Category: Union Territory

Watch Video:

Srinagar: Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader Er Nazir Amad Yatoo on Friday appealed heads of all political parties not to go with begging bowl to central government for restoration of 4G Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement issued here, senior PDP leader, Er Nazir Yatoo said, “2G in not enough, it is a good joke with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Centre government wants to deceive the rest of world by saying we have restored internet in Jammu and Kashmir, but the truth is, common people can’t even download basic files,” he said.

Yatoo said, every Kashmiri politician begged centre government to restore high speed internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, but unfortunately the centre didn’t showed interest in favor of people of J&K.

Er Nazir Yatoo said, businesses in the valley have suffered losses worth crores since August 5, thousands of salesmen were pushed to stay at home. Sectors like tourism, horticulture and agriculture have been the worst hit. “First the internet shutdown and now the internet speed added to losses due to disruption in online sector after August 5th,” Yatoo said.

Er Nazir Yatoo said economy of J&K is in the throes of calamitous crisis and that small and marginal entrepreneurs, students, medical fraternity and traders are the worst hit.
“The government is no more sincere with the people as well as politicians of Jammu and Kashmir, he said .

He said, at a time when online business has taken a severe blow in Kashmir, centre government is talking about giving new 50,000 jobs, one fails to understand the policy of centre government. When they are in no mood to restore evem high speed internet services, how can they provide new jobs to kashmiri youth?, Yatoo questioned.

Yatoo said, in this time, when the world is fighting to stop the spread of deadly virus, International bodies like “Amnesty International” are repeatedly urging centre to restore high-speed 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir to help people in preparing against the spread of coronavirus.

Yatoo observed that restoration of 4G mobile internet services across Kashmir would have enable people to remain engaged inside their homes in this tough time, but the centre government is in no mood to restore the service, despite repeated calls from the various heads of political parties.

Doctors, nurses, and other health care workers are gearing up to work round-the-clock when this pandemic kicks in with full force across the world. Every moment will deal a frantic life or death situation of urgency, but slow internet services in such a time is highly unacceptable, PDP leader said.

The medical fraternity in this time has taken a big hit in absence of high speed mobile internet services while netizens of Kashmir have also suffered hugely,”
he said, while urging the heads of local political parts, not to beg infront of centre government.

“It has been more than seven months for students to stay home after the central government locked down the region to prevent protests against abrogation of Article 370 in August last year. “The loss could have been now compensated by online classes. One fail to find a logic in restricting high speed internet in this time”, he said.

Meanwhile, senior PDP leader appealed all political parties of Jammu and Kashmir, not to go with begging bowl before centre government for restoration of high speed internet service and it is enough now.

Sharing experiences with friends

Dr. Amit Wanchoo

Many friends nationally and internationally are asking how we Kashmiris have spent time during multiple lockdowns in last three decades. They want to learn and gain experience in the times of COVID 19. Well we have seen lockdowns and many times it was with one major difference having restricted or no access to Internet. We had social distancing during lockdowns in Kashmir but at the moment it is more physical distancing. But as they say adversities come with opportunities and I think many of us in Kashmir adapted positivity and that is why we are still surviving. So let me go step by step what actually matters in lockdowns and how we should take care.

Lockdowns always have immediate, short term and long term effects and we have to deal with them accordingly. The first things that come to our mind are always the essential things. My immediate checklist for the lockdown goes as:

Make a list of doctors/ paramedics who will be available during any emergency (day or night) in your locality.
Keep handy cash at home because you may need it anytime
Electricity backups like inverter and generators wherever it is possible.
Candles / torch in case of severe breakdowns
Stock eatables, gas and other fuels to a limited extent.
For cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy you need to have constant follow up with the concerned medico.
Oxygen concentrators / cylinders for those who need them 24×7 should be stocked.
Frequent chats within family and friends can be video/ audio etc
Stock up emergency medicines, recharging mobile phones and if required request for special curfew pass from administration.
Have a good Sleep. Your body needs rest
Then comes the short and long term phase. For short term phase the major challenge is to manage fake news, anxiety disorders, panic and other associated factors. The short term effects of lockdowns vary but I am focussing on major ones depending on my experience in Kashmir for last three decades.

