Ski Ninja Kids workshop to conducted at Gulmarg on 7 January

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Ski Ninja Kids workshop to make the kids  of kashmir abuzz with latest skills in Ski sport at world famous hill resort of Gulmarg would be  conducted on 7 January .

Pertinently,  the programme would be  organized by Gulmarg Ski academy and will  last from 10 am to 6 Pm.  Important Ski lessons would be  given to kids. From age group of 5 to 15 kids are  eligible for the said Ski training programme .

 

The renowned Ski Special Instructors Colonel Dhillon, and instructor for SKI certificate Ghulam Nabi will give  training lessons  on diverse aspects of Ski to aspiring kids. The venue would be near  Hill top near Miasa coffe shop.

 

 

 

Teachers should create space in the hearts of children: Maria Suzette

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Apostolic Carmel Sister MARIA SUZETTE, Vice principal of Burnhall school  Is a  teacher and educationist of par excellence . In an exclusive interview with News Kashmir, she talks to Rameez Makhdoomi .

 

 

 

Please share some memories of  your childhood ?

 

I was born and brought up in Goa and was fifth sibling among six  brothers and sisters in our family.  Since childhood i had an inclination to serve humanity and so gave my aspiration practical shape by becoming ‘sister ‘. I studied and trained for same at Mumbai, Maharashtra convent for five years and then got the religious dress and started as a teacher in Nagpur Maharashtra. I landed in Jammu and Kashmir in year 2007 and in Kashmir I am working since past three years.

 

How does being an educationist help you in achieving your goal of serving humanity ?

 

At the end of day as a Missionary Educationist I feel contentment that I have been able to make a difference in a life of child and it is not about just the intellectual dimensions of a child but also enhancing him morally and spiritually. Guiding via education  a child towards the right path is a real service to humanity

 

How has been your experience in the state of Jammu and Kashmir?

 

Having spent more than one decade in Jammu Kashmir I would say it has been quite enjoying and appreciable experience. Initially I felt homesick but then adapted nicely in Jammu and as per requirement I was posted to Kashmir and this is my third winter here. Both in Jammu and Kashmir I have felt safe and kept working, driving till late hours and it has  overall been a great experience in this state full of nice humans.

 

How would you define the children of Kashmir since you directly deal with children?

 

The children of Kashmir are quite bright and have high IQ, but the uncertainties of this place disturb the rhythm of their life, but we here at Burnhall school try our level best to keep students in touch with school life via diverse activities.

 

Many voices opine that missionary education has played positive role in South Asia academic scenario. How do you see it?

 

In the entire region of South Asia Missionaries have undoubtedly played a major role in education, trying to educate and be quality educators. Have we been the best only people can answer but we have definitely tried to play a best role in education sector.

 

Many believe that since quality is associated with missionary schools there should be more such institutes to cater to the aspirations of parents and children?

 

Our goal as missionary schools is entirely different than other. In private schools many a time the motive is profit driven. Here we work just for selfless service. If you will ask me for hundred rupees for something I can’t give because I purely look on academic front such is the quality atmosphere here.

 

Unfortunately lot of misgivings are created about missionary education not just in Kashmir but in other parts. Recently in Karnataka someone had stated missionaries produce children like missionary. We are not to change a children opinion but always in pursuing of helping a child to empower his or intellect and not to interfere in his intellectual growth but just to enlighten and empower children to formulate their own bright vision .

 

Are you ready to share your expertise with other schools as yours is one of the prominent schools?

 

Missionary schools are on path to adopt many schools and such thing has already happened in places like Chandigarh and Delhi. I am here ready to listen and share knowledge with other schools if they feel need. We are as missionary educationists not conditioned to be teacher of just one school but teacher of entire community to fulfill our larger goal of serving humanity.

 

What do you advise your fellow teachers most?

 

I tell all teachers that your focus should be to impart skill and healthy life values in children and try to create space in the heart of the children because that matters most. We should also respect the outlook of students

 

We are here to give them vision. I remember when I was deputed for the first time here in Burnhall school.. I told them I am neither here as Indian nor as Kashmiri I will not impose my opinion on you but help you in forming your opinion.

 

 

 

Are parents here cooperating with you?

 

Parents are the basic component and more important than we are because they are the first teachers of a child. Both teachers and parents have crucial role to build a child towards constructive life. Parents in Kashmir are overall highly cooperative and we as teachers need to follow complete integrated approach and treat every child equally to achieve betterment.

