Ehsaas International in service of Humanity

Ehsaas International in service of Humanity 
An interview with Chief Spokesperson Tahir Makhdoomi

NGO Ehsaas International is a prominent  non political social organisation working for benefit of masses in Jammu and Kashmir .At Ehsaas International the belief is that humanity is not limited by borders nor by affordability. It is all about ‘EHSAAS’(meaning care and respect in Urdu language) for human beings and human values. In the need of the hour Ehsaas International have reached different corners of the world and participated in whatsoever means one can ,be it Palestine or Yemen, Chennai or Muzaffar Nagar UP, Nepal or Kerala and Kashmir . In the ongoing Pandemic Coronavirus, Ehsaas International has done a marvellous job in Kashmir, especially when it came to providing the frontline workers all important standard PPE and Masks. 
In an exclusive interview with the News Kashmir’s Rameez Makhdoomi, the Chief Spokesperson Ehsaas International Tahir Makhdoomi talks on diverse issues. 

How difficult it has been to work in a pandemic like Coronavirus especially at beginning? 
Whatever one does for society is always full of hardships and challenges. People were lot of panic struck when Corona hit first. The most difficult challenge for people of Kashmir was how we will fight this pandemic especially ensuring safety of our frontline warriors in covid hospitals. We at Ehsaas have been always at forefront in helping the society at adverse times  . We do most of our work in education sector. This time we saw how we can protect our front line workers like Doctors , Paramedics, SMC people, sanitisation  teams, those working in Quarantine centers, police, revenue officials etc. Our General Secretary Ilyas Hakeem and Chairman Tabasum Geelani held a brief meeting in this regard with executive body. We unanimously drafted idea of producing PPE and held a meeting with all the concerned stake holders especially administration and hospitals got their nod. At the end we bought the material and gave this idea practical shape in our thirty centers. Our PPPs and Masks produced are of global standard with full protection  and comfort. We gave then orders to our centers to produce masks, PPE, food covers. We were able to engage large number of tailors and they also thus got meaningful livelihood opportunities. They had faced lot of economic pain due to previous and current lockdown. They got good amount of money to survive these tough times. 

How many PPE  and masks your produced so far? We have been able to distribute so far thirty thousand PPE  to different institutions from Directorate of health , SMC to Quarantine centers, and other frontline workers. Our PPE  proved great boon for the doctors and protecting them in hard times. We got appreciation letters from different organs of Government. We also distributed more than fifty thousand masks. After advice from esteemed DC Srinagar we then shifted to distributing food kits especially in those areas were no one had reached. We covered areas like Harwan,Dhara, Khimber, Phag, Theed etc. We have so far distributed more than 1500  food kits . 
Your initiative as Ehsaas International are also now part of UPSC exam. Your take ? One of the eminent team dealing with drafting of syllabus of UPSC exam talked with our General Secretary Ilyas and after getting inputs from  us, they have now added  tremendous work done by Ehsaas international in the exam syllabus.  What about donation you received during this pandemic? We received impressive donation especially at the start and it is only due to this we were able to produce this large number of PPE,Masks, Food kits.Do you believe there is need to improve functioning of Mohalla or area committee in Kashmir? Definitely, the need to improve the Mohalla or area Committee remains in Kashmir. We need to strengthen the institution of the Bait ul Maal as we found many areas during this pandemic facing quite lot of hardships. 
Has NGO coordination in Kashmir improved during this pandemic? The NGO coordination in Kashmir has definitely improved during this pandemic.But, we need to bear in mind that due to diverse thoughts, different mentalities, difference in motives, ego clashes complete harmony between NGOs is not possible.

People should follow advisories to remain Cyber healthy : Tahir Ashraf, SP Cyber Police Kashmir

People should follow advisories to remain Cyber healthy : Tahir Ashraf 
With the advent of internet and it’s growing reach Cyber Crime has become a reality all over the world and in Kashmir Valley too. Cybercrime, or computer-oriented crime, is a crime that involves a computer and a network. The computer may have been used in the commission of a crime, or it may be the target. Cybercrime may threaten a person or a nation’s security and financial health. 
Editor in Chief News Kashmir Farzana Mumtaz talks to dynamic police officer and Superintendent of Cyber Police Kashmir Tahir Ashraf on different aspects. 

