Rising Domestic Violence in Kashmir

Cover 12 April,2021 issue

Rising Domestic Violence In Kashmir News Kashmir Exclusive
The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights. | Gloria Steinem
Women are as important to humanity as men are , but it is unfortunate to note since centuries women in many countries are subjected to much repression and oppression. Domestic violence against women is a matter of great concern .Domestic violence (also named domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation. Domestic violence is often used as a synonym for intimate partner violence, which is committed by one of the people in an intimate relationship against the other person.
In a heart stabbing  episode just few weeks back a mother of two children who was allegedly set ablaze by her in laws in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday evening, officials said.
This horrible crime depicts again the trauma and violence that Women of Kashmir are facing. Over the years Domestic Violence has been on continuously rising in the Kashmir valley.The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted by the Union Ministry of Health has exposed shocking facts about domestic violence against women in Jammu and Kashmir. The survey report, released in 2020, claims that 9.6% of women in the age group 18-49 experienced domestic violence in 2019-20. Five years ago, when J&K was still a state, the survey says 9.4% of women were subjected to domestic violence. The survey further reveals that domestic abuse and sexual harassment is more widespread in rural areas of J&K as compared to urban areas.Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, an eminent Gender Justice Activist ,while talking to the News Kashmir stated :”Domestic Violence is a manifestation of patriarchy and toxic masculinity prevalent in our society. Most of the victims of this violence are women particularly daughters in law. Men still are not able to overcome patriarchy. Most men cannot tolerate empowered women and with each passing day women are claiming positions of power, that is rendering men vulnerable to insecurity. To overcome this insecurity become violent against women over whom they enjoy a certain position of power. 
Further our education system does not inculcate values of gender justice among us so we are not ready to give an equal space and agency to women. 
The remedy for bringing down the domestic violence cases is to educate, decondition and detoxify men and women against the patriarchal norms that are prevalent in society.”

RAMADAN IS A BOOT CAMP FOR THE MUSLIM BODY AND SOUl.

RAMADAN IS A BOOT CAMP FOR THE MUSLIM BODY AND SOUl.

Suhaib Ashraf Bhat.
In His infinite mercy, Allah has sent the light of Ramadan to erase the night. He has sent the month of the Qur’an so that He might elevate us and bring us from our isolation to His nearness.”(Yasmine Mogahed)
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is deemed auspicious and the holiest. During this month, which consists of 29 to 30 days, Muslims worldwide observe Roza (a fast from sunrise to sunset). This month focuses on Sawm (fasting – one of the five pillars of Islam). It is a month which is venerated in the Islamic religion, and it is distinguished from the other months by a number of characteristics and virtues, including the following: 
1 – Allah swt has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month” [al-Baqarah 2:185]and it was narrated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16) from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah swt and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad; establishing prayer; paying zakaah; fasting Ramadaan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).” 2 – Allah swt revealed the Qur’aan in this month, as He says in the verse quoted above (interpretation of the meaning): “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…”[al-Baqarah 2:185]And Allah swt says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).”[al-Qadr 97:1]3 – Allah swt has made Laylat al-Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand months, as Allah swt says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah swt in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allah swt’s Permission with all Decrees,(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah swt to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn”[al-Qadar 97:1-5] “We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]”[al-Dukhaan 44:3]Allah swt has blessed Ramadaan with Laylat al-Qadr. Explaining the great status of this blessed night, Soorat al-Qadr was revealed, and there are many ahaadeeth which also speak of that, such as the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah swt be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month which Allah swt has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 2106; Ahmad, 8769. classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 999. And Abu Hurayrah (may Allah swt be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760. 4 – Allah swt has made fasting Ramadaan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah according to which the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” And al-Bukhaari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” The Muslims are unanimously agreed that it is Sunnah to pray qiyaam at night in Ramadaan. Al-Nawawi said that what is meant by praying qiyaam in Ramadaan is to pray Taraweeh, i.e., one achieves what is meant by qiyaam by praying Taraaweeh. 5 – In this month, Allah swt opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell, and chains up the devils, as is stated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 1898; Muslim, 1079), from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “When Ramadaan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” 6 – Every night Allah swt has people whom He redeems from the Fire. Imam Ahmad (5/256) narrated from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “At every breaking of the fast, Allah swt has people whom He redeems.” Al-Mundhiri said: there is nothing wrong with its isnaad; and it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 987. Al-Bazzaar (Kashf 962) narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Allah swt has people whom He redeems every day and night – i.e., in Ramadaan – and every Muslim every day and night has a prayer that is answered.”  7 – Fasting Ramadaan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadaan, so long as one avoids major sins. It was proven in Saheeh Muslim (233) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadaan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as you avoid major sins.” 8 – Fasting in Ramadaan is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim (1164) narrated from Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” Ahmad (21906) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.” 9 – Whoever prays qiyaam in Ramadaan with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawood (1370) and others from the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (may Allah swt be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Salaat al-Taraaweeh, p. 15 10 – ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj. Al-Bukhaari (1782) and Muslim (1256) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said to a woman among the Ansaar, “What kept you from doing Hajj with us?” She said, “We only had two camels that we used for bringing water.” So her husband and son had gone for Hajj on one camel, and he left the other for them to use for bringing water.” He said, “When Ramadaan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj.” According to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Hajj with me.”  11 – It is Sunnah to observe i’tikaaf (retreat for the purpose of worship) in Ramadaan, because the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) always did that, as it was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah swt be pleased with her) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadaan in i’tikaaf until he passed away, then his wives observed i’tikaaf after him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1922; Muslim, 1172. 12 – It is mustahabb in the sense of being strongly recommended in Ramadaan to study the Qur’aan together and to read it a great deal. You may study the Qur’aan together by reciting it to someone else and by having someone else recite it to you. The evidence that this is mustahabb is the fact that Jibreel used to meet the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) every night in Ramadaan and study the Qur’aan with him. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6; Muslim, 2308. Reading Qur’aaan is mustahabb in general, but more so in Ramadaan. 13 – It is mustahabb in Ramadaan to offer iftaar to those who are fasting, because of the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Khaalid al-Juhani (may Allah swt be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Maajah, 1746; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 647. May this Ramadan be successful for all of us and provide us with good health and wealth. Remove all our sins, May this holy month of Ramadan be a month full of blessings. May we all be showered with peace, joy and prosperity. Aameen.
Suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com

