Tag: villages

What Do People Of Kashmir’s Locked Villages Do In The Winter Season?

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SRINAGAR: Dozens of villages falling near the Line of Control (LoC) in northern Kashmir get disconnected from the rest of the valley during every winter due to the heavy snowfall leaving them in severe shortage of the essential commodities due to the blockade of roads.
With snow capped mountains, pristine rivers running down the villages, serene nature and heart-warming people, Gurez valley is one of the such isolated place where winter for residents means settling into their homes with a stockpile of canned goods, dried vegetables and firewood or coal, and waiting patiently for spring to arrive.
Razdan Pass, which is the gateway to Gurez mountainous valley and Sadhna top, connecting border town of Tangdhar with Kupwara records around 10-15 feet snow during winter months and becomes the main reason for the closure of the roads, thereby making the area inaccessible during the harsh conditions of winter months.
“The long months of isolation for the Gurez which is picking up swiftly as one of tourist destination residents are passed by working on handicrafts for sale the following summer, listening to Shina and Kashmiri music, feeding cattle and visiting each other,” says Bashir Ahmad, a local health worker.
During the heavy snowfall, Bashir and his friends contribute money and assemble in the house to sing the traditional songs, besides folk tales are being told.
However the greatest concern over the long winter, other residents say, is health care as the snow-clad region comprising 15 sub villages remains cut off from the rest of the world during winters due to heavy snowfall which led to multiple administrative problems and created panic among the locals.
Critically ill patients have no choice during winter but to airlift from here to other hospitals,” the residents of Karnah said, adding that due to continuous snowfall, the situation is sometimes so complicated that the villagers of the valley cannot reach the sub district hospital. This winter, they said that the situation was so tough that they could not even bring the corpses to their native areas for four several days.
The snowfall which had draped the pristine Gurez and Karnah regions since the last three months has forced the administration to press choppers into service for winter to manage medical emergencies of the people living in the region.

Hoping that the road will be re-opened very quickly this year, people said that they don’t want to depend on chopper service during the emergency period. “If the weather is unfavorable then it can’t operate at that time either,” Abdul Rasheed, a Tulail resident said.
“During the winter months, nearby roads might not be in the best shape or not be as well maintained as urban roads,” Aziz said, adding that in some cases you may not even be able to spot your neighbours at all due to heavy snowfall because things may no longer remain as rosy as they seemed to be in summer.
The government in Gurez valley has installed diesel generators in the villages. A single generator feeds a village of about 60 households and provides regular 5-hour electricity daily from 7 PM to 11 PM besides two-hour electricity from 5 AM to 7 AM.
“As the villages are scattered and settled at high altitudes facing immense hardships in winter, in the form of connectivity, electricity and health emergency, Masoor Ahmad a resident of Karnah says people also lose daily earning due to unavailability of work around.
The closure of the road coupled with harsh weather conditions forces many residents to migrate to other parts of the valley, he said while citing harsh weather conditions, shortage of essential commodities and the health emergency as main reasons for migration.
“Everyone has to keep a huge stock of firewood and essential food items including rice, oil and dried vegetables which we use during winters when our area remains under several feet of snow and remains cut off with the rest of the valley,” he said.
The locals of duo snow bound regions said the tunnel at the high altitude tops would facilitate round the year traffic movement on the only surface link connecting the towns with district headquarters.
Recently people in the Karnah region have registered a protest demonstration to press their demand regarding the construction of the Tunnel while the same demand is also being raised by the residents of Gurez.
Quoting officials the news agency KNO reported that the critically ill patients of these areas in the winter season were airlifted from their respective areas to the city hospital on priority basis through chopper service with the help of administration. Besides the students in need of evacuation also availed the service.
They said that a Snow clearance operation has started on a massive scale to clear the Gurez-Bandipora and Karnah-Kuwara Roads. “It is being ensured that both roads will be opened as soon as possible,” the officials said.

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#People #Kashmirs #Locked #Villages #Winter #Season
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 19, 2023
CS For Declaring All Villages Of JK ‘ODF Plus Model’ By August 15

