News Kashmir Magazine

The economy of Kashmir is crumbling at a fast pace . The ragging pandemic of Coronavirus has wrecked havoc on global economies and the Economy of the Kashmir has been especially hit hard .
The financial doom is evident in Jammu and Kashmir . The rising number of suicide cases and growing frustration and drug abuse are direct consequence of the financial doom .Recently, the representative of as many as 35 associations related to business and industry attended the meeting. It was agreed by one and all those businesses in J&K need relief and revival financial packages immediately to keep the wheel of the overall economy in the UT moving.

The present scenario in terms of losses and showdowns of business units and establishments were thoroughly discussed in the meeting in which stakeholders shared facts about the ground situation. They said that the pandemic has created havoc on all kinds of businesses in J&K. Former Chief Minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday said the economy of Jammu and Kashmir is on the “brink of collapse” as every sector in the union territory has suffered losses in the last two years. Addressing a meeting of the party’s constituency in-charges of north Kashmir’s Baramulla District at party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha here, Abdullah expressed concern over “the soaring unemployment” in Jammu and Kashmir and the alleged rising incidents of suicide among the youth.

Man Vs Wild 

News Kashmir Exclusive
Due to rapid loss of habitats owing to cruel phenomenon of rampant Deforestation in Kashmir the human beings and wildlife conflict in Kashmir is on rise .
Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) refers to the negative interactions between human and wild animals, with undesirable consequences for both people and their resources and wildlife and their habitats (IUCN 2020). HWC, caused by competition for shared natural resources between human and wildlife, influences human food security and the well-being of both human and animals. In many regions these conflicts have intensified over recent decades as a result of human population growth and the transformation of land use.In a heart rending incident recently , A four-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Adha Shakil went missing from the lawn of her house in Ompora Housing Colony on during evening time and remains of her body were found in a nearby forest area during a search operation on in morning.
Deputy Commissioner Shahbaz Mirza called a meeting with senior police officers and officials of the forest and wildlife departments to decide on a slew of measures to prevent such incidents in the future.We need to remember that in recent times several animals have also lost their precious lives in these human animal conflicts and also number of them have been caught .
After it , A leopard was also  captured alive by officials of the Wildlife Department in Humpora Loolipora area of Chadoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
 Wildlife official reported that the leopard was spotted in the area by locals and was captured alive by Wildlife department officials this evening who were informed about it.
The official said that the department has asked its men to remain alert at every hotspot to trap other leopards roaming in the district.The Jammu and Kashmir wildlife department on late Tuesday evening  captured another  leopard from Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Official said that It was the second leopard caught by the wildlife department Range Office Khrew on two consecutive days.On the other hand, Several villages of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district feel threatened by wild animals, which have taken shelter in a dense nursery of the area, said locals.
The locals of the villages — Dangerpora, Laridora, Reshmuqam, Taripora, Wathuran, Nowgam and others, said that there are apprehensions of attacks to happen in the future because of the roaming of a bear and other animals in the area.One hopes that corrective measures are taken both by the masses and the Government so that Man Vs Wild conflict comes to an end in Kashmir.

Cover Story 31 May, 2021 Issue .

