Srinagar, June 21
A few days ago when Tahira (name changed) gave birth to a girl child, her relatives who had come with her when she was admitted to the hospital left her and only her husband stayed back. Reason: They were dejected on the birth of another girl child in the family.

“They wanted me to give birth to a male child, but when they came to know that it is a girl, they deserted me,” said Tahira who hails from the frontier district of Kupwara.

Tahira is not the only woman in the Kashmir valley who faces such acts of discrimination, but experts believe that the two decades of turmoil have taken a heavy toll on women. They are the worst victims of the violence which is one of the major factors behind the dwindling sex ratio in the state,

The child sex ratio of the state in the age group of zero to six years has nosedived from 941 females per 1,000 males in 2001 to 859 in 2010. In the nationwide hall of shame, J&K is at the second spot just behind Haryana, which has a sex ratio of 834.

“Women in the Valley are always at the receiving end. They became the victims of rape both by security forces and militants. They suffer when their husband gets killed and at many times, they are used as weapon by security forces to get information about the militants,” says Aslam Bashir, who runs an NGO to spread awareness against female foeticide.

“It is due to the exploitation of women that people want to have a son instead of a girl. Even in many educated families, the birth of a girl child is considered a curse,” says Aslam.

Despite a ban on sex determination tests, the government admits that many ultrasound clinics in the Valley indulge in the malpractice and around 60 such clinics have been sealed for such violation.

Gul Afroz Jan, law faculty member in Kashmir University, who conducted a survey on female foeticide in 2007, says, “At that time, people criticised my findings, but the study has been proved right by the census report”.

She says during her research she found that ultrasound clinics had been conducting sex determination tests and even doctors and nurses in the government hospitals were hand in gloves with the violators.

“Of the 100 respondents, about 10 per cent said they had gone for such test. Of those, 30 per cent had done the test for the second time and had already aborted a foetus. The reasons for illegal termination of pregnancy were pressure from the husband (30 per cent), pressure from in-laws (40 per cent), joint decision of the couple (20 per cent) and wife’s choice (10 per cent),” she adds.

She says not only illiterate and poor people were found indulged in the illegal act but also people belonging to well-to-do families were following the same path.

“I found that female foeticide was also being carried out by midwives in government hospitals during odd hours (during the night or when the doctor was not around) and termed it a natural miscarriage,” she adds.

Srinagar, June 21
As part of its save environment initiative, Jammu and Kashmir Bank organised a 100-km-long J&K Bank Tour de Kashmir cycling expedition in association with the J&K Cycling Association from Srinagar to Pahalgam recently.

Mushtaq Ahmad, chairman and CEO of the bank, flagged off the expedition from the Corporate Headquarters. He was flanked by the president, J&K Bank, Tafazal Hussain, who is also chairman, J&K Bank Sports Board, and the Zonal Head Kashmir (Central), who is also vice-chairman of the bank’s sports board, Abdul Hamid Banday, and other officers of the bank.

The J&K Cycling Association president and other office-bearers were also present on the occasion.

A 22-year-old cyclist Umar Nabi secured the first position. Ghulam Rasool Kawa and Anzil Mukhtar secured the second and third positions, respectively.

In the junior category, Ihsan Majid, Amir Assad, the youngest competitor in the expedition, and Umaid secured the first, second and third positions, respectively.

A 74-year-old cyclist, Ghulam Rasool, was the oldest competitor. The winners were given prizes in the shape of three racing cycles, mementos and certificates. The prizes were given away at function held at Pahalgam.

The bank’s vice-president and zonal head, Kashmir (South), Mohammad Afzal Khan, was the chief guest on the occasion.

The message was rendered clear and loud across the Srinagar-Pahalgam track when almost 60 cyclists, which included some international and national cyclists, holding banners pedalled their way towards one of the most famous tourist spots in the Valley.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Mushtaq Ahmad, chairman and CEO of the bank, said: “Being socially conscious institution, J&K Bank understands the essence of environment and shall remain at the forefront of every effective initiative meant to conserve it. Events like these help kindle our spirits for the conservation of environment besides evoking the thrill of adventure in the process”.

“Expeditions are by definition meant to explore new things and through these events we, too, intend to explore and promote sporting talent of our state, which is available in abundance,” he added.

Srinagar, June 21
Though a period of over two decades has passed ever since Kashmiri Pandits migrated from the Valley, a number of issues related to the community, including the number of those killed, are yet to be resolved.

While a majority of the community migrated from Kashmir early in 1990, only a miniscule population, nearly 3,000, continues to live in clusters across the Valley.

On occasions like Maha Shivratri, thousands of the migrant Pandits have been converging at various shrines, including that of goddess Regnya Devi on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami at Tulamulla in Kashmir.

An unusual religious occasion attracted hundreds of Pandits, migrants as well as locals, at the historic Sheetleshwar Bhairav Temple here recently where a hawan was also organised. Only two years back, the temple was reopened after remaining closed for a long time.

The Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS), an organisation of valley-based KPs, led by Dr TN Ganjoo, as its chairman, and Sanjay K Tickoo, as president, also organised a temple photo exhibition on the occasion. The KPSS chose the event to raise the voice for justice for those who were either killed by militants or disappeared in the past more than two decades.

Contesting government claims of 219 Pandit killings, Tickoo, said at least 650 to 700 KPs had been killed so far. Releasing the first list of 399 persons, Tickoo said 302 killings took place between January and October 1990, “which means one selective killing per day”. He said in May and June, 1990, at least 152 killings took place.

“This increase in the number of killings was because people were trying to return to the Valley, but militants continue killings of KPs tagging them as Hindu extremists”, Tickoo stated. Even this list was incomplete and more data would be added in future, the KP leader said.

Sheetleshwar Bhairav Temple has remained more politically active than religiously. It was here that Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Prof Balraj Madhok, Veer Savarkar, Indira Gandhi Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah's wife Begam Abdullah addressed public meetings. Popularly known as Sheetalnath, it has remained headquarters of the All-State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (Yuvak Sabha).

Jammu, June 21
The BSF in coordination with the Samba district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the famous Chamliyal Mela. Close to the zero line on the Indo-Pak Border in the Ramgarh sub-sector of Samba sector, Chamliyal Mela not only attracts devotees from northern India, but also from Pakistan.

Srinagar, June 21
To give further boost to the sports activities, the government will organise a big cricket bonanza in the state.

First time in the history of the state, the Department of Youth Services and Sports in collaboration with the Army, Union Sports Ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association will be organising Kashmir Premier League (KPL).

The tournament would begin on July 4 and its inaugural match would be played in the Delhi Public School ground in Srinagar. The tournament will be played in all district headquarters.

This was revealed at a high-level meeting held here recently under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand.

Minister for Youth Services and Sports and Medical Education RS Chib was also present in the meeting.

To make the tournament a grand success, the Deputy Chief Minister stressed on close coordination between various departments.

He appreciated the endeavour of the organisers, especially the Army authorities, for holding such a prestigious event in the state.

He hoped that the event would prove a new milestone in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that hidden talent would come out and players of the state would be able to make their place in the national events.

Tara Chand issued instruction to the officers of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Urban Local Bodies and information departments to gear up their efforts and ensure appropriate arrangements to make the tournament a ground success.

Giving details of the tournament, Chib informed that this is the biggest event in the history of the state and more than 300 matches would be played at different locations during the course of the tournament.

The tournament is aimed at promoting sports activities in the state and channelising the energy of youth towards positive directions. He said the tournament would be hold with the active support of the Union Sports Ministry and the Army authorities.

During the first phase of the tournament, the matches would be played in the Kashmir Valley from July 4 to August 3, said Chib.

During the IInd phase of the tournament, the matches would be played in the Jammu division in the winter. The schedule for both tournaments would be notified separately, he added.

In order to ensure close coordination, the meeting decided to constitute a committee of officers headed by the director, Youth Services and Sports.

The other members of the committee would be director, Urban Local Bodies, deputy director, Information, Kashmir, and the representative of the Army authorities. The committee would oversee the modalities and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of the tournament.

The director, youth services and sports, SJP Singh, the director, Urban Local Bodies, Mohammad Afzal, additional deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Sarmad Hadeez, joint commissioner, SMC, Fayaz Ahmad, and Brig Naw Khanduri were present in the meeting.

Srinagar, June 21
Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo recently laid foundation stones of five road projects costing Rs 12.80 crore in the Noorabad constituency of south Kashmir. She also inaugurated a sumo stand at Damhal in Kulgam district, an official spokesperson said.

These roads would provide road communication facilities to about 40,000 people of Damhal, Laisoo, Dyankha, Chek-i-Ngam, Yarikhah, Laveloo, Seerpora, Doipora, Pahloo, Guddar, Ardigatnoo and other inhabitations of the area.

Speaking at the inaugural function, the Minister said developmental programmes initiated by the present government had taken off successfully over the years. She said: “Road connectivity is the first priority of the government as the same brings economic prosperity”.

“We will never shirk from the responsibility of making Jammu and Kashmir a prosperous state,” said Sakina, adding the Omar-led coalition government believes in actions not rhetoric. She said during the past two-and-a-half year, a new era of development had ushered in the state.

At Dyankha and Doipora, the Minister directed the engineers to strictly adhere to the target schedule of 18 months for the completion of these road projects.

While inaugurating the sumo stand at Damhal, the Minister announced financial assistance for the construction of passenger shed and flash point out of her constituency development fund.

Referring to the demands of the people at Seerpora, the Minister directed the officials concerned to address the problems of the people on a priority basis.

The Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, Farooq Ahmed Khan, and senior engineers of the R&B and the PMGSY.

To keep the famous Surinsar lake free from pollution, the Mansar Surinsar Development Authority has installed signboards (see picture) banning washing of clothes in the lake.

Interestingly, bathing and washing of clothes have been banned in the lake, but there is no check on animals who freely enter into the lake.

Except installing signboards, the authorities have not taken any step to check pollution in the lake from where water is being supplied to the nearby villages for the drinking purpose.