People in Kashmir are getting calls from numbers allegedly from Saudi Arabia, what is it all about? People are getting lot of calls from foreign country numbers .We came into action and came to known it is global scam and scammers have targeted Kashmiri numbers.The motive of them is that you call back and you are diverted to much costlier premium charge calls,and thus lose good amount of balance. We have advised people not to pick these calls and also not call back. People should not panic and we have already issued advisories via print, electronic media. How far is cyber crime Increasing in Kashmir? With the growing internet usage the Cyber Crime is bound to increase, but the good part is we have been very much effective in dealing with cyber crime. We require cooperation  of public especially in following our advisories from time to time. We also need cooperation of media in raising awareness. The esteemed DGP has stressed that Jammu and Kashmir police is committed to resolve the issues , worries of common masses when it comes to normal and cyber crimes. 
How far are people in our part of the world aware about safe use of Cyber world ? The awareness among people is still less about cyber world. People still do not known what is cyber crime and where to report it. . In this recent miss call scam issue from foreign numbers they came with application to us, while as it deals with people reporting these numbers to their respective telecom operators .Relationship between social media and cyber crime? 
Social media is a part of cyber. Cyber is a big world : Your own internet use, your data, your computers, CCTVs. The cyber world is sea and people think just Facebook, Instagram is cyber world which is not true. 

Your message to masses? 
We as Jammu and Kashmir are committed to solve all issues of people and we appeal people to be alert on cyber world. People should follow the advisories issued by us from time to time and remain cyber healthy  .

