SRINAGAR: After a long winter halt, the Margan Top Road in district Kishtwar has finally been opened officially. The road connects the remote regions of Marwah and Warwan with the rest of Jammu and Kashmir. The road was cleared of snow with the tireless efforts of the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Projects of Marwah (Kishtwar) and Vailoo (Anantnag).
The road’s opening is a significant achievement that will bring much-needed relief to the people by easing mobility and transportation of essential goods.
Making the announcement, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Dr Devansh Yadav shared that the road would be opened for light vehicular movement from next week. “The opening of the road will facilitate intra-district movement of people and essential services, bringing much-needed respite to the region” he said.
Starting next week, the Margan Top Road will be made operational in a phased manner, enabling hassle-free travel and commute well before the auspicious Eid-ul-Fitr 2023 celebration. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday called on people from all walks of life to unite against the ongoing drug menace in the Kashmir and protect the young populationfrom falling prey to this grave evil. He emphasised that society can no longer afford to lose youngsters to drugs and urged everyone to play his/ her role in eradicating the menace.
While talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “Apni Party has decided to take a range of initiatives, including skill development training for the youth, with the aim of empowering the youngsters and protecting them from the ongoing drug abuse in J&K.”
He said, “We are not taking these initiatives for political benefits or electoral gains; rather, this is a sincere effort to shoulder our responsibility towards society. Given the severity of the drug menace and its impact on society, I think every one of us ought to play his/her role in eradicating this destructive evil.”
Apni Party President made a promise that he would extend his assistance in rehabilitating the drug victims. He said that if anyone approaches him seeking help for the rehabilitation of an addict, he will provide support while ensuring the victim’s identity remains confidential.
Bukhari urged the administration to take serious measures to nab each and every person who is responsible for the smuggling and sale of drugs in society.
He said these criminals are playing with the lives of people, and they must face severe punishment.
With Jammu and Kashmir recording the highest prevalence of dementia across India, the researchers are desperate to find answers to a trend that many think has leapt out of the mass depression the region has lived with, reports Insha Shirazi
A recent study shocked the scientific community by revealing that Jammu and Kashmir top the list of areas in India having the highest prevalence of dementia. Published by the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the study prevalence of dementia in India: National and state estimates from a nationwide study put the dementia prevalence in the 60-plus population in India at 7.4 per cent.
What set the alarm bells ringing was that the prevalence of dementia was 4.5 per cent in Delhi and 11 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir.
Alarmed over the findings, the scientists have started asking for more investigation to determine whether the long-running insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, which has raged for more than 30 years, may be the cause of the area’s high dementia prevalence.
In Jammu and Kashmir in general and Kashmir in particular, cases of dementia are stated to be on the rise. In 1986, a few years before the onset of militancy, a study on the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in Kashmir found no cases of dementia in Kashmir.
Changed Situation
Now the situation has completely changed.
“We routinely see 3 to 5 cases of dementia-like cases in our daily OPD, on average,” Dr Yasir Rather, professor in the Department of Psychiatry, IMHANS GMC Srinagar said. “Brain cell destruction is the root cause of dementia. The communication between brain cells is disrupted as a result of this injury. Memory, thinking, behaviour, and feelings might be impacted when brain cells are unable to communicate correctly.”
Off late, people with chronic dementia are more visible. “I regularly observed the activities of my grandmother, who has dementia. She is in her late 70s and exhibited strange behaviours, including forgetting my name and whether or not she had eaten lunch,” a university student, Alya said. “She used to converse with herself as if someone else were around, and sometimes, my grandmother’s condition worsened.”
Brain Blast; Kashmir is witnessing a hugely above-average number of dementia patients and experts are exploring the possibility if it has links with the protracted conflict.
The term dementia refers to a spectrum of mental impairments, including memory loss, difficulty speaking or understanding, difficulty solving problems, and another cognitive decline that is severe enough to affect a person’s ability to go about their everyday activities. This spectrum includes several different varieties of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most prevalent.
