Month: January 2025

Jammu Kashmir’s unemployment rate continues to soar, with the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) revealing a worrying trend. The overall youth unemployment rate in urban areas rose steadily across three consecutive quarters in 2024, from 28.2% in January-March to 29.8% in April-June, and finally to 32.0% in July-September. The data paints an even grimmer picture for young women aged 15-29, with 53.6% actively seeking jobs but unable to find work, the highest rate in India. This figure starkly contrasts with the national average for young women’s unemployment, which stands at 21%. Adding to the region’s economic struggles, Jammu and Kashmir also leads the country in the percentage distribution of employed persons aged 15 years and above across broad industries, with 24.6...

Apple growers and residents of Newa and its neighboring villages in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reconsider the plan to acquire 5,000 kanals (625 acres) of fertile horticultural land for a National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus. In their letter, the locals acknowledged the value of premier institutions like NIT, stating, "We are not against progress or development." However, they warned that this particular decision could devastate the region’s horticultural economy, livelihoods, and cultural identity. The letter highlighted the crucial role of the apple industry in Kashmir, calling it “a lifeline that sustains millions across India.” They emphasized that the industry aligns with PM Modi’s vision of making Indi...

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while inaugurating the much-anticipated Z-Morh tunnel at Sonamarg, described 2024 as a transformative year for Jammu Kashmir, particularly in terms of tourism and infrastructure development. The region welcomed a record-breaking 2.35 crore tourists in 2024, surpassing the 2.11 crore visitors recorded in 2023. Sinha highlighted an extraordinary 300% increase in foreign tourist arrivals over the past two and a half years. Speaking at the event, the LG credited the government’s infrastructure initiatives, stating that connectivity has been central to the Prime Minister’s development agenda for the region. In 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir three times, inaugurating and laying the foundation for projects worth ₹41,700 cr...

Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura is once again in the spotlight, this time for allegations of negligence in patient care. A viral video as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust recorded by the daughter of a patient in Ward 4A of the Nephrology Section claims that for over an hour, no doctors or paramedical staff were available to attend to approximately 40 patients admitted to the warden. The video, which has sparked widespread outrage, shows empty doctors’ rooms and a lack of medical staff in the ward. The attendant, whose father is reportedly in critical condition, alleged that she searched for a doctor or nurse for over an hour but found no one available to provide care. "Patients are being left at the mercy of God," she is heard saying in the video. ...

The arrest of two senior officials from Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) on corruption charges has exposed a web of financial irregularities, with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) indicating that further arrests and raids are likely as the investigation deepens. Executive Engineer Zahoor Dar and Chief Financial Officer Sajid Yousuf Bhat were detained following revelations of dubious financial transactions. Investigators have traced these transactions to accounts linked to relatives and associates of the arrested officials, suggesting a broader network of individuals profiting from the misappropriation of public funds. Sources within the ACB revealed that the probe is uncovering how funds allocated for public projects were embezzled. The focus has turned to contracts awarded f...

Danishwar Hameed The residents of Qasba Khull in DH Pora have expressed deep gratitude to Health Minister Sakina Masood and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Shawkat Hussain Parray for addressing their long-standing demand for better healthcare services. The area had been struggling without a dedicated doctor, causing significant distress among the population. Responding to the public outcry, Dr. Eijaz Ahmad Shah, who had been working at Sub-District Hospital DH Pora, has been directed to resume his duties at NTPHC Khull, his original place of posting, ensuring improved access to medical care for the community. "This decision was made in view of public demand and for better patient care," said CMO Kulgam, Dr. Shawkat Hussain Parray. "We are committed to providing the best poss...