The Innocent Suffer in Silence

The Innocent Suffer in Silence
Written by: Gowher Bhat
According to an article from, Aljazeera, named Kashmiri’s Mental Health Crisis, by Baba Tamim, September 3, 2016. Mental Health Illness has affected 1.8 million Kashmiri citizens in the past decade. 50% of women and 37% of men suffer from depression. The studies proved the reason for this severe turnout is due to the military conflicts between Pakistan and India in Kashmir. The strict curfews and strikes have delivered the people into misery, and a sad state of mind. Depression and anxiety disorders are not the only disorder people are suffering. There are hundreds of mental health diagnosis, but they are not labeled and not revealed. Instead, it’s referred to as Mental Illness Stigmas. The definition of Mental Illness Stigmas means a patient is referred to as dangerous, crazy, or incompetent. These disorders are swept under the carpet, by professionals, and family members. There are not enough facilities to help people with Stigmas, and the government is not paying much attention to the widespread problem. There is only one psychiatric hospital in Kashmir, and a handful of out-patient psychiatric facilities, which proves there it’s not taken seriously.
Centuries ago, people with mental health illness, like Schizoid, Psychosis, and Paranoia, were believed a demon-possessed your soul. Which frightened family and friends because of the way a person acted. The family would lock them in a room, labeling them crazy, and hope they would die. They believed it was the works of evil forces and that they would be next. The treatment for this was barbaric, there was no mercy, exorcisms were performed, or they even went as far as drilling a hole through the person’s skull. But nowadays, we have psychiatrist, counselors, social workers, and NGO’s that offer psychotherapy and self-help groups. Medications are administered to control delusional and paranoid behaviors. But still, in Kashmir, we live in the dark ages, with our primitive thinking, labeling people that suffer from severe mental illness calling them crazy lazy losers. Family members make excuses, and try to hide the fact they’re subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Burying the problem is just contributing to the suffering and will escalate over time. It’s a simple scenario if the person doesn’t seek treatment and take medication; it only gets worse through the years; it never cures itself.
In many countries, an adult has the right to refuse treatment. However, they can be treated without their consent if they are a danger to oneself or others. Some countries have crisis intervention teams. Professionals will visit homes and give the disabled person a psychiatric evaluation to make sure he/she is not a threat to themselves or society. Kashmir doesn’t have that law or a Department of Mental Health that could manage these programs. With three-quarters of the population suffering from some kind of mental illness, the problem should be given serious consideration. All the executives I have interviewed say they worry about the people; this is one issue that promptly needs attention because it will not improve over time.
Another cause of concern are children with parents who suffer from Stigma. A child feels hopeless when they don’t understand why their parents are neglectful. They notice the house isn’t not kept, No food in the home and dinner on the table. Arguments are daily by the parent who is suffering from this illness. They endure hurtful name calling and risk the chance of being beaten. The child suffers in silence and tries to hide abusive behavior because he/she is ashamed. The situation put upon a child is irreversible. When entering their teens and into their adult years, they too run a risk of depression and suffer from significant anxiety disorders or Stigma. All because their mother or father refused to get treatment and take medication.
I interviewed a man (who would like to remain nameless.) He lives with this every day. He’s an adult residing with his mother as a caretaker. Lately, most of the time she is psychotic and believes he is destroying the house, by breaking the water pipes, putting holes in the wall and is the cause of all her problems. He never knows what mood she’s in, and as soon as he enters the house from work, she begins with verbal abuse and threatening to hurt him. She remains in a psychotic state for days, and her normalcy doesn’t surface too often as of late. It’s becoming evident she is paranoid, thinking people want to hurt her, and steal things. She shouts out the window calling him horrific names, for all the neighbors to hear. There is no reasoning with her, and she says that he is the crazy one, and there is nothing wrong with her. He’s called the hospital and spoke to counselors and doctors, and when he puts her on the phone, she begins to curse calling them crazy. Family members and friends have disowned her, and she even accuses her husband of fraternizing with other women and kicked him out. He explained to me that he feels he’s the only one going through this; there is no support, no one to confide. His hands are tied and try to understand she is sick, but to watch his mother change into a hateful human is leaving him helpless and affecting his job. She doesn’t trust a soul, not even the pastors from the mosque. Law enforcement will not remove her from home and escort her to the hospital. They tell him their not taking responsibility because she refuses treatment. The lady needs psychiatric intervention, but the law states that she doesn’t have to if she refuses.
On a personal note, I’m proposing that the government to recognize people who are in a bad state of mind as a threat. They need to take action by changing the law so that a family member can mandate a psychiatric evaluation for medication and treatment. With all the turmoil that is going on in Kashmir, this should raise red flags. We need more Psychiatrist, Psychologist, and Social Workers to head up crisis teams. Police should be able to respond if there is abuse taken place and escort an emotionally disturbed person to the hospital. Family members and children shouldn’t suffer in silence any longer by watching their loved ones decompensate into hurtful human beings.

Baramulla’s Blind School seeks government attention

Baramulla’s Blind School seeks government attention
“RAY OF HOPE IN DARKNESS”

Danish Tariq

Kashmir’s specially-abled institution at Baramulla has been suffering due to lack of proper facilities since long.The absence of basic facilities has created immense hardships for these specially-abled students of Baramulla’s Blind School at Khawaja Bagh, the number of disabled students are enrolled in recent years to get the light of education to follow their dreams like other children.

The institution was established in 2012 by Late Haji Mohammad Yousuf Khan, government employee by profession, on a rented building to provide every assistance to these visually impaired and deaf and dumb persons.

Wajid Bhat, 7th class student said, I was admitted at Baramulla Blind School in 2012, we have well qualified teachers here to teach us but it’s not easy task for them to teach us, all the facilities are being provided to us free of cost, “our school is functioning in a rented building for that huge amount of rent has to be paid monthly, we are specially-abled persons government should construct a permanent building for our school so that our sufferings will decrease,” he added education is the basic right of every individual “everyone has aim in life to achieve something and my goal is to qualify Indian Administrative Service (IAS) I am here to seek the education that will lead me to achieve my goal,”

Rafiya Khaliq, another student said, the education, food, hostel is being provided to us but we have an issue of proper building for that we want seek attention of government help us to get out of problem “our teachers don’t get their salary monthly sometimes they get salary after three or four months and we don’t have have space for playing” we are highly thankful to our teachers for their kindness towards us, she added we are enough lucky despite being specially-abled that we are getting benefit of education.

