SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha On Monday participated in the celebration of National Panchayati Raj Day at Palli, Samba.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor conferred awards to the concerned awardees of UT Level Panchayat Awards. He also launched ‘Mera Samba’ Swachhta App for Community Participation and inaugurated 18 Nokia Smartpurs for Samba & 6 for Anantnag.
The Lt Governor addressed the Panchayati Raj representatives and highlighted the stories of best performing Panchayats of J&K that have been awarded in three categories at the national-level. These Panchayats are inspiring other PRIs for improving delivery of services and public goods, he added.
“As powerful agents of Socio-Economic change and engines of rural development, Panchayats are making a significant contribution to the nation building and empowering the citizens to meet the challenge of sustainable development,” said the Lt Governor.
Collective efforts of common man and Panchayats are playing an important role in realizing big dreams of small villages of UT. By establishing and strengthening three-tier grassroots democracy in J&K, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured rapid and inclusive development, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor urged all the public representatives to give priority to the underprivileged to realise the Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of Poorna Swaraj through Gram Swaraj. Our efforts should also focus on removing developmental imbalances, he added.
“Rural growth is the main pillar of the Country’s development and to achieve our objectives, Gram Panchayats will have to play a major role in economic empowerment of all the citizens, ensuring benefits reaching the last mile & active participation in grassroots planning and execution,” said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said the historic visit of Narednra Modi to Palli laid the foundation for making panchayats in the UT strong and Atmanirbhar
The Lt Governor highlighted the major steps taken to strengthen grassroots democracy in Jammu Kashmir.
“Devolution of Funds, Functions & Functionaries and seamless coordination at each of the levels of three-tier system of Panchayati Raj has given tremendous boost to aspirations of rural society. It is our firm resolve to make PRIs more powerful, efficient and effective,” the Lt Governor added.
The Lt Governor also spoke on progressive policies and schemes aimed at increasing farmers’ income, enhance their skills and directly connect them with various Centrally Sponsored and UT’s schemes.
The Lt Governor called upon the elected representatives to complement government’s efforts in implementation of the groundbreaking 29 projects worth Rs. 5013 crore for the holistic development of agriculture & allied sectors.
I am confident that the success of this Holistic Agriculture development plan will guide the prosperous future of Jammu Kashmir and help in doubling the contribution of agriculture sector in J&K’s GDP in the next 5 years, he said.
The Lt Governor also inaugurated Smriti Kaksh and flagged off ‘SwachhtaKarwan’ to mark the occasion. A compendium on Amrit Sarovars & Coffee Table Book on the capacity building & training of Elected Representatives of J&K was also released.
Remains of the ill-fated army truck that went up in flames after suspected militants attacked it in Bhata Dhurian area in Mendhar (Poonch) on April 20, 2023. Six soldiers were killed and one survived injured.
In anticipation of preparations for the G20 meeting in Kashmir, suspected militants targeted an army vehicle killing five of the six soldiers. The surviving soldier is battling for his life in the hospital. The attack occurred at Bhatta Durrian (Mendhar), where four soldiers were killed in a gun battle with the militants in October 2021. Army statement said militants hiding behind bushes and a cluster of trees opened firing on the Army truck moving between Bhimber Gali and Poonch at Bhatta Durrian on April 20, 2023, at 3 pm taking advantage of rains and thunderstorms. While one militant used grenades to stop the truck, another opened calibrated fire towards its fuel tank, triggering a massive blaze as yet another militant opened fire at onboard soldiers. Four of five Rashtriya Rifles soldiers are from Punjab.
In order to hunt down the assailants, authorities have suspended civil traffic in the Bata-Doriya area. An NIA team is visiting the area for investigations.
How will the attack impact the cold relations between India and Pakistan remains to be seen. Interestingly, Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to lead a delegation to India for a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on May 5 that Goa hosts. It would be the first visit by any Pakistani Foreign Minister since Hina Rabbani Khar’s in 2011.
LG Manoj Sinha says Kashmir will produce Mustard oil worth Rs 800 crore in 2023.
PUNJAB
State Investigation Agency
In a first of its kind, Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) has attached a Punjab resident’s property for “his links with militants”. Identified as Amarbhir Singh of Baba Darshan Singh Enclave at Ram Tirath Mahal in Amritsar, he is living in Dubai but is wanted in many cases in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The SIA seizure with the help of Punjab Police was in a case of recovery of Rs 15 lakh hawala money at Nagrota from two alleged JeM associates Parvez and Farooq, who were arrested in 2021. This is the first action taken by the SIA outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Formally opened on November 4, 2022, the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) has received 10000 calls from people in distress. Women callers constitute 70 per cent.
