Jammu, April 6
Decision of the state government to postpone elections to the local bodies has evoked strong reaction from the opposition parties. Though the coalition government has taken the excuse of ongoing strike of government employees behind the move, the opposition parties, especially the PDP and the BJP, are alleging a conspiracy.

“It is an attempt to sabotage the functioning of the democratic institutions in the state and an effort on part of the government to capture such institutions through illegal means,” alleged Trilok Singh Bajwa, former Rajya Sabha member and vice-president of the PDP. He did not subscribe to the excuse of the government that the elections had been postponed due to employees’ strike.

Echoing similar views, the BJP also termed the decision as undemocratic and autocratic. “We were demanding that discrepancies in the electoral rolls should be rectified, but instead of taking steps in this direction, the government has postponed the elections,” regretted BJP leader Ashok Khajuria, who emphasised the need for conducting elections to the local bodies.

The elections were scheduled to be held in February this year, as tenure of all local bodies had expired. Instead of conducting elections before expiry of the term, government had rescheduled the elections for May. Without taking the opposition into confidence, the Cabinet in its meeting on late Monday evening, announced the postponement of elections by six months.

“The government wants to grab these grass-roots level democratic institutions of the urban areas through undemocratic means,” alleged Bajwa and added that the decision reflected fascist tendencies of the ruling National Conference. He further said the government was desperate to capture the local bodies with the help of bureaucracy.

After a gap of 22 years, elections to the local bodies were held in 2005. Despite threats from militants, participation of the people in the elections was unexpected. In some places, as high as 96 per cent voting was recorded and people came out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote.

“It is unfortunate that this regime has been tying to sabotage the democratic system by capturing local bodies through illegal means,” Khajurai said and warned that his party would not remain a mute spectator to such undemocratic act of the government.

It is widely perceived that the elections have been postponed due to pressure from MLAs who don’t want decentralisation of power. When elections were postponed in February some political groups had aired apprehension that this move of the government was aimed at capturing local bodies by ignoring elected representatives.

Gulmarg, April 6
A large number of tourists are thronging the Kashmir valley as the scorching heat begins to turn unbearable for them at large in plains.Be it the famous hill resort of Gulmarg, Pahelgam or other tourist attractions across the valley, all places are seeing a huge rush of both foreign and domestic tourists.

“Thank God, after a lull our business has again started flourishing. We are witnessing an increase in the occupancy rate and we are expecting the occupancy to further increase in coming days,” said Abdul Aziz, a hotel owner in Gulmarg.

The tourists who visit the valley are also thrilled with the natural beauty of that the Kashmir valley posses.

“I don’t have words to express my happiness. It’s like heaven on the earth and I am thrilled to be here,” said Krihsan Acharya, a tourist from West Bengal.

In Srinagar city, hundred of tourists could be seen taking a stroll at the famous Boulevard Road surrounding the Dal Lake.

People associated with houseboats and shikaras too are having a good time, as the majority of the tourists prefer to take a ride on shikaras and the occupancy rate of houseboats too have increased.

“People related with the tourist industry expect 2010 to be a good year as the early trend shows that there would be a huge rush of tourists in the valley and we are fully geared up to welcome them,” said Mohammed Shuban, a houseboat operator in Dal Lake.

Kashmir’s famous Tulip Garden, considered as one of Asia's largest Tulip Gardens, has already proved to be an attraction for tourists as thousands of tourists visit the garden daily and their number is expected to increase in the coming days.

“The response of tourists is tremendous and their number is much above what we expected. Ticket counters are full,” said an officer of the State Tourism Department.

Officials of the Tourism Department have instructed the people associated with the tourism industry to provide the best facilities to the tourists and failure of which would attract severe punishment and penalty.

The department has declared this year to be a ‘visit Kashmir year’ as it has showcased Kashmir to be a must visit destination.

Jammu, April 6
The excessive use of the fertilisers has badly affected agriculture production in the state, especially in the plain areas of the Jammu region. The Agriculture Department has now decided to create awareness among people regarding judicious and balanced application of chemicals. As the situation has turned alarming, the department has started popularising organic farming.

