The new year has dawned. Lot of hopes and optimistic feel is in air . 2023 (MMXXIII) will be a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2023rd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 23rd year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 4th year of the 2020s decade.
The year has started on right tone of hopes.
On insistence of India, The United Nations declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM 2023) on Tuesday at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) headquarters. A widely popular Indian food staple, millets, which encompasses a diverse group of cereals including pearl (bajra), propo, foxtail, barnyard, little, kodo, browntop and others, is an important source of nourishment for millions across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
The hope throughout the world including in Kashmir is that year 2023 would be a year of peace and hopes. People pulse hopes that no more bloodshed will take place in Kashmir or any other part of the world. Humans will learn to live as one Global Family.
People of Kashmir would be hoping that in the year 2023 the multi headed monster of Unemployment, Drug addiction and inflation in form of price rise would be solved .
The expert pulse has been that the from every analytical spectrum, the rising levels of unemployment especially among the educated youth has emerged as a serious issue with a little headway witnessed in this context. The need to increase Government jobs and widen private sector would help to create more jobs.
The rise in drug addiction among the youth of Kashmir over the years has been a constant cause of concern calling for immediate attention from all the stakeholders. Drug addiction is the most severe issue faced by the people of Kashmir ruining the life of scores of youth.
Power cuts is a severe issue faced by masses especially in harsh winters.
The load shedding problem especially in the harsh winters has made life in Kashmir quite miserable, and one has seen this problem been a regularity in Kashmir. The lack of quality power supply in winter months has hit every sector of life . One hopes that in the year 2023 it would be resolved .
People in the year 2023 would also be hoping that rapid strides would be taken towards building education and health infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
Coal is an important fuel . It’s improved quality is key to national growth.
The Ministry of Coal and the coal companies have taken various measures to achieve the objective of supply of quality coal to all consumers. Coal companies are to endeavour to achieve 100% quality satisfaction. There has been substantial improvement in conformity to declared grade of coal supply from Coal India Ltd (CIL) sources. The grade conformity has jumped to 69% in 2022-23 (till Nov’ 22) as against 51% in 2017-18.
Steps taken for improvement in quality are periodic re-gradation of coal mines, introduction of improved mining technology like surface miners, supply of washed coal, first mile connectivity for direct conveying of coal on Belt from Coal surface/face to Rapid loading Silo, installation of Auto Analyzers etc. Different officials/agencies are entrusted with the job of ensuring supply of coal in conformity to the declared grades. Primary reason for grade variation is the inherent heterogeneous nature of Indian coal itself meaning, calorific value of coal extracted within the same seam at different points tends to vary.
Coal Controller Organisation (CCO), a subordinate office under the Ministry regularly assess and declare coal mines grades including undertaking annual coal mine/loading points grade declaration exercises. For enhanced customer satisfaction, special emphasis has been given to Quality Management of coal from mine to dispatch point. Now, all the consumers of CIL have the option for quality assessment of the supplies through independent third-party sampling agencies (TPSA). These accredited third-party agencies have been engaged to ascertain Coal Quality from loaded coal wagons/lorries as per prescribed norms under BIS standards.
One hopes we as a country become global leaders as far as producing quality Coal is concerned.
Upgrading Coal for masses
Coal is an important fuel . It’s improved quality is key to national growth.
The Ministry of Coal and the coal companies have taken various measures to achieve the objective of supply of quality coal to all consumers. Coal companies are to endeavour to achieve 100% quality satisfaction. There has been substantial improvement in conformity to declared grade of coal supply from Coal India Ltd (CIL) sources. The grade conformity has jumped to 69% in 2022-23 (till Nov’ 22) as against 51% in 2017-18.
Steps taken for improvement in quality are periodic re-gradation of coal mines, introduction of improved mining technology like surface miners, supply of washed coal, first mile connectivity for direct conveying of coal on Belt from Coal surface/face to Rapid loading Silo, installation of Auto Analyzers etc. Different officials/agencies are entrusted with the job of ensuring supply of coal in conformity to the declared grades. Primary reason for grade variation is the inherent heterogeneous nature of Indian coal itself meaning, calorific value of coal extracted within the same seam at different points tends to vary.