Currently school is running in 8 roomed rented building at Khawja Bagh.The government has identified land for the construction of blind school at Fathepora area of Baramulla in 2017 but due to paucity of funds the school building is not constructed yet, from various districts of valley students are enrolled and every facility is being provided free.

Mubeena, Office Secretary said, the school is running fully on public donations as the institution has no any revenue source, there are total 75 students enrolled in our institution in which 42 are deaf and dumb and 33 are blind including male and female among which some are residing in hostel and all their expenditure bears institute, we seek the government intervention to construct the school building and all possible help to brighten the future of these specially-abled students.

MESSAGE: To all the other specially-abled children, DON’T BE SAD, DON’T THINK WE ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS, MAKE THIS DISABILITY AS YOUR STRENGTH, CHANGE YOUR DISABILITY INTO SPECIALTY, COME AND JOIN US AND ENLIGHTEN YOURSELF WITH EDUCATION (WAJID BHAT, VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENT )

17 years on ,jetty bridge awaits completion

17 years on, Jetty bridge awaits completion
Danish Tariq

The construction of a bridge at Khawajabagh area in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district is incomplete since 17 years. The construction of bridge was started in 2002 but the work was suspended frequently due to Non-availability of funds, bridge connecting Khawajabagh and Janbazpora, would connect these areas with the Srinagar-Baramulla road. It would reduce the travel time and serve as an alternative road between Baramulla and the Kupwara.

Mohammad Younis, local resident said “if Jetty bridge would be completed it will ease the travel between Baramulla-Kupwara, distance will be reduced up to 30 kilometres and also will streamline the traffic mess on Srinagar-Baramulla highway” he added the army convoy to Kupwara can be diverted through this bridge that will help the Baramulla town to get rid of traffic mess and public transport will not be badly effected during army convoy movement “After Pulwama attack government has banned public transport movement during army convoy”.

Ghulam Nabi, shopkeeper said, All the governments had neglected the development works in Baramulla “at the time of elections representatives will start begging for votes soon the elections conclude none of them will be seen up to next elections” the work on jetty bridge has not completed since 17 years many times as we appealed to the authorities to start work on bridge but no official paid any attention towards our demand it’s unfortunate that government cannot complete a single bridge in our locality how can we expect other development works from them he added.

The work of bridge is going on under the supervision of J&K Projects Construction Corporation
(JKPCC) at estimated cost of 21.37 crores but JKPCC had missed several deadlines on completion of “Jetty Bridge” local residents demanded that the construction on the bridge should be resumed.

Deputy General Manager, JKPCC, Feroz Ahmad Chat, said, due to paucity of funds the work on jetty bridge is delayed and overstretched, we have included it in languishing projects but government has not released funds which we had expected in March, as soon as the funds will be provided the construction work on bridge will be started without any further delay in project.

Teachers should create space in the hearts of children: Maria Suzette

Apostolic Carmel Sister MARIA SUZETTE, Vice principal of Burnhall school  Is a  teacher and educationist of par excellence . In an exclusive interview with News Kashmir, she talks to Rameez Makhdoomi .

 

 

 

Please share some memories of  your childhood ?

 

I was born and brought up in Goa and was fifth sibling among six  brothers and sisters in our family.  Since childhood i had an inclination to serve humanity and so gave my aspiration practical shape by becoming ‘sister ‘. I studied and trained for same at Mumbai, Maharashtra convent for five years and then got the religious dress and started as a teacher in Nagpur Maharashtra. I landed in Jammu and Kashmir in year 2007 and in Kashmir I am working since past three years.

 

How does being an educationist help you in achieving your goal of serving humanity ?

 

At the end of day as a Missionary Educationist I feel contentment that I have been able to make a difference in a life of child and it is not about just the intellectual dimensions of a child but also enhancing him morally and spiritually. Guiding via education  a child towards the right path is a real service to humanity

 

How has been your experience in the state of Jammu and Kashmir?

