Cross -LoC trade shut

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Cross-LoC trade shut

On Eid, people missing Pakistani goods

Danish Tariq

Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a suspension of trade with Pakistan. The action has been taken as the government has been receiving reports of cross-LoC trade routes being “misused” by Pakistan-based elements for supplying illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency.The order has been implemented on April 19 till now it has not been revoked due to which both traders and common people are suffering a lot, from both the regions trade has been halted, Salamabad of Baramulla in Kashmir region, and Chakan-da-Bagh of Poonch district in Jammu region.

On the arrival of Eid the markets of valley are in buzz, people can be seen around every corner of the markets busy with Eid shopping “but on the other side people are missing the Pakistani good which are not available in markets of Kashmir valley due to trade shut”

Mehwesh Sherwani said, ahead of Eid people are busy with Eid shopping particularly girls are excited “unfortunately It is indeed a very bad thing especially for we girls as we can’t buy desired clothes from market.I myself visited more than 5 shops in search of Pakistani suit which is in trend these days but couldn’t find as the goods are somewhere stuck and are not preferably in market,”

Around 280 traders, who were directly involved in the Cross LoC trading has been affected after the suspension of the business

Adil Dar Cross LoC trader stated “as we were doing business on barter system it was beneficial for us through which we were earning a handsome profit from these goods” the items which were included in trade like bananas, embroidery items, clothes, tamarind, red chilli and cumin for exports while imports mainly were almonds, dry dates, dry fruits, herbs and mangoes. He further added “we are suffering a huge loss in business because of trade suspension on the other side here in Kashmir any time any thing can be happen because of conflict so we were earning our daily livelihoods on this trade to feed our family now we are helpless what to do, markets are in buzz on Eid but we don’t have anything to sell,”

Shafqat Khursheed, College student said, nowadays its a trend among girls to wear Pakistani suits specially on festivals “ on the arrival of Eid everyone is in search of Pakistani Suits but due to trade shut there is no collection in markets of valley which has disheartened the buyers and as well as sellers”

Sameer Mir, local shopkeeper said, we don’t have enough collection of clothes on Eid to fulfil the demands of customer “LoC trade shut has hugely affected the business in valley the trade should be resumed earlier to avoid the further loss,”

The cross LoC trade on Srinagar-Muzafarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote routes was started on October-2,2008 as a Confidence Building Measure (CBM).

The traders, common people appealed the government to resume the trade with neighbouring country Pakistan to avoid further loss of business and sufferings of people, they added both the countries should find a better way to bring peace, every dispute should be solved in a peaceful manner which is good for everyone.

E-Waste : Dark Side of Digital Age

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E – Waste: Dark Side of Digital Age
Showkat Ahmad Dar and Zubair Ahmad
We are living in a world driven by technology and the
technology is evolving at a rapid pace.The mobiles have
given way to smartphones, television has given the way to LEd
And LCd and desktops has given way to laptops and tablets.
The moment a new model of a product is launched in the
market the previous one becomes obsolete. ost of the time
the obsolete stuff is discarded as a waste product. These
unwanted non working or obsolete electronic products which
have reached the the end of their shelf life are known as e-
waste.These include the discarded electronic products such
as computers, mobiles, washing machines, etc to name a few.
The developed countries produce millions of tonnes of e
waste every year. Millions of tonnes of e waste is illegally
dumped in the developing countries. In the developing countries
this e waste is dumped into landfills, incinerators and ill
equipped recycling facilities. Methods such as acid baths and
burning of electronics are used for the recovery of the useful
material.These methods in turn pose serious health issues and
can be harmful to the individuals who are involved in these.
My kashmir also accepted the blessings of science.Flock of
youth are now addicted by the electronic equipments.Due to
poor Management system this utility has tendency to pose
further threats and health issues to kashmir a land on
paradise.
These equipments contained serious toxin harmful chemicals
which can cause liver, heart and skeletal system damage.
Besides they known to have a deteriorating effect on the
nervous and reproductive systems of the human body.
The rampantly growing environmental footprint of the e waste is
indeed a cause of worry. Its the responsibility of both the
consumers and producers to manage the growing e waste.
We the citizens need to understand our responsibility towards
the environment also. The regulatory authorities can classify
the waste material into different grades and provide
guidelines for the decomposition of waste in each category.
People need to be made aware of the e waste and its
hazardous side effects. The government educational institutions
and NGos need to come forward to contribute their share. The
govt needs to come up with strict rules regarding e waste and
their proper implementation should be taken care of.
Defaulters need to be penalized heavily.
The united nations environment programme created the Basel
convention in 1989 in order to keep a check on the rising e
waste menace. It requires Collective effort from the consumer
the producer and the govt to handle, manage and dispose the
e waste efficiently.Morever the Concept of 3R’s i. e Reduce,
Reuse, and Recycle can play a vital role in the e waste
management.