SRINAGAR
High Court of Jammu and Kashmir
The High Court has quashed a series of detention orders under the Public Safety Act, including the one against journalist Fahad Shah. In the case of Srinagar resident Peerzada Mohammed Waseem, the court said the prosecution accused him of rioting and stone pelting in 2020 when the person was in jail since 2017. “How can a detenue already in jail and facing trial participate in rioting and stone pelting during that intervening period?” Judge Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal asked.
Wildlife officials said the direct sightings during the biennial census reveal improved numbers of Hangul within Dachigam National Park. In 2021, 261 Hangul were counted.
KASHMIR
Ramzan 2023 was the most peaceful month of fasting in the last more than three decades. In Kashmir, there were no killings of militants or by militants. There was one encounter but the militants managed to flee. In Ramzan 2022, 19 militants, two civilians and two security personnel forces also lost their lives in militant violence. More than 20 militants were killed in Ramzan 2021.
Peace, however, did not help markets that remained struggling to earn. The inclement weather added to their crisis. Even though the month of fasting was extended to 30 days, the last days did not help the market revive. Lal Chowk remained deserted unlike in the past and part of the credit goes to the ongoing smart city works.
However, Ramzan 2023 would be remembered for the mess that Kashmir’s so-called grand Mufti, Nasirul Islam landed in. He was in a controversy at the beginning of the month when he declared that his “moon-sighting committee” could not locate the Ramzan crescent. People defied his claim and started fasting as Shia ulema had moon-sighting evidence. On April 19, a brief recording came on social media in which he was saying that his committee could not locate the crescent of Shawaal month on April 20, so Eid is being celebrated on Saturday, This triggered a serious controversy leading Nasir to send a formal request to Jammu and Kashmir Police to investigate the issue. He said he had been recorded for Doordarshan in advance. DD insider confirmed it saying this is the tradition. “We keep two versions recorded and then run the one that he permits at the appropriate time,” an insider said. The question, however, remains – how can anybody record something in advance when he or she lacks knowledge of it? On the flip side of it, police have investigated the issue and have answers. Will they ever reveal? Wait.
Against Rs 217.43 crore, the Government generated Rs 260.94 crore with the e-auction of 257 retail liquor vends for the year 2023-24. Some more vends are auctioned soon.
KISHTWAR
A youth was killed and his brother survived injured in a mysterious blast in their own kitchen at Chitran village in Kishtwar’s Simbol area. The dead young man was identified as Shabir Ahmad, 20, and the one struggling to survive as Mohammad Yaseen, 18. Gucchi mushroom hunters, the two brothers had located something in the hospital and were heating it when it exploded. In another interesting incident, Ghulam Hassan, an ex-serviceman, from Angloe area opened fire on his wife, Rubeena, and Yasmeena, his minor daughter and rendered them injured. He used a 12-bore rifle. He lost his cool when his wife and daughter pleaded with the drunkard not to have liquor. Now, he is being tried for an attempt to murder.
Kashmir’s mutton requirements are expected to go up post-Eid from the prevailing 35 truckloads of sheep a day to 160.
DELHI
Jammu and Kashmir’s erstwhile foot-in-mouth governor, Satya Pal Malik has landed in yet another controversy for accusing Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and NSA, Ajit Doval, of making him silent on February 2019 Pulwama attack. The tragedy pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of a war in which the US had to intervene.
“CRPF personnel had requested aircraft to transport their personnel because such a large convoy does not normally travel by road. They had made the request to the Home Ministry, then held by Rajnath Singh, who refused. If they had asked me, I would have provided the aircraft. They had requested five aircraft,” Malik told Karan Thapar. “I told the Prime Minister the same evening (after the incident) that it happened due to our mistake. If we had provided them with aircraft, it could have been averted. He (PM) told me, ‘You keep quiet for the time being.’ I had already told one or two TV channels about it. He (PM) said, ‘Don’t talk about it. This is something else…’. Ajit Doval (NSA) also told me the same thing, ‘Satpalbhai (brother), you don’t talk about it. Please stay silent on this’.” Malik said, it took him a bit of time to realize “that the blame will now be shifted towards Pakistan, so I better keep quiet.”