Corona Martyrs
News kashmir Exclusive
Doctor’s read soo many books just save others life.” – UnknownThe job of doctors is among the holiest in the world . Doctors serve entire humanity without any bias.Doctors save lives, but their importance goes far beyond that. Doctors also make a difference by helping patients minimize pain, recover from a disease faster or learn to live with a disabling injury. A patient’s ability to enjoy life, even if they can’t be cured, makes a huge difference to them and to their families. If they can go back to work after an illness, that benefits their employer, too. And, that’s only part of what makes doctors important to society.In the pandemic of Coronavirus millions have died and crores infected across the world . In India the second wave of Coronavirus has been more brutal and cruel . The scores of doctors have died while serving other patients due to the Coronavirus.In India hundreds of doctors have died due to Covid .
A total of 513 doctors have died while fighting to Covid19 in India during its second wave, among whom three doctors are from the Union Territory of J&K, as per the Indian Medical Association (IMA).IMA said that the highest number of doctors who succumbed to Covid19 second wave in India are from Delhi. It said that 103 doctors from Delhi, followed by 96 in Bihar, lost their lives to the perilous virus.   As per IMA, the actual number of fatalities may be higher as it keeps only the registry of only 3.5 lakh members.It is is pertinent to mention that 748 doctors, as per IMA, have already died in India during the first wave of Covid19.Doctors in India are being overburdened beyond measure by Coronavirus . Even before the pandemic hit India, its health sector was ranked 110 out of 141 countries, behind Bangladesh, Indonesia and Chile, the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2019 found. The South Asian nation’s rural towns and villages, home to nearly 70% of India’s 1.4 billion population, have only a skeletal health infrastructure.
The number of doctors for every 10,000 people in India has fallen to around nine in 2019 from 12 in 1991, according to data on World Health Organization’s website, while the country’s health expenditure was just 3.54% of GDP, lower than countries including China, Iraq , Kenya ,  Egypt and Afghanistan.One hopes great sacrifices rendered by the Doctors would be valued and health sector upgraded .

Tourism, Transport

3 Years of Total Loss
News Kashmir Exclusive

Since the last three years the tourism and transport sector of Kashmir has been at the receiving end due to varied reasons . From political upheaval to the ragging pandemic of Coronavirus since more than one year have lent death blow to the tourism and transport sector of Kashmir .The transport and tourism sector related People are the worst hit as they are finding it difficult to meet the day to day needs. The Coronavirus pandemic has caused havoc .Although , Jammu and Kashmir government has come to the rescue of these tourism players. A package of $30 million (INR 3 crore) has been announced. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the measure for those particularly hit due to the coronavirus pandemic.In this package, Rs 2,000 financial assistance will be provided to 4,444 registered shikara owners, 1,370 tourist guides, 6,663 ponywalas and 2,150 others including those who rent palanquins for yatris. The money will be paid for two months. The relief will be transferred to only those who are registered with the tourism department,” said an official release by the JK government.Although the tourism people still feel it is less.Transporters and their families are on brink of starvation .Transporters also recently  urged authorities to provide them compensation, stating that the sector was worst-hit due to successive lockdowns for last three consecutive years.
“The transports are worst affected. We have been facing the brunt of the successive lockdowns since 5 August,” General Secretary, Kashmir Welfare Transporters Association, Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf.
“The drivers and conductors are pushed to the wall. Owners are not positioned differently either,” he said, adding, “The drivers and conductors are finding it extremely hard to make both ends meet.
The need of the hour is that a very broad based and comprehensive financial package are announced in the favour of tourism and transport sector .It is worth mentioning here that delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) led by its President Sheikh Ashiq and Secretary-general Farooq Amin, met Advisor to Lt. Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan and highlighted the crisis faced by the economically vulnerable sections of the society due to COVID lockdown.

The delegation also included presidents of other associations like trade, transport, tourism, and other allied sectors like Kashmir Traders and Manufactures Federation (KTMF), Federation chamber of industries Kashmir (FCIK), Houseboat Associations, who also highlighted these issues and briefed about the problems they are facing due to the prevailing situation, the Chamber said in a statement.

Austere FestivityRameez Makhdoomi Today pandemic Coronavirus  is ravaging entire India and cases in Lacs are reported daily and thousands are dying . Jammu and Kashmir is also seeing huge spiral in cases with thousands reported on daily bases and scores dying . This week we have many holy festivals in Offing as the holy month of Ramadan is coming to end.  On Friday 14 May, 2021 The holy and joyful festival of Eid al Fitr is being celebrated with full fervour, zeal and zest  . This year we are celebrating Eid in the background of ravaging global Pandemic Coronavirus which has wrecked havoc in India in recent times and killed millions  and Infected  crores throughout the world.
Eid al-Fitr  also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”, is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. This religious Eid is the first and only day in the month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on when the new moon is sighted by local religious authorities, so the day of celebration varies by locality.

