Minister of state for Information, Education & Culture J & K and senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party Priya Sethi is a vibrant political face of Jammu & Kashmiri. A science background professional Priya Sethi is a name to reckon with among women politicians of Jammu & Kashmir.
In an exclusive interview with News Kashmir Magazine, Priya Sethi talks to Farzana Mumtaz & Rameez Makhdoomi.
As a prominent women leader of Bharatiya Janata Party, Minister and Former President BJP Mahila Morcha we would like to know from you that what is BJP doing to address growing atrocities and crimes being committed against women?
It is our priority as a party that era of safety is ushered for women all over the country. We are looking that there is grievance center with reference to women in every district of our state. We are working and aiming to have at least one female official deputed in every police station so that violence affected women without hassles registers her complaint .We are also in this regard trying to increase the strength of women specific police stations in the state.
What is the BJP as party trying to empower women in J&K?
Women empowerment is our key concern and in Jammu & Kashmir our party with 33 percent reservation for women in party fold is trying level best to empower them in every sphere of life and make women take the charge from grassroots to top level. Women have proven their ability to manage and lead family as well as nation . Women empowerment is our priority area . We want to take along in our vision of development each and every women of Jammu & Kashmir and initiate welfare oriented programmes for them.
Since you hold Culture portfolio, we would like to know how would you try to end discrimination against our native languages and give enrichment to our neglected rich cultural heritage?
It is a burning reality that we have neglected rich linguistic treasure of our state .On the otherhand in our state affluent manuscripts, historical monuments, and heritage symbols of our prosperous culture have also since long time been ignored and faced apathy. Despite living in the era of Information Technology, it took us more than 10 years to repair Tagore hall and we have not modernized our cultural centres too. I have felt there is a strong need for framing a vibrant cultural policy that has a holistic policy matter in it to preserve the rich cultural heritage of all three regions of state viz. Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. We recently held active interactions with writers, poets and other literary and cultural personalities as their expert analysis means a lot in enriching and preserving our diverse and rich cultural heritage .
Why have the Government run schools failed to produce impressive results in our state. Your take as MOS Education?
Actually, the previous governments while framing the educational policy paradigms have ignored the “Child” and have never been child specific. We have got the buildings constructed but ignored the enrolment part. We have had lopsided infrastructural development. At some government Schools shockingly enough we have ten teachers for five students and at some instance two schools in one building. Government School teachers have lot of potential, efficiency and want to perform but lack of proper policy and implementation mechanism has hurt our public education system. Chemistry teacher teaching Math subject and vice versa has summed up the chaos of our Public education system. There has been no accountability, monitoring and we are embarking to ensure accountability and monitoring from top to bottom. Redesigning the education policy and keeping child the core focus of it will definitely yield positive results as far a government schools are concerned and end all chaos.
What would be done to discipline Private Schools as many believe they are functioning like dictatorial empires?
We will take all steps to make private schools accountable. The basic thrust in this regard would be to make our Government schools efficient models of education by enthusing an aura of effective work culture in these institutions. Our focus is to restore the lost faith of masses in Government schools and by doing so we will automatically be in better position to manage and make accountable the private schools. We will make entire education system accountable.
Floods wrecked lot of havoc in Kashmir and damaged Educational infrastructure. What is being done to revamp same?
As you would be aware that Government is facing lot of shortage of funding and there are liabilities worth more than Rs 9000 crore and when we took over the government the SSA Salaries were not paid since 9 months. Once the funding becomes available we will on priority basis mend the damaged infrastructure.
We have also seen students alleging that Heads of Government Schools have demanded money for them for repairing school Infrastructure?
There is no demand, but yes, we have kept it optional keeping in mind that in this day and age when a student pays 5 to 6 thousand rupees as fee in Private school and on a similar parlance if a student from Government school out of his own will and love wants to contribute something for betterment of his or her school he or she can. All this was optional not compulsory. We are also roping in Civil society groups so that they also lend efforts to improve the infrastructure of the Government Schools as it has to be a collective effort.
What has been done to reform the defective transfer policy wherein on some instance even female teachers have to travel hundreds of kilometers daily?
We have already framed new transfer policy and it has been posted on internet too. Its provision includes not to post female teacher more than 20 kilometers from her original destination. We are also going to post in same zone in case both husband and wife are teachers. In scenarios were teachers are posted in remote areas and tough terrains like Leh and Kargil they will be posted only for one year there. We have to bear in mind that all teachers cannot be posted at centrally located places as we do not want far flung areas to suffer.
Minister of State (MOS) post has in previous Government not been made much effective from point of view of having required power to act, what is BJP trying to revitalize same?
Both at Central and State level MOS has been made much proactive and even here in our state the MOS are working now in tandem and hand to hand with the Cabinet Ministers .I have absolute coordination with all three cabinet ministers with reference to departments I am holding.
Your take on making common man more aware about Government schemes and strengthening of Information Department with reference to this paradigm?
The more Government functionaries remain vocal and proactive more the flow of knowledge of Public Welfare schemes will reach to masses on ground. Widening the network of Information centres in all districts and in far flung areas of Jammu & Kashmir is our priority. Taking the aid of local Doordarshan and Radio Kendras to disseminate information of Government programmes and schemes is also our top concern.
