Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: The annual board examinations scheduled to begin in Kashmir on Monday will be an acid test for the PDP-BJP coalition government which remained firm to hold examinations despite opposition from various quarters, including the student community.

All arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the examinations for classes 10 and 12 scheduled to start on November 14 and 15, respectively, officials said, allaying fears of any trouble or inconvenience to the students appearing.

“All arrangements are in place for over one lakh students scheduled to appear for the 10th and 12th class examinations. While 484 exam centres have been set up for about 48,000 candidates for class 12th examination across Kashmir division, as many as 550 exam centres have been established for 5,5000 candidates for class 10th examination,” an official of School Education department told PTI.

Schools in the Valley went on a two-week summer holiday on July 1 but could not resume functioning due to the unrest which was triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani along with his two associates in an encounter with security forces in a village in Kokernag area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on July 8.

The unrest has left 96 persons dead and thousands injured while hundreds of people including students were booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) for participating in the protests.

The official said over 98 per cent of students have already collected their admit cards to appear in the examinations – an encouraging development attributed to the government decision to provide 50 per cent relaxation in syllabus.

The government has also decided to hold separate examination for class 10 and 12 in March next year if they fail to appear in already scheduled exams in November but the students have to attempt 100 per cent of the question paper.

For the first time, the school education department has categorized the examination centres into sensitive, hypertensive and normal categories given the apprehensions of law and order situation around exam centres.

Also, most of the exam centres were shifted from schools to new locations on basis of security inputs given by JK Police.

“We shifted most of the exam centres on basis of inputs given by JK Police. We changed the location of exam centres wherever we had apprehensions of law and order situation,” said Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Ajaz Ahmad Bhat.

He said holding exams was linked with 1.5 lakh students in Kashmir for which all the “preventive measures” have been taken by the government.

“Government will deploy ROPs on all the routes to enable students to reach their examination centres. Security arrangements will be made outside the exam centres throughout Kashmir,” Bhat said.

“We should not rely on protection of police for appearing in exams. Society should play a role as it is a student issue.”

Interestingly for the first time, government has appointed Magistrates for exam centres to handle the law and order situation.

“Government has appointed magistrates at cluster or zone level to handle the law and order situation around exam centres,” a senior official in administration said.

Meanwhile education offices shall remain open on November 14. According to an order issued by the Director School Education Kashmir, keeping in view the conduct of 10th and 12th class examinations commencing from 14 November 2016, the Directorate of School Education, Chief Education Offices and Zonal Education Offices in Kashmir valley shall remain open on 14th November 2016.

Srinagar: A young Kashmiri business man Haseeb Trumboo passes away last night due to a massive heart attack here. He was 31. 

He is survived by his young wife and eight month old twins. 

Haseeb was Director at Trumboo Food Industries that owns famous mineral water brand Pure Max. Born to Zaffar Ahmad Trumboo he was an enthusiastic business man who had emerged as a vibrant business leader. 

His body will be laid to rest in Baramulla later in the day. Large number of people are visiting their residence at Shah Anwar Colony Bye Pass Srinagar.

Kashmir Today extends solidarity with the family and all members of Trumboo Groups including TCI.

‘He works with Associated Press’

Srinagar: Dar Yasin, a photojournalist working with Associated Press (AP), has bagged the prestigious Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar award.
Notably, the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, America’s longest continuously operating photojournalism conference, started in 1973. Its 2016 edition took place on November 11-12, 2016 at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast.

Dar’s photograph was adjudged as the second best in the general news category.
The click that bagged the award is a photograph showing Kashmiri Muslims climbed on trees to watch the funeral procession of Waseem Malla, a suspected militant of Hizb ul Mujahideen, in Pehlipora.
Clicked on Thursday, April 7, 2016 photo, the village where the funeral took place is more than 65 kms south of Srinagar.
Malla, whose real name was Anam ul Haq Malla, was one of the two militants who were killed in the encounter at Vehil in Shopian. The other slain militant was identified as Naseer Ahmad Pandith, resident of Karimabad village in Pulwama.
Dar is a decorated photo-journalist whose clicks earlier have also brought him many laurels.
He has been covering Kashmir for the AP for more than a decade now.