The need of the hour is we spend very less on this Eid and keep much for the poor hit hard by the pandemic Coronavirus. 

Religious personalities are also advising that we should celebrate Eid with utmost simplicity  . The expert pulse is that we have to follow precautions religiously to keep the curve flat so that health infrastructure can’t be overburden which is already overstretched.The Coronavirus cases are already rising in Jammu and Kashmir by “overcrowding” or not following protocols, the virus can spread like a wildfire.We should limit spending on too much shopping or on any other extravaganza as this can cause further havoc . The need is to help those whose economy or source of living has been hit hard by the pandemic . This pandemic also should make us introspect while even celebrating . In his Ramadan Dairy eminent writer and Gender Justice activist Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander writes :” Ramadan Diary
How do we know that Allah is not happy with us? When we do not offer our prayers and defer our obligations. Corona pandemic maybe a symptom that Almighty is not happy with us as we have filled the world with our transgressions. We continue to commit grave atrocities against ourselves and others. The way we all have been stopped from praying in masjids, synagogues, churches, temples and places where his name was chanted and we bowed before him is a manifestation of the fact that Almighty does not consider us worthy enough to visit him. 
Ramadan is a reminder to all of us that we should mend our relations with Almighty through sincere repentance, asking forgiveness and further make a commitment that we will not commit transgression against others, destroy nature and pollute the environment. 
Undoubtedly, the need is to do  introspection and celebrate festivals in simple and austere way.

Lockdown Returns 

News Kashmir Exclusive
The second wave of pandemic Coronavirus has wrecked havoc in entire India .Jammu and Kashmir too is passing through difficult circumstances.  In recent times there have been riising number of covid-19 cases and deaths in Jammu and Kashmir .The lockdown has a result returned in Jammu and Kashmir. Recently , the administration had ordered a “complete lockdown” in Srinagar from 7 p.m, 29 April, 2021 to May 3.   
“There will be Complete Lockdown in Srinagar District from 7:00 pm Thursday (29/04/2021) to 7:00 am Monday (03/05/2021). Exemptions apply to essential services. Detailed order shall follow,” said Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, in a tweet  .
The announcement came  a day after the administration ordered imposition of 144 CrpC, banning the assembly of five or more persons in the summer capital of the J&K.
 Masses are welcoming the move of imposing lockdown .  Amid reports of vaccine shortage and other drugs related to covid Government refuted the reports .In this regard the Jammu Kashmir Government  asked some sections of media to act sensibly and stop scaring people.       In a hurriedly called press conference at the office of Directorate of Information and Public Relations on Thursday late evening, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Baseer Khan said that some quarters in media are trying to give an impression that there is shortage of Oxygen supply in Kashmir hospital which is totally untrue and baseless.    “Neither there is shortage of Oxygen nor there is shortage of any medicine,”  He said it is not good to present Covid-19 related management in bad light.    “Let me tell you in our Union Territory we have 20 tons of Oxygen available which is sufficient to meet any demand. There should be no room for any doubt,’ Baseer Khan said.  Khan said Jammu and Kashmir is at first position where one crore 25 lakh vaccines are coming. UP is at 2nd place as for as vaccine procurement is concerned.     While talking about the reports that Ramdesivir vaccine is not available in ample quantity, Baseer Khan said that this vaccine is available in sufficient quantity and it is being provided and offered at places where needed. “There are some quarters who want to give an impression that there is scarcity of medicine. We are in the process of identifying those quarters,” he said.    Khan said that Tocilizumab drug is in pipeline and is arriving in Kashmir Valley. “We have placed the order for Tocilizumab drug and this drug is coming in sufficient quantity.   Khan was flanked by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir PK Pole, Director SKIMS Dr AG Ahangar and Director Health Services Dr Mushaq Ahmed Rather.
One hopes all out efforts would be displayed by the Administration to meet the challenges arising out of pandemic wave. 