Though the average consumption of fertilisers in the state is 87.7 kg per hectare, which is far less as compared to states like Punjab and Haryana, in some areas, farmers have been making excessive use of pesticides and other chemicals.

In the remotest hilly areas of the Jammu region, the majority of farmers is using traditional farm manures, but in plains particularly in Samba, Kathua, RS Pura, Bishnah, Marh, Akhnoor and adjoining localities, villagers have been making indiscriminate use of chemicals to get good yield. Some farmers are even using banned chemicals to enhance the yield of vegetables. Though initially, such farmers got good crops by using chemicals, the production has been on the decline due to poor soil fertility.

Besides, the indiscriminate use of chemicals is also posing a threat to the ecology of these areas.

Keeping in view the alarming situation, the Agriculture Department has decided to create awareness among people.

The department is advising farmers to use chemical fertilisers as per recommendations of experts of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology. The department is also popularising organic farming and provides incentives under the Centrally-sponsored scheme, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna.

According to official data, the total cropped area in the state is 11,36,730 hectares out of which 4,26,950 hectares is located in the Kashmir valley and rest in Jammu division.

Jammu district has largest cropped area of 1,76,364 hectares followed by Kathua 1,27,245 hectares. Ironically, farmers of Jammu and Kathua have been making non-judicious use of fertilizers, which has led to a significant decline in the output.

The non-availability of quality seed is another culprit, although the government has taken some steps in this regard. Certified seeds produced in the farms of 
the Agriculture Department are tested from the state seed testing laboratory as per the requirements of the Seed Act and then distributed among the farming 
community.

Srinagar, April 6
A venture towards bringing together the members of migrant Kashmiri Pandits and the majority Muslim community members was organised by the India Peace Centre and National Council of Churches in India in Srinagar last week. This had been necessitated in view of the urge among a majority of the people not only in the state, but also all across the country to create an atmosphere of goodwill for the return of over 2 lakh KPs from the valley in wake of armed militancy in 1989-1990.

Though nearly 3,000 KPs, according to an estimate of the Kashmiri Pandits Sangharsh Samiti, have been residing in the valley all these years, their number continues to decline gradually. A majority of the migrant Kashmiri Hindus has been living in camps in Jammu, Udhampur and elsewhere outside the valley craving for return to their homeland. Those living in the valley are residing in clusters in different pockets at their respective places in the valley and the return of KPs back to the Kashmir valley has been at the top of the government priorities all these years. The issue of return of KPs also came up in the state Assembly last week.

Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla gave details about the measures being taken for the return of Kashmiri migrants, including the Central government package for their rehabilitation in the valley. He also gave details about the number of families migrated from the valley since 1990, the expenditure incurred on the relief provided to them and the development of other infrastructure for their stay outside the valley.

The occasion of interaction between the visiting KP families, 11 members in all, and representatives of cross-section of society in the valley on April 2 and 3 evoked keen interest among the visiting families to return to their homeland. At the same time, the organisers, India Peace Centre, an NGO, under the aegis of the National Council of Churches in India, focused on the importance of interface between the two communities. Valley-based community members welcomed the initiative and observed that it should have been taken by the two communities.

On the occasion of Good Friday, when the interaction started for two days, representatives from Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities prayed for peace and return of good old days of communal harmony. “People in the valley greet each other. That is the greatest quality and richest character that can be found only in the valley. Let us use it to bring the glorious relationship back to normalcy,” said a member of the India Peace Initiative. “We are not enemies, but there is a feeling of mistrust… This is our vision,” he said and sought to live together in the valley.

And when the group of 11 members comprising of four families and two individuals had a visit to their old neighbourhoods they were nostalgic. They wish to come back to their places and live together as in the past while denouncing the idea of setting up separate homeland in Kashmir. Would that traditional Kashmir life return even after two decades having passed? That question continues to haunt both the communities where the political acumen has to be involved to give vent to the feelings of the majority of people on both sides.