“Stakeholders need to sit together, fid way out”

Srinagar: Senior PDP leader and Education Minister, Naeem Akhter on Sunday said that his party forged an alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to find a way out to resolve long pending Kashmir issue.
Talking to KNS on the sidelines of the party function here at PDP’s headquarter, Akhter said that “We entered into an alliance with BJP with the expectation and confidence of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi being most empowered PM. He would certainly find a way out for Kashmir as former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayye had tried earlier and succeeded to a great extend.”
He said, “Stake holders need to sit together and find a way out of this issue and that is what PDP is all about (doing).”
Akhter said that they expect the temperatures to come down because the Prime Minister had taken a bold step when he had gone to Lahore but unfortunately that was followed up by very negative developments.
He told reporters that they believe there is no substitute to dialogue and everybody understands that the dialogue at different levels, dialogue with local stakeholders at internal dimensions and external dimension should be held.
Referring to the query about present situation in Valley, Naeem said that situations are temporary, situations are passing, what is permanent is the agenda of a party, the philosophy of a party and the interests of the people.
He said that they will be series of workers meetings to reiterate their position on issues facing Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Naeem said that re-arrangements that are needed for the security of students and for giving them an atmosphere conducive to hold examinations in very peaceful circumstances.
 

The decision will be applicable up to Class IX in all private schools of the Valley

Srinagar: In a major decision, the Private Schools’ Association of Kashmir today decided to provide provisional promotion to students of all classes, except Class X and Class XII, with immediate effect.The chairman of the association, GN Var, said the decision had been taken to save the precious time of students.“As of now, we have decided to give provisional promotion to all classes up to Class IX and Class XI till a final decision is taken,” Var said.“This will give immediate relief to lakhs of students and their parents, who are living in a state of dilemma due to the turmoil,” Var added.The association said students were living under severe stress and the provisional promotion would provide them a direction to move forward.“Now, the new syllabus and books will be issued and students will prepare for the new session,” Var added.He said it had also been decided in the meeting that schools would open during the deal period to start new admissions and issue assignments and do other academic work.“Our schools will work overtime during the deal period to help, counsel and guide the students,” Var added.He added that all coaching centres had decided to help the needy students, particularly those affected during the turmoil. (TNS)

Islamabad: Mushaal Hussein Mullick, Chairperson Peace and Culture Organization and wife of detained Hurriyet leader Yasin Malik, along with Convener World Minorities Alliance and Organizer Awaami Maseeha Party Mr. J Salik and Hurriyet Leadership organized a sit-in protest outside National press club against atrocities in Kashmir.

People from all walks of life, including lawyers, doctors, students, human rights activists, religious figures, politicians, intellectuals, writers, professors, hurriyet leadership and minorities leaders, attended the sit-in to express solidarity with people of Kashmir.

The leaders and activists raised slogans against Indian occupation of Kashmir and demanded demilitarization of Kashmir, uplifting of army curfew and economic blockade, repealing of draconian laws, release of all political prisoners, holding of free and fair plebiscite as per UNSC resolutions, and stoppage of mass blinding, handicapping, maiming, raping, and killing of innocent Kashmiri people by security forces.

The participants of the sit-in stressed that the international human rights organizations must take notice of Indian state terrorism in Kashmir. They urged world bodies, particularly United Nations Human Rights Council, to send their fact finding missions to monitor the scale and depth of human rights violations in Indian Kashmir. J Salik, head of world minorities’ alliance, continuously put mud on his head during six hours sit-in as a protest against the human rights violations by forces in Kashmir. He said that the purpose of protest with mud is to show that humanity is hidden under the mud.