Are We Protesting Too Much?

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Are we protesting too much?
Owais Ahmad Shah

Right to assemble peaceably and peacefully for grave concerns and hold protests is our fundamental right.This is our genuine demand for ramming home the message about multiple concerns.When a student protests in his uniform,we may hope that the protest will confirm to the precepts of moral decency.A well-mannered,disciplined protest.A student always clings on to the idea that pen is mightier than the sword.But when this pen turns into a sword then it spreads a wrong message across.We are often taught in our schools that we shall maintain discipline and other students should take cue from us.
The Kashmir outlook of student holding protests is completely bleak.We have a right to give vent to our frustration on streets.We have a right to offer support to the cause.But we shall remember that we don’t have a right to descend to violence.The moment we start slipping into violence,our all efforts of holding the protest is reduced to zero.
Our all protests turn ugly and sink into an orgy of violence and lawlessness.Where we have gone wrong?.Well we are a bit disorderly and disorganized.The first thing that we must do is to have things regimented.
In the recent past,our all protests have been spotlighted for our recklessness and indecency.The law has no faith in us.To avoid any untoward incident we are said to relax at our homes.They know we are a agitated.
In the recent days,a horrendous rape crime of a three year old kid took place in Bandipora.Our protest was genuine.But where we ended up.We were supposed to hold a peaceful protest.Well we did peacefully protest at many places.But at many places we lost our cool and ended up as usual in violence.
At many places,our classwork has been suspended.The badly hit education system is a bit exacerbated by our own actions.We have a right to protest and we shall protest.But we need to bear one thing in mind that we need to be organized and our protest should not bear scars for the rest of our future.
The writer is student at GDC Handwara

J&K Police &it’s people!!!

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J&K Police &it’s people!!!
Owais Ahmad Shah
Police at your service is a mantra that keeps repeating itself on and on.For maintaining law and order,police has a key role to safeguard its people against any harm.But in the conflict-torn state like Kashmir,donning police uniform is not an easy thing.You will have to be ready for any mishap.You will be abused,baited and sometimes you fall in the line of death.The one question that may strike on our minds is,Have they failed in reaching out to the people in such a way so that people could have pinned faith in them or is there any massive handicap that exists and leads to the vacuum.People are carrying a vacant expression in their faces and always carry a chip on their shoulder for what they term as the police atrocities.But is this frustration and a sense of alienation from the police going to disappear or will this keep on ringing alarm bells for the rest of our future.In Kashmir,a certain section of Police designated as Special Operations Group work in collaboration with the Indian Army to counter militancy related operations.The group is working apart from a larger section of police that is supposed to work for other grave issues that are confronted by people at large.
We may ask the question of joining Police force to a larger section of young people in Kashmir and the only thing that is writ large for many of us to hear from them is the complete refusal and a sense of demeaning if they join police.
In the recent past a massive number of militants have been put to silence.With the rise of a new age born militant Burhan Wani,the sense of alienation is growing faster.These militants are our own young boys.
A massive number of policemen have also borne brunt of this turmoil.These policemen also come from our own families.So what lies beneath this miasma of despair is the way things are described and understood.
In a nutshell,it’s for sure that J&K Police will have to face challenges,there will be no-hope and a sense of despair.But there is a fresh line drawn parallel to countering militancy and that is police working hand in hand with people for curbing social menaces like rape,drug addiction and other issues.
The writer is student at GDC Handwara

BJP Tsunami : Opposition Decimated

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BJP Tsunami: Opposition Decimated

The NDA lead by
BJP has created history in the Indian elections by bagging
349 seats with BJP on its own as a party winning majority mark seats.
This victory of BJP is exemplary.
“Every Cell Of My Body Dedicated To Nation,” Sated PM Modi After Big Win.
In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats, the NDA had won 336. It was the first time in more than three decades that a single party won majority on its own.

And in 2019 verdict the achievement has been more pronounced and huge.
As a matter of fact ,
BJP crossed the 300-mark just three hours into counting.

