Curbing Power Theft, Cover Story 8 July 2024

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Curbing Power Theft
News Kashmir Analysis
Power theft had been a major cause of concern in Jammu and Kashmir.  It has been robbing much of the revenue of the region and keeping the power department in huge losses.
The non payment of electricity bills was another major concern which is being solved.
But , since few years concrete steps are being taken to curb power theft which is bearing the fruits.
The figures and statistics are now atleast promising.
KPDCL has added  13,179 connections in 3 months, carries out 55K inspections to curb losses
11,450 consumers also disconnected for non-payment of dues
No tariff hike, only calibrated rationalisation of load as per consumption as per the department.
In this regard, recently it was stated that the  Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has added 13,719 fresh connections to its domestic consumer base of 9.81 lakh, adding load of 7.5 MW in the system.
To curb power theft and bring down losses, as many as 55,321 inspection drives were carried out by Kashmir DISCOM from April to June this year.
In a statement issued here t a KPDCL spokesperson stated that vigorous enforcement drives are being undertaken on a daily basis at Subdivisional level to crackdown on incidents of power pilferage, primarily by hooking and bypassing of meters in urban areas and exceeding of sanctioned load in rural areas. “Strict directions have been given to SDOs to recover dues for energy unauthorizedly consumed, raise Writ of Demand and present their cases for imposition of penalty before the Designated Courts,” he explained, adding those found using electricity unauthorizedly shall be dealt with an iron hand.
Giving details, the spokesman said 1949 new connections were added in Kulgam, 1630 in Budgam, 1269 in Sopore, 982 in Anantnag, 935 in Tangmarg, 843 in Ganderbal, 812 in Shopian, 747 in Awantipora and 611 in Bijbehara Electric Division.
Apart from above, KDPCL has also intensified action against tampering of smart meters with several FIRs registered in concerned Police Stations. “Nearly 600 applications have been filed for registration of FIRs for smart meter tampering and other thefts like hooking,” he added.
Expressing concern over unauthorised use of electricity by consumers, the KPDCL spokesman said that even in peak summer months, reports of damage to distribution transformers are being received from some parts of Kashmir Valley. “KPDCL advises its consumers to avoid using crude heating gadgets like heaters and boilers, which have been banned by the Government,” he added.
The spokesman further stated that KPDCL has disconnected 11,450 consumers for non-payment of pending dues during the first quarter of the current financial year. This includes 8,655 domestic, 2,697 commercial, 94 hoteliers and 34 industrial units. “Outstanding arrears amounting to Rs.43.26 crore have also been recovered from the consumers,” he added.
Urging the consumers to ignore rumours on tariff hike, the spokesperson once again reiterated that KPDCL has not hiked electricity tariff in both metered and non-metered areas. He, however, stated that calibrated rationalization of load as per actual consumption in unmetered areas is being carried out by all Electric Subdivisions, following Supply Code regulations. “Consumers can opt for metered billing, if they find flat-rated charges disproportionate to their consumption,” the spokesman advised.
The people on ground also hope that burning issue of often curtailment in power would be resolved as it is hitting hard people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Muharram’s Inspiring Stories: A Treasure Trove from My Childhood  By Javeed Ali

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Muharram’s Inspiring Stories: A Treasure Trove from My Childhood
By Javeed Ali
In the quaint Zadibal area of Srinagar, I was born and raised in a vibrant Shia neighborhood, where the sacred month of Muharram was a time of profound reflection, sorrow, and communal unity. As a Shia child, my love for Imam Hussain (A.S.) was nurtured in my mother’s embrace. During this hallowed month, our home and neighborhood transformed into a space of poignant remembrance, filled with somber atmosphere, heartfelt stories, and vibrant processions that resonated with emotion and reverence.
As I sit here, reminiscing about my childhood, memories of Muharram flood my mind like a nostalgic breeze. The month of mourning left an indelible mark on my young heart, with its processions, elegies, and stories of courage and compassion. I vividly recall the Juloos, with men and women clad in black, their tears and chest-beating a testament to their love for Imam Hussain (A.S.) and his companions. The haunting chants of “Ya Hussain” still echo in my mind, evoking a sense of grief and solidarity.
Attending Majlis gatherings was another cherished experience, where speakers recounted the tragic events of Karbala, instilling in me values of courage, loyalty, and compassion. These moments of contemplation shaped my understanding of faith and spirituality, connecting me to my roots.
As a child, I eagerly collected contributions and helped erect Sabeels, serving mourners with water and food. Memorizing Nauhas and reciting them with zeal in our processions is still etched in my memory.
Today, as I reflect on those childhood memories, I realize the significance of Karbala as a way of life, reviving our spiritual values and belief system. The lessons learned during Muharram continue to inspire me to strive for goodness and justice, keeping the spirit of Imam Hussain (A.S.) alive in my heart.
Year after year, as I observe this sacred month, I am reminded of the enduring legacy of Imam Hussain (A.S.) and the lessons of Karbala that guide me on my spiritual path.
—The author is a freelance writer and can be reached at javeedaliofkashmir@gmail.com

