roaming freely and operating under the very nose of the SVO. It seems the politicians, bureaucrats and police officers in Jammu and Kashmir believe they enjoy some sort of blanket immunity whereby they are not required to disclose their assets. Given the trend, it would not be very late when we can proudly claim to be the most corrupt State in the country.     NC, PDP not submitting annual income returns to ECI   Abid Bashir (Rising Kashmir)   Srinagar: The ruling National Conference and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have figured in the list of defaulters for not submitting their annual income report since last many years to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The development has raised serious question mark on source of funding of the two key political parties of the State. As per the report released by the ECI in response to National Election Watch (NEW) and a New Delhi based NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms, NC and PDP have not submitted their annual reports since last many years. Owing to it, the two parties have been included in the list of 18 defaulting parties of India, who haven’t submitted their annual income reports so far. According to Section 29 B of Representation of Peoples’ Act, 1956, every political party may accept any amount of contribution voluntarily offered to it by any person or company other than a government company. However, no political party is eligible to accept any contribution from any foreign source. “The treasurer of a political party or any other person authorized by the party in this behalf shall, in each financial year, prepare a report in respect of the contribution in excess of Rs 20, 000,” the act reads. It further reads that it is mandatory for political parties to submit it to Election Commission a list of donations they received of over Rs. 20,000. “If any political party fails to submit a report, then such a party shall not be entitled to any tax relief”. National Conference spokesman, Tanvir Sadiq told Rising Kashmir that the party has been submitting the annual income report to the Income Tax department without any fail. “We have no problem in submitting the same to the ECI,” he said. However, party sources said there was no proper system to submit the reports annually. “Since General Secretary Sheikh Nazir fell ill, the accounts section of the party became sick as well. There was no record about the funds received and party’s annual income,” they said. PDP chief spokesman Nayeem Akhter said he is not updated on the issue. “I will look into it and if there is any fail. We will correct it as soon as possible,” he said. Sources said when major political parties in the State were defaulters, the fate of lesser known parties can only be imaged. Both NC and PDP organize mega rallies in almost all districts of the State every year. Besides, the party leaders travel long distances to campaign for party during election time to garner public support. The leaders of parties also visit individually to their respective constituencies. Congress tops the list of five political parties having highest total income in last seven years. The party has an income of Rs 2008 Crore in last seven years. National Coordinator, National Election Watch and APDR, Anil Bairwal said once the parties make their annual statements, it becomes clear as to what their source of funding was and how credible they were. “There are 18 political parties, who haven’t submitted their annual income reports. With this, people can’t trust the parties who don’t fulfil the criteria set by the RPA,” Bairwal told Rising Kashmir over phone from New Delhi. He said NEW was an amalgam of scores of originations across India under one banner. “APDR is a New Delhi based NGO working for democratic reforms in the country.” Bairwal said NC and PDP are major defaulters as they haven’t submitted a single report since last many years. “How could one know how strong a party is financially? Besides, one has to know the source of funding of political parties”.

 

Destroying Sufi Icons and Symbols

Wahabism is bringing big changes in Kashmir

Arson Bid At Dooru Sufi Shrine Foiled

Srinagar: Protests broke out in the Dooru Shahabad area of Anantnag on Wednesday morning after robbers looted a major Sufi shrine and tried to set it ablaze.

Reports said that the robbers had broken a wooden chest holding offerings from pilgrims, and made off with the cash and valuables after setting it ablaze.

The robbery at the Khanaqah-e-Naqshband which holds sacred keepsakes from Hazrat Shah-e-Hamadan and has the grave site of celebrated Kashmiri poet Rasul Mir in its compound was carried out at around dawn.

But the arson bid, which could have inflicted heavy damage on the wood-constructed shrine, was foiled by a watchman who raised an alarm bringing locals in large numbers to the scene.

According to reports, some security guards in the vicinity also opened fire on detecting shadowy figures fleeing into the darkness.

The firing brought forces personnel to the scene who also joined locals in searching for the robbers.

Later, protestors halted traffic on the main road, demanding swift unmasking of the culprits.

This was the fourth place of worship to be targeted in Kashmir in the recent months during which the renowned shrine of Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib in Srinagar was gutted in June, and dargah destroyed in Budgam later. (Observer News Service)

State Government is Playing With Children's Education

One more proof that Kashmiri public place greater trust in the Central Government than the J&K Government

Gulmarg School Faces Closure, Courtesy Govt

 

Srinagar: The centrally-funded Kendriya Vidyalaya in Gulmarg is on the verge of closure with its roll dropping from 175 to 11 as it has had to change locations several times because of the state government withholding land.

