Stormy Jk Assembly Session

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Stormy JK Assembly Session
News Kashmir Analysis
The first session of historic Jammu and Kashmir Assembly 2024 was held in Srinagar from 4 November to 8 November, the 5 day session was no less than a political storm.
Noisy scenes, MLAs being Marshalled out, disturbances ,slogans all were witnessed during the session.
On First Day, Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha, in his address to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s first session on Monday (November 4, 2024), underscored the need for restoration of Statehood. On the other hand, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra’s move to bring a resolution, though against protocol, on revocation of Article 370 caused an uproar in the House.
While as THE Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Wednesday passed a resolution seeking a dialogue for “restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees” to the Union Territory and urging that “constitutional mechanisms” be worked out for the same. The resolution was passed by a voice vote, with all parties barring the BJP supporting it.
On Thursday 7 November,  2024 Chaotic scenes played out in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly early morning over the resolution seeking restoration of its special status under Article 370 of the Constitution. BJP MLAs clashed with the marshals after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ordered that some of the protesting Opposition MLAs be removed from the House. A poster seeking restoration of Article 370 sparked another melee involving several MLAs, including J&K People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone.
The session was then adjourned.
It is worth mentioning here that Chaotic scenes were witnessed in J&K legislative assembly on the fifth and last working day with PDP, PC and AIP MLAs entering into a scuffle with BJP legislators.
Soon after the house convened friday morning, BJP legislators continued to make ruckus over the special status resolution passed by the assembly.
In his address, CM Omar Abdullah told the assembly that the words in the resolution were chosen carefully so that doors wouldn’t shut on them.
“We drafted this resolution carefully. What if we had brought a resolution that would have been rejected immediately? The PM and HM are now talking about our resolution. If it had no impact, they would have remained silent,”.
Also , Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opined After long time, I got opportunity to speak on L-G’s address; so much has changed, we lost a lot. He thanked LG Manoj Sinha for promising Statehood and hoped it would be fulfilled soon.
” I welcome investment in Jammu and Kashmir but we will not sell our crown Jewels,  observed Omar Abdullah.
The first session of historic Assembly was noisy, controversial and marred by bitterness which is hoped to be avoided in future.

World Kindness Day, 11 November 2024 edition editorial

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World Kindness Day
Kindness is the most important feature that is keeping this planet alive. It is pivotal  because it can have many positive effects on mental health and well-being, and can make the world a happier place.
 Kindness has positive impacts on the all important
Mental health as
Kindness can improve mood, increase self-esteem, and decrease stress. It can also help with loneliness, and improve relationships.
 Kindness also improves
Physical health
Kindness can lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and decrease the risk of illness.
All importantly,
 World Kindness Day is an international observance on 13 November. It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of nations’ kindness NGOs. It is observed in many countries, including Canada, Australia, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. Singapore observed the day for the first time in 2009. Italy and India also observed the day. In the UK, it is fronted by David Jamilly, who co-founded Kindness Day UK with Louise Burfitt-Dons.
World Kindness Day is to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness for good which binds us. Kindness is a fundamental part of the human condition which bridges the divides of race, religion, politics, gender and location. Kindness Cards are also an ongoing activity which can either be passed on to recognize an act of kindness and or ask that an act of kindness be done. Approaches are being made to the United Nations by the peak global body, the World Kindness Movement, to have World Kindness Day officially recognized and its members unanimously sign a Declaration of Support for World Kindness.
We all need to take pledge on world kindness day 2024 to be more kind towards each other.