Heatwaves in Kashmir

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Heatwaves in Kashmir
The global warming and climate change has been knocking do8ors in Kashmir too.
Heat Waves are a period of unusually high temperatures as compared to what is normally expected over a region. Therefore, the temperatures at which Heat waves are declared differ from place to place based on the temperature climatology (historical temperatures) of that region.
Heatwave conditions persisted in Kashmir on several days and on  Thursday , 4 July with Srinagar recording a maximum temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius, six notches above normal and the highest in July in 25 years, officials said.
The city had recorded a high of 37 degrees Celsius in July 1999.
Srinagar was hotter than Delhi (31.7 degrees Celsius), Kolkata (31 degrees Celsius), Mumbai (32 degrees Celsius) and Bengaluru (28 degrees Celsius).
As a matter of fact, Valley of Kashmir has been experiencing rising temperatures and scorching heat over the past few weeks, leading to water shortage in many areas.
On their part, health department has issued advisories to deal with the heatwave conditions. The school education department has already announced a 10-day summer vacation for all schools in the Valley from July 8.
A report published few time
back by Moody’s, titled ‘India: Temperatures Beyond the Heatwave?’, documents that the mercury in reality exceeded the normal heatwave limit. The report suggests that mitigation of heat is the only viable solution.
It further points out that global temperatures are soaring to unprecedented levels as heatwaves are being declared in various countries.
During May alone, more than 200 people had died and some 20,000 had been hospitalised with heat stroke in India. On 1 June, 33 election officials died of heatstroke in the state of Uttar Pradesh,” the report underlines.
The need of the hour is that we in Kashmir take series of steps especially planting more trees to safeguard ourselves from the heatwave .

Water Scarcity, cover 8 July 2024 issue.

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Water Scarcity

News Kashmir Analysis
Water is life , it is just not an adage but a reality of our world.
Water is an essential source for the existence of life on the planet earth. It is widely used for various purposes such as drinking, washing, bathing, cleaning, cooking, irrigation, and other industrial and domestic uses.
Water is vital to our health. It plays a key role in many of our body’s functions, including bringing nutrients to cells, getting rid of wastes, protecting joints and organs, and maintaining body temperature. Water should almost always be your go-to beverage.
Despite being water rich  the valley of Kashmir different areas are witnessing water shortage.
The residents of several villages in “Kandi B” area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district few days back  protested against Jal Shakti Department for failing to provide them drinking water for the last several years.
“Kandi B”  comprises of eleven villages .
There are also reports of water shortage from Central, South and North Kashmir.
In South Kashmir district of Pulwama the villagers of Koil are facing a significant irrigation crisis as prolonged dry spell of this summer continues to impact the region.
Few time back , Residents of Mominabad area of Batamaloo have expressed concern over the drinking water shortage in the locality.
Be it uptown or downtown the water shortage is felt in many areas.
Few weeks back, Residents of Syed Hamidpora Nawab Bazar area of Downtown had complained of an acute shortage of drinking water supply for long time.
The expert opinion is that While the drinking water shortage occurs throughout the year at some places but it gets serious  and extended to more areas in summer. It has been observed that generally in  summer the people need more water for drinking purpose.
Melting glaciers in Kashmir is another serious cause of concern that will have adverse impact including on our water supply as melting  glaciers will also have long-term implications, like groundwater recharge and overall glacier recharge, thus agriculture too will take a bad hit.
The less rainfall has also been a consistent worry.
Experts have also opined  that El Nino and the absence of a strong western disturbance may be to blame for Kashmir’s prolonged dry weather.
The need of the hour is that masses of Kashmir also take steps like not encroaching and polluting water bodies so that the situation doesn’t get more worse for us. People of Kashmir also have to incalculate water Saving  habits in them.