BENEFICIAL PERSON

BENEFICIAL PERSON

Syed Mustafa Ahmad
God has created innumerable species for a  purpose.  Everyone is good at its place. No  one is harming other. Among all the species, man is above all. He has been gifted with amazing faculties that make him extra ordinary. He has the potential to reach the pinnacles of glory or reach the lowest position. In this way, the ball is thrown in a humanbeing’s  court to decide what to become. Here, in this article, I would like to discuss  qualities of a worthy person.       First is his or her personality. He or she knows his or her personality well. He has introspected and has learnt that who I am. Where from I came? Where I am going to? He knows the rights of His Creator as well as people. He knows that the most important deed in God’s eyes is manner. Treating His creation with etiquettes, is an important characteristic of the worthy person. He always wants to take full advantage of the situation where he can help anyone, regardless of creed, color, sex, etc. In short, his personality is a realized personality.       Second is foresightedness. He always looks at the end of the tunnel, however, he lives carefully in the present. Moments of happiness or sadness don’t bother him very much because he knows that all the worldly happiness or sadness is temporary. Moreover, it is not advisable to get entrapped in the snares of worldly comfort and ease. He, after careful observation, has come to conclude that I have to live here in order to have the best in the Hereafter.        Third is humility. He never is arrogant. He is down to Earth. He speaks according to situation. He never speaks against the needs of situation. After a careful observation, he has come to conclusion that sometimes it is better to keep silent because the need of the hour demands that. If he feels that his speaking can prove disastrous, he remains silent. In this way, his humility is real humility. He never bothers what others say. He does for the satisfaction of the heart and His Creator.        Fourth is morality. He is good in conduct and business with everyone. He never loses sight of the fact that in order to please His Creator, he has to do what he is entitled to do. If a person does wrong to him, he never thinks of harming him or her.  Being aware of the fact:  a true person does good to everyone for the sake of God, in this way, he sets an example. He, sometimes, forces his opponent to think differently about him.        Fifth is silence. It is one of the most important characteristics of the worthy person to remain silent. He reads less but ponder over the things that he has learnt. According to one of the great scientists that was featured  in the monthly,  Science Reporter, a person told him that I read a large number of books. The scientist was pleased. But he remarked that your way of reading is not good. If you read in this fashion, then it means that you have no time to think. You only add knowledge but without understanding anything.  However, it doesn’t mean that they are silent in the times of speaking. At the moments of speaking, he speaks through many ways.       Sixth and last is his or legacy. Knowing his deeds, almost everyone in the society wants to imitate him or her. Such is an attraction of his or her personality that everyone is ready to copy his or her style. He or she doesn’t feign but still people feel that it is an honor to be like him or her.       Really, a worthy person is an asset. Now, it is up to us to decide whether we want to become a ray of hope or  keep disturbing others in whatever manner we can do. The need of the hour is to prepare ourselves as the real models of truth, love, humility, etc., and become beneficial person.
By: Syed Mustafa AhmadAuthor at AsnaavMustafa@asnaav.com