There are two types of dementia. Vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia are irreversible. Reversible types include dementia-like conditions triggered by vitamin deficiency like vit B 12 or B 1 or due to thyroid problems. “Most people develop Alzheimer’s disease after the age of 65, but people under this age can also develop it,” Dr Yasir said. “This is called early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, a type of young-onset dementia. Dementia-like Frontotemporal type has been diagnosed in people in their 50s, 40s and even in their 30s.”
“The early signs and symptoms of dementia will vary depending on the progression,” Dr Yasir said. “At the onset, the person may experience challenges with their short-term memory, and struggle with things such as paying the bills, preparing meals, forgetting names and religious ritual timings and household chores, or getting lost in a known area. With a moderate stage, an individual may have trouble speaking or understanding speech and they may not understand spatial awareness. In severe stages, a person will no longer have the ability to communicate and will be unable to care for themselves.
High Prevalence
What is, however, not known is why Kashmir offers a high percentage of people with dementia. The likely reasons, Dr Yasir said could include genetic predisposition, poor nutrition, lack of access to healthcare, and environmental factors such as water and air pollutants like excessive use of agricultural and horticulture pesticides in our region.
Besides, he said, Kashmir may have a greater prevalence of dementia due to the high rates of chronic stress, depression, and other psychological problems in the population. Moreover, the prevalence was greater in rural areas (8.4 per cent) than in urban areas (5.3 per cent), highlighting the urgent need to increase diagnosis in rural health facilities.
Dr Kamran Nisar, a researcher at the University of Kashmir’s Centre of Research for Development, is working on the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in Kashmir. Alzheimer’s dementia, he said, is the most prevalent type of dementia, accounting for 70-80 per cent of the cases.
Kamran has also been trying to find answers. He said a lot of factors contribute to dementia, which includes prolonged stress, conflict, floods, and separation from loved ones. Besides, dementia is also impacted by dietary choices, physical inactivity and family history. People who engage in physical activities, such as cycling, have a far lower risk of developing dementia than physically inactive people.
“In Kashmir, there is a small amount of awareness about dementia, and as a result, people frequently misunderstand what dementia is and how it differs from forgetfulness or some other age-related condition,” Dr Kamran said. “We need to address this issue as much as we can because no awareness campaigns or events are being organized at the university or college level about this dementia and its prevalence is rising in Kashmir.”
Neurologist Dr Irfan Yousuf, also asserted that Kashmir lacks basic knowledge about understanding the crisis. “There is a lack of knowledge about dementia and people mistakenly think it is a form of depression, even though these are unrelated conditions,” Dr Yousuf said. “A person with dementia acts normally and is unaware that they are afflicted with the illness, unlike a person with depression, whose mood is not always good, and who skips interactions as well.”
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition in which brain cells (nerve cells) are not operating normally. Vascular dementia occurs when the brain’s blood arteries get blocked, preventing appropriate blood flow and leading to neuronal dysfunction.
Chronic Depression
Kashmir has been the capital of mental sickness for a long time. For many decades, Kashmir has reported massive mental morbidity. Nearly 18 lakh adult residents of Kashmir, which is almost 45 per cent of the entire population, showed symptoms of mental distress, according to the 2015 survey by the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders). The survey revealed that 41 per cent of the population showed signs of depression, 26 per cent exhibited signs of anxiety, 23 per cent depression and anxiety and 19 per cent showed probable symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 17 per cent have depression and PTSD, 18 per cent have anxiety, depression and PTSD and 14 per cent have anxiety and PTSD.
depression
Though mental healthcare has expanded over the years and has a better spread, in comparison to the 1990s, the situation is still seriously challenging. The increasing incidence of drug abuse has added yet another load factor to the mental health system.
Detecting Dementia
Dr Irfan Yousuf said the first signs of dementia are when a family member or guardian notices that the person is repeating the same dialogue over and over again and that their mental activities are completely different and are not functioning properly. It is possible to alleviate symptoms and halt the progression of dementia, he said. Studies on dementia have been conducted, and the treatment is still ongoing.