Set up some years ago in a private building, the school had come as a boon for underprivileged families seeking quality education for their children.

Initially running up to class five, the school had later been upgraded to class 12, but parents were forced to withdraw their children as it lacked stability.

Though after a long series of meetings between school authorities and the government, the forest department had been directed to allot 40 kanals of land for the institution, the order was never implemented.

The school chairman had even deposited the required sum of Rs 14.23 lakh with the public exchequer, but still the land was not granted.

From 175 students last year, the present roll of the school has dropped down to 11, putting a big question mark on its future. Observer News Service

 

Paying the Price

Civil Society in Kashmir is quick to raise hue and cry against political and religious intrusions, but quietly ignores environmental degradation when making a fast buck

Thajiwas glacier collapses, kills doctor

9/11/2012 11:50:56 PM

Srinagar: In a tragic incident, a person got killed when the famous Thajiwas glacier at Sonamarg gave way this evening and a portion of its fell on a group of tourists. Several tourists sustained injuries. The deceased was identified as Dr Zubair Ahmad Chowdhury of Poonch. The injured were rushed to the Primary healthcare, Sonamarg where they are stated to be stable. According to reports, a portion of the glacier gave way when scores of tourists were close to the glacier. Reports said five persons got buried under the collapsed portion. The police, reports said, swung into action immediately and launched a massive rescue operation. Five persons were retrieved and rushed to the Primary Health Centre where Dr Zubair was declared dead. The injured identified as Showkat Ahmad Rather of Bagh-e-Mehtab, Srinagar, Muhammad Irshad and Sheikh Suhail of Kolkata and Umesh Kumar of Uttar Pradesh. All of them were discharged after first aid. A case under Section 174 CrPC has been registered. Investigations have been launched. Pertinently the civil society and the environmentalists raised a hue and cry over the recent Supreme Court judgment on Amarnath yatra. Road widening as suggested by the apex court was vehemently opposed. But the plight of Thajiwas and vandalization of forests by state and non-state actors was not touched. Nobody objected the parking lot that has came up at the base of the glacier.   (Early Times Report)

Letter to "Maej Kasheer"

Amreen asks a poignant question, "Do we still belong to the valley of saints?"

(Ms. Amreen Naqash, 23, was born in Srinagar. She completed her schooling from the Mallinson Girls Higher Secondary School, Srinagar. She subsequently joined the University of Kashmir, where she is currently the 4th year student doing B. Pharma. Ms. Naqash mostly writes on social issues and is also a budding poet. In leisure time she enagages in writing, poetry, painting and reading.)


Letter to my Mother


Dear Mother,

Salaam, I hope the days would be bright and the seasons quite serene at your place. You know mother, Today I took my pen to write the hardest of truth happening at your home. Now the sun doesn’t rise as it used to, the morning chirp of the melodious birds now go unheard, the day remains more enveloped in the dark clouds than in bright sunshine, the sun now shies away and people call it sunset, night isn’t known for dreams anymore but the insomnia is something that is more. The plight of this restless heart I want to convey you as no one can understand me so nicely as you.

Mother! The time since I have opened my eyes in this world full of charm and beauty I have grown up watching how in your garden, blossoms turn to flowers but from few years why so many turn to weeds whom we want to pluck off, rather than keeping along. You know now eyes have become dry and the hearts have turned to half a pound weighing stone. It’s hard enough to even carry it along. Mother you know well, the garden looks beautiful when the trees are well enveloped in the beautiful color green, flowers seem beautiful when petals are spreading eye pleasing colors, and the green carpet spread for miles but now this is no more accepted. Now your garden loves to stay naked as if autumn has taken off its pride. Mother now the preference has turned around, withered tree and barren land is all that is looked upon. These aren’t the orphan words but the tale how the pride of your garden is being laden with dust and a termite of doubt has made place to heart asking “Do you still belong to the valley of the saints?”

Mama, I have many questions and they all have the same origin, Modernization and Westernization. Dear, I don’t understand these two newly developed civilizations. You taught me that modernization should be in thoughts, in views, in the way of communication but our society is changing, I am disturbed, I can’t understand, I am frustrated. Mother, people who are simple, who wear Salwar Kameez is not modern any more. They are treated quite differently by the society. You know when I visit a shop with big names I am not being attended as other modern people are, although I have money in my pocket. You have not taught me real modernization. Mama if my brother would not have gifted me the new cell I would have not been treated well at the shop. Thanks to my aunt who called at the right time. The salesman got an eye on the phone and he placed the racks down. I can’t understand this kind of attitude, this is irking me.