Though Malik made several claims and told some very interesting stories about the politics in Delhi, it was the Pulwama attack that people have focused on. Congress is seeking a white paper on the Pulwama attack that killed nearly 40 CRPF personnel, days ahead of the national election. “Satya Pal Malik has brought out the explosive satya (‘truth’) which is more explosive than the Pulwama explosion itself…but this is nothing new. People were aware at the time that some Indo-Pakistan incident would be manufactured for political gain. Was the terror attack staged with the aim of winning elections?” Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanhjay Rauat has said. “Was there a plot to get 40 jawans killed for political gain? We [Opposition] had repeatedly tried to ask such questions at the time but were silenced by the ruling party and branded as ‘traitors’.”
The anti-climax of the controversy is that even Pakistan is using Malik’s statement. “His [Malik’s] disclosures demonstrate how the Indian leadership has habitually used the bogey of terrorism from Pakistan to advance its sham victimhood narrative and the Hindutva agenda, clearly for domestic political gains,” a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
Nearly four lakh people have visited Tulip Garden in the last month.
KATHUA
Kathua
An embarrassed Jammu and Kashmir government had no option but to admit that little Seerat Naaz’s video clip about the condition of the government high school in Lohai-Malhar is “not far from truth”. Naaz addressed the Prime Minister in the 5-minute video that she shot and commented on. After introducing herself as a student of the particular school, she goes on a virtual tour of her school. “Modi-ji, mujhe na aap se ek baat kehni hain (Modi-ji, there is something I need to tell you.)” Seerat then pans the phone camera towards an uncovered concrete surface, right in front of two closed doors which she identifies as the “principal’s office and the staff room” and comments: “Dekho humara farsh kitna ganda ho chuka hain. Humein yahan niche bithate hain (Look how dirty the floor is. They make us sit here).”
“Chalo mein aap ko bari si building dikhati hoon aapne school ki (let me show you the big building where our school is),” she goes on, “Yeh dekho, pichle 5 saalon se, dekho kitni gandi building hain yahan pe. Chalo mein aap ko andar se dikhati hoon (Look how unclean the building has been for the last 5 years. Let me take you on a tour of the inside of the building)”.
It was againt this backdrop, she makes a reqiest: “Please, aap se na request karti hoon, aap na achha sa school bana do. Humein niche baithna parta hain aur hamari uniform gandi ho jati hain aur phir humein Mamma marti hain. Humare pas bench bhi nahin hain (I request you to build us a nice school. We have to sit on the floor because of which our uniforms get dirty. My mother often scolds me for this. We don’t even have benches to sit on).” She adds: “Please Modi-ji, mein aap se request karti hoon ki achha sa bana de yeh school. Meri bhi baat sun lo (Please Modi-ji, I am requesting you to make my school better. Please grant my wish)”. She even films the toilet: “Dekho, humara kitna ganda toilet aur tut gaya hain (Look how filthy and broken our toilet is).” She then directs her lens towards a pit where the students go to relieve themselves. “Humein iss naali mein jana parta hain (We need to head to this pit to relieve ourselves.)”
The Government will now offer an ex-gratia relief of Rs 25 lakh (Rs 20 lakh out of UT Budget and Rs 5 lakh out of SRE) to the families of personnel who die in the line of duty and are from Jammu and Kashmir.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Siniha Friday said that under a well-though out deep-rooted nexus, an attempt is being made to destroy the society and youth of the UT. He, however, was quick to add that the Government will go tough against the drug peddlers and those behind the drug trade.
LG Sinha was speaking at the Rajya Puraskar Ceremony of J&K Bharat Scouts & Guides at Convention Centre, Jammu. LG Sinha who is also the Chief Patron of Jammu & Kashmir Bharat Scouts & Guides, congratulated the Rajya Puraskar Awardee Scouts & Guides and lauded their contribution to the society.
“There is a deep rooted nexus of drug peddlers. An attempt is being made to destroy the society and its youth by luring them towards drugs,” he said, adding , “The way the illicit trade of drugs is increasing, the way youth are being destroyed, I think it is the right time for Scouts and Guides to join and take part in this campaign,” he said.
Some people are trying to destroy the young generation in the country, Sinha said.
He said that with its aspirational vision, Scouts & Guides is leading the change in society especially by serving vulnerable sections of the community & enabling the youth leaders to drive transformative change. The LG called upon the youth to follow the rich legacy of Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and dedicate themselves in the service of the nation.
“The young generation is the key to change and today they are eager to play a bigger role in sustainable economic growth and social cohesion. With their commitment to selfless service, Scouts & Guides is contributing to build an inclusive & prosperous society,” the LG said, adding that in the fast-changing world, Scouts & Guides will have to turn their voice into action.
