Father’s Wait…

For last nine years he is selling corns at a particular spot in Rajbagh hoping that someday his missing son might come back. Saima Bhat sums up an ordinary man’s extraordinary quest to find his beloved son

For Mohammad Akram Bader, 72, who sells corn roasted on the embers from July to November, and works as labourer for rest of the year, life seems to have come to a standstill in Srinagar’s posh Rajbagh area. He starts his day at 7 AM, by searching for wood on the shoals of Jhelum. Since last eight years Bader is a regular fixture in Rajbagh. Despite high-and-lows of his salesman life, Bader never moves outside Rajbagh. He cannot in fact. Reason? He sticks around hoping to come across his missing son someday.

On May 09, 2007, Bader and his son Maqsood Ahmad Bader, 24, both labourers, were about to start their day at a construction site of a local hotel in Rajbagh, when somebody shouted from outside about an accident.

A shopkeeper selling ice-creams had lifted his shop shutter and an electric wire got stuck in that shutter. He got electrocuted and died on the spot. The Bader father-son duo also rushed to the spot and later participated in his funeral.

“That time everything came to a standstill in Rajbagh. We knew him well. After the funeral me and Maqsood returned to our rented accommodation straight away,” recalls Bader.  “But Maqsood went out after some time.”

By evening when Maqsood didn’t return, Bader got worried, as his son was ‘partially’ deaf and had ‘poor’ eyesight. Originally from Kokernag’s Zalangam village, Bader went to his home town to find out if Maqsood was home. But he was not.

With the dusk of May 09, Bader’s struggle started and is continuing till date. As per the daily dairy of police station Rajbagh, Maqsood’s missing report is listed at number 14, dated May 25, 2007. Maqsood was added to the list of thousands of people missing in Kashmir since 1990.

During his almost decade long struggle to find his son Bader has never approached any organization or NGO working in Kashmir to find missing persons. “I prefer to search for my son myself,” says Bader who has visited almost every single police station and jail in J&K with his youngest son. “I visited Uri and Tangdhar areas hoping that post 2005 earthquake there was lot of reconstruction work going on in these areas and Maqsood might have taken a job there as labourer.”

Back in his hometown Zalangam, Bader says, “After Maqsood went missing Army started visiting our home. They used to come every day, enquire about him and search our home. To stop that mental torture as I had wife, three unmarried daughters and two young sons at home, one friend suggested me to report in newspapers that my son was not mentally fit and I did the same. Automatically Army searches at home stopped.”

In order to continue his search for Maqsood, Bader sold off 2 kanals of paddy land for just Rs 2 lakh. The land now costs Rs 12 lakh a kanal. “I am just left with one kanal of paddy land now,” says Bader.

Bader used the money to visit jails in New Delhi, Kolkata, Ranchi and other places in India. “I needed money to travel,” says Bader. “I swear, for five months I literally didn’t take off my shoes. I was continuously on my toes,” says Bader.

Bader frequently visited local MLA for help, but he consoles himself saying that ‘he was not in power then otherwise he would have helped me’.

He has also met then member of the parliament, Mehbooba Mufti, who promised him to raise his missing son’s issue in the assembly. “But nothing happened.”

The documents available at District Commissioner office, Islamabad, mention that Maqsood, who cannot hear or see properly, stands ‘missing’ since 2007. “FIR was filed by his father who reported to police that time that his son is not mentally fit,” said an official at district office Islamabad.

The officer also adds that during last coalition government, the local MLA, who was a minister then, had demanded a CID investigation into the case, but CID refused to carry it saying, “Maqsood is missing.”

Since then Bader sticks around Rajbagh selling roasted maize cobs every year, hoping that one day he will come across his missing son. “I am hoping for a miracle,” says Bader.

Besides earning Bader respect from traders in Parimpora Mandi for his struggle to find his missing son, they also go soft on him viz-a-viz payments for stocks etc.

Bader recalls how he and his family were preparing for Maqsood’s marriage when he went missing. “He was engaged recently. We were getting clothes made for his marriage,” says Bader as he breaks down. “He used to weave carpets during winters and work as labourer with me in summers. He was my companion. My partner. I miss him.”

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/24yeBnt
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Sarore Sorrow

The morning police raid on Gujjar hutments in Samba is not an isolated incident. Syed Asma talks to the community living under the fear of extremism in a highly politicised belt

A woman standing near her destroyed hutment.
Pic: Omar Asif

On February 21, 2016, a small Gujjar populated hutment in Sarore near Bari Bramhana Bridge, were shaken by cries of wailing women, children, and smouldering roofs. It was the second raid of the day.

The first one happened in the wee hours of the morning when J&K police along with cops from Himachal raided the hutment, housing some 30 odd Gujjar families, to nab a wanted dacoit.  After searching for hours police failed to find the wanted man. During the search operation, some police men and youngsters from Gujjar community engaged in a tiff. The spat turned violent leaving a number of policemen and Gujjar’s injured. “We were expecting reaction from the police but not as violent,” says an elderly Gujjar who refused to give his name.

Disturbed by the news of police raid on Sarore, Mohammed Yaqoob, 25, set out on foot from nearby Vijaypur – another Gujjar hutment in Hindu majority Samba district – to check on his family. Yakoob’s wife and his two sons (10 and 8 years old) and daughter (3), were at their maternal home in Sarore.

Yakoob reached Sarore in the morning, just before the second raid. “Everything was normal. We were busy feeding our cattle,” says the elderly Gujjar.

All of a sudden, a large contingent of police, accompanied by a few civilians, raided the Sarore hutment. “The men in civvies with police were RSS men,” says Hamid, one of the survivors.

Without warning, both policemen and RSS goons started setting our hutments on fire and beating whosoever came into their way including women and children, says Hamid.

When youngsters from Gujjar community tried to stop them, police opened fire killing Yaqoob and injuring many others including a 15-year-old Farhan Ali. “Farhan is battling for his life right now,” informs Hamid.

There might be a few miscreants in the community, says Bashir, as is case with every other community, but does that give police right to bring RSS goons along and kill our men?

When the police and RSS men left, 20 out of 30 hutments were turned into ashes.

When contacted, DC Samba, Sheetal Nanda and Mubarak Singh, Vice Chairman, Jammu Development Authority (JDA), refused to share information regarding Sarore incident.

“Killing is an incident which happens. We have offered a compensation and an enquiry has been ordered with a deadline of 15 days. Let’s see what comes out,” says Nanda.

While JDA’s Singh termed the incident as, “simple law and order problem which has nothing to with JDA.”

The Gujjar community is living in the area since 1960s, says Nizamud-din Khatana, former PDP MLC. The hutment was spread over an area of 60 kanals till 1971. That year refugees from West Pakistan arrived and were settled in Sarore as well. “To avoid clashes between Gujjars and West Pakistani refugees, government divided the land equally in 1977,” says Khatana. “So it was government’s decision to settle Gujjars in Surore.”

Mian Altaf, former NC Minister and MLA, remembers no such controversy ever arising regarding Gujjar’s living in Surore. “There was no issue of eviction until recently,” says Altaf, “And even if they wanted to evict them from Surore, JDA should have shot them notices, and given them time as per law. But killing and setting their huts on fire is not justified.”

But the Sarore incident is not an isolated one, there were numerous incidents where minority Muslims from Jammu belt were harassed by RSS and BJP men, alleges Hamid.

“It is done under the patronage of former BJP MLA Chandra Prakash Ganga,” alleges Talib Hussain, a Gujjar and a rights activist of his community.

Before 2014 assembly elections, Hussain alleges that Ganga had warned Muslims of Sarore and Vijaypur of bitter consequences once he is elected.

“Once I am elected, I assure my men (RSS) that Muslims in Sarore and Vijapur will be evicted, come what may,” Hussain remembers Ganga saying before the elections.

Interestingly Sarore killing is the fifth such incident since PDP-BJP collation came to power in J&K. The first one was when RSS men beat Gujjar labourers in Manohar Gopala, and Paramandal while working at a stone crusher.

Recently RSS men forcefully tried to convert an ancient graveyard in Bassi into an Akhada.

In Raya Moud, RSS men created ruckus when a dead animal was found in the area. They alleged Gujjar’s of killing a cow. Local administration had to order an enquiry when RSS men started hunting Gujjar’s. The situation cooled only after it was proved that the animal was not a cow.

Interestingly, Ashiq Hussain Khan, a Gujjar leader representing PDP blames “provocative” statements of Kashmir Muslims for their plight. “We (Gujjar’s) have no representation in the state government, that is why we are facing the wrath of Hindu majority,” says Khan.

