Author: hamid

Srinagar: Listing women empowerment as one of the top agendas of the State Government, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, today said the female folk are important stakeholders in making Jammu and Kashmir a peaceful and progressive State.
“Women have huge stakes in peace as they are the first casualty of any trauma or violence. Also, the brunt of the societal losses is borne more by the women than the men. In our world which is full of chaos, investments must be made to empower women. If you empower a girl or a woman, you are empowering the entire nation,” Mufti said.
The Chief Minister was speaking during two separate functions at SKICC in Srinagar and Dak Bungalow Baramulla while launching ‘Empowering the Girl Child’ scheme. Ahead of her speech, Mufti handed over keys of scooters to 300 girl students of Government Colleges for Women MA Road and Nawa Kadal College in Srinagar and 150 students of Government Women’s College Baramulla. Under the scheme, the Government provides subsidy on scooters for meritorious girl students.
Noting that women in our society struggle throughout their life starting right from their birth and have to face various difficulties, the Chief Minister said that this scheme is part of an endeavor of the State Government to empower the girl child and to facilitate her independent mobility. She said under the scheme the State Government will facilitate 50% sponsorship of the cost of Scooty for college going girls in the State. These vehicles, will enable girl’s independence of mobility and at the same time promote confidence in them, she added.
The Chief Minister reiterated her Government’s commitment to work for the safety, development and empowerment of J&K’s womenfolk and added that this scheme will not only help girls in commuting but will also bring in her courage, self confidence and a feeling of self dependence. She added that the scheme was supposed to be launched in the Kashmir valley in the month of July, however due to the unfortunate situation it was delayed.
Referring to the education sector, the Chief Minister said that it has suffered the most during the recent turmoil and added that while people who can afford shall manage the education of their children outside the state, however the students from poor families have suffered massive academic loss. She further said that even those who can afford also think twice in case of female child, who ultimately suffers again.
Hoping that the prevailing situation will improve and better time shall prevail, Mehbooba said that “as Mahtma Gandhi saw a ray of hope in Jammu & Kashmir in 1947, I also see a similar ray of hope that things will be back to normal soon”.
The Chief Minister also announced All Terrain Mountain Bike (ATMB) scheme for meritorious boys on the pattern of Scooty Scheme for girl students. She said under the scheme any boy in the 10th standard belonging to lower economic background who has to cover a distance of more than 2 k from his home to school and shall secure above 58% in his 10th exa will be eligible for a mountain bicycle if he gives in writing that he shall continue to pursue his education.
Recalling her college and university days, the Chief Minister said she has firsthand experience of the harassment suffered by girl students on the roads and during travel in public transport, “In Kashmir, the proble are more complicated. While education has suffered due to ongoing situation, the girl students have borne the brunt. They have been confined to their homes. While riding these scooters, keep your head high and feel proud of your achievements,” she said while addressing the girl students.
Lauding the efforts of the State’s Finance Minister, Mehbooba said the State Government is endeavouring to make positive contributions for the welfare of girl child and women in J&K. “Keeping this in mind, our Government launched a scheme called ‘Laadli Beti’ so that a girl child is not seen as a burden by her poor parents,” the Chief Minister said. She said the ‘Laadli Beti’ scheme has been launched to create a strong positive disposition towards the girl child and ai to reverse the alarming trend of declining child sex ratio. The scheme addresses the concerns of girl’s right from birth to adulthood by providing financial security to them, she added.
She said another initiative in this regard is starting of ladies special buses meant exclusively to facilitate safe and easy commutation for women.
The Chief Minister said that the Government has increased the number of woman police stations across the state and it is an important initiative towards ensuring safety of women folk and will help women to put forth their grievances or complaints like domestic violence, without any hesitation.
She said that the Government is also considering establishment of institutes for entrepreneurship development specially for women so that they could benefit from it and earn their living. The Chief Minister added that education is the most important tool that a girl can have to make her feel and be independent. To the exam going children the Chief Minister said that, exa are approaching that those who wish could appear in November and others in March and wished them all the best.
Describing in length the virtues of Islam and the place of women in The Holy Quran, Mehbooba said: “Islam has great regard for women, but unfortunately, she is seen as a burden. The reality of Islam is being hidden from us. Hazrat Khadija (RA), wife of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), was a businesswoman. Hazrat Aisha (RA) was a great horse rider and she also led a battle”.
The Chief Minister said Islam gives enormous rights to women but certain vested interests distort the real message to suit their politics. “If we want peace and stability, women should also have stakes in our social and political processes. Looking after parents is not the job of sons only in the same way as cooking is for women,” she said.
The functions were also attended by Minister of Finance, Culture and Labour and Employment, Dr Haseeb A Drabu, Minister of State for Health, Asiea Naqash, MLC, Mohammad Khursheed Alam, MLAs, Abid Ansari, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Anjum Fazili, Javaid Hassan Beigh, Yawar Dillawar Mir and Mohammad Abbas Wani, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan, Inspector General of Police Kashmir, SJM Gilani, DC Srinagar, DC Baramulla, Principals of various colleges and other senior officers from the civil and police administration.

