December 19 , when you left us Mom.
MISS U MOM…..
My mom Hakim Nayima, I know you are listening from the heavens above. There’s nothing that I value more, than your love. No matter where I am or what I am doing, your memories will always keep me smiling. I miss you.Rest in heavens Mom
YOUR
MAJID ALI GHAZI
GAZI DOORI ALAMGARI BAZAR SGR.
What Next? (Hurriyat restricts shutdown to two days)
Farzana Mumtaz
Recently, the joint resistance leadership issued a new protest calendar in which there would be full-day relaxation on five days.
Pertinently, Kashmir has seen almost continuous shutdowns since July 8, 2016, when Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan wani was killed in an encounter. First four months of agitation had almost seen nonstop shutdowns, as about 100 civilians were killed and more than fourteen thousand injured and hundreds blinded by infamous pellet guns .
As a matter of fact, the move to restrict shutdown to few days comes after much pressure was mounting since sometime on the Hurriyat to relax the existing calendar which had brought the usual chorus of life to a grinding halt. “The leadership feels that a sustainable long-term strategy based on proactive initiatives, programmes and sustainable modes of protest is the way forward. We want maximum public participation and implementation, and minimum costs for the people,” a statement issued by the joint Hurriyat leadership said.
On the otherhand, the online world is abuzz with debate on the relaxation in protest calendar with some praising the move and some criticizing the same .
Nasir Khuehami, a young journalist wrote – “#Hurriyat taken off 5 month long shutdown calendar, Now announced winter vacation For kashmiri protesters from tomorrow till July 8, 2017. #Happy#winter #vacation for all protesters and #Hurriyat leaders.”
The curiosity on ground zero is as to what could be the new options of resistance or protest in hand for pro freedom leadership with new year 2017 about to come . In wake of mammoth economic losses due to months of unprecedented shutdown looks like Hartal calls might be limited as we move forward .
Importantly, many are seeing a radical shift in the protest calendar as a part of adopting to long term strategy and also recognizing the fatigue of people.
Bilal Bashir Bhat, a Journalist, while talking to News Kashmir stated -” The new protest strategy seems to be formulated after seeing the ground reality as shutdown was losing its impact and especially continuous shutdowns were proving excessive for masses. Looks like we will see a long term strategy from pro freedom leadership wherein the duration of shutdowns would be limited but calendars would be issued continuously and made reflect the public mood .Also, the coming times would offer much curiously and surprise as to what will happen next. 2016 has been definitely a very tough and painful year for Kashmir.”
With reduction in protest calendar, onset of winters, new year about to come , memories of civilian killings the question as to “What Next “ remains in minds.
Army pays tribute to soldiers killed in Pampore attack
Army on Sunday paid tributes to three soldiers killed in a militant attack in South Kashmir’s Kadladal area of Pampore town on Srinagar outskirts in Pulwama district yesterday.
Senior officials from the civil administration, including the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan, and other security agencies joined the Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen JS Sandhu in paying homage to the slain soldiers, said an army spokesman.
Pertinently, He said the mortal remains of the slain soldiers – Naik (Gnr) Ratheesh C, 35, a resident of Kotolipram, Kannur district in Kerala, Gunner Farate Sourabh Nandkumar (33) of Village Bhekrai Nagar, Pune and 24-year-old Gunner Shashikant Pandey, resident of Zharian, Dhanbad district in Jharkhand – would be flown to their natives places where they will be laid to rest with full military honours.
44 BN CRPF ORGANISED A CIVIC ACTION PROGRAMME AT DOWN TOWN SRINAGAR
In a colourfull ceremony, 44 bn crpf organised a civic action programme today at Naqshband public school, S.r. gunj, Sarafkadal, down town srinagar. teachers, students and parents attended the function in which many items were provided to the school, like white boards with markers for all the classes, desk & benches, book shelves, multimedia projector with screen, r.o. system of 500 ltrs/hr capacity along with storage tank of 1000 ltrs and lot of books.
Addressing the gathering sh. Rajesh Chaurasiya, commandant 44 bn highlighted the mutual support and cordial relations the people in the neighborhood maintained with the forces inspite of unrest in the last few months, the loss which the students suffered during these months and to help them overcome this loss commitment of crpf towards extending help for their better education by providing modern audio visual aids of teaching, books for higher learning and r.o. system for safe and healthy drinking water. he also assured the school authorities for more help in future.
