The Green hydrogen (GH2 or GH2) is hydrogen generated by renewable energy or from low-carbon power. Green hydrogen has significantly lower carbon emissions than grey hydrogen, which is produced by steam reforming of natural gas, which makes up the bulk of the hydrogen market. Green hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water is less than 0.1% of total hydrogen production.It may be used to decarbonize sectors which are hard to electrify, such as steel and cement production, and thus help to limit climate change.
It is a matter of great fortune that India is in the process of finalizing the roadmap to a “green hydrogen economy” which will require an investment of ₹30 trillion by 2030, said Vivek Kumar Dewangan, chairman and managing director, REC.
The country’s green hydrogen plans would play a major role in achieving its goal of net zero emissions and becoming a developed nation by 2047.
“India has launched green hydrogen project. Now, we are in the progress of finalizing a roadmap for becoming green hydrogen economy which would require ₹15 trillion and another ₹15 trillion is required to meet our middle-term goal by 2030. So in all, these initiatives would require an investment of ₹30 trillion by 2030,” Dewangan said.
It is worth mentioning here that The high cost of production is the main factor behind the low use of green hydrogen. Nonetheless, the hydrogen market is expected to grow, with some forecasts of the cost of hydrogen production falling from $6/kg in 2015 to around $2/kg by 2025. In 2020, major European companies announced plans to switch their truck fleets to hydrogen power.
In this era of grim climate changes, the need of the hour is we increase the pace of Including Green Hydrogen in our economy.
Jk Women aspire Free and comfortable Public Transport
News Kashmir Exclusive
With increasing movement of women for purposes of work, buisness and family the needs of transportation of women have increased.
It is a matter of great pain that Public transport still is an uncomfortable and costly affair for women of Jammu and Kashmir. While as many other states of country have made progress on it .
Stree Shakti – The Parallel Force organization has done appreciable work all across country in highlighting and resolving the burning issues of women as it aims at pulling together individual and collective knowledge engaged in women welfare. It is a movement to rouse and activate women of every age, class and creed to empower them so that they work as catalysts for fundamental social change. The Forum provides a platform for joint action through research, networking and advocacy since 1998.
The Background
Female mobility has always been a matter of concern for socio-cultural –economic development for both rural and urban women. Research indicates that in lower strata of society one women annually spend around Rs 2500 on clothes , 1500 on medicines , 1500 on hygiene and Rs 2000 on unforeseen expense. Total Rs annually Rs 7500 on her personal expense. Where as on the bus travel alone her minimum annual expense is Rs 8000 alone.
In case of elderly women things get worse as their income dwindles and medical expense goes up they often face isolation resulting in serious health issues both physical and mental. Our research of one year conducted in different part of India pointed out that elderly women due to reasons like financial insecurity & instability confine themselves to the household only. 59% of the elderly women are widowed. Many of them have no bank accounts and levels of income are also very low. Many elderly women face desertion and live alone. Then living alone is remarkably higher among elderly women (9.6%) as compared to men (2%).
Free Travel Pass : A silent Revolution
A travel pass on public buses to the women will encourage them to travel and free link up with the world. The Free pass introduced by three prominent states of India , Delhi, Punjab and Tamilnadu have exciting findings. Different states have taken a different route to fund it.
Who is paying for the free rides for women : Delhi Model
For every free journey undertaken by a woman commuter, the Delhi government will extend a flat subsidy of Rs 10 to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and the DIMTS (Delhi Multi- Modal Transit Ltd) under which the city’s public bus fleet operates.
States with Free Travel:
AAP government New Delhi October 2019
BJP Haryana ( Partial ) January 2022
Indian National Congress Punjab April 2021
DMK Tamil Nadu July 2021
AINRC and BJP Puducherry (Intention) December 2021
The voices in Jammu and Kashmir are also urging free and comfortable public transportation for women of Jammu and Kashmir.
Aam Aadmi Party leader and prominent Public Rights Activist Jibran Dar ,while talking to News Kashmir Stated :” The Delhi Government has been able to give free public transportation to women via issuing pink slips. Millions of women have so far taken so far benefits of it. Many states are doing same. We need to bear in mind Delhi has much higher population than Kashmir as whole country visits Delhi for different purposes so if they have made efficient public transportation why can’t we. It is a matter of great misfortune even with uniform our girl students don’t get 50 percent concession. Also, with huge number of private vehicles issued and operating in Kashmir rampantly the focus on public transport has been very less. We need to bear in mind a small percentage of women mostly students and working go out in Kashmir and still we are failing to provide them quality public transport. “
The need of the hour is to provide quality public transport for the women of Jammu and Kashmir.