In the partnership with local administration, they must engage in social welfare works to complement the government’s efforts and to develop new youth networks to promote peaceful, equal and just communities. The LG also urged the trainers and teaching community to nurture individual growth and leadership qualities amongst the youth—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the Rajya Puraskar Ceremony of JK Bharat Scouts and Guides on Friday at Convention Centre.
The Lt Governor, who is also the Chief Patron of Jammu and Kashmir Bharat Scouts & Guides, congratulated the Rajya Puraskar Awardee Scouts & Guides and lauded their contribution to the society.
“With its aspirational vision, Scouts & Guides is leading the change in society especially by serving vulnerable section of the community & enabling the youth leaders to drive transformative change,” said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor called upon the youth to follow the rich legacy of Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and dedicate themselves in the service of the nation.
“The young generation is the key to change and today they are eager to play a bigger role in sustainable economic growth and social cohesion. With their commitment to selfless service, Scouts & Guides is contributing to build an inclusive & prosperous society,” observed the Lt Governor.
In the fast-changing world, Scouts & Guides will have to turn their voice into action. In the partnership with local administration, they must engage in social welfare works to complement the government’s efforts and to develop new youth networks to promote peaceful, equal and just communities, he added.
The Lt Governor also urged the trainers and teaching community to nurture individual growth and leadership qualities amongst the youth.
“Young generation is the main stakeholder of the future and it is our collective responsibility to provide them with the opportunities to fulfil their potential and strengthen their involvement in development processes,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor asked the J&K Bharat Scouts & Guides to actively contribute to drug abuse prevention programmes.
The Lt Governor also reiterated the UT Administration’s commitment to facilitate the smooth operations of J&K Bharat Scouts & Guides.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor felicitated the Scouts & Guides from various schools with Rajya Puraskar Award Certificates.
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday said that Article 370 was the root-cause of disparity while the terror-eco system and militancy was strong to the extent that it claimed 45000 lives and left lakhs displaced.
Addressing the Y-20 Consultation meet at Jammu University, LG Sinha said that India has been bearing the brunt of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.
“Article 370 has been the root-cause of disparity between the regions in J&K. Terrorism claimed 45000 lives and left lakhs of families displaced,” he said.
LG Sinha said that after August 5, 2019, a new J&K is emerging where youth are taking the front role.
Adding further he said narco-terrorism is the biggest challenge where youth and society are being targeted and steps to tackle it are being taken effectively.
He said that the youth are the biggest stakeholders in new JK and every day around 580 are youth become entrepreneurs and leading a change,” LG Sinha said.
Maintaining that every day around 580 young are emerging out as entrepreneurs, LG Sinha said,’ Individual as well as society’s aspiration can be fulfilled only in conditions of peace and young generation is eager to create a peaceful & prosperous present and future for the entire humanity.”
LG Sinha said that India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi will lead the world to effectively address broader aspects of security challenges that also includes social, political, economic & environmental issues with the spirit of One Earth, One Family, One Future.
The LG said that it was the responsibility of the youth to use their collective strength for development and upliftment of humanity. “With common values, aspirations and commitment of selfless service, the youth will expand the horizons of peace, prosperity, friendship, cooperation and progress,” he said.
Youth power is the strength of Jammu Kashmir and they have dedicated themselves to rejuvenate the society and to drive inclusive development, the Lt Governor said.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday launched three significant initiatives, ‘Kisan Sampark Abhiyan’, Daksh Kisan (Skilling of farmers) & Kisan Sathi (IT Dashboard for digitisation of services for farmers) for effective and efficient implementation of projects under Holistic Development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
The Lt Governor said the four month long ‘Kisan Sampark Abhiyan’ with help of PRIs focusing on farmers’ orientation, skilling courses for all interventions, will ensure that the meticulous plan reaches the fields and prepare our farmers to meet new challenges, explore new possibilities and make the farming accessible & profitable.
10,695 training sessions between April to August 2023 in all 20 districts will bring together entire farming community and the collective resolve will not only make the scheme an unprecedented success but also provide a new direction to young farmers, he added.
“Holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors have three important dimensions, economic development, social inclusion and environmental protection and this campaign would pay special attention on these for the progress and lasting prosperity of farmers,” said the Lt Governor.
Earlier, the UT-level training & orientation program of officers for effective implementation of 29 projects under holistic agriculture development plan was conducted during Phase-I.
The Lt Governor reiterated the UT Government’s commitment to empower the farmers of J&K and providing them easy access to productive resources, financial, technical support and the extension services.