Digital Nikah: A Modern Twist on Tradition as Man Marries via Video Call

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Digital Nikah: A Modern Twist on Tradition as Man Marries via Video Call
Peerzada Masarat Shah
In a story that combines love, family obligations, and the impact of modern technology, an Indian man recently married over a video call after his employer denied him leave. Adnan Muhammad, currently based in Turkey, married his bride from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi through a “digital nikah” in a virtual ceremony that has gone viral.
The Unforeseen Circumstances
The decision to proceed with a virtual wedding wasn’t taken lightly. Adnan, who had been planning a traditional wedding back in India, found himself in a tough situation when his Turkish employer refused to grant him leave. Meanwhile, the bride’s ailing grandfather insisted that the wedding take place promptly, hoping to witness the ceremony despite his declining health.
A Marriage Across Screens
With no other options available, the families of both the bride and groom decided to go digital. Using video call technology, they connected across countries and coordinated a nikah that would otherwise have occurred in person. During the online ceremony, both Adnan and his bride affirmed their vows by repeating “qubool hai” (“I accept”) three times, in accordance with Islamic traditions. A qazi, or Islamic officiant, guided the couple and their families through the rituals, ensuring the sanctity of the marriage remained intact despite the virtual setup.
Technology Meets Tradition
In many ways, this wedding exemplifies how technology is reshaping our lives, even in deeply traditional matters like marriage. While remote weddings became common during the pandemic, Adnan’s story serves as a reminder that distance, work obligations, or unexpected situations don’t have to be barriers to fulfilling one’s commitments.
A Viral Moment
Social media quickly caught on to this unique wedding story, and it has since gone viral, sparking conversations about family, duty, and adaptability. Many have praised the families for their willingness to adapt, and the couple has become a symbol of love finding a way—even if that means celebrating the union virtually.
This “digital nikah” is yet another testament to how, with the right mindset, modern tools can keep love alive and allow for cherished traditions to endure.

Thar Havoc reflects Kashmir accidents tragedy, cover story 18 November, 2024 issue

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Thar Havoc reflects Kashmir accidents tragedy
News Kashmir Analysis
Mahindra Thar was first introduced in India in 2010. Named after the great Indian desert, the Thar gained popularity soon after its launch due to its dominating road presence.
But this famed vehicle became headline in the past week in Kashmir due to a road accident tragedy, probably due to high speed.
The place was Tengpora Srinagar and date was 14 November, 2024.
official said that the collision occurred in the afternoon, resulting in the on-the-spot deaths of two individuals and injuries to another.
The deceased have been identified as Hammad of Lal Bazar and Azeem of Sanat Nagar. The injured person has been identified as Mohammad Eissa Ganie of Nowshera.
Two others were injured. All of them were students .
Almost daily deaths of humans in tragic traffic accidents in Kashmir, and most of them being young reminds us of many undoing as society.
Reckless driving , minors driving ,license less driving , poor road quality have all coupled to give rise to these traffic disasters.
SSP Traffic Srinagar Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, while talking to News Kashmir observed that :” The onus lies on parents and society to get awared about following the right sense. How come parents are giving their vehicles to minors below age of 18 as it is crime. They should not give driving skills to the minors because once they do it children commit blunders.  This skill should be given at legal age. The youth should avoid rash driving. Society also needs to get awared about same especially following due rules and regulations. We as traffic department ate also accelerating our job and concerned by the recent tragic accident involving Thar resulting in unfortunate deaths of children. It is not humanely possible to check each and every vehicle in a city like Srinagar wherein lakhs of vehicles ply, all need to get awared and follow laws and regulations. “
As a matter of fact, in our country too road accident deaths are becoming matter of concern.
Over 1.7 lakh persons were killed in road accidents in 2023. That translates to an average of 474 lives lost every day or one death almost every three minutes, as per data shared by states with central govt. This is the highest number of people killed in a year since govt started collating road accident data at the national level to assess the extent of the problem and reasons behind crashes .
Jammu and Kashmir has a ugly and painful data related to accident deaths.
Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a very worrying spurt  in road accidents in the first nine months of the year, with 4,457 accidents resulting in 621 deaths and 6,122 injuries across the Union Territory.
The recent Thar Havoc has brought to light rising number of road accident deaths in Kashmir.