Inflation  Hurting Kashmir 

News Kashmir Desk
Inflation or price rise amid the ragging Pandemic of Coronavirus is hitting quite badly the interests of the masses of Kashmir.

The rising inflation is giving harsh times to  the people in the Valley of Kashmir. The monster of inflation is impacting all important sphere of life in the valley of Kashmir. Pertinently, Inflation means paying more for goods than what you were paying earlier. Off late, not only indispensable goods have seen a price hike, non-essential items have also seen this hike.Fruits and vegetables continue to be sold at very abnormal high prices as the government notified rate list is not being followed by shopkeepers and vendors selling perishables in Kashmir markets.Price rise complaints are surfacing at the juncture when when the FCSCA department claims to have sealed over a dozen shops for overpricing of the items during the recent times .On the other hand of the spectrum ,The black marketing done by few vested interests during the long closures of the national highway causes immense hardships to the consumers . The need of the hour is to undertake more market Checks so as to keep a eagle eye on black marketing .Vegetables and non vegetarian food items is witness to much drastic price rise during these highway closures . Eggs as a commodity also see much abnormal price rise during the road blockade .Currently even the price of chicken basic eatable item in Kashmir are hovering in high range of between Rs140 to 170 Per kilogram .More market checking squads on price rise is the way ahead to tackle the rising inflation in the Kashmir valley.It is important to mention that The Centre on Monday asked state governments to adopt zero tolerance against hoarding of essential supplies like food and drugs during the lockdowns and curfews imposed in some states to contain the spread of COVID-19.Local political pulse is also speaking against the price rise .Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Wing Thursday said that the soaring prices of daily essentials including edible oils and vegetables had added to the woes of the people amid COVID-19 outbreak.
A statement of PDP Youth Wing issued here quoted the PDP Youth State Secretary Arif Laigaroo as saying that due to an increase in the price of the essential commodities people were in a dilemma over what to buy and what not to buy.One hopes rising inflation especially of the essential items in Kashmir is checked immediately to give much needed relief to the masses .

Ramadan Hopes Rameez Makhdoomi 
The holy month of Ramadan started on Wednesday, 14 April 2021. However, in Kerala, the festival started 13 April. In this holy month, which is also called Ramzan in India, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. During the fast, they do not drink or eat, and strictly refrain from indulging in any immoral acts.In Jammu and Kashmir too Ramadan started on 14 April, 2021 with lot of hopes especially in the Muslim majority Kashmir valley . People of Kashmir have multiple hopes as Ramadan has ushered . People are hopeful of peace and prosperity in Kashmir . The major hope and prayer on the ground zero is the end of pandemic Coronavirus . As a matter of fact , the pandemic of Coronavirus has killed millions and infected crores worldwide . The economies have been shattered across places . Kashmir too has been at much receiving end of the pandemic. People are hoping that in the blessed month of Ramadan prayers would result in an end to pandemic Coronavirus .
People of Kashmir would also be praying an end to rising crimes and  immoral acts in our society . The recent killings of daughter in laws in Kashmir has exposed growing ugly nature of our society .This practice of fasting across Ramadan helps in detoxifying the soul and brings closer to Allah and thus leads us to doing moral acts is big hope .Everyone of us becomes honest in our conduct and we do more self introspection should be pulse of our prayers during the Ramadan .
 In his latest Ramadan Dairy , eminent writer and Gender Justice activist Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander writes :”
Each human has material and spiritual components embedded in their personality. The material aspect relates and operates at Instinctual level reaching its zenith in hedonism, whereas spiritual dimension needs transcendental connection. While everyday we nurture our physical needs without caring much about the spiritual ones, Ramdan makes us to give time to our spiritual needs. 
Fasting deprives our body for sometime the cravings that it demands, helping us strengthen our will power by keeping the instincts in control. We nurture our body for eleven months and most of us eat in an ill mannered way but the one month of fasting helps us to regain control of our eating habits in a balanced manner while supplementing and replenishing our spirituality too. “
One hopes Ramadan 2021 would be a foundation stone for global happiness of humanity and also the valley of Kashmir would emerge from the pain and regain its lost glory.