This is the core team that literally rebuilt the Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital Srinagar that is now known as IMHANS.
“A patient with advanced dementia forgets the route of the road where he or she frequently travels. Particularly at night, they lose track of how to get to their kitchen and bathroom,” Dr Yousuf said. “Although the person suffering from dementia is unaware of these symptoms, family members and their attendants have seen changes.”
SRINAGAR: At least five non-locals were injured in a road accident in Ramban district on Thursday.
Sources said that an accident took place at Seri Ramban in which at least five persons were injured who has been shifted to District Hospital Ramban.
The individuals who sustained injuries have been identified as Sahil, aged 19, son of Jagdeesh Panchan and a resident of Bhadergrah District Haryana Punjab, Vaneeta Kumar, aged 20, son of Surinder Kumar and a resident of Tutate District Sundergrah Haryana; Shiv Dutt, aged 18, son of Subash Chander and a resident of Satwari Jammu; Shiva Panday, aged 19, son of Sudesh Chand Panday and a resident of Balla Sevar Chhattisgarh; and Sonu Yadhav, aged 18, son of Narinder and a resident of Deroli Tehsil Narnoh District Sundergrah Haryana.
The police have taken note of the incident and initiated an investigation. (KS)
SRINAGAR: School Education Department Thursday issued a homework schedule for primary classes and said that there shall be no homework for student’s upto Class-II.
In a circular, Director School Education Department said that for primary classes, there will be no homework up to Class-Il and a maximum of two hours a week shall be assigned to classes III to V.
The circular reads that in middle schools from Classes VI-VIII, there shall be a maximum of one hour a day that is about five to six hours a week.
It reads that at secondary and higher secondary level, there shall be a maximum of two hours a day that is about 10 to 12 hours a week.
“Teachers need to work together to plan and rationalise the amount of homework that they assign to students,” it reads.
The order further reads that teachers of a particular class should assign homework after coordinating with each other, thus avoiding the over burdening of homework for a student.
“As such it is impressed upon all the school heads of both government and private schools to ensure homework to students is given as per the School Bag Policy 2020 and is strictly adhered to,” it reads.
SRINAGAR: School Education Department Thursday issued a homework schedule for primary classes and said that there shall be no homework for student’s upto Class-II.
In a circular, Director School Education Department said that for primary classes, there will be no homework up to Class-Il and a maximum of two hours a week shall be assigned to classes III to V.
The circular reads that in middle schools from Classes VI-VIII, there shall be a maximum of one hour a day that is about five to six hours a week.
It reads that at secondary and higher secondary level, there shall be a maximum of two hours a day that is about 10 to 12 hours a week.
“Teachers need to work together to plan and rationalise the amount of homework that they assign to students,” it reads.
The order further reads that teachers of a particular class should assign homework after coordinating with each other, thus avoiding the over burdening of homework for a student.
“As such it is impressed upon all the school heads of both government and private schools to ensure homework to students is given as per the School Bag Policy 2020 and is strictly adhered to,” it reads.
SRINAGAR: At least forty-three persons, mostly women, were injured after a house where they were attending a funeral collapsed in Khanetar village near High School in Poonch district this afternoon,” officials said.
The women had gathered at the house of Zakir Hussain Shah to mourn the death of a woman. “As more people poured in, the roof collapsed, leading to injuries to at least 43 women,” they added.
“All the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment,” officials further stated.
SHO Poonch Ranjit Rao confirmed the incident and said, “All the injured persons are receiving treatment at a hospital.
SRINAGAR: Justice Tashi Rabstan, Judge of the High Court of JK and Ladakh and Executive Chairman of JK Legal Services Authority, accompanied by the Member Secretary of JK LSA, Joint Registrar (Judicial) Srinagar, and Secretary of DLSA Srinagar, visited Central Jail Srinagar and Juvenile Observation Home Harwan to obtain first-hand information about the facilities being provided to inmates of Central Jail Srinagar.