Coal Controller Organisation (CCO), a subordinate office under the Ministry regularly assess and declare coal mines grades including undertaking annual coal mine/loading points grade declaration exercises. For enhanced customer satisfaction, special emphasis has been given to Quality Management of coal from mine to dispatch point. Now, all the consumers of CIL have the option for quality assessment of the supplies through independent third-party sampling agencies (TPSA). These accredited third-party agencies have been engaged to ascertain Coal Quality from loaded coal wagons/lorries as per prescribed norms under BIS standards.
One hopes we as a country become global leaders as far as producing quality Coal is concerned.
Do not hesitate to write if you have a thought in Mind: Malakshmi Borthakur, Poet and Author
Malakshmi Borthakur is an eminent poet and Author from Assam, presently settled in Lucknow. In an exclusive interview with News Kashmir, Malakshmi Borthakur talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
A bit about your early days ?
I am the youngest of my siblings and my father’s pupil of the eye. I was considered the most talented child in my neighbourhood. When I was pursuing my junior school, I had almost finished reading epics, Puranas, Upanishads and all contents of Sanskrit literature that had been translated into my native language Assamese. I was the editor of my school journal, Mandakini, which was a bilingual journal in both Assamese and English. My teachers used to be impressed on reading the journal. That’s how the making of an author had started inside me.
After marriage, I came to the ‘City of Nawabs’, Lucknow, known for its sophisticated blend of two languages in their purest forms, Urdu and Hindi, popularly known as ‘Lakhnawi’. My fondness for it started growing and simultaneously got started the ‘taalim’ (education) of Indian Classical music. The ‘Guru’(the teacher) being my husband Dr. Biju Kumar Bhagawati, an eminent Classical vocalist in Lucknow.
Then, it was the year 2013, when my daughter Ananya was born. Her birth was a complicated delivery. During that period, I was undergoing lots of pain, physically and emotionally. I felt, those pain were gradually killing my enthusiasm for life. I was in a desperate search for healing myself from that mental trauma. So, as a relief system, I took up writing and started scribbling any kind of crazy thoughts that used to run through my mind. The gradual arrival of stability in my life also had brought with it maturity to my ink and in a certain point of time I could convince myself that those scribbles had turned into mature poetry. Thus, poetry became my therapy, the lone strategy of my survival.
In the year 2016, I started bringing my poems to public sight through Facebook. Those poems were all written in my native language, Assamese. There were some friends in Facebook, who used to read my poems regularly and sent me honest feedback. There were many non-Assamese friends too, whom I used to periodically explain the meanings of my Assamese poems in English. As they were enjoying those poems, they suggested that I should write poems in English also. I was so fascinated by the suggestion that I started writing in English too. Gradually I started being a multilingual poet who writes in three languages- English, Hindi and Assamese.
How was academic life like?
I am a Post-Graduate in English and Indian Classical (Vocal) Music, having an additional Bachelor degree of Education. Presently, I am pursuing PhD in English from Banasthali University, Rajasthan. My early education was in Assam, the north-eastern state of India I belong to. I was a brilliant student and was loved by all my teachers. They were very supportive and encouraging. Even today I am in close contact with many of my favourite teachers.
Your favourite writers ?
I am very fond of reading the poems of famous Assamese poet Hiren Bhattacharya, renowned Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Gulzar Sahab and Urdu Poet Kaifi Azmi and Faiz Ahmed Faiz Saheb. I am also an avid reader of fiction. The popular fictions of Hindi writer Munshi Premchand, Bengali writers Mahasweta Devi and Sarat Chandra Chatterjee and Assamese writer Purabi Barmudoi have always been my favorite. In English, R.K Narayan’s imaginary village ‘Malgudi’ and the stories he wove around that village fascinate me still. Also, I love the poems and the writing style of Kamala Das, who’s poems have close resemblance with the confessional poems of famous American poet Sylvia Plath.
A bit about book you have authored?