 

An allegation against non missionary and missionary schools is that they try to degrade local language and culture of students. How do you react to this statement?

 

You have asked a good question. I often order teachers that you will have to teach and make students learn kashmiri as indigenous cultures and languages are must. A person without know-how of his language or culture is a human without a proper pedestal. We are also giving due importance to local cultures and languages.

 

What should teachers focus on while teaching children?

 

We need to give time and space to the child. We cannot impose our views on the child and should not impose anything on them but accompany them. We need to respect all schools. Child will cover his journey successfully only when imposition is not forced .

 

Anything you would like to share?

 

Sometimes people do not understand life of a priest or sister and once there  is misunderstanding it creates problems. I am sent here as a requirement. People should understand sacrifice of a father or sister. We are not angels but humans selected among humans to help others lead a good life. We should also not condemn humans just for mistakes and it applies to all of us.

 

 

Upgraded Grid Infrastructure will vastly improve power scenario in Kashmir : Hashmat Qazi

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Chief Engineer, Power Development Department PDD Kashmir , Hashmat Qazi  is an able administrator and professional of par excellence . In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir, he talks to Rameez Makhdoomi .

 

What is your take on prevailing electricity crisis in Kashmir as it has got worse than previous years?

 

I don’t think there is electricity crisis in Kashmir and what qualifies as crisis is debatable. On the pragmatic side, we have as Power Development Department with reference to distribution system an agreement to provide 800 Megawatts to consumers but we are providing 1300 Megawatts much beyond the agreement. we have .

See during night almost there is negligible load shedding despite water heating and in day time heavy loading especially in form of room heating creates problems for us as people use much beyond their stated agreements.

 

We have our own power projects but still we face too much loadshedding. Your take?

 

I want to via your medium clear many things and set the record straight, see power availability is no problem for us as we can get 2500 Megawatts anytime, but irony is most of us are not aware that our grids do not have yet handling capacity and grid infrastructure everywhere is being upgraded to find a lasting solution to this problem. In coming months our capacity of handling is witnessing a leap of further 300 Megawatts, which means a great further stride forward .

On a larger point everyone without knowledge is making hue and cry that despite our own projects we don’t have continued power supply (I by no means we should not have due share in our projects. )

One more important things our water resource is not being consumed in these power projects ,it is not like coal or petroleum which gets depleted, water has to move anyway whether project is set on it or not.

 

Why we face more burning electricity issues in winters?

The biggest reason behind this phenomenon is that all our hydel power projects dependent on water and in winters flow of water gets depleted and they produce just about 25 percent of the power, and we literally produce not much thus dependent on importing power from outside states projects out of which some are nuclear and some thermal.

 

As you yourself told handling capacity is issue, what is being done to upgrade grid infrastructure?

Within a month or two a huge improvement in grid infrastructure is coming up with Grid at Delina to be augmented and several other grid stations coming, and in next eighteen months a boom is going to be witnessed with GIS Grid station coming up in the core of city at Nowshera and other in Batpora area unlike the previous ones which were located  at peripheries.

In coming times our electricity scenario would improve greatly with dynamic and upgraded grid infrastructure coming up throughout length and breadth of kashmir.

 

What about rural areas as Kashmir is not just about Srinagar and districts like Bandipora and shopian face huge power cuts?

 

Well we are developing Srinagar as core and with infrastructure coming up here in shape of circular Aliastaing Grid, now the Zainakote grid feeding wanganpora, Habbak will go to North and similarly Pampore grid feeding Cheshmahi-Habbak circuit will go to south .With Delina grid to be upgraded to 160 Megawatts and Amargarh Grid also to be upgraded the situation will hugely improve.

Bandipora like areas have been Achilles heel for us as the huge power curtailments are reality there as the place has no grid of its own and gets partially fed from different grids Now within a month Bandipora having its own grid the power issues would get sorted out.

In South Kashmir grids were not big issue for us but clogging of lines is what creates problems in Kulgam Shopian and other areas and upgraded Lasipora grid and another grid coming up at Pulwama in next few months is going to resolve the issues there.

 

How can net transmission distribution power losses be curtailed?.

The biggest reason behind these losses is the power theft and it is mainly by domestic households and we are hopeful that by increased education, drives and awareness the power theft in coming years would come down.

 

Where do you see our power picture in 2020?

I am an optimist and I see very bright picture with reference to electricity in Kashmir in year 2020 and it is not just about building grids but ensuring we manage demand side and ensure judicious use of electricity and we are definitely taking steps in this regard.