Important milestone for Kashmir rail project

Editorial 12 April, 2021 Issue .

Important milestone for Kashmir rail project 

Building of rail link between Kashmir valley and Jammu is not just a project but a dream come true that will make connectivity easier from Kashmir and give relief from often highway blockades on Jammu Srinagar National Highway.Recently in a big leap towards realization of the same  Constructed at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore, an arch bridge between the Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is dubbed as  important milestone in seamless railway connectivity to the Kashmir valley.
It is a big symbol and In other words, a train from Kanyakumari can reach all the way to Kashmir uninterrupted. The bridge, which can withstand wind speeds of over 266 kmph is higher than the tip of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.a historic day for the Northern Railways and a milestone in the completion of the USBRL project, connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. The project will be completed within two and a half years,” Northern Railway General Manager Ashutosh Gangal said.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal watched the lowering of the closure segment of the arch by cable crane through a video link from Delhi. Senior officers, including Mr Gangal and Konkan Railway Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta, attended the function.On the construction of the arch, the ministry said that this was one of the most difficult part of the bridge.
“This achievement is a major leap towards the completion of the 111-km-long winding stretch from Katra to Banihal. It is arguably the biggest civil-engineering challenge faced by any railway project in India in recent history,” it said.
“This bridge is 1,315-metre long and is the highest railway bridge in the world being 359 metres above the river bed level. It will be 35 meters higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris (France),” the ministry said.One hopes Jammu to Kashmir rail link that would connect Kashmir to country would be reality soon.

SMC would leave no stone unturned to make Srinagar city a better place to live : Athar Aamir Khan, Commissioner SMC

SMC would leave no stone unturned to make Srinagar city a better place to live : Athar Aamir Khan, Commissioner SMC