Upon his arrival, Justice Tashi Rabstan was received by Daljit Singh, Superintendent of Central Jail Srinagar, along with the Deputy Superintendent, other jail staff, and the Medical Officer. The Executive Chairman of JK LSA inquired about the number of convicts serving their sentences and also the undertrial prisoners belonging to JK, as well as other states and foreign nationals, upon which Justice Tashi Rabstan was informed that 15 UTPs from Burma were lodged in the jail.
Thereafter, Justice Tashi Rabstan visited the male as well as female blocks and interacted with the inmates to inquire about the medical and other facilities provided to them. Subsequently, he also visited the VC facility available in the jail and witnessed the court proceedings that were going on through virtual mode in which the jail inmate was appearing.
Justice Tashi appreciated the new initiatives introduced, like the installation of a prison inmate calling system for prisoners so that they can contact their family and lawyers at any time. He also inspected the kitchen, vocational centers, barber shop, wet canteen run by jail inmates, gymnasium, e-mulakat center, and legal aid clinic, also manned by a jail inmate (PLV).
Justice Tashi appreciated the efforts made by the government in general and the department of prisons in particular for maintaining the standard of living in jail and providing all the basic necessary facilities like hygienic food, medical facilities, and skill training, etc., to the inmates.
Later, Justice Tashi Rabstan visited the juvenile observation home in Harwan to take stock of the present status of the said home. Sameena Mir, Superintendent, along with the Home-father, Probation cum Child Welfare Officer, and Para Legal Volunteers received Justice Tashi and accompanied him to the rooms of the juveniles staying in the observation home and showed other facilities available there like the dispensary, recreation hall, library, and the room meant for offering prayers.
He also visited the kitchen where the evening meal was being prepared and was informed that for every inmate of the Observation Home, Rs. 100 per day is being provided by the concerned department for food and other basic needs, and the said amount has not been revised since 2011.
The superintendent of the said home also informed the Executive Chairman that no teacher on a regular basis is available for the Observation Home, and in this regard, a communication has already been sent to the higher authorities. Justice Tashi directed the superintendent of the Observation Home to ensure that the counsellor appointed for the said home is present on the day when he next visits the said home. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Transport Welfare Association Wednesday said it will observe a ‘Chakka-Jam’ on the 17th of this month.
The association said that all the affiliated organisations have extended their support to the strike.
“The ‘Chaka-Jam’ has been announced to get our genuine demands resolved at the earliest,” General Secretary Transport Welfare Association Sheikh Muhammad Yousuf said.
He said a meeting of various transport associations and companies and unions of all segments was held at the Parimpora area of Srinagar outskirts and it was decided that 3.5 lakh people are associated with the transport sector across J&K that is continuously neglected by the government.
“Transporters are facing tough times despite working hard. Our earnings are shrinking due to heavy increases in taxes, fees, and penalties levied by the UT and central government” he said.
He said there are various demands that need to be resolved.
“We have submitted our charter of demands to the government and have highlighted all the issues pertaining to the transport sector. The transporters from both regions of Kashmir and Jammu have unanimously decided to go for a one-day Chakka Jam on 17 April this month.
He said that it has also been decided that if the Laylatul-Qadr will be observed on 17 April the transport will be available to all shrines and mosques after 6 pm for the convenience of the general public.
The transporters appealed to LG Manoj Sinha to resolve their genuine demands without making the public suffer. (KNT)
SRINAGAR: Two residential houses and a cowshed were damaged in a fire mishap in south Kashmir Shopian district.
An official said that during the night hours, fire broke out in Choudhary Gund Shopian and engulfed few structures.
He said that fire tenders were called in and fire was later doused off, however, residential houses of Nazir Ahmed Chopan Son of Gh Qadir and Ab Rashid Wagay Son of Ali Mohammad besides the cowshed of Mushtaq Ahmad Wagay Son of Ali Mohammad all residents of Choudhary Gund Shopian got damaged.
Later on, locals and fire service employees controlled the fire and there was no injury or loss of life in the incident, he said.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance and cause of fire is being ascertained. (KS)
