News Kashmir Magazine

Beat the NEET

News Kashmir Analysis

The prestigious National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET (UG), formerly the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), is an all India pre-medical entrance test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS) and AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, etc.) courses in government and private institutions in India and also, for those intending to pursue primary medical qualification abroad.The exam is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA), which provides the results to the Directorate General of Health Services under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and State Counselling Authorities for seat allocation.Jammu and Kashmir has shined in the latest NEET exam results.
Jammu boy Tanmay Gupta, scored  the All India first rank in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2021, he  said that continuing with his hobbies helped him focus on studies.Tanmay is one of the three students who scored 720 marks. The other two are Mrinal Kutteri and Karthika G Nair.It is really great that Eighteen-year-old Tanmay Gupta from Jammu has created history by becoming the first from Jammu and Kashmir to be the national topper of NEET 2021.Many boys and girls too from Kashmir valley shined with flying colours in the NEET results. Ansab Moonisa, a resident of Tral has secured 670 points and got 1586 AIR. 
Similarly, Maleeha Zahoor, a student from Kangan has secured 662 points. Another successful candidate, Suhail Ashraf from Kuzwera Chadoora in Budgam district has secured 615 points. While speaking to ANI in Jammu, Tanmay  said, “I started preparing in standard 11 and studied 4 to 5 hours a day. I continued my hobbies with my studies. If you continue your hobbies, you will have more interest in studies.”
The students from Jammu and Kashmir successfully crossing the NEET exams is a news to cherish for all of us .On the otherhand, Unlike many toppers who claim to have studied for 12-14 hours a day, NEET 2021 All India Rank 1 holder Mrinal Kutteri told News18.com in an exclusive interview that he could not follow a fixed routine and took breaks every 45 minutes. He claims to have binged sitcoms on Netflix and Amazon Prime during the 2.5 years he spent in NEET preparation. The TV shows, said the topper, kept him motivated during grim times.One hopes the students from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country make us proud by taking forward their NEET achievements to develop a positive society for one and all.

Weeding out Corruption Menace From JK

News Kashmir Analysis 

Corruption in Jammu and Kashmir has been a serious issue. In the erstwhile State it was no less than a moral pandemic . The Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has taken series of steps to weed out this menace of corruption from Jammu and Kashmir.The Anti Corruption Bureau is also showing much vigour in acting tough against menace of corruption in Jammu and Kashmir.
J-K government on Thursday terminated the services of eight of its employees including four JKAS officers and a doctor, against whom there were charges of corruption, as a part of the process to remove “deadwood” from the administration, officials sources said.
They said that the government dispensed the services of the eight employees under Article 226 (2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations.
Just recently, Anti Corruption Bureau received a written complaint alleging therein that employees of FCI Depot Srinagar are unnecessarily delaying to unload the Truck and issuance of challan thereof.

The complainant approached the ACB for taking legal action against Abdul Qayoom, Manager and other employees of the FCI (Food Corporation of India), Shaheed Gang Srinagar. It was revealed that more than 200 vehicles per month are unloaded at FCI Shaheed Gang Srinagar. Manager and other officials use delaying tactics for unloading of vehicles and demand bribe for issuance of challan.
The Anti Corruption Bureau of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday claimed to have arrested a Panchayat Secretary of Rural Development Department for accepting bribe.
In a statement issued  by Anti Corruption Bureau, it has been mentioned that a complaint was received in the office of the ACB PS Central, J&K, Jammu against Mohd Sharief son of Mishri resident of Draba Khatana of Tehsil Surankote of District Poonch, presently posted as Secretary (RDD Deptartment) of Panchayat Draba Khatana, Block Bafliaz alleging therein that the accused is demanding bribe of rupees 5000 per file for release of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(PMAY) 1st installment from the beneficiaries of the said scheme who are homeless poor villagers of Panchayat Halqa Draba Khatana through the complainant who happens to be the Sarpanch of that Panchayat.
In line with our zero-tolerance for corruption policy, we are weeding out corrupt officials after thorough inquiries,” a senior official in the J&K administration told NDTV.
The efforts of Jammu and Kashmir Government on weeding out Corruption isva setup in right direction .

