Srinagar, October 26
The Kashmir valley is set to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha tomorrow with traditional fervour and gaiety.

The people in Kashmir usually observe Eid-ul-Adha for three days and the festival begins with congregational prayers in the morning. However, the holiday is for the first two days of Eid only.

The largest congregations of Eid prayers are held at the Eidgah Ground in old city and the revered Hazratbal shrine, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad, on the banks of the Dal Lake.

While prayers are also held at other mosques and shrines across the Valley, Muslims observe the festival by sacrificing cattle to honour Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son before Allah.

After sacrifices, the meat is supposed to be divided into three equal parts. While one part is usually consumed by the family that offers sacrifices, others are distributed among the poor besides friends and relatives.

During the Eid days, people remain busy in distributing sacrificial meat and exchanging greetings by visiting the residences of their kith and kin.

While the festival is a joyous occasion for all, excitement is writ large on the faces of children, who can be seen moving around in the best of clothes. They also receive ‘Eidi’ from elders.

Locals cook a whole lot of non-vegetarian food on Eid and households remain stocked with meat for over a week due to sacrificing of cattle. Many families also order wazwan, specially cooked traditional Kashmiri food on the festive occasion.

While people also buy a whole lot of bakeries, Eid in Kashmir is usually known for preparation of a wide variety of non-vegetarian food, which is served to the guests as well.

Many locals can also be seen visiting graveyards after congregational prayers in the morning to pray for the souls of their kith and kin.

The practice of lighting firecrackers, which had stopped when militancy was at its peak, has started making a comeback for the past few years. However, lighting of firecrackers is done on a small scale mostly by children even as the practice has been objected to by many clerics.

Srinagar, October 26
The Railways in Kashmir is contemplating to arrange more trains to reduce the rush of passengers during the festival days.

The rail service is a big hit among the people, especially during the Eid festivity as other mode of public transport is usually not available across the Valley.

“To cater to the rush for three days after the Eid, we have sent a proposal to the Divisional Headquarters of Northern Railways, Ferozepur Division, for additional services,” said the railway official at Budgam.

“We are waiting for their approval and once we get the nod, which we expect any time now, we will be able to run two more trains between Qazigund in south Kashmir and Baramulla in north Kashmir,” he said.

The proposal to increase the number of trains was mooted in view of the past experience when the Railways officials and the GRP had to face tough time during the Eid-ul-Fitre festivity in August when many trains were damaged as the passengers could not get seats in the trains.

Chief Area Manger, Budgam Northern Railways, AK Sharma said: “All the necessary arrangements had been made for smooth service during the Eid. All the trains will run on schedule and all necessary arrangements are in place for the smooth service.”

A total of 10 trains will ply between Qazigund and Baramulla and the first train starts in the morning from south Kashmir’s Qazigund station to Srinagar and another leaves central Kashmir’s Budgam station for Baramulla station in north Kashmir. According to railway officials, as many as 7,000 passengers travel every day during the autumn season. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had inaugurated the Valley's first phase of rail service between Anantnag and Budgam district on October 11, 2008.

The second phase of the train between Budgam and Baramulla was flagged off by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on February 14, 2009, followed by the 
third phase between Anantnag to Qazigund by the Prime Minister on October 28, 2009.

Srinagar, October 26
As Eid-ul-Adha festival is being celebrated tomorrow, greetings poured in today from the high echelons of power to separatist and other parties.

Governor NN Vohra while extending greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir hoped that the festival would further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood, amity, tranquility and the glorious pluralistic ethos for which Jammu and Kashmir has been known for centuries past. He also prayed for peace, progress and prosperity in the state.

In his Eid message, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said: “The holy occasion of Eid-ul-Adha imbibes in us the spirit of making sincerity and truthfulness way of life. This holy day also teaches us to uphold the high principals of selfless service to Almighty Allah and the humanity.”

Omar called for extending help to poor on this occasion and making them part of Eid celebrations.

The Council of Ministers and Legislators in a joint message hoped that the festival will strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood, amity and tolerance.

Chairman of the Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone also greeted the people.

Addition Director General of Police Armed / Law and Order K Rajindra Kumar greeted all ranks of the Jammu And Kashmir Police and their families on the festive occasion.

Inspector General of Police Kashmir SM Sahai felicitated all the people of Kashmir, police personnel and their families. In his message, the IGP said: “Let the Eid bring peace and prosperity to all in general and Valley in particular.”