Delivering his vote of thanks, sh. Rafiq Ahmed Wani, principal, said that the school will always be gratful for the help/support received from CRPF and ensured that the books/items provided will be put to the best use which will definitely help the teachers and the students.
Dark Ages
Farzana Mumtaz
The prolonged spells of loadshedding is making life difficult for masses in Kashmir Valley. With the result, life in kashmir has been made miserable and hard to core. The year 2016 onset of winter has so far witnessed long hours of laodshedding as compared to previous ones. From the Uptown, Downtown Srinagar to Hundreds of villages reels under darkness in North, Central and South Kashmir.
Pertinently, the J&K State has the potential to generate around 20,000 MWs. of hydroelectric power, but it has largely remain untapped and whatever remains it has not been given due share in the various hydro-electric projects as NHPC continues to mistreat the state, and electricity seems by and large a Delhi-controlled affair.
Resultantly, inspite of all these facts the power situation worsens as winter sets in and most of the areas of Kashmir are thrown into darkness with never ending load shedding.
Another grey area which the power sector faces in the state is the transmission and distribution losses which are more than 63 per cent of the total electricity generation of the state. According to a report issued few years back , the transmission and distribution losses are about 50 per cent, while the rest 13 per cent are collection losses, making it an aggregate of 63 per cent.
Sources have stated the Power Development Department is presently buying 500 MW power from the neighboring states to tide over the deficit.
Nazir Ahmad, a commoner states- “The issue of power crisis had not been addressed by any of the successive governments, resulting in several hardships to the people and causing an economic inertia in the state. Everybody is aware of the fact that as a source of energy electricity is a basic need for sustaining human life. We cannot even imagine how our lives would have been if electricity was not discovered. Here in Kashmir this time around with the onset of winter the power scenario is presenting an abysmal outlook as long hours of power cut have made life hell for we the commoners .”
While on the otherhand, as per communiqué received from Chief Engineer, Electric, Maintenance & RE Wing, Jammu, the metered feeders of Jammu city and Udhampur town will not face any curtailment during the ongoing winter season 2016-17. Whileas in Kashmir the metered areas continue to face electricity cuts for long hours.
Painfully enough, from all the reports and facts emanating from ground zero we are this winter season witnessing more dreadful situation as this winter season we have seen unprecedented load shedding which has reached alarming proportions.
World Human Rights Day
World human rights day is observed every year on 10th December. 66 years ago UN General Assembly proclaimed 10th December as Human Rights Day in 1950 to the attention of the ‘People of the World’ the universal declaration of Human Rights as common standard of achievement for all peoples and all Nations. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by UN General Assembly in 1966 declares in its. It envisaged several bright articles as was found suitable for forward of humanity.
Article 1 envisages : All people have the right of self- determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. Article 6 states : Every human being has the inherent right to life. The right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life, and pertinently, Article 9 describes : Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention.
But, in current times human rights situation from Syria to Iraq, Palestine to Kashmir is heartrending . Killings, bloodshed, childhood brutalized, women dishonored etc have become order of day . The world we live in is having from all paradigms a very grim human rights situation .
Realities urge that the sane global leadership should brainstorm so as to improve the overall human-rights picture of world.
Super Kids
Farzana Mumtaz
After much pain, agony, gloom in the year 2016 on account of prevailing painful circumstances, finally the year end has come with some good news. Two Kashmiri kids have shinned at global level in sports field- Tajamul Islam in Kickboxing and Hashim Mansoor in Karate. Interestingly, both kids belong to North Kashmir District of Bandipora.
Seven -year-old Tajamul Islam from small village of Bandipora, Kashmir scripted history at the World Kickboxing Championship in Italy, where she made all proud by becoming the first player ever from the sub-junior category to clinch a gold medal. Pertinently, the World Kick Boxing Championship witnessed participation of more than ninety countries.
Pertinently, Tajamul’s natural aptitude for kickboxing was first spotted by the Army Goodwill School in Tarkpora. But there was no proper infrastructure in place to train for the sport. Tajamul’s coach Faisal Dar trained her in an open field with makeshift apparatus. Despite these all difficulties , Tajamul persevered and practiced at least 25 hours a week.