“Empowering smallholder farmers is our top priority. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, various steps have been taken to strengthen rural infrastructure, to increase productivity and diversification to higher value crops,” he said.
The Lt Governor called upon all the stakeholders to come together to ensure effective implementation of Holistic Agriculture Development Plan.
The collaborative efforts of UT administration, PRIs, Progressive farmers, Cooperative Societies, Self-Help Groups, FPOs and other stakeholders will be the central pillar of the efforts to realize the goal of atmanirbhar Jammu Kashmir in agriculture sector, he added.
The Lt Governor asked the banking institutions and government departments to bridge the gap in financial assistance to the farmers.
Sinha also highlighted the efforts to attract investment in agriculture, developing a rural-urban market network and enabling small farmers to play a big role in the value chain.
Keeping in view the agro-climatic condition, we have mapped such areas where there is no irrigation facility but there is a possibility of growing millet crops, which can ensure good price to the farmers for their produce. This will also contribute to the millet revolution in Jammu Kashmir, said the Lt Governor.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in this month’s “Awaam ki Awaaz” programme shared the inspiring stories of the Change-makers and highlighted the efforts of the UT Government to realize the true growth potential of Jammu Kashmir.
The Lt Governor said the JK administration with citizens’ participation is steering the change in the socio-economic landscape of the Union Territory. Our collective effort is to create a more progressive, growth-oriented and aspirational society and laying a strong foundation for journey of the next 25 years, he added.
“Kashmir division is witnessing ‘Yellow Revolution’ with oilseed crops registering significant growth. There will be additional opportunities for oil extraction and value addition and therefore more entrepreneurial opportunities for people,” said the Lt Governor.
According to an estimate, mustard oil worth Rs 800 crore will be produced this year only in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu and Kashmir will move towards self-sufficiency in the production of the mustard oil, he noted.
Congratulating people of Jammu Kashmir for GI-Tagging of the Basholi Painting, he said it is a significant landmark in preserving and promoting the artistic and cultural heritage of J&K UT.
“Basohli Painting has become the first independent GI-tagged product from Jammu region. It will provide access to customers to authentic product and a huge boost to local economy,” observed the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor shared the inspiring journey of Self-made women entrepreneurs, Shalini Khokhar from Rajouri and Pattan’s Shamshada Begum. With commitment, conviction and courage, they are making significant contribution to a modern, strong and self-reliant J&K, he added.
The Lt Governor lauded the efforts of progressive farmers like Seva Ram of Galhar, Kishtwar in improving agricultural productivity and encouraging the adoption of new agriculture techniques.
The Lt Governor commended the “Give Plastic and Take Gold” campaign launched by Farooq Ahmad Ganie, Sarpanch of Sadiwara, Anantnag to transform the Swachh Abhiyan into Janbhagidari and fulfill the dream of Swachh Bharat.
He called upon the PRI representatives to replicate the noble initiative and ensure community participation in cleanliness drives. Youth clubs also have an important role to play in promoting swachh abhiyan, he added.
The Lt Governor congratulated Sarpanch, Panch and District Administration of Sira-A Gram Panchayat of Udhampur, Phalmerg of Kupwara Fatehpora of Baramulla for receiving awards in different categories at the National Panchayat Awards 2023.
The Lt Governor made a special mention of Prof Jagbir Singh Sudan of Poonch for his selfless service and inspiring others to actively participate in the service of humanity. The service activities of his organization ‘Pritam Spiritual Foundation’ are truly commendable, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor appreciated the work of Sonia Verma of Gurah Brahmana village in Akhnoor who has planted more than 60 thousand saplings in the areas of Akhnoor and Khour. He asked the citizens to follow this inspiring example of environmental consciousness.
Sharing the suggestions of Priya Varma from Reasi on women-exclusive haats, the Lt Governor reiterated the UT administration’s commitment to promote women-led enterprises.
Women entrepreneurs are the backbone of J&K economy and we have taken appropriate steps for capacity building, easy access to credit & marketing linkage, observed the Lt Governor.
With a huge network of colleges and a lot of enrolment, the students are dissatisfied with the pace and process of the education they get, reports Babra Wani
Girl students of a college in Srinagar enjoying the sunshine on the premises of the college. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
With her eyes glued to her mobile, Saima (name changed) is watching a lecture on Scaler and Vector quantities. With the uncertainty of the presence of teachers in her school looming large, she has been preparing for her upcoming examination virtually.