Chairman of the hard-line Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Geelani too extended Eid greetings but at the same time called for ‘symbolic’ protest against the arrival of Indian armed forces in the state 65 years ago.

Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has appealed to people to come in large numbers to show unity for Eid congregational prayers at Eidgah here tomorrow.

The Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti and Shromani Akal Dal Jammu and Kashmir (Komal) too have extended Eid greetings.

Srinagar, October 26
Eid shopping on Friday reached its peak with a majority of the markets in the Valley flooded with shoppers busy doing some last-minute shopping ahead of Eid-ul-Azha (festival of sacrifice) to be celebrated tomorrow.

Women and children constituted a large proportion of the Eid shoppers thronging the garments, toys, handicrafts and accessory shops in and around Srinagar city markets. With Eid-ul-Azha particularly dedicated to animal sacrifice and cooking of various kinds of meat dishes, the sale of Kashmiri and non- local spices and condiments also picked up one day prior to Eid.

People of all ages thronged the malls and shopping plazas to give final touches to their Eid kits to look their best on Eid day. Girls and children were seen in large numbers around bangle and mehndi shops  while beauty parlours also made special arrangements for applying mehndi on girls' hands.

Summer clearance sales at some major showrooms and malls of Srinagar,  however, had no takers  as shoppers were keen  on checking out warm clothes, including sweaters, jackets, mufflers and gloves to keep themselves warm especially when winter chill has made its presence felt here.

“Due to changing weather, we have to buy fresh stock of woollen clothes but only a limited stock is available as the winter has arrived much before time and the shopkeepers weren’t prepared enough to keep sufficient stocks ready,” said Irum, a housewife. Interestingly, children have been less enthusiastic this time around when it came to buying crackers and are usually content with savouring sweets and confectioneries and hanging out with friends.

“Our sales have declined considerably in the past few years as children here are not particularly inclined towards bursting crackers. We have, therefore, imported less crackers this year,” said Abdul Gaffar, a shopkeeper.

Meanwhile, cattle markets continued to be frequented by potential buyers, who complained of exceptionally high prices being quoted by cattle sellers in the wake of no strict monitoring by the administration. In fact, some people have given up the idea of purchasing the animals on finding the cattle prices unaffordable this year.

“Though most of the  Eid rush is diverted to cattle sellers, buying  sacrificial animals for a middle-class family seems to be out of reach although it is a religious obligation,” said Ghulam Rasool, a businessman.

Srinagar, October 26
There is no respite from erratic power cuts in the Valley with the state government failing to ensure round-the-clock electricity supply even in major residential and commercial places as well as mosques of the city on the Eid eve.

People are dismayed on the festive occasion especially when the demand for power supply is more.

Many areas in the districts of Kupwara, Baramulla, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama in north and south Kashmir have plunged into darkness either due to non-repair of damaged power transformers or incessant power cuts by the Power Development Department.

Many areas of uptown and downtown Srinagar city are also reeling under unscheduled power cuts with some localities sans electricity for more than 24 hours.

“In contrary to the increased power supply, the authorities have resorted to more power cuts. Even Lal Chowk, the commercial nerve centre of Kashmir, was battling power hassles throughout the Arfa day (a day prior to Eid), which describes the worsening power scenario in the Valley even before the arrival of winter,” said Tanveer Ahmad Beigh, a dry fruits shop owner.

At some localities in old city, the damaged transformers have not been repaired even on Eid, even though people made several representations before the authorities concerned apprising them of their concerns.

“The state administration is well aware of our problems but still chooses to be heedless. When we take to streets for our concerns, we are dubbed as stone-pelters,” said Muntazir Ali, a youth hailing from Zaindar Mohalla, Habba Kadal. The fall in temperature and shortage of LPG and kerosene have added to the woes of common man, dampening Eid celebrations to a great extent. PDD Chief Engineer Muzaffar Matoo could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. 

Srinagar, October 26
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand has ordered a joint survey to be conducted by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Public Health Engineering (PHE) and National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) to spell out an alternate plan to weed out bottlenecks hampering development projects.

“The deputy Chief Minister asked the authorities of the SMC, PHE and NBCC to conduct a joint survey and spell out an alternate possible way so that the utilities hampering the on-going projects in Srinagar city are shifted in time bound manner,” said an official spokesperson.

