SRINAGAR: The Regional Passport Office handed over passports to over 700 Hajj aspirants in Srinagar during a special camp on Thursday.
Regional Passport Officer for Kashmir and Ladakh, Davinder Kumar, while talking to reporters, said he had sought permission from the central government to hold a special camp for Hajj aspirants.
“The request was approved and we held a special camp today to provide relief to Hajj aspirants,” he said.
On being asked about pendency of cases at present, he said from over 6000 cases in December 2022 to nearly 2500 cases, they have been trying hard to bring the number of pending cases to zero by the end of March. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir government has decided to grant a special maternity leave of 60 days to a woman employee in case of the death of a child soon after the birth or stillbirth with some conditions.
According to a government order issued by Director General Codes, Finance Department, the condition for the special leave includes that “in case a maternity leave has already been availed by a woman employee and her leave continues till the date of expiry of child soon after birth/stillbirth, the maternity leave already availed till death of the child may be converted into any other kind of leave available in her leave account without insisting for a medical certificate”.
The order further mentions a special maternity Leave of 60 days may be granted from the date of expiry of a child soon after birth or stillbirth in case the maternity leave has not been availed by a woman employee, adding that, “60 days of Special maternity leave may be granted from the date of expiry of child soon after birth/stillbirth.”
As per the notification, the condition for the death of a child soon after birth may be defined as up to 28 days after birth. A baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks of gestation may be defined as stillbirth and the benefit of special maternity leave shall be admissible only to a woman employee with less than two surviving children, it reads.
“The benefit of special maternity leave shall be admissible only to a woman employee with less than two surviving children. Special maternity leave shall not be debited against the leave account and may be combined with any other kind of leave. During the period such leave, the woman employee shall be paid leave salary equal to pay drawn immediately before proceeding on leave,” the Order said. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: Director General of Police has “attached”, till further orders, a police officer after ‘some allegations of professional misconduct’ against him.
“In view of some allegations of professional misconduct, Adil Mushtaq DySP KPS-155772 (SDPO Nowgam) is hereby attached with the office of Special DG Crime, JK till further orders,” reads an order by DGP.
“Sumit Kumar Sharma, KPS-185679, DySP PC Srinagar in addition to his own shall look after the assignment of SDPO Nowgam,” the order added. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: As H3N2 scare continues to looms large in various parts of North India, the viral infection is being evenly witnessed in Union Territory as most cases of viral infections over a period of one-and-a-half month fall in this subtype of Influenza-A, as revealed by figures of Chest & Disease Hospital here.
As many as 47 persons out of a total of 103 samples have reverted infected by the influenza infection in nearly 50 days.
A total of 103 samples were sent for RT PCR testing by the dedicated hospital in last nearly one-and-a-half month among whom 47 samples (45%) were found to be infected from Influenza-A, 5 from Influenza-B (a total of 52 for Influenza), 19 (18%) for RSV (Respiratory Sensation Virus) and only 3 (2.9%) for COVID-19.
When contacted, leading Pulmonologist and Head of the Department Chest & Disease Hospital, Dr. Naveed Nazir told GNS that there was absolutely nothing to worry about as the most of the patients with viral infection is much like seasonal flu. But a good number of patients admitted with pneumonia had evidence of viral infection mostly influenza and RSV infections when the danger of another wave of covid was looming large.
Shah said that the symptoms of H3N2 include; fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, sore-throat, body ache and diarrhea. “These ailments gradually go with time”, he said adding though if one has undergone vaccination, he/she has not much to be concerned about it for we are used to such things given the nature of prevailing weather this time around.
Asked whether the persons with co-morbidities need to maintain any extra caution, Shah said that “We have been receiving patients, complaining of persistent cough which continues for prolonged periods extending for weeks after the symptoms of flu settle.”
Reiterating that there isn’t much to be concerned about spurt in cases of H3N2, the renowned Pulmonologist was quick to add that since schools have started the possibility of spread of this viral infection is high. It’s better to isolate the patients with respiratory tract symptoms. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: While predicting mainly dry weather to continue, the meteorological department here on Thursday said that minimum temperature recorded a fall in Kashmir Valley and rise in Jammu except Banihal.
Quoting an official of the meteorological department , news agency GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of 2.9°C against 3.5°C on the previous night and it was 0.4°C below normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 1.8°C against 2.4°C on the previous night and it was 0.4°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 1.9°C against minus 1.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 4.1°C, the same as on the previous night and it was 2.2°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.4°C against minus 1.6°C on the previous night and it was 2.1°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 0.2°C, the same as on the previous night and it was 1.6°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 15.5°C against 14.6°C on the previous night. It was 1.5°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 3.3°C (below normal by 0.8°C), Batote 7.6°C (above normal by 1.7°C), Katra 14.0°C (2.5°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 5.3°C (2.2°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil, he said, recorded a low of minus 6.2°C and minus 5.6°C respectively.