Epilepsy Day, editorial 18 November 2024 issue

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Epilepsy Day
In India, The day is observed on November 17 to raise awareness about epilepsy. It is a chronic disorder of the brain which is characterized by recurrent ‘seizures’ or ‘fits’.
Or we can say that Epilepsy is a chronic non-communicable disease of the brain that affects people of all ages. Around 50 million people across the world have epilepsy and so is one of the most common neurological diseases across the world.
In India, National Epilepsy Day is celebrated by the Epilepsy Foundation. On this day various seminars, debates, stage events, etc. are organized to educate people about epilepsy disease and its treatment methods. On this day, various hospitals also provide free treatment and organize consultation camps for such patients.
According to World Health Organization,  Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects people of all ages.
Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally.
Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries.
It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated.
The risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than for the general population.
Now, Persistent prenatal distress is associated with a significantly increased risk for epilepsy in offspring, a new study showed.
Investigators emphasized that the risk was only slightly elevated, indicating that most infants born to mothers experiencing moderate stress will not develop epilepsy.
We need to take all measures and pledges to help the elipesy patients.n

Stray Dog Menace

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Stray Dog Menace
Stray Dog menace is still a serious issue in Kashmir despite many solutions and measures proposed from time to time.
Stray or street dog menace is major problem for Jammu and Kashmir .
Stray or street  dogs, known in scientific literature as free-ranging urban dogs,are unconfined dogs that live in cities. They live virtually everywhere where cities exist and the local human population allows, especially in the developing world and the former USSR.
In our region we all are aware about the facets that Street dogs may be stray dogs, pets which have strayed from or are abandoned by their owners, or may be feral animals that have never been owned.Street dogs may be stray purebreds, true mixed-breed dogs, or unbred landraces such as the dog. Street dog overpopulation can cause problems for the societies in which they live, so campaigns to spay and neuter them are sometimes implemented. They tend to differ from rural free-ranging dogs in their skill sets, socialization, and ecological effects.
Stray Dog bites over the years have taken many a precious lives in Kashmir.
Stray dog bites are a big worry  causing deaths and injuries.
Stray dogs have bitten around 58,869 persons in the last decade in Kashmir, which works out to 16 such cases on an average per day.
Some years back it was known,
As per a report by the department of Community Medicines, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, around 58,869 persons were bitten by the dogs in the last ten years (2011 to 2021) in Kashmir. The people in Kashmir are pressing authorities to do more about the issue as the dog attacks have seen a rise in recent months.
Srinagar district is among the worst hit districts by dog menace.

Air pollution a challenge in Kashmir, cover story 21 oct

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Air pollution a challenge in Kashmir
News Kashmir Analysis
Kashmir valley which is known for its natural beauty allover the world has seen degrading air quality over the past few decades due to varied reasons. Delhi too despite being national capital has faced severe air crisis in past decades and it should be lesson for us in Kashmir.
concerns over the air quality of Delhi and its surrounding regions mount, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday announced that the government has set up a coordination committee to identify and address local sources of pollution at 13 locations in Delhi where air quality has touched the “very poor” mark.
The air quality becomes a special cause of concern especially in the winter months in Kashmir too .
Pollution is emerging as serious challenge to the country. Jammu and Kashmir especially once serene Kashmir valley is also in grip of it now.
pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.
Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities and forest fires are common sources of air pollution. Pollutants of major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and are important sources of morbidity and mortality. It is a big global issue .
WHO data show that almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures.
Few time back in worrying development and having Sounded  an alarm, the Former  Director SKIMS, Dr Parvaiz Koul  had  said around 10 thousands deaths in J&K are attributed to air pollution every year.
As a matter of fact, the sidelines of the launch of Doctors for clean Air and Climate Action, J&K Chapter, he said that yearly around ten thousand deaths are attributed to particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) exposure and there is need to control it by countering it.
According to World Health Organization The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually. Sources of air pollution are multiple and context specific.
The need of the hour is we resort to massive tree planting in Kashmir to save ourselves from bad air quality.