Khan feels there should be balance in administration to safeguard interests and assets of the minorities in Hindu dominated Jammu belt. “There should be one member from every community at least in such communally sensitive areas,” feels Khan.

Meanwhile Yaqoob’s orphans are struggling to survive without a roof over their heads.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1RhOiIA
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

For Its Love

He uses flip-flops instead of pads on his hands to practice Taekwondo. The winner of 15 gold medals Danish Manzoor manages to stay relevant in an indifferent system. Shakir Mir reports

He is the only young participant from J&K state to have fared fourth in all India level Taekwondo tournament. He is recipient of 15 gold medals. Having witnessed a mercurial rise during the 5-years of his illustrious career, 19-year-old Danish Manzoor now finds himself at the receiving end of J&K State Sports Council (SSC), or so he says.

Hailing from the north Kashmir town of Baramulla, Danish was a school student when Taekwondo piqued interest in him. Like many other sports enthusiasts of his age, he too signed up with the district association under the tutelage of Ashfaq Ahmad Wani, his coach, whom he holds in great admiration.

In a matter of days, Wani discovered an “extra-ordinary” zeal in him. Soon Danish began outperforming his peers at training sessions. The tremendous efforts he invested impressed his coach so much that he would assign separate timings for him. “He was so kind to me during practice that it is hard to tell if he is a teacher or a friend,” Danish says.

Ever since he was first fielded in 2011 in the Taekwondo tournaments, Danish had no looking back. Until now! In 2011, he participated in State-level Federation Games where he bagged gold and so he did, once again, in the same year when north India national was held in Srinagar.

He had participated under 45 kg category. A year later, in 2012, State games kicked off again but unfortunately, this time, Danish couldn’t compete owning to muscle pull and calf muscle injury.

In 2013, hard work ushered him into what he calls his “golden era”. In a meteoric ascent, he became a serial gold medalist bagging laurels in tournaments like Open Kashmir, Gulmarg Cup, State games and District Gold. Despite rudimentary training, he took part in all India national games held in Pondicherry and qualified 4th becoming the first Kashmiri ever to achieve the feat.

In 2014, he qualified the trials for School Games Federation of India, but nationals eluded him as his exams were imminent. Same year, he became Open Kashmir Gold medalist once again but later had to concede defeat in the national games owning to lack of stamina. In his district, he has been five times gold medalist since 2012. State-wise he has been 4 times gold medalist throughout 2013 – when he won twice – 2014 and 2015.

“To develop stamina I was supposed to have the government support,” he says.

Danish practiced at Baramulla Taekwondo Academy at Rangwara. Realizing his sheer conviction, his coach Ashfaq would train him assiduously, often at the expense of his own brother, who too is a Taekwondo enthusiast.

“Whenever my coach got a whiff that any tournament was taking place, I was his first preference,” Danish says.

In years that followed, he practiced with perseverance even though he was severely short of equipments.  “I used to wear flip-flops on my hands instead of the pads that I was supposed to,” he says. In absence of requisite body gear, Danish and his colleagues had really tough time to go through.

When he went to the concerned authorities with the request for Taekwondo mats, they told him that they had already provided some in 1992. “We said to them,” he recalls in retrospect, “we weren’t even born in 1992. Where are we going to find those mats today?”

In 2010, he says, Srinagar was provided Judo and Taekwondo mats. “No mats were send to Baramulla,” he says. “Our district association has been helpful to us but assistance from SSC has been thus far unforthcoming.”

Danish sees this scenario resulting in a “massive loss” in terms of young talent.  “People abandon this field because they don’t see future there,” he says.

When Kashmir Life contacted Secretary State Sports Council Javed Shah, he washed his hands off the issue saying that it was duty of the respective associations to furnish the equipments. “We have been funding them,” he says. “Besides, lots of our equipments were damaged during floods last year.”

Expressing pity at “wastage of talent” in Kashmir, a Delhi-based Taekwondo coach Anurag Kapoor had once advised Danish to compete from their state. “They saw that lack of opportunities and infrastructure had been taking toll on my ambitions,” he says, lowering his head in disbelief.

Training in absence of proper infrastructure did not come without costs. When Danish participated in all India nationals, he would often skid on the friction less mats as a result of which his score diminished. Having practiced all these years on the rough surface; his endurance failed him when he played matches on the state-of-the-art mats put to use at the tournament.

Despite the short-coming, he fared fourth. “Anurag sir wondered why I hadn’t practiced at home,” he says. “It was difficult for me to explain to him how we lacked in terms of infrastructure.”

“My footwork was not good. My soles had become stiff which is why I couldn’t linger on those mats for longer,” he says.

Danish believes that if J&K qualifies for SAI, the state will get renowned international coaches to train the players. “When they will impart training, it will enhance our skills,” he says. “If we got to know about game plan of Korea, imagine where we would reach?” he asks. “We are currently following the regional game plan.”

He says that when players in Kashmir would be taught right techniques, right application of footwork, counters and kicks, nobody can stop them from qualifying for international tournaments.

Another issue nagging them is the question of sponsorship. “Currently playing for a national tournament costs us up to Rs 15,000,” he says.

In face of unforthcoming government assistance, Danish and his ilk are literally forced to beg their families. “Every time our family is not going to be in financially stable condition,” he says.

“There are ebbs and flows,” he says.  In other states, when players qualify the state level games, they are sponsored to excel further for playing at national level. Why aren’t players from this state sponsored for nationals?”

When they approached State Sports Council for help, they were let down. “They would say their department was not linked to it,” he says.

However, Shah dismisses this allegation in short order. “We don’t sponsor,” he says. “There are advertisements which come in newspaper. They have a screening committee which examines the candidates and passes them on the basis of merit.”

In Kashmir, he alleges, that there is apparently more priority to Wushu – a form of martial arts – which is not recognized by the Olympic Federation while as for Taekwondo which is, government has been exhibiting inattention.

Danish also claims that Kashmir did not have coaches from Sports Authority of India or SAI. “Jammu has them but we don’t.”

He laments the alleged ineptitude on part of government to send coaches to National Institute of Sports so that they come out as “good” coaches. “It would have ensured that we get the quality training,” he says.

“It could have translated into players from Kashmir getting qualified for the SAI.”

What does the SSC do then? If players like Danish are to be believed, SSC has misplaced priorities – a charge it vehemently denies. “That’s wrong,” Shah says. “We recently signed a MoU with the SAI and currently we are having two centers in Jammu and Srinagar where specialized training is being imparted to players,” he says. Shah refuted allegations that it was prioritizing other games over Taekwondo. “For every game we pay equitable attention.”

Apparently, the one is Jammu is a fulltime operational Centre while Srinagar’s is part time operational. Asked if Taekwondo training is also imparted in those centers, Shah says: “We are planning to introduce it.”

“Enormous coverage is lent when Cricket leagues are played,” Danish says. “Many of these leagues are not even authorized. They are not linked to the BCCI or J&K Cricket Council etc. Still every people are ready to sponsor it.”

Danish says that Kashmir has better Taekwondo coaches but what it miserably lacks awareness and infrastructure. “We also have dream to go for Olympics,” he says. If only the assistance could come, we may as well realize them.”

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1oLf5Ga
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Personality

P Chidambaram

The dhoti-loving Tamil whose English isolated him from the crowd is once again proving — as why he was the most “upright” minister in Dr Manmohan Singh’s camp. His latest take on Afzal Guru only recreated his 2010 summer speech delivered in parliament, wherein he stressed that it was important to “win the hearts and minds” of Kashmiris.

But lately in Srinagar apart from Delhi, P Chidambaram managed to stir up a new commotion with his remarks. But that’s another part of the story that he made it amply clear that some views are called individualistic. But in a mad rush, even his party, Congress, reacted fiercely, distancing themselves from his remarks—that there were “grave doubts” about the extent of Afzal’s involvement in the Parliament attack.

Before his latest came, the prominent Tamil had managed to stir up hornet’s nest in India’s “temple of democracy”. In summer 2010, when forces were piling up bodies across Kashmir, Chidambaram as union Home Minister rose to speak in Rajya Sabha and stressed that it was important to win the hearts and minds of Kashmiris.

While stating that JK had acceded to India in “unique circumstances”—and that the state has a “unique problem” and requires a “unique solution”, he said that Delhi was keen on fulfilling its promises, including on the controversial AFSPA and reduction of forces footprints in the state.