Migration of Migrant Workers From Kashmir

News Kashmir Analysis 
The killing of Migrant Workers mostly from the eastern state of Bihar in Kashmir in recent days has send shock waves across the country .Panic has gripped migrant workers in  Kashmir after four of them were shot dead in two days, as  militants  threaten more such attacks, forcing thousands to flee the region.Hundreds  of non-local workers have left Kashmir since South Kashmir attacks either through cabs, buses or trains. They started leaving after the fresh attack on a group of non-locals at Wanpoh in Kulgam district on Sunday night. The attack left two dead and another injured.
On the otherhand People from Bihar working in Jammu & Kashmir as labourers have started reaching back home after the militants started targeting and killing non-locals in the Union territory. At least five persons from Bihar have been killed by militants  in the J&K in the last 15 days.
According to Times of India,Md Anamul Haq from Forbesganj block in Araria district thanked the Almighty after safely alighting from Jammu Tawi-Rajendra Nagar Archana Express at Patna Junction late Monday night. He was accompanied by his wife Rubiya and daughters Sabina and Ayesha. Anamul left Kashmir on Saturday, soon after he came to know about the killing of Arvind Kumar Sah from Banka in Lal Bazaar on October 13.The targeting of minorities and outsiders in the Kashmir valley came up during the National Security Strategy Conference (NSSC) meeting chaired by the Union home minister on Monday. During the meeting, attended by police chiefs of all the states and UTs as well as directors general of central paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies, Shah asked the security officials to deal with the targeted violence in Jammu & Kashmir with a firm hand, an official familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.The migration of labourers is bound to impact adversely Kashmir in Many ways. The image of Kashmir is badly hurt and the economy too would be badly hurt .The agricultural is likely to take a hit due to this migration .Farmers are in much  pain  about the leaving of non-local labourers. This is apple and rice harvesting season in Kashmir. Generally, non-local labourers work in the agriculture and horticulture fields and in their absence the agriculturists and horticulturists are facing lot of  difficulties in getting their routine works done.The expert pulse is that 80 % semi-skilled, skilled work force in Kashmir is non-locals. Thus, the migration of labourers from Kashmir is a big blow.

Red Autumn

News Kashmir Analysis 

Autumn Season in Kashmir valley is known for its beauty with beautiful trees especially the Chinar trees shedding their leaves during the season . But , Autumn 2021 has been bloodied with lot of human bloodshed in Kashmir thus raising fears of situation going from bad to worst .It all started when the famous chemist M L Bindroo was shot dead inside his pharmacy near Iqbal Park here. Less than an hour after his killing, in second attack a street vendor was shot by dead by militants near Madina Chowk Lalbazar in Srinagar. The deceased, identified as Virendra Paswan, was a resident of Bihar’s Bhagalpur.
In the third attack on same day another civilian, identified as Mohd Shafi Lone, was shot dead by the militants in Bandipora district in North Kashmir. A resident of Naidkhai, Lone was killed in the Shahgund area of Bandipora.
Militants then on Thursday morning shot dead a government school principal and a teacher in an Old Srinagar area even as a massive hunt was launched to trap the assailants.
Police identified the slain as Supinder Kour (Principal), a resident of Rengipora Beerwah, presently living at Alochi Bagh area here, and Deepak Chand (Teacher), a resident of Jammu.The security agencies had strong inputs three months ago about targeted killings of civilians in the Kashmir Valley, media outlets  have learned.
Militants have killed seven civilians in the Valley in the last five days. Four were from minority communities. Six deaths took place in Srinagar.
According to sources, the security agencies had inputs that the terrorists were targeting three groups — BJP/Apni Party and affiliates; minority Kashmiri pandits and Sikhs; and pro-government voices whom militants  refer to as collaborators .Without an iota of doubt, the killings are making the Autumn 2021 of Kashmir bloody and killing hope of any peace in Kashmir, that has seen continuous bloodshed since 32 years .
Police chief, Dilbagh Singh, termed the killings an “attempt to defame local Muslims of Kashmir”.Congress Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari on Thursday linked this spurt in terror killing in the Valley to the aftermath of the Taliban capture of Afghanistan and voiced apprehensions on the Punjab front too. Tewari also released a letter a Kashmiri Pandit organisation had written to the Lt Governor of Kashmir, expressing the community’s fear of becoming the target of militant  outfits once again.One hopes that this Autumn won’t be much bloodied more.