Amarnath Yatra 2024 Starts

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Amarnath Yatra 2024 starts
News Kashmir Desk
Amarnath Yatra has started in the year 2024. It is a  revered annual pilgrimage for Hindus, dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Located in the Himalayas at an altitude of about 3,888 metres in Kashmir, the yatra takes you to the sacred Amarnath Cave, where a naturally occurring ice stalagmite, believed to be a manifestation of Lord Shiva, is formed. From Pahalgam.
Unprecedented security measures, including electronic surveillance along the entire yatra route and access control arrangements, have been made for the annual Amarnath yatra that  started  on June 29.
Meanwhile, traffic authorities have issued an advisory for Amarnath yatra.
“In view of the forthcoming Shri Amar Nath Ji Yatra-2024, the administration has decided to impose certain restrictions on traffic plying on different routes. These restrictions will be in force between 28/06/2024 and 19/08/2024,” an official spokesman said.
52-day pilgrimage will commence from the twin tracks –the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14 km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal — on June 29.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the preparations for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra at a high-level meeting in Pahalgam on Thursday.In a statement, issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Administration, Lt. Governor Sinha discussed the deployment of police and security personnel, doctors and nursing staff, duty officers, relief and rescue teams, and sanitation staff along the pilgrimage routes.”He emphasised the need for dedicated officers to oversee the effective functioning of the facilities provided by their respective departments,” the statement said.
Masses of Jammu and Kashmir are delighted over the Amarnath Yatra commencement.

Now in Beauty -wellness Traditional Skills to be Equipped with New-age Technologies

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Now in Beauty -wellness Traditional Skills to be Equipped with New-age Technologies:
Vijay GarG
By strategically nurturing this sector, India can leverage its demographic advantage to create a robust workforce ready to excel both domestically and globally
Let us not get too carried away with everything we do. It’s important to regularly reflect on our strategies and thoroughly evaluate the results. An unbiased assessment makes things much simpler for us. In the realm of skill development, taking action, maintaining consistency, and adhering to a routine are crucial. Leveraging the demographic advantage requires serious planning rather than being just a game. It involves building capacity, creating infrastructure, and grooming manpower to impart skills to our young population, making them capable of finding employment both domestically and internationally.
The India Skills Report indicates a 52.8% increase in employability for women and 47.2% for men. Women have surpassed men in terms of employability, particularly in areas such as nursing, beauty and wellness, and other soft skills, which have shown the highest employability rates among women in the post-COVID era.
The beauty and wellness sector not only holds vast potential for women but also for men in both domestic and global markets. The sector’s unprecedented growth has resulted in a significant demand for semi-skilled and skilled professionals in the country.
Currently, the beauty and wellness sector employs approximately 12.3 million people, with 66% of them being women and a considerable portion not only from lower socio-economic backgrounds but a lot of aspirants urging from decent educated families. It is projected that by 2027, the Indian Beauty and Wellness sector will offer employment opportunities to around 20.3 million people.
Interestingly, about 44% of the workforce in the beauty and wellness sector possess educational qualifications equivalent to or less than secondary education with limited access to technical training. There are opportunities for greater adoption of vocational education, particularly in segments such as salon services, beauty, fitness, nutrition, and yoga, which are showing increased acceptance of vocational education. Furthermore, the growing demand for services like nutrition consulting, fitness coaching, and nutraceuticals has resulted in new and diverse career opportunities that can be pursued by young individuals, who require skill enhancement and vocational education in Beauty and Wellness.
The Beauty and Wellness industry in the country is experiencing exponential growth, at a pace twice as fast as the markets in the United States and Europe. Heightened consumer awareness and aspirations regarding the industry have led to increased spending on beauty and wellness products and services. According to the Indian Beauty & Hygiene Association (IBHA), per capita spending on beauty and personal care has risen from around Rs 450 per annum in 2017 to Rs 684 in 2022 and Rs 772 in 2025.
While the global beauty and wellness sector grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.60% between 2018 and 2023, the Indian sector experienced an even higher growth rate of 18.40% during the same period, driven by a growing affluent and middle-class population and increased organized retail presence in the country. The sector is expected to reach around Rs 2,77,000 crores by 2025, showcasing a 23% growth from Rs 92,000 crores in 2018.
Promote Female Entrepreneurship:
It is essential to promote female entrepreneurship in India, as the current level is very low, with hardly one in every five entrepreneurs being female. The beauty and wellness sector presents unmatched opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship for women. Therefore, there is an urgent need to actively foster entrepreneurship and self-employment for females in this sector through specially designed entrepreneurship education, training initiatives, and fiscal support, enabling them to elevate their businesses.
To support female entrepreneurs, it is imperative to create a special fund in collaboration with the NSDC, industries, and angel investors for developing innovative start-up activities in the sector. Additionally, the establishment of regional incubation centres is crucial to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of promising women in the sector.
Under this initiative, young female entrepreneurs in the beauty and wellness industry must be equipped with new and improved business management skills to successfully run their enterprises. This focused effort should enable female entrepreneurs to develop concrete business ideas, create a bankable and investable business plan, and formulate a robust business growth strategy.
Traditional Skills to be Equipped with New-age Technologies:
The beauty and wellness sector is experiencing digital disruption as technology-led startups and 5G network access in rural areas become more prevalent. As a result, traditional skills in this sector need to be updated with expertise in new-age technologies such as app setup, virtual try-on services, and data analytics. In addition, providing better customer engagement offerings will be essential.
Furthermore, Artificial intelligence (AI) is also making significant strides in the beauty and wellness industry. AI applications are rapidly changing the sector with innovations like augmented reality. For instance, skin consult AI has been developed to analyze skin ageing, detect major signs of ageing, and provide personalized skincare recommendations. This technology combines thousands of images with dermatological expertise spanning 15-20 years.
Personalized Services:  Personalized services have become increasingly vital due to shifts in customer preferences, lifestyles, body types, and even genetics. The one-size-fits-all approach is outdated, with customers now seeking unique and tailored experiences.
The demand for on-demand-at-home services has surged, particularly among busy professionals. This has underscored the necessity for transferable skills among workers in the sector. Furthermore, new ideas and processes are galvanizing young students to pursue technical and technological careers, aiming to shape a better future.
Vijay GarG is Retired Principal Educational columnist malout