Palaniappan Chidambaram was a corporate lawyer before becoming an important member of the last Congress-led Union government. He has been the Finance Minister since May 2004, except for a three and a half year stint – beginning November 2008 – as Home Minister, in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. In April 2009, he was assaulted by a Sikh journalist, Jarnail Singh, during a press conference in Delhi on the issue of a “clean chit” to Jagdish Tytler – who was one of the accused in 1984 Sikh riots. Chidambaram returned as Finance Minister in July 2012, succeeding Pranab Mukherjee, who demitted office to become the President of India.

But moments after his remarks, BJP’s Subramanian Swamy termed it a “foolish” statement besides a pointer of Congress’ “completely collapsed” moral authority. In Kashmir, however, the mood was mixed. The dominant obviously was: wasn’t Chidambaram HM when Afzal Guru’s mercy plea was rejected by the previous UPA government in 2011?

Chidambaram’s latest seems to have only made his own wish expressed during that summer speech ‘doubtful’: I hope Kashmiris would again say that their destiny lies with India and want to be part of India.

– Riyaz Ul Khaliq

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1VO3eBU
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Kashmir’s Nagpur?

Unlike journalism, RTI has empowered people to the extent they wish to be. A Srinagar politician close to Ghulam Nabi Azad keen to know what happens to the costly space around started using RTI to understand trends. One RTI, he says, helped him trace Nagpur in Srinagar, reports Bilal Handoo

Gulsher Khan with Congress’ top state leadership.

Toward  the fag-end of 2015, when “source-based”, “insider-quoted”, “unconfirmed” reports appearing in Jammu newspapers claimed that RSS’s nerve centre is coming up in Srinagar, perhaps not many heads were turned around. By then, however, an activist from Srinagar’s Jawahar Nagar had spotted “something shady” in Rajbagh. After exhaustive exercise, the man now believes RSS has a “grand” address in Srinagar.

But a year before the revelation, the flood-ravaged Rajbagh had begun throwing surprises. Amid reconstruction boom, the activist noticed cropping up of new, unusual structures in the area. Being an RTI activist, probing came naturally to him. Among the buildings, a brick-colour building near a paramilitary camp intrigued him the most. He began fact-finding. A year later, he concluded his fact-finding mission and feels vindicated.

The RTI activist who goes by the name of Sherzod Khan, originally Gulsher Khan, is a self-confessed Ghulam Nabi Azad follower. As a student activist, Sherzod once sat on hunger strike for days in Amar Singh College to revoke the circular declaring most of his mates failed in one subject. “While everyone was declared pass, I was failed,” Sherzod claims. With the result, he never had his graduation completed.

After giving up studies, he began running gym in his locality, where he also imparted martial arts training to boys. Then, he was a branded ‘angry young man’, who would never desist taking cudgels with the ‘powerful’. For many unionists in the area, this daring son of a middle class family was an apt political substance. Shortly, Congress’s Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed baptised him into politics by arranging his meeting with Ghulam Nabi Azad—then JK Congress boss.

It was 2005 and on Congress’s ticket, Sherzod contested Municipal elections from Srinagar’s Ikhrajpora. He lost. And shortly his opponent fell to ‘mysterious bullets’, forcing him to flee home to  a camp in Jammu for four months.

Once back, Sherzod focussed more on his contracting job than politics. But perhaps, the 40-year-old man knew his talents lie somewhere else. The deadlock finally ended months before the 2014 floods would render him homeless, like thousands.

He jumped into activism arena with a belief to unearth a scam of illegal construction boom in Srinagar. “Honesty speaking,” says Sherzod, a father of two sons, “Srinagar is an orphaned city, where everyone calls shots, makes fortune and ends messing it up. None seems to give a damn about its welfare.” When the thought made him restless, he donned robes of an activist.

To begin with, he filed an RTI, seeking information why plum posts are merely being enjoyed by a certain blue-eyed officials? The reply sought by him was bound to upset many on hot seats. The cause shortly had its consequences when unknown numbers began buzzing him up, even during midnights, threatening him to back off. But before something could come up, floods struck valley—making mess of everything.

Then came flood relief along with compensation cheques. Sherzod was too sharp to detect discrepancies in the whole process. “When I saw even influential men from Jawahar Nagar whose houses were partially damaged lined up to receive cheques worth Rs 75,000—meant for full damage house,” he says, “I could foresee the whole game plan was fixed.”

His home was still flood-soaked when he filed  an  RTI, seeking names of those who availed Rs 75,000 cheques in Jawahar Nagar. The smooth reply meant humiliation to some known names—some of whom were big bosses in state administration. 100 days passed, but no reply came. When it finally came, Sherzod found the data confused. He could feel both red-herring and red-tapism involved in the whole procedure. While scanning the data under candle lights, he zeroed in on the names of top bureaucrats whose houses were partially damaged—yet had claimed Rs 75,000. “Everyone was involved in flood relief racket,” he says, “from DC to small patwari.”

But perhaps his best was yet to come. And when finally it came, it gave him sleepless nights.

While keeping a ‘hawkish’ eye on the reconstruction boom in his belt, a building in Rajbagh caught his attention. He had never seen the building on the spot before the floods. He went for the spot inspection, and instantly sensed something unusual. “When I entered the premises, I was told, ‘leave immediately’,” Sherzod recalls. “When I persisted and asked the men there, ‘whose building is this and what is it all about?’—as it didn’t appear a normal structure to me.” After being shown the door, Sherzod stepped out as a suspected man, sensing: the building is an obvious departure from the usual.

The next thing he did was filing an RTI in Nazool section of Divisional Commissioner’s office—where the body language of officials left nothing for his imaginations. “When I mentioned the structure, its location and questioned its existence, the official became alert,” Sherzod says. “They began talking to each other in a coded language—‘acha, so he has come to seek details of that structure’.”

Later one of his friends in Nazool section briefed him about “that structure”. “Why are you playing with fire,” Sherzod claims his friend told him. “The structure you are inquiring about is no ordinary structure; it is RSS’s Srinagar office.” Instead of feeling discouraged, the revelation only pumped up the activist to unearth the truth behind the three-storey building.

But reply to his RTI took its own time. When it finally arrived, it revealed some bitter facts: the permission for constructing structure on “government land” was granted through Order No. 1470 of 2015, Dated: 28/10/2015. The permission was issued in favour of Ish Kumar Mehta, s/o RC Mehta through Himat Mehta and Dushaan Mehta, s/o Jagdish Kumar Mehta of Rajbagh. The final order came from Srinagar Municipal Commissioner’s office—the competent authority for building permission.

“It was one of the many structures cropping up in an influential neighbourhood of Srinagar,” Sherzod says. “Amid city’s construction boom, you never know, what is that next structure coming up in your neighbourhood all about.” Among many other things, the RTI reveals that the structure is meant for a Praying Hall—“something very characteristic to RSS”.

Gulsher Khan

Till now, perhaps, everybody was caught in classical Hamlet Trap about RSS’s Kashmir presence: to be, or not to be. But last December, reports said that RSS was all set to start its operations in Kashmir with its office at posh Rajbagh locality. The news reports sounded a ‘run of a mill’ type at that point of time—until Sherzod claimed his “discovery”.

But Kashmir forays of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)—the Hindu nationalist party, appears resurgent than recent.

Founded by a Nagpur doctor in 1925, RSS has been mobilising public opinion against the blitz of “Islamic imperialism” in “Hindu” Kashmir. In 1940s, RSS’s first Shakha came up in Jammu with Prem Nath Dogra its first Sanghchalak. By 1944, Prof Balraj Madhok started a Shakha in Srinagar and shortly then RSS chief MS Golwalkar visited Srinagar to address a public rally. Later on Oct 18, 1947, Golwalkar was face to face with Maharaja Hari Singh “convincing” him for JK’s accession to India. In November that year, RSS formed Praja Parishad party in Jammu under Prem Nath Dogra’s leadership.

By January 30, 1948, when Nathu Ram Godse, an RSS man assassinated MK Gandhi, Sangh launched its political arm, Bhartiya Jana Sangh (which later became Bhartiya Janata Party) to attack Nehruvian politics in Kashmir. For RSS, even Sheikh Abdullah was no holy cow—as his Kashmiri nationalism call was always linked with “Islamic imperialism”.

1953 was RSS’s watershed year in JK. That year, the party spearheaded Praja Parishad agitation against JK’s special status under Article 370.

In between, entered Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, defying JK’s permit system only to land up in jail on May 11, 1953—where he died, a month later. Later RSS created fierce public opinion against “anti national” NC, thus accelerating Abdullah’s ouster. It remained active but 2008 proved its landmark year in Jammu when it worked on Amarnath land row.