PM Modi congratulated people, said party’s win “victory of democracy”
Will work non-stop to ensure nation keeps moving forward, he added.

The BJP’s performance has exceeded its tally of 2014 , crossing the previous tally. Overall, the NDA has won nearly 350 seats .

The party’s victory, the Prime Minister said, has created a new narrative. “All parties have to introspect” he said.

targeting the caste-based politics practised in large swathes of the country, he said, “There are only two castes left. These are… the poor. The second – those who remove poverty”.

Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal BJP decimated opposition everywhere with clean sweeps — the state after state saw saffron blooming to full extent . In eastern part politics for decades BJP struggled but this time it too has given a huge mandate to the BJP .
Despite Challenges BJP shined in Uttar pradesh too.
In 2014, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal had won 73 of the 80 seats in the state. This time, in face of a challenge from the Grand Alliance of Mayawati and Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav, the BJP has won in 61 seats.

Even NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had to admit the shinning performance of BJP.
He tweeted :” So the exit polls were correct. All that’s left is to congratulate the BJP & NDA for a stellar performance. Credit where credit is due PM Modi Sahib & Mr Amit Shah put together a winning alliance & a very professional campaign. Bring on the next five years.”

“We had gone to the people to know about their decisions… today, crores of people have filled this fakir ki jholi (poor man’s bag)… this is democracy’s biggest incident,” PM Modi said, addressing hundreds of workers at the party headquarters in Delhi.
Political analyst Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikandar stated :” These huge number of seats gained by BJP is a huge surprise. The coming of NDA to power for the second term is decisive in many respects. The opposition has failed to wean away the masses from voting for the BJP. Despite the failure of BJP to deliver on its promises of constructing Ram Mandir and revoking Article 370, people have granted them another chance to perform. Now they will be under huge pressure to perform in the second term. But for the moment they have decimated the opposition. State after state has been swept by the BJP which shows the strong influence of Modi. We have entered an interesting era. “

Sports are key to overall development of Women: Prerna Rajput

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Sports are key to overall development of women : Prerna Rajput

38 year old Prerna Rajput is pioneering active Women’s sports club in metropolitan cities of India and envisaging to take them to other smaller cities and towns of India in order to provide women with healthy sports atmosphere by providing them opportunity to play tournaments in diverse sports without any charges.
In an exclusive interview she talks to Rameez Makhdoomi and Farzana Mumtaz.
A bit about your venture?
Our active women’s sports club is a platform for all women especially for women to reignite the passion of sports playing in them. Our thrust is on women living in two and three tier cities in addition to major cities . There is no age bar and we engage both young girls and women to play diverse sports in a competitive spirit.
They perform and learn here by being with best of country.
Does your initiative help to relieve stress of women ?
The engagement here with sports in active manner gives women proactive life style which just not gives them relief from stress but also helps in maintaining health. Sports are key to overall development of women.

Are you planning to take this initiative outside main metropolis cities?
Yes it is our priority to go to smaller cities were women lack opportunity and provide them exposure via developing atmosphere of community sports and engage them in regular tournaments.
In cities like Mumbai there are regular tournaments going – Badminton, Handball, cricket etc., but in other smaller cities women are not aware about the criteria how to participate and we are going to reach them and bring best of talent out.

Is your active women sports club accessible to poor and middle class women as well?
Absolutely it is open to all as we don’t charge anything. It is the community we are creating wherein if you have potential come and play and join us. It is absolutely open for everyone.
How has been government response been so far?
We have not approached the government yet and we are four women who are brain behind this .We are empowering women via sports and once we reach that level required to approach Government we are hopeful of good cooperation and active role.
Are you hopeful your these active women’s sports clubs can produce future stars?
I certainly hope we are going to produce future stars by providing platform, honing skills and best exposure to untapped great talent.
Is patriarchy or it’s tight control an irritant to women participation here?
Not at all. The men who are onto sports or men who simply got know-how of our initiative are all welcoming and ready to lend all cooperation.