NEET PG Saga in Jammu and Kashmir

News Kashmir Analysis

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET (UG), formerly the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), is an all India pre-medical entrance test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS) and AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, etc.) courses in government and private institutions in India and also, for those intending to pursue primary medical qualification abroad.NEET is regarded as very prestigious. The move by the Union Territory (UT) to pool MBBS and post-graduate seats in the all India quota from the current session is creating much uproar among civil and political circles in Jammu and Kashmir.
National Conference (NC) Members of Parliament Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Muhammad Akbar Lone and Hassnain Masoodi have backed the students.
“Such a measure will expose J&K students to a greater disadvantage as compared to their counterparts from other States because of being socially and educationally backward,” NC MPs said, in a joint statement.
They said the pooling of 15% of the UT’s MBBS seats in the all India quota and 50% seat sharing for PG medical courses after NEET “is of great concern”.On the other hand, The Medical aspirants from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will shortly have the long awaited opportunity in getting quota of MBBS/BDS seats from the All India Pool as the Lieutenant Governor’s Administration in J&K has now opted for the same.While as Apni Party President, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has cautioned against “any move by the J&K UT government that can prove detrimental to rights of the Jammu and Kashmir medical postgraduate aspirants” who are scheduled to participate first time in the 50 per cent all India quota seats of all states.The ground reality call on all the related stakeholders to tread a path of logic , rationale and wisdom in this regard .The need of the hour is also that in a region like Jammu and Kashmir which has a very tough terrain and many hilly and quite mountainous areas under its belt we increas thus the Doctor Patient ratio to the impressive levels . Currently, the very poor Doctor Patient ratio in Jammu and Kashmir is a cause of concern . We are hopeful that health sector of Jammu and Kashmir becomes a top rated health sector of the country .

Escalating Unemployment woes in Jammu and KashmirNews Kashmir Analysis 
Unemployment is among the most burning problem faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The unemployment among the highly qualified youth has been a great matter of concern .Even in terms of both youth and Women unemployment the Jammu and Kashmir is not doing much better .In terms of women unemployment, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan among the states are worst performing according to the latest figures released as part of the unemployment rate report by the CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, May-August, 2021). While the national figure for women unemployment is just14.28 per cent.
The data shows that Haryana tops the tally of unemployed women with 78.97 per cent while J&K stands second 72.60 per cent.Apni Party, general secretary, Vikram Malhotra today said unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is at an all time-high. Malhotra was speaking in a joining programme which was organised by District general secretary, Apni Trade Union – Jammu Urban, Dalbir Singh during which a large number of people joined the party.While welcoming the newcomers into the party, its general secretary, Vikram Malhotra said that the sudden rise in unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is a serious cause of concern .Even the valley based voices are concerned over the rising unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah some days back  accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of being indifferent to the plight of the youths of the Union Territory, who, he claimed, were turning to drugs out of joblessness and ensuing frustration.
The NC president, who is also the Srinagar MP, made the allegation while interacting with party workers who had called on him at his residence here.One hopes that the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir takes corrective steps to ensure that youth of Jammu and Kashmir get meaningful employment opportunities at an impressive pace .Experts state that ending turmoil unemployment problem has soared with no industrial growth and struggling key tourism sectors. To add to it, poor industrial governance, infrastructure along with the poor investment climate has left the industrial sector of Kashmir valley in shambles .The ongoing pandemic Coronavirus had shattered hopes of many youth in Kashmir with several sectors badly impacted. The rising number of suicides and depression among the youth of especially the Kashmir valley has been often linked to the menace of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rising Crime rates in Jammu and Kashmir

News Kashmir Exclusive
The intensity of crime in a society is the indicator of the wellbeing of that society .Once Jammu and Kashmir few decades back was known as almost crime free ,but since past few years the realities are changing for worse .In a worrying development learnt recently, the Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a 15% increase in cognisable crimes in 2020 as compared to 2019, the latest report by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed.
The report said that Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh) registered 29,314 (including 403 cases in Ladakh) criminal cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or under the Special and Local Laws (SLL) in 2020.

