News Kashmir Magazine

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

Cover 29 March,2022

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India Pak Bonhomie

Let Peace Prevail

India – Pakistan peace is very must for the progress of world and especially the wellbeing of entire South Asian region . The relationship between India and Pakistan in the past few years especially after the deadly 2019 Pulwama bombing had gone from bad to worse.Now with recent border ceasefire between the two countries holding hopes are raised .This has inspired optimism about reduced tensions in South Asia.  Experts have stressed that If decades of conflict are to be settled, however, the two sides must both do much more to address grievances and deal with the legacies of a half century and avoid too ambitious an effort to attempt everything at once.On the otherhand, Advocating for peace in the sub-continent, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said it was time for New Delhi and Islamabad to “bury the past and move forward”.
Addressing the Islamabad Security Dialogue, Bajwa added that stable Indo-Pak relations were the key to unlocking the potential of South and Central Asia by ensuring connectivity between East and West Asia.On the otherhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan that trust without terror and hostility was necessary for a better relationship between the two countries, it was reported recently.PM Modi observed :
“As a neighbouring country, India desires cordial relations with the people of Pakistan,” Modi wrote in a letter dated March 22. “For this, an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is imperative.”On the otherhand, neither India nor Pakistan has reacted over the peace deal, there is a media report that claims that the recent thaw in the ties, beginning with the ceasefire agreement on February 25 and the subsequent conciliatory statements by the Pakistani military and civilian leaders, is the outcome of the mediatory role played by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Media reports have added that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi are likely to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference in Tajikistan capital Dushanbe.Speaking with reference to the new ceasefire agreement with Pakistan, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India desires “normal” relationship with Pakistan but New Delhi’s stand on several key issues will continue to remain unchanged.One hopes that the real pain hit region of Jammu and Kashmir would see real Development of peaceful and progressive atmosphere as a result of India Pakistan improved relationship.

Cover 8 February 2021 Issue .

Rising cancer cases in Kashmir

News Kashmir Health Bureau
World Cancer Day is observed on 4 February each year. The theme for the year 2021  is ‘I am and I will’.
Breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most common form of the disease, accounting for nearly 12% of new cases each year worldwide, the World Health Organisation said recently .One million cases of stomach cancer are diagnosed annually in the world. India has a lower incidence as compared to specific areas like Southeast Asia. Certain areas like the Northeastern states and Kashmir have a higher incidence than the rest of India.Kashmir has worryingly enough over the past few decades witnessed an abnormal rise in cancer cases .The summer capital Srinagar has recorded highest number of cancer cases, among all districts of J&K, during the past two years, as per the data available at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).
In response to an RTI filed by rights activist and Secretary of J&K Peoples Forum MM Shuja, the hospital administration has revealed that 11,281 new cancers cases were registered at the institute from 2018 until middle 2020.SKIMS, celebrated World Cancer Day at SKIMS auditorium.
On the occasion Scientific program was organized in which experts deliberated on various topics of importance about prevalence, detection, awareness and treatment of various cancers.
While giving comprehensive overview of various cancers prevalent in the UT of J&K, the experts stressed for various preventives measures including early screening , life style modifications , healthy dietary habits etc to contain the disease which is spreading at the alarming rate and is the leading cause of death.
On the eve of World Cancer Day (4th Feb 2021) Cancer Society of Kashmir organized a free Oncology Consultation Camp under the supervision of reputed Oncologists & expert doctors.
A large number of patients who had come from different corners of Kashmir Valley were examined.  Poor and deserving patients who are registered with the society were provided free anti-cancer drugs as a matter of routine. Other supportive drugs required for G.I treatments were provided to all patients free of cost.
It is worrying to note that among the Jammu , Ladakh and Kashmir Valley regions the Kashmir Valley has much higher number of cancer cases.Kashmir Valley has recorded the highest number of cancer cases compared to Jammu and Ladakh Union Territory in the last over two years with officials at SKIMS saying that 92 per cent of cancer cases registered with them belong to Kashmir division only.Researchers have revealed that climate change will extract an acute toll worldwide, with rising temperatures, wildfires and poor air quality, accompanied by higher rates of cancer, especially lung, skin and gastrointestinal cancers.
In a study, published in the journal The Lancet Oncology, the researchers provided a synopsis of future effects from global warming on major cancers, from environmental toxins to ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, infectious agents and disruptions in food and water supply.It is hoped Kashmir with proper and healthy life style triumphs cancer soon ..One hopes we would soon witness the valley of Kashmir taking all preventive mechanism to help contain and one day end this menace of rising cancer cases in Kashmir.

Valley of Crime!