Women safety is an area of concern, anything you would do in this regard?
See training is not our forte but we will definitely encourage the tournaments in Sports ranging from karate to wrestling. Our forte as sports platform is organizing tournaments.
Is it open to all and how can amateur women benefit?
We are open to all women, the women who desire to play sports , who are already playing or those who had left but want to make come back can participate in our tournament and win trophies.
Our active women sports clubs have prominent women sportsperson playing and amateurs definitely learn a lot from them.
Your future goal?
We have started from Mumbai and want to reach every small city and town to provide active sports playing platform for women. We want to be hope of every house hold.
Any plans to come to Kashmir?
Security is slight area of concern .
The Jammu and Kashmir state is our prime area of concern and want to organize scores of sports tournaments for women.
Girls can see via your sports club active sports career?
I have made it clear that women who are actively or want to be actively involved can come and join us.
People who are already playing in our clubs are international or national players and veterans and young girls by participating in these tournaments get coached and trained a lot.
What motivated you towards starting these active sports clubs?
I have always been involved with sports actively like Badminton and volleyball . I had also seen women from smaller cities despite talented get lost in crowd and due to lack of facilities don’t continue. All these factors propelled to be a helping factor to such women who had faced roadblocks in Sports career.
How is the support of your near and dear ones?
My near and dear ones have supported me a lot and always stood behind me in what I do.
Your message to women?
My message to women is adopt sports as career or a daily activity.
Sports not only give you mental health but physical fitness and ability to think in a calm way.

How do you manage your clubs?
We manage it currently from our own resources. We are in talks with few for Colloboration.

NC Won all three LS seats in Kashmir

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NC won all three LS seats in Kashmir
Danish Tariq
Lok Sabha elections 2019 which were held in a seven phase from April 11 to May 19 and result was declared on may 23, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference JKNC secured win in all the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir valley while Bhartiya Janta Party BJP candidates Jughal Kishore, Jitendra Singh and JTN won Jammu, Udhumpur and Ladakh seats. Peoples Demoractic Party PDP was wiped out, Peoples Conference could not open account again.

Farooq Abdullah NC President has retained Srinagar parliamentary seat. Mohammad Akbar Lone won Baramulla and Hasnain Masoodi was declared winner from Anantnag, Masoodi has defeated former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Congress state president Ghulam Ahmad Mir.

Soon after declared winner from Srinagar parliamentary constituency, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah said, fighting against the evil designs that are hell bent to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A won’t be an easy task for the newly elected parliamentarians of the party. He was accompained by National Conference Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah , party’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani and others.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah thanked people across valley for helping party candidates to emerge victorious from all the three parliament constituencies in the valley. “We hope the new government in Delhi will do justice with Jammu and Kashmir and talk with the neighbouring country Pakistan to bring us out from the current situation”
No steps are being taken at present to put an end to the border skirmishes, killings,use of pellet guns and other things we will work hard to bring Jammu and Kashmir out from the current sufferings.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah also added that India and Pakistan must sit together to bring peace in the state.

Edutainment Show Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon Calls For A Cleanliness Pledge with #SwachhtaElaan

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Edutainment Show Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon Calls For A Cleanliness Pledge with #SwachhtaElaan

New Delhi: One of the flagship programmes of national broadcaster Doordarshan and Population Foundation of India’s popular edutainment show Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon has succeeding in bringing about impactful changes at the grassroots level through its content. In its third season, the show calls for ‘Swachhta Elaan’ – a cleanliness pledge – with the story of its protagonist Dr. Sneha Mathur leading her village in tackling issues of sanitation and hygiene.

Meinal Vaishnav who essays the role of Dr Sneha Mathur says, “While the importance of cleanliness is widely understood, it is not a practice that is wholly imbibed – leading to practices like open defecation or throwing garbage in common areas. #SwachhtaElaan calls audiences to not only understand how hygienic practices such as use of toilets are essential for healthy, disease-free living, but also inspires them to pledge towards such a life. The action of the pledge or elaan is important here.”

Director Feroz Abbas Khan, who is the creator of the show, says, “Making a pledge is a commitment towards a cause you believe in, that goes beyond watching positive behaviour of characters of the show. Changing longstanding behaviours that become social norms is very difficult. That’s why Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon uses entertainment such as a qawwali to catch people’s imagination and make it possible for them to adopt new behaviours.”

The qawwali appeals to audiences through humour and earthy messages to take steps in order to achieve better health through good sanitation and hygienic practices.

You can watch the qawwali on this link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ_wQpN-ivY

It can also be downloaded as a ringtone here: https://mkbksh.com/swachhta-ringtone/

Early results of the impact of the show can be gauged from the calls received on the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS). Over 13 weeks, more than 2 lakh people have called and a majority of them are leaving messages and pledges related to positive sanitation habits, with an equal share by women and men. Inspired the serial, one man left a message saying, “maine apne gharwaalo se kaha pehle shauchalay banwao, tab mai shaadi karunga. Mahilao ke liye pehle humne shauchalay banwaya, fir unko ghar mein pravesh karwaya” (I told my family to have a toilet constructed in the house before my marriage. We got the toilet constructed and then brought my wife home).

