Srinagar, February 13
Srinagar airport is turning international from February 14 and Dubai, the luxurious hotspot of the Arab world, will be connected directly to the state's summer capital on a weekly basis.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is likely to inaugurate the milestone event. “We have our fingers crossed. But the government believes it would herald a big spurt in international tourism activity in Kashmir,” Rakesh Kalra, director of the airport, says.

Every Saturday a flight will bring people from Dubai and carry many others back to the UAE the same day. Kalra says the aviation ministry could connect more cities like Jeddah with Srinagar and increase their frequency, but it will depend upon the response in terms of traffic the airport generates. Enthused by the prospect, Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya has already announced his intentions of applying for a licence to run his flights on Srinagar-Dubai route. On his recent visit to city, he said he was more interested in running full-fledged packaged tours to the valley for overseas customers.

“This place has everything a high-spending foreign tourist wants - world class golf course, high mountains and great nature. Srinagar airport going international is the best news for everyone,” he said.

As you take a round of the airport with construction work on in full swing, the enormity of the exercise grows upon you. Kalra says it is India's most-glazed airport due to the huge amount of glass used in the semi-circular and dome-shaped architecture.

Its high roof, a deliberate measure taken by Airport Authority of India's architects while taking lessons from the stuffy environs of many Indian airports, gives you a feel of openness.

The terminal building area has been increased from 6,190 sq m to 17,900 sq m while visitor lounge measures 1,800 sq m. With an average of 90,000 domestic passengers landing in and taking off from here monthly, the infrastructure is adequate to take care of additional international traffic, experts say.

Some other highpoints of the airport are the inclusion of various world-class technologies, which could mitigate the security blues for a passenger at India's most fortified airport. One of them is common user terminal equipment (CUTE), which means different airlines could make use of same counters during their peak hours, thus sparing passengers of long queues outside a particular airline's counter while other counters remain almost empty. The in-line X-ray baggage handling system, which was recently installed in Hyderabad's newly inaugurated and much-praised airport, would mean that the luggage would not be frisked umpteen numbers of times at the airport.

Kalra, however, says the final world on security matters lies with the authorities. The airport could now handle 950 passengers per hour than earlier 500.

The tourism industry believes that the beginning of international flights may also be beginning of the return of the rich West Asian travellers who used to come in large number to the valley before the eruption of militancy.

Azim Tooman, chairman, Houseboat Owners' Association, says the travel industry is excited over the prospect. "We expect a boom in the number of foreign tourists. Not only from the Arab but also from other places as Dubai is a major connecting airport in the world of international travel. The government should go all out to woo tourists," he says.

With the tourism season likely to begin in two months, Tooman says their fortunes had already shown signs of a change last year when tourists arrived in record numbers only to be scared back home by the violence and strife caused by land controversy. “The fear of militancy has ebbed. If all remains quiet and the government does its job well, I foresee a positive change," he says with an optimistic note.

Jammu, February 13
The Apsra Road in Gandhi Nagar is fast emerging as “yummy-tummy street” as the aroma of spices arising out of fast-food stalls has been able to pull big crowds during evening hours.

Though generally deemed as shopping point for trendy garments, with the onset of evening the place starts drawing crowd for altogether different reasons. It turns into a premier destination for junk food lovers.

Vendors put up various stalls along the roadside adjacent to Government Boys Higher Secondary School and most of the shoppers don't miss to visit the place to tickle their taste buds with spicy and tasty fast food.

The place offers a wide range of variety to both vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians at reasonable rates. The best of snack recipes are offered there with wide range especially in North-Indian chaats, including aalo tikki, bada pao, pani-puri, dahi bhalla, chicken soup, kalari kulcha, bread-nutree, noodles and even ice-cream and matka kulfi.

One peculiar thing that instantly comes into mind with the mention of moveable stalls is their “shabby look”. Perhaps these vendors know the trick of the trade since they keep their carts neat and clean.

They don't miss any chance to please the customers and provide very good service, besides conversing in a very hospitable manner. The only trouble at this food joint is that you will have to nibble dishes standing, as there are no sitting arrangements.

But if you have a vehicle then you can relish the food even more. Just park your vehicle on the other side of the road and all you have to do is to take your pick. The person will approach you for the order and within five minutes you will be served your dish sitting comfortably in your vehicle. So if you are planning to spruce up your evening without putting extra burden on your pocket, then “yummy-tummy street" is a place worth to visit.