Waterbodies are important source of water. As we all know water is life. It is the limited number of water bodies that provide water for drinking , as ocean and sea water can’t be used due to its saline nature.
Kashmir valley was once the hub of water bodies. Ponds, Lakes, Rivers have formed the important part of topography of Jammu and Kashmir along with scores of wetlands.
The encroachments of these waterbodies by the selfish interests among common people and the ineffective attitude of successive Governments have devastated these waterbodies.
It is matter of great misfortune that Most of the well-known lakes in Kashmir have been deteriorating in the past few years. As a matter of grim worry some of the once renowned water bodies are breathing their last and are craving for attention from the concerned stakeholders. The dilapidated condition of once renowned lake of Kashmir-Anchar Lake is the prime example in this regard. On account of human lust and lazy attitude of government this lake is breathing its last.
Even the all important Dal Lake is also not much in good health despite number of efforts from the government in this regard.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently sought a comparative analysis report on encroachment of water bodies using latest and earlier data.
An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that addressing a convention of GIS professionals, government officials, entrepreneurs and young students that was organised to mark the World GIS Day here, the LG highlighted the significance of the emerging GIS technology to address new challenges and explore a new horizon of opportunities.
He said the encouragement to spatial thinking, development of new Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, and real-world applications are accelerating the growth in business, government and society.
Pollution is also hitting hard our waterbodies. Pollution in Dal lake began more than four decades ago due to the growing number of tourists resulting in increased commercialization of the place with the establishment of many hotels and houseboats. Thus, the amount of waste generated began to rise and new sewage lines were also developed. The untreated sewage since then has been released into the lake, causing pollution. in a span of over two decades, the lake has shrunk by more than half to just 11 square kilometres and lost over 10 meters of depth.
The resolve of LG Manoj Sinha with reference to saving water bodies of Kashmir is an appreciable step that should be welcomed by one and all. Sane voices hope that lost glory of water bodies in Kashmir would be regained .
Saffron is not a common spice for Kashmir but iconic symbol of our heritage. It is a representation of our age old heritage and diversity . Kashmir is home to world’s best quality saffron grown. Pampore the South Kashmir town is the saffron capital of Kashmir. Over the years many issues had confronted the saffron Spice of Kashmir. Lack of irrigation facilties coupled with Pampore converted in Jungle of construction and erratic weather had ruined the prospects of saffron for many years.
But now the realities are changing towards better. As this year better and bumper saffron crop is expected.
Kashmir valley is among the only three places on planet earth growing this spice. Saffron (pronounced /ˈsæfrən/) is a spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), a species of crocus in the Iridaceae. used in cooking as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, the world’s most expensive spice by weight is native to Southwest Asia Saffronfields.
Being one of the world’s costliest spices, saffron is used both in cooking and for producing cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
As a matter of fact, Saffron is one of the world’s most expensive spices and is known as the king of condiments. It fetches between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh per kg.
The annual yield of saffron crossed 13 metric tonnes in 2020 for the first time in 10 years. This year, the production is expected to break more records.
It is worth mentioning here that The tourists visiting the valley are stopping at the saffron farms to see how it is grown. A lot of tourists are buying saffron from the farms as well.
What stands out is thev GI tagging of ‘Kashmiri saffron$ by the Jammu and Kashmir government is doing wonders for the farmers associated in the production of saffron in the state. The certification under the Geographical Indications Registry will not just bring the adulteration to a halt but will also terminate the trade of saffron grown in other parts of the world being marketed as the Kashmiri saffron.
On the otherhand of the spectrum, The saffron cultivators in Kashmir Valley are adapting newer techniques such as indoor cultivation to grow saffron, one of the most expensive spices in the world. Farmers have to adapt as climate change has affected outdoor production.
The expert pulse and hope is that saffron from Kashmir would continue to rule the world again.
Shireen Moti is an legal academic and personality of par excellence. She recently bagged prestigious Women of future : 50 Rising Stars in ESG award .
In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir she talks to Farzana Mumtaz and Rameez Makhdoomi.
1. You have bagged prestigious Women of the Future: 50 Rising Stars in ESG award . How do you feel ?
The Women of the Future:50 Rising Stars celebrates the talented female trailblazers and role models aged 35 and under from around the world who are at the forefront of ESG. I believe that law is an instrument of social change. Lawyers are social engineers and have the ability to contribute towards the betterment of society. It feels wonderful to have been bestowed with this international recognition for my work on increasing access to justice through legal aid for rural communities in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir.
