News Kashmir Magazine

Cover story 7 December,2020

Weak IT Sector Hurting Kashmir News Kashmir Technology Bureau 

Information Technology is considered among the major sectors  of world  today generating a sizeable revenues  and considerable  proportions of employment throughout the world  .
Over the past few decades the  IT Sector has taken center-stage in the progress of global economies and played a very important  role in the  development of Indian economy too. 
Pertinently, India, one of the most technologically forward moving countries in the globe; the IT sector plays a major  role in economy and as a matter of fact sometime back it employed more than 3  million people and accounts for over five percent of the country’s gross domestic product and export earnings. 
 It was stated that India’s outsourcing industry is expected to hit 225 billion dollars by in 2020.
 But unfortunate part is that in Kashmir not much attention has been paid to the development of Information Technology sector and despite producing huge number of IT professionals we do not have  job opportunities for them. 

Most importantly despite being announced several years back the dream of having Mega IT Park in Kashmir has remained an elusive dream. Now with Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir coming into being many voices are hopeful that IT sector of Kashmir gets due attention. 

 Experts from time to time have made it clear that there are a wide variety of career opportunities available for capable and experienced IT professionals. 
Experts are urging upon the government to take all the necessary steps for the promotion of IT Sector in the valley of Kashmir.
 Dvelopment of IT sector in Kashmir holds the key towards the path of peace and progress . The Information Technology sector outhere lacks quality IT Parks and a large number of IT Professionals are thus jobless in the valley of Kashmir.We have been witness to the negative fact that  IT Parks have been promised but no pragmatic effort made to build the same.
Javaid Ahmad  ,an Information Technology  professional said, “ Information Technology is big  sectors of today’s world and no country or place can progress swiftly  without it.We in Kashmir as a  matter of worrisome facets  lack quality IT Parks in Kashmir .The majority of IT Professionals in the valley of Kashmir are facing a host of issues and problems on account of lack of job avenues in this all important sector in the entire state especially  kashmir valley. We are hopeful that major steps would be taken to promote IT Sector of Kashmir.’
One hopes IT Sector of Kashmir sees brighter tomorrow soon.

Inefficient WAQF
Rameez Makhdoomi

Kashmir is the famous allover globe as being land of great Saints, Sufis. It is bestowed with religious wealth in the form of abundant shrines and places of worship enjoying reverence and allegiance of people professing different faiths.The valley of Kashmir with the inception of Islam did undergo tremendous  positive changes at all levels and strata of society. Islam in Kashmir wasn’t result of some brutal and bloody conquest but by the efforts and toil of Sufi Saints. The imprints which Islam left on Kashmiris have been rightly observed by the noted historian Prem Nath Bazaz “Politics had dehumanized the Kashmiris; Islam made them men again. Just as the Muslim rule was established in Kashmir without much bloodshed, so was Islam spread throughout the length and breadth of the valley by peaceful preaching and lucid persuasions of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani(RA) and hundreds of the Sayyid Missionaries who came from Hamadan and other parts of Persia.As a matter of fact, the sacred shrines in Kashmir belong to both Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims and are visited by lakhs  of devotees. Some of the shrines are the world renowned  such as shrine of Dargah Sharif Hazratbal, Baba-Zain-ud-Din Wali R.A. (Aishmuqam), Baba Hyder Reshi R.A. (Anantnag), the last of the saints of the Rishi order in Kashmir about whose resting place the Alamdar-i-Kashmir (Flag Bearer of Kashmir), Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Rishi R.A. (Charar- e -Sharief) , Baba Dawood Ghoni R.A. (Vailoo), Hazrat Noor Shah Bagdadi R.A. (Kund), Hazrat Sheikh Syed Samnani R.A. (Kulgam), Baba Naseeb-ud-Din Ghazi R.A. (Bijbehara) Hazrat Syed Yaqoob Sarfi R.A.,Hazrat Baba Gulindin Sahib (R.A.),Hazrat Baba Reshi Sahib R.A. Gulmarg, Hazrat Baba Shikur – u –din Sahib R.A. Watlab Sopore, Shrine of Hazrat Peer-e-Dastgeer Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Geelani R.A.at Khanyar Srinagar etc.Besides, these Muslim shrines, in J&K there are other sacred religious places like Chatti Padshahi Gurudwara  in Srinagar and Shri Vaishno Devi In Katra managed by Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (GPC) and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi .Muslim WAQf Board is managing these all shrines which has the unique distinction of being second largest asset rich body in Jammu and Kashmir after the  government as it  is the custodian of these 47 holy shrines in the Kashmir Valley. WAKF Board gets tremendous income   from the Nazar o Niyaz (Donations) made by the devotees visiting these sacred shrines with unflinching faith.What is tragic to note is the fact that despite generating tremendous resources, the  corruption and malpractices have marred the functioning of WAQF since decades admitted even by top management.WAQF in Kashmir should have been known for philanthropic activity ,building strong institutes of health and education but it is most of times in news for all the wrong reasons .Recently, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Member, Central Waqf Council and Chairperson, Waqf Development Committee, Ministry of Minority Affairs,  Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi stated  that Waqf Board is corrupt to the core and no place Is left untouched by the corrupt hands of the board in Kashmir.
While speaking  at Balhama, She said, “Since I’ve been a part of the board, I’ve seen a lot of corruption take places. I will make sure that all of those people, who have done corruption, will not get away with it.”
Chairperson of Central Waqf Development Committee said, “The corruption is everywhere, Mosques, graveyards, shrines, etc. no place has been left. I am a part of the board, I request the government of India to create a separate Waqf board for the Shia community.”
Masses are hopeful that WAQF Functioning would improve.