Doctor Bashir Gaash is one of the pioneering, efficient epidemiologists of Kashmir valley. He holds an expert vision, excellence, experience on flu related diseases . In an Exclusive interview with The News Kashmir Magazine, DR. Bashir Gaash talks to Rameez Makhdoomi. DR.Bashir Gaash especially threw light on the Swine Flu scare that had hit entire India sometime back .
How do we describe swine flu?
Flu (medically called influenza) is a short term infection of respiratory tract caused by any type of influenza virus which primarily affects the throat, sound box, windpipe and lungs, but also enters the blood stream and reaches all parts of the body. A person can get it in 1-2 days of contact with some infected person. The vast majority of cases have very mild symptoms like running nose, cough, mild fever, and body aches and pains which last for a week and go as in common cold. Some, however, can get serious features as high fever, severe headache, breathlessness or vomiting and need hospitalization.
Difference between swine flu and bird fly?
All the flu viruses that are currently spreading in the world arise from any place with big farms of swine and birds being reared together. In such places the flu viruses living in the throats of the three (pigs, birds & men catering to them) interchange and can give rise to a new virus. People don’t have resistance to such newly produced viruses and get infected immediately. That is the reason behind global epidemics at periodic intervals (3-5 years cycle). Most of the global epidemics (called pandemics) have risen from China or other countries of the East Asia, but this new pandemic, which started in 2009 is from Mexico.
The new virus selects a carrier and method of spread: The Avian Flu (bird flu) can be transmitted by birds to birds as well as to human beings. The rate and intensity of spread is low in bird flu but once human beings get it there are chances that 50% of the patients cmay die. That means in bird flu less people become infected but once infected half of them can die. On the contrary, the main route of spread of ‘swine flu’ virus is man to man, so any person can get infected easily, but only a few will get serious disease. It is easier to curb bird flu (culling of birds and ban on import/export of birds) but difficult to control ‘swine’ flu since we can’t ban travel of human beings from one region to another.
What about vaccinations. How effective are they?
The real bad habit of the flu virus is that it goes on changing its nature. When the changes are mild the vaccine available in the market can be given and provides protection. When the genetic change in the virus is big as occurred in 2009, the vaccine available in the market is ineffective for protection. The World Health Organization routinely gives recommendation each year for the vaccine to be produced for the flu virus that year. It takes almost 2-4 months for the entire process till the vaccine comes in the market and by that time the infection has spread and people got their own resistance from mild infections.
For the vaccine to be effective it should be given 10-20 days before anticipated infection. In the Northern hemisphere, October is the best season for giving vaccines to at least health professionals and those who are at an increased risk of death from influenza (like children under five, adults above 65, pregnant women, and those with longstanding diseases or receiving drugs that lower body’s resistance to infections).
The protection afforded will be till some new virus emerges and attacks human beings. It is a killed vaccine and therefore side effects are less.
Your take on our health infrastructure to tackle swine flu?
Our state has Disease Surveillance & Epidemic Section at the respective Directorates of Health at Jammu as well as Srinagar. The section at Jammu is not as developed as in Srinagar. However that in Srinagar is well-staffed and well-equipped. There are highly qualified epidemiologists. And, in Barzullah, a State-level Public Health Laboratory has been established as early as 2007. A separate virology section was demarcated, and a qualified microbiologist posted for epidemiological and disease surveillance work. One of the epidemiologists has been trained in the Tropical Karolinska Institute of Amsterdam, and the microbiologist got trained in no less an institute than Johns Hopkins, Baltimore. In addition, we have a videoconferencing hall with automatic cameras for immediate videoconferencing with the World Health Collaborating Centre for Southeast Asia (the National Centre for Disease Control, Sham Nath Marg, Delhi) so that daily conferencing could be held between the State and district health officers and the experts at the National Centre.
The public health laboratory and the emergency video-conferencing centre were established in my period as State Surveillance Officer. Both the epidemiologists have worked as my deputies and have proved their worth. However both the centres were rendered functionless after my retirement in 2010. The grave error the previous government committed was to transfer the microbiologist to NRHM which deprived the Public Health Lab of an experienced public health microbiologist which overtime got denigrated to just another district level laboratory.
The primary responsibility of predicting, preventing and controlling outbreaks lies with the Directorate of Health Services and not with SKIMS or the GMC. The tertiary care hospitals are for managing serious patients, but lack the necessary infrastructure as well as doctors qualified in tackling epidemic prone diseases. There are no isolation wards, no dedicated ventilators for infective patients, and no coordination between the institutes.
I can say without fear of being contraindicated that the Directorate of Health services, particularly in Kashmir, has failed in its preventive endeavours.
In Kashmir do we have sufficient number of doctors to tackle epidemic like scenarios?
We have enough doctors to undertake preventive and controlling activities. Most of them are highly qualified but, for their own convenience, have been given senior positions which should have been filled on seniority basis and not out of favouritism by some congress leaders. Most of our doctors in the field want to work but they suffer because of favouritism, nepotism, inefficiency of their superiors and arrogance of politicians. Most of the time you will see doctors who should have done public health work busy pleasing bureaucrats or their political bosses. The specially trained Community Health Officers are mostly trade-union leaders and do no health work at all.
Precautions to be taken against swine flu?