Ralph Waldo Emerson defines the situation as “Nothing is more simple than greatness; indeed, to be simple is to be great” whereas Leonardo DA Vinci says “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

Mother I don’t understand what are we waiting for? Our culture has changed all together. Today marriage is not celebrated as the union of two souls but for the advertisement of wealth. The more the sounds of crackers are heard, the more warm pockets the owner has. Even though sometime the case is all together different, the owner is drowned in the loan but no, he has to show the world how rich is he or should I say society is provoking him to do so. Yes! It’s the society which is responsible. Mama, it’s me, it’s you and it’s us who are responsible for such things.

Mama, why we remain quiet to what we see around? Why have we blindfolded our eyes? As we walk through university gardens? As we go to different public places? Mother! I am not able to understand anything. Mama can’t we change it? I can’t see the land of the saint’s turning to land of devils? Mama, please guide your children. Please ask your people to think over it. Please.

Mother! My hand is tired and heart burdened with pain and regret. I am dropping my pen over here and hoping for you to hold me in your lap again. I want to sleep and dream of the old beautiful garden where the innocence of the child was the lonesome treasure, where the shyness of the girl was her only jewel, where the truth of the heart was the word of the tongue, where the song of mother was the most mesmerizing sound to the ear and the food cooked by her was the real delicacy. Mama, take me back to that paradise and wake me when our garden would have turned same. Love you Mama

Should the Society Ignore Crimes Devoid of Political Payoffs?

Fida sounds an alarm about the recent spurt in crime rate


(Mr. Fida Iqbal, 49, was born in Sopore. He attended the D.A.V. School in Nayadyaar, Rainawari, and the Government Higher Secondary School in Sopore. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Agriculture/Floriculture and Landscaping from Chowdhry Chottu Ram College at Muzaffarabad Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Iqbal works with the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department as a landscape architect. He enjoys kitchen gardening, reading writing, and is very a passionate and dedicated golf player.)


  Are we Heading Towards Anarchy?
For the last more than a decade crime graph in Kashmir valley has gone up by manifolds and in particular the social system is most vulnerable to this criminal onslaught. A cursory look on newspaper and other media reports of last many years will reveal the vile face of social crime in Kashmir. To substantiate my argument ‘Degrading social system along with increasing criminal mindset and political strife leading to social anarchy in Kashmir’, let me mention three isolated criminal acts with societal ramifications as references.

• Few months back in Chanpora locality of Srinagar two neighboring families fought over some trivial issue, leaving one person dead. Unfortunately the accused killers were well educated professionals.

• On 17th of August a Shopian girl Tawheeda was murdered by her fiancé Aitmad Ahmad by pushing her into roaring Ahrabal water fall just to make way for his liking to some other lady.

• Exactly a week after this ghastly act of crime against helpless young lady on 24th of August another young girl barely twenty years of age was done to death by none other than her siblings with active support of some other close relations. On the fateful Friday young Zubaida was mercilessly beaten to death and strangulated to make it sure that she is dead by all means. Zubaida’s brutal killing is now dubbed as honour killing by her accused killers but the rumors in the area are rife that Zahida became victim of beastly materialistic mindset of our society.

In all the three cases truths have to be dug out by meticulous and proper investigation by the investigating agencies. Whatever the facts? We are not here to jump to conclusions and conduct any extrajudicial trial, but the way killers have resorted to horrifying killings and the subsequent violent reaction by unruly mob in all the three cases is an alarming bell. A loud and clear bell of social anarchy!

Mankind had to cross many hurdles and phases to reach the levels of humanity. It took lot more time to human race to be on path of compassion, tolerance and justice. But the way greed and materialism is spreading unabated, dehumanization of mankind is imminent in near future. However it is not only our behavior and greed but the way our governing system react to situation of social crime. Many a times, their inappropriate reaction does not prove effective deterrent in containing the social disorder. The politics of a particular region plays a vital role in criminalization of the society and degradation of values. The induced and accepted ad hock-ism in our political order is one of the most important factors for misinterpretation, and lack of respect for the law. Many a time’s proper and justified implementation of law is compromised by the state just to avoid any awkward political situation or to appease a section of the society. These political compromises and appeasements along with inefficiency and corruption have torn our social fabric into rags.

