Blog

Suzain Hayra Perweiz is a second-year student hailing from Srinagar, Kashmir currently pursuing Economics Honors from the Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi.

Apart from being a UPSC aspirant, she is a Gender Rights Advocate and the Founder-President of Girl Up Rooh which is a United Nations Initiative to promote gender equality and empower individuals. This campaign is dedicated to securing equal opportunities for underprivileged girls and is a safe space for women. She is also the Secretary of Pink Legal Khwabeeda which is a platform focusing on women’s legal rights and laws.

Through Girl Up Rooh and Pink Legal Khwabeeda, she aims to provide a platform for women, and work towards a world without stereotypes and gender inequality, and contribute her bit to make women aware, independent, and empowered so that they can stand up and fight for social inclusion and equal rights and help them achieve their goals by shattering the stereotypes set by the society.

She firmly believes that it is important to create a gender-equitable space in the world and that women are equivalent in all aspects of life. She hopes to create a society that is more sensitive and accepting to one and all. She believes in acknowledging her privilege and wants to work towards the welfare of underprivileged sections of society. Being brought up in a patriarchal society, she has seen the struggles women go through every day and her goal is to smash the patriarchy and create a society where girls can live a life without sacrifices, without compromises and adjustments.

She envisions promoting legal rights, spreading awareness on social issues, and empowering and inspiring women. She wants to create an environment where people feel free to express themselves and feel empowered to make a change in the patriarchal structures that have been deeply instilled in us. She hopes to live in and contribute to a kinder, more inclusive, and considerate world where everyone can do what they love without the fear of judgment.

Currently working on a project through which Suzain is lending a helping hand for rape and acid-attack survivors. It is a fundraiser initiative in collaboration with some NGOs.

Further more, in collaborated with a Delhi based NGO, Suzain is heading a project “Nanhi Kashtiyan” focussing on spreading education among slum children. Under this project few pick up locations in different states from wherein people can donate books, stationary, money, etc which will be sent over to the kids living in slums.

Suzain is also one of the people who kickstarted a WhatsApp group “Covid Resources-Kashmir” that worked relentlessly to help people during the second wave of the pandemic. She started the group with a friend and day by day, a number of people joined. Arranging verified leads, oxygen cylinders, concentrators, hospital beds, ambulances, mental health services, plasma and blood donors, medicines, food resources, it was an emotionally draining bitter sweet experience.

At present, petrol is sold at ₹101.19 per litre and diesel at ₹88.62 in Delhi. In the national capital, central levies account for over 32% of petrol’s price, and state taxes (value-added tax or VAT) 23.07%.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, which will meet in Lucknow on Friday, is likely to discuss bringing petrol, diesel and other petroleum products under its ambit. If the proposal is accepted, it will lead to a drastic reduction in central and state levies on petrol and diesel and bring down consumer prices of automobile fuels substantially. According to a report by Hindustan Times’ sister publication Livehindustan, this may bring petrol price to ₹75 per litre, and diesel to ₹68 per litre.
The matter will be brought before the council for discussion and decision on September 17 as per the direction of the Kerala high court that had in June issued directions to decide on including petrol and diesel under the ambit of GST, two people aware of the development said, as reported by Livehindustan.
At present, petrol is sold at ₹101.19 per litre and diesel at ₹88.62 in Delhi. In the national capital, central levies account for over 32% of petrol’s price, and state taxes (value-added tax or VAT) 23.07%. On diesel, central excise is over 35% while state taxes are more than 14%.
Through 2020, as global crude prices fell, the central government raised excise duty on fuel to shore up its finances. States too followed suit as revenues were hit on account of the pandemic. According to official data, the petroleum sector contributed ₹3,71,726 crore central excise revenue in 2020-21, and ₹2,02,937 crore state levies or value-added tax (VAT).
It is represented by state finance ministers and its decisions are often unanimous.