Precautions are same as for any acute type of respiratory infection including flu, measles, and whooping cough etc. The virus first infects the throat and reproduces in millions there, and thence can be transferred to others or to our own body parts while talking loudly, sneezing and coughing. Hands become infected and should be washed with soap and warm water. Eyes, nose and mouth should not be touched with hands unnecessarily. If we sneeze or cough it should be done away from others, preferably in the open and definitely not into our own hands. The mouth as well as nose should be covered with a suitable mask. The specialized N95 masks are not needed except by those who cater to the suspected or affected patients.
What can be likely side effects of taking a drug like tamiflu without prescription?
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is an antivirus drug that kills the virus in the body and cures the patient. There is no justification for self use, since side effects are common and some of them could be serious. Therefore the drug should be given only when advised by health professionals for prevention of infection in the family members or work mates etc or for treating patients.
Are the traditional prescriptions like camphor or smelling elachi effective against swine flu?
H1N1 Type A flu (wrongly called swine flu) is a serious disease and if a person gets it he should follow the protocol recommended by the World Health Organization. If the disease is mild it is self-limited and goes of within a week without leaving any residue. If severe the patient is to be admitted in a well-equipped hospital. WHO sees no role for local remedies and the allopathic medicine has no knowledge of the benefits of any local remedies for this type of infection.
Why is this time death count so high in India on account of swine flu?
I said that the flu virus is very fond of minor or major genetic changes for its own survival. These changes are aimed at speeding up the spread from man to man or increasing its invasiveness. We expect a yearly change, and since the virus loves cold and moves to the southern hemisphere when the North of the world gets warmth weather starting from April, we anticipate some change on its next visit. For the last 5 years since 2009, when it first appeared it has not undergone any notable small or big change. This limited its spread as well as its invasiveness, but last year, as was found by an Indian scientist working on a collaborative project of MIT/Harvard, Saisekharan, found the first single mutation in the virus which could have increased its pace of spread as well as disease producing capability. May be it was so aggressive this time. We should expect more changes in the future.
Masarat Alam Bhat, the 45-year-old, is among the prominent Pro-freedom leaders of Jammu & Kashmir. He is the chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Muslim League (JKML) and the general secretary of All Parties Hurriyat Conference which is headed by veteran Pro-Freedom leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Masrat Alam is considered to be Geelani’s confidant and one of his prime successors.
Being the alumnus of prestigious Tyndale Biscoe School, Masrat Alam after completing his graduation from Srinagar’s Sri Pratap College in science joined the political movement in 1987, when he was just 16. He participated in rallies of the Muslim United Front, an alliance of pro-freedom parties that contested the 1987 J&K elections in Kashmir.
On account of revolutionary activities, he has spent most of his time in prisons .He was dubbed as the prominent brains leading the Summer Agitation of 2010 and was in prison since 2010 until being released recently. In an exclusive interview with The News Kashmir Magazine, Masrat Alam talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
Since we have committed ourselves to the cause of Freedom movement and plunged into running the freedom struggle we are under continuous surveillance, so the current talk of surveillance on me has no meaning at all.
In 2010 summer agitation of Kashmir in which about 115 boys were killed , Authorities and some Politicians blame you for these very killings. Your response on this?
We were just leading peaceful protests attended by lacs in favour of Kashmir dispute resolution and it was the Security forces who were holding gun and firing on protesters. Girls and Babies too were martyred by security forces during 2010 agitation. Even the Indian Parliamentary delegation that visited Kashmir observed that these killings by Security Forces were crimes against humanity.
Many critics state that pro-freedom leadership had gone in slumber after your arrest. Your viewpoint on this ?
No it is not like that. My forum is part of one of the Hurriyat Conference lead by veteran pro-freedom leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and whatever programme emerges from there we have to follow that.
We have been time and again saying that thousands of people in Kashmir have been killed extra judicially by Security Forces and now a former Top Cop and Former SP Srinagar statement that he was told to carry out my fake encounter is a burning reality and vindicates pro-freedom leadership stand on extrajudicial killings and proves how lawlessness has been carried out in Kashmir brazenly .
Your critics say you could not change the 2010 Revolution into Resolution and the sacrifices went in vain. What is your response to this allegation?
You have to remember that even Indian freedom struggle took 190 years to reach destination or for that matter you read history of any other freedom struggle of the world it takes long time to accomplish goals . History teaches us it takes many decades and sometimes centuries for a movement to achieve its final goal.
Opponents of Pro-Freedom leadership state that the pro-freedom leaders play with the blood of youth of common masses for their political interests. How do you view the same accusations?
It is their allegation and allegations come our way in politics. This freedom struggle is of every class, every group of people of Kashmir and the bullet from security does not see who it kills. Even pro-freedom leadership has sacrificed a lot.
What is your take on lessening interest of World Community over Kashmir Dispute?
Day in and Day out the world community talks about Kashmir Dispute and the need to resolve the same and we are hopeful that soon the required atmosphere would be created by global community to solve Kashmir Dispute.
Pro- Freedom leadership is criticized that it has not been able to evolve the pro-freedom struggle and wants to exclude every community and now the latest talk and allegation being that this struggle for rights is excluding Shia community?