Regrets negative portrayal of JK by some media channels; Says Mufti’s vision for tourism development will be accomplished

JAMMU: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today described tourism as an important means of people to people dialogue adding that it gives ample opportunities to people to know each other better and closely. She however, regretted the negative portrayal of the State by certain outside media outlets.

Addressing the delegates of India Tavel Mart (ITM) here this evening, the Chief Minister said there is no better mechanism to let the outsiders know of the State, its people and the situation on their own than the tourism sector. That is why, she said, every tourist visit to the State is a step towards peace.

Asking the Tourism Department and tour operators to work together for improving the tourist footfall to the State, the Chief Minister said the impression about the State would improve consequentially with more and more tourist arrivals as they would be judging the place for themselves rather than relying on newsroom discussions of some news channels.

Mehbooba Mufti said that it is true that Jammu Kashmir is having certain political issues but the hospitable nature of its people was never given proper and appropriate coverage. She recalled how a boatman in Dal recently rescued a tourist family when his boat capsized and in the process got himself drowned and how some injured Amarnath Yatris were treated by local people during the last few difficult months. But these things were not reflected appropriately, she remarked with regret. She said some media channels unfortunately created gory pictures on both the sides and tourism is the best way to bridge this gap.

Terming the vision of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed about Jammu & Kashmir as the cornerstone of her Government, the Chief Minister said the late leader believed that peace was imperative for development of the State and for that dialogue and discourse was a must. She said the aim of the late leader was to bring closer hearts and minds of people of the three regions of the state when he thought of making the Government in 2014. His aim was to unite people and regions and not divide them, she said.

Mehbooba Mufti said if peace and development in J&K is so desired it can be fulfilled only by following the vision and dream of the late leader and assured the delegated that whatever he had conceptualized for tourism promotion in the State would be accomplished by the present Government with all seriousness. She said ambitious projects like border tourism, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Tawi lake etc. in Jammu province would be pursued.

Mehbooba Mufti said one of the positive things to come out of recent disturbed situation in the State was that people of all the regions now feel the pain of each other. Many businessmen of Jammu suffered losses due to shut down in Kashmir and many of Kashmiri parents thought it safe to send their wards to Jammu when they couldn’t send them to school there, she said adding that something of this sort is being witnessed in Jammu & Kashmir for the first time and complimented the common people for showing such gestures.

Giving some food for thought to the delegates, the Chief Minister asked them to sit down and see how Jammu & Kashmir can be marketed in tourism industry for every section of society. Why can’t we have some separate packages for adventure seekers, pilgrimage seekers, women and girls as J&K has remained safest on women’s security count.

Mehbooba Mufti said tourist infrastructure needs more and more upgradation and it needs to be made Nature friendly while providing the guests all the requisite facilities. She said the Centre has allocated sufficient funds for tourism development in the State and hoped that in the coming months and years tourist infrastructure would be upgraded exponentially.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister distributed 4th All India Tour and Travel awards among the winners.

In his address, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh hailed the vision and developmental concept of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for the state and said for the first time the people in every region felt that here was a Government which represented his or her aspirations.

The Deputy Chief Minister assured the delegates that the present Government with the cooperation from the Centre has planned a massive development initiative for the State and referred to the up gradation of Jammu airport which was done in a short span of time.

Minister of State for Tourism, Priya Sethi in her address said the State Government with the support of Centre would give a big push to the development of the State.

Secretary, Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah gave an overview of the tourist development projects in the state.

Earlier, top industry leaders of the country including Mr Subhash Goel, Mr P P Khanna and Mr Akshay Kumar also addressed the gathering and assured the State Government of their support in promoting tourism. They also hailed the vision and plan of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for promoting tourism in the State.

Minister for Cooperatives, Mr T Dorjey, senior officers of State administration besides representatives of Tourism Departments of many states, tour and travel bodies were present in the inaugural function of the three day event.