Cover 12 April,2021 issue

Rising Domestic Violence In Kashmir News Kashmir Exclusive
The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights. | Gloria Steinem
Women are as important to humanity as men are , but it is unfortunate to note since centuries women in many countries are subjected to much repression and oppression. Domestic violence against women is a matter of great concern .Domestic violence (also named domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation. Domestic violence is often used as a synonym for intimate partner violence, which is committed by one of the people in an intimate relationship against the other person.
In a heart stabbing  episode just few weeks back a mother of two children who was allegedly set ablaze by her in laws in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday evening, officials said.
This horrible crime depicts again the trauma and violence that Women of Kashmir are facing. Over the years Domestic Violence has been on continuously rising in the Kashmir valley.The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted by the Union Ministry of Health has exposed shocking facts about domestic violence against women in Jammu and Kashmir. The survey report, released in 2020, claims that 9.6% of women in the age group 18-49 experienced domestic violence in 2019-20. Five years ago, when J&K was still a state, the survey says 9.4% of women were subjected to domestic violence. The survey further reveals that domestic abuse and sexual harassment is more widespread in rural areas of J&K as compared to urban areas.Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, an eminent Gender Justice Activist ,while talking to the News Kashmir stated :”Domestic Violence is a manifestation of patriarchy and toxic masculinity prevalent in our society. Most of the victims of this violence are women particularly daughters in law. Men still are not able to overcome patriarchy. Most men cannot tolerate empowered women and with each passing day women are claiming positions of power, that is rendering men vulnerable to insecurity. To overcome this insecurity become violent against women over whom they enjoy a certain position of power. 
Further our education system does not inculcate values of gender justice among us so we are not ready to give an equal space and agency to women. 
The remedy for bringing down the domestic violence cases is to educate, decondition and detoxify men and women against the patriarchal norms that are prevalent in society.”

Houseboat Policy 2021News Kashmir Exclusive
Houseboats have been integral part of Kashmir culture and Tourism .
The origin of the houseboat lies in the chapters of Kashmir’s history. It is said that the native kings had forbidden foreign visitors, especially the British from constructing houses in the region and this gave rise to the concept of a houseboat.But critics have often blamed them for pollution of water bodies , now in a latest the Jammu and Kashmir Government has framed New Houseboat Policy .Recently, the Administrative Council (AC), which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the roll-out of policy and guidelines for sustainable operation of houseboats in Dal and Nigeen lakes.

Pertinent to mention here that in a bid to preserve the marine eco-system of both the lakes, the new policy aims to regulate the functioning of houseboats moored in Dal and Nigeen lakes by adopting the models of sustainable and responsible tourism. 

The policy envisages providing a pleasant experience to tourists and sustainable source of living to stakeholders while preserving the fragile ecosystem. 

Keeping in view the carrying capacities, the Tourism Department has capped the number of houseboats in both lakes at 910. Under the new policy, the houseboats are required to be registered online subject to the fulfilment of various conservation parameters; within 30 days from the date notification of the policy.

 Yaqub Dunoo, Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association , Chief Spokesperson stated :” We are still examing the policy as Directorate of Tourism is yet to give us final policy document , the previous policy seemed to aimed at crushing the houseboat industry as it had many unfriendly and illogical parameters . We will keenly study the policy and give our opinion on it after studying .We are hopeful that this policy would be friendly and core issue of houseboat reconstruction would be allowed and no adverse guidelines will be there . We fully respect the conservation and preservation of Dal Lake as Houseboats are there only due to lake and houseboats are similarly jewels of lake . We are ready to install bio toilets in the Houseboats .”
We are aware of the reality that the houseboats in Srinagar are usually static as they remain moored at the edges of Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake. Some of the houseboats have been built in early 1900s, and are still being rented out to tourists.One hopes that Houseboat policy 2021 would be acceptable to all the stakeholders and it would usher a new era of sustainable and environmental friendly tourism in the gorgeous valley of Kashmir