It is not just an allegation but it is an effort to divide people of Jammu & Kashmir to divert the attention from the real issue. When we talk about the political dispute of Jammu & Kashmir we talk of every citizen of this disputed area .Shias, Sunnis every community has rendered sacrifices in freedom movement of Kashmir. We have pro-freedom leadership continuously emerging from Shia community and they too have produced large chunk of martyrs in Kashmir freedom movement. There is nothing like Sunni or Shia in Kashmir freedom movement.
As a youth pro- freedom leader what strategy would you follow with reference to resistance movement in coming years?
Strategy would be devised by the Executive Council of Hurriyat lead by veteran pro-freedom leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and whatever programme evolves from there we will follow that.
Is Pro-Freedom leadership unhappy over the internal problems of Pakistan and secondly do you see same enthusiasm among people for struggle as it was in 2010?
We are not disappointed at all by the conditions in Pakistan .People are with same enthusiasm with the liberation struggle as they were in 2010.
Your message to people of Kashmir?
People should not get dejected and not in any way feel depressed. We as a browbeaten nation of Kashmir will soon gain success and achieve our noble objectives.
Sama Sabet is a prominent youthful humanity voice from Kashmir working on diverse humanitarian causes. She is a well known orator and is currently busy in different philanthropic causes in different parts of planet earth. In an exclusive interview with The News Kashmir Magazine, Sama Sabet talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
Tell us a bit about your childhood days?
Days of yore were marked with beautiful friends with whom I could grow old with, questions that spark the light of truth and most importantly true education which sets the foundation of who you become as an individual.
How was academic life like?
Until 4th grade, I studied at S.R.G Montessori School which inculcated a world embracing vision in me with a lot of emphasis on oneness of mankind as the motto of the school is “World Unity” and then it was Mallinson Girls School.
English, History and Urdu poetry were my favorite subjects but my passion was manifested in participating in debates, seminars, hosting programs and drama.
It’s very important to have this habit of asking questions as I feel that our culture does not appreciate this trait at all. It helps you in being always in the learning mode and opens the gate of understanding without having preconceived notions.
Where you always motivated by pro-humanity works?
Every human being on this earth is motivated by pro- humanity works by default.
Almighty has created us noble and human by nature is spiritual; there is no doubt that we need to put effort in order to keep the mirror of our hearts clean and reflect these noble virtues but we all have the capacity for sure. Rest is just a matter of free will.
Tell us a bit about kosh khabar concept?
Media has a lot of power to influence people, change perceptions etc. but this power can be used to bring people together or to widen the gap and create more barriers.
I have been following a lot of face group pages and groups related to Kashmir and most of them have imbibed a style of reporting that was quite provocative, biased and most importantly was creating more and more hatred.
The comments made by people from various religious back grounds showering abuses on each other etc. made me ponder about the deep impact media could have.
When Kashmir was recently hit be the deluge, I felt the barriers had collapsed but it was sad to see that after a few days, the media again used it as a tool to reinforce the existing prejudices. Instead of focusing on we all helped each other as one big community, it was turned in to a competition of who did more?
At that moment, I decided that we need a platform to prove that Kashmiri society is rich not only in beauty but in noble actions that are aimed towards the betterment of our society irrespective of religion, caste etc. Thus Khosh Khabar was born and we believe “Achhi baatei bhi banti hei khabar”
We posted news about Trehgaam which was about a Kashmiri Muslim man taking care of a Hindu Temple since many years. The reaction of Pandits to that post was so overwhelming and that man was showered with words of gratitude. This kind of news never makes headlines but makes its place in a tiny corner of a newspaper which goes unnoticed by everyone.
Who is your rolemodel?
We don’t need famous people or celebrities to be our role model. Every human being who brings about change both at the level of individual and society is inspiring.
Do you fell world of ours is buying more hate than love?
Love is the reason behind our creation and it is the most powerful force on this earth, it is the light that guides in darkness. Hatred has no existence; it is just the absence of love. People are inclined towards love but alas, no one is there to highlight what is good.
Your message?
Prayer has to be followed by action, and then only we will move towards a better society. As In Urdu they say, Ibadat ki taqat, khidmat ka zor, tabhi badhengei hum ek behtar muashere ki aur.
Well known young Kashmiri Writer, Philanthropist, Activist, Researcher Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander is a dynamic personality of Kashmir and is associated with various state, national and international voluntary organizations.
In this exclusive interview with The News Kashmir Weekly Magazine , he talks with Rameez Makhdoomi, about his academic-activist pursuits, and the recent role he and his organization undertook in the post flood relief and rehabilitation efforts. Here are the excerpts
You worked untiringly especially in flood relief and rehabilitation, your take o nature of this tragedy?
It is an unfortunate fact that the state of Jammu & Kashmir and tragedies are synonymous. We are a witness to tragedies the day we are born in the state of J&K. Kashmir tragedy was one of severe natural or man made calamities (because there is a dispute about its nature) that has devastated the Valley of Kashmir, impacting more than 70% of the population directly or indirectly, destroying property, shelters, administrative departments and business worth billions. The three sectors agriculture, business and tourism that constitute the economic backbone of the state, all have been severely impacted by the floods. It will take many years to rebuild Kashmir.
In what conditions did Islamic Relief & Research Trust (IRRT) start its relief operations?