Prior to 1947 Kashmir had a virtues social system with a religious influence in every aspect of life and by then over-exploited and impoverished Kashmiris had only faith to live and values to relish but their social system was much in order than the present, apparently modern, empowered and civilized Kashmir. The influence of religious preachers and leaders possessing great values was the guiding force in maintaining the transparency, sagacity and serenity within our society. Premature and half-hearted democracy played havoc with our social system; made us overenthusiastic regarding our rights but unfortunately we failed to remember about our duties—particularly our social obligations and national responsibilities. In this rush of democracy we left behind our values. Even after more than six decades of imposed democracy we are nowhere near to our legitimate rights; instead we have lost our prudent sense of retaining much cherished values.

Apart from the main horrifying crime acts the over reaction of the unruly mob after Chanpora incident and Shopian killing is an eye-opener both for the society and the administration. The spontaneous reaction of the violent mob is manifestation of delayed justice in our system. Several years back the ghastly killing of Tabinda Ghani in Kupwara district is an example of sluggish justice delivery system. Even after years of trial the case seems heading nowhere. By instituting bravery awards in the memory of this unfortunate young daughter of the nation will not help in containing the social crime and subsequent acts of lawlessness by the disorderly mobs. The best way to save our society from going haywire and prevent anarchy to creep into our social system, we as a society should introspect and adhere to our respective religious teachings of kindness and better values. And beyond doubt, our governments should ensure time bound justice without any discrimination. Otherwise the proverb `might is right' holds good for our society.

Increasing Employment in the Poultry Sector

Altaf says that middlemen are making a killing at the cost of farmers

(Dr. Syed Mohammad Altaf Gilani, 45, was born in Srinagar. He attended the DAV School, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar, and graduated from the Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar and the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST-K, Srinagar, and ICAR, New Delhi. Dr. Gilani is a Veterinarian (Poultry Consultant), working with the J&K Animal Husbandry Department. In his leisure time, he enjoys Writing, Watching Hollywood Classics.)


Fighting Exploitation in the Poultry Trade

The poultry industry in this part of the world is in the process of taking shape. The consumption is huge and the growth is upbeat. Though still unorganized, if tackled timely and effectively and given an appropriate course can figure as the corner stone of the economy and a founding of a vibrant and versatile industry.


At the moment, the sector is being dominated by the commercial broiler farms being established in every nook and corner of the Valley. About 4500 in number, these farms are responsible for rearing of 300 lakh viable broilers per year. Another 150 lakh broilers and culls are being imported from outside the State. The overwhelmingly non-vegetarian eating habits of the Valley dwellers contribute towards the using up of more than one lakh birds on daily basis.

Under the present system, a poultry entrepreneur puts in lots of efforts in rearing of the stocks as per the technical norms. The maintenance of proper space, temperature, ventilation, biosecurity, medication and vaccination is being undertaken appropriately besides feeding and provision of ample potable water for the birds. A close rapport is being maintained with the experts of the Animal Husbandry Department for tackling any eventuality of a disease outbreak. When the stocks attain the marketable weight, the real ordeal of the entrepreneur begins.

Although the imports of the commercial broiler stocks are dwindling, the impact on the local market is huge. The poultry dealers who act as middlemen between the farmers and the retailers spoil the whole broth. Their greed to earn more bucks in a short time prefer outside poultry stocks than the local ones. Reason being that the stocks transported from outside are under starvation during transshipment and as soon as unloaded into their godowns are fed heavily for the quick weight gains as these starved birds eat full. The consumer gets cheated when the retailer weighs the bird on the weighing scale and pays unknowingly for the feed in the crop at the rate of the live bird.

Sometimes there arises a situation when the dealer has to lift the birds from the local farmers and the trading between the two parties shall throw sufficient light on the exploitation by the middlemen. While negotiating the rates, the dealer offers at least Rs. 5 per kilo gram of live broiler less than the rates at which he can get the same commodity from the dealer importing from outside the State. Another condition is being put around by the dealer that the birds shall be lifted in the morning only if kept off-feed and off-water overnight. While weighing the consignment, still a deduction of 1 per cent in the total weight is being made on the pretext of weight loss. Interestingly, the poultry farmer does not get cash for its produce but is presented a post-dated cheque having a minimum of 15 to 20 days for its encashment in contrast to the cash transaction with the outside dealer. As soon as the consignment is collected from the farm, it is delivered to the retailers on the same average weight. The dealer and the retailer have nothing at stake and still take the lion’s share while as the poultry entrepreneur has everything at stake and only gets peanuts, that too when the rate is favorable and the stocks give their optimum production.

