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Global warming
Awaiting pension, widow finds it hard to sustain
Suma Devi sells fruit juice in front of Gulab Bhawan in Jammu. Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Tea with The
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Poor healthcare: Truant docs just don’t bother
Employment fairs to popularise SKEWPY scheme
Sportspersons fail to get their due
Mock drill in disaster management
Social security scheme evokes poor response
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Kashmir too faces heat
Tejinder Singh Sodhi Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 26
There has been an abnormal increase in day and night temperature in the valley in the ongoing month and the people associated with the Weather Department attribute this to the absence of any weather system. “The rise in day and night temperature in the valley is not normal. There has been a maximum of 11 degree increase in day temperature in Kashmir in March,” Sonam Lotus, director of the state Meteorological Department said. He said it has to be seen whether this abnormal increase in the temperature in the valley was an impact of global warming, still the phenomenon was responsible for the upward shift of temperature in the valley. The impact of the increase in temperature is quite visible as water flow from some of the glaciers that feed most of the rivers in the valley has increased. “Even as there is less rainfall in March, which otherwise used to be a rainy season, there is enough water flow in the rivers in the valley which are fed by glaciers,” said Nisar Ahmed, an environment expert. He said the flow of the Lidder river that is fed by Kolahei glacier in Pahalgam has also increased due to the fast melting of snow. Experts say the abnormal increase in the temperature would have a drastic impact on the ecology of the valley and the worst effected would be the horticulture and the agriculture sector. They say the tourism sector would also not remain unaffected. “The horticulture and the agriculture sector would be badly hit. What we are seeing is an early flowering of various fruit trees and if the heat continues to increase in the same way, all flowers would wilt and there would be no crop and the same would be the case with agricultural produce,” Lotus said. He said there would be no respite from the increasing heat for the people of Kashmir and in the coming days, the temperature would see an upward spiral. “There is no rainfall and the glaciers would melt at the faster rate. All greenery would wilt and the people would have no water for drinking, irrigation and generation of electricity. Even the tourism sector would be badly affected as there would be no respite from heat for tourists in the valley,” said Nisar.
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Awaiting pension, widow finds it hard to sustain
Jammu, March 26 She has been running from pillar to post for getting a widow pension granted in her favour as she feels this alone could secure her future, but she has not succeeded so far. Disappointed with the non-cooperative attitude of some officers and employees of the Social Welfare Department, Suma said, “I had applied to the Social Welfare Department for getting widow pension but the same has not been granted so far. I am told that my documents have been misplaced.” Talking to The Tribune, District Social Welfare Officer, Atul Gupta said that he would look into the matter and try to solve her case. After the demise of her husband in a tragic road accident four years ago, Suma Devi was forced by destiny to carry on the work of her husband (selling juice) for survival. “I earn Rs 100 a day by selling juice from 9 am to 7 pm, out of which I spend Rs 50 on meals. Around Rs 1500 are incurred on other miscellaneous items and medicines during the month,” she says. Besides, Suma has to pay Rs 2,221 as licence fee to the Municipal Corporation every year. With tears in her eyes, she narrates a sordid tale of a huge debt she inherited after her husband. “Within a month after my husband’s demise I had to start selling juice. I had paid off Rs 30,000 as debt and Rs 50, 000 is still left to be paid to lenders,” she added. As she wipes off the tears from her eyes, Suma says she has three sons but none of them is there to look after her. Two of her sons were already living separately with their families when their father was alive. The younger son, who was earlier living with Suma, has also separated from her immediately after getting married. “After getting married my children abandoned me. I have been left to fend for myself,” she says painfully. “What will happen when I am not able to sell juice. How will I manage my expenses? she asks with fear in her eyes that she may not be able to get the widow pension that she is fighting for relentlessly. |
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Tea with The
Tribune In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Abdul Rashid Engineer, Independent MLA from the Langate Assembly constituency in Kupwara district, shares his thoughts