A student of Government Degree College, Kangan, Saima prefers not to attend the college where she is enrolled for BSc. She stopped going to her college because of the “lack of permanent staff for her subjects.” The deficit was managed by contractual lecturers, who leave the college when their contracts expire. “I mean if we talk about the present, we have no teachers there and our exams are about to begin in a month,” she said.
The lack of permanent teachers and staff is not a one-college problem but a pan-higher education issue in Kashmir. It literally triggered a sort of a “scandal” when a college principal formally ordered teachers from unrelated subjects to “engage” students in absence of the relevant faculty.
Karnah Story
Just like Saima, Zahra (name changed) is concerned and worried about the lack of teachers. A fifth-semester BA student at Government Degree College Tanghdar, Zahra recalls how she was a happy girl when she passed her higher secondary examinations just to get admission to the college. The excitement, however, soon went down as she realised the harsh realities.
“Living in a remote area was already challenging enough,” Zahra said. “We already knew that our college will not provide us with the facilities but we never knew that our issues will never be even heard.”
For her, the lack of permanent staff is her biggest concern. “Due to staff issues, we suffer from a lot of academic loss as we are not able to cover the whole syllabus and hence rely completely on self-study to prepare for examinations,” Zahra said. “Ours is a remote area so if we students face any problems here, they are rarely addressed.”
Located some 67 km north of Srinagar, beyond the Sadhna Pass, Tanghdar(Karnah) is located literally on the line of control (LOC). The area remains closed for most of the winter and there are cases when the authorities had to retain the dead in mortuaries till the road opened. The college, established in 2008 has more than 700 students on its rolls. This load is being managed by seven permanent teachers and three contractual teachers!
The Tulail Story
For 20 years old Adnan (name changed) walking for five kilometres to reach the college seems to be a daily routine. In 2019, when he and his friends heard about the establishment of a degree college, they were excited. They thought their hardships will now slow down. “We just have two permanent teachers here, one for history and one for English,” Adnan said.
For more than sixty students enrolled with Government Degree College Tulail, there are only six teachers, with two permanent and four contractual. Located at a distance of 200 km from Srinagar, Tulailis part of Gurez, the new destination for naya Kashmir tourism. The college was established in 2019.
Supposed to help residents not to migrate – as most of Gurez lives between Bandipore and Srinagar, the college could have hugely contributed. Students, however, insist this is not the case.
“We have a history teacher, right?,” one student pointed out. “History as a subject is not taught here. I mean we have other subjects here but not history so technically we have no teachers to study from.”
These teachers engage students in classes organised on a shift basis. Students insist they have bigger issues. “We do not even have our separate principal. The principal of our college watches over two different colleges (the other one is at Dawar), we neither have professors, principal nor facilities here,” Adnan who is currently studying in BA third semester said.
Due to the lack of facilities, mostly a shortage of teachers, students prefer to stay home. This, they do after paying fees and costs for the degrees. Days ahead of the examination, the colleges start assessing attendance and enforcing shortages on them. “Tell me how does it make sense that students travel long distances for hours together, jeopardising their health to study here but there are no teachers? Not even a single official has ever visited us, we have been left to the mercy of the Lord,” a visibly upset Adnan complained.
The lack of staff is not the only issue for the colleges in Gurez. “Last year, when we were writing our examinations, we knew we were appearing for three subjects,” Adnan said. “It was during the examinations that the college told us we have to appear in two more subjects – the subjects we never knew. We were desperate for what to write and a day before we had to write the examination, they sent the syllabus of that subject.”
Students arrive at a college after a gap of nearly one year, following Covid19 safety guidelines issued by the government, in Srinagar, Monday, February 15, 2021. All the educational institutes including schools, colleges and universities in Jammu and Kashmir, which were closed in March last year in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
The Kashmir Plains
The staff crisis is not a high-altitude issue. Even the colleges within and around Srinagar are suffering.
In Government Degree College, Sumbal, the students said the teachers for skill enhancement courses, which have been recently introduced, are not permanent. They are contractual and keep changing. “The continuous cycle of changing of these contractual teachers results in a month-long gap in the session,” one student said. “The month is wasted which is worrisome as it affects our studies.”
The Sumbal College was established in 2010 and has an enrolment of more than 2500 students. In the neighbouring degree college at Hajin, students are crying for a physical education teacher.
