Education is the cornerstone of every civilized society. A strong education system has been the backbone of every  developed and progressive nation. Private Schools are very much needed in this day age, nobody can deny this veracity. Private Schools in our part of the world without ambiguity have played positive role in transforming educational and academic picture on several fronts. But all this is just one side of spectrum on the other side of spectrum there is widespread disappointment too.

Many believe that some Private Schools behave like capitalist empires by charging exorbitant fees from school children and thus putting heavy burden on their parents. Even in name of one activity or other Parents are being fleeced by School authorities of private schools and what is alleged and often the case that from concerned authorities there is no strong check on these schools by authorities.

Many experts are stressing that Jammu & Kashmir government should show immediately the required eagerness to implement the historic Right to Education Act in the state .

 

As a matter of fact, the Right to Education Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14 and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools. It requires all private schools to reserve 25% of seats to children from poor families (to be reimbursed by the state as part of the public-private partnership plan). It also prohibits all unrecognized schools from practice, and makes provisions for no donation or capitation fees and no interview of the child or parent for admission.

 

The need of the hour is thus to strictly monitor the working of these private schools and do not allow them to trespass rules and regulations.

A few days back acting on a public interest litigation brought by a  lawyer, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court instructed law enforcement officials to “strictly enforce” an 1862 ban on slaughtering cows, which had been imposed by the then maharaja, a Hindu.

This has lead to wave of  anger in Kashmir. A day after Jammu High Court banned sale of beef in Muslim majority State of Jammu and Kashmir, leaders from mainstream politics, socio-religious organizations, pro-freedom camps and civil society expressing displeasure over the court order saying that it sounds strange to impose the will of some religious fanatics over the vast population of the State.

Muslim scholars and pro-freedom politicians have condemned the decision stating that it not acceptable to them adding that they  will do whatever is possible…calling It is a direct interference in  religious affairs,” and making it clear “beef is halal (prescribed by Muslim law) for Muslims and  will continue to consume it.”

Interestingly the decision to enforce Kashmir’s beef ban comes amid growing public fears that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is imposing the dietary restrictions of some of India’s religious faiths on the entire population — ostensibly out of respect for “religious sentiments”.

Many Kashmiris openly question that   Why no ban on liquor, which is hazardous and proscribed by all the religions, and why ban on beef that is permitted by the religion they follow.

As a matter of fact, Twitter and Facebook users openly reacted over the court decision, terming the direction ‘politically motivated’ and irrelevant. Prominent civil Society member, Sakeel Qalandar, said that the ruling of the court will not stand firm in the Muslim majority State. “The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir gives freedom to the people and nobody can suggest or dictate them what what they should wear or eat,” he said that the ban will be ineffective.

Beef Ban order has definitely raised tempers in Kashmir.

In September 2014, the Kashmir region suffered disastrous floods across many of its districts caused by torrential rainfall and the floods were epic in nature as in History  of Kashmir they were one of the worst floods witnessed in Kashmir causing great damage in form  of tremendous economic loss and some human loss.

 

On September 7 and 8, in many parts of Srinagar’s neighbourhood, the water was about 12 feet (3.7 m) deep, submerging entire houses. Stranded residents left their homes to move in with friends or relatives in safer areas. In Srinagar , most of the city areas were submerged under water. The river Jhelum spilled over submerging Maisuma, Bemina Sonwar Bagh, Shivpora, Batwara, Pandrathan, LalChowk, Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Gogji Bagh and Wazir Bagh neighbourhoods of city.

After one year, we are  not sure that what steps have been taken or what steps would be taken to prevent a reputation of deluge like 2014. The environmental concerns remain – Illegal constructions still mar Kashmir, Wetlands being destroyed by human greed and Government apathy continues, Green gold in form of forests being vandalized continues and above all conversion of prime tourist resorts into concrete jungles continues .Unfortunately post one year of floods there are many questions and very few answers .