 

Having spent more than one decade in Jammu Kashmir I would say it has been quite enjoying and appreciable experience. Initially I felt homesick but then adapted nicely in Jammu and as per requirement I was posted to Kashmir and this is my third winter here. Both in Jammu and Kashmir I have felt safe and kept working, driving till late hours and it has  overall been a great experience in this state full of nice humans.

 

How would you define the children of Kashmir since you directly deal with children?

 

The children of Kashmir are quite bright and have high IQ, but the uncertainties of this place disturb the rhythm of their life, but we here at Burnhall school try our level best to keep students in touch with school life via diverse activities.

 

Many voices opine that missionary education has played positive role in South Asia academic scenario. How do you see it?

 

In the entire region of South Asia Missionaries have undoubtedly played a major role in education, trying to educate and be quality educators. Have we been the best only people can answer but we have definitely tried to play a best role in education sector.

 

Many believe that since quality is associated with missionary schools there should be more such institutes to cater to the aspirations of parents and children?

 

Our goal as missionary schools is entirely different than other. In private schools many a time the motive is profit driven. Here we work just for selfless service. If you will ask me for hundred rupees for something I can’t give because I purely look on academic front such is the quality atmosphere here.

 

Unfortunately lot of misgivings are created about missionary education not just in Kashmir but in other parts. Recently in Karnataka someone had stated missionaries produce children like missionary. We are not to change a children opinion but always in pursuing of helping a child to empower his or intellect and not to interfere in his intellectual growth but just to enlighten and empower children to formulate their own bright vision .

 

Are you ready to share your expertise with other schools as yours is one of the prominent schools?

 

Missionary schools are on path to adopt many schools and such thing has already happened in places like Chandigarh and Delhi. I am here ready to listen and share knowledge with other schools if they feel need. We are as missionary educationists not conditioned to be teacher of just one school but teacher of entire community to fulfill our larger goal of serving humanity.

 

What do you advise your fellow teachers most?

 

I tell all teachers that your focus should be to impart skill and healthy life values in children and try to create space in the heart of the children because that matters most. We should also respect the outlook of students

 

We are here to give them vision. I remember when I was deputed for the first time here in Burnhall school.. I told them I am neither here as Indian nor as Kashmiri I will not impose my opinion on you but help you in forming your opinion.

 

 

 

Are parents here cooperating with you?

 

Parents are the basic component and more important than we are because they are the first teachers of a child. Both teachers and parents have crucial role to build a child towards constructive life. Parents in Kashmir are overall highly cooperative and we as teachers need to follow complete integrated approach and treat every child equally to achieve betterment.

 

An allegation against non missionary and missionary schools is that they try to degrade local language and culture of students. How do you react to this statement?

 

You have asked a good question. I often order teachers that you will have to teach and make students learn kashmiri as indigenous cultures and languages are must. A person without know-how of his language or culture is a human without a proper pedestal. We are also giving due importance to local cultures and languages.

 

What should teachers focus on while teaching children?

 

We need to give time and space to the child. We cannot impose our views on the child and should not impose anything on them but accompany them. We need to respect all schools. Child will cover his journey successfully only when imposition is not forced .

 

Anything you would like to share?

 

Sometimes people do not understand life of a priest or sister and once there  is misunderstanding it creates problems. I am sent here as a requirement. People should understand sacrifice of a father or sister. We are not angels but humans selected among humans to help others lead a good life. We should also not condemn humans just for mistakes and it applies to all of us.

 

 

Kashmir is one of the most challenging places to work for a journalist. -Kashmir Press Club holds an event on how to deal with problems faced by scribes.

