News Kashmir Magazine

The figures with reference to unabated bloodshed in the valley of Kashmr are simply worrying with 30 year old deadly conflict showing no signs of solution or easing down. Incessant bloodshed has pained humane hearts in Kashmir and every voice of sanity .

As a matter of fact, Hundred militants and 43 security personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir in the first six months of this year, Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said on Wednesday.

Ahir, the minister of state for home, said 16 civilians were also killed during this period, which saw 256 incidents of violence. He was replying to a written question in Rajya Sabha.

On the otherhand, n 2017, 342 incidents of “violence” were reported in the state, in which 213 militants were killed. A total of 80 security personnel and 40 civilians were killed last year, Ahir said.

As many as 82 security personnel, 15 civilians and 150 militants were killed in the state in 2016, which witnessed 322 cases of “violence”, he said.Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defence, Subhash Bhamre informed the Lok Sabha that the Army has lost 106 personnel, including eight officers, in battle casualties in 2017.There were 155 non-fatal battle casualties last year, he said in a written response.

One hopes all the concerned stakeholders engage in effective brainstorming and put an end to this ugly cycle of violence as soon as possible so that last peace is established and no more families are rattled.

An empowered women signifies an empowered society. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, recently  interacted with the members of Self Help Groups from across the country and beneficiaries of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, through video bridge. The interaction covered over one crore women representing various Self Help Groups.  This is the ninth interaction in the series by the Prime Minister through video conference with the beneficiaries of various Government schemes.

Expressing happiness in interacting with women from Self Help Groups of various states, Prime Minister said that each member is an inspiring example of resolution, collective efforts and entrepreneurship.  He said that women are enterprising, have enormous inner strength for self-reliance during odd circumstances, and they need only opportunities to perform. He added that it is impossible to imagine many sectors especially agriculture and diary, without the contribution of women. This is the true spirit of women empowerment all over the country.

Narendra Modi during the interaction said that Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission has been started in all states. He added that the aim of the scheme is to reach crores of poor households in 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and provide them sustainable livelihood opportunities. He also congratulated all States and Officials in the successful implementation of the scheme.

Talking about Self Help Groups (SHGs), Prime Minister said that Self Help Groups play a very important role in the economic and social advancement of poor, especially for women from rural strata of society.Through Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojna, training has been given to over 33 lakh women farmers. At present there are 45 lakh Self Help Groups with active participation of around five crore women all over rural India.

We definitely need to give more impetus and encouragement to women self help groups.

Water scarcity is one of the burning issues faced by world currently and this is expected to get worse with time. The scarcity  of fresh water throughout globe  is in future going to be number one concern . The conflicts and tensions over water, widespread deaths due to polluted water is now not an exception  and possibilities of an imminent war over water not being ruled out. Wisdomful  voices have  stated that water might be the main cause of future wars.

We in Jammu and Kashmir should also learn to preserve and conserve water otherwise we are doomed .

The worrying statistics  speak out for themselves. According to the 2001 Census, only 68.2 per cent of households in the country had access to safe drinking water. Experts say, as of now, 50 per cent of the villages have no source of protected drinking water. In a list of 122 countries rated on the quality of potable drinking water, India ranked a lowly 120. With 1.2 billion people to feed, it is estimated that by 2020, India will become an even more water-stressed nation. The availability of water per person per annum has been reduced from 6500 cubic meters to 2500 cubic meters. On the otherhand,  India’s supply of water is rapidly dwindling due primarily to mismanagement of water resources. India’s water crisis is predominantly a man-made problem. India’s climate is not particularly dry, nor is it lacking in rivers and groundwater.According to expert analysis,  extremely poor management, unclear laws, government corruption, and industrial and human waste have caused this water supply crunch and rendered what water is available practically useless due to the huge quantity of pollution.

We need to gather our acts together and start saving the resources of water with utmost urgency.

Cancer is one of the deadliest disease facing humanity with its advanced stages virtually still having no effective treatment available despite strides in medical technology. The need to make the treatment of cancer disease affordable is burning one indeed.

In a related development, Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu has asked policy makers to put in efforts to make cancer treatment affordable. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the new State Cancer Institute Block at Kidwai Cancer Institute, Bengaluru in Karnataka , he expressed concern over the rising cost of cancer treatment. Governor of Karnataka, Shri Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy and other dignitaries were present at the venue.

Vice President called for strengthening of preventive, curative and palliative care programmes at national and regional levels to combat the rising incidence of cancer.

