Muzzling Media

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Farzana Mumtaz

In contemporary times, media is considered as the fourth pillar of the state all over the world; first and foremost British Member of Parliament Lord Macaulay had given this important status to the media . Pertinently, Media  plays  an important role in changing and influencing the thoughts of the people. Media has a great power to influence what we think about things happening.

Unfortunately, in the conflict ridden Kashmir especially since past three decades Media has been at receiving end especially from men in uniform, unknown gunman and unruly mobs. To add to woes, censor and restrictions have made the job of Media tough in Kashmir.

Just recently, prominent photojournalist Touseef Mustafa was manhandled by police .Pertinently, he works for the International Agency ‘Agence France Presse’ (AFP) and told media that police stopped them when they tried to enter inside Hurriyat headquarters at Hyderpora, where a joint meeting of Resistance leadership was underway.

 

“As police arrested Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yaseen Malik and tried to bundle them into police vehicles, we as part of our profession and duty clicked photographs. To my utter surprise, a police officer stopped me and tried to snatch my lens. When I resisted, he manhandled me. The behavior and action of the said police officer was uncalled for,” Mustafa said.

Last year only media during unrest faced tremendous wrath and restrictions. As a result The Editors Guild of India had condemned the “unwarranted muzzling” of the media in Jammu and Kashmir

In a statement, guild president Raj Chengappa, general secretary Prakash Dube and treasurer Seema Mustafa  had stated : “The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns the efforts by the Jammu and Kashmir government to gag the media in the state… It is extremely unfortunate that the state government, under fire for its poor management of the law and order situation in the Valley, has sought to shoot the messenger..”

The statement had quoted reports regarding police raids on newspaper offices and harassment of journalists. “We are also aghast to note that the media censorship will continue, for a minimum of three days if not more. This is a direct assault to the freedom of the press in India and the guild strongly condemns this unwarranted muzzling of the media. The Editors Guild of India requests the state government to immediately lift the censorship and refrain from any action to intimidate the press,” the statement added.

Ajaz War, President Jammu and Kashmir Young Journalist Association , while speaking on the issue stated – “The misuse of power for muzzling the media has, unfortunately, been a routine than an exception in Kashmir valley . Smart, fair, independent journalism is essential for a democracy to function well so muzzling of media in Kashmir should stop.”

In nutshell, media is facing tremendous perils in Kashmir.

 

Crucial Bypolls

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Rameez Makhdoomi

The upcoming by elections to Lok Sabha seats of Anantnag and Srinagar Parliamentary seats are slated to be much  crucial from the political realities paradigm. Pertinently, just few days back the  Election Commission of India (ECI) announced schedule for Bye-Elections to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha Constituencies according to which elections on these seats would be held on April 9 and April 12, 2017, respectively.

With this  announcement of the election schedule, Model Code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect in the districts in which the whole or any part of the Parliamentary Constituencies going for bye-elections is included.

On ground zero, the elections are said to have bearing on the electoral prospects of parties ruling in the state. The PDP-BJP Government came into existence in Jammu and Kashmir to surprise of many after the fractured verdict of 2014 elections and since  then the journey of the government has been quiet turbulent. Just after becoming Chief Minister the health of PDP Stalwart and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed worsened and the condition gradually deteriorated, and he was put on ventilator support. Finally he died on 7 January 2016 due to multi-organ failure  leaving the government in limbo.

After much parleys and governor rule for few months PDP BJP Government again stitched alliance and this time created history as Mehbooba Mufti on April 4, 2016 became the first woman to hold the office, she succeeded her fatherMufti Mohammad Sayeed in the role, a few months after his death in January 2016. Mehbooba is India’s second Muslim woman chief minister after Syeda Anwara Taimur of Assam.

Pertinently, the euphoria lived very short as the agitation post killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in July 2016 dented image of Mehbooba Mufti. It is in this back drop the upcoming elections hold a key with experts stating that having presided over so many deaths, blindings and injures it is difficult for ruling PDP to win the elections.