Young and dynamic Indian  Administrative Officer ( IAS) ,Athar Aamir Khan, the Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC)  in an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir talks to Rameez Makhdoomi and Farzana Mumtaz.
How did the idea of taking up as IAS as career option came ?
Basically ,  I was studying at IIT Mandi , Himachal Pradesh  , the Electric Engineering Course and in the last year of study I changed the mind to go into the Indian Administrative Services , as I had mostly been lot outside Jammu and Kashmir for studies I could compare career opportunities . Initially I wanted to go for higher studies but  I found IAS best to serve the public and also contribute to any sector  infrastructure or social via your position and resources available   and contribute to  development of the country .The work you do impacts many people and changes their lives towards betterment In countries like ours one can play role of catalyst via being civil servant .
Is working in place like Kashmir a challenge ?Every place has its own challenges . I belong to Kashmir and I am quite familiar with the place and that is advantageous   .Whether you work in Kashmir or Jaipur or any other part of the country it is the effort that counts .
Downtown seems to be ignored no proper sanitation and Sewerage facilities and what about progress on   Srinagar a smart city project ?Downtown would be never ignored . Smart city has two components one is Area based Development and in the context of Srinagar city Downtown is the zone for ABD Development and second is Pan City Development projects like IT projects and vending zones. We have also taken in city beautify projects under  smart city like building toilets ,more vending zones , cycling zones . We are also looking into effective and dynamic solid waste management and taken four wards as pilot wards . We have taken up hundred percent door to door collection and proper seperate disposable of biogredable and non biogredabble . We will have via these pilot wards what sort of overall infrastructure we require for efficient Solid waste management for entire city . The experience of these four wards will help us in knowing challenge ,people response and thus effective implementation for overall city .We want to make waste management bin free and liter free and have done same in these four wards and if anyone disposed waste outside they would be penalised . Media has key role to play in awaring people in this context .Now via Reforms and Amendments many department have been brought under SMC preview especially roads of city , will your human resource strength support this much burden ?Yes ten department have been transferred under our preview . City road division and small roads meaning some 364 roads comprising of 1400 kilometers  have been transferred to us . This process is in transition. We already have works division in SMC that would cater to this . Once the transition takes place it would all be streamlined . We are already in talks with Rand B to ensure smooth implementation and transition .Drainage system of the Srinagar city has been pathetic to say the least ,how will you improve same ?Drainage system of Srinagar would definitely improve in coming times.The geography of the Srinagar city is such that water has to be pumped out , we have around  85 Permanent  dewatering Stations   and they had problem of getting inundated during floods  . There is Jehlum Tawi Flood Recovery project  run  under World bank  and under this programme we are upgrading the capacity of these dewatering Pumps . We have kept utilities like Gensets at quite height  and they won’t be impacted even in floods . We need to remember these dewatering Stations dont cover entire city but main parts of it . For other we have mobile pumps which are now being deployed immediately in areas that get drenched immediately . The requirement of getting compact drainage for thousand kilometers or  more in Srinagar city  is needed and we will make those drainage that works efficiently . It is a long term and would depend on  financial outlook .
One more challenge every SMC commissioner has faced is Dog Menace and you are also dealing with same . How will you address  with it ?See the intention can’t be that dogs should go away . We need to remember that say we have fifty thousand dogs but population should not go up . There are laid out guidelines by the Supreme court and Animal Welfare Board . The vaccination of dogs and sterilising dog population to control it is way ahead . We have to rehabilitate Dogs back to their habitat  according to laid out guidelines . We need good infrastructure to do effective Dog sterilising and we are in touch with other  Municipal Corporations  how they deal with the issue . But , let me tell you our modus operandi is to ensure Dog sterilising in efficient way and very sooner .Would SMC be tough against illegal Constructions especially that come up during pandemic and also action against illegal occupation of footpaths  ?SMC has reorganized it’s encroachments wing . Wherever we are getting information about illegal Construction we are taking up immediate action and also freeing the footpaths is also our priority and being taken up.Will we witness Srinagar as smart city in the year 2030 ?Smart city is a subjective term . If we keep our city clean and follow traffic rules, stop power thefts , value the water and warerbodies and protecting our heritage we would be automatically smart city . Yes taking up infrastructure projects would be continuos process and building compact infrastructure for Srinagar city is top priority .
Your message to public ?
My message to people is to cooperate with our SMC workers especially during cleanness and sanitation . We need public cooperation to keep city always clean and we as SMC would leave no stone unturned to make Srinagar city a better place to live .

Editorial 5 April ,2021 Issue on Non JK registered vehicles.

Resolving issues of non -J&K Registration number vehicles 
In a major decision sometime back , Regional Transport Officer Kashmir has asked the owners of vehicles bought outside Jammu and Kashmir to get such vehicles registered with their concerned ARTOs to avoid seizure. 
A notification issued by RTO Kashmir in this regard said “Vehicles purchased outside J&K with non-J&K registration numbers and not registered with local ARTO offices are being seized.”
According to a notification issued by RTO Kashmir the ARTOs of Valley districts have been asked to seize vehicles purchased outside Jammu and Kashmir but run in Kashmir without registration by concerned regional transport authorities in Jammu and kashmir and those possessing vehicles purchased outside Jammu have been advised to follow the due procedures for registration immediately in Jammu and Kashmir. The move evoked strong reaction as scores of vehicles across Kashmir have been seized by the authorities.
The Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA)  protested in Srinagar against the latest police crackdown on non-J&K registered vehicles and demanded exemption from what they termed as “double taxation”.On the other hand of the spectrum , Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar associated the move with militant attacks and drug transportation in the valley wherein he said such vehicles were used.

While as , Taking strong exception to the re-registration of non-Jammu and Kashmir purchased vehicles Apni Party also  said that arbitrary induction of such laws was adding more monetary burdens on the people currently bearing the brunt of an economic recession.
One hopes this issue of grave nature would be solved soon in an amicable manner .