He is probably the only one who took on militants for mindless killings, Army officials for human right abuse and forced labour, and the police for excesses on civilians. Abdul Rashid resigned from a senior post in the Public Health and Engineering Department to contest elections and beat many bigwigs. He shares his journey from torture chambers of police to the state Assembly in a tete-e-tete with The Tribune. Two students from the Kendriya Vidhyala-2, Akanksha Dhar and Gunjan Verma, also participated in the interaction. Jupinderjit Singh: You are an engineer by profession. Why did you choose to be in politics? Abdul Rashid Engineer (AR): I have constructed a number of bridges, roads and buildings in my 20 years’ of service. I was not liked by contractors, my seniors and employees, as I did not take bribe or pilfer construction material. All that while, I could not shut my eyes to the bloodshed and human rights abuse in the valley, especially in Kupwara. I confronted militants on killings of innocent people and exploitation of youngsters. The security forces were taking forced labour from villagers. I raised my voice against that. I was once tortured and kept in a small room along with 14 other prisoners. We could not stretch our legs and arms. A senior police official asked me if I had learnt a lesson and what I would do after being released. I told him I would contest elections and return as an MLA. This is how my political career began. Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You have been considered as “giant killer” because despite being novice in politics you defeated veterans like Sharief ud Din Shariq of the NC and Mohammad Sultan Pandit Puri of the PDP. How did you manage such victory? AR: I had no money. But once I announced my decision to contest, people came in my support. They gave me money and campaigned for me. NC and PDP leaders adopted all means to defame me, but it was love and faith of people that I won the elections with a comfortable margin. Ashutosh Sharma (AS): What is the most memorable moment of your life? AR: There are many. The most haunting incident occurred when I decided to contest elections. Contesting as an independent candidate was neither acceptable to mainstream politicians nor separatists or militants. My mother even put her “dupatta” in my feet and pleaded to give up the idea. I could not do that as during my jail days, I had pledged to become an MLA for the welfare of my people. DM: You defeated Shariq ud Din Shariq in the Assembly elections but he later won the Lok Sabha elections. Don’t you think that it is mockery of the democratic system? AR: Issues in the Lok Sabha elections are entirely different. Firstly, people always vote for the ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections and secondly, I also supported Shariq. In my opinion, people don’t take the Lok Sabha elections as seriously as compare to Assembly elections. Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Kupwara once remained the hotbed of militancy. What is the scenario today in the valley and how you are contributing your bit to bring back misguided youth into the mainstream. AR: Not only in Kupwara but also in the entire Valley, the “sentiment” is there and no one could deny it and separatists use it to their advantage. A senior separatist leader, who always talked and preached sacrifices, now tell the militancy affected people to accept ex-gratia relief from the government. I feel that the government should talk to Kashmiris and that is the only way peace could be restored. RKK: What is your reaction to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s proposed amnesty and rehabilitation policy for the misguided youth stranded in PoK? AR: Before discussing amnesty, I want to make a point. Several people feel that rigging in the 1987 Assembly elections was the root cause of triggering militancy in the state. Suppose, had UJC chief Salahuddin won the elections, he, too, would have become part of the system. I want to say that we need realistic people and a politics of reconciliation. What is mainstream and what is separatist sentiment… these terms are abuses to the system. It is time we must talk to Salahuddin. We must see the problem in right perspective because shying away from it won’t help us in anyway. RKK: So, what exactly should be done to see that peace returns to the state? AR: Talk to Kashmiri youth, talk to militants and UJC chief Salahuddin, isolate foreign mercenaries and stop talking to people, who have vested interests. As far as amnesty to misguided youth in PoK is concerned, don’t you think that those who want to return without guns should be allowed to come back, lead a normal life and become productive citizens. Do you want to kill militancy or militants? I strongly feel that a broad-based reconciliation policy is the need of the hour. RKK: Will you define the contours of your formula? AR: We have to start from somewhere. I told you that we must talk to Kashmiris at grass-roots level and engage Salahuddin in talks because people in the valley are now fed up with separatists. Archit Watts: You are known as angry young man in the Assembly, why so? AR: Am I (laughs)? I was thinking this title has been given to the Chief Minister. Still, I acknowledge the title, which some politicians have given to me. Yes, sometimes I behave like this, as you are saying. But it is need of the hour of my constituency, as my people are suffering from a number of problems. And I will do it, whether it is right or wrong. Akanksha (student): Why do MLAs make so much noise in the Assembly? AR: True, we must be polite. But as I already explained that when , when we are not heard, we have no option but to shout. Also, MLAs job is not for all life. We have to