By 2014 fall, RSS restarted its Kashmir operations when some of its pracharaks participated in flood relief works. And now, RSS-backed Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) is planning to host a mega convention at Srinagar in coming May.

Unconcerned about follow-up, Sherzod is busy hawking around Srinagar—doing what he has tasked himself to do: to check the sloth. But the activist is candid enough to admit that things wouldn’t have been the same for him, had there been no RTI. “My political affiliation apart,” he says, “but I firmly believe that RTI is an empowering weapon of the weak.”

These days, Sherzod is busy probing Gupkar, Kashmir’s ‘power street’. He says the biggest shady deals happen around the power corridors because only powerful know how to use the system to make big bucks. Wait for new revelations.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1neKGyU
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Incandescent Incubator

Concerns mounted as militants stormed the EDI’s Pampore complex initiating a 48-hour  long gun-battle that consumed five security men, a civilian and three militants. Damage to the landmark complex brought state’s entrepreneurial incubator into sharp public focus. Masood Hussain profiles the rise of J&K government’s youngest organization manned by Gen Next which is being seen as the new engine for change given the successes it has created in short span of its existence

The raging gun battle was still on and telecast live into the living rooms from Pampore for the past 48 hours. Army was unable to figure out if any of militant trio holed-up in the 5-story J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) was neutralized.

A tense Dr M I Parray, Director EDI, who had flown from Jammu on Sunday morning and was with his son in Ganderbal, gets a telephone call: “Sir, we may have to get in (in EDI) because we cannot leave everything unguarded.” For Parray, it was shocking, impossible and impractical, a literal indecent proposal.

But Maqbool, the person on the line insisted. One of EDI’s ‘restless’ workers, Maqbool was perhaps the last person rescued by cops with 117 others Saturday evening. After spending a night with his family in Tral, he rushed to Srinagar. “We have one building involved in the encounter but we have two others,” Maqbool explained, “cops and soldiers have their duty but we have ours.”

For the next two hours, Dr Parray, father of an IPS officer, had to convince the cops that they will have to help him get two of his employees into the premises. By 3 PM, on Monday, Maqbool and Aadil reported to Pantha Chowk police station and a BP jeep drove them in, amid blasts and blaze. “Half an hour after, we checked into our hostel the encounter was formally over as the three corpses were dropped down by the soldiers,” Maqbool said.

In a huge army of soldiers and cops ubiquitous in the EDI premises, next morning, Maqbool and Aadil were part of a cheering emotional crowd. They first brought a few gallons of water and cleaned the blood-drenched spot where Abdul Gani Mir, EDI gardener, fell to the bullets. His daughter is being appointed in EDI as his colleagues are contributing a day’s salary for the family. Deafening bangs were still on as littered explosives were being detected and blasted. But Team EDI was surrounding Parray in the rare side of the hotel busy in a new brainstorming. Without high-end projectors and LCD screens, electricity and even chairs, the item on table was: how soon can we resume routine?

Once the soldiers’ handover the premises, insurer completes the survey, every item from chairs to computers, that is worth the use should be shifted and the EDI must resume its routine by Saturday morning. Three days, the Team EDI decided, are enough to resume the show. Within next 24 hours, 20-hostel rooms were ready and by Friday evening, more than 160 potential entrepreneurs, currently under training, were communicated that their training resumes on Monday.

“This smoldering building, these mangled air-conditioners, computers and the concrete walls that rockets barely pierced through is not the EDI,” Parray, EDI’s only old man, told his team in a bid to bolster their morale. “You are the institution and that was just the building you operated from.”

That is how the youngest organization manned by the youngest lot of J&K government “employees” work. This distinction makes EDI a game-changer in an area J&K rarely attempted before – helping youngsters to choose their own destiny far away from the government in areas of manufacturing, and enterprise. That partly explains why the phones started ringing in concern minutes after the gun-battle started in EDI.

J&K EDI employees washing off blood stains a day after encounter ended.

Established in March 1997 as a society, J&K government mandated it to develop entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial culture in the state. It started its activities only in February 2004 when the government appointed a historian Dr Parray as its Director. As a faculty in the IMPARD (Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development), the 13-member governing body led by Chief Secretary allotted him a few rooms in IMPARD’s M A Road premises to start with.

With the commercial banks operating in J&K contributing from their earnings to offer EDI to start with, it initiated with Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs). It first intervened in commercial floriculture and  established 46 floriculture green houses for growing Lillium and carnations besides encouraging nearly 39 growers in aromatic plants like clarysage, lavender and matricaria on 1140 kanals of land.

During its amorphous years, EDI’s real success was to create institutional linkage with bigger players in the mainland. While Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) Ahmedabad helped it to understand how entrepreneurship works, its linkage with Central Leather Institute (CLRI) Chennai, National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM) Jaipur, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) Delhi, Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) Mumbai, TMI Academy of Travel, Tourism and Aviation Studies Delhi, Imperial Agritech Delhi, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad and other trade bodies helped it understand the market, the grey areas, potential and the policy framework in vogue.

After the government allotted it a piece of land, it created its own address, now spread 60-kanals. This premises witnessed the worst gun-battle of 2016, last week. Three militants after attacking a CRPF bus killed two of them and left many injured. Later, they took position in the EDI and killed army’s three elite commands before they were neutralized after around 48-hours.

The landmark five-level concrete monster that proved a real headache during last week’s operation actually introduced the EDI across Kashmir. With nearly 55000 sq ft area, it witnessed housewarming in 2009. Constructed by J&K’s Police Housing Corporation at a cost of Rs 17 crore, it is one of the low-cost state properties built at least per sq ft investment. It must be Kashmir’s only official building that lacked any cost or time overruns.

Former Union Minister, Jai Ram Ramesh, with J&K EDI trained youth.

On Wednesday when Team EDI was permitted for the first time into the premises, it was still smoldering. Almost carpeted with broken glass, not a single item housed in top two levels had survived. The real destruction was in its attic housing the cafeteria and the top floor. “We may have to opt for certain tests to understand the strength of the slabs,” a senior engineer from state’s PWD, mandated to report the government said. “There was blasting and a lot of blaze and it might have impacted the structure.”

To neutralize the holed-up militant trio, army had to get a wheeled canon to bore a hole from the rare. With drones flying overhead to locate them in nearly 20,000 sq ft space, army commandos had to create passage for projectiles to land.

But EDI is not the building but its output. The boost to the EDI was when the NC-Congress government conceived SKEWPY (Sher-e-Kashmir Employment, and Welfare Programme for Youth) with Seed Capital Fund Scheme (SCFS) as its major component. Policy makers believed that youth were unable to get attracted towards entrepreneurship because they are not bankable. SCFS offered them seed money up to Rs 7.50 lakh to enable them access bank loans at slightly concessional rates for setting up enterprises. This is a sort of one-time grant in lieu of an undertaking by individuals that they will not seek a job. If they manage a job in government, they return this amount with 18 percent compound interest. A few cases availed this option.

But the money does not drip in their accounts instantly. Post registration, EDI trains them in areas of their interest, and once their mentors are convinced the candidate has the conviction to deliver, the DPR is framed, his case is negotiated with the bank – J&K Bank is the only financial institution that is banking the scheme, and eventually the unit sets up. The exercise follows once the high power Steering Committee approves the idea.

The scheme was an instant hit. Against 6314 cases approved by the Steering Committee between 2010-11 and January 2016, 4768 enterprises involving 4943 youth were set up. These enterprises have resulted in an investment of Rs 465 crore of which Rs 162.75 crore (35%) is the free money. As per the  EDI’s in-house survey carried out in 2015 summer when 3227 units were physically visited, 76.41% were functional. Districts of Kargil and Samba had 100% success and the lowest was seen in Budgam (63%).

Two years later, EDI came up with Youth Startup Loan Scheme (YSLS) in 2012-13. This off-bank credit facility works slightly different from the Venture Capital Fund (VCF). With most of the processes same, it differs with SCFS only on the resource front. Instead of free money, YSLS offers a loan to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh for startups at only six percent of simple interest and that can cover up to 90% of the project cost.

“We believe this is a better one,” insiders in EDI said. “It has better acceptability than the SCFS.”

Performance has been impressive. Against a target of 850 enterprises in four years ending 2015-16, EDI has set up 672 units involving credit off take of Rs 39.45 crore. All these units have led to around 2000 job creations. The 2015 survey found 289 units functional making a success of 76.86%. Unlike SCFS, Kishtwar, Ganderbal, Leh and Poonch reported 100% success and the lowest success rate was seen in Srinagar (39%).