On the other hand,  crime against women in Jammu and Kashmir also rose from 3,069 cases in 2019 to 3,414 in 2020 showing an increase of 11 percent notwithstanding a decline of 8.3 percent such cases at the national level.Majority of cases under crime against women under Indian Penal Code (IPC) or Special Local Laws (SLL) were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives’, ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’, ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women’ and ‘Rape’, etc.

According to NCRB, as per the NCRB report, the year of 2020 registered 247 cases of rape, 783 of kidnapping and abduction of women, 349 of cruelty by husband or his relatives, nine dowry deaths, 24 cases of abetment to suicide, 1744 cases of assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty, 10 cases of attempt to rape, etc.A total of 247 rape cases were reported in Jammu Kashmir Union Territory and two in Ladakh UT in the year 2020 (from January 1 to December 31). The victims included four girls below the age of 18 years. In majority cases, the rape victims were in the age group of 18 to 30 years (180 cases), followed by 30-45 years (55 cases) and 45-60 years (nine cases).Astonishingly, in all the rape cases except one, the offenders were known to the victims, either through family or friends. In 26 cases, the offender was family member while in 216 cases, the offender was either friend or neighbor or employer or other known person. There was only one case where the victim did not know the accused.
Voices of sanity are urging that we need to regain our lost moral fabric so as to curb the rising crime rate in Jammu and Kashmir .

News Kashmir Exclusive
Syed Ali Shah Geelani , the most popular Separatist leader of Jammu and Kashmir passed away on 1 September ,2021 . He was born in 1929 in the month of September. Geelani was a veteran politician of Jammu and Kashmir in many respects and with his death we can undoubtedly say an era of Jammu and Kashmir politics has come to an end .He was a well known writer and firebrand orator as well. Geelani was also in the mainstream politics of Jammu and Kashmir for several years.Soon after his death , Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in and around Srinagar, especially the roads leading to Geelani’s residence. Geelani had a varied and dynamic profile as he  was born on 29 September 1929 in Zurimanz village in north Kashmir’s Sopore town of Baramulla district.
He started his career in 1949 as a government primary school teacher. He was elected as MLA from Sopore constituency of north Kashmir in 1972, 1977 and 1987.Condolences poured in from wide quarters on demise of Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah wrote on his facebook handle: “My condolences go out to the family, friends and admirers of Syed Ali Shah Geelani Sahib. May Allah grant him the Highest Mukaam in Jannat-Ul-Firdous. Thoughts and Prayers with family.”
Reacting to the news, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti extended condolences over Geelani’s  demise .Geelani had authored many books with last one  being Vullar kināre : āp bītī, 2012. It was his  Autobiography. His early work include Rūdād-i qafas, 1993. Author’s memoirs of his imprisonment.He was initially mentored by Maulana Mohammad Sayyid Masoodi, a pro-independence Kashmiri leader who was assassinated, aged 87 years, by insurgents in December 1990.Geelani befriended top political leaders and backchannel players of both India and Pakistan but refused to show any flexibility when the conversations revolved around shunning the United Nations Resolutions passed on Kashmir and accepting “realistic” solutions. His adversaries did not approve  his politics stand but admired his resolute stand.
But in the early 1950s, he discovered the writings of Maulana Abul Ala Maududi, the Jamaat-i-Islami’s founder, and that set the course for the rest of his life, as narrated in his autobiography Wular Kinaray (From the Wular’s Shore, a reference to his native village by the Wular Lake in the northern Kashmir Valley).Undoubtedly with death of Geelani a prominent chapter of Kashmir politics has come to end .
As mentioned recently in renowned publication the Daily Hindu recently  : The history Geelani witnessed may be chequered but his ideology, accession to Pakistan, remained linear, single-point and unwavering, to the chagrin of many dispensations in both India and Pakistan.