perform in the Assembly and in the constituency. One has to get heard to get projects for the people of his constituency. DM: You are claiming not to be part of the coalition government but you are sitting on the side of treasury benches. What are the reasons? I want to make it clear neither I am with the opposition nor with the ruling alliance. My affiliation is only with the people of Langate and I will take all decisions keeping in view the aspirations of the people of my constituency. AS: Members of SC/ST communities consider proposed ban on inter-district recruitments against their interest, still you have been vociferously advocating the same. Why? AR: There seems to be a communication gap. The proposed ban would not be against any community. It’s all about providing equal opportunities to all. Do you think that a candidate belonging to a backward area say for instance Kupwara can compete with his counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir districts. The ban could be effected by exempting the backward communities but again it needs a consensus. When Harsh Dev Singh raised the same issue it received criticism from Kashmir and now when I have asked for the ban on inter-district recruitment, a lot of hue and cry is being raised in Jammu. Both regions should agree upon issues of mutual benefit and common good. AS: The kind of commitment and honesty you display for the people is missing on part of other politicians. What’s your take? AR: They talk of austerity, but I practice it in real sense. I avoid security, government vehicles and take food from roadside dhabas. On the other hand, when I see some ministers and bureaucrats blowing up public money for their luxuries, I feel bad. Sunaina Kaul (SK): Being an independent MLA, what is your policy for the minority community of the valley? AR: When I had no money to contest elections, a Kashmiri Pandit donated me Rs 50,000. I could never repay that gratitude. I came to Jammu for the first time only after becoming an MLA. I visited their camps and saw their condition. I will provide Rs 5 lakh to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits for their welfare. I am ready to help them and to fight for their issues in the Assembly. The government should reserve 2 per cent seats for them in the Assembly before their return to the valley so that they could get a proper platform to raise their issues. Gunjan (student): Are you in favour of the Permanent Residents (Women) Disqualification Bill? Isn’t it discriminatory? AR: I am against all kinds of discrimination. Rules should be the same for men and women.
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Poor healthcare: Truant docs just don’t bother
Dadasara, March 26 A few years ago, the government had sanctioned a primary health care centre to serve many adjacent villages of Dadasara in Pulwama district of South Kashmir. But the residents have yet to see the centre realising the purpose for which it has been built. “This is the only primary health care centre in the area which has a capacity of 100 beds, but the doctors don’t come here.” said Bashir Ahmed Shah, a local resident. The residents allege that as the hospital is located in the interiors of the district, the doctors were not attending the patients as they had no fear of any surprise inspection from the higher authorities. The hospital has been sanctioned with an X-ray facility, a laboratory and a dental section but when The Tribune team visited the hospital all these sections were found locked. The hospital wore a deserted look as there were no doctors and paramedic staff to be seen. The locals blame that the hospital has become only a fist-aid centre and they can only get ambulance service to take their patients to other hospitals. “It is only the ambulance that is available for us take our patients to other hospitals. The irony is that despite having all the required infrastructure, doctors don’t come here to perform their duties,” said Abdul Rahim, another local resident. The locals say the hospital was build with an aim to cater more than a dozen villages of the area but due to the apathy of the doctors they are deprived of proper health care facilities. “All the sections in the hospital are locked and nobody is bothered about the patients. We have been constantly approaching the officers concerned to ask the doctors to be present in the hospital, but all our pleas are falling on deaf
ears,” said Abdul Razak, a resident of Bucho village. In the absence of doctors, patients with a minor fever have to travel several kilometres to reach a hospital in Tral. “The government had spend crores of rupees for this hospital, but it is really unfortunate that they cannot do anything for the upkeep of this hospital,” said Tariq Ahmed, another resident of the village. An official of the heath department said he would look into the complaints of the local residents and would make it sure that the doctors posted in the hospital attend their duties regularly. |
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Employment fairs to popularise SKEWPY scheme