The middlemen make it sure to grab maximum benefit from the trade at the cost of the poor farmer and the consumer. To make it more obscure, the Department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution System, Jammu and Kashmir fixes the rates of the poultry and poultry products on the basis of the mandi rates prevalent at the time in Delhi and Punjab which puts another back-breaking burden on the farmer and the middlemen enjoy the swag. The state of affairs is flattering for the middleman and the retailer while as for the poultry entrepreneur and the consumer, it is very much inauspicious.

Having dealt with in detail the obstacles confronting the poultry development in the Valley, it is justifiable to present here the solutions to the predicament:

1. An extensive awareness campaign by the Animal Husbandry Department for educating the farmers about the setting up of their own retail sales outlets where about 20 per cent of their produce can be marketed directly.

2. To facilitate the sustenance of the poultry industry in the Valley, the experts of the Animal Husbandry Department need to be empowered for fixing the whole sale and retail prices of the live and the dressed poultry as per the production cost.

3. Hygienically dressed and chilled poultry meat needs to be popularized among the masses by launching an awareness campaign involving the health experts and religious scholars.

4. The dependence on imports of poultry and poultry based inputs has to be reduced by commencing the establishment of Breeding Farms, Hatcheries and Feed Manufacturing Plants in the private sector. Animal Husbandry Department has to act as a facilitator and assist in dissemination of related information to the prospective entrepreneurs.

5. Establishment of Poultry Mandis on the analogy of Fruit Mandis at every District Headquarter where the farmers and retailers shall be handling the market directly.

The suggestions put forward shall pave way for the employment generation in the poultry sector, for which the present set up in the Government is too intense, and shall have long bearing significance in the establishment of an organized industry for the benefit of all the stakeholders.

It Stinks - Do You Know Why?

Water pollution and poor sanitation are two sides of a same coin


J&K Lacks Water Pollution Policy



Asem Mohiuddin (Kashmir Times)

Srinagar: While the ever increasing water pollution and poor sanitation arrangements has emerged as the major concern in Jammu and Kashmir state, the state government has failed to conduct any survey or study to make an assessment of chemical and bio-diversity indicators causing pollutions to the water bodies.

The documents available with Kashmir Times reveal that the state is lacking any comprehensive study to check the various types of pollutions in water bodies and measures to stop it.

“The government has not done any study to identify the wetlands where the aquatic species and human health are facing any pollution threat due to water pollutions,” the documents claim.

The documents further disclose that there is no policy in place to study the water pollutions.

“Programmes for prevention and control of water pollution, Policy for water pollution and constitution of water quality review committee have also not been formed,” it adds.

The documents read that there is no study being done by the state government to make the assessment of water quality to check the chemical and bio-diversity indicators causing pollution to the water bodies. The state is also lacking the study of water contamination and impact of human activities on these water bodies.

Following the failure of government to preserve the water bodies, the quality and quantity of water of lakes and rivers has adversely been affected.

The state has no ready study or survey available to prove the various types of pollutions contracted by the water bodies including rivers and lakes.

The documents suggest that as per the survey of 2005-06 conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 241.79 millions liters of sewerage per day in A class and B class cities of the state has no treatment capacity available, therefore posing major threat to the water bodies and wetlands.

However, the documents said that the 17.14 crore “Jehlum River Action Plan” under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) sponsored by the Government of India Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) couldn’t take off following the delay in submission of utilization certificate till November 2009 by Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA).

“LAWDA furnished the Utilization Certificate (UC) in November 2009 but funds were not transferred till date from MoEF. As a result, the project did not take off and deprived the state of Rs 17.14 crore project,” the documents read.

Stating that LAWDA is not dealing with the project, its chairman Irfan Yasin said that they are not responsible for the delay in receiving the funds.

“We have no knowledge of the project; even the rivers are not falling under LAWDA. So we have nothing to do with the project,” he told Kashmir Times.

Pertinently, the Government of India in its annual report titles as “Water Pollution in India” expressed concerns over the declining water quality of world famous Dal Lake.

The report has revealed that failure of LAWDA to arrest the discharge and run-off from catchment areas led to the decline in water quality.

It has also said that the local fish qualities also witnessed the sharp decline and new species of weed like Azolla has engulfed its larger part.