The edutainment show revolves around the inspiring journey of Dr. Sneha Mathur, a young doctor, who leaves behind her lucrative career in Mumbai and decides to work in her village. The show focuses on Dr. Sneha’s crusade to ensure the finest quality of healthcare for all. Under her leadership, village women find their voices through collective action.

This time, Population Foundation of India is supported by the REC Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to produce the third season of this popular edutainment show.

We shall fight Rape!!!

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We shall fight Rape!!!
Owais Ahmad Shah

Rape is such an offence which causes the victim and the family to suffer for all the life where the victim is totally an innocent party. It is one of the most horrid and barbaric crimes which makes the whole life of a victim hell,several cases come to the spotlight where the victim prefers to commit suicide than to live in this world.In many cases,the victim is refused to be accepted as a normal member in the society.Rape is a worldwide phenomenon,whatsoever reasons might be behind it, social,religious or in wars,it carries the same crushing shame,anger and emotional trauma.
No real sympathy for the victim but only shouting slogans,putting up placards,bandh done to keep her silent.
The victim has to further suffer physically,sociologically and psychologically.
According to the Home ministry’s National Crime Research Records Bureau annual report 2016,338954cases against women have been reported,out of which 38947 are rape cases.This is up from 309546 reported incidents of violence against women in 2013.
Ample of cases go unreported due to political influence or the family not willing to expose the horror in police stations.In our society,if a girl is raped,her marriage offers are all burnt to ashes and the victim has to live the life of disgrace and shame.
In the recent past,spate of rape related crimes have come to spotlight.People have expressed their outrage and the culprits have also been put behind bars.
The year 2012 gang rape of a pharmacist girl is still haunting us but what happened later,did rape stop.The crime rate went from higher to highest.
In the recent past,Asifa rape and murder also brought us together.
There is a one-liner about Indian legal system which says that”We have laws but what do our laws do for us”.
Researchers state many reasons for the failure of curbing rape like horrific crime in india.One of the reasons is inadequate participation in electoral politics and loss of opportunity at national Assembly for passing laws that will address the crime properly.In India we have 48% female population and they have only 13% participation in electoral politics.
It would have been epoch-making in the year 2010,if the bill for two third participation of women at national level would have not been slapped down by lower house of the parliament.The then PM,Dr Manmohan Singh termed the bill as the emancipation for the rights of women.
The NDA led govt in 2018 rung changes on the existing sexual offences act but the crime rate is unstoppable.
One of the things that can be done to curb the menace is to allow women an adequate space at the national level for passing laws and making it sure that rape is curbed.
The legal system must act at fast track basis to bring the culprit to justice.
Let us take pledge in unison to fight till our last breath for safeguarding our girls against the malignant outlook of rapists.
Let the legislature,executive and judiciary come together for a better proposal so that in future we will have no shameful incident of rape.

5 years on,SRTC bridge at Baramulla awaits completion

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5 years on, SRTC bridge at baramulla awaits completion
Danish Tariq

The SRTC Bridge that connects old town area with civil lines Baramulla in north Kashmir has been under construction for the last 5 years and is still not complete for traffic and public movement.The bridge was damaged in 2014 floods, following which public movement and traffic on it was stopped.

Bilal Ahmad,local shopkeeper said, the SRTC bridge was easy route that connects old town with civil lines “in 2014 floods the bridge was damaged and authorties have closed the bridge terming that its unsafe for public” he added locals are suffering inconvenience and shopkeepers suffer huge loss in business and authorties are not paying any attention towards the completion of under construction bridge.

Manzoor ahmad,local resident said, the construction work of SRTC bridge was started before 5 years but only 2 pillars have been constructed so far “the construction work of bridge is going at snail pace which leds people to suffer,”

A group of people while demanding completion of this SRTC Bridge at earliest said that the people of that side are facing hardships to travel from one place to another. They also appealed Deputy Commissioner Baramulla to intervene into this issue so that people will not face more inconvenience they added despite repeated public outcry and assurances from the concerned officials of R&B the reconstruction on the bridge was not taken up as was expected, authorities have failed to construct the bridge.

When contacted Executive Engineer R&B Baramulla, Abdul Rashid Lone said, the construction work on bridge has been restarted and hopefully assured by the end of this year it will be completed.