The title of the book I have authored is ‘Splendid Signature: Rhythmic Strokes of a Quill’. It is a collection of 50 poems in English. These multi- thematic poems are selected from a bulk of poems written during the period 2016 to 2021. The book has been published by Black Eagle books, Dublin, USA. The doyen of contemporary Indian English poetry, K. Satchidanandan has written the blurb of the book and eminent critic and editor Anand Prakash has written an insightful introduction for the book. The book has been launched by eminent author, Jnanpith awardee and Padmabhusan Dr. Pratibha Ray.The book is available worldwide on merchant sites like Amazon and Flipkart. It has got its reach in USA, UK, Canada and France.
‘Splendid Signature – Rhythmic Strokes of a Quill’ falls primarily under the category of women’s writing and it tells you about the problems women face with respect to their right of equality, dignity and independence. Along with it, the book covers a diversity of subjects ranging from individuality, love, and mythology to economic deprivation, childhood, and social violence.
Many of my poems in the book are written in the first person. The readers may assume those are autobiographical: the life story of the narrator i.e. me. I have used this literary device with an experiment i.e. a blend of Confessional poetry in English and ‘Kotha Kobita’ in Assamese; which I consider a powerful device to craft a message, to get connected with my readers well.
Your current projects?
I have been editing a 110 years old Assamese popular children book, ‘Burhi Aair Sadhu’ written by the doyen of Assamese literature, Rasaraj Laxminath Bezbaroa, which I have translated from Assamese to Hindi. The translation work will come in the book form in 2023. The work of compiling poems for two poetry collections is also going on, one in Hindi and other in my native language, Assamese.
Your hobbies?
I am a solitary kind of person and I love to do things which connect me well with myself, like reading and listening to music. Also, I enjoy the company of my little daughter Ananya the most. We play together, enjoy cartoon shows and movies too. Cooking for the family and friends is also a hobby.
Tell us about your inspirations
My father Sarat Chandra Borthakur, who was a Professor in Sanskrit Literature, who is now in heaven, is my first inspiration. He is my friend, philosopher and guide even in his absence. He inculcated in me the reading habits during my early childhood days. Later on, these reading habits helped me a lot to start my own writing habits.
The advisor of the school journal Mandakini, of which I was the editor, was my English teacher Mrs. Umarani Bezborah. She was very fond of my editing and writing skills. Her words of appreciation and motivation during those days had encouraged me a lot to take up writing on a serious mode.
What I consider is, the journey of an author is the collaboration of himself /herself with his/her surroundings. I normally write what I observe around or what thoughts I derive from my surroundings. So, my surroundings also inspire me to write time to time.
Your message?
Do not hesitate to write if you have a thought in your mind and never feel disappointed or discouraged if it does not take the shape of a good piece of writing in the first attempt. There’s a phrase, “Practice makes a man perfect!” And in that practice, you should give your 100 percent. As my father always used to say, “Scribble, scribble, keep on scribbling; until it turns out to be a perfect writing!”
Green Valley Educational Institute organises colorful two day Art Exhibition
By Rameez Makhdoomi
In a major development with reference to promoting art in Kashmir, and give young and budding artists of Kashmir a platform to showcase their talent, renowned school of Kashmir Green Valley Educational Institute organised a Two Day Art Exhibition “Satrang” at Nigeen Club Nigeen.
Several prominent artists and painters of Kashmir including Hina Arif , Shafiya Shafi , Badrunnisa Bhat etc showcased their work .
While talking to this correspondent, Shafiya Shafi, eminent multi talented artist expressed delight that such impressive art exhibitions are held and lauded efforts of Green Valley Education Institute.
Hina Arif , renowned Painter and art teacher called for more such functions and development of art galleries in Kashmir to provide artists and painters more avenues to showcase their works .
Green Valley Educational Institute Chairman, Mohammad Yousuf Wani , while talking to this correspondent stated :” Green Valley Educational Institute has always taken art and culture fields very serious. The world class painters displaying their great talent here are products of Green Valley Educational Institute. We are proud of our legacy. Both our students and art teachers are dynamic and well versed in artistic skills. We would continue to organize such art exhibitions for budding and renowned artists .”
Students are an asset. They are past, present and future of a nation. It is they who keep the flame of development alive. The Poet of East, Sir Muhammad Iqbal, stressed upon this fact that the destiny of the students is not this worldly matter; but rising above the worldly bonds, is the main aim of students. Looking through this lens makes it clear how we sensitive we must be towards the development of students. No leniency is acceptable in this regard.