2. A bit about your early days of life ?
My family hails from Rajbagh, Srinagar. I am the granddaughter of Shri Omkar Nath Moti and daughter of Shri Anil Moti, who resided in ‘Motivilla’ Rajbagh. Unfortunately, during the 1990s we were forced to leave Kashmir due to terrorism in the State. We lost everything from home, father business, family lives during this genocide. My family survived this holocaust but trauma of exodus, leaving our home in Kashmir is still there. From 30 years, I have seen my grandparent and parent reliving the pain of exodus and wanted to go back their home in Kashmir but could not go in fear of losing their lives.
I was taunted and bullied by my seniors, classmates, colleagues in school , college, jobs as “Bhagore Kashmiri pandits” (…English meaning ) and I always faced this question “why you left Kashmir” and “You Kashmiri Pandits did not have courage to fight” and faced so many nonsense and abusive messages during my childhood till now. The irony is that in our country we “Kashmir pandit” became migrants and to be very truthful exodus was not limited to 1990s but every Kashmiri pandit family faces the pain of exodus every day in their life.
Even I faced humiliation, abused, taunts, bullied from society, I believe in the Gandhiji ideology of non-violence and a proud “Kashmiri”, and no one can snatch this identity from me. I am still hopeful that one day our Kashmir will be same paradise as I have heard from my grandparents and parent and everyone including all community will live together singing the songs of sharda…….
3. How was academic life like ?
The fact that I chose legal academia over the other opportunities that I had in the corporate world, is because of my passion for education. As an undergraduate student at Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, our Founding Vice Chancellor, Professor C. Raj Kumar always encouraged his students to dream big and to follow their dreams. That lesson will stay with me throughout my life. As a postgraduate student at Queen Mary University of London, I got the opportunity to debate, discuss and deliberate upon global issues with my colleagues from diverse backgrounds. I underwent the
4. Your take on progress of feminist movements in India ?
There is a huge misconception when it comes to feminism in India. Feminism is nothing but the equality between men and women. I believe that women across the globe have benefitted from the contribution of the feminist movement coupled with technological revolution. There has been a change in the ‘role of women in society’ and one can see this in our own homes. Simply put, if we compare three generations of women in a family, we can see progress. Having said this, violence against women, such as domestic violence continues to be a global pandemic and such issues need to be deal with more stringently at the law and policy levels.
5. Are we as a country still lagging in legal education. Your take as expert?
Given the globalized nature of the legal profession, legal education has to cater to the changing needs of the profession. Law students have to be equipped to work across jurisdictions. The law school curriculum has to undergo changes to produce lawyers of the future. The regulatory bodies should take this up more seriously.
6. A brief description of your book A Guide to LLM admissions and scholarships abroad?
The Guide to LLM Admissions and Scholarships abroad discusses every component of the admissions and scholarships application process in a detailed manner and offers practical advice to prospective Master of Laws programme students for the preparation of excellent applications for admissions, which will help them stand-out amongst thousands of other qualified applicants. It includes chapters on law school rankings, statement of purpose, curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, law school admission council services, fundamental information of twenty selected laws schools in the United States of America, key information of ten selected law schools in the United Kingdom, external scholarships or fellowships, scholarship essays, research papers and English language test examinations.
7. Your future goals ?
As a legal academic, I would like to contribute to scholarship in the area of Constitutional Law and Theory, transnantional feminism, clinical legal education, legal education, and violence against women. I would like to continue working in the area of human rights, with a focus on access to justice and legal aid and develop more collaborations with NGOs and civil society organizations towards achieving the goal of ‘access to justice for all in India’.
8. Who inspires you most ?
My father, Mr. Anil Moti, is my inspiration in life. I would like to emulate his qualities of resilience, strength of character, hard work, and zeal for life.
9. What us your message to humanity at large ?
Most wars can be avoided by dialogue and discussion. The key virtue is ‘empathy’. We need to be more empathetic towards each other and the circumstances that we are facing.
Start-ups ecosystem strong in India : Dr. Anita Gupta
Dr. Anita Gupta Advisor and Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Science and Technology is an eminent administrative brain of country and knowledgeable face when it comes to all important Start-ups.
In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir, She talks with Rameez Makhdoomi and Farzana Mumtaz.
Tell us a bit about Kashmir Expo event?
The three-day Kashmir Expo Start-ups for Livelihood event, which has been held in Kashmir, is a step toward an opportunity and platform to ‘Showcase Futuristic Innovators,’. The startups that have been nurtured and acheived excellence are participating.