News Kashmir Exclusive
Moral degradation has plagued  kashmir over the past few years. We have been continuously witnessing growing drug addiction, vulgarity, loss of respect for elders are some of the evident realities that once pious kashmiri society is fast losing its moral fabric. All this is impacting our growth as a society.
 As a result once known for its pious values the region of Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing a highly disturbing scenario with crime level reaching to an alarming level here.Srinagar the heart of Kashmir has also witnessed many ugly crimes in recent times . The Valley of Saints Kashmir is fast becoming known for all the wrong reasons . Few weeks back murder of Ziyaan Chisti, son of Mohammad Ashraf Chisti, a resident of Rainawari area of Srinagar was stabbed to death while another youth namely Faizan Fida Bhat, son of Fida Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Elahibagh was left  wounded near the Dastgeer Sahib shrine in Khanyar in  evening time .
Police on its part stated that , one of the main reasons behind this entire episode has been established that an accused person owed the deceased youth a sum of rupees 7 thousand. The entire argument revolved around the issue of money and seems to be major reason behind the argument, which has resulted in the killing of one person namely Ziyaan Chisti, while another Faizan Bhat has been injured.Shockingly the murder was commited by dear friend .Police after few days  claimed to have cracked the sensational murder of a 17 year old youth and arrested three accused from Srinagar old city.
The accused have been identified as Mohammad Zahid Bhat and Faizan Fida Bhat of Ellahi Bagh, Soura and Wajid Altaf Kaullah of Jabgri Pora Nowhatta Srinagar.
Police said all the three  accused persons have been arrested within 12 hrs of the incident and investigation of the case is underway.On the other hand, J&K has witnessed an increase in crimes against women during the past two years, a report by state Crime Branch (CB) has revealed.
In 2017, at least 3363 cases of atrocities against women were registered by police. These included cases of kidnapping, abduction, rape, molestation, dowry, cruelty by husband and other crimes.
 In previous years one has been witness to the fact that heinous crimes unheard in Kashmir some decades ago have occurred  frequently .
Sane voices are urging that all the stakeholders of the society urge that we all introspect to check the rising tendency of crimes in Kashmir.

Ration Crisis Cover 25 January 2021

News Kashmir Exclusive

Food security is key to the human survival
Recently the massive cut in ration quota and the directions to provide ration to only Adhar card holders triggered a protest in the premises of Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs here in Srinagar city.  The protesting employees from the department alleged that field staff is unable to confront the general public due to vague orders issued by the government.   The protest was led by Jammu and Kashmir Food and Supplies Employees Association President Riyaz Ahmed Sofi.   The protesters raised the slogans against the government and alleged that the department has endangered the lives of field staff especially store keepers.   Employee leadership stated that the Department has deleted one lakh 25 thousand consumers from its portal just because they have no Adhar Cards. This is absurd and a move to harass people.  They opined consumers ask store keepers to show formal order.   
  Pertinently, Government has curtailed over 120371.62 quintals of food-grains (rice and wheat) in Kashmir Valley. Store Keepers and Fair Price Shop dealers have virtually locked their stores demanding supply of rice as per the desired quota and a formal announcement from the Department in this regard.           Under National Food Security Act (NFSA), Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Kashmir has allocated 210849.89 quintals of food-grains for the month of January 2021. Last year in October, 331221.51 quintals of food-grains had been allocated for Valley. “This is a deficit of 120371.62 quintals of food-grains and it is a huge margin that will affect people badly.For the month of January 2021, under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category, 30457.95 quintals of rice (50595.74 quintals in Nov 2020) have been procured. Under the same category 1321.60 quintals of wheat has been allocated while the figure in November 2020 was1488.11 quintals.    For the month of January 2021, under Priority Household (PHH) category, 98035.79 quintals of rice (155941.69 quintals in Nov 2020) have been procured. Under the same category 6620.00 quintals of wheat has been allocated for the current January month while the figure in November 2020 was 8207.46 quintals.    For the month of January 2021, under Non- Priority Household (NPHH) category, 70701.04 quintals of rice (109239.08 quintals in Nov 2020) have been allocated. Under the same category 3713.51 quintals of wheat has been allocated for the current January month while the figure in November 2020 was 5749.43 quintals.  The political pulse of Jammu and Kashmir is expressing deep anguish over the sorry state of affairs with reference to ration availability and the paradigms brought in.Expressing concern over the shortage of ration and arbitrary curtailment in food supplies quota in Kashmir division, Apni Party senior leader Muhammad Dilawar Mir Monday urged Lt Governor ManojSinha to address the issue on priority.
A statement of Apni Party issued here said that Mir said that Kashmir was witnessing an awful shortage of ration supplies and the Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Kashmir appeared to be in “deep slumber”.On the other hand , in a joint statement issued here, senior NC leader Abdul Rahim Rather and NC Women’s Wing President ShameemaFirdous said that there was a crisis-like situation in Kashmir due to non-availability of basic essentials  and the administration had failed to live up to its obligation of ensuring people all  basic civic amenities and essentials. The statement quoted the NC leaders as saying that the curtailment of monthly ration to APL and BPL families had compounded the woes of people across J&K in general and people of Kashmir in particular due to the ongoing harsh winter season.