Jammu, March 26 An amount of Rs 33 lakh has been released for organising these fairs. The government has claimed that more than 3.50 lakh candidates have so far participated in the fairs held in 19 districts of the state. Interestingly, out of these youths, only 54,084 candidates have registered themselves to take benefits of the employment schemes started by the government. The SKEWPY was announced on the birthday of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on December 5, 2009. Under the scheme, the government has asked Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute to offer Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDPs) as package which apart from sensitisation, training and consultancy inputs shall include an incentive in form of non-refundable seed money to enable prospective entrepreneurs to kick-start their ventures and make their projects bankable. This scheme has been made as the Seed Capital Fund Scheme. As per the guidelines of the scheme, the seed capital equivalent to 35 per cent of the project cost shall be provided to the prospective entrepreneur up to a maximum of Rs 3 lakh in respect of undergraduates and Rs 5 lakh in respect of postgraduates. Furthermore, the government has also announced many incentives for technically qualified persons such as engineers, doctors and computer science and technology graduates, etc. Under the scheme, a stipend known as voluntary service allowance is also announced for the youths belonging to families having income less than Rs 50,000 per annum and land less than 10 kanals irrigated and 20 kanals non-irrigated. Although the government has announced such incentives, this scheme has so far failed to get encouraging response due to difficult procedure being setup by the government for availing benefits. “It is nothing, but a cruel joke with us as the procedure is not viable,” observed Sham Singh, an ITI-trained youth of Bishnah, who has got himself registered with the employment exchange with a hope that new employment policy would create job opportunities for him.
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Sportspersons fail to get their due
Gulmarg, March 26 She led the team of the Jammu and Kashmir Baseball Association (Women) during the recently concluded three-day snow baseball championship here at Gulmarg. Starting her sports career in 1997 when she was a student of class IX, she believes that sportspersons should be given certain relaxations in pursuing higher education and jobs. She has participated in a number of events, including Second Asian Youth Girls Softball championship (2000), wherein teams from the USA, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Korea participated. A recipient of bronze in the national event of Tug of War (2006), she has also participated in national games 14 times. Currently, she is associated as a softball coach on a temporary basis in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Her family has been supportive. Despite tough situations, she kept moving ahead. Her study got affected due to various coaching camps she had to attend in due course of time. “Sportspersons don’t get what they deserve,” she comments. She added that the NC government had earlier recommended her for the Sher-e-Kashmir Award, but with the change of guard at the state level in 2002, the same got delayed till date. She had also applied for a post in Directorate of Youth Sports and Services in 2006, but she alleges that due to favouritism and corruption, she couldn’t succeed. Her counterpart Sayima Rashid faces more or less the same situation. She has been playing baseball since 2005 and has participated in several inter-university events. Basically, she is a cricketer and finds baseball somewhat similar to cricket. Interest drove her to the game. “Due to competition, participation in more than one game is must,” says Sayima. She started her sports career in 2003 with cricket and used to play at inter-school level. She sees a bright career in sports. She has participated in 10 national events in cricket and two national events in baseball. “It is good to represent Kashmir, but I want to represent my country at the international level,” says Sayima, captain, Silver Star Baseball Club, one of the participating clubs in championship. Ahsan Ali, a participant from Mirza Irfan Club, has been associated with the game for the past three years and finds it interesting. Ghulam Rassool from the same club wants to pursue career in softball. |
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Mock drill in disaster management
Srinagar, March 26 The students were shown how to drop, cover and hold to save themselves in case of earthquakes. Many people and bystanders along with students of various schools and colleges participated in the drill. Fire services and civil defence volunteers displayed their skills during a mock drill held at Boys Higher Secondary School, Baramulla. A special team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Bathinda, displayed various rescue methods. Senior officials of the district administration of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora also participated. Baramulla district witnessed an earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on October 8, 2005. Many people lost their lives and property worth crores was damaged. A tabletop exercise was conducted at Baramulla where different scenarios depicting damages that could occur in case of earthquakes were discussed during an animated action session. During an interaction session, suggestions were put forth by the forum about proactive measures to be taken during the occurrence of earthquakes in seismic zone and other disasters. The role and responsibilities of disaster management committees and other forums were also discussed. “Being in seismic zone V, the area is vulnerable to earthquakes and mock drills are being conducted throughout the valley so that awareness among masses is generated about steps taken before, during and after any disaster, especially earthquake,” said Aamir Ali, in charge, Disaster Management Cell, Kashmir. As part of the programme, mock drills were held on March 19-20 in Anantnag, March 17-18 in Baramulla and March 15-16 in Srinagar. A mock drill was held in north Kashmir on March 18 at Boys Higher Secondary School, Baramulla, and in south Kashmir’s Anantnag on March 20 where people from Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama participated. |