1. In short term lock downs you have to first care for people having mental health issues like OCD, Anxiety or any mental disorder.
2. Anxiety disorders even in general population are a lot and this time it is about hand washing. For anyone with generalised anxiety it exposes him or her to excessive worrying and irrational behaviour. Considering the present crisis of Corona Virus hand washing at times becomes a major challenge in OCD patients.
3. General public should avoid temptation to learn everything about COVID 19 from social media. Have information that is required. More social media information adds to panic and mostly it is the fake news.
4. Have verified trusted news source and twice a day update is enough about Corona Virus
5. Managing anxiety and panic during such crisis requires us to focus on facts and not random emotional bulletins.
6. As a community you have to come together and feed those who can’t afford a living. This has been done in Kashmir by people through mohalla committees, various social and civil organisations.
7. If you have issues with anyone business, professional, personal. This is the best time to reach out, chat, talk and resolve your differences
8. Spend quality time with your family and friends. In present corona crisis you can do it with audio calls, video calls and whatsapp groups.
9. For children it is the best time to encourage traditional storytelling, introduce them more to your local regional language, culture, art and local heroes who are fighting the crisis.
10. Eat less, try to avoid weight gain and have mental relaxation.

In long term lockdowns the whole strategy changes and we have to get loads of sectors together and major challenge is to sustain economy. In case COVID 19 goes off soon and I pray for that than we may not need that strategy. But in case it sticks for longer time I will share with all of you those experiences in next article.

Dr Amit Wanchoo is a medical doctor, entrepreneur and social activist. He is Chairman H.N.Wanchoo Trust.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Kashmir Today and Kashmir Today does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar, Mar 26 (KNO): At least a dozen workers from northern belt of Kashmir are stuck in Haryana without food and money after authorities announced lockdown in wake of increasing threat due to Coronavirus after a contractor they worked for reduced to pay outstanding dues.

According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a group of part time workers (Caterers) are stuck in Haryana without food and money due to lockdown after the contractor they worked for refused to pay outstanding dues.

The aggrieved group of youth said that they are stuck here in absence of food and money for over a week now. “We are 12 persons and have been living on a two packets of maggi only for the past three days. Now, now we have started to boil some water and consume that since we have no money with us now to buy ourselves food,” they told KNO over phone.

They said that they belong to the district Kupwara and have been working outside Kashmir. “We move out of J&K to work as caterers. The contractor for whom we were working has ditched us and left us midway,” they said. “He (Contractor) refused to pay us after the scare of novel Corona-virus mounted. Medical teams conducted our tests but all of us tested negative for the virus but none is listening to our pleas.”

Showing their resentment over the local police of Haryana, they said they approached a local police station Rishi Nagar (In Haryana) with a complaint against the contractor but all the requests made fell on deaf ears.

The aggrieved group of workers said that they urge the central government and the authorities in union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to provide us necessary help and take them out from Haryana towards their destinations before they catch the deadly Corona-virus —(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 26: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday decided to continue with the restrictions imposed on high speed mobile data services across the Union Territory till April 03.

According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Principal Secretary to government, Shaleen Kabra issued an order vide order number Home 21-(TSTS) of 2020, dated 26-03-2020.

“After taking note of the overall situation in the UT of J&K and the latest reports of the law enforcement agency, particularly with regard to speed related restrictions on Mobile data services, the internet speed shall be restricted to 2G only upto April-03,” the order reads.

“The post-paid sim card holders shall be provided with access to the internet. However, such access shall not be made available on pre-paid sim cards unless verified as per norms applicable for post-paid connections,” it added – (KNO)

Watch Video:

This is no workout. They are doing sit-ups as punishment for violating prohibitory orders in Srinagar.

#Covid19 #StayHome #StaySafe

Watch Video:

KINS Desk

Srinagar, March 26 (KINS): Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang Kondbarao Pole has appealed people not to worry over the safety of Kashmiris who are stranded abroad or in any state across the country.

He also said strict action would be taken against those who are hiding travel history.

“People should not worry over safety of Kashmiris. Authorities in New Delhi are dealing with issues like those who are stranded abroad. I will also seek information about Kashmiris who are stranded abroad or in any state across the country,” Pandurang told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).

He said authorities will take action against those who are hiding their travel history.

Authorities have identified around 500 people who have travel history, are hiding in Kashmir to escape screening and quarantine.

“Some 1,800 persons returning from abroad have been quarantined in 90 facilities set up so far; over 150 persons hiding travel histories traced and were put under quarantine in the past one week,” DC Srinagar Shahid Chowdhary has Choudhary.(KINS)