The MeT department has forecast dry weather to continue till March 12.
SRINAGAR: Enforcement directorate (ED) officials on Thursday conducted raids at nine places in Kashmir in connection with the MBBS seats allotment racket to locals in different colleges of Pakistan.
ED raids were going on at nine places in Kashmir on Thursday and houses of Hurriyat leader Qazi Yasir and Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement chairman Zaffar Bhat were raided in this regard.
Quoting officals, news agency KNO reported that the central probe agency along with local police on Thursday morning raided the house of Mohammad Akbar Bhat alias Zaffar Bhat, who is the chairman of JK Salvation Movement, in Bagh-e-Mehtab area of Srinagar.
They said another team of the central probe agency also raided the house of Hurriyat leader Qazi Yasir in Qazi Mohalla area of Anantnag today morning.
“A team also is carrying out raid at the house of Syed Khalid Geelani in Baghat area of Srinagar,” he said.
Local police and the CRPF are assisting the ED officials in carrying out these raids.
Even though modernity has overtaken the traditional arts associated with handicrafts, some specialities survived the onslaught. Mir Suneem reports the maze where a neglected art form is battling for survival
Ghulam Nabi Wani, an aged Naqash artists working on wood in a dim-lit workshop at his Safa Kadal residence in Srinagar. KL Image Mir Suneem
On a cold winter morning, an old feeble man sits in a small shack separated from his main house by a stretch of garden area at Safa Kadal’s Malik Sahib Chai Dub. His eyes do not lose focus as he works diligently on a small wooden block, contriving designs on it using a gouge and a tapping tool.
The shack converted into a workshop is lit by a high-voltage bulb placed just near the working area for more visibility. Stuffed with tools, equipment, wooden blocks, paper designs and a long table, it hardly provides any space for another person to sit in it.
Ghulam Nabi Wani, a septuagenarian has been carving designs for more than 50 years along with his elder brother Ghulam Ahmad Wani who died several years ago. He carves intricate and sophisticated designs on walnut lumber that are later used by design printers, commonly known as Naqashs for printing Shawls and other clothing items.
In Main City
The art of Naqsh carving is more prominent in Srinagar’s Shehr-e-Khas, the main city. A general belief is that master artisans share this art with their children and do not teach anyone outside their kinship. However, only a few names are presently involved in this business and Ghulam Nabi Wani is one of them.
Belonging to a family of artists with his father doing Tilla work all his life, Wani naturally had an inclination towards arts and crafts. This paved the way to pick woodcarving as his art form and later followed the footsteps of his brothers and established himself as a master carving artist.
“I receive a number of patterns and designs made on butter paper from various Naqashs and whittle a block of wood accordingly to attain that design,” Wani said. “It is a very fine craft and requires skill, patience and immense hard work.”
Most of the designs are convoluted and are meant primarily for Shawl embroidery. “These can only be carved on blocks of walnut wood as no other type can bare the entire treatment and could lose firmness,” Asserts Wani. “Blocks of various measurements are cut from walnut lumber and seasoned and as soon as they are dry, different designs are carved out on them according to the actual designs received on paper using various tools. Then oil is applied to let the blocks set. It is not an easy job and demands a lot of time and concentration.”
Wani believes that art is a secret that everyone cannot unravel. Only those who are passionate can learn it and pass it forward to other generations. “I have taught my son too who is currently also indulged in the handicraft business and I wish him to carry forward my legacy in the future.” He said he is open to teaching anyone but the current generation is impatient and not passionate enough to utilize their time to learn this art.
Reduced Numbers
Other than Wani, only a few people know and practice this art currently. Mohammad Shafi Punjabi who lives in Srinagar’s Rajouri Kadal has been drawing and carving designs himself ever since he grew up but for the last few years, he has not been able to continue this work due to old age and illness.
The conditions in which Kashmir Naqash artisans work in Srinagar. KL Image: Mir Suneem
“Shafi has worked as a prominent and noticeable Naqash for many decades and a number of printers and other Naqashs used to visit him and buy his designs but now due to his illness, he is bed-ridden and no longer does this job,” said Shafi’s wife.
She said that all their children are well educated and settled in their jobs and businesses and none of them has taken up their father’s craft and doesn’t even desire to do so. “It demands a lot of hard work and time and despite that, the income is too meagre that my children decided to do something else for a better living.”