In fiscal 2012, EDI inked an agreement with National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) to implement its twin loan schemes. Under one scheme, it provides term loans from Rs 3 to 10 lakhs to marginalized sections at 6% simple interest for setting up micro enterprises. Besides, educational loans at 3% simple interest are given.

Bracing up: EDI team holding a meeting in open post encounter

EDI’s this basket has grown phenomenally in last four years. It has lent Rs 43.71 crore to 1654 individuals under the term loan scheme. Besides, 76 candidates got a loan of Rs 2 crore to pursue higher education.

The survey found 62.3% units operational in 2015 summer. Kathua, Kargil and Ramban districts have the highest success rate (100%) and the lowest-success districts included Jammu (31%) and Kupwara (45.45%). EDI insiders said since the scheme lacks capacity building component, beneficiaries use the loan for other purposes out of ignorance. But this has not impacted the recoveries which stand at 92%, second highest after Kerala.

It was purely its engagement with the NMDFC that EDI was so keen to get a license as a non-banking financial organization. It is running a huge recovery network to ensure the indebtedness of the individuals does not impact the scheme or the institute. Given its track record, the state government recently authorized it to lend Rs 100 crore more from NMDFC.

After it was associated with Union Rural Development Ministry’s Skills Empowerment and Employability (SEE), usually called Himayat, EDI dovetailed it with the products it already has. “We see the potential individuals having capacity to deliver and help them get the funds from term loan scheme and it is a good experience,” one officer said. So far 401 units were set up under this set up and all are operational.

The initiative envisages creation of 15,000 microenterprises involving 30,000 youth across the state in next four years with access to finance and support services to at least half of them.

But EDI’s activity does not end with the start of the unit. Trainers and managers at the institute and at districts stay in touch with the entrepreneurs and continue handhold whenever required. All its successful entrepreneurs become its role models to attract the new talent and later become visiting faculty.

All these schemes implemented across all districts have introduced a new generation of enterprises, some of whom are a huge rags to riches stories now. Covering a huge diversity of the activity – from manufacturing to restaurants, these entrepreneurs have started changing the ground zero.

Leh’s Kaniz Fatima was doing fairly well in Indian fashion industry. She left her job and availed EDI scheme to create her new identity. Her boutique is one fashion destination in the desert town frequented by foreigners.

In old Srinagar, Shaheena was struggling to lend support to her parents but lacked a cushion. After EDI came into scene, she is a millionaire already.

Fleeing for life: Civilian on run as militants rushed inside EDI building after they attacked CRPF convey.

Post migration when Jitender Kumar failed to settle even after being adequately educated, EDI helped him to create Muthi’s most modern diagnostic centre and earn honourably.

Jammu’s Rachna Dubey was facing an existential threat and her kids were about to lose their admission for want of tuition fees. EDI guided her to improve her husband’s bakery business and create a brand people now cherish.

Seemingly, EDI has one of the highest success rates in India and perhaps beyond. Usually start-ups across sectors have the least success rate. But J&K’s massive over-dependence on imports is an advantage that developed and fast developing markets lack.

It was perhaps for this very reason that Telangana government flew its officials to Srinagar for a week to understand the basics of how an EDI should run. EDI faculty had refused to fly out for the lack of time paving way for Telengana officials to come here. “They were impressed by the way we work,” Parray said. “But they were more concerned about the quantity (numbers) than the quality of the enterprises they intended to create.”

For the same reason South Block suggested Kabul to fly its faculty to Srinagar and get a crash course in how the youth can be encouraged to the path of growth, dignity and self-sufficiency. “We had one meeting with them but we have not signed a formal MoU which we are supposed to,” Parray said.

While the word of mouth has been a key factor responsible for attracting the youth towards the EDI, its success in triggering a change has a set of reasons that planners identified, analyzed and put to use. It worked successfully only after the policymakers made individuals bankable.

Firstly, this institution started thinking in terms of having high rate of educated unemployment as a resource and not a problem.

Secondly, it saw opportunities in massive dependence and not the gloom. Gradually, it identified areas which can turnaround using the locally available raw material for local consumption. It triggered the import substitution change that fundamentally altered demand-supply chain in poultry.

Thirdly, unlike traditional negativity that greets visitors in offices, EDI managers not only respond positively but trusted the suggestions with which the individuals came. They trusted an engineer keen to intervene mechanically in the stone mining. Once it was set up, the unit did not prove a success story only but resulted in perhaps the first historic intervention in the stone-chiseling.

Fourthly, this is perhaps the only organization where possibility of corruption is zero. A series of systems are in place in such a way that room for corruption is elbowed out.

Finally, the entrepreneurs are always being monitored and bailed out if they land in bad patches. This creates a sort of partnership.

Watching this sort of systems around, one of its employees quit the job and became an entrepreneur.

But the 200-odd men and women who are behind this biggest success story in J&K are a different breed. They work six days a week from 10 to 5 PM. Unlike 51 holidays that state government employee avail in a year, EDI has only 16 holidays and two restricted holidays. Recently 12 more, mostly restricted to Jammu, were added.  They have only 10 days of casual leave in a year, five sick leaves and one earned leave a month as a literal corporate sector policy on leaves is in vogue. EDI has been the first address in the state for biometric attendance where late-comers take less-salary home. In all these years, eight employees were fired for non-performance, which is rare in itself.

For staying as a model, EDI has to work more to prove it is different. It is working towards self sufficiency to reduce its dependence on government.

It has a huge infrastructure. Vitasta, its 13-room guest house was set up in 2001 for Rs 3 crore. In the smoldering building, EDI had south Kashmir’s best conference hall. Far from the city crowd on the banks of Jhelum, this hall was the main battle ground. It was also housing a cafeteria in its attic.

Over the years when it would not require the facility, it will permit others to use this facility. This has helped EDI earn Rs 7.40 crore so far.

Post Encounter: An inside view of top floor where encounter concluded.

At one point of time, the EDI would outsource DPR drafting. Now its five-member in-house team earns five times more than their take-home package.

“The revenue we generate goes back to the creation of new infrastructure,” Parray said. “We are not tasked to earn, but to stay as a model we must survive by example and reduce the burden on the government that owns us.” Waiting for the insurance claim, EDI has not sought any funds for rebuilding the infrastructure that was lost in the attack. It has only sought permission to go ahead!

All these factors have created a profile of the organization making EDI a major address on entrepreneurial front. Over the years it has created a constantly-upgraded faculty which is the key reason why central government prefers it for most of the trainings. To utilize its academic capacity properly, the institution is in the process of setting up a school for Entrepreneurship Studies. Already, a Technology, Design, Innovation Incubation Program (TDIIP) has been initiated on pilot basis. In collaboration with the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), the Centre for Incubation and Business Acceleration (CIBA) is being set up by EDI from its own earnings.

But the organization that has been expanding quite fast in last 10 years may have to first consolidate its gains. Many think, the management should start grooming new leaders. EDI will have to make extra effort to retain the talent that it grooms within the organization and emerge as the one-stop think tank on entrepreneurship in J&K. It must also skip the areas in which it is yet to evolve experise as was the case witht its handicraft related interventions.

Though EDI is one of the earliest government organizations that embraced the modern tools of surveillance and accountability, it still failed in offering any help when three militants barged in. While the army is investigating the killing of its three commandos in the operation, the EDI may eventually have to take its security angle as seriously as its credibility.

For institutions which are at the core of public life, sometimes divine interventions are strangely impressive. After the encounter was over Syed Salahuddin, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s Muzaffarabad based chief announced a reward for the slain Lashkar trio. Perhaps not knowing that Mueed, his son, part of EDI’s IT section, singularly managed saving the crucial hard disk containing vital records. He suffered a fracture during the process.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/21yxfwB
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Agri Land Conversion Increasing at Alarming Rate in Tangmarg Areas

Shafat Magray

TANGMARG

The conversion of agricultural land for commercial purposes is increasing day-by-day at an alarming rate in North Kashmir’s Baramulla areas.

At a time when the National Food Security Act has been implemented in state, the rice fields in Kashmir are diminishing by transformation of Agriculture land for the construction of Hotels, Shopping Malls and Residential houses, which is unabated in Tangmarg, locals said.

Gowhar Ahmad, a student of Environmental Science said, “we are an agrarian society, so we need to put curbs on such a persistent practice.” “A threat is looming large as Kashmir shall be sans staple food in near future if the practice continues.”