Islamic Relief & Research Trust (IRRT), is a registered trust and I as a member of core group take lead in decision making and coordinating our projects. The September 2014 floods impacted our trustees, executive council members and volunteers too. We were out of contact with each other for more than two weeks. Also our central office was out of bounds for weeks due to flood waters. In the last week of September we all the office bearers of IRRT met at my home and we chalked out our strategy for our post flood operations. At that time we never thought that we will be running such big relief and rehabilitation projects.
What type relief efforts were taken by IRRT and what types of challenges you faced?
IRRT initially alongwith Mercy Corps ran a month long medical camp at Allama Iqbal Mini Convocation Centre at Sanat Nagar, Srinagar. Some members of IRRT individually were also active in rescue efforts of those stranded in flood waters. Then we conducted a few medical camps in Srinagar and Baramullah. In post flood situation our big problem was identification of real victims of flood whose shelters and economy were destroyed during floods. The emphasis was on identification of vulnerable and poor sections of society that included widows and orphans. Thus we started first phase of our relief and rehabilitation operation with the exception of medical camps in the first week of October. We distributed food kits among three thousand families of Srinagar, Pulwama and Baramullah districts. We stopped at three thousand because we don’t have many resources to cater to more flood victim families. Then we distributed blankets and winter kit that includes bedding, warm clothes, water bottle, chargeable lights etc among one thousand of these families. IRRT is the first organization that provided rents under home rental project to scores of families whose houses were destroyed in the floods. We are also constructing dozens of two room houses including a washroom for widows in Baramulla. We also provided stationary and books to hundreds of children under our educational project who have lost their reading and writing material.
We also tried to form a coordination of various organizations of voluntary sector that would give an organized shape to the relief efforts, but we failed to forge unity among the voluntary sector.
How do you witness the role played by state during floods and post flood situation?
If the state would have played its role, it would certainly have lessened the burden from our shoulders. The state and huge administrative manpower and institutions simply withered away during the floods. The people were on the forefront of most of the rescue and relief efforts. It also depicted the strength of the Kashmiris as a nation who got united in the face of an adversity. In the post flood situation the State could only help people in filing First Information Reports (FIR)s at police stations, provide free ration for few months and allocate uneven and skewed compensation cheques to families whose houses were completely damaged during the floods. The people are very angry at the State and due to its incumbency it has further alienated the Kashmiri masses.
But for the permanent rehabilitation the efforts of State are necessary and all civil society members and voluntary sector are ready to cooperate with them, but State is attending to other issues more judiciously and has thrown the issue of rehabilitation of flood victim families on back burner. This dismal attitude of State towards flood victims can have a negative impact on the already fragile relation of State with its people.
As a youth social and peace activist, do you think youth find activism attractive?
Kashmiri youth always have been activist, mostly on political level. Yes I certainly think that youth are attracted to activism as most of our team of volunteers comprise of youth, who invest their time, money and efforts for our projects.
Even if youth work voluntarily, with dedication and selflessly mostly they are exploited and provided little space in decision making process of any organization. Have you experienced the same as an activist?
The concerns raised are quite genuine and most of the youth are provided little space in decision making. But youth should be cautious while investing their time and money selflessly with a certain organization, only then they can safeguard themselves against exploitation.
IRRT is founded by A.R Hanjura, who is the father of social activism in Kashmir and has decades of experience in voluntary sector and its Director is the well known academic, scholar and activist Prof. Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi. I am fortunate enough to learn under the guardianship of these two stalwarts and they have given me a free hand to coordinate and initiate our various projects. The space provided to be is ample hence I never felt suffocated or exploited.
Being actively engaged with writing and research, attending various conferences in India and abroad, how do you find time for activism?
Nice query. One does not find time and there is no right time. One has to adjust his priorities rightly. My activism is influenced by my research and writing. My activism is a natural outcome of my reading and research and I believe that writing alone doesn’t work unless corroborated by activism. But I must mention the role of my family, particularly my parents who have always supported me in my endeavors of research, writing and activism. If it was not family support I would have been incapable of accomplishing multiple and simultaneous tasks.
Based on your experiences are NGOs in Kashmir committed or money minting machines?
In Kashmir we have not yet developed NGO culture. We have voluntary sector that works on traditional lines. There is little professionalism in our voluntary sector. What I have witnessed that professionals who are working in NGOs lack empathy that is needed in voluntary sector. I am not a professional social worker, but I have learned much through my activism and dealing with people. We need people who are financially independent and don’t earn from social activism, because once money is involved with social activism, the work suffers in most cases.
In case of Kashmir, we have thousands of registered NGOs but on ground not more than a dozen are working whose work is having positive impact on vulnerable sections and who are working for the betterment of society. Most people have rendered NGOs as a business and then you have GSNGOs (Government Sponsored NGOs) who mint money and siphon funds in millions. It is for the people and civil society to make the NGOs accountable and responsible towards transparency. Those NGOs and Voluntary sector organizations that are working selflessly need to be strengthened by people. There are black sheeps in every sector, NGOs are no exception, but that does not render them irrelevant.
IRRT website can be accessed at www.irrtonline.org and M.H.A.Sikander can be contacted at sikandarmushtaq@gmail.com
Raksha Goyal is a respected name in the world of Dietary and Nutrition and expert of par- excellence in this regard. In an exclusive interview with The News Kashmir Magazine, Raksha Goyal talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
Rameez Makhdoomi: A Bit About Your Personality?