Importance of Statistics, 1 July,2024 Editorial

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Importance of Statistics
Statistics is an important field because it helps us understand the general trends and patterns in a given data set. Statistics can be used for analysing data and drawing conclusions from it. It can also be used for making predictions about future events and behaviors.
People who do statistics are referred to as statisticians. They’re particularly concerned with determining how to draw reliable conclusions about large groups and general events from the behavior and other observable characteristics of small samples. These small samples represent a portion of the large group or a limited number of instances of a general phenomenon.
Recently, we marked national Statistics Day.
National Statistics Day is celebrated on June 29 every year to recognize the contributions of PC Mahanalobis. It is not be confused with World Statistics Day, which is a UN-designated day and is celebrated on October 20 every five years .
The significance of Statistics Day is to create public awareness in the young generation about the role and importance of statistics in strategizing, economic planning and policy formulation. The occasion is celebrated as a reminder to learn from the achievements of Professor Mahalanobis in the field of Statistics.
Statistics are not just numbers and facts. You know, things like 4 out of 5 dentists prefer a specific toothpaste. Instead, it’s an array of knowledge and procedures that allow you to learn from data reliably. Statistics allow you to evaluate claims based on quantitative evidence and help you differentiate between reasonable and dubious conclusions.
The need of the hour is that students in Jammu and Kashmir too give due importance to the field of Statistics and keenly study same.