Tangmarg lies on way to tourist rich Gulmarg. Scores of showrooms, malls and shops have come up on either side of the road leading to Gulmarg. Due to the high economic activity, the land conversion has seen a mass increase.

“The quantity of rice import has already been intense pressure as the subsidized rates are under cut,” a scholar from Tangmarg area said, “government needs to implement High Court orders in letter and spirit and stop people from converting agri land for commercial purposes.”

In sub-district Tangmarg where most of productive land has been converted to residential areas, people allege that the officials are “hand-in-glove” with those involved in such a practice. “The officials have given permission to the people to build the roads through the agriculture land which has also led to increase in conversion” said Manzoor Ahmad, a local resident.

“It needs strict implementation of laws against those found guilty,” he said.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1VNZws8
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Dead Body Recovered in Pulwama

Sheikh Hilal

PULWAMA

J&K Police Tuesday morning recovered a male dead body in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Police sources said that the dead body was identified as that of Javid Ahmad Lone (37). He was resident of Awantipora and his body was lying in open fields at Charsoo area of Awantipora.

Cops have registered a case and started investigation.

It was not immediately known what was the cause of the death.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/21ypJSq
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Baby, Three Other Family Members Die in Fire Incident in Doda

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Four members of a family, including a baby, died when their house caught fire in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

Fire broke out in the house of one Abdul Rashid at Bhagwa village of Doda district due to a short circuit around 0200 hours, media reports said.

In the fire incident, the house was gutted resulting in death of all four members of the family, police said.

The deceased have been identified as Abdul Rashid, Fatah Begum, Mubina Begum and six-month-old baby girl, they said.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1QR1pGo
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

March 1, 1990: Twin Massacres in Srinagar Leave 47 Dead

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

In order to halt massive pro-freedom demonstrations by the people in Kashmir, who were to submit a memorandum to United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), army opened fire at Zakoora crossing and Tengpora bypass in Srinagar, killing 26 and 21 peaceful  demonstrators, respectively. The killings occurred on the fateful day of March 1st 1990.

A detailed account of this massacre appeared in March 31, 1990 issue of the Bombay based Economic and Political Weekly, which reproduced the text of “India’s Kashmir War” by a team of four members Tapan Bose, Dinesh Mohan, Gautam Navlakha and Sumanta Banerjee of the Committee for Initiative on Kashmir. The Committee members while holding Jagmohan responsible for these massacres wrote that: “Jagmohan’s return to Jammu and Kashmir as governor signalled the unleashing of state repression on a massive scale. The government’s tendency to treat mass demonstrations as the handiwork of Pakistani agents and use indiscriminate force against the people has alienated the Kashmiri public from India and pushed them into the arms of militants. To make matters worse Jagmohan’s identification with the BJP in the popular perception and his pronounced anti-Muslim measures has widened the gulf between Pandits and Muslims in the state.”

The eyewitnesses and the survivors of these twin massacres of March 1, 1990 told CNS that these carnages still send chill down their spine when they try to recount them. “It was a time when people hit roads on daily basis seeking freedom from India. Protests would rock every nook and corner against the repressive policies of the then Governor Jagmohan.”

“Amid massive pro-freedom slogans over 2000 protesters clad in shrouds were heading towards Srinagar office of the United Nations to submit a memorandum seeking freedom from India. A convoy of five Army vehicles led by three Junior Commissioned Officers was returning from Sonamarg to Srinagar but found the road blocked near the crossing.

After exchanging heating arguments with local police when the later requested them to wait till road gets cleared near Zakoora crossing, the Army men turned towards the demonstration and allegedly opened fire from three machine guns fitted over the vehicles. Eleven people died on spot while 15 others succumbed to their injuries on way to SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura. All but 50 other people received bullet injuries,” said eyewitnesses who alleged that the retaliation from Army was unprovoked as protesters had not resorted to any clash or argument with them.

“The local police had little or no control over the affairs of the state that time and same was the case with civil administration and it was the reason civil administration did not visit the spot and the job to ferry injured to hospital was done by local population,” they said and added that Army resorted to unprovoked firing to “demean the position and status of local police officials present on the location who had requested them to wait till the protesters passed off the road”.

On the same day, in evening hours 21 more unarmed civilians were killed when Army targeted two buses near Tengpora Bypass. The dead included five women.

Eyewitnesses said that the passenger buses were on way to South Kashmir when they were targeted. “Some of people were chanting anti-India and pro-freedom slogans on the roof top of these buses. It was their only crime they were targeted.”

The twin massacres sparked widespread protests across Kashmir while authorities imposed curfew to diffuse the volatile situation. The global human rights watchdog Amnesty International issued an appeal for urgent action on Tengpora and Zakoora massacres.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1Ls1cXT
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Youth Representing J&K’s Three Regions Call on Mehbooba

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Some of the youth representatives who met PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday at her Fairview residence.

Although there are no indications of any government formation in sight, nevertheless Fairview over-looking Dal Lake at Gupkar is abuzz. This time, over 30 youth who represented three regions of Jammu and Kashmir spent over an hour with PDP chief.

The youth, who mainly consisted of students, discussed the multi-cultural and diverse ethos of the state. “Mehbooba Ji listened to the views of the youth leaders,” sources privy to the meeting said, “it was a healthy discussion when youth expressed their views as how to strengthen the plural identity of the state.”

Sources said that the youth leaders asserted that the thousands of years old “secular fabric of state needs to be safeguarded”. “It was a meeting symbolizing the age old communal harmony, co-existence of J&K as the youth included members from every religion be it Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist,” they informed.

Mehbooba Mufti

“We have a history of over 5000 years of rich history when J&K’s diverse populace lived a life of co-existence,” Mehbooba told the youth representatives. “We need to safeguard it and youth have the major role in it and propagate the communal harmony of state.”

Appealing youth to take part if development of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba told the meeting, “we have a huge and precious human capital and it is our responsibility to utilise it judiciously.”

The youth leaders, the insiders said, maintained, “there is an urgent need of dialogue between/amongst different sections of society.” “Dialogue and deliberations help in weeding out differences and help in making progress.”

Recalling her father’s vision of peace and empowerment of people of all three regions, Mehbooba said, “PDPs stand for restoring pride in youth. You are the most talented and stand different in a lot. We shall take every step to give you best avenues for your overall development.” “You are our future assets,” she told them, “it is now the youth who have take J&K out of the quagmire it is in.”

One of the participants said that the hour long meeting saw PDP youth wing president, Waheed Ur Rehman Para, deliberating on the “educational and economic developmental agenda” of PDP. “He discussed as how youth can be involved in developmental and peace process in Jammu and Kashmir.”

The PDP insiders said that last time around late Mufti Sayeed was “too much concerned for the youth of J&K”. “He wanted to do something different for them,” they informed, “keeping this in mind, Mehbooba Ji is too much involved in such activities to prove the dream of her father.”

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1QnC2df
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Know What is in Union Budget 2016-17 for J&K

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Although stakeholders are disappointed with the Union budget which was presented in parliament on Monday, Kashmir Life brings to its readers the areas which have found their mention in the budget 2016-17.

Special Industrial Initiative Rs 70 crore from Rs 45 crore.

Development of Other Crafts in J&K  Rs 10 crore.

Pashmeena Wool Development Programme Rs 15 crore.

Amazingly, no allocation has been made for relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit (KP) migrants.

Last year Rs 580 cr was allocated for KPs. But in revised estates Rs 280 cr were allocated (actual spending).

A new head that includes border migrants of J&K clubbed with migrants of Srilanka have been allocated Rs 16.16 crore.

Net Proceeds to J&K from Central Tax pool

Corporation Tax Rs 3328 cr

Income Tax Rs 2579 cr

Wealth Tax Rs 0.10 cr

Custom Tax Rs 1658.61 cr

Excise Rs 1325.18

Total Rs 8892 crore

A Jump from Rs 4587.46 cr in 2014-15 and Rs 7813.48 cr in 2015-16.

Further, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) witnessed big jump from Rs 966 crore to Rs 1210.61 crore in fund allocation.

National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation has been allotted Rs 100 crore.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1nc9zva
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

DIG Bukhari Retires after 37 Years of Service

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Jammu and Kashmir Police Headquarters (PHQ) bid an impressive farewell to Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari in Jammu Monday evening. Bukhari superannuated as Deputy Inspector General of Police (Administration) PHQ this afternoon.