 

The Flood raised many other   unanswered questions as to how almost all Srinagar was flooded in matter of just few days rain, Why did our entire drainage system collapse like pack of cards, why was government machinery absconding for so many days and why did entire communication system give-up and took days to recover. Victims continue to raise hue and cry over lack of help by the authorities especially with reference to letting them down on rehabilitation front.

 

The heating of the India-Pakistan Line of Control with increased firing and targeting of civilians, has caused concern in all the voices of conscience in both the regions

As a matter of fact, the term Line of Control (LoC) refers to the military control line between the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of the former princely state of Kashmir and Jammu—a line which, to this day, does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary but is the de facto border. Originally known as the Cease-fire Line, it was redesignated as the “Line of Control” following the Simla Agreement, which was signed on 3 July 1972. The part of the former princely state that is under Indian control is known as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The two parts of the former princely state that are under Pakistani control are known as Gilgit–Baltistan and termed as Azad Kashmir (AJK) by Pakistan . Its northernmost point is known as the NJ9842.

The rising of tensions at Line of Control has always made people living in border areas of both sides of Jammu and Kashmir pay a very painful price in form of losing precious human lives, properties , devastation of agricultural produce and loss of academic knowledge to students living in these areas

With the increase in violence on Line of Control the Valley of Kashmir witnesses increased tensions and violence which makes lives of people miserable. The need of the hour is that both India and Pakistan calmly ponder over the situation and have some sort of reflection of human pain and solve their issues and conflicts in an amicable manner. Heating of LOC also entails a deadly blow to already stalled peace process and makes the initiation of talks even more difficult task. Time that both countries adopt path of wisdom and shun aggressive path of violence and normalising LOC in this regard can be a major step

Recently, the Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar stated that all the ReTs, regularised or otherwise, have to appear for screening test as directed by J&K High Court to verify their degrees. All this was followed by strong protests, strike  from ReT Teachers. But just few days back,  succumbing to mounting pressure from the J&K government, an association of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers  said it will “cooperate with the authorities in identifying teachers with fake degree certificates.”

Pulse on ground is that these steps initiated by the present State Government to refurbish the public education system of the Jammu & Kashmir state , which has been over the past few decades  going to rot are the steps taken in right direction. In recent years corrupt practices, abnormal student-teacher ratio, poor condition of schools are some of the permanent grey features defining the bleak scenario related to our public education system.

The student-teacher ratio has   been quiet abnormal in the government run schools. At some public schools of Kashmir, a very few teachers have to cater to hundreds of students. While in some parts of the Kashmir Valley, twenty to twenty five teachers are rendering education to just five to ten pupils. At a number of places in Kashmir, the education system is literally being conducted under open air and the frequent climatic vagaries bring to grinding halt the functioning of such open air schools. But in past few months the government has shown will to correct these lacunae by closing many school  with poor student roll. In a bid to reform school education system across Jammu and Kashmir, the state government has decided to close down 3000 such surplus schools.

Even the transfer system in Government schools has faced sharp criticism as it has been found marred by nepotism and corrupt practices. Now the present Education Ministry has shown the desired will to change this flawed transfer policy as well.

 

 

One hopes that present momentum of initiating series of crucial steps to reform Pubic Educating System will be continued till the Pubic Education System of Jammu & Kashmir is brought back on right tracks.

 

Naeem Akhtar, Education Minister in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, claims that he is “guardian of 16 lakh students” and has vowed to go ahead with the government’s proposed screening test for Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers. He is on record saying that the protest demonstrations and sloganeering will neither deter him nor force him change his mind.

 

This issue raises three critical points: one, why did the previous governments appoint ReT teachers without any screening test? Doesn’t this indicate systemic rot and raise serious doubts about the credibility and integrity of recruiting agencies? Two, why are the teachers scared of any screening test? Doesn’t this reflect ‘lack of confidence’ in teachers often referred to as ‘builders of the nation’? Three, why is the police dealing with protesting ReT teachers as if they are the most wanted criminals?

 

If the government, as per its claim, wants to bring education on the right track and its sole aim is not to disgrace the teaching community, one would like to know why the government did not take the ReT teaching community into confidence before going public with the screening test move. Wasn’t it important to let the teachers know that the government intends to bring a transparent system in place?