Jammu, February 13
Fishery has been promoted as a sport to attract tourists in the past, but now it has emerged as a major food resource in the state, which has a great potential of developing it as an industry.

Under the Prime Minister’s employment package during 2006-07 and 2007-08, 410 units had come up in the state of which 210 had been established in Jammu.

Small landholders could take to fish rearing as a profitable business. By making a pond on two kanals, a person could earn Rs 30,000 per month. There are four types of fish available in the state; trout, mirror carp, country fish and Jammu fish.

Technical Engineer at a fisheries department farm in Nawabad Sanjeesh Gupta said the farm produced quality fish seed and supplied it at subsidised rates to farmers for stocking their private ponds.

Additional Director Fisheries SS Sharma said, "The department is earning more than Rs 1 crore every year and is generating more revenue in the state than the agricultural department. So, it has a wider scope for providing more job opportunities to the youth."

He said to create more awareness among the willing farmers and to attract them towards this sector, the department had been providing technical guidance to the entrepreneurs for establishing their own farms and seed production units.

Sharma further averred that the department was having the fishermen community welfare scheme, according to which, if any fisherman lost his life while fishing, the department would provide Rs 50,000 to their next of kin.

Director, Fisheries Department, T Angchook said by harnessing the potential of fisheries properly, it would not only increase production but also the revenue of the state. Besides, it would create more employment avenues along with improving the nutrition level of the common man.

He said, "The diverse agro-climatic condition of the state is suitable for the development of both cold and warm water fish."

Angchook has appealed to the unemployed youth to adopt fish rearing as their career, which has a great potential of generating a good and profitable business. He said, "Some people have procured loans for grabbing the available subsidies only. This trend needs to be arrested."

One of the biggest challenges being faced by this deparment is that it has insufficient reservoirs, whereas the water from rivers, nullahs and ponds has been drying up with the rise in the temperature.

The rising pollution in the Tawi has also been taking a toll on this business. 

Jammu, February 13
There seems to be no end to the miseries of commuters in Jammu due to the apathetic attitude of the authorities as private transport operators continue to violate the norms despite stringent laws.

Be it the menace of overloading, playing of high pitch music inside the vehicles or over-speeding to compete for the passengers, private matador operators continue to flout the norms.

Commuters here rue that despite their repeated requests to drivers and conductors of these matadors to stop playing the high pitch music, they refuse to do so.

“They (drivers) play the music so loud that it becomes difficult for the passengers to sit inside, when one comes out of the vehicle it takes time for him to become normal,” says Purshotam Kumar, a resident of Gandhi Nagar here.

“Even traffic police personnel do not ask them to stop playing the music,” he adds.

On various routes, the problem of overloading is so rampant that the operators fill the vehicle twice the seating capacity that on many occasions had resulted in fatal accidents.

“Every time we sit in a matador from Panjtirthi to Sidra, we don't know if we would reach our home safely as the matador is overloaded so much that it becomes difficult for the passengers to move inside," says Mohinder Singh, a resident of Sidra. “The situation is grim during summers and at many times we had narrow escapes."

In the matadors that ply on routes connecting villages to Jammu city, the menace of overloading is so widespread that passengers could not only be seen hanging over the sides of the vehicles but also sitting on the rooftops.

The other problem being faced by the commuters and even the pedestrians is the over-speeding matadors that compete with one another for passengers.

"These drivers compete with one another for passengers and pose a threat to the lives of commuters as well as other road users, but the traffic police remains a mute spectator,” says Mandeep Manhas, a local resident.

A senior traffic police officer says, "We know the problem is there, but the government has never bothered to think of the department, we have limited manpower which is far less than the number required for the city."

Jammu, February 13
Customers in Jammu are having a good time shopping these days as various stores in the city have been offering attractive discounts on their products to clear their stocks.

These stores have been offering huge discounts on products ranging from garments, hosiery, bedding and furnishing items. Shoppers in large number could be seen shopping at such stores that are offering more than 50 per cent discount on their products.

"The shopkeepers these days are offering heavy discounts on all the items, at some places they are offering more than 80 per cent of the discount," said Gunjan Mangotra a resident of Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. "Even the stores that sell branded items in the city are also offering heavy discount on their products, so it is a good opportunity for people like us, who otherwise cannot afford to purchase these branded items," she added.