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a Journalist Stated – “ Considering what has happened in the past two years of PDPBJP rule in the state and a manner in which tough times have engulfed the state make the journey to victory tough for the ruling coalition.  With so many killings, injuries and issue after issue surfacing It would be tough task for the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to retain both the Lok Sabha seats. Certainly the contest looks all the more interesting. anti-incumbency factor, PDP’s joining hands with BJP and civilian killings  in Valley last year , the ruling party may find it difficult to retain both the seats.”

The verdict day would be certainly one to be worth analysis for major political players on PDP,BJP, NC, Congress.

 

Justice Delayed, Justice Denied

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News Kashmir Exclusive

 

Recently in a landmark   verdict  Delhi Court acquitted  two Kashmiri youth Mohammad Rafiq Shah, Mohammad Hussain Fazili  of all charges against them viz-a-viz 2005 Delhi Bomb blast case.

This has raised a serious concern on overall justice system of the country with voices stating that  while  the verdict is on one hand victory of truth and justice but on the other hand has exposed the role of security agencies in fabricating false cases against Kashmiris and ruining their future. And also judiciary taking too long to pronounce judgment.

From Politicians, activists  to victims all are expressing their dismay over torture, imprisonment suffered by these youth of  Kashmir during so many years and also the trauma caused to their families.

News Kashmir spoke to all relevant voices in this regard

Victim Take

Mohammad Rafiq Shah

After spending  12 years in prison on charges of  blasts in Delhi in 2005 that killed 67 people just before Diwali, youth Mohammad Rafiq Shah of Srinagar was acquitted  by a court of all charges and News Kashmir caught up with Rafiq at his home Shuhhama in Srinagar.

Rafiq states –

“ I was in 2005 picked up from my home in Srinagar and framed in Delhi blasts the city which than I had hardly seen then . No doubt these 12 years I have gone through lot of trauma and I am feeling relaxed now. The toughness of life in prison is known to everyone .I told even the Judge when he pronounced the judgement that Justice has prevailed .My family, friends and teachers  stood behind me like anything. Still I used these 12 years in prison to get knowledge and learn. Perhaps for being Kashmiri Muslim I was punished and being active as a university student against every sort of injustice I guess didn’t go well with setup and I was wrongly framed .”

Rafiq Shah expresses gratitude towards her lawyer  Rebecca John for fulfilling her responsibilities efficiently in all these years.

Politician Take

Engineer Rashid, Awami Ittihaad Party President

 

Er Rashid said -“While court has acquitted Mohammad Rafiq Shah and Mohammad Rafiq Fazili but the million dollar question is still there that who will compensate 11 precious years of these innocents, which they were forced to spend in torture cells and various jails. We need not to forget that there are many more Kashmiris like these innocents languishing in torture cells and notorious jails for none of their faults. A youth Bashir Ahmad Baba, whose father is suffering from cancer is languished in Ahmadabad Jail for none of his fault.  Nobody can justify the trauma, pain, harassment and humiliation their families passed through all these years. While the third accused Tariq Dar has been convicted he has already spent more than the period he has been sentenced to jail. The judgement should act as an eye opener for those who have one point agenda to make life of Kashmiri youth miserable and like a hell and get benefits out of sufferings of people of Kashmir”.

Activist Take

Mir Imran, Human Rights Defender –

“The acquittal of three Kashmiri youth after spending 12 long years proves the allegations of being Kashmiri Muslim a venerable target for security agencies whenever something unpleasant happens as correct and also raises question mark on entire justice system as to why for no fault of their youth of Kashmir have to spend the prime of their lives in jails under harsh conditions. According to the law, if a person is in Jail for over Six months and the trial does not begin and if the Sentence is not more than three years, then bail should be given and in this case they spend 12 long years in prison and unfortunately all the three had been tortured by the prison staff in jail. Now we all know that these were false charges. It is the need of the hour that we educate and aware people of Kashmir of their rights especially at the police station level where a lot of exploitation is bound to happen”

Embracing Death

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Farzana Mumtaz

Since past few weeks the graph of violence in Kashmir is once again going up with deadly clashes taking place regularly.  During last week alone in encounter incidents in the State  at least eight militants, six soldiers, including a Major, and two civilians have been killed in the space of just three days. About a dozen security personnel, including a CRPF commandant and a Major, have been injured.