A Teacher Deficit
Subsequent governments in Jammu and Kashmir have gone into the creation of a huge network of colleges. Some villages that had put up huge struggles to get their middle schools upgraded into high schools are now addresses for the new colleges. There were around 161 colleges for general education with an overall enrolment of 151478 students manned by 5745 teachers by the end of 2020-21. With the onset of the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), the government made huge plans about improving higher education. It included making five autonomous degree-granting colleges into Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities, a sort of deemed universities. In fact, the government said three are already operating as autonomous colleges. There was a focus on skill and innovation.
Under NEP-2020, 30 colleges have been identified for the start of research and designated as Hub colleges. These are supposed to provide basic facilities of infrastructure and logistics to the rest of the colleges in their catchment.
On the ground, however, nothing much is visible. “How can these colleges become research centres, when prestigious colleges like Amar Singh College are yet to grant the right to its first and second-semester students to get into the library,” one student, speaking anonymously asked. “Students have been desperately seeking library cards but we are told the access to the library is permitted to higher semester students.”
The NAAC accreditation is the new mad race within colleges in which the assessment is mostly based on the infrastructure and the results – nobody is seeing, if at all, the students are taught in classrooms. Officials said 55 colleges in Jammu and Kashmir are NAAC accredited 17 more will be added to the list by December 2023. By 2025, 70 old colleges will be NAAC accredited.
Right now, most colleges are battling the faculty issue. This triggered a controversy when the management of a state-run women’s college in Baramulla asked the faculty from unrelated subjects to engage “classes of the departments (currently) without staff”.Teachers from Education, Physical Education, and Sports were asked to engage in the classes of Political Science; Chemistry faculty was assigned Public Administration; Botany teachers were supposed to engage in Economics; the Zoology department was given Social Work and Mathematics was to manage the Philosophy students.
This was the outcome of the higher education department not filling the vacancies on a temporary basis by the middle of March, almost a month after the colleges opened after the winter break. It created a sort of scandal and the college principal was asked to amend or withdraw the order. As it did not happen, the authorities issued a show cause notice. Insiders said the college asserted that the faults are at the policymaking level and not the college level.
A Generation Lost
For the last nearly two decades, the higher education department has been hiring teachers on an academic arrangement basis against a consolidated sum. They are disengaged every season. They lack any rights to leave, provident fund and other facilities that permanent faculty enjoy. Over the years they have been the main players in the higher education department.
“Every year, the government used to hire 800 to 1000 teachers on an academic arrangement basis,” Dr M Yousuf, one of the contractual lecturers said. “With the NEP, the requirement might have gone slightly up, maybe up to 1200.”
For a very long time, there was a rule in Jammu and Kashmir government that if somebody worked for the government for seven years, he or she has a right to be permanently hired. They had gone to court with the plea and secured an order directing authorities to ensure the people are not disturbed. So, every year, the government would hire them on priority. Post-2019, the government stopped extending this courtesy to them and instead started hiring new faces. Some of the contractual impacts by this decision in Jammu went to the supreme court and secured an order. Yousuf said while the order was implemented in Jammu, it was breached in Kashmir. Now, they have gone to CAT and are expecting a positive decision.
“This crisis ended up almost destroying their career of nearly 500 contractual teachers –mostly PhDs’, who served the department for 15 t 20 years and then the government stopped hiring them and they crossed the age bar,” Yousuf, one of these candidates, said. “Now we are no-bodies, we gave our entire life to these institutions and now we have nothing to do.”
Yousuf said the delay in hiring teachers on an academic arrangement basis is the main issue that is hitting the colleges right now. “There is a set norm for how many students a teacher must have but I know cases, where one teacher is assigned 600 students.”
Transportation Facilities
Teaching is just one part of the crisis. Students allege, there are other issues as well. Transportation is a key factor. Though almost every college has a transport facility, quite a few busses move out of the college.
“Some students in my college walk a distance of around 26 km to reach the college,” Adnan said. “Why we do not have the transport facility as other colleges have.”
In Government Degree College Kangan, the students have a similar complaint. “We have no transportation facility here, I mean that is basic,” one student said.
Various colleges have buses but lack the funds to hire a driver. In certain cases, they have drivers but not enough money to fuel the bus.
In the newly established Government Degree College Hajin, students allege the ground is in puddles, “Whenever it rains, the ground accumulates water and it becomes difficult to even walk through it let alone be any other thing,” Ahmad (name changed) who is currently enrolled in arts stream in the college said, “We don’t even have proper classrooms. In the main building only a few classes are taught, the rest of the classes are conducted in a hut which has a couple of rooms.” Besides, he said there is still an old building, which used to be a middle school in the past, on the ground there.