Apart from Shafi’s children, there are many others who dropped the idea of continuing their generation-old craft of Naqashi and chose business or some other job over it.
“There are many factors responsible for pushing this art towards death,” said Zafar Ahmad Ashai, a Naqash (imprinter) from Lalbazar. “One of these is the age-old tradition of keeping the art in the family and not giving it away, and the other reason is the reluctance of new generation kids to learn or pursue this craft as it demands a lot of time and effort with minimal benefits.”
Zafar, originally from Aalikadal learned to print the designs on Shawls and other garments from his elder brother, Mohammad Ashraf Ashai and it has been more than 40 years since he picked the art. He owns a workshop at Srinagar’s Aalikadal where he works along with a few of his employees.
He said even he doesn’t want his children to do Shawl printing when they grow up. “It is a tough and messy job. You have to handle ink and stay in pungent workshops for hours. My children have no interest in this and they are studying in order to do better jobs in the future,” he said.
While talking about the state of this art a few decades earlier when most areas of downtown Srinagar had Naqsh carvers and printers in abundance, Zafar recalls this huge building with ancient architecture that stood between tiny alleys of Maharaj Gunj and was turned into a Naqash workshop byGhulam Qadir Naqash of Zoonimar who used to draw and carve designs and his brother Ghulam Nabi Naqash who used to print along with many other employees.
“It was the most renowned printing place in those times. The imprinters there used to print hundreds of shawls every day and it was always crowded with handicraft artists and other people who used to visit the place to drop their orders,” Zafar said. “However, several years ago with the death of one of the owners of the workshop and some other unknown reasons, it was closed and the building stays there completely abandoned. People from far away areas still come asking for this once so popular Naqash workshop which doesn’t exist anymore.”
Printing Addresses
On one hand, where Naqsh carvers or designers are going down in number, there are some age-old Naqash workshops that still run successfully in several areas of the city. These are basically just printing places where imprinters from various places of Kashmir regardless of their family jobs work as employees.
A Naqash workshop is wontedly a big dark room with a pungent reek inside it where imprinters work tirelessly to meet their orders. Their grubby and calloused hands are stained with ink and adhesive while they use their bare hands to apply it on patterned blocks to print impressions on Shawls.
Apart from printing various designs on Pashmina, Count and other types of Shawls and stoles, some imprinters also print Sarees, Suits, Pherans, Cushion covers, Ponchos and other garments using various types of designs blocks meant for Sozni, Aari, Tilla work or any other handicraft.
The imprinters mainly have their workshops in Kawdara, Rajouri Kadal, Naid Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Safa Kadal, Nowhatta and other places of Srinagar. However, it is not necessary that the imprinters belong to the same area. There are many who belong to areas outside Srinagar.
Phalguru’s Initiative
One of the workshops Shahnawaz Naqash House was established some 40 years back by an eminent Sozni artist, Habibullah Phalguru who used to draw his own designs on butter paper and send them out for carving on walnut wood. He made the workshop along with his son Shahnawaz Phalguru near his house at Naid Kadal to expand his field of work.
Presently, Shahnawaz works as a businessman and has employed several imprinters to run the workshop. According to him, imprinters don’t have to belong to a particular community or region to take up this field. It is laborious and one who decides to learn and practice it can pursue this job easily.
“I am working here for the last 18 years,” Parvez Ahmad, one of his employees from Pampore said. “None of my family members had any association with any kind of art form but I came here to learn it and now as I have gained expertise in this work, I can teach others too.”
“When the design made on a walnut wood block comes to the printer, he uses it to print all items by applying ink to it. This is no ordinary ink. It is made by the imprinter himself by adding Saresh (a kind of adhesive) to the boiling water. Then its steam is used to moisten the ink they get from the market (which is usually black or white or sometimes blue). This ink is basically carbon or zinc. Earlier, the hay that was collected around chimneys and fireplaces was used as ink. The ink is applied on hand and tapped on the block. Then its impression is pressed on a shawl or any cloth,” explains Parvez.
He said that a design block doesn’t last for very long. The design fades with time and then it is of no use and needs to be re-carved.
The Naqash House
Another huge workshop, Hassan Naqash House lies in the Aalikadal area of Srinagar. Currently run by Showkat Ahmad Naqash,52, it was actually established by his father Ghulam Hassan Naqash who died eight years ago. Hassan used to make and carve designs himself and Showkat still uses the same designs to print Shawls.
“I don’t need to buy new designs from anyone. I still use my father’s designs and get them re-carved once they are weary and non-functional but unfortunately, not more than four designers or carvers are left in Kashmir now,” said Showkat.
