News Kashmir Magazine

News Kashmir Exclusive

Jammu Srinagar National Highway is a part of NH 44 (former name NH 1A before renumbering of all national highways) system and connects Srinagar (Kashmir Valley) with Jammu City. The distance between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar was 295 km and was reduced by about 30 km after commissioning of Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, new Banihal road tunnel and other small tunnels.

It is the only prominent road link connecting the valley of Kashmir with rest of country. As a matter of fact, All essentials of life are routed into the landlocked Kashmir Valley through this highway. To add to woes of masses in Kashmir the Hoarders and profiteers hike prices of essentials by creating artificial scarcity each time the highway remains closed for a longer period.

This year too owing to heavy snowfall in all winter, the highway in the most of times especially in the month of January has remained closed giving rise to multiple issues . Despite the promises made that rail link from Srinagar to Jammu would be operational soon the dream has remained so far elusive and will that remain functional during heavy snowfall also remains to be soon. Despite tunnels built the Jammu Srinagar highway has remained a weak point with landslides, blockades wrecking havoc every winter.

Also, the prices of air tickets  soar once highway get blocked.

We have also seen Hundreds of Kashmir-bound passengers stranded in Jammu for weeks this year due to highway closure and staged a massive demonstration, urging the government to take immediate steps to clear the road or airlift them to Kashmir. The passengers have often assembled at General Bus Stand Jammu urging authorities to be serious about their problems.

The high prices are a norm due to highway closures, and not having the enough quality cold storages and other mechanism remains an issue .

Malla Jameel Ahmed , a knowledgeable voice states : “In Kashmir valley, the storage of food is a big problem. The vegetable, fruit and cereal growers does not possess the knowledge regarding the storage of food and various means to increase the shelf life. Resultantly, lot of vegetable & fruit markets can be seen piled up with the waste of vegetable & fruit waste which get decomposed/putrefied due to improper storage. The cereal mainly rice which is distributed in government run fixed price shops are engulfed with rodents and other insects making it highly susceptible for human consumption. Thus we immediately see problems a road closes ”

News Kashmir Exclusive

THE role of nongovernmental organizations in social work and philanthropic efforts are known to one and all. In the present world of fast globalization, technological and social advancements, the Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a significant role in pushing for sustainable development at the National, local and international level.

Pertinently, Campaigning groups have been key drivers of inter-governmental negotiations, ranging from the help towards human causes from regulation of hazardous wastes to a global ban on land mines and the elimination of slavery.

But NGOs in conflict and tragedy ridden Kashmir have just grown in numbers not doing any effective work.

Especially after the break out of violent conflict some three decades back, the Valley of Kashmir has also witnessed mushroom growth of NGOS, but the unambiguous grassroot pulse is that  these Ngos have failed miserably to perform their functions in a proper and positive way.

As a matter of fact, it is learnt that some time back we had  four thousand NGOS are registered in the State of Jammu& Kashmir, which is quiet an abnormal figure. To make the matters more worse it is learnt that Out of thousands registered NGO’s in state only about a handful percentage  are working on the ground in real spirit others are just on papers and minting money. According to expert voices no part on the planet earth except our state has such a high number of Ngos.

Many a voices are making it clear that time has come to trim the number of NGOs. Qurat-ul-Ain Masoodi., an eminent social activist , while talking to the News Kashmir stated : “ Yes the abnormal number of Non Governmental Organizations has been cause of concern and it has harmed the name of overall social works sector. One should not form NGO or join Social works sector just to mint money but with passion to serve people. Now slowly and steadily the government is on path since sometime to deregister the non performing NGOs which is a step in right direction.   NGO Sector should be properly regulated and governed and it is important need of our times.”

On the other hand of spectrum,  Ngos rose up in the name of rendering helping hand to thousands of orphan Childs of the Kashmir, as conflict rendered tens and thousands of children in Kashmir with the tag of orphans. There is also strangely a mushrooming growth of non government organizations in the last one and a half decade. But unfortunately, not even a fraction of the staggering figure of 50,000 to 80,000 orphans is being provided some kind of support.

The reality urges all  stakeholders to ensure NGO Sector in kashmir works honestly and efficiently.

News Kashmir Exclusive

Youth are termed season of hope but in Kashmir this youth has suffered most due to ongoing conflict and violence that continues unabated since past three decades.

The unresolved Kashmir conflict has taken a worst toll on the youth of Kashmir. In last few years a renewed trend has been witnessed among the youth of Kashmir with reference to adopting the Armed path of resistance and thus losing their precious lives.

With the resignation of Dr. Shah Faesal from the IAS, who had shot to limelight by topping the famed IAS exams few years back proved this crossroads point behind doubt. The Prime speculation is that he will join politics.

Heightened violence in the year 2018 claimed most the lives of youth .

Renowned Social activist and researcher Muzamil Maqbool stated :”The youth of Kashmir are at crossroads. There is an environment of disappointment among youth as scores of youth have lost their life in violent conflict and youth are confused among different political narratives. The debate is on whether to join the electoral politics is a good move or not and youth are thinking about it. Need of an hour is to create a platform for everyone especially for youth where they can have their say. Where they can share their thoughts and ideas with each and get heard but unfortunately time and again policy makers and leaders everywhere have failed to address the ground realities. In these  tough times all we can hope is to have a peaceful and better future for everyone. Otherwise we are leaving nothing for the generations to come.”

On the other hand the political buzz has also heated up.