How many locals startups are participating?
More than 15 local startups are participating in the mega event.
What is your take on startup atmosphere of the country ?
The startups related atmosphere has witnessed a sea saw change of positivity in the past 8 years, ever since the honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the nation Startup and stand up initiative. State Governments and union territory Governments along with Central Government with the help of scores of Departments are strengthening the start-ups ecosystem of strong .Even in tough times of pandemic many start-ups came up and played key role in progress of the country.
Is global recession due to pandemic having its impact on start- ups in the country ?
Yes the economic slow Down is having its impact, but you have to understand the growth of Start-ups peaked last year in the country. In coming times the Start-ups are going to play a big positive agent of change for economy of India, wherein in the youth give their innovations and entrepreneur skills full vent.
How many Start-ups we have in country and Jammu Kashmir?
There are about 81000 registered start-ups in India and close to 1800 in Jammu and Kashmir.
What does your department offer to start-ups in the country?
One of the defining programmes Technology Buisness Incubators was started by Department of Science and Technology Government of India. Today we have 160 incubators across country wherein scores of facilities are provided to innovators and entrepreneurs under one roof. We are providing variety of funding through our incubator to budding entrepreneurs or start-ups.
What are the biggest challenges faced by start-ups in India ?
It depends upon which eco system you are in. If you are in Jammu and Kashmir scaling up could be challenge due to confined market. Earlier in Country the lack of funding used to be challenge but now there is no dearth of same. If your idea is good the sky is limit as far as funding goes . You should also be able to modify your ideas according to needs of market .
Your message to youth of Jammu and Kashmir?
My message to youth is be keen observers and have can do attitude . The Government of India through its varied programmes and via variety of funding through incubators is always at your back to hone your entrepreneurs and innovator skills for your own and national betterment. Youth are certainly the agents of positive change and they should have solid mindset to tackle all challenges.
Agriculture sector is the backbone of Indian economy. Post pandemic Coronavirus the importance of Agriculture is growing in significance. India is now taking a role of Global Leader in Agriculture developments.
Recently, India hosted the Second Agriculture Ministerial-level meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) here today under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar. Agriculture ministers of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated in the meeting.
While addressing the meeting through video conference, Shri Tomar urged the member countries to cooperate in developing a comprehensive regional strategy to strengthen cooperation for the transformation of agriculture. Referring to the importance of millet as a nutritious food and the efforts made by India to promote millet and its products during the International Year of Millets – 2023, he urged the member countries to adopt a conducive agricultural food system and a healthy diet for all. He asked participating countries to actively participate in India’s initiative to promote millet as a food. Shri Tomar said that natural and ecological farming should be promoted to conserve agricultural biodiversity and reduce the use of chemicals.
Shri Tomar said that along with digital farming and precision farming, initiatives under the ‘One Health’ approach are also taking shape in India. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors to ensure food security, nutrition, environmental sustainability and livelihood support, for which it is required to increase technical and economic cooperation to deal with the challenges of climate change, agro-biodiversity, microbial preventive resistance under the ‘One Health’ approach and other programmes.
It is hoped that India would continue to be strengthening its role as Global leader in Agriculture.
Rouble Nagi is an artist of par excellence She is the Founder of Rouble Nagi Art Foundation. She is also the founder of Rouble Nagi Design Studio. She has over 800 murals to her credit and has held over 150 exhibitions. She is a member of the India Design Council (IDC). She has taken up an initiative to start Mumbai beautification with ‘Art Installations’ in and around the city. Her latest initiative named “Misaal Mumbai” is the first slum painting initiative in India, through which she has painted over 165000 houses to date. A project to paint houses in slums in Mumbai to give life to the slum and keep it clean and hygienic. She recently penned Down book Titled The Slum Queen. In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir, She talks to Rameez Makhdoomi and Farzana Mumtaz.
A bit about your early days of life ?
I believe that the environment you’ve grown up is in a way responsible for everything you are today. My childhood was basically living in different Army cantonments across the country always moving in 2 years from one school to another, one city to another, one house to another, you’re used to not getting too comfortable or too attached to anything or anybody. Adapting becomes a way of life before you even know it. You realise early that nothing is really permanent, the selfless attitude of a soldier is impossible to replicate, but it definitely affects your perspective of the people and goals in your life. “Do everything with all your heart, but don’t expect a reward in return” is a common refrain in Army households, we followed the same and I still do.