Her first major win was at the state-level championship in Jammu in 2015 where she won a gold medal in the sub-junior category.
In another big feat, just six -year-old Hashim Mansoor from Bandipora, Jammu & Kashmir, followed the footsteps of Tajamul Islam, clinched Gold in the Asian Youth Karate Championship in New Delhi.
Hashim Mansoor represented India in the Sub-Junior category in the championship held at Talkatora stadium in the national capital. Pertinently, 19 countries participated in the championship.
People of valley especially Bandiporians are much elated with the success of these two kids at international stage of sports . Nasir Khuehami, a young writer from Bandipora, reflecting on the subject stated -“Kashmiris have a great talent and are seen performing well in every sphere despite tough circumstances. It is a great moment for Bandipora District to produce two international champion kids. These victories prove that Kashmiri kids possess great talent and have the ability to shine at global level. We need to develop a supportive sports policy so that our kids shine big at global level and continue performing well even in adult tournaments. For the moment, the achievements of these two kids is worth appreciation and we are really of what they have achieved .”
With Six and seven year old kids from kashmir making it big in the sports world one hopes that a concrete sports policy is soon framed so that our kids continue to shine and adults also make us proud .
Address Power Crisis : Ishtiyaq Beigh
Referring to the ongoing power crisis in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, especially Kashmir Valley , Government Employees Conference and Non Gazetted Employees Union SKIMS President Ishtiyaq Beigh has urged authorities to solve the worsening load shedding prevailing in different areas with due attention and give relief to suffering masses .
He stated – ” It is the examination time and students are passing through tough time owing to loss of academic calendar so electricity is needed to facilitate their learning and ease out the other work of commoners .Government should ensure load shedding hours are cut considerably .”
Ishtiyaq Beigh hoped that in coming days electricity crisis will wane off immediately.
Rehbar-e-Taleems (ReTs) Regularization
Recently, in a positive development Director School Education Kashmir, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, has issued orders for regularization of services of 470 Rehbar-e-Taleems (ReTs) of Kashmir division, a communiqué informed.
“470 ReTs have been regularized including 82 from Anantnag, 44 from Bandipora, 49 from Baramulla, 51 from Budgam, 35 from Kulgam, 77 from Kupwara, 01 from Leh, 24 from Kargil, 24 from Ganderbal, 22 from Shopian, 43 from Pulwama and 18 from Srinagar district,” the statement issued by DSEK said.
The Director School Education said that efforts are being made to sort out all the pending issues so as to develop an efficient work culture in the department. He said process of regularization shall continue on a fast-track basis.
Last year, thousands of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers who were protesting against the decision of the government to make screening test compulsory for teachers.
As a matter of fact, ReT scheme was started by the previous National Conference government in 2000, which had appointed qualified people as ReT teachers in their respective areas to improve literacy and lower unemployment in the state. There are nearly 65,000 such teachers in the state, who are paid a consolidated monthly salary of Rs. 3,000 for five years before they get regularised.
With time, series of issues surfaced and virtually the ReTs were on warpath but now this process of kickstarting of ReTs, hopes are pinned that things will move toward betterment.
Mega Kashmir WOMEN FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT – 2016 Commences
CRPF Takes Initiative
Srinagar, Dec 3 : The srinagar sector, Central Reserve Police Force, in collaboration with J&K state sports council and J&K football association has organized women football tournament at Bakshi stadium, which commenced from today.
Pertinently, In her welcome address, MS. Madhuala, commandant 75 bn CRPF , highlighted the participation of girls in sports, commitment of CRPF towards promoting peace, harmony and women empowerment in a healthy way.
- k.k.Sharma DIG srinagar (South) crpf, was the chief guest who declared the tournament open in a colorful ceremony. Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed osd state sports council, Mr. Zameer Ahmed Thakur, president j&k football club, Mr. Hameed secy. j&k football association, mr. Mushtaq Ahmed div. sports officer and many senior CRPF officers graced the occasion.
In all, ten teams from different schools, colleges and clubs from srinagar and nearby areas are participating. Inspite of cold weather, young girls showed great enthusiasm for the game.
Pertinently, CRPF football tournament for boys will be starting from 5th dec-2016 at the same venue.