Paper Leaks, Cover story 1 July ,2024

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Paper leaks
News Kashmir Analysis
Paper leaks in the number of competitive exams across the country is causing much uproar, as it is harming the future of millions of students in the country.
President Droupadi Murmu also in her presidential address to the Parliament observed crucial thoughts on the issue.
government, she said, is fully committed to investigating the recent incidents of paper leaks and ensure that the guilty are punished. As she made the remarks, cries of “NEET” were heard from the Opposition benches.
“Sanctity, transparency are a must in government recruitments and examinations. The government is committed to conduct fair investigation and ensure the most stringent punishment to those guilty in the recent incidents of paper leak,” she said, adding that there is a need to rise above “partisan politics” and take strong  steps on the issue.
As a matter of fact, with the nation and political opponents clamouring over the NEET-UG paper leak case. The NET-UG and NET-PG examinations have also been postponed, giving the opposition ammo to double down on issues of youth employment – a talking point ahead of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections.
The president said Parliament has also made a strong law against paper leaks and is working towards major reforms in the exam process and the functioning of exam-related bodies.
“It is the continuous endeavour of the Government to provide right opportunities to the youth of the country to demonstrate their talent. Parliament has also enacted a strict law against unfair means in examinations.
In year 2023, Among the major paper leaks this year was the Hindi question paper of the Telangana Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination getting out. WhatsApp was the primary medium for spreading the question paper once it got out, in this case.
In Telangana again a paper leak was discovered during the Assistant Engineer recruitment exam, which eventually led to its cancellation on March 5 that year, and candidates who appeared for the test were left in a lurch about their futures.
Assam saw papers of two subjects leaked during the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) exams. When the papers for General Science and English got out, the Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA) was forced to cancel the tests.
In year 2022, Uttar Pradesh, there was a leak during the Lekhpal recruitment exams, based on which the state would get its village accountant officers within the revenue administration. The police formed a special task force, arresting at least 21 across seven districts.
It is worth mentioning here that Not just NEET, but at least 64 other major examinations across 19 Indian states have been marred by incidents of question paper leaks since 2019, according to data analysed by India Today’s Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) team.
One hopes that menace of paper leaks is curbed so that students are ensured bright future.

PM Modi historic visit to Kashmir on eve of World Yoga Day 2024

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PM Modi historic visit to Kashmir on eve of World Yoga Day 2024

News Kashmir Exclusive

In a big boost for Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday,20 June his first in his third term — sending a massive political message after the successful conclusion of the general election in the Union Territory.
The occasion will be the celebration of the 10th International Yoga Day, during which he will join a youth programme. Being in Jammu and Kashmir and leading a Yoga programme at Famous SKICC located on the bank of the Dal lake at that point, will be an exercise promoting national and global harmony.

Ten years ago, United Nations had declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.
Reliable sources state that over 6500 persons will perform Yoga with PM Modi, and appointment letters would be also distributed by PM during his stay.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi would spend a night at Rajbhawan, Srinagar on 20 th June.
People are highly hopeful and happy over the visit of PM Modi.

Suicides a grim reality of J&K, cover story 17 June,2024

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Suicides a grim reality of J&K
News Kashmir Analysis
Suicides once thought very alien thing in  the valley of Kashmir,  since some years are now  happening on regular instances. In recent times we have heard about lot of suicides happening in our region.
According to prominent Knowledge source Wikipedia, suicide  is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and substance abuse (including alcoholism and the use of and withdrawal from benzodiazepines) are risk factors. Some suicides are impulsive acts due to stress (such as from financial or academic difficulties), relationship problems (such as breakups or divorces), or harassment and bullying.Those who have previously attempted suicide are at a higher risk for future attempts. Effective suicide prevention efforts include limiting access to methods of suicide such as firearms, drugs, and poisons; treating mental disorders and substance abuse; careful media reporting about suicide; and improving economic conditions.
Recently, a teenage
herself to death in her home at Harwan area of Srinagar late on Thursday, 13 June evening, officials said.
An 18 year old boy hailing from Dassal village of Rajouri allegedly committed suicide by hanging with the ceiling of his house.
The deceased was identified as the  resident of Dassal.
Numbers and figures are grim.
Jammu and Kashmir topped the country in attempted suicides in 2022, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has revealed.  Against 1769 instances recorded by the Bureau during the year across India, 497 were reported from Jammu and Kashmir alone.
It is heartbreaking The entire country, in the meanwhile, is witnessing an increase in the number of cases in which the abetment to suicide is taking place. Against 8816  cases in 2020 and 9361 such cases in 2021, the number in 2022 reached 9400. In the Jammu and Kashmir context, there were only 44 cases of abetment to suicide involving 56 persons.
We are very well aware that,
Suicide is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions. Many factors can increase the risk for suicide or protect against it.
Kashmir valley was once known for its pious value system ,termed as the abode of Sufi saints.
The phenomenon of suicides was once very uncommon in Kashmir but the graph of suicides has now run north too in recent times. Actually, we need to understand the reasons behind rising suicides in holistic terms to solve this menace.