Srinagar: Kashmir is one of the most challenging places for journalists to report from, according to senior journalist Yusuf Jameel at a maiden event at Kashmir Press Club about “reporting in Kashmir: Challenges and Dealing with Harassment” on Saturday. Sharing titbits about his journalistic work in the Valley for more than three decades, he recalled that when a parcel bomb was planted at his BBC office in 1993, it resulted in the killing of his colleague Mushtaq Ali. In the aftermath, he was asked by J&K police to keep personal security guards for protection. “But I refused because I told the police officer who had come to me that I am a reporter not an editor who has stay in office,” he said. According to him, journalists have to face the challenges and make it part of their daily life. “I was even told to migrate after the blast but I trusted God and whatever will be in your fate will reach to you. No security guards can’t save people,” he said and pointed to slain Kashmir journalist Shujaat Bukhari who was killed along with his two police guards in Srinagar’s press enclave. Insisting that journalism demands sticking to truth, he said when he didn’t change after facing multiple attacks on his life, army gave up and realised he can’t not be bought. “When you are doing factual reporting, truth will prevail,” the veteran journalist told a gathering of journalists at the club. He advised young journalists to take precautions while reporting in on the ground. “Don’t instantly rush to spot where an attack occurs,” he said, “Young reporters should take precautions before going there. “But that doesn’t mean I am asking you not to visit spots. You need to plan from where you can reach the site,” he added. Senior advocate at J&K High Court Syed Faisal Qadri, who also spoke of the issue, explained how legal challenges can be mounted to journalists to contest cases. Pointing to challenging times and mounting attacks against journalists in India, he said risk of life always exists in conflict zone such as Kashmir. He said reporting annoys people in power and as a result journalists are being slapped with sedition cases. But he clarified writing or saying anything doesn’t amount to sedition. “Saying zindabad and murdabad is not anti-national or seditious,” Qadri said. He said laws for citizens and journalists are same and journalists should mount legal challenge to fight for their rights. Pointing out that no employer has right to throw out an employee without a substantial reason, he said rights of media workers are always protected even if there is written contract between employee and an employer. “Randomly an employer can’t throw out an employee. Even if there is a contract that too can be challenged in court,” Qadri said and added, “an employer can’t have hire and fire policy. Contract should have certain privileges attached to it”. He suggested that journalists should have a team of lawyers, who can challenge the system for any violations. Kashmir Press Club president, Shuja ul Haq said, “Throughout much of the world the journalists‘ rights to expression and access to information are changing. Incidents of physical harm, abuse, threat and even financial injury are also increasing.” According to the senior journalist, Kashmir being a conflict zone is no stranger to this phenomenon. “The only difference is that we tend to normalise this at times. We forget to create a discourse. That is what is required”, Shuja said. Journalists in the valley have been facing tough times in covering daily events. While many journalists have been killed during the decades old conflict several cases where journalists have been thrashed, beaten up, abused and harassed have been reported over the period of time.

Police on Khanyar episode

Today at 1100 Hrs, Police Station Khanyar received a call from Hotel Grand Mamta that an altercation has taken place at the hotel.
Accordingly a police party was deputed to the hotel, and it surfaced that a one woman (name withheld) and person namely Sameer Ahmed of Budgam had come to see some person. But the hotel receptions did not allow  them to meet the person .Meanwhile police party reached the spot and got all the persons to the police Station.
Subsequently it was learn the that the woman had come to meet an army officer. The identity and particulars of the army officer has been collected by the police as well.The officials were handed over to their unit after due recording their statements. The statement of woman is also being recorded for probing the matter.

J&k Govt Regulates Social Media activities of employees

News Kashmir Desk

In an order generating outrage , The JK government has added a sub-rule in the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees Conduct rules which states that no government employee shall engage in any criminal, dishonest, immoral or notoriously disgraceful conduct on social media which may be prejudicial to the government.

“They shall also not use their personal social media accounts for any political activity or endorse the posts or tweets or blogs of any political figure,” the rule states.

 

The employees shall also not use their accounts in a manner that could reasonably be construed to imply that the government endorses or sanctions their personal activities in any manner whatsoever, it said.

 

The order said that the employees shall also not post inflammatory, extraneous messages in an online community with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response.

Within no time Netizens in Kashmir have criticized the order as being draconian.