If we look at the developed nations of the world, they invest in students. They have experienced old people, who guide the youth or students in the best possible way. Japan and China are some live examples. Instead on spending on other futile things, they want to make their nation supreme in every respect. So, they are sensitive towards the all round development of their students. However, in our case, there is no such thing. Students are left with no opportunities to prove their mettle. They have world class brains but the absence of opportunities and some other factors, hurt their cause. It should be kept in mind that it is not the product of a single factor; rather it is the combination of many factors. Let us try to know some of them.
The first is materialism. When the main objective of life is to pile up material things, then there are cent percent chances that students will be neglected. Indeed, it is happening in our society. The associated-thing with it is that education itself has become a source of earning as much as anyone can. In this situation, no doubt, we have students but they are good for nothing. They want to complete their education because they think that education is an end in itself. So, getting a piece of degree, make them to feel that we have invested a lot in earning these pieces of degrees, now, let us extract as much as we can. In this way, the main objective before students, is thrown to winds.
The second is lack of knowledge. We do not know why we are here. When the elders and leaders do not their objective of life, it makes no sense that students of theirs can do miracles. They will toe the line and become good for nothing. Mark Twain says that only two days are important: One is when we are born and the day when we know why. This is the gist of life. Any sane person who, if asked, admits that there is an objective behind our creation. We are not useless. However, our ignorance has made it possible that neither we nor our students know anything about it.
The third is imitation. Well, imitating others in good principles is a welcome step. However, imitating others blindly, is a curse. Everyone is different. No two people are same. But we tend to forget this thing. The main concern of our students is to imitate those who earn a lot and are respected by each and everyone. They forget themselves and at the end of the day, are not found in any place. It is a big fault of our society that let students follow others without looking at both sides of the coin. In this way, the marvellous brains are destroyed.
The and last is corruption. Students feel choked in a corrupted society. Their wings are clipped before taking a flight. In our corrupted state, merit is taken for granted while show off and bribery take a long flight which no one can imagine. What can a student do in this environment? Obviously, he or she will feel that it is useless to be enlightened. However, he or she enlightens himself or herself but in some other way. A student asides itself from the mainstream learning where question papers are sold. In this way, the very aim of education goes for a toss and enlightenment hangs its head in shame.
In short, students should be taken care of. They have plastic minds. We are moulders. We have to come forward to mould them in the best manner. Let us to pledge that we will never let our students feel in want. Instead, we must be ready to help them in whatever way we can. Hope good sense prevails!
Nuclear power is a resource of utmost importance in present era to meet growing energy needs.
Nuclear energy protects air quality by producing massive amounts of carbon-free electricity. It powers communities in different countries of world and contributes to many non-electric applications, ranging from the medical field to space exploration.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh recently said, Government proposes to set up more nuclear power plants for augmenting production of clean energy.
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Dr Jitendra Singh said, in addition to the eleven (11) reactors (8700 MW) under construction, the Government has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for construction of ten (10) indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) to be set up in fleet mode.
The government has also accorded in principle approval for five new sites for setting up nuclear power plants in the future.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the tariffs of electricity generated by nuclear power are comparable to those of contemporary conventional base load generators like thermal power. The present installed nuclear power capacity comprises of 22 reactors with a total capacity of 6780 MW. In addition, one reactor, KAPP-3 (700 MW) has also been connected to the grid.
Nuclear power is the most low-carbon energy sources. It also has one of the smallest carbon footprints. It’s one of the answers to the energy gap. It’s essential to our response to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
One hopes India as a Country would continue to focus on nuclear power .
Natural farming also referred to as “the Fukuoka Method”, “the natural way of farming” or “do-nothing farming”, is an ecological farming approach established by Masanobu Fukuoka (1913–2008). Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer and philosopher, introduced the term in his 1975 book The One-Straw Revolution. The title refers not to lack of effort, but to the avoidance of manufactured inputs and equipment. Natural farming is related to fertility farming, organic farming, sustainable agriculture, agroecology, agroforestry, ecoagriculture and permaculture, but should be distinguished from biodynamic agriculture.