He said he studied up to matriculation and then joined his father. Currently, he has several employees working alongside him. However, his children have no plans to get into this field.
It is evident that the arrival of machines into the handicraft industry has affected the artists badly but such a thing has not intervened in the real Naqash world yet. Apart from this, no non-Kashmiri has been able to get into this field so far as it requires a good hand in the craft.
“In some places, people use trace paper for printing but it is not preferred much as it comes with its share of disadvantages. This method is usually used in Tilla work and other related works where it could be concealed with embroidery but not in the case of Shawls and Sozni (needle-art),” said Showkat.
He said that trace paper printing is cheaper and kerosene is used in the process which may lead to many issues. Also, the ink is permanent and cannot be washed away easily.
“Such technique is mostly used outside Srinagar in villages such as Makhama, Beerwa and other places and now it is gradually taking over as only few wood carvers are left to dig into the wood to make designs.”
In the Noorbagh area of Srinagar, there are around 15 trace designers and many non-Kashmiri artisans work there but according to the practising Naqashs, trace printing has no comparison with handmade designing and poses many health risks due to the use of kerosene in it.
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) is conducting Computer Based written Test (CBT) for various posts with effect from 16th March to 5th April, 2023 at various examination centers in Jammu and Kashmir.
The examination has been scheduled to be conducted in multiple batches at different locations setup in various districts of the UT, for which adequate security arrangements have been put in place at each examination centre.
The concerned District Magistrate will issue prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) around the examination centers during the timing of examination.
A multi layered structure for supervision has also been established with one Centre Observer and Centre Magistrate for each examination center by the respective District Administration. Besides, senior officers shall also be deployed as General Observer by the General Administration Department and IT professionals shall be deployed by Information Technology Department for monitoring of the CBT examinations. The J&K Police shall deploy security personnel for frisking and maintenance of law and order at each venue/location.
In addition, the CBT shall be conducted under CCTV surveillance for maintaining transparency in the examination. Besides, low frequency Jammers are being installed in all the examination centres to prevent the use of unfair means including cheating using Bluetooth and wi-fi enabled electronic devices. In order to ensure that the examination process being adopted is completely secure and free from any kind of malpractice, a third party has been hired to review/audit the examination process of Computer Based Tests(CBTs) conducted by JKSSB.
The aspiring candidates appearing in the aforesaid examination are hereby cautioned against the activities of vested interests and advised not to fall prey to the designs of touts and unscrupulous elements. If any candidate is approached by touts/unscrupulous elements in any matter pertaining to recruitments of JKSSB, they are advised to immediately report about such persons to the JKSSB. The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) will appreciate if specific information about such unscrupulous elements along with evidence is furnished to the Board, enabling it to take appropriate legal action. The identity of such candidates who will report about the unscrupulous elements shall be kept confidential.
The JKSSB wishes best of luck to all the candidates taking the CBT examination. Moreover, candidates scheduled to appear in the examination are also warned to desist from indulging in any unfair means practice like impersonation, carrying of prohibited items, communication devices, electronic equipments /gadgets or any other material with the intention of receiving assistance. The candidates found to be attempting/using any unfair means practice during the examination, shall be dealt with strictly as per the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (Conduct of Examinations) Regulations, 2022 including debarring of such candidates for appearing in future examinations. (KNO)
SRINAGAR: The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Wednesday convened a meeting of officers to address the accommodation issues of PM Package employees.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Director Estates Department Kashmir; Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) J&K Srinagar; Chief Engineer, PW (R&B) Department Kashmir and Sr. Superintendent of Police Security Kashmir.
Div Com directed officers to explore the available hotel accommodation in secure areas so that the PM Package employees are provided the same.
He also directed concerned to frame the criteria for allotment of accommodation to married & unmarried employees.
He asked Deputy Director Estates to hold talks with stakeholders about additional accommodation available for the employees.
Meanwhile, the Div Com directed CE, R&B to pace up the progress of work of transit accommodation tenements. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: The government on Wednesday said that around ten percent of smart meters have been installed so far and the rest of the installation process will be completed by the next two years.
Chief Engineer, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Javed Yousuf Dar said that the electricity will be snapped from the areas where the people will object and halt the smart meter installation.
He urged people to not halt the process of smart meter installation, adding that the government has already created awareness in this regard.
The Chief Engineer further said that a total of 80,000 smart meters have been installed so far and the rest are being installed. “The process to complete the smart meters installation will be completed by the next two years,” he said.
Pertinently, a few areas of Habba Kadal are reeling under darkness as authorities have snapped the electricity after the people staged protest over the installation of smart meters in the locality. (KNO)