 

RED ‘18

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Rameez Makhdoomi

 

2018 Year is ending and it has been one of the bloody years in the 30 year history of Kashmir conflict . 2018 (MMXVIII) which was  the current year, and is a common year which started   on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2018th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 18th year of the 3rd millennium, the 18th year of the 21st century, and the 9th year of the 2010s decade.

Bloodshed seemed written all over the year 2018 with kashmiris being among the majority of the casualties suffered and more than 90 percent of coffins of the conflict affecting the households of Kashmir. There were 587 incidents of violence during 2018 compared to 329 last year. Official figures say 240 militants were killed during the year against 200 last year.

Casualties among civilians and the security forces have also been comparatively higher. Thirty-seven civilians and 86 security men were killed in 2018 against 36 civilians and 74 security personnel killed last year.

People across the spectrum are dismayed over the blood soaked 2018 .

 

Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikandar, a prominent writer and activist of Kashmir, while talking to the News Kashmir stated :”2018 was unfortunately one of the years that witnessed most violence  in the recent turbulent history of conflict hit Kashmir. Militants, poilcemen, army men, civilians, informers, political activists, journalists were killed during this year with majority of the victims being Kashmiris themselves. The nature of this ugly bloodshed calls for a meaningful dialogue with the angry youth of Kashmir and also dialogue between India and Pakistan. We hope against hope that coming year 2019 brings some relief in our lives to end this disaster once for all  .2018 overall gave us a nostalgia of bad memories of death and destruction. ”

On the other side of the spectrum, the hope is that year 2019 would bring some good news for Kashmir eluding peace .

Bilal Bashir Bhat, editor in Chief Daily Jung, while talking to the News Kashmir stated :”2018 was the year of unprecedented death and destruction, this year was among the most violence hit years of Kashmir with large number of civilians and local militants dying in the conflict. We need to touch the cause of this which lies in the unresolved political issue of Kashmir for which meaningful dialogue should be held between India, Pakistan and Kashmir. But on important terms 2018 gave us tears and blood. We hope for better 2019 .

Education Sector : Reforms Required ?

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NEWS KASHMIR EXCLUSIVE

 

 

Education System has been positively reformed   all over the globe. The reality on ground is that our response in Kashmir in reforming  education system in right direction has been going on at snail pace thus  the education system of ours is facing several inherent problems.

Be it elementary education, high school to college and University level education system of ours in Kashmir is craving for reforms. Our education system is stated to encourage rote learning which thus kills creativity . The public education system is in doldrums since long with poor results often the case.

Rote learning which is widely used in the mastery of foundational knowledge. Examples include phonics in reading, the periodic table in chemistry, multiplication tables in mathematics, anatomy in medicine, cases or statutes in law, basic formulas in any science, etc. Rote learning, eats up  comprehension and creativity, and consequently, it is an ineffective tool in mastering any complex subject at an advanced level.

 

On the other  side of the spectrum, there is no fixed criterion for payment in private schools but general trend is  that the teachers  in private schools are paid very less as compared to their counterparts in government or government-aided schools. While as the students are forced to pay heavy fees and donations and the departments who are supposed to regulate our education system seem to have no control over them. In our part of the world, Private schools are working like imperialistic empires without any check and balance system.

Well known academic expert Sheikh Sameer, while talking to News Kashmir  states :

“It should be the among the top priorities of state government to reform education sector as statistical data has shown dismal position of education sector in Jammu and Kashmir . Drop out rate has gone up to 10.2% from 6.9% and has shown increasing trend over the years .Reason for this is lack of academic infrastructure, poor coordination ,failed implementation strategy, conventional teaching modus operandi ,lack of political will and bureaucratic interventions in policy making which should be the domain of academics from colleges and universities.

Initiatives have been taken to introduce various schemes even NGOs have been involved  to train teachers and to implement them but no substantial results have been yielded.

From the academic point of view, you will see there has been content crises as text books are not in consonance with  teaching skills .Content is parrot fashioned, mechanical and quasi conventional. There is no scope for affective_ cognitive approach of teaching learning process .Shared learning is not encouraged. Teachers have to prepare according to prescribed syllabus. No educational tours, no community involvement and inter school debates ,seminars symposia at intermediate level keeping in view changing academic landscape.”

Undoubtedly from all pros and cons our education system is in need of reforms

Honorable Guv should create board of academic advisors. It should have 10 member body headed by VC retired or existing, experts from relevant fields. Sec. education and director to be nominated as ex officio members. This body should be empowered to discuss academic issues only.”