23 , November 2020 Cover

Red Line
News Kashmir Exclusive
The borders between India and Pakistan are once again heating up especially the Line of Control .All this is giving rise to tremendous human tragedies . Recently, In a major flare-up along the Line of Control, eleven people including five soldiers were killed in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in several areas in north Jammu and Kashmir  officials said.
Four soldiers of the army, a Border Security Force (BSF) sub-inspector were killed in Pakistani firing, the officials said. Six civilians were also killed in various areas, news agency PTI reported. Pakistani forces used mortars and other weapons.
Indian forces strongly retaliated to the shelling and army sources said there have been multiple casualties on the Pakistani side.
On its part,The Pakistan military said four civilians and one soldier were killed on the Pakistani side.
Pakistan fired heavy artillery without any provocation, but the Army and the BSF fought with bravery, gave a befitting response to them and many defences (installations) of Pakistan were destroyed,” Inspector General of BSF, Kashmir Rajesh Mishra said.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the wreath-laying ceremony of BSF Sub-Inspector Rakesh Doval, who was killed in the Pakistani firing.

Mushtaq ul Haq Sikander, an eminent political analyst stated ,while talking to the News Kashmir :  “The recent skirmishes at border resulted in a number of deaths. The flare up on border between India and Pakistan is not something new. It has been going on since the partition of the subcontinent and birth of Kashmir dispute. In this violence the civilians and residents of these border area are the worst casualties. They are daily paying the price of the hostility between India and Pakistan. Before it is too late and the violence consumes more lives it is better to initiate a dialogue between the two nations that will pave way towards lasting peace. Unless concrete confidence building measures are not put in place, the violence will continue to engulf and devour the civilians. The borders will continue to bleed and certainly the common innocent people are paying the price of this violence with their blood.”

16 November,2020 Issue

Mutton Price Crisis News Kashmir Desk 
Price of Mutton has been a serious issue in Kashmir with it going out of reach of common masses  since few years.
Kashmir is known world over as a society that eats meat in very huge Quantity. More than 95 percent of Kashmiris eat non-vegetarian food items and mutton is most consumed among them .

Few years back official statistics stated that  Jammu and Kashmir annually consumes a whopping 51,000 tonnes of mutton worth Rs.12.06 billion (over Rs.1,200 crore), of which 21,000 tonnes is imported from outside. The 21,000 tonnes is in addition to 30,000 tonnes of mutton produced locally and costing Rs.7.02 billion (Rs.702 crore) which also goes into the local consumption each year  sometime years back these figures were revealed by the  official of the animal husbandry department .Despite having some of the best meadows and pastures in the world, all the mutton imported into Kashmir comes from Rajasthan and other states .

Meat consumption has grown more in these current times . So it is high time that valley of Kashmir gears up its effort to become self sufficient in meat which we are not.

In an optimistic development recently it was stated that   Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K Pole chaired a meeting of Rate Fixation Committee and fixed rates of mutton at Rs 480 (retail) and Rs 450 as (wholesale) rates in Kashmir.
          In this regard,at the outset, the Div Com said that rates have been fixed after taking all factors including, production cost, transportation, processing, cutting and all other charges into consideration.
          He said that now onwards mutton rates shall be revised annually as per government’s wholesale pricing index.
          Stressing on the strict implementation of official rates, the Div Com said that stringent action including FIRs shall he registered against mutton dealers/ butchers if found selling mutton on higher rates or resorting to any kind of violations against the official rates.In past few weeks many butchers have been booked for violating the orders .
Butchers state that production of mutton is still very low in Kashmir and that is why prices are high while as some experts state that despite mutton having different grades the butchers sell all on high prices .
Following the revised rate of mutton announced by the Divisional Administration Kashmir, meat shops in several areas of Srinagar were seen closed recently. Butchers state that it is not possible to sell on Government fixed rates for them.

