OTHERS

The recent decision of Jammu Kashmir to add new castes to the reservation list which has limited the opportunities for Open Merit candidates. The decision is being opposed, interestingly, by the activists and members of the Scheduled tribes. Various Gujjar and Bakerwal activists from Rajouri, Poonch and Kashmir have outrightly spoken the limitation of opportunities for the open merit candidates in the region. The recent decision by the Manoj Sinha led administration to substantially raise Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations by 10 per cent has reduced open merit to only 40 per cent and also prompted serious concerns about fairness. Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act of 2024 has introduced these significant changes. Under this amendment, the Pahari Ethnic Group, Padari Tribe, Kolis, an...

The Power Development Department in Jammu Kashmir has extended an amnesty scheme for domestic electricity consumers, as reported by Daily Excelsior. M S Malik, Director General of Finance at the Power Development Department, has issued an order to prolong the Amnesty Scheme for domestic consumers for another year, now running until March 31, 2025, pending approval by the competent authority. However, the extended concurrence granted by the Finance Department is subject to additional conditions beyond those outlined in Government order no 103-PDD of 2022 dated September 12, 2022. The Department is obligated to ensure the full recovery of arrears by including all eligible consumers. Connections of consumers who do not participate in the scheme and fail to settle their power dues wil...

Three persons have been booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) for their alleged involvement in "anti-national" activities. According to police, three Bandipora residents were arrested and subsequently booked under the PSA for their "continuous" involvement in Anti-National activities. The trio was identified as Sheikh Danish son of Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Aloosa, Ghulam Mohmmad Waza son of Ghulam Qadir Waza, reisdent of Bagh Bandipora and Mohammed Amin Rather son of Mohammed Maqsood Rather, a resident of Rather Mohalla Ajas. The police in a statement further said that a number of criminal cases were registered against the accused. "The trio has been shifted to Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu," Police said.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 108 and 102, operated by BVG India Ltd in partnership with the Government of Jammu Kashmir, have successfully facilitated 1000 deliveries since their establishment on March 24, 2020, according to official data released on Monday. An official emphasized that this life-saving initiative has become an indispensable support system for expectant mothers in the region. "The trained staff of the 108 ambulances played a pivotal role in conducting these deliveries, providing crucial assistance during childbirth," the official stated. The official further reported that the 108 Jammu Kashmir Emergency Medical Services have diligently served an impressive 2,71,801 patients. Notably, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the service attended to...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday said that hartals, organised stone protests and stone pelting have ended and infrastructure building, smooth schooling development is touching new heights in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that stones have been replaced with the laptops in the hands of J&K youth. Addressing a gathering in Jammu virtually from New Delhi after e-inaugurating the 100 E-buses for Jammuites, Shah, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that J&K is witnessing a new dawn of peace, prosperity and development. “Today, with the active support of J&K youth. Hartals, organised protests and stone pelting are the things of the past. J&K is witnessing huge infrastructure building, smooth schooling and development,” the Home Minister said. He sai...

The turbulent history of Kashmir has recently emerged as a focal point within the Bollywood film industry, representing a significant source of revenue for filmmakers in the country. The latest entrant into this lucrative domain is the actress Yami Gautam, poised to present a compelling narrative in the political drama titled 'Article 370.' According to the directors, the film aims to illuminate the "pain and struggles" experienced in the Kashmir valley. The recently released teaser offers a preview into the portrayal of the region's "turmoil." Opening with picturesque snowcapped mountains and the idyllic beauty of Kashmir, the teaser swiftly transitions to scenes of burning streets, riots, and bloodshed. The actress, married to a Kashmiri Pandit, Aditya Dhar, makes a typical B...

Umrah tour operators in Kashmir are grappling with subdued response this season with heavy slump in the bookings. As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), this is despite the fact that the rate of Umrah package this year is comparatively Rs 10,000 low compared to the previous year. Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken any time of the year. Typically, the Umrah season, i,e from December to March, in Kashmir sees a surge in bookings and enthusiasm as devout Muslims embark on a spiritual journey to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. However, this year has proven to be an exception, with tour operators facing unexpected challenges that have resulted in a substantial decline in the number of pilgrims. As per the Umrah tour operators of Kashmir, ver...

Gujjar women in Kashmir struggle to sustain the fading tradition of crafting traditional skullcaps, facing diminishing orders and changing fashion trends, as they call for cultural programs and support to revive their unique cultural heritage. As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in Namblan village of Southern district of Pulwama, 65-year-old Zulaikha sits on the grass in front of her kotah (mud and wood house), stitching a skullcap. Despite receiving fewer orders, Zulaikha is content, as any order brings hope that the tradition will endure. Gujjar and Bakerwal women, forming the third largest ethnic group in the region, have distinctive traditional caps known as "topi." Stitched from cloth and embroidered with colorful threads, these caps hold cultural significance. Howev...

In a worrying trend, the Kashmiri language is experiencing a significant decline, especially among the younger generation, with civil society raising concerns about the erosion of cultural identity. For them, the importance of language as a vital cultural bond and a means of effective communication cannot be overstated. They said the apparent drop in Kashmiri language proficiency needs urgent intervention. Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), renowned poet and writer Zareef Ahmed Zareef highlighted the historical significance of the Kashmiri language, saying it has served as a language of culture for over 5000 years. He acknowledged the impact of English-medium schools on the language but cautioned against the total adoption of languages other than Kashmiri, ...

The prolonged delays in completing two crucial bridges over the Jhelum River in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are causing hardships to residents of over a dozen villages, according to locals. The work on the Dogripora and Reshipora bridges, started in 2007 and 2008, respectively, are yet to be finished, leaving locals grappling with challenges. Mukhtar Ahmad, a resident of Dogripora village of Awantipora, expressed concern over the slow progress, saying many people have met with accidents while attempting to cross the Jhelum on boats due to the absence of the bridge. “These bridges are vital as they would connect numerous villages with the national highway at Pujteng, Sethar, and over 50 villages with the Panzgam Pulwama Railway station,” Ahmad said as per the news agency—Kashm...