 

 

Governor Satya Pal Malik Strong assertion

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Ever since he has assumed the Charge of State Governor Satyapal Malik is known for doing the hard talk without fear on number of burning issues . Being sharp and clear in his talks and thoughts has earned Governor Satyapal Malik tryst with controversies and praises .

In a latest , Governor Satya Pal Malik  stated that there is no mention at the national-level about “good things” happening in Jammu and Kashmir, governor . He said  this on Wednesday, and asserted that the state is being “demonised at the national-level”.

Addressing a press conference at the winter capital ,Satyapal  Malik said: “The Jammu and Kashmir state has been demonised at the national level. Even a small incident (in the state) is blown out of proportions and not projected as it should be. The state is shown as a bad place

The points articulated by the Governor are in touch with the ground realities as it has been a reality without doubt that good things from Jammu and Kashmir hardly make it to the headlines of national media and it is only the unfortunate killings and bloodshed that is in news often.

While making further strong points , Governor Satyapal Malik stated :  “I have been the governor of Bihar and I was born and brought up in Uttar Pradesh. I have observed and seen that Jammu and Kashmir is a much better place than these places in a lot of ways. That is why it is our responsibility to spread truth,” he said.

The governor said the urban local body and panchayat elections took place “peacefully and successfully” in Jammu and Kashmir. Certainly Governor Satyapal Malik is striking the right chord.

We will make Srinagar a great city : Sheikh Imran

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Eminent businessman of Srinagar  Sheikh Imran, an independent corporator backed by Congress, was in November  elected Deputy Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).

He has also been an active figure on resolution and peace process front . In an exclusive interview with News Kashmir , he talks to Farzana Mumtaz and Rameez Makhdoomi .

 

We have limited the contours of Srinagar City to few areas and overall it looks a Grand mess. Your take as Deputy Mayor?

The observation that Srinagar City is not just a place of few areas is quite valid as it is not just about karanagar or Rajbagh only but from khanyar to Pandch, Hiaderpora to Gulabagh  and scores of other areas make the historical Srinagar city . The reason Srinagar City has been mess is that exploitative and wrong minded politics has been played by vested interests to ensure that just ten percent vote and ninety percent remain aloof from the progress and development .

Those who dream to be real change makers are put to series of hurdles and problems .To stop my journey JK Bank loan issue is being cropped.

What is the bank loan issue about and your pendency of about 128 crore?

The bank has itself settled my case at 78 core out of which 51 crore are already paid and I am ready to pay further 27 crore.

Basically some earthly demigods tried best to stop my dream of becoming Deputy mayor but failed as I have firm faith in Allah. The irritants are being caused because I have been against a particular party which I am still.

 

How can we bring positive change in Srinagar?

The Srinagar City has faced unprecedented mess and misgovernance and it is like last stage of Cancer. Although I never lose hope when a place like Old Delhi can be given good ambience why not Srinagar, we are one of the historical cities of world. Srinagar Municipal Corporation will be having 35 services in hand and we will make Srinagar a great city in terms of development and infrastructure. We seek effective support of people as without them we cannot bring positive change. The employees of SMC too will also feel proud to be part of the corporation and it is our goal.

 

How does it feel as Posts like Mayor, Deputy Mayor have been revived after long?

Well the valley currently has just four elected people Muzafar Baigh, Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Mayor, Deputy Mayor and  I guess two more Rajya Sabha members .

I feel we need these municipal elections regularly and not having these posts has been deceit with common people and their dreams as Municipal governance is the grassroots governance and we need it to change the face on  ground zero which is possible only via this form of grassroot governance .

 

NC, PDP had boycotted these elections and some voices   among these parties questioned the credibility of these elections, do you believe once if any of these parties form government they will cause impediment in your way?

Well be it NC or PDP, Congress or BJP I guess on large scale everyone is interested in better urban governance in the state and for that municipal corporations are backbone.

We are getting overall warm gestures from every party and few isolated voices don’t matter and my opinion  is that we won’t have any problems whoever forms the government in the state.

Some believe there are too many departments handling Srinagar like the famous adage goes too many cooks spoiling the broth?

I disagree with you on this as there is still burning need of increasing officials, officers and Departments that cater to needs of Srinagar.

But then what about lack of coordination?

Yes lack of coordination has been a serious issue. PHE has been going One Direction, R and B other, SDA other, that is why we have seen one department repairing roads other digging it.