Words like killings, deaths, attacks, encounters are back haunting the people of Kashmir .Post the 2008, 2010, 2016 agitations  a  new breed of militants is rising in Kashmir — young, educated, tech-savvy and mostly fearless . On the otherhand as soon as encounter erupts in Kashmir the local population since past few months have reached to almost every encounter site in support of militants and pelted stones on security forces

As a matter of fact, hundreds of mainly angry youth have converged in recent months on the scene of gunbattles that regularly erupt between security  forces and militants opposed to Indian rule.

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Post the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani which gave rise to 2016 civil uprising which resulted in death of about 100 civilians and thousands wounded we have witnessed boys aged as small as  ten  to 15 took over the streets and were unafraid of walking up to armed garrisons that dot the landscape of a Valley.

Security analysts have maintained that efforts of locals to help militants — by putting themselves in harm’s way — is a worrying recent development in the decades-long militancy .

 

To compound the matters further in Kashmir valley, tensions between nuclear rivals Pakistan and India have mounted in recent  months especially after URI attack thus making matters difficult for people.

Casualty and death word have continued to remain relevant in Kashmir especially since past three decades . According to Sumantra Bose in his book, Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace, around 40000 (Indian estimates) to 80000 (Hurriyat estimates) civilians, separatist guerilla fighters and Indian security personnel died from the time period of 1989 to 2002 in both Kashmir Valley and Jammu .

Army Chief Bipin Rawat  statement that People creating hurdles during anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir will be dealt as anti-nationals and will face “harsh” actions, has added fuel to fire. National Conference  expressed disappointment and dismay over the “belligerent” remarks of the Army Chief about dealing “mercilessly” with the isolated and alienated youth of Kashmir and said such posturing would compound the situation and increase the hostility in the Valley.

” The unsettled Kashmir Political Dispute has taken a huge toll on Kashmir and especially the younger generation has risen above fear to seek justice and solution and thus embracing death .It is high time that Indian state leaves harsh attitude and adopts a pragmatic path to settle Kashmir dispute Democratically so as to put an end to painful cycle of never ending violence in Kashmir, states Bilal Bashir Bhat, Journalist While taking to News Kashmir.

 

 

Highway of Death

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News Kashmir Desk

Jammu-Srinagar highway has become pragmatically a highway of death on account of frequent traffic accidents, and this coupled with frequent closures of this highway due to rains and snowfalls is adding to miseries of commuters plying on this road  .

 

Heart-rending accidents have become a norm on highway . On February 7, a vehicle on way to Jammu plunged into a 500ft gorge and landed at the banks of Bishlari nallah near Digdol – 12 kms from Ramban – resulting into on spot death of four commuters . To add to woes , few days back, highway  opened  after a four-day blockade caused by heavy snowfall

Pertinently, the highway is the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country and prices of essential commodities in Kashmir inflate once this road link gets closed. It is a known fact that the closure of the highway always results in scarcity of essentials for the landlocked Kashmir Valley.

Manzoor Ahmad, a driver stated – “The Jammu – Srinagar National Highway is since long demanding attention as it has wrecked havoc and is by all means a death trap. Steps should be taken to improve the status of this all important route so that frequent blockades do not occur and precious lives are saved. Alternatives should also be thought out and a mechanism devised to sort out this problem of frequent deadly traffic accidents and closures of highway.”

What had complicated matters further this year especially was that 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.