Raksha Goyal: Myself Raksha Goyal, Chief Nutritionist Synergy hospital, Indore (Madhya Pradesh).I am practicing since last 6 years in the field of nutrition. Have presented and published various research papers in the national and international journals on nutrition.
Associated with NGO’s and conducting nutritional awareness programs for the community benefits. Synergy hospital is a multispecialty hospital in the Indore city. We are committed to provide a better healthcare facility and world class treatment to the patients.
Rameez Makhdoomi: Your Take On Eating habits of Indian people?
Raksha Goyal : Indian food is as diverse as the Indian culture with as many cuisines as the number of states. A common eating habit across the country is that Indians love to mix their food and add spices to almost every cuisine.
Meals are most often eaten with family members. Indian families create their eating habits around the schedules and preferences of everyone in the family. Women traditionally do most of the food preparation for the household.
There are three main meals in the Indian culture, so the meal timing is similar to western cultures. In India, most people eat a morning meal, a mid-day meal and an evening meal. The evening meal is generally the biggest meal of the day, followed by the mid-day meal.
People in India consider a healthy breakfast, or nashta, important. They generally prefer paranthas, dhokla, idli, dosa, uttapam, poha along with milk or curd.
Lunch in India usually consists of a main dish of rice or rotis made from whole wheat, two or three kinds of vegetables, curd and sweets. Paan (betel leaves), which aid digestion, are often eaten after lunch in parts of India. India families will gather for “evening breakfast” to talk, drink tea, and eat snacks. Dinner is considered the main meal of the day, and the whole family gathers for the occasion.
Rameez Makhdoomi : What According To You Is Balance diet in Indian context?
Raksha Goyal : In India food is linked to one’s culture and identity so it varies from region to region. But here are some healthy staple ingredients in Indians diet:
Chapatti: Chapatti is made up of whole grains including wheat, Maize, Bajra, Jawar, Soyabean. It is a very good source of fiber.
Pulses: People include Pulses or dal in their regular diet in the form of Sambhar, sprouts, or soya badi. It is the main source of protein in the Indian diet.
Milk: Indian people mostly consume milk in the form of either curd or buttermilk. Kheer is another form of milk which is taken as sweet dish.
Vegetables and fruits: Mostly seasonal fruits and vegetables have been consumed by Indian people.
Herbs: Herbs are usually included in the vegetables during the preparation.
Rameez Makhdoomi: What Diet Tips You Can Offer our readers for Harsh winters?
Raksha Goyal: Several foods give the body nutrients that actually help to promote wellness, and this is very important during the winter months when many illnesses circulate through the population.
Possibly the best benefit though, is that seasonal food is always interesting, as each season brings a new crop of foods that you haven’t had for an entire year. Before you’ve had a chance to tire of its bounty, the season changes to bring new, flavorful foods to add to your pantry.
Boost immunity: Include seasonal fruits and vegetables like Guava, Radish, Lemon, Carrot and Green leafy vegetables in diet as it contain antioxidants.
Stay hydrated: Drink at least 2 litter water per day whether you are feeling thirsty or not.
Rameez Makhdoomi: How diet is related to the diseases?
Raksha Goyal : Healthy living not only makes you feel good, but it can keep you from experiencing many diseases and health conditions. Obtaining adequate nutrition is an essential part of living a healthy life. Poor nutrition can result from failure to eat enough or failure to choose the right kinds of foods which may lead to some life threatening diseases as:
Obesity:Certain types of foods and eating habits such as snacking,binge-eating, and eating out can contribute to excessive weight gain.
Diabetes:Obesity, high blood pressure and increased cholesterol, unhealthy eating habits are strong risk factors for developing diabetes.
Anemia: A condition of low hemoglobin level in the blood. Common reasons are poor intake of Iron, vitamin C, B etc.
Osteomalacia and rickets are caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium or phosphate.
Hypertension: A high sodium intake is generally believed to increase the risk of having high blood pressure.
Heart Disease: Leading cause of illness and death in India. Obesity, diabetes, higher intake of junk foods, excessive salt intake is some of the risk factor for heart disease.
Cancer: The same high-fat diet associated with heart disease also may increase the risk of developing certain cancers.
Senior Fellow Breast Surgeries Tata Memorial Centre, Doctor Shabnam Bashir Gaash is a professional of par excellence who has via her Caliber, hardwork, dynamism shined in the highly difficult and prestigious field of Surgery and made Kashmir Proud.
Dr.Shabnam Bashir
In an exclusive interview with The News Kashmir, Dr.Shabnam Bashir talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
How was your academic life like? Why did you choose Doctor as profession?
To begin with, having suffered a lot of injustice in his professional life, my dad never wanted me to become a doctor. I too had started preparing for administrative exams but fate played its own trick.
I was in my 12th standard, and one of my friends ( who was very interested in palmistry!) asked to have a look at my hand. At that moment it sounded like fun so I let her prove her ‘skills’. Least did I know what was to follow: The ‘palmist’ came up with what changed my track & my entire life altogether. With utter confidence she ‘declared’ that no matter what, I would never be able to attend a professional college in my life. And a true Arian that I am, I took that as a challenge & hit it headlong. I cleared my MBBS entrance exam in the 1st attempt (to my palmist’s surprise and to many people’s chagrin) and set my feet on the never ending journey of medicine!