How was academic life like ? Your academic life is one of the most remarkable and lovable times of an individual’s life, be it school or college. Both school life and college life are the most memorable time of a person’s life, but both of them are quite different from each other. While in School life, we learn everything in a protected environment, College life exposes us to a new environment where we have to learn new things and face new challenges by ourselves. So, in an average army tenure, we manage to change around five to seven schools, or even more. Reading every evening was non-negotiable, mostly we were posted in small cities and villages we never really had the luxury of going to a mall or any other kind of “big city entertainment, books and nature were your best friends. Your take on current situation of women of India?
The situation of women in India has greatly improved overtime and the government has launched programs aimed at advancing human rights, literacy and microfinance are therefore necessary in order to restore Indian women to the place they deserve and open doors to a better future, we could still do better. The problem lies in rural areas, poverty and a lack of information represent real barriers to women’s independence and empowerment.
You are a world famous Mural artist ,something on that ?
Well I don’t know whether I am world famous or not but creativity is in my blood and have done art work in 40 different forms. Murals have been of special Interest for me along with sculptures . I love to create.I am currently making a 25 feet sculpture . To create beautiful things has been my passion .
Your dreams?
India will have a literacy rate of 100%, I would like to see a transition from women development to women led development, women should be reimagined as architects of India’s progress and development. This isn’t a distant dream but India will be a global leader sooner than we think.
In a major step towards ensuring equality in pay between men and women cricketers, the BCCO Secretary Jay Shah confirmed few days back that India’s women cricketers would earn the same match fees as their male counterparts in international matches going forward in a significant move towards equal pay.
The decision was taken in the 15th BCCI Apex Council meeting at which the members unanimously agreed to the resolution.
Legendary Indian cricketer Mithali Raj chose to describe the latest update from BCCI as a “historic decision for women’s cricket in India”. With this policy, India’s women cricketers will earn INR 15 lakh for a Test, 6 lakh for an ODI and 3 lakh for a T20I, the same as the men’s cricketers.
This is a historic decision for women’s cricket in India! The pay equity policy along with the WIPL next year, we are ushering into a new era for women’s cricket in India. Thank you @JayShah Sir & the @BCCI for making this happen. Really happy today.
As a matter of fact, Those in the highest bracket, Grade A, have an annual contract of INR 50 lakh, while Grade B and Grade C earn INR 30 lakh and INR 10 lakh respectively.
“In our Apex Council meeting today, we have made a marquee decision on pay equity for our women cricketers,” newly anointed BCCI President Roger Binny said.
“Our women players will be paid the same match fees as men in international cricket. This decision sets the platform to grow and develop cricket. I believe this is a significant step forward for women’s cricket and the game overall.”
Livestock is an important sector of economy and is backbone for the prosperity of rural areas. Livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. India has vast livestock resources. Livestock sector contributes 4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP.
But since sometime Lumpy Skin disease is emerging as a worrying and major challenge for the livestock of entire country including Jammu and Kashmir. Historically, the diverse diseases have posed great challenges to the livestock growth .
As a matter of fact, Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle and buffalo that causes relatively low mortality. It does not affect humans. The disease can result in animal welfare issues and significant production losses.
It is worth mentioning here that Jammu and Kashmir is one of the wealthiest milk-producing regions in the country. Kashmir reportedly produces an estimated 7.5 lakh litres of milk each day, it is among the world’s largest producers of milk. Thus the Lumpy skin disease is a major challenge.
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), an infectious viral disease among cattle continues to affect more cattle worrying farmers in Kashmir.disease is caused by a virus in the family Poxviridae, genus Capripoxvirus which affects cattle. “Agro-climates, communal grazing, biting-fly, and introduction of new animals are associated with the occurrence of lumpy skin disease,” a paper in Science Direct states.
Quoting farmers news agency KNO reported that though the mortality rate of LSD is not so high, animals infected with the disease are unable to produce enough milk even after they are cured, hitting their economy.
On the other hand, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, few days back reviewed status of vaccination for lumpy skin disease in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
In this regard, ACS had a meeting with Directors of Animal Husbandry Kashmir and Jammu, Chief Animal Husbandry Officers and District Animal Husbandry Officers of J&K besides other senior officers including experts from SKUAST.
Atal Dulloo set deadline of November 5 for completing carpet vaccination of eligible cattle population in all districts of UT.
By mid September, The viral outbreak has so far killed over 57,000 cattle across India.
Punjab was the second state after Himachal to ask the Centre to take action on the deadly infection. The Himachal Pradesh government had urged the Centre to declare Lumpy Skin Disease an epidemic.