SRINAGAR, SEP 15: Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were forced to emigrate in the 1980s, an official said that there were an estimated 25,000 unregistered Kashmiri Pandit families living in Delhi before 1989, but only 3,000 people came to collect application forms in a year after the announcement of the domicile certificate scheme only 806 families’ submitted applications.

According to an official estimate, the number of Kashmiri refugees and displaced families will be more than 50,000. The administration believes that most of them have settled permanently in one place or another and these families no longer want to return to Kashmir and even if they want to register their name under the domicile scheme, the only purpose is to get a ‘domicile’ certificate. To get

Talking to Indian Express about the lack of interest in domicile certificates, Relief, and Rehabilitation Commissioner Ashok Pandita said that the issue becomes even more complicated when it comes to including those who are under Pakistan’s control. Management is settled in Kashmir.

Pandita says that when one submits an online application, one has to write down the actual place of residence. Many people live in Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Rawlakot, and other districts. In this case, we do not accept the names of the native places of our computers. It is not just a software issue to be resolved on its own. He said the issue has been raised with the Home Ministry.

After the outbreak of militancy in Kashmir in the late 1980s, a large number of Kashmiri Pandits migrated from Kashmir and settled in other cities of India. The Jammu and Kashmir administration had announced a scheme on May 16 last year after abolishing the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. Under this, all persons who years ago or their ancestors had left the state and settled elsewhere can register themselves in the office of the Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation (Refugees) in Jammu and obtain a domicile certificate.

The purpose of this domicile certificate was to facilitate the emigrants from the state and especially the Kashmiri Pandits to regain their land as well as to help them get employment and education opportunities in the Centrally Administered Territories.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration had expected the domicile certificate scheme to be warmly welcomed but the people showed little interest in the scheme. Despite lack of interest in the scheme, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced an extension of one year. The scheme will now be in force till May 15, 2022.

The Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation has also decided to set up special camps at places were at least 50 families from Kashmir reside to receive applications. (PTK)

Srinagar, Sep 15: Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar Wednesday said that police will come down heavily upon drug addicts in coming days. He said even girls are involved in drug menace and it is not a good sign for the society.

Speaking on the sidelines of a sports event- “Taekwondo Championship” at Indoor Sports Hall here in Polo-Ground Srinagar, Kumar said police have prepared a blue-print to eradicate drug menace from the society. “Youth are involved in drug addiction. Even girls are part of this menace and it is not a good thing for the society. We will go with heavy hands against those involved in drug trade,” IGP said.

Vijay Kumar as per news agency Kashmir News Trust said that they will seek cooperation from parents and general public to put an end to this drug addiction.

“We will get out of this drug menace,” he said adding that sports activities ensure personality development and it creates a sense of security and positive feelings among participants.

In response to a volley of questions about militancy and grenade attacks, IGP Vijay Kumar said that there are four militants active in Kashmir capital Srinagar.

“Last year in August, we had declared Srinagar city ‘zero-militancy’ Zone but in the first week of September, a militant from Kulgam Abbas shifted to Srinagar and subsequently seven persons jointed militant ranks while a couple of other youth followed suit. Among them five have been neutralized,” Kumar said adding that there are 10 to 15 over ground workers active in Srinagar.

“There is nothing to worry. Either they will be killed or arrested,” he said.

Downplaying the attacks on the pattern of ‘hit and run’, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said that militants should be ashamed of themselves by resorting to such attacks. “We saw how militants indulged in ‘hit and run’ attacks in Baghat Barzulla and recently in Khanyar. They should not resort to such attacks,” he said and added that graph of militancy is coming down and there are only four militants active in Srinagar.

Kumar said he was out of station and will look into the details of couple of grenade attacks that took place recently. (KNT)

Kishtwar, September 15: Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested Ex- militant who was absconding since 12 years in Kishtwar district of Jammu division.

In a statement to GNS, the police said that Kishtwar Police have apprehended another absconder,(ex militant) who was evading arrest from the last 12 years.

