News Kashmir Magazine

Rameez Makhdoomi

Whether you travel for enjoyment or for business, buying a plane ticket can be a taxing travel expense. But, over the years we have found that airfares have become more affordable than they were say a few decades back. Airfares and Kashmir have a very close connection due to Kashmir being global tourist destination and fragile road, incomplete rail  connectivity of Kashmir .

Recently, when road was closed for several days the airfares skyrocketed. A  check of airfares of different airlines from Srinagar to Delhi suggested that the spot fare was hovering around Rs 16,000 to RS 1800 . Normal fare between the two destinations is around Rs 3500 to 5,000.

At one point the airfare one way was  as high as RS 34000, while as DELHI COOLMBO OR DELHI DUBAI round fare  is often much less than this

Debate and concern over this huge increase in airfares was stoked by former J-K chief minister Omar Abdullah, who  tweeted, “The airlines should be forced to honour previous bookings when flights resume instead they get away with refunding the original amount (sic).”

“Tickets between Srinagar & Delhi are being offered by ‘low cost airlines’ at between Rs 25,000 & Rs 30,000 while the highway remains closed.”

“Thus forcing people who had originally spent Rs 5-6000 on a ticket to spend Rs 25-30,000. This is nothing but day light robbery,” he said in a series of tweets.

Even during Summer peak tourism season Kashmir witnesses spike in airfares and this adversely impacts prospects of tourism in Kashmir. This abnormal spike in airfares , apart from unfavorably affecting the tourism sector, also makes traveling by air prohibitive for the general public.

On the otherhand, few months back Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries  while intervening in the issue  met the authorities and was of the opinion that this intervention was necessitated in view of reports that a particular section of high-end tour operators and agents pool resources and block tickets en masse. During the season, these tickets are sold at very expensive prices resulting in a financial bonanza.

In this regard, the Chamber had suggested that the Government itself should block a particular number of seats so that the same could be released during the season. The chamber was of view  intervention would go a long way in ensuring that the airfares are kept under control.

Mushtaq ul Haq Sikander, a frequent air traveler states- “ The abnormal surge in airfare in Kashmir during road blockade and summer peak tourism season is taxing for both tourists and commoners. At one point, the airtravel to Kashmir had become much affordable  to commoners and travelers wishing to visit our beautiful valley of Kashmir. But, as the airfare skyrockets especially during tourist season and when   the national highway closes due to weather vagaries   woes of travelers are multiplied.”

Ground pulse urges that the need of the hour is to regulate the airfare to Kashmir in a feasible manner. As air mode of transport to Kashmir will always hold the significance owing to the tough geographical terrain and location of Kashmir so the demand is that it  should be better managed and regulated.

Farzana Mumtaz

The prolonged spells of loadshedding is making life difficult for masses in  Kashmir Valley. With the result, life in kashmir has been made miserable and hard to core. The year 2016 onset of winter has so far witnessed long hours of laodshedding as compared to previous ones. From the Uptown, Downtown Srinagar to Hundreds of villages reels under darkness in North, Central and South Kashmir.

Pertinently, the J&K State has the potential to generate around 20,000 MWs. of hydroelectric power, but it has largely remain untapped  and whatever remains it has  not been given due share in the various hydro-electric projects as  NHPC continues to mistreat the state, and electricity seems by and large a Delhi-controlled affair.

Resultantly, inspite of all these facts the   power situation worsens as winter sets in and most of the areas of Kashmir are thrown into darkness with never ending load shedding.

Another grey area which the power sector faces in the state is the transmission and distribution losses which are more than 63 per cent of the total electricity generation of the state. According to a  report issued few years back , the transmission and distribution losses are about 50 per cent, while the rest 13 per cent are collection losses, making it an aggregate of 63 per cent.

Sources have stated  the Power Development Department is presently buying 500 MW power from the neighboring states to tide over the deficit.

Nazir Ahmad, a commoner states- “The issue of power crisis had not been addressed by any of the successive governments, resulting in  several hardships to the people and causing an economic inertia in the state.  Everybody is aware of the fact  that as a source of energy electricity is a basic need for sustaining human life. We cannot even imagine how our lives would have been if electricity was not discovered.  Here in Kashmir this time around with the onset of winter the power scenario is presenting an abysmal outlook as long hours of power cut have made life hell for we the commoners .”

While on the otherhand, as per communiqué received from Chief Engineer, Electric, Maintenance & RE Wing, Jammu, the metered feeders of Jammu city and Udhampur town will not face any curtailment during the ongoing winter season 2016-17. Whileas in Kashmir the metered areas continue to face electricity cuts for long hours.