Jammu, April 6
Dr Jitender Udhampuri had never thought of the Padma Shri, which was presented to him by the President on March 31 for his ceaseless work for the enrichment of Dogri and Hindi literature.The state too is feeling proud of him as it got the prestigious award after the gap of four years.

Dr Udhamuri, who earlier belonged to Udhampur and later settled down in Jammu, has also been honored by the state government for a number of times.

He says he was overenthusiastic to hear that he has been nominated for the Padma Shri. “This reminded me of my mother and her dream, which I finally fulfilled,” he says while remembering his mother, who died when he was 15.

Udhampuri says, “The days I spent in Delhi will be remembered as the best days of my life. My wife and son also accompanied me and we were allowed to stay in a 5-star hotel as guests of the Home Ministry.” He adds, “Entering the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the venue for the awards ceremony, was an honour in itself.”

Dr Udhampuri claims he is one of the most educated persons of the state as he has done MA (History, Hindi and Urdu), M.Ed Hons (Hindi, Urdu, Dogri), PGDMC and PhD.

Commenting upon the present status of Dogri, he says local people should speak Dogri. “I don’t understand why some people feel ashamed while speaking in Dogri,” says Udhampuri, who retired as director of the All-India Radio, Jammu.

The success story of this eminent poet, scholar and critic started in 1981 when he was conferred with the Sahitya Academy Award and after that he never looked back. His achievements include the National Award from the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, Rashtriya Hindi Sevi Sehsrabdi Samman, Subhadra Kumari Chouhan Janam Shatabdi Samman and Rashtra Kavi Pandit Sohan Lal Devi Samman. He has been four times awarded by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.

Besides, he has got thrice the Dogri Sanstha Samman. Earlier, he has also been awarded with Sahitya Ratan Samman in 2002, Duggar Sahitya Ratan Samman 2004, Dogra Rattan Samman in 2007, and Rashtra Bhasha Prachar Samiti Samman. He also got “Man of the Year” award in 2003, American Medal of Honour and World Medal of Honour in 2004.

Srinagar, April 6
'She Hope Disability Centre' in Srinagar has been offering physiotherapy and corrective surgery as well as hearing aids and low-cost prosthetic legs. Since 2001, the latter has been pioneered by the Mobility Equipment Needs of the Displaced, MEND, a New Zealand-based charity. Housed in a single-storeyed building, the centre has treated more than 700 persons in the past two years alone, claims Sami Wani, young manager of the centre.

"We give out all these aids free of cost and also take on post-operative care of our patients. Their rehabilitation is also our responsibility," says Wani.

One of the beneficiaries has been a 14-year-old Rihana who is today in post-operative care ward of the centre. Her mother, Sakeena, narrates that Rihana's left leg was shorter than her right, which made her limp. Today, Rihana is a happy girl and excited at the idea of returning to school sans any embarrassment caused by schoolmates.

Since childhood, Wani nurtured a deep desire to do something for the disabled. After training himself to be a physiotherapist at a college in Mangalore, Wani returned home to Kashmir in 2001. A chance email led him to contact Rob Buchanan, Director of MEND. With the help of MEND, he opened a single-room community-based rehabilitation programme in his hometown of Vyail, around 20 km from Srinagar.

Every week he visits a new village with his staff and begins creating awareness of the causes, prevention and treatment of disabilities. This is followed by identification, assessment and referral of disabled people to his centre. Surgery cases are identified and treated during the winter by the local government hospital. He tells that his experience has proved personal eye opener. "I was really pained to see the lack of awareness, especially among people in the remote areas. Poverty and high cost of treatment made things even more difficult for them," says Wani.

The social stigma attached to disability, particularly among women and especially in the rural areas, adds to the complexity of the problem. Wani recalls an incident where villagers told him about a family with a deaf girl. "She was so beautiful. We approached her parents to help her, but they refused to admit that she had a hearing problem. But after a few days, her mother came to our centre for help". Realising the need to upgrade his centre's infrastructure and facilities, with the help of his father who provided land, Wani constructed a four-room building. He also hired two physiotherapists, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist and a driver.