Water Tariff Hike in JK
News Kashmir Exclusive
Water is life .Jammu and Kashmir region is known for rich fresh water resources especially the Kashmir valley. Despite that Water Charges are going up .Recently it was learnt that Water usage charges have been increased by 10 percent in Jammu and Kashmir.As a matter of fact , The Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority (J&KWRRA) in its order has revised the water tariff for consumers in domestic as well as commercial segments with effect from April 2021.
“In terms of section 128 and in terms of section 145(2) of the J&K Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act 2010, the Authority has decided to fix the water usage charges/tariff for different categories of water for the year 2021-22 effective from 01-04-2021. The order shall remain valid till 31-04-2022,” reads the order.
For households in urban areas, water tariff of Rs 1500 and Rs 2850 half yearly has been fixed for connection size of ½ and 1/3 inches respectively. The user charges have been increased by Rs 300 per year in this category.
As per the order, in the domestic connection category, the tariff for consumers with a connection size of ½ inch in rural areas is fixed at Rs 500 per six months; Rs 800 per half year has been fixed for connection size of ¾ inch.
In the commercial category, water tariff of Rs 5000 per half year has been fixed by the authority for connection size ½ inches.
The water tariff for connection size ¾, 1 and beyond 1 inch has been fixed at Rs 15400, Rs 46220 and Rs 77000 respectively per half year.
A senior Jal Shakti department official said that “water usage charges have been increased by over 10 percent. It is a routine exercise. However, there are huge number of households who still have not registered their water connections with the department which is hampering the revenue collection of the department.”Political voices and masses are critical of the move.Meanwhile , the Apni Party Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir on Thursday expressed his deep resentment over an arbitrary hike in water tariff across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement, Mir said the exponential increase in the water bills remains incongruous and uncalled-for at this juncture as it will further aggravate the sufferings of the people at large.One is hopeful that considering the manner in which the pandemic of Coronavirus has wrecked Havoc on pocket of common man this decision of water Tariff Hike in JK.

Karbala message 

News Kashmir Exclusive
The message of Karbala is unprecedented and history . The martyrdom of Imam Hussain ( as) and his companions in Karbala has casted ever eternal impression on the humanity and chapters of history .
The word Karbala is not just a name of place but a concept that fills our heart, mind with million emotions and eyes with billion tears , The martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) in the Karbala has inspired entire humanity and world renowned  thinkers and leaders have taken this tragedy as an inspiration in their respective struggles of justice. The tragedy of Karbala took place some 49 years after the death of Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] in 61 Hijri (AD 680).The message of Karbala is vivid and clear. The battle of Karbala was not meant to grab a patch of land, rather it was intended to secure and uphold core human values. It was a battle between good and evil, right and wrong and justice and oppression.African noted peace icon and leader Nelson Mandela wrote –“ I(Nelson Mandela) has spent more than 20 years in prison, then on one night I decided to surrender by signing all the terms and conditions of government. BUT suddenly I thought about Imam Hussain and Karbala movement and Imam Hussain give me strength to stand for right of freedom and liberation and I did.”
Mahatma Gandhi stated – “My admiration for the noble sacrifice of Imam Hussain (as) as a martyr abounds, because he accepted death and the torture of thirst for himself, for his sons, and for his whole family, but did not submit to unjust authorities.” “I learnt from Hussain how to achieve victory while being oppressed.”As writer Kiran Sidique wrote few years back that : Karbala does no meant mere for mourning but it’s a message of truth and deterrence against the heavy odds. It’s a mission to never surrender and keep oneself spirited till the last drop of blood in the body.
It’s a spirit of never giving up before the wrong and keep stick to Right. No matter you are 72 encountering 30,000 forces. It’s out of mind if I imagine the impetus that kept only 72 heavier on thousands.On the otherhand, Many state Every year, we certainly commemorate the tragedy of Karbala but, unfortunately, overlook the valued message of the matchless martyr, Imam Hussain (AS). The battle of Karbala signifies the collision of the good versus the evil, the vice versus the virtue. Imam Hussain (AS) taught us all as to how to stand up against oppression and resist tyranny.
Nothing can match the beauty and value of the great messages given by Karbala .