We have the act for same purpose wherein all is done under one roof in Municipality department  to ensure better urban governance, similarly to achieve better and progressive Srinagar SMC is going to have 35 services under its belt and all departments coordinating with it effectively and thus lack of coordination will finish.

What is being done to improve garbage dumping system ?

There is already waste to energy programme and there is company that has participated in it .We are not new to garbage neither is garbage new to us .As a Deputy Mayor I would ensure world class dumping site come up which does not cause any smell problems to vicinity .When Singapore can use solid waste for farming and dump it in sea or lake why can’t we .

 

 

Dog menace is a serious issue, but then animal rights activists have raised question mark, how will you strike balance?

I would like to say Dog Menace has been serious issue for our city and my predecessors either have been ignorant or their intentions are questionable, we will implement the same standard pattern of sterilization as is being done in parts like Delhi. Standard sterilization centres would be established across Kashmir.

Electricity crisis in Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir, your take on it?

The electricity problem is a very big problem. We are having problems at transmission end I have talked on this issue with engineers and commissioners. By February I assure their would not be major electricity issue in Srinagar.

What about safeguarding wetlands ?

Wetlands are of paramount importance to us and unfortunately we have lost many of them in past few decades but now we will take every step to protect them and I believe we should be grateful to Mahraja who gave us flood channels and institutions of excellence but after that since some decades our progress has come to halt.

You are very active in peace process and facilitated meet of Joint resistance leaders with former Norway PM  according to some reports, why don’t you use same repo with government of India which matters most ?

I am very grateful to Shri Shri Ravi Shankar for aiding our efforts of peace . For six years Hurriyat leaders shut doors ,and ex Norway PM came and met trade, lawyers and Hurriyat .  if we want to stop bloodshed then peace process in form of dialogue and talks is must . USA has failed somewhere .

Your suggestions are valid we need to prepare government of India for talks and taking  other countries also on board is must .Bloodshed is destroying kashmir . The way things are going it looks Kashmir is born to get killed and each one of us need to make efforts to save our generations   .

 

Desensitized Kashmir?

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Rameez Makhdoomi

American actress Jenna Morasca had famously stated : “As human beings we value the experience that comes with age. We are reminded over and over again with statements like ‘older and wiser’ and ‘respect your elders,’ promoting age as something to be cherished and respected. “

But as a matter of great pain and discomfort with the speed of life changing under the garb of technology in once close knitted, compassionate society of Kashmir the elders are finding themselves at the receiving end , with more and more elders cutting across economic and social sections  being abandoned by their children and relatives.

Pertinently, the recent image of abandoned elderly transgender in capital city Srinagar showed how grievous the issue is . The administration swung into action only after a social media storm. Painful condition of Ghulam Nabi Mir, a Kashmiri transgender hailing from North Kashmir’s Bandipora district aged 70 , sleeping  on the footpath outside the Srinagar UN Office aptly described the gravity of this issue.

The ground pulse is that We have been listening since ages unfulfilled promises from the consecutive state governments   of  creating rehabilitation homes for people in need, especially abandoned in their  old age by relatives  often found wandering in hostile weather conditions on the streets of Srinagar and other parts of kashmir.

Ghulam Ahmad  ( Name Changed ), a case of elderly neglected by a child belonging to a posh area in Srinagar states , “ I am from good  financial ground but feeling a need of elderly old age home to take care of me as my children have all left me to foreign lands and come here for just few weeks in a year . In this day and age one cannot trust the servant and his or her background easily .The need of the hour is to build elderly homes were deprived elders cutting across social and economic boundaries meet and get cared so as to lead healthy and interactive life .

Rights activists are also raising genuine questions . Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikandar , an eminent activist states : “The  society with each passing day is growing callous. The growing materialism is directly proportional with our apathy towards old and physically challenged. Despite our strong boasting about being a religious society, the problem of abandoned elderly is growing though not in epidemic proportions, but as a problem it needs to be reckoned. The NGOs and state can establish some homes with permanent lodging and boarding for elderly. But being a Muslim majority society the women and men who are not related to each other can’t exist under a single roof. So some different arrangement needs to be worked out. Also some recreation centres need to be started too in different areas where elders can spend their time and socialize with each other.”

On the otherhand, authorities are also questioned for hallow talks in this regard and every year just promising shelter homes and doing nothing.