Painfully enough, from all the reports and facts emanating from ground zero we are this winter season witnessing more dreadful situation as this winter season we have seen unprecedented load shedding which has reached alarming proportions.

Farzana Mumtaz

After much pain, agony, gloom in the year 2016 on account of prevailing painful circumstances, finally  the year end has come with some good news. Two Kashmiri kids have shinned at global level in sports field- Tajamul Islam in Kickboxing and Hashim Mansoor in Karate. Interestingly, both kids belong to North Kashmir District of Bandipora.

Seven -year-old Tajamul Islam from small village of Bandipora, Kashmir scripted history at the World Kickboxing Championship in Italy, where she made  all  proud by becoming the first player ever from the sub-junior category to clinch a gold medal. Pertinently, the World Kick Boxing Championship witnessed participation of more than ninety countries.

Pertinently, Tajamul’s natural aptitude for kickboxing was first spotted by the Army Goodwill School in Tarkpora. But there was no proper infrastructure in place to train for the sport. Tajamul’s coach Faisal Dar trained her in an open field with makeshift apparatus. Despite these all difficulties , Tajamul persevered and practiced at least 25 hours a week.

Her first major win was at the state-level championship in Jammu in 2015 where she won a gold medal in the sub-junior category.

In another big feat, just six  -year-old Hashim Mansoor from Bandipora, Jammu & Kashmir, followed the footsteps of Tajamul Islam, clinched Gold in the Asian Youth Karate Championship in New Delhi.

Hashim Mansoor represented India in the Sub-Junior category in the championship held at Talkatora stadium in the national capital. Pertinently, 19 countries participated in the championship.

People of valley especially Bandiporians are much elated with the success of these two kids at international stage of sports . Nasir Khuehami, a young writer from Bandipora, reflecting on the subject stated -“Kashmiris have a great talent and are seen performing well in every sphere despite tough circumstances. It is a great moment for Bandipora District to produce two international champion kids. These victories prove that Kashmiri kids possess great talent and have the ability to shine at global level. We need to develop a supportive sports policy so that our kids shine big at global level and continue performing well even in adult tournaments. For the moment, the achievements of these two kids is worth appreciation and we are really of what they have achieved .”

With Six and seven year old kids from kashmir making it big in the sports world one hopes that a concrete sports policy is soon framed so that our kids continue to shine and adults also make us proud .

News Kashmir Exclusive

In year 2016, Kashmir had witnessed lot of tragedies .After the killing of Militant commander Burhan Wani ,the valley of Kashmir saw an ugly death cycle and mass blinding .Since past five months we have almost seen continuous strikes , although now  off late, the reprieve from strikes is announced by the separatist leadership for two days a week.

But, still from few weeks it looks eminently clear that protest calendar is losing its impact .With ground watchers staying that fatigue, massive economic losses, mass arrests, examinations all have contributed to make the protest calendar issued by the profreedom leadership less effective.

Pertinently, it was only after four months that Passenger vehicles plied in the city for the first time since the unrest began in Kashmir, which has signaled the return  to normalcy.

Many areas are now witnessing plying of public transport normally and also in some pockets shops open. Massive private transport are also making streets filled with hustle and bustle. As a matter of fact, as soon as the Class 10 annual board examinations started and also class 12 , marking the first major educational activity in the Valley where schools were shut due to agitation and violence triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces , the hustle and bustle returned to streets.

On the other hand, the debate is on whether  the protest calendar should be now continued .

Noted Advocate GN Shaheen in this regard on Facebook wrote – ” REVOLUTIONARY OR RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS are not lead by continuous strikes .Geelani sahab Malik sahab &Mirwaiz Sahab must call off the strike before it strangulates  the movement& exhaust the people. 2016 is not end in itself. it is a successful phase of the movement full of achievements and fully loaded with the sacrifices. Listen the beat of heart. ”

Gulzar Ahmad, a commoner stated – “Yes now after many months of agitation and strict hartals we are seeing much increased traffic activity in many areas of Kashmir and also in some areas shops also open. Looks like heavy economic losses have had their  impact on the commoners and that is the reason one is now witnessing increased activity  of normal life in the pain hit Kashmir valley.”

Nevertheless, the current situation is hinting that after months of shutdown, bloodshed Kashmir valley is showing signs of normalcy .