World Strokes Day , 28 october edit

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World Stroke Day
Strokes are a serious health challenge throughout the world.
The brain stroke is the second leading cause of death and third leading cause of disability and second leading cause of death. Every year, approximately 18 lakhs people suffer from stroke. It is noted that low and middle income countries, of which India is a part, have witnessed more than 100 percent increase in stroke whereas the developed countries have witnessed a drop of 42 percent.
As a matter of fact, every year World Stroke Day is observed on October 29th to emphasize the serious nature and high rates of stroke. The day is also observed to raise awareness of the prevention and treatments of strokes.
The theme for World Stroke Day 2024, “#GreaterThanStroke Active Challenge,” harnesses the inspiring impact of sports to drive awareness about stroke prevention and rehabilitation. Sport’s universal appeal crosses all geographic, cultural, and demographic lines, engaging people from all walks of life. By using sports as a powerful platform for awareness, this initiative aims to reach a wide and diverse audience, inspiring action and understanding around stroke.
average incidence rate of stroke in India is 145 per one lakh (1,00,000) population. According to researchers, three Indians suffer a stroke every minute.
Although the elderly age group are more commonly affected by brain stroke, it also can occur to anyone at any age. Understanding the risk factors and recognizing the symptoms may help in preventing a brain stroke.
We need to take all the measures to maintain a strong brain health so as to save ourselves from brain stroke.

Polythene Monster in Kashmir, cover 28 october 2024

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Polythene monster in Kashmir
News Kashmir Analysis
Polythene monster is still being seen in Kashmir used by people and shopkeepers, street vendors despite bans and awareness campaigns. The people of Kashmir are still not awakening to the monster impacts of polythene.
Polythene still being used and customers also taking items in Polythene without questioning is a trending thing in Kashmir.
Polythene is a  monster of epic proportions.
Polythene is generally considered an hazard for our environment and agriculture as it has damaging consequences on the same. Use of polythene bags is rampant across the valley of Kashmir posing a very serious threat to the environment Despite the ban witnesses reveal .In nutshell  the menace of polythene is back to worry the people of Kashmir.
It is a general trend  to see polythene abundantly used still in the nook and corner of the Kashmir Valley from rural to urban areas  despite blanket ban by the authorities announced more than decade ago.
 It is an open secret that the shopkeepers and the vendors are openly seen providing polythene to their customers for carrying various  goods and different  eatables.
Pertinently a decade back the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State government had banned the transportation, dumping, sale and use of non-biodegradable materials in the state.
otherhand, on environmental front the beautiful Valley of Kashmir is facing massive problems. Kashmir’s ecological balance has been harshly disturbed as a result of unabated environmental destruction over a period of several   decades and the resurfacing of polythene monster is going to make the problem further shoddier.
The expert pulse is that in a landfill, a plastic bag will take roughly 1,000 years to degrade. Undergoing a process called photo-degradation, sunlight will transform the plastic into smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics can persist in our environment indefinitely, and they often end up mistaken as food.
Although, the only silver lining in dark clouds is that at few serene tourist spots in Kashmir the polythene bag ban has worked very well.
We need to awake as society and shun the use of polythene bags especially. The educated youth of Kashmir need to wake up and educate all about the ills of polythene bags and also further strict and swift action by the authorities on polythene sale and use.

World Mental health day

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World Mental Health Day
Mental health is of great importance. 10th October is world Mental Health Day.
overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
The Official Theme of World Mental Health Day 2024 – ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace.
is essential for governments, employers, the organizations which represent workers and employers, and other stakeholders responsible for workers’ health and safety to work together to improve mental health at work. Action to address mental health at work should be done with the meaningful involvement of workers and their representatives, and persons with lived experience of mental health conditions. By investing efforts and resources in evidence-based approaches and interventions at work, we can that everyone has the opportunity to thrive at work and in life.
Poor mental health can lead to decreased performance, absence from work, and increased staff turnover. Depression and anxiety alone result in the loss of approximately 12 billion workdays each year.
Kashmir population also due to varied reasons has poor mental health which needs to be improved.
We need to bear in mind that
health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.