Tara Chand held an officers’ meeting here today where he reviewed the progress of the projects taken up in two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu.

The minister framed a technical committee comprising Chief Engineers of the PHE and Urban Engineering Environment Department (UEED), Managing Director JK Housing Board, Superintending Engineer SMC, to do spot surveys and recommend remedial measures.

“Commissioner SMC have been asked to coordinate the committee which has asked to go on the spot and recommend the remedial measures need to be taken to remove the bottlenecks hindering the development projects started in the Srinagar city,” said the spokesperson.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Nasir Aslam Wani, Vice Chairmen of Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Jammu Development Authority (JDA), Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), Chief Engineers of UEED and PHE departments, Managing Director, JK Housing Board, Directors of Urban Local Bodies of Kashmir and Jammu divisions besides senior officers of several other departments were present at the meeting.

“Tara Chand directed officers to expedite land acquisition process wherever is required and ensure that projects are completed in time,” said the spokesperson. “Government is committed to provide accountable and transparent administration and officers should ensure accountability and transparency at all levels in their respective organisations,” said the deputy Chief Minister.

Srinagar, October 26
Jammu and Kashmir Medical Education Minister RS Chib today inaugurated a newly constructed 30-room attendants’ inn at SMHS hospital.

“The building located in the premises of the SMHS hospital has been constructed at a cost of Rs 4.98 crore. It comprises five storeys with 30 rooms, including 16 paid rooms with bathrooms and pantries,” said an official spokesperson.

Adviser to Chief Minister Mubarak Gul, MLA and chairperson State Women Commission Shamima Firdous, Commissioner Secretary Health Manoj Kumar Dwivedi and Principal Government Medical College Srinagar Dr Rafiq Pampori were among those present on the occasion.

Chib said, “The state coalition government is committed to provide better medical facilities to the people. In this connection, a number of steps have already been taken by way of construction of basic infrastructure in the shape of new health institutions, equipped with basic facilities in all the three regions of the state.”

The minister also interacted with doctors and officials and enquired about arrangements of heating system in the rooms ahead of the winter season.

“Chib directed the agencies concerned for taking immediate steps for making the heating system operational,” said the spokesperson.

The minister said the process of appointment of Class IV employees at the hospital would be taken up soon and preference would be given to local 
applicants.

Srinagar, October 26
A 12-year-old Mukhtar is a striking face in the crowded Goni Khan, market of Srinagar’s commercial centre, Lal Chowk. He is not here for Eid shopping, he is pushing his cart of kitchen wares past through the shoppers in Goni Khan, calling the prospective buyers to purchase his multi-coloured plastic dinner set. Mukhtar is anxious as he hopes to sell off the stuff before the dusk to return home at Kupwara in north Kashmir.

“I need to catch the last bus which goes to my place at 6 in the evening. It gets dark early these days in the Valley. There is only one more day to go for Eid. My widow mother and younger sister are waiting for me so that they do some last minute shopping with whatever little money I earn,” he shares.

Mukhtar is not alone in this struggle for survival. Over one lakh child labourers of Kashmir who have lost the joy of childhood to the bigger life issues have taken the responsibility of their families like Mukhtar.

From mopping cars to selling carpets, these kids have little to cheer about on the festival like Eid.

Despite ban on ‘child labour’ in the state, there has been no let up in child workforce of the state. It completely violates the Section 24 of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution which states that no child below or in the age group of 6- 14 years be deprived of education or employed both in organised and unorganised sectors.

Not only has the government failed to rescue the fundamental rights of the children in Kashmir, but even the NGOs and other private bodies who claim to be the champion for the cause of child rights have actually done very little on the grass root level.

A 2009 study conducted by the Central Asian Studies Department at the University of Kashmir found that huge number of working children are uneducated or undereducated, a fact that constitutes a grave violation of human rights.“The statistics are alarming and I am certain that the number is on an increase, especially when there is a huge influx of non-native child labourers in the state,” said Professor Ishtiyaq, an educationist at Kashmir University.

According to the study, nearly 34 per cent of child labourers have received a fifth grade education while just over 66 per cent have studied up until the eighth grade.

Once they start working, 80 per cent of child labourers stop attending school altogether. Besides their education, the studies show the health of one lakh child labourers in Kashmir also suffers from potential hazards like high blood pressure, heart related diseases and myopia.