From there started the tale of restless days and sleepless nights ( a story of every medical student). As months & years went by, I realised that life had directed me to where my soul would have always wanted to be. During my medical college days I gradually developed more interest in clinical branches more so in surgery, till it actually became a passion for me for it used to give me greatest satisfaction to be able to get to a diagnosis quickly without much hit and trial, and to be able to get the patients relieved of their distress as quickly as possible. The greater the distress the bigger the satisfaction of relieving them. One of the reasons I developed a lot of interest in oncosurgeries (cancer-related surgeries) was the fact that these patients have to bear the worst possible distress.
A bit about your journey towards achieving professional excellence ?
To cut short the long, the twisted, rough road of my academic journey could be summerized like this:
I moved out of the valley to get higher training, more experience and more professional exposure and better opportunities of learning and getting finer skills from the best of surgeons in the best of medical centres around. Though surgery is an art and a very subjective skill yet having a strong foundation plays a great role in the long run.
I did my basic ‘accidents and emergency’ training & ACLS (advanced cardiac life support certificate) from the Apollo Hospital then DNB surgery ( post graduate specialisation in surgery) in Fortis under the guidance of a group of best open & laparoscopic surgeons of Delhi and NCR. I had a chance to work with very experienced cancer surgeons at the Batra Hospital, Jamia Hamdard, and Fortis. I did my MRCS (UK), also FACRSI.
Having chosen a ‘male dominated’ field of practice (i.e surgery) I had anticipated the hardships and road blocks ahead, but least did I know that it was going to be as tough as it proved to be. It was a Herculean task to be able to prove my worth & demonstrate my skills in a male dominated society and profession, fighting all the indiscrimination and bias! Yet by the Grace of Almighty Alhamdulillah, I was able to move ahead & survive with dignity.
How did you develop interest towards field of Breast Surgery?
After having attended all those surgical conference throughout my surgical training, I realised that there was a gradual shift from general MCh oncosurgery towards more ‘organ specific’ training and knowledge now. In a decade or so to come the scenario would be changed altogether. So I decided to focus on my areas of interest ( that in our jargon means the organs or surgeries/ treatments that we want to do ). Breast cancer being the number one killer of women in the reproductive age group, was topping my list followed by Colorectal cancers, as I believe that we have a huge lack of female surgeons – that too cancer surgeons – and more importantly women surgeons trained in specific areas like breast & colorectal part of the body. Both areas are very embarrassing for our women to expose to a male surgeon which is a prime reason for diagnosis and treatment getting delayed!
Super-specialisation means not only ‘mastering a skill / craft /organ system surgery’…but also to keep oneself updated with latest trials, studies, latest management protocols, guidelines for treatment and innovations in that area. And it is beyond human capacity (unless one is a self -proclaimed genius!) to be able to ‘master’ all organs and keep abreast of all the minutest details of that particular organ. For doing justice to one’s profession the need of the time is deciding upon an area or organ of interest and trying to master that particular area so that one is able to do justice to the patient and one, s own conscience.
Secondly let me tell you, as a surgeon though it gives me equal satisfaction to be able to relieve the misery of my patients in any corner of the country or world …for Allah (swt) says in Quran that “if you kill one innocent person it is equivalent to having killed the whole humanity and if you save one life, it is like having saved the whole human kind”…that is irrespective of caste, creed, religion, sex, ethnicity, or financial background or place of origin. I know charity should begin at home and that we all owe the most to the soil we belong to so InshaaAllah would be soon amongst my own people.
Why you selected Tata Memorial Hospital ?
Having defined my areas of interest, I finally moved to what is considered the ‘apex institute for cancers’ in the country and one of the few top cancer centres in the world ( the Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Mumbai) for my super-specialisation in breast cancer management & surgeries which, Alhamdulillah, I have finished now. Hence I would be ( inshaaAllah) targeting my second area of interest i.e the colon and rectum.
One more thing that majority of people might not be aware of is that majority of cancer patients coming to Tata Institute are from other states and are not even able to arrange for their food or stay in Mumbai. You’ll find them ‘residing’ on the pavement alongside the hospital building…with bedsheet as their flooring and polythene sheets as their ceilings! Be it scorching heat & humidity or the ruthless monsoons of Bombay, for months together men, women, children and all huddled together lying on the pavement, all to themselves.
Being served free breakfast and lunch by a generous five star hotel (Taj Sats) though obviously being able to serve a simple meal only( as the numbers they are catering to is humongous). This scene in the early mornings, when we enter the hospital premises, is enough to tear our souls apart and we usually try to avoid an eye contact with any of them as each pair of the eyes is full of despair, agony, uncertainty, expectations and what keeps them going is the Hope. Believe me, it is not easy to be able to handle such amount of pain, distress, stress and responsibility!
What was the main reason of you not serving in your native place Kashmir?
One of the important reasons why I had been forced to move out of my native place long back was that, despite my Curriculum Vitae being unparallel for the post that I had applied for, at one of our ‘big premier institutes’ in Srinagar, I was declined appointment because I refused to bribe the concerned authorities (believe me it was the routine there!) And additionally I was neither a relative of any political figure nor a blue-eyed candidate for that matter!