On a specific information received through reliable sources a special police team of Police post Jawalapur was constituted. The team led by PSI Moin Khan under supervission of Dy.SP Hqrs Devinder Singh Bandral raided the suspected locations and arrested the absconder, they said.

The arrested absconder (ex-militant), identified as Nazir Ahmed son of Noor Mohd Gorsi resident of Budhar Bonjwah Kishtwar, wanted in case FIR No. 187/2009 U/Sec.307/ RPC 7/27 IA Act registered at Police Station Kishtwar. Thereafter said absconder has been produced before the Hon’ble Session Court Kishtwar and accordingly on the orders of the Hon’ble Court the accused has been lodged in judicial custody, concludes the statement.

Issues statement regarding facts behind a concocted video circulated on social media

Srinagar, September 15: Police on Wednesday issued a statement regarding a concocted video which is being circulated on social media.

In a statement, the police said that some concocted videos of a lady namely Sweety Jan daughter of Abdul Rashid Dar resident of Wuyan have been circulated by some social media groups where in she is falsely implicating police of evicting her from the house.The claims of the lady and her relatives in the video are baseless and concocted.

However the facts behind it are that on 14th September Police Station Khrew received a status quo order passed by Hon’ble Court of Sub Judge Pulwama, wherein the directions have been passed not to allow the non applicant i.e Sweety Jan and her matrimonial family members to interfere with the property of the applicant till the next date of hearing, they said.

In compliance to the Hon’ble court directions Police team from Police Station Khrew along with Lady police reached the spot to implement the order . But the family members of the lady Sweety created ruckus and dettered Police team from doing lawful duties, they said.

The statement further stated that however Police team managed to implement the orders of hon’ ble court in presence of respectable citizens of the area and an FIR against the miscreants has been registered in Police Station Khrew under relevant sections of law for obstructing police in discharging legal duties.

Imperative to mention that the matrimonial dispute between Sweety and her husband Bilal Ahmad son of Late Ab Hameed resident of Wuyan is sub judice. The hounrable court of Sub Judge Pulwama has temporarily barred the lady Sweety Jan from any kind of interference till next date of hearing, they said.

Police has done nothing wrong by implementing the orders of hon’ble court and strict action will be taken against the people spreading false allegations against Police, reads the statement.

‘Pays tribute to Sub- Inspector killed in point blank shooting in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 14: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the security agencies including Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary CRPF in Kashmir to maintain highest vigil while performing the duties.
The directions come two days after a Sub-Inspector of Police was killed in a militant attack in Khanyar area of Srinagar’s old city.
A senior MHA official told news agency KINS, that the ministry has paid rich tributes to the slain security officer. “We paid a rich tribute to a Sub-Inspector of Police who was killed in a militant attack in Khanyar area of Srinagar’s old city, “the official said, wishing not to be named.
A Sub-Inspector identified as Arshid Ahmad of Kulmuna Kupwara was critically injured when a militant fired at him from a pistol at point blank range on on Saturday. He was removed to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) where he succumbed to injuries.
The MHA official told KINS that strict directions have been passed to all security agencies in J&K Union territory which include “not to lower guard, maintain highest vigil while on duty and to ensure militants are strictly dealt with so that they don’t dare to attack security forces”.
“We have asked the security forces including paramilitary CRPF men to maintain extra alertness while performing duties,” the official said, adding that the forces have been asked to go after the militants wherever there is information about presence of militants.
“There should be no leniency for militants. Despite the fact that in the last one and half years Covid-19 has thrown up a major challenge, we have directed security forces to eliminate militants whenever there is an input,” the official maintained.
Another official in the MHA told KINS that the security agencies have already been asked to maintain close watch in markets, busy places and outside religious places in Kashmir so that “militants who are coming to attack are neutralized before they target forces”.
Meanwhile sources said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Defence Ministry have already asked security forces in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory to remain all-out alert along the Line of control and keep a close eye on “infiltrates”.
“Troops have been asked to maintain the highest possible vigilance along the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch and Baramulla, Kupawara and other districts of the Union territory,” sources said.
It is to mention here that on the side lines of the wreath laying ceremony, the DGP while speaking to media had said that the SI Arshid Ahmad was a brave and young officer who was at the threshold of the service and was deployed for medical checkup of an accused to a hospital and on his return he was attacked.
Considering the killing of Arshid Ahmad a tragic loss for JK police, DGP extended his condolence to the bereaved family.
Dilbag had said that “every life lost is cause of concern for them and added that militants involved in the attack have been identified and follow up operation has been launched adding that perpetrators of the criminal act would be brought to justice soon”.(KINS)