Sheikh Imran, Deputy Mayor Srinagar City while talking with News Kashmir stated : “We would be definitely looking to possibility of setting old age homes at least in Srinagar city for elderly people as the time is taking negative direction and many  elderly are feeling heat of  troubled times in the this day and age, especially those who are abandoned either by their kids or are unfortunately childless. The pain of elderly people goes unnoticed in Kashmir and is being clearly sidelined by other issues. With the zeal and enthusiasm to give our city and Kashmir a new direction we would definitely try to give practical shape to the idea of perfect shelter for elderly people. ”

 

 

 

IFED (Initiative for Enlightment and Development) in collaboration AICIN Trust organized one day session on Guidance and Counseling

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IFED (Initiative for Enlightment and Development)  in collaboration AICIN Trust organized one day session on Guidance and Counseling on 09-12-2018 at Nagabal Ganderbal.In which Prof Dr Seemin Rubab from NIT Srinagar interacted with invited students from various High ,Higher Secondary and colleges and replied the queries of students regarding selection of career oriented subjects.
Mr Shabir Ahmad Paswal (Editor-in-Chief Weekly Rodaad-E-Qoum) said IFED takes active measures to mobilize the underprivileged and deprived children of the society towards education. It is working through its welfare projects & programs on education to enroll the dropout students of the adopted areas in the schools. Every type of educational help is provided to the poor and needy students at its recognized centers. Besides this IFED will endeavor to create opportunities of livelihood for the rural and urban needy people, especially the establishment of micro enterprises, agri-business activities, horticulture activities, fisheries, mushroom cultivation, animal husbandry, forestry and other activities provided by rural development and employment programs and provide awareness on self-employment. It is also the objective of IFED to arrange for financial help through establishing institutions for the poor minorities, women and the old aged people. In addition to this IFED is working for Disaster Management initiatives, Legal Awareness Initiatives, Research, Community Services and Coordination with NGOs, Governance Initiatives and Relief Distribution etc.
Mr Mashkoor Ahmad highlighted the issues and concerns of the society moreover he shared feedback which he received during fieldwork and relief distribution. He requested people to join hands with IFED for the betterment and upliftment of the society.
The other dignitaries who spoke on the occasion were, Patron AICIN Society Mr Aijaz Ahmad Chashti,Mr Imtiyaz Ahmad Hamdani,Mr Sajad Ahmad,Dr Mudasir, Mr Bilal Ahmad, Mr Uzair Ahmad,Mr Irshad Ahmad wani.Team IFED is in dire need of volunteers for Relief distribution and other activities for that they can contact on 9622458819/7006500597 or can mail at ifedsociety@gmail.com .

Kartarpur : Corridor of Peace

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News Kashmir Exclusive

In a big boost to the peace efforts between India and Pakistan  the Kartarpur Corridor was inaugurated few days back .The Kartarpur  is a  border corridor between India and Pakistan. It will connect the Sikh holy shrine of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib (located in Punjab, India) and the holy shrine of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. The main goal of this proposed corridor is to facilitate the crossing of religious devotees from India to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, located in Narowal District, Pakistan, only 4.7 kilometres from the Pakistan-India border.

This step is a great boost to Sikh aspirations who revere and respect deeply these places. The move has come after long time and many decades .

As a matter of fact, In 2000, Pakistan agreed to allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the shrine without the need to present a passport or visa by constructing a bridge from the Indian side of the border to the shrine.

In August 2018, Punjab Minister and former MP Sidhu announced that Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa had told him that Pakistan would open the Dera Baba Nanak (Kartarpur) corridor on Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.

On 26 November 2018, the Vice President of India, S Venkaiah Naidu, laid the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak – Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at Mann village, in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India.

On 28 November 2018, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur corridor near the Narowal district of Punjab, Pakistan.Two Union Ministers of India, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri were present at the event in Pakistan. Former Indian MP  and current Minister in Punjab Cabinet Navjot Singh Sidhu and Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla were also present.

Indian former cricketer and currently politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan role is lauded in opening of Kartarpur corridor.

Many see the opening of this corridor as the opening of peace corridor between two hostile neighbors.  All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), has welcomed the opening up of Kartarpur corridor and said that the step would help a lot in normalizing the strained relations between India and Pakistan.

In an important development, APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said that people of Kashmir, especially the members of Sikh community, are “quite ecstatic over the development”.

He said the move would help the Sikhs of India to move towards the different religious places located in Pakistan.

“It is quite heartwarming that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan proposed the opening of Kartarpur corridor and the same was reciprocated with warm gesture by the Government of India. This shows that both the countries are quite serious in fostering good relations with each other,” said Raina.

 

 

Undoubtedly if not in short run but in long term Kartarpur Corridor is a step in right direction and move towards peace .