“Even if available, the washrooms are not located in proper settings,” he said.
Government Degree College Hajin is one of the 52 new colleges which were established in the year 2019.
City Colleges
Zubair (name changed) and his friends made a decision to get admitted to Amar Singh College, a prominent city college. As soon as he joined the first semester his perspective changed. A student in the second semester at present, Zubair had a list of issues to share, “You know there is no punctuality, I mean the classes are never conducted on time. The teachers are always late and never on time.”
Amar Singh College, Srinagar
The college, Zubair added, lacks hygiene, has dirty desks in classrooms, unclean washrooms and abundant stray dogs. This is in addition to the staff shortage. “We have been waiting since March for the teacher, as the contract of our previous teacher expired,” he said. The lack of mics in the classrooms is yet another concern for the students. “The classrooms are huge and the teachers are not audible to everybody in the class.”
The students said they have no access t the library. It has been done so easily. The college has not issued identity cards which are basic to entry into the library.
“This college has no proper gatekeeping and outsiders who are not even enrolled in our college get in and fight with the students of our college,” one female student said. “There is nobody who can check the people getting in.” Students confirmed the drug-peddling boys moving around.
Students of Women’s’ College Nawa Kadal alleged that the government is frequently shifting their principals. This, they said, is impacted the college.
In Women’s College MA Road, the students complained how the focus has been more on extra-curricular activities and not on education, “The classwork always suffers the most.”
Officials Admit
College managers and insiders admitted to the lot of issues they are facing. However, they insist they are not supposed to talk the way they used to talk earlier. Some of them agreed to talk in utmost anonymity.
“Yes, there is no college bus for students and the majority of the faculty positions are vacant except English and History,” echoing the thoughts of the students an official posted in Government Degree College, Tulail said. The official added that they have tried bringing it to the notice of authorities from time to time, “We had taken up the matter with our ex-principal secretary and he told that they were ready to sanction the college bus but it was not possible to engage any driver as there is a blanket ban on contractual or local fund recruitment.” He also lamented over the trend of teachers from Gurez and Tulail ensuring they are transferred to other places outside Gurez. “What can we expect from the teachers who are hired on a contractual basis.”
Most of the college managers approached to offer their side of the story but refused to talk. “Maybe next time,” one college principal said.
SRINAGAR: The 62-day long Shri Amarnathji Yatra will commence on July 1st this year and it will culminate on August 31.
Further, the registration through online and offline modes for Shri Amarnathji Yatra will start from April 17.
The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha while announcing the dates for holy pilgrimage and registration on Friday said the administration is committed to ensure smooth and hassle free pilgrimage.
“Hassle-free pilgrimage is top priority of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Home Minister Amit Shah Ji. The administration will provide best-in-class healthcare and other essential facilities to all the visiting devotees and service providers. Telecom services will be made operational prior to the commencement of Pilgrimage. All the stakeholder departments are working in coordination to ensure facilities for lodging, power, water, security and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of Yatra,” Manoj Sinha said.
The Yatra would commence simultaneously from both the routes – the Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district.
Manoj Sinha also directed the officials to ensure high levels of cleanliness and to take necessary intervention for sanitation and waste management.
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) will also enable live telecast of morning and evening Aarti (Prayers) for devotees across the globe. Shri Amarnathji Yatra’s App has been made available on the Google play store to get real time information about the Yatra, weather and for availing several services online.
During the 44th meeting of SASB chaired by the Lt Governor, the members and officials had reviewed various aspects of Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2023, including registration, provision of helicopter services, service providers, camps, langars and insurance cover for Yatris.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday appointed Tariq Ahmad Khan, former director general, Planning department and Sanjeev Gupta, District and Sessions Judge(retired) as members of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission.
In a notification, the General Administration Department said that the LG has appointed Tariq Ahmad Khan, director general (expenditure division), Planning and Sanjeev Gupta, District and Session Judge as members of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission.
An order issued in this regard read, “SO 199-in exercise of powers conferred by Clause 2 of the Article 316 of the Constitution of India read with Section 93 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 and SO 3937 (E) dated October 31, 2019 read with order issued in terms of sub-clause (i) of clause (c) of the Proclamation issued by the President dated October 31, 2019, the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is pleased to appoint Sanjeev Gupta, District and Sessions Judge (Retd) and Tariq Ahmad Khan, Director General (Expenditure Division), Planning (Retd), as Member of the PSC of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.”
As per the order, the newly appointed members shall hold the office for a term of six years from the date one enters upon his office or attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.