Srinagar, Sep 14: Despite the Srinagar witnessing huge surge in COVID-19 cases for the last two weeks, people continue flouting social distancing norms and mask rules in the markets.An official from the district administration Srinagar told news agency KINS that the district administration Srinagar has notified several micro containment zones and have placed the Covid restrictions in those areas to prevent the further spread of the virus.
“There is a spike in the Covid positive cases in the district Srinagar from last few weeks, but unfortunately there has been a complacent approach from some sections of the people who do not adhere to the Covid protocols,” said one of the officials here in Srinagar.
He said that the order is already in place that the social distancing and wearing masks are mandatory in all public places; however, there is no adherence of these orders.
Experts have also predicted that the third wave looms large as people avoid COVID norms with Srinagar district witnessing significant increase in positive cases for the last two weeks.
A social and preventive medicine expert who is data analysis in charge in divisional control room Dr Rouf Hussain Rather had said that people are not adhering COVID norms.
“It is for sure that the third wave will come. But we can’t say when it will come and what severity,” Dr Rouf had told news agency KINS.
However he had said that the impact of the third wave could be avoided if people take several measures.
“The biggest tool at present we have is vaccination. People should not hesitate in taking the vaccination. It does not impact one’s fertility. It is safe to take the vaccine. Then we have to wear face masks, avoid gatherings and frequent hand washing which will be helpful in avoiding the third wave. In the first two waves, immunity has also been boosted which will also be helpful. All these factors can help in mitigating the effect of the wave,” he had said.
Meanwhile the citizens who follow the covid protocols said that this is pathetic to see such a large number of people are not following the directions. “I came out to purchase medicines for my ailing father but no social distance norms are being followed,” Mohmmad Aslam, a resident of Jawharnagar told KINS.
Customers were seen moving from one shop to another without following the social distancing norms on Tuesday.
Most of the shops were over-crowded here in Srinagar.
“This is scary to walk through markets.” said Saba Jan, a resident of Srinagar.
“People are thronging markets without following norms which is a matter of grave concern,” said a shopkeeper at Jahagit Chowk.
He said it was important to underline the importance of strictly following the COVID protocols.
Some shopkeepers have arranged sanitisers so that customers would disinfect their hands before purchasing.
People also could be seen on the streets or on Boulevard along the banks of Dal Lake without wearing masks or maintaining social distance.
This is despite authorities having announced that wearing masks was mandatory in all public places.
People here said that the government should take strict measures to ensure people wear masks. “If wearing a mask has been made mandatory they are why law enforcing agencies are not implementing these guidelines. Why don’t they fine those who are not following COVID guidelines,”.
One of the officials here in the divisional administration said that the government has taken several measures to mitigate the impact of the third wave.
“Vaccination process has been increased. Generation of oxygen in hospitals has increased. Earlier we would generate 5000 litres of oxygen and now it has gone to 30,000 and it is continuously increasing. New hospitals are being set up. All these measures will also help.”
He said over 30 lakh people in Kashmir have taken their first dose of vaccination. “People should go for vaccination. We can’t say when the third wave will come. But in Srinagar the positive cases are continuously increasing. There could be various factors like mixing of people, religious processions taken out and gardens thrown open. The increase in positive cases could also be an indication of a third wave,” he added. (KINS)