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Social security scheme evokes poor response
Jammu, March 26 “We have been creating awareness, but beneficiaries themselves have to come forward to avail the benefits of this scheme,” Sakina Itoo, Social Welfare Minister told the House recently. On pending cases pertaining to old age, widow and physically challenged pension in Rajouri district alone, again dismal scenario came to the fore. A total of 3,633 cases (1,359 of physically challenged, 859 of widow pension and 1,415 cases of old age pension) were pending as on January 31, 2010. In 2009-10, the government could not sanction even a single case attributing it to paucity of funds. “However, same shall be sanctioned as and when funds come are made available,” said Sakina assuring the House to come up to the expectations of the needy. |
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Labourers at work in valley
Every morning groups of labourers from outside the valley, mostly from distant states like Bihar and West Bengal and the neighbouring Punjab, are waiting at designated wayside locations in the capital city for their contractors. These labourers working for construction of buildings, both private and government structures, hardly return empty handed by the evening. While the number of those waiting at these designated places is lesser during winter months, it has started swelling up to a good strength with the change of season. The volume of work has increased in the private sector while at the government level, it depends on release of funds in view of the last month of the financial year, although work on most projects is already in progress. With the working season returning after a long cold winter, the labourers are optimistic over the turnover this season to earn their livelihood away from their homes to sustain their families back at their respective places. Choking Red Square
Over the past many days, Clock Tower in the central Lal Chowk or Red Square is witness to yet another onslaught in the name of beautification of the city’s nerve centre. While the place already remains choked due to heavy traffic with most of the old city bus stands having been shifted, the open area is being landscaped. In other words, the open area that had been serving as parking space for the increasing number of vehicles is being turned into a landscape, squeezing the road space. The ongoing construction work and refurbishing work on drainage on the other side has virtually choked the area. (See Pic) There is no regulation of passenger vehicles which continue to move at a snail’s pace without any identification of bus stops, creating more troubles both for traders and pedestrians. If the traffic situation remains unchanged even after the beautification project, it would be a futile exercise and a drain on the state exchequer. Overloading of vehicles
Operators of Commercial vehicles, mainly Tata Sumos, plying on different routes across the valley, are least bothered about the lives of passengers as most of them resort to overloading. As against the sanctioned capacity of nine passengers in a Tata Sumo, most operators allow 11 passengers at a time. While three passengers sit on the middle seat, drivers ask the passengers to squeeze and adjust the fourth passenger whereas another passenger is adjusted at the driver’s seat, making it difficult even for the driver. Many people have lost their lives in accidents due to overloading of these vehicles. In the absence of proper traffic regulatory system, the problem becomes rampant during late hours when passengers have no other option but to travel in these vehicles, risking their lives. Sportspersons need motivation
Sports is being ignored in the state. As a result of this we are failing to produce good sports person despite the available potential and talent. In the absence of basic facilities like proper playground, uniform and equipment, they are failing to leave a mark. Apart from this, there is no incentive or encouragement given to them that would help the promotion of sports culture in the valley. There is an urgent need for the private sector to come forward to sponsor budding players so that they are able to carve a niche for themselves. Sportsmen demand jobs on the pattern of Rehbar-e-Khel like other rehbar schemes (contractual basis) in agriculture and education sector. Vacancies are available but blue-eyed people are preferred. This, too, is a discouragement for them. (Contributed by
Ehsan Fazili, Tejinder Singh Sodhi and Afsana Rashid)
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At a stone’s throw distance from the civil secretariat, Suma Devi-(45) sells fruit juice in front of Gulab Bhawan to meet two square meals.
Srinagar diary