Highway Hiccups

News Kashmir Exclusive
The travel along the 255-km so-called all-weather Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which connects Kashmir with the rest of the country, has since long time  become a nightmarish and horrible  experience for people especially in the winter months despite constructions of tunnels .Pertinent to mention here, Notably, tunnels, such as the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel and the Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel have reduced the distance between Jammu and Srinagar (formerly 295 km) by about 40 km .The Banihal to Ramban sector is still proving to be uphill challenge with often closures in winter . The heavy snowfall at the start of this year has mean that in the month of January 2021 national highway has hardly remained open for traffic .
The closure of highway has given much difficulty to the commuters and drivers plying on this road. The collapse of bridge near Ramban caused big obstacle .Jammu-Srinagar National Highway shall remain closed due to sudden collapse of retaining wall of a bridge near Kela Morh, Ramban on January 10 at 6:20 pm. Repairing by concrete filling and settling of the concrete for making it motorable may take approximately 10 days as per project director NHAI,” the Traffic advisory said .Highway closure of this nature leads to inflation .The much long nature of closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has now started affecting the smooth delivery of supplies to the Valley. The markets are already witnessing inflation in form of sky-rocketing of prices especially that of basic food items and vegetables.
On average, every day, around 1,200 trucks and as many tankers, besides 1,000 vehicles ferrying passengers, ply on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. There are also over 500 vehicles of government forces on the road on a routine day. Nearly 7,000 vehicles cross the Banihal toll post on an average day.
Recently also , The drivers stranded along Srinagar—Jammu highway for the past four days on  rued lack of facilities alleging that the administration seems to have forgotten them.
The drivers  stuck along the highway following the damage to the bridge at Kela Morh in Ramban stated they are facing many difficulty.
Many are hoping that four lanning , and start of rail link between Kashmir to Jammu would start soon so that highway blockades would not hamper lives of people soon.
The work on the intervening 111 km section of Katra-Banihal is ongoing and is the most challenging portion due to its geology and extensive riverine system with deep gorges. Recently, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal asked the engineers working on the project to expedite the remaining portion on a mission mode.
For the moment although the closed highway is giving much troubled time to the people of Kashmir .

Cover 11 January, 2021 Issue

 Snow Vagaries

News Kashmir Exclusive
Kashmir has seen one of the heaviest snowfall in decades . On 3 January, 2021 Sunday heavy Snowfall began to lash parts of the Kashmir .And, after Four days of incessant snowfall, weather in Kashmir witnessed a significant improvement on Thursday, 7 January  but heavy snowfall left property worth lakhs of rupees damaged and two persons including a CRPF sub-inspector dead.As a matter of fact ,heavy snowfalls in Kashmir have given testing times to both people and authorities.
Jammu Srinagar NHW [national highway] blocked due to snow accumulation at Jawahar Tunnel and Landslides/mudslides/shooting stones at Samroli, Magarkot, Panthyal, Marog, Cafeteria mor, Dhalwas, Nashri @JmuKmrPolice,” tweeted Jammu & Kashmir traffic police.
A group of tourists from Rajasthan had a narrow escape along the highway near Panthal when a landslide hit the vehicle they were travelling in. Police said the tourists were rescued and were safe.
The snowfall, heaviest in decades  created  havoc on the road and electricity infrastructure in the Valley.
The heavy  snowfall  caused faults in several feeder lines in Kashmir leading to power outages in many areas especially the rural areas .In many areas of Sriningar the administration was seen clearing the snow but in many areas of Kashmir Valley especially the rural areas people were on their own clearing snow and facing hardships .Electricity supply remained good in some areas but equally poor in many with bad reports of many transformers exploding causing hardship to the masses .The claims and counter claims continued .CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami alleged that the claims of the administration on alertness had been exposed “especially in South Kashmir that saw massive power breakdown, road blockades and scarcity of essential commodities”.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P.K. Pole said adequate stock of essential commodities was available in the Valley. “For the higher reaches and the other areas, which remain cut-off during the winter period, we have kept ration for 4-6 months stocked,” Mr. Pole said.
The need of the hour is to strengthen the roots of Administration further so that we meet such heavy snowfalls with better preparedness.As heavy snowfall blocked roads in Kashmir, local youth ferried a pregnant woman on a cot in South Kashmir, marched for 12 km on foot amid 7-inch snow accumulated on got the road and took her to the hospital. Later, she delivered the baby safely. The patient had developed labor pain but the snowy roads blocked her way. Locals accused the administration of failing to clear the snow accumulated on the road because of which, no vehicle could ply on the road and the patient had to be taken on the cot.
One hopes administration would take holistic view of these serious issues .