 

It is a welcome step if Naeem Akhtar wants to improve education system and aims to make parents feel proud of admitting their wards in government schools, but he should not remain blind to the fact that all missionary schools and elite English medium schools in Srinagar and major towns of the Kashmir valley have become dens of corruption, where a student admitted in pre-nursery and nursery is charged between INR 70,000 to 100,000 in the name of admission fee? Isn’t this brazen corruption and commercialisation of education? Isn’t this a bribe camouflaged as ‘admission fee’?

 

A common Kashmiri would want to know from the education minister what his plans are to stop this shameless and blatant corruption thriving in broad day light!

All said and done, the pragmatic solution to the prevailing problem of ReT is to appoint a committee of credible members of the civil society which will hold rounds of deliberations with representatives of the ReT teaching community. Only a meaningful dialogue will sort out this mess. Deadlock, protests by teachers, crackdown by the police, obstinacy and rigidness on part of the government, etc, will not solve anything. One can only hope that better sense prevails.

Fifty-three year old Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, convicted for his ‘involvement’ in a series of bomb blasts in Mumbai in March 1993 which killed 257 people, was executed by hanging Thursday morning at the Nagpur Central jail, after the Supreme Court of India rejected his final clemency plea. President of India and Governor of Maharashtra also rejected his mercy petitions.

What does Yakub Memon’s hanging convey to over 14 per cent population living in India, the minority Muslim community?

And what does Memon’s hanging mean to Kashmiris?

Amnesty International, the London based leading world human rights body, described Memon’s execution as “cruel” and “inhuman”, rightly so.

More than two-thirds of world nations have abandoned capital punishment. It appears archaic and outdated to see people being sent to the gallows in the 21st century. Around 140 countries are against the use of death penalty, and it is utterly sad that India — which aspires to be an emerging world power and sells its model of democracy to the entire world — continues with executions.

Anyway, the Muslim majority Kashmir valley saw angry and strong reactions from politicians across the ideological divide over the hanging of Memon. This hanging is being interpreted as a message to Muslims that Indian judiciary and institutions will not deliver justice to them. Muslim leaders are concluding from Memon’s execution that Indian judiciary is in a hurry to execute Muslim convicts and adopts humane approach in relation to the convicts belonging to other communities, especially the majority community.

Even some Indian experts are raising serious doubts over the judicial processes followed and entire drama surrounding Memon’s capital punishment. The question everyone appears to be asking in Kashmir is this: why are Rajiv Gandhi’s killers not hanged? Why not hang killers of Beant Singh?

Mohammad Afzal Guru, convicted in the attack on Indian Parliament in December 2001, was hanged in February 2013 in Tihar jail. Even his body was not handed over to his family in Sopore.

Amnesty International makes a lot of sense by saying that Memon’s execution will not deliver justice for the 1993 Mumbai blasts and that it is a misguided attempt to prevent terrorism, and a disappointing use of the criminal justice system as a tool for retribution.

The larger question, however, remains why hang people in the first place?

Come the Spring Season In Kashmir and also in some portion of Summer Season, be it Children going to schools, labourers , roadside vendors or any  office-goers  we see many in Kashmir wearing  masks  as it is the peak pollen shedding season for the Russian poplar.These pollens are having adverse impacts on health. Pollen allergies are very commonly caused by pollen grain from poplar trees in Kashmir and despite ban Towards the end of every spring season and by the onset of summers, the poplar trees shed cotton like material carrying pollens and seeds, which according to many health experts are highly allergic and as such harmful to the health of people here. it is learnt that lakhs of Russian poplar  plants are being sold everywhere in Kashmir and it seems that those at helm of affairs have no interest in implementing the ban  or cutting completely these dangerous trees.

Russian Poplars’ have found popularity because its wood is the key component for fruit boxes and also fetches good returns from plywood industry. Thus realities call  fo government to think of effective replacement for hazardous Russian Poplars.