Natural farming is growing in India.
To promote natural farming, the central government has approved the National Mission on Natural Farming as a separate scheme with an expenditure of Rs 1,584 crore, said Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar while addressing the National Conference on Soil Health Management for Sustainable Farming some days back.
Under the Namami Gange Programme, the project of natural farming is going on along the banks of the river Ganges, while the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and all Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Central and State Agricultural Universities and Colleges are making all-round efforts to promote natural farming, a statement from the agriculture ministry said.
Speaking at the Conference, Tomar said that due to chemical farming, soil fertility is getting eroded and climate change in days to come is going to be a big concern for the country and the world across. The lack of organic carbon in the soil is a serious concern.
To expand the area under natural farming, the government will soon announce a substantial increase in the financial assistance provided for promotion of traditional indigenous practices which do not recommend use of chemical fertilisers.
The Gujarat election result ,The Himachal election result and the Delhi MCD result all gave surprising results .
In the Gujarat elections BJP won record breaking victory , In the Himachal Pradesh elections Congress pulled off a surprise victory , In the Delhi MCD election results AAP pulled off a decent victory.
Gujarat voting the BJP back for the seventh straight time, this election has made history in the state: it gave the party over 50 per cent of the popular vote and the highest seat tally in the House at 150 plus minus a ‘Hindutva wave’ but at the same time making room for a new political party in the Opposition space.
BJP, which has been ruling the state since 1995, had set a target of 150 seats and campaigned aggressively across 182 Assembly constituencies. The party’s battle was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who addressed dozens of public rallies and road shows.
While addressing party workers at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Narendra Modi said, “BJP has got the biggest mandate in the history of Gujarat. People have created a record in breaking records. When i was in Gujarat, I had told people that Narendra’s record should be broken.”
The surprise was overwhelming performance of BJP in tribal areas. In the 2017 elections , Congress party’s tally of 77 seats and a vote share of 41.4 percent was its best performance in over two decades. The party, however, failed to build on the 2017 performance and has shrunk to 20 seats with a vote share of 27.04 percent.
The party has lost ground in its tribal strongholds. The tribal belt of Gujarat has 27 seats and the BJP is leading in all tribal seats.
Gujarat has a tribal population – 89.17 lakh – comprises 15 percent of its total population, as per the 2011 census data.
Congress got the happy news from the hill state of Himachal Pradesh by bagging 40 out of the 68 seats. Often, Himachal Pradesh has never repeated a government in power in the last 37 years. The pragmatic Himachali voter has always thought it best not to let any party get too comfortable in the seat.
Priyanka Gandhi aggressive campaign is also the reason behind Congress party massive victory.
On the otherhand,
AAP has won a majority in elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). AAP has won 134 seats, BJP 104, Congress 9 and Independent 3 in the 250-member MCD.
For several hours fortunes swung between BJP and AAP, with Congress nowhere in the picture. For a while BJP even topped the leads tally.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked the people for AAP’s victory in the MCD polls and sought the cooperation of the BJP and the Congress as well as the “blessings” of the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve civic amenities in the national capital.
Overall , the results of Delhi MCD, Gujarat Elections and Himachal election were a surprise .
I see Aam Aadmi Party as positive political party : Jibran Dar
Jibran Dar is an emerging political personality of Kashmir. He has been an entrepreneur of par excellence. He is Youth president central Kashmir Aam Aadmi Party and among the most prominent political faces of Aam Aadmi Party in Chanpora constituency.
In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir, Jibran Dar talks to Farzana Mumtaz and Rameez Makhdoomi.
What motivated you to join the seemingly tough world of politics ?
My decision of joining politics was not just dictated by my brain, but my heart and soul. Seeing the multiple problems people of Kashmir face prompted me to join politics . In a place like Kashmir when you want to join all important tool of politics to change the face of society towards betterment and you get a big no from family, society and friends. I can’t understand if we go to same Minister’s or MLAS after their election for addressing our problems why we hesitate to participate in process of electing them. This hypocrisy has cost us much and needs to be changed. Politics is the biggest institution to change a place positively and when the good minded people enter it they can act as anti-virus like to heal the system from viruses.