News Kashmir Exclusive

In a recent far reaching landmark decision the Government of India recently demonetized currency notes of RS 500 and Rs 1000. As a matter of fact, the demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes was a step taken by the Government on 8 November 2016, ceasing the usage of all ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi Series as a form of legal tender in entire country  from 9 November 2016.

Pertinently, the announcement was made by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in an unscheduled live televised address to the nation at 20:15 Indian Standard Time (IST) the same day. In the announcement, Modi declared circulation of all ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi Series as invalid and announced the issuance of new ₹500 and ₹2000 banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi New Series in exchange for the old banknotes.

Whileas the entire country is witnessing chaos, pain and confusion over the decision, Kashmir is not seeing much upheaval and the life with reference to this paradigm seems all the more normal.

Few days back, Huffington Post reported that  -“Demonetisation Death Toll Rises To 25 And It’s Only Been 6 Days.”The report further added that- “Housewives are committing suicide, infants are being denied treatment at private hospitals and the elderly are collapsing in long queues.”

Whileas, the valleyites have stayed calmer after the decision. Neither there are big ques on ATMs nor is there huge rush in banks .

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a Journalist while talking to News Kashmir stated – “Kashmir has witnessed much calmer situation with reference to demonetizing . We see no panic among people after this decision in Kashmir, whileas outside Kashmir much panic has been witnessed. We came to know of several deaths with reference to this decision.In Limbdi town of Surendranagar district in Gujarat, a 69 year old collapsed and died of heart attack waiting in a queue to exchange currency notes at a Bank of India branch.An elderly woman living by herself in Kanpur died while counting her notes. Police found Rs 2.69 lakh worth of old currency notes alongside her body. In Kashmir no such things have been witnessed. Demonteization has practically had no impacts outhere.”

Importantly , the banknote denominations of ₹100, ₹50, ₹20, ₹10 and ₹5 of the Mahatma Gandhi Series continued to remain as legal tender and were unaffected by the policy. The demonetisation was done in an effort to stop the counterfeiting of the current banknotes alleged to be used for funding terrorism, as well as to crack down on black money in the country. The move is also aimed at reducing corruption, drug menace and smuggling.

Whatever be the pros and cons, on ground reality horizons Kashmir has stayed much calmer, quiet after the demonetization decision.

Farzana Mumtaz

Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Children are the future of the nation. They are, in fact, the foundation on which a strong, vibrant and dynamic  country or society  is  built. But, unfortunately the children of Kashmir on account of lingering violent conflict since decades have suffered hell.

Pertinently, the children of Kashmir are not only blinded by pellets but are lodged in jails. Children are worst victims of Kashmir Conflict.

In 2016, Kashmir has seen worst unrest and children of Kashmir are once again at receiving end.Tajamul Rasool Mir, 14, son of Ghulam Rasool Mir of New Colony Bunpora Saderkoot is the recent child to hog limelight; he was arrested by Hajin police on charges of organizing pro-freedom and anti-India rallies in Hajin town.

The date of birth of Tajamul’s Adhaar card is 10-02-2002 which means he is only 14 years of age.

He has been shifted to Kotbalwal Jail in Jammu. “Tajamul was arrested in Hajin on 11 September and was lodged in Police Station Hajin for 13 days, after that he was booked under PSA and was sent to Kotbhalwal Jail in Jammu. He is only 14 years old. “How can he be a threat? How can a minor be booked under such a stringent law,” said his elder brother Jan Muhammad Mir, while speaking to media outlets

Few years back , a report by a Delhi-based Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) observed that more than 700 minors in Kashmir have been booked under the Public Safety Act in a clear contradiction with the amendment on 28th March 2013 bringing into effect the Jammu & Kashmir (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2013 which bars the detention of persons under the age of 18 years under PSA.

Pertinently, PSA was first introduced in J&K in 1978 to prevent timber smuggling but has been subsequently used against political opponents by consecutive governments .

Children in prison is a matter of great concern all over the world. To quote a little boy cited in the UN Study, “Sometimes one day in prison felt like a year. But after 10 days you get used to it and you don’t cry as much”.

On the otherhand ,  the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly found breaches of the Convention in cases concerning the detention of children.

Mir Imran, an eminent Human Rights Defender states – “ The children of Kashmir blinded by pellets and imprisoned is a worst human rights violation. It is my strong belief that children in any place of the world  have no place in prison. Children do not have the needed maturity to face the harshness of detention and to grasp the sense of it. Their adolescence and fragility prevent them from understanding why they are in prison .For the future of our children, kashmir conflict should be resolved and children treated nicely and provided great life .”

Nonetheless, the jailed childhood is a burning human rights issue in Kashmir.