Director General of Police (DGP), K Rajendra Kumar, on the occasion, lauded the contributions made by Bukhari during his service career of 37 years and said that he is amongst the most professional officers of the Organization, by the dint of whose dedication and valour, the force has achieved heights of excellence in professional policing, an official spokesperson said.

He said that the officer rendered an exemplary service and has been always loyal to the law, which has been recognized at different levels.

DGP said that Bukhari has worked on different assignments in the Organization as SDPO, SP, SSP and DIG across the State. He was competent one, who worked with team spirit and coordination to overcome the challenging situations successfully. His strategy and planning was the secret of his successes, said the DGP.

Rajendra stressed for maintaining better relations with the retired police officers, saying that they are part and parcel of the Organization and the department has to remain in close touch  with them to seek guidance from their expertise. He commended the role of retiring officer in maintaining law and order and counter insurgency in the State, besides other fields of professional policing.

On the occasion, Bukhari deliberated on his long experiences in various wings of the Organization and said that he has always tried to deliver with dedication and sincerity to live up to the expectations of his seniors. He feels proud to be a member of Police Parivar for long period and reorganization of his services by the Organization and the government   was a great tribute for him. He said that the guidance of his seniors and support by his subordinates lead him to face different challenges successfully in the field. He thanked the DGP and other officers for their wholehearted support in performing the professional duties during his entire service.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1TLi4tN
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

‘Union Budget a Great Disappointment for State’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

The businessmen in Kashmir are disappointed with the budget announced by the union finance minister, Arun Jaitley in the Parliament on Monday.

Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President told KNS that the traders had hoped that the Government of India will announce tax holiday for Kashmir, but that did not happen.

“We had demanded tax holiday for Kashmir because of the flood in 2014 affected our trade to a huge extent. But it was not announced. We expected special incentives for handicrafts because our export in handicrafts declined after flood. It too was not announced,” Wani said.

Wani said that the traders had also demanded IIT and IIM for the Kashmir region, “but we are disappointed at that front too.”

“The budget is a disappointment for the state and particularly for Kashmir,” he said.

Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Association, Mohammad Yasin Khan said that the traders in the Valley had expected that the Government of India will announce rebate in tax for the state which have been severely affected by flood in 2014.

“The BJP government in New Delhi was aware of the magnitude of the devastation wrought by the 2014 flood. Despite that the budget appears hollow for us,” Khan said.

The trade union leader said that due to the coming fruit season the traders had hoped that the union government would announce in the budget some reduction in fares for the transporters.

“Reduction in fares would facilitate the transport of Kashmiri fruits to different fruit markets. It would surely have given fillip to our trade and the fruit industry,” he said.

Showkat Choudhary, Kashmir Economic Alliance Chairperson, said that budget announced by the GoI will bring more miseries to the people of the state than any relief.

“The GoI has increased the defence budget which will obviously impact Kashmiri people as the Central government will procure new weapons to use against the people here,” Choudhary said.

“Though we had not much expectation from the BJP government, yet we thought that for political objectives the BJP might announce something special for Jammu and Kashmir. But that was not to be,” he said.

Social activist Shakeel Qalandar called the budget as “great disappointment” for the state.

“The Budget has proved that the GoI treats Kashmir with a discriminatory approach. People affected by flood had expected some relief to be announced but the GoI ignored them,” he said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented his third Union Budget in which he announced a slew of schemes, and income tax exemptions to support the small tax-payer and the small investor.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1TLi4tK
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Sandeep Nayak Joins as Principal Secretary Tourism

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Sandeep Nayak

Sandeep Nayak Monday joined as Principal Secretary J&K Tourism department.

Sandeep Kumar Nayak was posted as Principal Secretary, Relief and Rehabilitation Department earlier. He was transferred on February 25 thus relieving Farooq Ahmed Shah, Managing Director, J&K Tourism Development Corporation, of the additional charge.

A resident of Delhi, Nayak previously was posted as Secretary Commissioner Power before he was posted as Commissioner Secretary Relief and Rehabilitation.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1QGKQ9H
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Kashmiri Innovator among Seven to Stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

A Kashmiri youth is among seven innovators who have been selected to stay for two weeks at Rashtrapati Bhavan under a Scholars-In-Residence programme starting from March 12.

President Pranab Mukherjee Monday selected the seven innovators for a two-week stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan under a Scholars-In-Residence programme starting from March 12.

Mushtaq Ahmed Dar of Islamabad district has been selected for developing walnut cracking machine.

Hailing from Kreeri village of the district, Dar’s machine can peel the green walnuts and crack it for its kernels.

The traditional walnut cracking is a tedious and time consuming process. Dar’s machine consists of three units that peels off the green walnuts, washing and drying, and finally cracking the walnuts.

“My village is engaged in agriculture and horticulture occupation. As a child I could see the hardships faced by my grandparents while processing the walnut manually, the acid oozes from the green walnuts injured the hands. I always dreamt of doing something for them,” Dar said.

The other selected innovators are: GK Ratnakar (Karnataka) for his mini hydro turbine invention; Lal Biakzuala Ralte (Mizoram) for a bamboo splint-making machine; Mallesham Laxminarayana Chinthakindi (Andhra Pradesh) for “Laxmi” Asu-making machine; Amrut Lal Bawandas Agrawat (Gujarat) for developing an Aaruni Bullock Cart and Innovative Pulley; Anuradha Pal (Andhra Pradesh) for developing an antibiotic medicine; and Swapnanil Debajit Talukdar (Assam) for a foot-operated page-turning machine for the specially-abled.

The Innovation Scholars In-Residence Scheme was launched by the President on December 11, 2013 with a view to promote the spirit of innovation and giving further impetus to grassroots innovation activities.

The main objective of the Scheme is to provide an environment to grassroots innovators in Rashtrapati Bhavan to work on a project in hand and take their innovative ideas forward.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1nc1Dde
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

‘PDP Chose Green Colour, Pen-Inkpot Under a Well-Thought Out Plan’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

While terming the statement of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti as “totally against the ground realities” in which she had said that “the people in India have freedom of expression and they can voice their opinions here”, Hurriyat Conference (g) said that at a time when the whole world is showing its concerns over the growing intolerance in India and when the people peacefully expressing their views are booked under sedition charges here, the PDP chief “by siding with its alliance partner have made her position awkward and mockery”.

“By issuing such a statement, the PDP chief actually wanted to justify her new alliance partnership with the communal and fascist forces and is preparing ground for grabbing the throne,” a statement issued by Hurriyat Conference (g) to KNS said.

“Mehbooba Sahiba can admire India and can heap up praise for this country in front of the whole world but the Kashmiri nation knows everything, they share extremely bitter experience with regarding to India and they are the first victims of the imperialistic and fascist mentality of this country.

The minorities and the lower caste Dalits too can explain the depth and the height of the freedom of expression and the democratic claims of India but the way in which this country is using its military might to suppress the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiris is although fully known to Mehbooba Mufti but her problem is that she cannot effort to upset her masters in New Delhi by expressing the truth,” the statement said.

“The focal point of all her politics is limited to the chair of power and this goal is impossible to achieve without the blessing of New Delhi,” the statement alleged.

Hurriyat Conference (g) added, “Mehbooba Ji had chosen a wrong time for praising the government system of India and by doing so, she has make joke out of herself. The growing intolerance graph in India had not only perplexed the justice loving people, scholars, writers and students of this country but its severity is now felt in the whole world and the people from everywhere in the world are showing their concerns about that.

The JNU issue had made the situation more critical and every such person is booked under sedition charges and is considered to be lynched in public who mistakenly try to express his inner.”

“The situation in Pakistan which the Mehbooba Sahiba has referred and criticized while addressing her party workers had never gone to such an extent even during the martial law period which the India is witnessing today,” the statement said, “nobody should be in wrong impression about the Mehbooba Mufti Sahiba and her party PDP, this party is the creation of the secret agencies of India with a purpose to sabotage the just and genuine struggle of the Kashmiri people. This party had definitely chosen the green colour and pen-inkpot but this too was selected under a well-thought out plan and its only purpose was to introduce a ‘wolf in sheep’s fur’.”

Hurriyat Conference (g) also expressed its deep concern over the situation which arose after the India-Pakistan cricket match in Jammu and said, “the communal forces in this region of Jammu & Kashmir have been given a free hand and the Muslim populations of this division are feeling highly insecure in these situations.”

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1oT4zxk
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Geelani Demands Immediate Release of Shah, Khan

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Strongly condemning the continuous imprisonment of Hurriyat Conference (g) Secretary General Shabir Ahmad Shah in police station Rajbagh and continuous house detention of APHC-g Provincial President Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Chairperson of the amalgam, Syed Ali Geelani, demanded their immediate release.