 People should not be put to heavy burden as already economy of many is collapsed due to pandemic.

Opinion on Buisness and Covid19 .5 April,2021 Issue.

                       BUSINESS AND COVID-19

Suhaib Ashraf Bhat.
Morning comes another dayHow can one be expected to live this wayToo much to handle, depression and painChaos and torment, almost drive me insaneShadows fall as night draws nearIt’s not the darkness that I fearHaunting memories too much to bearA life full of tragedy and despairHow much suffering should one soul sustain?Take this nightmare and its pain.
Coronavirus (COVID-19), a virus that grew stealthily has become one of the deadliest viruses that is killing people worldwide. This virus took birth in Wuhan city of China and since then have travelled to more than 160 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Coronavirus as a pandemic. It has become a mass scare and is leading to the deaths of thousands of people in numerous countries including China, Italy, Iran, Spain, the US and many more. In India, this pandemic started on 30 January 2020 by affecting an individual who had travel history from Wuhan, China.World economy is seeing its greatest fall ever. Corona virus has largely impacted the growth of almost every country and is responsible for the slump in GDP worldwide. Like other countries, India is also impacted by this virus. Almost every industry sector has seen a fall in their sales and revenue. Share markets that include Sensex and Nifty are on nose dive since the occurrence of this pandemic (COVID-19). Sensex has declined close to 8000 points in a month. This could be the beginning of a recession that Indian market will never want to witness. Investors are advised to stay safe and invested in this virus-infected stock market. Few industries that can benefit from novel coronavirus during the time of market crash are pharmaceuticals, healthcare and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Due to this outbreak, almost 80% of Indian companies has witnessed cash flow difficulty and over 50% of companies are facing operations issues. As per Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) 53% of companies are impacted by COVID-19. Slow economic activity is resulting in cash flow problems eventually impacting repayments, interest, taxes, etc. The consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak are unprecedented and felt around the world. The world of work is being profoundly affected by the pandemic. In addition to the threat to public health, the economic and social disruption threatens the long-term livelihoods and wellbeing of millions. The pandemic is heavily affecting labour markets, economies and enterprises, including global supply chains, leading to widespread business disruptions.The ILO and its constituents – Governments, workers and employers – will play a crucial role in combating the outbreak, ensuring the safety of individuals and the sustainability of businesses and jobs.The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is no exception. The disease – became a global pandemic – emerged in a densely populated manufacturing and transport hub in central China and has since spread to 29 other countries and regions (as of 20 February 2020), carried along by Chinese New Year and international travel.In contrast to the Western Africa Ebola emergency of 2013-2016 – more deadly but less contagious, arguably more isolated, and eventually contained in part by richer countries putting money into Africa – COVID-19 presents larger, more interdependent economies with management dilemmas. It has also surfaced at a time of eroding trust within and between countries – with national leadership under pressure from growing societal unrest and economic confrontations between major powers.Effective governance of cross-border crises such as pandemics involves preparedness, response and recovery at local, national and international levels. Epidemic preparedness assessments show many countries, especially in regions where new pathogens might emerge, are not well equipped to detect, report and respond to outbreaks. Response strategies vary, for example: playing up or playing down crises and staying open for business as long as possible versus seeking to reopen quickly. COVID-19 has highlighted tendencies in many countries to deny or cover up red flags in order to avoid economic or political penalties, but this approach can misfire.With tens of millions of workers now in quarantine and parts in short supply, China is struggling to get economic activity back on track. Countries with well-honed crisis risk-management arrangements are faring better at slowing the spread of infection, although that does not make them immune to political and economic pressures.COVID-19 has also shown how governance failures may involve inaction or over-zealous action by ill-prepared authorities scrambling to maintain or regain stability. Both ends of the spectrum undermine trust and cooperation among citizens and countries. Centralized control measures may seem necessary to stop or delay the spread of the virus, and compensate for weak individual and community resilience, but may also cause harm. Where a stringent policy response is deemed necessary, business will inevitably be impacted, with both near-term effects and less-expected longer-run consequences.Travel restrictions and quarantines affecting hundreds of millions of people have left Chinese factories short of labour and parts, disrupting just-in-time supply chains and triggering sales warnings across technology, automotive, consumer goods, pharmaceutical and other industries.Commodity prices have declined in response to a fall in China’s consumption of raw materials, and producers are considering cutting output.The mobility and work disruptions have led to marked declines in Chinese consumption, squeezing multinational companies in several sectors including aviation, education abroad, infrastructure, tourism, entertainment, hospitality, electronics, consumer and luxury goods.Forty-three out of 46 countries experienced a lower level of trade in goods. South Africa, India, Mexico, France and Italy are the five countries that suffered the highest reductions in trade volume.  Unemployment is skyrocketing, while policymakers across countries race to implement fiscal and monetary measures to alleviate the financial burden on citizens and shore up economies under severe strain. The underlying cause of the economic slowdown is a global pandemic. The spread, and thus the economic impact of the virus, are highly unpredictable. But it affects people in all countries, states and localities to some degree. The pandemic also hurts almost all industries, turning the health care challenge into an economic one. Most of the economic disruptions affect the demand side. People can no longer go to work and often lose their jobs and incomes as businesses shutter their operations. Businesses are holding off on investments amid the growing uncertainty. And, exports will inevitably falter as other countries are taking similar actions to slow the spread of the virus. There will be some limited supply side effects. Businesses will fail as they lack customers and cash to sustain them for extended periods of time. Small and medium sized businesses, especially in low-margin industries, are ones most acutely hit by the economic fallout. Any economic intervention needs to primarily focus on boosting the demand side of the economy. This means replacing incomes, especially among lower-income and middle-income families. 
It is obvious to everyone that the financial crisis is shaking the entire world, East and West. It is a serious event that is giving the politicians, decision makers, prominent thinkers and economist’s sleepless nights. It is a huge calamity that is very complex and has many implications, which explains the great turmoil being experienced by economists and politicians, and it also explains why so much is being written about it, analysing it from different points of view. They are in a state of great confusion, and some of them have started to blame one another for what has happened. 
This crisis requires some explanation in order to highlight some important shar’i aspects that have to do with it.
The crisis is real
It has led to the collapse of major banks and financial institutions; international stock markets have declined, trillions of dollars have evaporated, billions have disappeared from the financial markets, many countries in the world have hit rock bottom, millions have lost their wealth, be it in the form of shares, savings or investments; the investments of the American people in the stock markets have lost $4 trillion. This crisis has become like a tsunami, striking the economies of many countries. 
“the roof fell down upon them”
Economy and money are the main foundation of Western society, and when they were content with that and forsook the laws of Allah swt, “Allah swt struck at the foundation of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them, and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive” [al-Nahl 16:26]. 
What we are seeing today of large scale destruction is about to utterly destroy them. The economic structure that they boast about and think will protect them has become the cause of their turmoil and decline. The calamity has come to them from above and from below. They thought that their financial system was perfect but from that system has come that which they never expected. “and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive”. 
“Say (to them), ‘It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds)’” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:165]
Just as calamities and disasters have known, tangible causes, they also have spiritual causes. The fact that there are tangible causes does not contradict the fact that there are spiritual causes too. 
Oppression, transgression, sin, disobedience to Allah swt and denying the rights of others are all causes of calamities befalling people at both individual and group levels, and even at the global level on occasion, as we are seeing in this crisis which involves calamities one after another. 
“Evil (sins and disobedience to Allah swt) has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned (by oppression and evil deeds)”
[al-Room 30:41] 
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much”
[al-Shoora 42:30]
In the saheeh hadeeth it says: “When zina (fornication, adultery) and riba (usury, interest) appear in a town, then they have brought the punishment of Allah swt upon themselves.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (679). 
What has befallen the people is not a problem from heaven; rather it is a calamity that has befallen them because of their sin and what their own hands have wrought.  
Allah swt gives respite but does not forget
He gave them respite whilst they were dealing in riba and consuming it doubled and multiplied (cf. Aal ‘Imraan 3:130) and waging war against Him for so many years, until He punished them with shortness of crops and destruction, as He did with Pharaoh and his people before: “And indeed We punished the people of Fir‘awn (Pharaoh) with years of drought and shortness of fruits (crops), that they might remember (take heed)” [al-A’raaf 7:130]. 
The Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Allah swt gives respite to the wrongdoer until, when He seizes him, He will not let him off.” Then he recited (interpretation of the meaning): “Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful (and) severe” [Hood 11:102]. Agreed upon. 
No one should think that Allah swt in His exaltedness, might and power is leaving these people to wrong others and rebel (disobey Allah swt) in the earth wrongfully ( Yoonus 10:23), disbelieving in Him and committing every major sin, then He will not send down His wrath and punishment. 
The destiny of falsehood is to weaken and diminish: No matter how high it rises, there will come a day when it will inevitably be brought low. This is one of the laws of Allah swt that never changes. “It is Allah swt’s promise that nothing rises in this world but He will bring it down.” Al-Bukhaari, 2872.
The Westerners occupied the pinnacle of the global economy, and they said: “Who is stronger than us?” so Allah swt brought them down from their financial fortresses and citadels, and instilled fear in their hearts and exposed the falseness of their claims.

May Allah swt make things easy for us.  Aameen suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com

Opinion on Peace , 5 April ,2021 Issue .

  PEACE AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Syed Mustafa Ahmad
Peace is relevant to every age. It is inseparably  related with the human existence. Peace basically means harmony. With the passage of time, the concept of peace has gone through many changes. The concept of existence has widened to embrace global existence.  In the present circumstances, the need of peace has increased manifold when there are many problems. Global warming, human rights violations, gender disparity, ethnic cleansing, etc., are the evils that are looking us into our faces. These problems have the potential to set the ground for a ferocious war. Nuclear arsenals can be disastrous, if not used properly. So, in this situation, the necessity of peace can hardly be overlooked. It should be clear that a war is not an attribute of a modern civilization.      In the onward march of civilization, the biggest threat to peace has been an inclination towards aggressive nationalism. Man was pitted against man since progress was linked to a particular regional identity, narrowly defined by physical borders. It is called regionalism. It was only after the two World Wars and the dropping of two atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that it began to dawn on us what lack of peace meant. The destruction left by the “ hot wars” made us to think that it was of no use for the sake of a particular region. The mutual coexistence could be a better option. In the process of things, the “ hot wars “ were replaced by the Cold War. The World was divided between two superpower rival camps. The USA on the one side and the erstwhile USSR on the other side. It lasted for 45 years. This Cold War like the previous two wars, threatened the World peace on a large scale. The concept of deterrence stopped them from engaging in a hot war. The arenas of the Cold War like Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, etc., made it clear that Europe was again heading for a collateral damage. It is only now that we have begun to grasp the fact that peace is not merely lack of war but a positive concept in itself. It is multifaceted and includes political, social, economic components and all other issues involving man. It is a holistic concept that can’t be fragmented and viewed.      The League of Nations was formed to promote the World peace. But it spectacularly failed in achieving this. It must be noted here that both the World Wars were fought for the sake of peace. The First World War was fought for “making the World safe” and the Second World war was fought” for implementing President Wilson’s 14 points”. It was after the Second World war that we achieved limited success in managing peace by the setting up of the UNO. Although it has been dominated by the big powers, it has done some commendable work in giving every nation an equal voice. There is one country- one vote principle in the General Assembly. It has also realized its goal in resolving certain conflicts during the Cold War like the Korean War. But overall the UN in the present conditions have failed to resolve many issues. The Palestine issue, the Kashmir issue, the Rohingyas, The Tamils, the Arab Spring, etc., to name few. Some issues among the above-mentioned problems can set the whole World on fire. We are witnessing it with each passing day when a nuclear power country incites another nuclear country for a war. In between, the helpless nations become the soft target. Until and unless, the grass root problems are not addressed, the achievement of global peace is a distant dream. Issues like poverty, global warming, female infanticide, genocide, loot of free market economy, fascism in the garb of democracy, etc., should be addressed on a war footing basis. For this to happen, everyone has to come forward for the sake of beautiful nature.      If global peace is to be achieved as an objective, we must hate rhetoric and go to the root of the problem. It is the world divided into the ‘ haves’ and ‘have nots’. Until a balance is achieved between the two, there will always be disequilibrium and hence, a threat to world peace. The distribution of wealth and power is in favor of the industrially developed nations and until we redress this anomaly, there will continue to be disruptions in peace. The under developed nations must also inculcate a culture of self-help rather than expecting anything from the international organisations.  Cultural invasion must be restrained since it breeds a sense of insecurity among minority communities and religions. Fundamentalism of extreme type should be stopped at any cost. It is this mindset that proves very destructive for the global peace. Superpowers must also give the temptation of mistaking their interests for the interests of the world in general.      Regional groupings can play an instrument role in standing up to big power dominance and promoting their own agenda of peace. The Non- Aligned Movement was the best example in this regard. It tried to mitigate the rivalry between the two super powers and put forth their own agenda of global peace. SAARC, BRICS, RCEP and OIC can also play a decisive role in establishing to the global peace. Among them, SAARC has a large role to play, particularly in the South Asia. There are two nuclear weapons states in this group. They can act as a deterrence in the wake of any threat to the global peace. OIC can be helpful in reducing tensions among the Muslim countries in particular and the other countries in general.     World peace and ecological stability are related since only peace can bring the focus back to preserving the earth, rather than destroying it. Both concepts appeal to the natural and stable instincts in man and are the two sides of sustainable development. Only if nations stop viewing each other with suspicion, they can divert resources towards creating a healthier environment, rather than simply defending a system and a way of life, which is no longer sustainable.      Last but not the least, global peace is not a matter of policy. It is about survival. If we choose peace, we choose life and if we reject peace, we reject life. This painful experience has come to us after we have lost innumerable people. It is not too late to act. There is a change in the future. We can pledge that our actions should be in the direction of peace and not vice versa. We are hopeful that after a bloody battle, we will embrace peace. The only need is to be careful whatever we do. Before pointing at other person’s fault, we should look at ourselves. There should be a balanced world order. Inequality should be removed at the earliest.

House Boat Policy 2021, Cover Story 5 April,2021

Houseboat Policy 2021News Kashmir Exclusive
Houseboats have been integral part of Kashmir culture and Tourism .
The origin of the houseboat lies in the chapters of Kashmir’s history. It is said that the native kings had forbidden foreign visitors, especially the British from constructing houses in the region and this gave rise to the concept of a houseboat.But critics have often blamed them for pollution of water bodies , now in a latest the Jammu and Kashmir Government has framed New Houseboat Policy .Recently, the Administrative Council (AC), which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the roll-out of policy and guidelines for sustainable operation of houseboats in Dal and Nigeen lakes.

Pertinent to mention here that in a bid to preserve the marine eco-system of both the lakes, the new policy aims to regulate the functioning of houseboats moored in Dal and Nigeen lakes by adopting the models of sustainable and responsible tourism. 

The policy envisages providing a pleasant experience to tourists and sustainable source of living to stakeholders while preserving the fragile ecosystem. 

Keeping in view the carrying capacities, the Tourism Department has capped the number of houseboats in both lakes at 910. Under the new policy, the houseboats are required to be registered online subject to the fulfilment of various conservation parameters; within 30 days from the date notification of the policy.

 Yaqub Dunoo, Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association , Chief Spokesperson stated :” We are still examing the policy as Directorate of Tourism is yet to give us final policy document , the previous policy seemed to aimed at crushing the houseboat industry as it had many unfriendly and illogical parameters . We will keenly study the policy and give our opinion on it after studying .We are hopeful that this policy would be friendly and core issue of houseboat reconstruction would be allowed and no adverse guidelines will be there . We fully respect the conservation and preservation of Dal Lake as Houseboats are there only due to lake and houseboats are similarly jewels of lake . We are ready to install bio toilets in the Houseboats .”
We are aware of the reality that the houseboats in Srinagar are usually static as they remain moored at the edges of Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake. Some of the houseboats have been built in early 1900s, and are still being rented out to tourists.One hopes that Houseboat policy 2021 would be acceptable to all the stakeholders and it would usher a new era of sustainable and environmental friendly tourism in the gorgeous valley of Kashmir

Srinagar Development Authority Employees pained our plight of SDA

Srinagar Development Authority Employees pained our plight of SDA.

The Employees Union of Srinagar Development Authority have expressed great displeasure over the fact that how in a continued manner the Srinagar Development Authority as a Department has failed to meet its aims and objectives .


Importantly, The SDA employee Union made it clear that due to poor management since past few years the Srinagar Development Authority has completely lost its track .

SDA employee Union stressed that how Current Vice Chairman too has failed SDA and disallowed even the basic transport allowance to the Employees of the Srinagar Development Authority and as a result they are since week protesting same move .

They urged the Government to intervene to set the working of Srinagar Development Authority in order .