No doubt, huge investments are needed for trained man power and equipment necessary for offering optimal treatment, but the government should explore various policy alternatives that would make cancer treatment affordable, he said.

The Vice President asked doctors to establish a regular communication with the patients, especially in a dreaded disease like cancer. Patients and their families need comfort. They need palliative care and more importantly kind words that make the pain bearable, he said.

Empathy and patience, care and compassion are qualities that can infuse hope in the hearts of patients and calm the troubled minds of the families, he said.

The Vice President stressed on the need to create greater awareness on the dangers of pollution, obesity, harmful use of tobacco, betel nuts and alcohol, leading sedentary lifestyle, eating junk and other foods linked to cancer. It is also equally important to take up periodic screening of people, especially those at risk of developing cancer.

 

Ground pulse is that we need to establish cancer units for early detection, diagnosis, treatment and to provide palliative care in rural areas where about 70 per cent of our population resides.

This week was quite sensational for the Jammu and Kashmir State .Nobody had thought that PDP BJP Government would end in such jiffy. ON 19 JUNE 2018,  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided to pull out of the alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Described by the political pundits as  The ‘unholy’ alliance was formed on 1st March 2015 led by Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. On January 2016, following the demise of Mufti her daughter Mehbooba Mufti took charge of the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav made the surprise announcement after the party high command summoned its Jammu and Kashmir ministers for emergency consultations in New Delhi. A few hours later, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti submitted her resignation to Governor N N Vohra amid a swirl of political activity in Srinagar and New Delhi. Consequently Governor Rule was imposed in the state.

 

The December 2014 assembly election, which recorded one of the highest voter turnouts in Jammu and Kashmir, led to PDP emerging as the single largest party with 28 seats, BJP 25, National Conference 15 and Congress 12.

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“I am not shocked. We didn’t do this alliance for power. This alliance had a bigger motive- unilateral ceasefire, PM’s visit to Pakistan, withdrawal of cases against 11,000 youth are some of the objectives we achieved,” said Mehbooba Mufti while addressing a presser here at his residence.

Earlier, immediately after the press conference of Ram Madhav, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said here that the BJP had committed a “Himalayan blunder” by forming a government with the PDP..

Certainly on political paradigms we witnessed no less than a shocker in the state.

The killing of two cops in a brutal manner at South Kashmir district of Pulwama has angered entire Kashmir with condemnations pouring in from different quarters .  It is worth mentioning here that in a painful and heart-wrenching  episode on eve of holy night Shab e Qadar, two policemen were killed on Tuesday in a militant attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The militants launched an attack on the police guards at the Pulwama court complex.

“Two policemen were killed and one was injured in this attack. The militants escaped with the service rifles of the victims,” the police said.

Official sources stated that a group of militants opened fire upon the police post resulting in on spot death of two security guards and injury to another at Takiya Wagam opposite to Government Degree College Pulwama near Barpora Kareemabad.

Masses opinion was that the killing of two policeman on the blessed and respected night of Shab e Qadr is highly unfortunate and condemnable and it is clearly an act of cowardice to kill someone after prayers in sleep. From online to real world the heinous act was condemned . All the voices of sanity showed Solidarity with the families of policemen who were killed in Pulwama during the holy night and described the act as senseless act of violence . Such cycles of violence only go on to inflict huge pain on poor families of Kashmir who are shattered due to loss of their near and dear ones  .

One hopes sanity prevails on all sides and such unfortunate acts are not repeated .

Dialogue is the ultimate solution of all conflicts and the violence hit Kashmir is craving for talks, peace, negotiations and dialogue. In a significant development in this regard on 7 June Thursday, 218 ,Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh during his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir addressed a press conference at Srinagar . Addressing the media at SKICC, Shri Singh said that the government is open for talks with anyone but they should be right-minded people in order to restore peace and tranquility in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Central Government’s special representative has visited the state 11 times. He appealed to all the sections of the society to introspect and come forward to help the Centre as well as State Government in bringing normalcy in Jammu & Kashmir. Recognizing the role of media, he requested for its support in this noble endeavor towards peace and development.

Pointing out towards the various elements hell-bent to spoil the future of the innocent youth, Home Minister appealed not to play with their future. These youth are not only children of Jammu and Kashmir but also of the whole country. Keeping this in mind, the government withdrew cases of first time offenders involved in Stone-pelting.

With bloodshed getting reduced to great extent during Ramadan month many are hoping that separatists, militants too will respond.