He said that the government had completely “banned the political activities of the pro-freedom people and have converted the state into a major jail”.

In a statement to KNS from New Delhi, Geelani said, “the people all over India reacted against the arrest of JNU students and registration of sedition charges against them and the people of Jammu & Kashmir too protested against this fascism.”

“To suppress this peaceful protest, the state government detained the entire pro-freedom leadership in different jails and homes. The other pro-freedom leaders and activists were although released later but Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan continue to be under the illegal detention which is the worst kind of state terrorism,” he said.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1oT4zxi
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Government Formation Likely To Get Delayed

KL NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR

Government formation in J&K may get delayed as the BJP led NDA government did not offer any idea towards the economic issue that its ally PDP had been highlighting for the last various weeks. Seemingly, sources said the government formation make take more time.

“We never said that the budget will make major announcements on J&K,” one PDP leader said. “But yes, there was a lot of media hype attached to it on this issue.”

While the two parties have been working to pick up the thread and restore the pre-Mufti situation, they have not been able to complete the task. Delay in initiating the process is being termed as key factor for the conclusion of the process.

PDP had flagged certain items from the Agenda of Alliance for which they were seeking a time-frame. But that is yet to be achieved, sources said.

While most of the top BJP leaders have been preoccupied with their scheduled assignments, the party has been feeling a bit of indifference at various levels too.

Both the parties, however, have been consistently insisting that they are still bound by the common minimum programme (CMP). PDP president Ms Mehbooba Mufti has reiterated that she would not like to have the throne and would prefer a peaceful J&K.

J&K is without a government since January 7. Indications suggested that new government with Ms Mufti as leader will take over after 40 days of mourning. It did led to her meeting with Ram Madhav in Srinagar but the issue that were flagged are taking more time than the party believed.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1TMCT9u
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Meet The Teacher Whose ‘Sweeping’ School Service Went Viral

Saba Khan

SRINAGAR

Zubair Khan cleaning his school. This photo went viral on social media.

My name is Zubair Khan. I am a teacher from south Kashmir’s Kokernag, who loves his profession for the very spirit of it. I can sacrifice my life for the well being of my students. I love to teach students from underprivileged section of the society—why? Because, I was also one among them well before becoming their teacher.

These underprivileged students don’t have resources to rely on. Hailing from a humble family background, I can understand: what does it mean to be at their position.

In our Government Middle School at Vayilo Kokernag—tucked in a backward village—mostly poor students study. There are only five of us teaching 85 students. We have to give thirteen classes per day.

You know, the best thing about our school is the method of our teaching. We don’t stick to traditional methods. I hate to cause yawning in students with my teaching. That’s not me—and that’s not my teaching principles. I rather encourage them to think ‘out of box’ than letting them follow a beaten track.

While saying this, I don’t mean, my students must not learn basics. It is just that, they must stay realistic than idealistic. I reckon, that’s the most important thing a teacher can do to his/her students. While we must encourage our students to sour high like Shaheens, we must also help them to stay grounded. They must be taught small things—I mean skills, which are essential for life. This is how I conduct my classroom sojourns.

But I don’t think I am doing something different. I am sure – countless unsung teachers are silently serving the society to the best of their abilities. They have their plans, their own roadmaps. They are grooming students to the best of their abilities. We are all serving a cause—the cause of shaping our nation’s future.

In our school, however, a different situation prevails. Peon comes once in a week to clean the mess. But I believe school must be the model of cleanliness. That’s why after the school hours, I myself clean the premises of the school.

Zubair Khan with his students.

I partly do it, because I want to give an impression to my students that no work is derogatory—as our perceived notions have dismissed them. I can tell you with an assurance that the very act does go well with my students. They also happily participate in it. It helps them to create a sense of belonging for their school besides helping them to stay punctual.

Also, I often take my students to a barber for hair-cutting besides taking them for bath. Most of them are so poor that they can’t even afford these basic things. For this, even if I have to spend some amount, I happily do that.

It’s not a big deal. Government teachers earn good—so even if they have to spend a portion of it on students’ welfare, it must be done and encouraged. I believe, God gives us—teachers—a beautiful gift of teaching. So, they look up to us, expect from us the things, which perhaps they can’t even expect from their parents. And as a teacher, we must respect that.

You see, I have seen poverty in my life. After my father’s death, my mother while upbringing me inculcated a sense of societal welfare. And today, thanks to Allah, when I am earning good, I am happily spending some portion of it on my students. And the same fact makes me happy.

For teacher, let me tell you, no welfare is as great as his/her student’s welfare.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1oJdhxf
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Stranded Passengers in Bandipora to be Airlifted on March 01

KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR

Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Monday informed that the stranded passengers in Bandipora and Dawar will be airlifted  on March 01, 2016.

“All the passengers who have registered their names at Bandipora should report at Sonarwani helipad at 8 am. Similarly, the passengers of Dawar will also be brought to Bandipora on return,” an official spokesperson said this evening.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1RzR8LH
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

State Government for Uniform Increase in SPOs’ Remuneration

KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR

On the directions of Governor N.N. Vohra, the State Home Department Monday, in a letter addressed to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, requested the Central Government to sanction uniform enhancement of monthly honorarium of all Special Police Officers (SPOs) from Rs 3000 to Rs 6000 w.e.f 1-1-16.

The State Government has pointed out that the SPOs have been carrying out operational duties through direct participation in anti-militancy operations, gathering intelligence, guarding vital installations and some of them work as force multipliers during law and order situations. Keeping in view their varied and interchangeable roles depending upon the ground requirements, it is difficult to categorize them on the basis of their skills or nature of the duty etc and prescribe different scales of honorarium to them.

The State Government has requested the Union Home Ministry to enhance monthly honorarium of SPOs without imposing any pre-conditions so as to enable the State Government to issue necessary orders in this regard. Presently, there are around 24,068 SPOs in the State and keeping in view their services, the State Government has urged Government of India to fulfill their long pending demand.

It may be recalled that enhancement of the  SPOs’ remuneration is part of the Special Package announced by the Prime Minister during his visit to Srinagar on 7^th November 2015.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1oJ1Gyp
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Mehbooba Cannot Escape Responsibility for Sell-out: NC

KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR

National Conference Monday said that PDP President Mehbooba Mufti cannot escape the responsibility for PDP’s “sell-out” to BJP and its complete failure for the 10 month tenure.

In a statement issued here, NC Spokesperson Syed Ruhullah and NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said that since Mehbooba Mufti had now “accepted publicly” that the people of J&K did not benefit from the PDP-BJP Government, she is answerable to explain who benefitted from this alliance and the previous PDP-BJP Government.

“Mehbooba Mufti played a frontal role in forging PDP’s alliance with the BJP and led a party delegation to meet BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi, where the first formal indications of the PDP-BJP nexus were made public. Her remarks today contradict her deeds yesterday. While Mehbooba Mufti makes these passionate and allegedly emotional speeches in Kashmir, two senior PDP leaders are busy lobbying for Government formation with the BJP in the National Capital. This plan to run with the hares while hunting with the hounds will not succeed this time around as PDP stands exposed for its u-turns and sell outs”, the statement said.

The Senior NC Leaders said that Mehbooba Mufti’s deafening silence on the burning NFSA issue in the State was contemptuous to the people and revealed her deep disconnect with ground realities.

“Rather than gathering the courage to call a spade a spade and admit the complete failure of her party to fulfill its promises, Mehbooba Mufti is trying to divert attention through rhetoric and fallacies. What happened to her erstwhile demand for the revocation of AFSPA and the opening of additional trade routes along the Line of Control? Today the State stands at such a juncture where people are marching towards the LoC to demand access to the other side to get ration. The whole State is reeling under the debilitating implications of the PDP-BJP Government’s policies”, the NC leaders said.

“Mehbooba Mufti should come clean on what she has demanded from the Central Government as a prerequisite for yet another “sell-out”. This is important so that the people of J&K know what has been achieved otherwise she will try and take credit for anything that is done in the routine scheme of things to justify her continued alliance with the BJP.

“On one hand Mehbooba Mufti has repeatedly said that PDP has sought CBMs from the Central Government and senior PDP Leaders including Muzaffar Baig on the other hand have said no CBMs have been demanded from the Central Government. Despite elaborate planning and scheming, PDP’s elaborate drama stands exposed”, The NC Spokesperson added.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/1Thxtnw
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj