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Refugees have little hope
Autumn cocoon rearing introduced in Kashmir
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Plan to boost tourism in Srinagar
Tribals’ fight for
forest rights
Expedite development schemes in Kargil, says Chief Secretary
srinagar DIARY
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Citizenship rights
Jammu, September 16 During their visit to Samba district on Thursday, a number of delegations, which called on these interlocutors, highlighted the plights of the refugees living in different areas. Even two legislators, namely Yashpal Kundal of Samba and Durga Dass of Hiranagar, supported their demands. A large number of panchayat members during their meeting with the interlocutors drew their attention towards the refugees who have been denied constitutional rights. Although the interlocutors assured to take this issue before the Union as well as the state governments, the refugees have little hope. “The interlocutors are not taking our demands seriously. They have met our representatives only for the sake of formality,” observed Labha Ram Gandhi, president, West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee. Gandhi said he had himself met interlocutors three times, but they had not given any suggestion to the state government as far as their demands were concerned. "If the interlocutors can suggest the state government to release stone-pelters of the Valley, they can also give suggestions to minimise the plight of the refugees who have been living a miserable life since 1947,” Gandhi argued and termed the whole exercise as an eye-wash. According to Gandhi, every committee constituted by the successive Union governments to solve the Kashmir problem has held discussions with refugees but their issues remained unsolved. “Since 1947, we have been struggling to get citizenship rights, but we got nothing except assurances,” Gandhi regretted and warned that without solving their issue, the Kashmir problem could not be solved. Over three lakhs refugees from West Pakistan, settled in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, have been agitating to get citizenship rights. Due to the special status given to this state, these refugees have been denied citizenship rights. Meanwhile, the interlocutors, who are on their 12th visit to the state, visited Samba and interacted with the local people. Yashpaul Kundal, Samba MLA; Durga Dass, Hiranagar MLA; Mubarak Singh, Samba deputy commissioner; Israr Khan, SSP, sarpanches, panches, representatives of various political parties, civil society and various social organisations called on the interlocutors and presented their respective charters of demands.
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Autumn cocoon rearing introduced in Kashmir
Srinagar, September 16 He said sericulture had huge employability potential and multi-cropping would help to achieve the target. Asking the officials and officers of the department to make J&K quality cocoon seed-producing state, the Minister said the latest figures were encouraging and asked the department to fulfill their own needs and also provide quality seed to the other states of the country in future. He stressed for introducing the latest technological know-how in rearing, besides providing special training about the utilisation of hot dryer and awareness of various schemes lunched by the government. Referring to the silkworm rearing programme on a community basis, the Minister said the main objective was to engage unemployed youth in cocoon production was to provide them job opportunities with full assistance from the department like providing them rearing equipment, rearing space and Mulberry leaf, available at the farms of sericulture. The cocoon production produced by these youths would be sold to generate income, he said. The silkworm programme was launched in three places, including Mirgund, Bandipora and Dhobiwan in the Tangmarg area, he said. He added that from the next year, it would be launched across the state to provide livelihood to job seekers of the state.
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Plan to boost tourism in Srinagar
Srinagar, September 16 The Minister was speaking at a review meeting held here recently to oversee the status of implementation of various schemes undertaken in the city. Commissioner Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Suresh Kumar and other senior officers of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, UEED, PHE and UDAC were also present. Stressing the need for the timely completion of various developmental programmes, the Minister said the same was imperative so that the funds earmarked for these were utilised to the maximum and the benefit percolates to the targeted populace. He said effective monitoring was necessary and monthly reports about the status of completion should also be furnished. Referring to the historical importance of the old city, Sagar said the government was committed to restoring its pristine glory and in this connection, a comprehensive project was on the anvil so that the historical importance of the same was maintained. He said steps were also underway to develop Srinagar as a world-class tourist destination so that the economic status of the people living in these areas also gets a boost.
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Tribals’ fight for forest rights
Jammu, September 16 Over 450 km trek through mountains, valleys, meadows, rivers and forests does not bother him. He has been doing this since childhood. His father and ancestors did the same. Every year before summer, they reach this high altitude region crossing the Pirpanjal Range to make their animals graze on high-protein grass. And just before winter, in late September or early October, they return to the Shivalik hills of Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Kathua or Poonch districts. But Bashir had a major worry on his mind. He does not know if he will find grass and trees on his way to Jammu. Thanks to the timber mafia, forest degradation and cutting of forests due to development works which have deprive them of adequate food. This issue worries his entire clan every time they embark on the traditional migration twice a year. The routes of the nomadic tribes of Jammu and Kashmir have been marked since ages. They are dependent on forests and the latter too depend on them for growth as they plant saplings, sow seeds and the waste of their animals acts as manure. However, the travel causes destruction to the forest as well. And it is here that the tribals get into trouble with the Forest Department. Both accuse each other of trying to get into their space and both claim that they are protecting the forests. Since no forest rights have not been implemented in the state, there is no proper mechanism to settle such disputes. The tribals claim that the department has no right over the forests, which have been reserved and used by them since ages. They seek right to own the land where they graze animals. The department argues that the tribals have a de facto right over forests as they move freely, raise temporary camps anywhere they want and use grasslands which their ancestors were using. Bansi Dhar, a former agrostologist, explains the ancient system of their migration as he has the experience of travelling with the tribals. He reveals there are seven main routes which the tribals take to move from the foothills to the Alpine range and vice-versa. “They follow the same routes and take the same region of the grasslands. A network of roads through the forests eats into their region. However, at the same time, many of the tribesmen have started using roads also by sending stuff in trucks and small vehicles. So, one should not just think that development has hindered them,” he says. He finds that the issue of rights
over forests is being dealt more emotionally than scientifically, “Tribals live off the forests without which they cannot survive and the Forest Department too is in place to save the forests. When their goal and needs are the same, why hanker over rights?” He suggests that tribals should be used for better plantation in the forests. “They reach at places where others cannot. The only thing is to educate them on what to use as feed, fodder and infrastructure for houses and what not. Like the use of trees like pine and oaks serves a blow to the forests as it takes 100 to 200 years for such trees to fully grow. Chopping them off puts the environment many years behind”. The Forest Department and the tribals have to collaborate for saving the forests or the forests will go the Sunderbani way, which got this name because of the beautiful and dense forests in the area. Slowly and gradually, human settlements became permanent. The result is that a flourishing town has come up in the place of thick forests”. The nomads and other population also come into confrontation due to the shrinking land for their use. Some days ago, there was trouble in Kargil over the right to use grasslands. Timely action by the administration prevented violence as locals and Bakkarwals reached an understanding. The changing times have brought a change in their outlook towards life. Many families, who used to migrate twice a year, are trying to settle in the plains, but here too they struggle to get permanent land. Noor Mohammad from a Gujjar family in RS Pura says, “We prefer staying here than migrating. The grasslands are dwindling. It is too cumbersome. Moreover, I want my children to study and I have decided to stay here for a while”. Dr Javed Rahi, secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, advocates the formulation of a sustainable poverty eradication programme for migratory communities of the state. In a recent communication to the Union Government, he said the tirbals were facing extreme adversities due to tough lifestyle, lack of economic freedom and food insecurity owing to low income and deficiency of resources. Ishfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal, president, AKhil Bhartiya Gujjar Mahasabha, wants the government to conduct a BPL survey of this community and bring this community in the orbit of the Indra Awas Yojna. He says the dependence on forests can decrease if the government extends benefits of education to the deprived migratory Gujjar and Bakarwal communities as they move from place to place at least for three months every year and during this period, they remain neglected.
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Expedite development schemes in Kargil, says Chief Secretary
Srinagar, September 16 The chief secretary was speaking at a meeting of officers convened at Kargil recently to discuss and review the pace of implementation and progress of various developmental programmes initiated by the government under centrally sponsored flagship programmes in Kargil district. He also reviewed the pace of progress achieved under the PMGSY, MGNREGA, IAY, NABARD, SSA, RMSA, ABP, NRHM and other flagship programmes. Madhav Lal also reviewed the reconstruction and rehabilitation works in the district in terms of rehabilitation of the affected people, ex-gratia relief, restoration land and a number of other such issues after the last year’s devastating flash flood in Kargil and expressed satisfaction over the progress. Earlier, welcoming the chief secretary, deputy commissioner, Kargil, M. Raju, through a power-point presentation, highlighted the progress registered on various developmental projects initiated by the government under various centrally sponsored programmes in the district. He gave a detailed account of reconstruction, rehabilitation, temporary and permanent constructions being carried out in the district. Madhav Lal directed the officers to ensure that the funds earmarked for each scheme were utilised properly and in a judicious manner. He also emphasised the need to incorporate more and more schemes under the purview of these flagship programmes as there was a lot of scope of funds for the implementation of these schemes. He added that there was tremendous possibility of integrating maximum developmental projects in these flagship programmes, which calls for district officers to keep themselves informed about these schemes so that the benefits reach out to the common masses without any hindrance. The chief secretary also highlighted the need for close cooperation between the district administration and the Ladakh Affairs Department so that the government understands the problems and needs of the district and remedial measures taken accordingly. He directed the officers to discharge their responsibilities with dedication, honesty and missionary zeal to fulfil the aspirations of the masses. Later, chief executive councillor Kachoo Ahmad Ali Khan expressed his indebtedness to the chief secretary for visiting Kargil and personally taking stock of the grievances of the public. He urged for the early release of funds for the damaged infrastructure in Kargil after the last year’s devastating flash floods. Executive councillor, Tourism and Zanskar Affairs, Punchoq Tashi, and MLA, Zanskar, Feroz Ahmad Khan, also spoke in the meeting and apprised the chief secretary about the problems being faced by the people of Kargil. On his two-day visit to Kargil, the chief secretary also visited Drass and interacted with the people.
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srinagar DIARY
Marriage functions are taking place in the Kashmir valley in large numbers these days. Besides the rise in demand for chefs and related services, the demand for wedding cards, particularly designer cards, is also witnessing a sharp rise.
There are many people who buy readymade cards available in the markets and fill the details on their own and send them at respective addresses of the invitees. But, a majority of the people, particularly in Srinagar, prefer to get exquisite blank cards of latest designs and get them printed according to their choicest language. Even the addresses on the envelope are being designed on computer which is available in both English and Urdu languages. There are different designs like single page or one or two pages in separate folders covered by specially designed inner and outer covers (see photo). Many people prefer to distribute designer cards to their relatives and regular ones to others. Cards of special design are being given to friends, acquaintances, social and political personalities, depending upon the social or political status of the host. This wide range of simple to exquisite quality of wedding cards has also given a rise to a variety of texts used for extending the invitation. The trend of inviting people to such occasions has come a long way as earlier, people used to just personally visit their relatives and friends to invite them to wedding ceremonies without any formal or written invitation cards. Ban on local news channels continues
It is almost one year since the Valley witnessed widespread protest demonstrations and violence in which at least 17 persons were killed and many more injured on September 13 last year. In the midst of the prolonged summer unrest, the Valley had witnessed more trouble on the day of Eid-ul-Fitra on September 11 last year. While sectors like education, tourism, business and others suffered heavily, the government imposed a ban on the broadcast of all local news channels. Though the channels continue with their social, cultural and other programmes, the news telecast has remained stopped since September 13 last year. A spontaneous shutdown was observed in different areas, including Budgam, Tangmarg, Pampore, on Tuesday to commemorate those who died a year ago on this day. The day passed peacefully without any section giving it a political colour which had become a routine throughout the summer months last year. (Contributed by |
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Srinagar, September 16