Pertinently, Home Minister Rajnath Sigh  said that the suspension of offensive operations against the militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramadan was keeping in view the interests of ordinary people of Jammu and Kashmir. He lauded the role of the security agencies who have executed their responsibilities professionally and with patience amidst provocations.

Undoubtedly one hopes positivity generated due to dialogue offer is strengthened and  sustained.

Media is an important institution of a civilized society and a prosperous nation. Currently as we would like to quote a famous quote – “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses” – Malcolm

In democratic societies Media is considered the fourth pillar of the state in these societies .Media is without doubt  the most powerful means of communication. It helps in cheering the right things on right time. It gives a real exposure to the mass audience about what is right or wrong. Even though media is linked with spreading fake news like a fire, but on the safe side, it helps a lot to inform us about the realities as well. The globe is moving towards progress in every walk of life. But when we look towards societies, it feels as if something is still absent. Money, power, lust, etc., is the wish of every human being to attain.

Media has a constructive role to play for the society as Media has unmistakably played an significant role in order to center on the social and political issues in approximately every age. It is the reality that in most of the eras, media were not being given free and fair chances to explore the issues of society more openly than it is being given now; but in the conflict ridden zones like Kashmir media continues to face the wrath from different sections for its objectivity. We all need to play our  role in building a constructive society via allowing press freedom.

Realities of time call on the stakeholders to ensure freedom of press  and let media play a role for building a great society.

Youth is the season of hope, but in Kashmir over the past three decades the youth have been worst hit due to violence and turmoil. In Kashmir  Young people are not given opportunities to prove themselves claiming that they are not equipped with experience to participate actively in shaping society.

 

As a matter of fact, Youth have bore the most horrible brunt of violence and bloodshed on account of lingering conflict. Killings, uncertainties, strikes have made youth of Kashmir to be at the receiving end.

The main issue faced by youth are violent circumstances, Unemployment and lack of political space. Infact unemployment is one of the serious problems faced by the youth of Kashmir. The unemployment in Kashmir is characterized by lack of opportunities ,  constant underemployment or disguised unemployment. The lack of private sector in Kashmir is making things worse for the youth unemployment problem is turning out to be disastrous for the healthy growth of society and overall life of youth . Unemployment on  youth of Kashmir on a large scale has resorted to multiple drawbacks – youth are resorting to drug addiction, violent tendencies . Unemployment is also one of the main reasons behind the rising mental stress and   suicides in the Valley of Kashmir

Democracy is the buzz word for our political system and Youth are its important constituent. The lack of political space among the youth in Kashmir is undoubtedly  among the prominent reasons of youth being pushed to wall as youth neither find any room for themselves  in mainstream nor separatist polity. Dynasty politics and its upper hand in mainstream polity of the state is a matter of great concern and a contributing factor in pushing youth to wall, according to ground pulse.

Time has come to address the youth issues .

A historic ordinance to tackle sexual crimes against children has been approved by the Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra that will go long way in crushing brutal crimes.  Few days back, Governor N. N. Vohra has promulgated the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 and the Jammu and Kashmir Protection of Children from Sexual Violence Ordinance, 2018.It comes in backdrop of  rise   in violence against women in general and sexual violence in particular in various parts of the country, including the State of J&K, need was felt to carry out certain amendments in the Criminal Laws (the Ranbir Penal Code, Samvat, 1989; the Code of Criminal Procedure, Samvat, 1989; and the Evidence Act, Samvat, 1977) on the analogy of   the amendments made in the Central Criminal Law in 2018, said an official spokesman.

The Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 seeks to amend: (i) the Ranbir Penal Code, Samvat, 1989; (ii) the Code of Criminal Procedure Samvat 1989; and (iii) the Evidence Act, Samvat, 1977.

The ordinance is being seen as path breaker and is generating positive vibes .

The salient features of the aforesaid Ordinance include:

Committing rape on a woman under sixteen years of age has been made punishable with rigorous imprisonment for twenty years and may extend to life sentence, which shall mean remainder of that person’s natural life. Committing rape on a woman under twelve years of age has been made punishable with death sentence.

Gang Rape on a woman under sixteen years of age has been made punishable with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life

Gang Rape on woman under twelve years of age has been made punishable with death sentence .Investigation in such cases is to be completed within a period of two months

Trial to be completed within six months and reasons for any delay shall need to be communicated to the High Court.It has been provided that no Bail shall be granted without hearing the Public Prosecutor.

In Nutshell, in curbing the heinous crimes against children especially girls this legislation is seen as a historic measure by all voices of sanity in unison.