Where from this dedication comes despite such tough job?
‘Dedication’ means following anything religiously with utmost honesty and passion. It is not easy, trust me; at times it takes hell out of us!! It means seeing & following something with your eyes open or close in Your thoughts, words & deeds .At dawn, at dusk and in the hustle bustle of the day or silence of the night! It needs a little amount of craziness within.
Why has there been increase in number of cancer cases in our part of the world especially Kashmir?
The reason behind the fast increasing number of cancer patients is both the rising incidence as well as better detection rates due to advanced technologies and better awareness. The number of cancer patients that we are dealing with in the institute that I am working at currently in various departments is around 1000 every single day.
There has been a drastic change in the lifestyle of people, more sedentary habits ( exercise releases a lot of antioxidants in the body), change in food habits .More of junk, canned, freeze dried foods rather than fresh stuff and hence exposure to a lot preservatives and toxins ( carcinogens) leading to various cancers. Our youngsters are getting badly influenced by the aggressively marketed concepts of modernisation and liberalization & carefree attitudes and social media influenced ‘ cool ways’ of living and hence we come across a lot of them getting addicted to smoking and even alcohol ( was surprised to see so many Muslims even from conservative societies like ours indulging in hard drinks and all). The other factors include technologies like microwave. Studies say that when the food is heated in the microwavable wares (except glass wares) some chemicals get released from the cookware, one of them being Diaoxin, which is a known carcinogen related to many cancers especially breast cancers. Even the plastic water bottles if left in cars through the day will get heated in sun and release same substance and same happens if they are kept in freezers ( not the fridge door).
In addition to that lots of animal fat with decreased fiber intake is one of the most important modifiable causes of colon (large intestine) cancers in our valley. Other substances like nitrosamines from our tea, high salt intake, smoked fish, high incidences of H Pylori infections and, of course, genetics play a role in gastric cancers in our state. Some cosmetics also have been found to contain certain carcinogens.
And then last but not the least the menace of radiations from mobile phones, laptops, communication towers etc etc..so on.
A lot of awareness generation is required and screening programmes need to be designed to fight the menace. And additionally some laws and rules have to be aggressively implemented to prevent the masses from general sources of exposure to potential carcinogens from radiation towers, pesticides ( GMOs), unapproved or undeclared preservatives etc
Are Doctors Soft Targets in our part of the world?
Doctors have always been a soft target of society and especially the media (though for being from media I dont expect you to agree on that – aleast not publicly.) Whether it comes to issues of deserving respect, getting their deserved positions, being dealt with honestly, their desire for better working condition, hope of gratitude & thankfulness from their patients, to be able to have atleast one single day all for themselves, to get some peace of mind and happiness and to be able to run away from the huge amount of stress that they face in their day to day working atleast once a while or dreaming to be able to provide better living conditions to their families and better education to their kids (like all other human beings). Sometimes it seems they are being governed by a different set of rules and measure measured by different yardsticks than the rest of the society. And you will bear me out that it is not fair or just.
People forget that we are from amongst them only. They forget who a doctor is – the one who chooses their health over his own, who prefers relieving them of their distress & miseries over his own family ( most of the times we are not able to be with our own families when they need us the most), giving precedence to their peaceful sleep in the wards over his own sleep, their treatments, procedures and surgeries over his food (most of the times not getting his timely basic meals even ) . Doctor is the one who misses out his family ceremonies to be able to make his patients have a speedy recovery for their family functions and giving all the time, attention and energies (even the share that belongs to his ownself and his family) to his patients and their families. They forget to realise that we give our prime years and decades into this field to be able to deliver substance healthcare.Our counterparts in other fields take far lesser years and efforts to settle down professionally and get tremendous social and financial outputs comparative to the years invested and are not a target of criticism every now and then with or without reason.
Additionally, on one hand they expect us to be their ‘Messiahs’ and on the other hand drag us to consumer courts!! If the society behaves like a consumer buying healthcare, the doctor would inevitably be forced to behave as a seller of the same. To define a doctor’s role more clearly, the society first needs to be clear as to what they want from him.
Though I am at no point of time denying the fact that there have been and will be elements in our fraternity who have astrayed and done mistakes, negligence or even crimes but then they have to be measured on the same scale as other humans. After all doctors too are a specimen from the society at large!
Your take on Ban on Private Practice in Kashmir?
Banning private practice is no solution .We need to remember forbidden fruits are always sweeter. It needs a more practical approach from both sides…better remunerations, providing better for diagnostic & therapeutic technologies…and safe, comfortable & respectful working atmosphere from government and other concerned authorities and honesty, compassion and dedication from doctors. And of course some sense of gratitude and respect from the society for the person who has been chosen by the Almighty as His representative hand to allay suffering, ameliorate pain and provide cure. Do consider the fact that the ‘white coat’ might be concealing a soul deeply wounded by indifference of the society to his sufferings and agonies. The best encouragement for any soul to keep doing good is ‘appreciation’ of that good.
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A doctor is – the one who chooses their health over his own, who prefers relieving them of their distress & miseries over his own family ( most of the times we are not able to be with our own families when they need us the most), giving precedence to their peaceful sleep in the wards over his own sleep, their treatments, procedures and surgeries over his food (most of the times not getting his timely basic meals even.