Awantipora: After “Operation Calm” down in South Kashmir, army is now focussing on another operation – “School Chalo”, under which it identifies areas and provides students with free coaching and make them participate in extra-curricular activities.

Poonch: An army soldier was killed in Saujiyan sector of Poonch as India and Pakistan exchanged heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports said that the soldier was identified as Rajinder Tupara of 22 MLi

Another soldier was killed in Krishna Gati sector of Poonch earlier today.

A woman working as SPO was also injured in the shelling, said a police official.

He identified the woman as Zareefa Bi.

Meeting of all stakeholders convened on Tuesday for future strategy

Srinagar: Reacting sharply to the statement made by Peoples Democratic Party leader and MLC Khurshid Alam that Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA),Chairman,Muhammad Yasin Khan was “poking nose into education to be in headlines”, the KEA said education of children has to be concern of every individual in a civilized society that too when their career is being ruined by the government itself.

The KEA Media Head, Farhan Kitab in a statement said the KEA has evolved out of the efforts of the civil society and thus finds its responsibility to keep an eye on everything pertaining to the society and its interests than to talk of business in isolation.

The KEA said: “It is encouraging that PDP has given charge of defending the misadventures of the education minister to a former Assistant Storekeeper, whose success is allegedly a mysterious story of rags to riches. But Kashmir Inc would appreciate the efforts of the ruling government more if this statement had come from a genuinely educated face in the PDP.”

Taking a dig at Aalam’s statement that holding two exams the government has made a “historic decision”, the KEA reiterated its query if the session will be treated as November or March? “If history is made by ambiguity and confusion to meet egos then let Education Minister Naeem Akhter enforce final exams every month for more of ‘historic’ decisions,” the KEA said asking the government to call an open debate over the issue.

“If the government is so sincere, let it call an open debate where civil society from our side will prove that this enforcement of examinations is nothing but war of egos at the cost of career of around one lakh students,” the Kashmir Economic Alliance said adding apart from local press even the New Delhi based media has already exposed this plot.

The KEA said though Khurshid Aalam is the “Rudala” of the incumbent regime, he doesn’t know, which shoes to step in to shed crocodile tears and how. “We the people of Kashmir will appreciate if the government orders an inquiry into his assets and how he minted it all.”

SRINAGAR: Thousands of people on Sunday took part in the funeral prayers of slain Hizb militant in Shopian district of south Kashmir.

Reports and witnesses said that thousands of people reached the Zarkan Kellar village to offer last rites of Waseem Ahmad Khanday who was killed in an encounter with government forces in Dhobijan village.

Khanday, they said, was laid to rest amid pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans.

Shopian: A militant was killed while a soldier sustained injuries during a gunfight in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday. 

    The encounter broke out after forces launched a search operation in Dobjan village of the district following inputs about the presence of militants there. During the gunfight one militant was neutralized whom police as Waseem Ahmad Khanday while three others managed to break the cordon.