Donations came from the police and the Indian Army, as well as locals. Wani's mentor, Rob visits every year for a few months with his team of doctors and helps Wani with the surgeries and aids.

During summer, the centre is converted into a special school for disabled where children are given individual attention and everyone is taught as per his or her specific requirements.

Living up to their motto of "Promoting Self-Help, not Sympathy" the centre also has a vocational programme that offers training in arts and crafts like basket weaving, cutting and tailoring, with the aim of helping their clients become self-reliant.

"In some cases, it is difficult for patients to go back to school, especially when they have crossed a certain age, so we try to help them by teaching some skills," says Wani. She Hope, as the centre, is also called, offers these individuals soft loans for setting up their own small businesses.

In 2007, supported by the Finnish Abilities Foundation, She Hope set up services in Kupwara district, which was hit by a massive earthquake in October 2005. "The earthquake caused much devastation and the number of people left disabled was really alarming. With limited resources we were able to treat only a small number, but we got almost 300 cases," says Wani. — ANI 

Jammu, April 6
There seems to be no end to the woes of people living in the vicinity of Katra helipad as the government has no proposal to shift it from its present location.A large number of pilgrims use this helipad for reaching Sanjichhat en-route Vaishno Devi shrine. The helicopter services are operated by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board through Deccan Charters Ltd and Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd.

It has been a longstanding demand of locals, as noise of helicopters is a nuisance for patients in a nearby hospital, besides students of surrounding schools. There are also some temples and a gurdwara in the vicinity of the helipad.

The answer came as a written reply to a query put up by MLA Baldev Raj Sharma in the current Assembly session.

In the reply, deputy secretary to the government, civil aviation department, on behalf of the minister concerned, said: “Helicopters ferrying pilgrims between Katra and Sanjichhat, operate on the route mutually agreed upon by helicopter operators and residents of Kundrorian village”.

“To avoid any disturbance to the residents of Katra, the helicopters avoid flying over the town. Besides, the operators observe safety norms prescribed by the Directorate General, Civil Aviation,” he added.

Mandiyari-Pattan, April 6
Many villages in the valley face non-availability of safe drinking water despite abundant water sources around.Mandiyari in north Kashmir’s Pattan-Baramulla faces worse situation in the absence of safe drinking water as the villagers depend on polluted river water and have no choice.

“We consume the same water, sometimes we boil it before using and at times even use tubewell water,” said Mubeena Bano, a resident.

She said locals faced serious health problems during summers owing to water-borne diseases.

“We are an ignored lot and no one is bothered about the conditions in which we live. Politicians approach us during elections and then never look back,” she added.

The villagers could be seen using river water for washing and cleaning purposes.

The river is used for various purposes like washing and cleaning apart from drinking and irrigation, said a group of women who were washing clothes along the riverside.

Similar scene was witnessed at Inderkote in Sumbal-Bandipora, about 35 km from the city-centre.

“Safe drinking water is available for limited hours and in case there is no electricity, villagers face the worst problems, as generators are often out of order,” said a local, Ali Mohammad.

He informed that there are only four taps for 150 households in the village. “The water pipes that have been laid decades ago haven’t been upgraded. Had new pipes been laid in the village, the condition of water supply would have been better,” he added.

Like most villages in the vicinity, Harinara-Pattan faces same problem. Irregular drinking water supply makes the situation grim.

The villagers are trying for a water reservoir as seven villages would be benefited from it.

“The government isn’t supportive and pleads lack of funds, although orders have been issued by the authorities to provide water to the village,” said Shafeeq Ahmad, a social activist.

Notwithstanding claims of the state government to make health a priority sector, the picture captured by our lensman depicts the deteriorating condition of this vital sector. Due to non-availability of adequate staff, stray animals, including street dogs, usually manage to “infiltrate” into the corridors of hospitals (See photo). As a result of the “infiltration” of these outsiders, hygienic conditions in hospitals have been deteriorating by the day.