Why you joined Aam Aadmi Party?
I could have easily joined a regional party , but unfortunately here in Kashmir all the regional parties are dynastic and corrupt in nature. From time to time they have sold our interests. I see Aam Aadmi Party as a positive political Startup wherein talented, honest, those with Calibre can grow and serve the people. I consider it a very dynamic and impressive political platform.
Would you participate in any upcoming elections?
First of all they should conduct elections in whatever form as they are needed. Be they Municipal or Assembly elections we will participate. We have worked a lot and enjoy the support of people. The new generation leaders working on ground zero in Kashmir would get lot of support from Kashmir.
What difference you see in earlier politics and politics of nowadays?
In the earlier times, the politics was strange to masses. The people hardly knew their candidates or those who won the elections. Even in year 2014 elections the internet use in Kashmir was limited. The political people and vested interests had kept often restrictions on internet use. The realities in the year 2022 are totally changed, today the internet pentration is deep in Kashmir. People are aware about many things due to internet. Internet is going to play positive and critical role in Kashmir elections. Today people know who is doing what in Kashmir.
How do you feel on many issues faced by Srinagar people ?
The people of Kashmir face multiple problems. There are only two things in Kashmir, one is the rain and snow, the other is millions of issues faced by people. I don’t want to touch some issues because my coming seven generations won’t be able to solve it. My focus would be to solve water, electricity , sanitation, roads , ration issues of masses especially the people of Srinagar.
The dynasty ridden politicians of Jammu and Kashmir have just filled their personal coffers and looted the people. They have occupied properties at prime places ,leaving nothing for people .
Do you agree with sentiment in Srinagar that the city has been left much backward as opposed to other districts?
I agree with this. The entire Srinagar city has been left out of development. The absence of basic facilties has crippled life of masses. Look at Nowgam ,an area near to Srinagar city neither Municipality nor rural divisions are owning the area, leaving it in lurch .
Did you ever thought like Shah Faesal to form your own party ?
I never thought to form my party after the horrible experience from the party formation of Shah Faesal. He could not deliver and neither carry foward his vision. This really hurt the sentiment of people. So for me there was no better option than joining the Aam Aadmi Party which has already proven its mettle in number of areas .
Is Arvind Kejriwal Personality acceptable to people of Kashmir?
You Have to bear in mind that a honest human being is appreciated irrespective of his creed, colour, caste, religion, ethnicity. He has proven his dynamism and intellect through credible performances.
Suicides once thought very strange to the valley of Kashmir, since some years are now happening on regular instances.
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.
The recent suicide of a young girl due to tough conditions in life at Sopore has caused valley wide pain.
On Monday (12 December), a 9th standard girl in north Kashmir’s Sopore area ended her life by jumping into river Jhelum and the body still remains unrecovered. Her relatives and friends are eagerly waiting for her remains on Jhelum embankments, even as people continue praying for early recovery.
Social media is abuzz with anguish and agony .
Skinder Gulzar, a social media user wrote, “An orphan girl from Sopore have allegedly commit suicide after feeling helpless of family financial problems. As a society how shameful we shall fell.”
Just few days after it in same Sopore, 23-year-old youth was prevented from committing suicide in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said here on Thursday evening.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the youth during evening hours was spotted by locals attempting to jump into the river Jhelum at Chankhan bridge in Sopore.
Following this, the locals rushed towards him and foiled his suicide attempt,” he said.
The statistics with reference to suicide rare in Kashmir are worrying to say the least.
According to the Crime Gazette 2021 recently released by Jammu and Kashmir Police, the valley is witnessing an increase in attempted suicide cases with Central Kashmir district Budgam and North Kashmir’s Baramulla toping the tally with 73 cases each with crime rate 4.36 per lakh population.
The Valley witnessed 586 attempted suicide cases in 2021 while the number was at 472 in 2020. At the same time, the winter capital Jammu witnessed only 20 cases of suicide attempts.
The data in 2021 clearly shows that there has been noticeable increase in the attempt to suicide cases as compared to the year 2020.
The rising mental depression is said to be one of the main reasons behind spurt in suicides.
The need of the hour is to work on knowing our society and understanding it better.