   An official said that Khanday had joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen over a month ago after snatching a rifle from the residence of Communist party leader Abdul Rehman Tukroo in the district.

   He said as the security forces moved to the target house, hiding militants resorted to firing in an attempt to break the cordon, triggering an encounter.  

   One militant was killed and a soldier injured, the official said, adding that the three militants managed to escape.

Srinagar: Massacre of more than three hundred thousand Muslims at Jammu on 6th November 1947 is the blackest day of human history. Recent RSS rallies in Pirpanjal and Chenab valley a reminder of growing threat of fascism in these areas. PDP led regime facilitating RSS mindset in Jammu, Pirpanjal and Chenab. This was stated by the chairman of Jammu Kashmir liberation front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik while recalling the sacrifices rendered by Muslims of Jammu in 1947. This was stated by the chairman JKLF Muhammad Yasin on the anniversary of Jammu massacre today. JKLF chairman  said that 6^th of November 1947, represents a blackest day of human history when Lakh’s of Jammu Muslims, driven out of their homes were butchered by communal fascist forces patronized by rulers of that time . The Jammu massacre I 1947 reminds us the brutal and criminal face of Hindu fascism and the criminal silence of international community on these kinds of massacres exposes the duplicity and double standards of international community, asserted Yasin Malik. JKLF chairman said that the people who were massacred at Jammu in 1947 stood for the freedom of Jammu Kashmir and by killing more than three hundred thousand Muslims that day, fascist forces abetted by the then rulers also changed the demography of Jammu region completely. He said that when all this was happening in Jammu, Kashmiri Muslims stood for communal harmony as taught by their great religion Islam, and despite provocations safeguarded their non Muslim brethren living in Kashmir. Terming recent armed Rallies of RSS in Chenab and Pirpanjal as bullying Muslims living in these areas, He said that after assuming power in Jammu Kashmir PDP/BJP coalition have actually given a free hand to the same mindset that was responsible for Jammu like massacres in 1947. Today Jammu, Doda, Baderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch ,Ladakh and even Kashmir is being polluted by this mindset and so-called rulers for their lust of power are ready to obey every order of Nagpur to  fulfill its ugly agenda on Jammu Kashmir. Yasin Malik said that people of Jammu Kashmir cannot forget the sacrifices rendered by Jammu Muslims and today when we recall their sacrifices, we pray to Allah almighty to fulfill their dreams and bestow us with liberty and freedom. While paying rich tribute to recently martyred youth Qaiser Ahmad Sofi of Shalimar, JKLF chairman strongly condemned the police attack on his funeral at Safakadal. They kill our kith and kin and use pellets and shells to keep us away from mourning on them even, said Yasin Malik. While praying for the heavenly abode of Qaiser Ahmad Sufi, JKLF chief expressed heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.    

JKLF chairman while expressing concern over the worsening health condition of JKLF zonal vice president Muhammad Yasin Butt said that denying medical facility to incarcerated people is criminal. It is worth to mention JKLF incarcerated leader Muhammad Yasin Bhat who is languishing in central jail Srinagar is ill from last many days. He had survived a heart attack recently and is living on life saving drugs since then.  He was attended by the doctors at central jail who recommended him to be shifted to hospital but authorities till now are showing no concern and are have not shifted him to any hospital for a proper treatment. JKLF chairman also condemned the prolonged incarceration of JKLF activist in Sopore Molvi Reyaz who despite being granted bail is not released by the police. 

Srinagar: Miscreants on Saturday evening hurled stones at a bus carrying staff of SK Institute of Medical Sciences Soura in Qamarwari area of Srinagar.

A staff member who was onboard told that three staffers were injured after miscreants hurled stones at the bus on Cement Kadal today evening.

“Three staff members including women sustained injuries in their face. They had to be treated at SKIMS Bemina,” he said, adding that the driver of the bus had a narrow escape.

He said the windowpanes of the bus were damaged due to the stones.