Reiterating that everyone should respect the decision of IAS topper Shah Faesal AIP president Er. Rasheed has appealed Shah Faesal not to let people down and prove his words. While addressing a press conference in Srinagar , Er. Rasheed said Shah Faesal’s resignation from the services has proved that sincere people can’t serve under corrupt political dispensation and is authentication of the fact that Kashmiris are being denied their rights and are facing worst state Terrorism. Er. Rasheed said “what so ever reasons Shah Faesal has cited for his resignation, it yet again reveals and confirms that New Delhi is treating J&K as a colony and the Kashmiri officers especially hailing from majority community are facing discrimination and alienation within the system, Otherwise an IAS topper would never have been compelled to leave the job as he could have served more as a top class bureaucrats than as politician. Shah Faesal is absolute right in saying that Kashmiris get killed, tortured, humiliated and are being deprived of their fundamental rights. It is for Shah Faesal to decide how he can achieve his goal or fight for the rights of Kashmiris.” Er. Rasheed said that while taking next step is Shah Faesal’s own choice but his joining any party not with good track record will lead to confusions and the intentions of Shah Faesal will come under question mark.

The pulse of ground zero is that youth in Kashmir are definitely on crossroads and need a balm to their wounds.

News Kashmir Exclusive

In a dramatic development, a group of youngsters, carrying ISIS flags, forcibly entered the historic Jamia Masjid here and created a ruckus on the eve of Friday prayers on 28 December, 2018. The video of the incident went viral on the social media on Saturday.

This act of them resulted in evoking widespread condemnation from the mosque’s management committee and the profreedom leadership .

The incident occurred after the congregational Friday prayers when most of the people had left the mosque, officials said, adding that the youngsters were later chased away by those present there.

Pertinently, The officials said  Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who delivered the Friday sermon at the mosque, had also left before the incident took place.

“A group of youngsters, wearing masks, forced their entry into the mosque and rushed to the pulpit where the Mirwaiz delivers the sermon. One of them stood atop the pulpit and shouted slogans. They were carrying ISIS flags,” said an official.

On the otherhand , Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly protest the ‘desecration’ of Jamia Masjid by masked youth supporting ISIS. Mirwaiz, who is also the head priest of the grand mosque said that such hooliganism will not be tolerated..

All the voices of sanity are aghast over the act, Sofi Mushtaq, Youth President Awami Action committee, while talking to the News Kashmir  stated : This was totally hooligan act, you go in a vulgar manner in the sacred pulpit of Jamia Mosque is unacceptable . These type of acts deserve utmost condemnation as the violate sanctity of mosque. We hope good sense prevail on these misguided youth and they do not repeat such evil acts in future. Jamia Mosque represents our emotions and is a very sacred place for faithful. All the voices of sanity in unison have condemned this bad act..”

On the otherhand of the spectrum, Asserting that the footprints of global terror outfit ISIS were not large in Kashmir valley, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh, however, said that the fact that a section of the youth were being radicalized on those lines can’t be denied.

The DGP said an illusion is being created by some elements that ISIS has a very large presence in the valley by waving their flags publically, but that is not true.

“But the fact that people are being radicalized on those lines can’t be denied,” he warned.

Without a doubt all the concerned voices are expressing deep anguish over the desecration of Jamia by goon elements.

Rameez Makhdoomi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEWS KASHMIR EXCLUSIVE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rameez Makhdoomi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News Kashmir Exclusive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News Kashmir Exclusive

We all are aware that electricity is the very basic need of human life .But the Kashmir Valley is presenting a bleak outlook vis a vis electricity supply. The power crisis in Kashmir is reaching crippling proportions, with the supply-demand deficit reaching a record level that too at the start of harsh winter season . The prolonged spells of load shedding has become a norm in Kashmir Valley. With the result, life in kashmir has been made miserable and difficult to core.

On the other side the fact is that Kashmir possesses great capacity to harness hydro-electricity and does produce a great amount of electricity. But, inspite of that the power situation worsens as winter sets in and most of the areas of Kashmir are thrown into darkness with never ending   painful spells of load shedding. To add to the woes, the power generation in Kashmir, which is said to be capable of generating more than 20000 MW power, seems by and large a Delhi-controlled affair. The pulse on ground is that Kashmir is not getting due share of its hydroelectricity resources

From Srinagar to Bandipora to Qazigund every belt of Kashmir has been this winter hit more worse by loadshedding. Pertinently, the areas spread throughout central, north and south Kashmir are complaining about the crippling electricity woes.

Senior National Conference leader Advocate Nazir Malik, while talking to News Kashmir  stated : “Located in Gurez valley of Bandipora district in north Kashmir, the 330 megawatt Kishenganga Hydroelectric power project inaugurated sometime back has meant no positive change for the people of the district . As neither the legal power share of the Bandipora district nor employment to local youth in these hydroelectricity projects is provided and all rules and regulations are brazenly violated . Life in the Bandipora district has been brought to grinding halt  as a result of these often power cuts have adversely affected the business community and students . We are seeing the people losing their patience and angry protests erupting over power cuts , recently Residents of Hajin town Bandipora district blocked the Hajin-Srinagar road to protest against power crisis in the area, similar anger is witnessed from main Bandipora to other areas like Watapora Qazipora,Aloosa, Kaloosa Ashtangoo etc .”

On the other hand, anger is brewing north to south Kashmir over erratic power supply. As a matter of fact  complete protest shutdown is being observed in Awantipora town of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district against Power Development Department.

As per reports  a large number of locals  staged a protest demonstration against the erratic power supply near townhall Awantipora and raised slogans against the PDD.

In the township all shops and other business establishments are closed against unscheduled and long hours of power cuts in Awantipora and several adjoining villages for last one month, reports said.

Undoubtedly the load shedding scenario is giving painful times to people of Kashmir .