 

 

We need to bear in mind that some Experts also ascribe the growing phenomenon of pollen to the increase in the cultivation of ‘Keekar trees’ (Robina Pspuspudocia) .

 

Masses in unison are calling that   should effectively implement the blanket ban it had imposed on plantation of Russian poplar trees in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir keeping in view the large number of  complaints of allergy being caused by its pollen and its damage to our overall health and environ .

 

We need to promote great benefiting  tees like chinar and with reference to Russian Poplas we need to bear in mind that the time is ripe to nip the evil before it is too little too late for us.

 

With Six moderate Hurriyat constituents — Salvation Movement chairman Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Muslim League chairman Hakeem Abdul Rashid, Kashmir Freedom Front chairman Syed Bashir Andrabi, National Peoples Party chairman Syed Saleem Geelani, Peoples League chief Sheikh Yaqoob and Muslim Khawateen Markaz chairperson Yasmeen Raja deciding to part away from Mirwaiz Umar Farooq lead Hurriyat (M) and thus another spilt has taken place in Hurriyat.

 

As a matter of fact,The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was as  an alliance of 26 political, social and religious organizations was formed on March 9, 1993 as a pro-freedom political front to raise the cause of Kashmiri sentiment with reference to liberty . This alliance has historically been viewed positively by Pakistan as it contests the claim of the Indian government over the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

However divisions and cracks among this once forceful and strong platform has demoralized many Kashmir as many Hurriyats came out of the single united Platform of Hurriyat The very first Internal fissures within the Hurriyat Conference had culminated in a formal split on September 7, 2003, with at least 12 of its 26 constituents ‘removing’ the then Chairman Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari ‘replacing’ him with Masarat Alam as its interim chief.

As a matter of fact, much to the disappointment of its supporters,  Hurriyat Conference again got split in 2014, moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq faced spilt after four senior leaders raised a banner of revolt against the chairman and other members of the conglomerate. Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Ahmad Shah, National Front chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Mahaz-e-Azadi chief Mohammad Azam Inqlabi and Islamic Political Party Mohommad Yousuf Naqash were up in arms against Mirwaiz after he dashed a letter to convener in Pakistan Administred  Kashmir Mohommad Yousuf Naseem asking him not to entertain the leaders who have left the conglomerate on their own and they formed JK Hurriyat.

Splits and Divisions have certainly not augured well for the health of Hurriyat Conference as a viable pro-freedom political platform.

The splendid nature of God  has conferred   Kashmir with innumerable gifts, its towering snow clad mountains, bubbling streams, transparent and sparkling lakes, flower meadows, colorful orchards and rare fauna have always fascinated many tourists from all corners of the world. The age-old traditional fruit cultivation has plentifully colored the tranquillity and stillness of Kashmir’s landscape. Kashmir, the land of fauna, flora and fruits possesses a rich history of fruit cultivation.

The agriculture sector of Kashmir, especially its offshoot –“the horticulture industry” in Kashmir has become the bulwark of rural economy in the state. This industry earns revenue of over Rs. 50 crores yearly and provides job facilities to the thousands of people directly and indirectly. But due to coldhearted attitude of masses and government inefficiency we are fast losing our cultivable land to the greed of jungle of constructions .

Sometime back, we came to know that  According to Jammu and Kashmir Statistics and Evaluation Department, the total available area in 1993-94 under ‘permanent pastures and grazing fields’ was 7107 hectares, which has reduced to just 5191 hectares in 2007-2008. The total land available for cultivation of rice in 1996-97 was 17337 hectares in Kupwara, which has been reduced to 15241 hectares. Similarly, the land available for cultivation of vegetables in 1996-97 was 5713 hectares, which has been reduced to just 499 hectares. The available land for cultivation of fodder in 1996-97 was 768 hectares, which has been reduced to just 51 hectares.

But of late as well many voices both in online and offline world are suggesting that whole focus of authorities is on promoting Kashmir tourism sector which has quiet low contribution to economy when compared to contributions of agriculture sector  according to these very voices . So now the question and debate generated in society is that are we ignoring all important agriculture at the cost of tourism.