On an optimistic note though, after seven years of work, the Chenani-Nashri tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu highway is finally heading towards its completion, with testing and other construction works likely to finish by the end of this month. This tunnel will not only cut the distance but reduces travel through risky portions. Although now voices are calling to revamp Banihal to Ramban road so that real headway is achieved.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government is trying to use the state-of-the-art 11 km-long railway tunnel between Banihal and Qazigund for vehicular traffic, in case the stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar highway between the two towns needs to be closed. This part of the highway is the most prone to landslides and shooting stones during bad weather.

Considering the prevalent ground realities Jammu- Srinagar Highway is still highway of death and this calls from brainstorming effective steps by concerned authorities in this regard.

 

Stormy Assembly Session

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News Kashmir Desk

The recently concluded Winter Assembly Session of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly at Winter capital Jammu witnessed much uproar and disruptions coupled with controversies and heated exchanges between members.

At the very start of session, With the Governor NN Vohra address to  the joint session of both the houses of state legislators  scenes of uproar and disruption were  witnessed inside the central hall of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly , all the legislators from opposition National Conference, Congress supported by others stood up and raised anti-government slogans. The opposition shouted slogans like , “PDP ka badlav kya , boli sai nahi goli sai”.

During the session, another controversy erupted when The Jammu and Kashmir assembly was adjourned amid opposition protests after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti blamed the National Conference for rigging elections and giving birth to militancy.”People who sowed seeds of secession by demanding plebiscite in the state also rigged elections in 1987 to give birth to militancy,” the Chief Minister told the house.NC reacted sharply. Pertinently, the National Conference members took strong exception to the remarks and started raising their voice.

In another related development that caught attention and  headlines , National Conference MLC Shauqat Hussain Ganai described in the Legislative Council the slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a “martyr”, triggering protests from the ruling PDP and BJP.

Although, in an optimistic development on the 27th anniversary of migration of Pandits on 19th January ,2017  the Jammu and Kashmir government today passed a resolution in the state assembly for the return of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley.”A good conducive atmosphere should be created for their safe return to the valley, “J&K Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta, announced in the house, during the ongoing winter session.

The real drama was witnessed when on 31 January the Jammu and Kashmir  Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took a strong stand on article 370.The very next day the Assembly witnessed violent protests on the remarks on Article 370 by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, forcing Speaker Kavinder Gupta to surprisingly and unexpectedly adjourn Assembly sine die.

As a matter of fact,  BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia had  took strong exception to Mehbooba’s remarks in Assembly  in which she had called those opposing Article 370 as “anti-national”.

 

Ajaz  War, a Journalist states -“Assembly session was marred by controversies .This Assembly session was  one of the major acid tests for the coalition partners BJP and PDP as the state is once again witnessing heated polity in wake of politics surrounding 2016 killings, refugee , separate settlements for Pandits. But, overall what one could mostly see in this session was ugly politics, aggressive behavior and mudslinging on one another. With the session ending prematurely showed that this was quiet stormy one .”

Political analysts have termed the recently concluded session as one of the stormy assembly sessions in state legislature history.

 

Weather Vagaries

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News Kashmir Desk

 

Weather vagaries have become order of day in Kashmir over the past few decades. Few weeks back the valley of Kashmir was reeling under one of the prolonged dry spells and now from past two to three weeks the snowfall is happening nonstop giving rise to avalanches and frequent blockade of road and air links to the Valley of Kashmir.