Days after Divisional Administration fixed the rates of mutton, authorities had registered 37 FIR’s against mutton dealers for overcharging.

In Nutshell, one hopes that mutton prices  would be stabled so that prices are within the reach of common masses .
For the moment ,mutton prices are generating great debate. 

Cover 9 November,2020 Issue

Good Governance Challenges in JK
News Kashmir Bureau 
Good Governance is the basic foundation of progress and prosperity for every state and Country. Since Jammu and Kashmir was converted into Union Territory last year many have hoped that overall paradigms of Governance would improve. 
Unfortunately enough, the Good Governance was a dream in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir with State several times in news for wrong reasons on account of being among the most corrupt states of the country. The ineffective and inefficient Governance in Jammu and Kashmir has since decades plagued the common masses and their interests. Good governance aims towards betterment of people, and this can not take place without the government being accountable to the  people, and experts too have stressed same. But the recent findings from a credible study show that Good Governance still remains a dream in Jammu and Kashmir. 

As a matter of fact, the data released by Public Affairs Centre under Public Affairs Index-2020 ranked Southern State of Kerala the best governed State in the large States category while Uttar Pradesh ended at the bottom.

 It is worth mentioning here that the City-based not-for-profit organization, headed by former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman K. Kasturirangan, said in its annual report that the States were ranked on governance performance based on a composite index in the context of sustainable development. Four southern States — Kerala (1.388 PAI Index point), Tamil Nadu (0.912), Andhra Pradesh (0.531) and Karnataka (0.468) stood in the first four ranks in the large State category in terms of governance, it said.

 Chandigarh emerged at the top in the category of Union Territories with 1.05 PAI points, followed by Puducherry (0.52) and Lakshadweep (0.003). Dadar and Nagar Haveli (-0.69), Andaman, Jammu and Kashmir (-0.50) and Nicobar (-0.30) were the worst performers.

 On the other hand, Central and UT JK Government have often made it clear that Governance in Jammu and Kashmir is improving fast, which many mainstream parties and civil society groups have criticised citing Governance in Jammu and Kashmir remains unimpressive. 
In Nutshell Analysis, the efficient Governance in Jammu and Kashmir still remains a dream not reality.

Cover story 26 October, 2020 Issue

Struggle for Statehood
News Kashmir Exclusive

In a big development for Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah has recently said that the centre will not take long to restore Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir which was converted into the Union Territory on August 5, 2019 and declared that there will be a wave of development there in next 5-6 months as Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is taking development to grass-root level.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. I have also stated this on floor of Parliament. We won’t go back from our promise. It (restoration of Statehood to J&K) won’t take too long,” Shah said in an interview to CNN News 18 Network.Political and Social Circles have welcomed the move. 
Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that an early restoration of Statehood alone could guarantee the residents of J&K their right to self-governance. 
He said that the people of J&K cannot afford any further delay in the restoration of Statehood. 
In reference to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks that the Centre will not take long to restore Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Bukhari said that the decision is no longer about a political party or any leader but about the democratic rights and political aspirations of the people of J&K.
Bukhari said: “While I welcome the union home minister’s statement, I would like to remind the union government not to keep this critical issue in political limbo for a long time in view of the sufferings of residents of J&K and the undeniable governance . 

Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, a well known political analyst stated :” Restoring statehood to J&K that has been degraded to Union Territory status is a genuine demand, because the decision of August 5, 2019 was taken without the consent of people. People and mainstream political parties who have been humiliated and betrayed will feel a sense of healing on their bruised souls. The apprehension however is like the previous state governments who were pawns in the hands of the centre and the regime in power in Delhi would call shots, now that process has accelerated in the Union Territory. Every small and big decision is taken by the centre so it does not evoke optimism that restoring statehood will bring some kind of relief, sense of triumph or revolutionary change in j&k. The mainstream political parties and centre is using the restoration of statehood as an election plank and conscious souls do understand it.”

On the other hand, PDP sounded unimpressed. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reiterated that mere restoration of statehood to J&K is not going to undo the plunder of rights of its people and that the party would always strive to restore the position of August 4, 2019 as the first step towards working out the resolution of the J&K issue in a dignified manner.
Addressing the party workers meeting of zone Khanyar-Srinagar at the party office, PDP General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said that the people of J&K can’t be tricked into the bargain of statehood against our special status, rights and identity.