The storeowners in the city are also elated with the response they have been getting from the people who throng these stores in large number to make the purchase.

"People with limited source of income are otherwise reluctant to purchase branded items, but after our store declared discount on the clearance sale, we have been witnessing an increase in our business,” said the manager of a branded store in Jammu.

"The reduction of price and the announcement of attractive schemes by these stores have proved beneficial for the common man, as now one has to put lesser pressure on the pocket while making a purchase," said Pardeep Singh, a lecturer.

With the change in temperature and the relatively less cold in the ongoing winter season, the hosiery stores in the city witnessed a decline in their business, however after the announcement of attractive discounts their business is slowly picking up momentum.

"The main aim is to clear the stock, though at less margin, but if all the stock gets cleared we could get back the money that we had invested." said a storeowner. "As the outside weather has changed and the days are quite warm, the people don't wear jackets, so to clear the stock we have offered the discount," he added.

Jammu, February 13
Come February, Ghulam Nabi Kumhar of Kulgam, Kashmir, turns nostalgic of those peaceful days when he and his clan would sell fresh baked earthen pots and utensils to Kashmiri Pandit families for their weeklong annual Shivratri celebrations.

This year, as the festival falls on February 23, Ghulam Nabi feels depressed, primarily for the reason that the earthenware like “nout”, “dulej”, “senweir” and “dupzoor” used for Shivratri rituals have almost been replaced by steel and brass utensils. Moreover, there are a few Kashmiri Pandit families left in the valley to celebrate the day along with their Muslim brethren there.

“Prior to the mass migration of 1990s, Kashmiri Pandits would religiously purchase fresh baked ‘nout’ and ‘czod’ that symbolise Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. They would put walnuts in these pots and chant mantras throughout the night for the ultimate union of Shiva and Shakti, besides praying for universal peace. Now, the time has changed and the potters' wheel has stopped,” regrets Ghulam Nabi, who like other Kashmiri Pandits has also shifted to Jammu for earning a livelihood.

Putting up under a dingy shed near the general bus stand here, Ghulam Nabi sees a bleak future of the ancient art of pottery, both in Kashmir as well as in Jammu. He is, however, optimistic that peace will certainly again descend on Kashmir.

"In Kashmir, over the years, the living standard of almost every Kashmiri Muslim has gone up. Even in the remote areas, no one buys earthen utensils there. Now every potter is left with the job of making only earthen pots for Kangris during winters. Rest, it is stainless steel and copperware everywhere," says Ghulam Nabi's associate Gulzar Ahmad.

Gulzar says to sustain their livelihood, some of the potters from Kashmir have already shifted to Jammu and elsewhere, while others are waiting for alternatives.

“In Jammu, there is still some scope, as people use earthenware including, lamps and ‘dweeps’ for religious ceremonies and on festivals like ‘Nirjala Ekadashi’ and ‘Deepawali’. But in Kashmir, after the migration of the Pandits, there is no scope for such activities," opines Gulzar.

He, however, impresses upon Kashmiri Pandits to at least use the earthen pots, made by Muslims, for “vatuk puja” on Shivratri to keep the age-old tradition of Kashmiryat alive. "We will feel pride to put the wheel back in action," say both Ghulam Nabi and Gulzar.

Jammu, February 13
During the current period of insecurity, when the militant groups are infiltrating repeatedly through the border areas, it is necessary that the students of the government schools located near the border should be imparted mock drill training. The purpose of the drill will be to equip them with necessary skills of behaviour in the event of becoming hostage to the militants.

"Mock drills should be made compulsory for the students along with the other physical exercises and education," said Neeraj Sharma, a resident of border village of Laylal camp.

In May last year, the armed militants, who infiltrated in the Samba sector and gave a tough time to the military and the police forces, held some villagers hostage. In another incident, militants infiltrated in the Kanachak sector in August last year and killed a number of civilians in 20-hour hostage drama in Chinore before being gunned down by the security forces.

"Border villages being prone to infiltration, makes schools vulnerable to terror strikes. The government needs to conduct mock drill training courses for the students of all the schools in border villages," said a teacher hailing from Kanachak. Subash, a resident of Layal camp said, "Mock drill is necessary for our children, but the school authorities do not think so. We always remain fearful for our children's safety due to repeated infiltration bids." Director School Education Zahida Khan said, "We also feel the need to introduce mock drill training among schoolchildren but no agency has come forward so far for imparting such training to the students."