Especially, the second spell of continuous heavy snowfall in Kashmir has brought the life in Valley to standstill and most of the mountainous areas remain cut off. Statistics say it all –  Gulmarg received 5.6 feet, Tangmarg 3 feet, Baba Reshi 4 feet, Kunzar 2 feet, Pattan 10 inches, Chandoosa 2.9 feet, Boniyar 2 feet, Baramulla 21inches, Macchil 3 feet, Z-Gali 3.6 feet, Keran 2.6 feet, Furkiyan 3.6 feet, Karah one feet, Sadna 3.6 feet, Kupwara 2 feet, Lalpora 2.6 feet, Sogam 2.6 feet, Kralpora2 feet, Handwara 1.6 feet, Zachaldara 2.6 feet, Wudar Bala 3 feet, Kalamabad 2 feet, Mawar 3.6 feet, Nowgam 4 feet, Bangus 10 feet,

Pertinently, the summer 2014 saw Kashmir witnessing one of the horrible floods in its history. As a matter of fact, In September 2014, the Kashmir region suffered disastrous floods across many of its districts caused by torrential rainfall. The Jammu and Kashmir state and adjoining areas received heavy rainfall from 2 September 2014 onwards, during last stage of monsoon in India. This triggered flooding and landslides in India and the adjoining areas of Pakistan. On 5 September, the Jhelum River in Srinagar was reported to be flowing at 22.40 feet (6.83 m) which was 4.40 feet (1.34 m) above the danger mark and at 33 feet (10 m) at Sangam in Anantnag district above the danger mark. The discharge rate in the river was recorded as 70000 m3/s against the normal discharge of 25000 m3/s.

On the otherhand, the grave scenario with reference of climate has hit us hard at a time when in Kashmir the overall paradigms are quiet terrible with reference to ecological balance as we have lost several valuable environmental resources especially waterbodies and forest cover.

Over the past few decades, we have lost a bulk of wetlands and lakes. The phenomenon of deforestation has increased. Many are opining that as we have lent a great blow to our natural resources and thus the abnormal climate patterns like increased rainfall, flooding, high temperatures have augmented.

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a Journalist while talking to News Kashmir on the topic of weather vagaries and Kashmir states – “ Over the past few decades we have seen Kashmir losing forest cover at alarming pace due to multiple reasons; water bodies have dwindled and constructions have boomed in fragile environmental zones . I believe we are losing our ecological balance and that finally results into weather vagaries . Noted reports are already pointing towards looming dangers. There is also global warming on global level that impacts every region. We need to increase our forest cover coupled with conserving water bodies and other natural resources to avoid fury of nature in form  of weather vagaries and other disasters. “

 

Undoubtedly, weather vagaries are becoming a frequent occurrence in ecologically fragile beautiful valley of Kashmir.

Inefficient WAKF

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Farzana Mumtaz

Kashmir is the known globally as being land of great Saints, Sufis. It is bestowed with great religious wealth in the form of abundant shrines and places of worship enjoying reverence and allegiance from people professing different faiths.

 

It is a known fact that the beautiful valley of Kashmir with the inception of Islam did undergo reformative changes at all levels and strata of society. The imprints which Islam left on Kashmiris have been aptly put  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.

In this regard, Muslim Wakf Board, which has the unique distinction of being second largest asset rich body in Jammu and Kashmir after the State government is the custodian of these 47 holy shrines in the Kashmir Valley.

But, over the decades WAKF has failed to perform effectively and has been in news for all the wrong reasons. Recently, scores  of shopkeepers and traders under the banner of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) staged protest against what they termed as “arbitrary and unjustified” hike of rentals of shops leased out by Wakf Board.

On their part,  traders have alleged  Wakf Board has “cheated” them by engaging them into negotiations and on the other side sending officials for recovery of rents at hiked rates.

KCCI President Mushtaq Ahmad Wani and Secretary General KTMF Bashir Ahmad Kongposh, who were leading the demonstration, said, “the token protest was held to remind the concerned authorities that the traders’ fraternity has not forgotten the ultimatum given to the government.”

“We will resist such sinister moves of the government tooth and nail,” said KTMF President Haji Muhammed Yasin Khan.

“State government and the Wakf board authorities are dancing to the tunes of rightwing fanatics. The Wakf board authorities are behaving like RSS bhakts and it seems they have been guided to do so. We will give a befitting a reply soon which will surely shake the corridors of power,” Khan said.