Online Exams Debate

News Kashmir Exclusive. 
With most educational institutions offbound due to covid crisis world over , exam season this year is likely to be unprecedented . Many are looking at tech-enabled proctoring solutions, despite concerns about keeping a close vigil to at least ensure some sort of evaluation of students before promoting them to next class. The coronavirus becoming more severe leaves just option of online exams in hand.
A report of UK suggests that by 2025, digital exams should take the place of pen and paper booklets in order to make exams more accessible and relevant to the modern world.
Online exams also called ‘E- Exam’ or ‘Digital Exam’ is an online test for judging student’s . Debate is now on in Kashmir too that has time come to go for online exams and prepare ourselves for same  . 

Sheikh Sameer, an education expert states , while talking to the News Kashmir states :”Online classes has provided an opportunity for students to get exposed to technology based education..In this part of world ,where strikes and curfews have consumed much of our time,and students and experts later on have to persuade the govt to reduce syllabus to 20_ 50 % or even mass promotion to students .. Covid lockdown provided an opportunity to think tanks to experiment online education via different means be it zoom or Google classes to complete syllabus therefore , provided little room for students to demand curtailment of syllabus.. However,Online schools require online interactions and the submission of written materials to help show evidence of learning. Some results, however, cannot be measured by the written word. How does an instructor know if the student wrote the report or if someone else wrote it for them? There are fewer checks and balances.Many students don’t have access to technology especially students belonging to underprivileged section of society . Network issues, frequent internet shut down too may cause inconvenience to students in this part of globe.”Some other voices are heavily in favour of conducting online exams. 
Showkat Shafi, Deputy Director Internal Quality Assurance  Higher Education,  Kashmir University, while talking to News Kashmir states :” During the Covid times and post Covid times we need to learn importance of online exams.The big universities of world are already going for online exams. It is in Vogue already. Examination is conducting to know students understanding and Knowledge of the subject, we should in this regard have online exams with multiple choice exams. The online exams will help us in effective automatic grading system and yield flawless scoring. Online exams would help us also in fair examinations. It would also help us in saving papers. There are no reasons thus why we can’t go for online exams both at national and international level. “
With pandemic Coronavirus wrecking havoc on all sectors especially on the all important education sector it looks clear that online exams is the only option left. 

India China Faceoff

News Kashmir Exclusive

India China after more than 40 years have witnessed deadliest border clash at Easter Ladakh in Galwan Valley. 
On 15 June, 2020 night fierce border clash in Galwan Valley that left at least 20 Indian Army soldiers dead.
Sources from India claimed 35 Chinese soldiers were dead or injured. 

The clash in Galwan Valley is the biggest confrontation between the two militaries after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La when India lost around 80 soldiers while the death toll on the Chinese side was over 300.The Indian Army, however, said on Thursday that all Indian soldiers involved in the deadly clashes with the Chinese army at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night had been “accounted for”. “It is clarified that there are no Indian troops missing in action,” the Army said in a brief statement without elaborating.
Military sources on Thursday added that a total of 76 Army personnel were brutally assaulted by the Chinese army on Monday out of which 18 were seriously injured while 58 of them sustained minor injuries. They said 18 personnel are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Leh while 58 are admitted to various other hospital. The problematic point is that China is claiming Sovereignty over whole Galwan valley.

Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, a renowned political analyst, while talking to the News Kashmir stated :
“China-India border violence points out the fact of deteriorating relations. More than twenty soldiers are dead and violence can flare up again. Violence is a manifestation of breakdown of diplomacy, dialogue and negotiations. Kashmir dispute that BJP and other regimes are trying to brush aside as resolved or internal matter has the potential to drag India to the brink of war. Pakistan has been using its diplomatic and economic negotiation skills to create trouble for India through China and Nepal, as Pakistan claims stakes in Kashmir being a party in the dispute. So once again India & Pakistan have to dialogue with each other to de escalate the violence in which China now has become a party too. 
Kashmiris have been bearing the brunt of state and non state violence and with the illegal abrogation of its special status and detention of pro Indian Kashmiri leaders, the alienation has been complete between Kashmiris and Indian state. If Kashmir dispute is not resolved according to the wishes of people, particularly the United Nations designated stakeholders India and Pakistan, it will continue to bleed the parties involved, earlier just Kashmiri muslims were the victims. Now the soldiers and civilians will be cannon fodder too with the involvement of China.”
The nutshell analysis is that with every moment India China relations are worsening.