On the other hand of the spectrum, despite generating tremendous income one fails to witness any impressive work done by the WAKF Board. Even many of the shrines lack proper facilities, management. A visit to many shrines under its management reveals this negative  veracity. At many points, even the staircases leading to this famous Shrines are in shambles and the bathrooms, rooms constructed for devotees are also highly unhygienic. This is despite of the fact that shrines  gets huge donations from devotees.

 

WAKF has also failed to lend any notable contribution to health and education sector. Parents spend several hours of their precious time in quest to just owe a single admission form of the reputed Christian missionary schools whileas no such things are witnessed in case of schools owned by the  WAKF Board.

While talking to News Kashmir, Advocate Iftikhar Ahmad states – “WAKF Board has more or less been a failure as it has not lend any notable contributions to the society. WAKF Board has also not made any mark in the all important education and health sector as it has failed to construct hospitals for the poor masses of Kashmir which otherwise should have been done by the WAKF Board years back  considering its impressive economic strength. Overall, WAKF has disappointed the people of Kashmiris via its inefficiency .”

In nutshell, WAKF performance is quiet dismal according to voices on ground.

Steep Airfare Hikes Worries Kashmir

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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.

 

 

Public Sector of Jammu& Kashmir presents unhealthy picture

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Farzana Mumtaz

 

Public sector plays a pivotal role in the economic growth of the country .The public sector is concerned critical engine in the growth engine of economy of any nation. Pertinently, the public sector has come to occupy a  significant place in the economy of every state as solely  on its effectual performance depends largely the achievement of the state’s  economic and social goals.

Unfortunately , the public sector of Jammu & Kashmir state presents a unwelcoming outlook due to poor condition .

A number of factors over the decades have combined to weaken the public sector of Jammu and Kashmir Financial mismanagement, lack of vision, less innovation, ill planning, non-implementation of projects , faulty recruitment policy and other lacunas have ensured that Public sector in the state remains in a disarray .

On the otherside, masses of Jammu and Kashmir are expressing disappointment over the fact that all  important public health and education sector present are in dire straits  in our state . Sane voices states it is a matter of grave concern and calls for remedial measures to revamp it . The rot and inefficiency according to ground pulse  is eating the vitals of our public sector.

The statistics are really gory. Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s report, which was by default presented in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council at the end of the Budget session on April 5 in 2013 , had pointed out a cumulative red balance of Rs. 1,450.46 crore with the 16 PSU. J&K Power Development Corporation tops the list with the cumulative borrowing of Rs. 816.03 crore, followed by the J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) and J&K State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd who owe the State government Rs. 129.70 crore and Rs. 100.44 crore respectively.

At that time, Among the government companies, the near-defunct J&K Minerals has a liability of Rs. 74.86 crore, followed by J&K Industries Ltd (Rs. 66.62 crore), J&K State Handloom Development Corporation (Rs. 36.56 crore), J&K Handicrafts (Sales & Export) Corporation (Rs. 25.56 crore) and J&K State Women’s Development Corporation (Rs. 22.19 crore).

 

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While on the otherhand of the spectrum, One of the  leading reasons behind soaring unemployment rate in the state of Jammu& Kashmir is the poor performance of public sector in our part of the world. Currently, the public sector of the state is in quiet   unhealthy shape.

 

Bashir Ahmad, a commoner states – “ The Public sector of Jammu and Kashmir continues to present a grim picture .Not very long ago, out of the leading seventeen state corporations in Jammu and Kashmir, ten were running on huge losses , while seven were showing profit, according to the latest official figures.  Unfortunately, the PSUs of the Jammu & Kashmir state have properties worth billions of rupees at prime locations but still they are penniless and are not able to harness their rich potential so as to provide employment opportunities to youth.”

Undoubtedly, Public Sector Presents a grim picture in Jammu and Kashmir.