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SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta on Saturday reiterated his direction to all the Deputy Commissioners to achieve ‘ODF Plus Model’ status for all their villages by the 15th of August this year.
Dr Mehta made these remarks while inaugurating the Divisional Level Capacity Building Programme on Management of all Components of SBM(G)- Phase-II for officers of the Rural Development Department (RDD) attended by the Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir Division.
The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Commissioner Secretary, RDD; Secretary in RDD; Director, Rural Sanitation and many other concerned officers.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary stressed upon all participants to put in dedicated efforts to ensure that the open defecation free behaviour is sustained in all the Gram Panchayats, besides safe solid and liquid waste management facilities in these villages.
Dr Mehta also called for proper disposal of legacy waste and improving visual cleanliness in the rural areas. He also maintained that happiness of common masses is connected with cleanliness so every one has to contribute in terms of sanitation and cleanliness of their surroundings.
Dr Mehta urged the officers to work in coordination with each other evolving a simple methodology without complicating the action plan to achieve the target. He observed that the task of cleanliness is basic and understood by all. He emphasised on conducting the cleanliness activities in a dedicated manner with clear objective to remove all the dirt around us. He remarked that this task is easy if everyone considers it as basic necessity; just as food, shelter, water, electricity and clothes.
Emphasising on active involvement of people and PRI members in such activities the Chief Secretary asked officers to motivate and convince the rural population by sensitizing them about the significance of the cleanliness. He emphasized that it is vital for sustenance of good health and prosperity of the people. He stated that no human likes to reside in a dirty place. He directed all to make it a mission and make a resolve that we have to make our rural areas clean and hygienic by this year’s Independence Day without any fail.
The Commissioner Secretary, RDD, Mandeep Kaur in her address revealed that the progress of UT from last few years is although good but much has to be achieved yet. She made out that around 4400 of our villages are in the aspiring category of becoming ODF+ villages.

She set out that the model is lying with us and the process is underway to make whole of the UT as ODF+ within the given timeframe. She made out that much of the work like door to door collection of waste and clearing of legacy waste has been started in all of our villages.
While highlighted the importance of capacity building she said that it helps us in implementation of our policies in a smooth manner. She remarked that the trainings are going to be imparted in every panchayat in order to take the mission to its conclusion.
In his Welcome address, the Director Rural Sanitation, Charandeep Singh made out that the mission is the outcome of the priority nation gives to sanitation of villages. He revealed that more than 140 villages have already been declared ODF+ in the UT. He said that this capacity building would enhance our ability to perform the task in an efficient manner. He emphasized bringing about behavioural change rather than just creating the physical infrastructure.
He said that we have been successful in preparation of DPRs to create the Soak pits, Composit pits, Leach pits, Twin pits besides the plans for solid, liquid and plastic waste management. He acknowledged that today we have district plans available for each component of cleanliness and the necessary infrastructure and manpower is in place everywhere to make our villages clean.
During the ceremony it was revealed that after this Divisional level workshop the trainings are to be held at district level to train master trainers. These Master Trainers would thereby impart trainings at panchayat level. It was given out that at least two trainers would be trained in each block. A pool of around 600-650 field trainers would be created to give trainings in all the 4280 GPs in 285 blocks across the 20 districts of the UT.
The objectives of this programme was to undertake capacity building activities in Gram Panchayats to ensure open defecation free behaviours among all, to ensure proper solid and liquid waste management and to encourage cost effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation.
These also include strengthening of grass root democracy of Jammu and Kashmir through Capacity building & training and Exposure visits, besides developing governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRls) to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).
Pertinent to mention here that all the Deputy Commissioners and concerned officers of the RDD present in the training program like ACDs and BDOs committed to put in their best efforts for achieving ‘ODF Plus Model’ villages by the deadline of 15th of August this year as directed by the Chief Secretary.

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#Declaring #Villages #ODF #Model #August
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 11, 2023
CS for declaring all villages ‘ODF Plus Model’ by Aug 15

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Srinagar, Feb 11 (GNS): Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta on Saturday reiterated his direction to all the Deputy Commissioners to achieve ‘ODF(Open Defecation Free) Plus Model’ status for all their villages by the 15th of August this year.
Dr Mehta made these remarks while inaugurating the Divisional Level Capacity Building Programme on Management of all Components of SBM(G)- Phase-II for officers of the Rural Development Department (RDD) attended by the Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir Division.
The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Commissioner Secretary, RDD; Secretary in RDD; Director, Rural Sanitation and many other concerned officers.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary stressed upon all participants to put in dedicated efforts to ensure that the open defecation free behaviour is sustained in all the Gram Panchayats, besides safe solid and liquid waste management facilities in these villages.
Dr Mehta also called for proper disposal of legacy waste and improving visual cleanliness in the rural areas. He also maintained that happiness of common masses is connected with cleanliness so every one has to contribute in terms of sanitation and cleanliness of their surroundings.
Dr Mehta urged the officers to work in coordination with each other evolving a simple methodology without complicating the action plan to achieve the target. He observed that the task of cleanliness is basic and understood by all. He emphasised on conducting the cleanliness activities in a dedicated manner with clear objective to remove all the dirt around us. He remarked that this task is easy if everyone considers it as basic necessity; just as food, shelter, water, electricity and clothes.
Emphasising on active involvement of people and PRI members in such activities the Chief Secretary asked officers to motivate and convince the rural population by sensitizing them about the significance of the cleanliness. He emphasized that it is vital for sustenance of good health and prosperity of the people. He stated that no human likes to reside in a dirty place. He directed all to make it a mission and make a resolve that we have to make our rural areas clean and hygienic by this year’s Independence Day without any fail.
The Commissioner Secretary, RDD, Mandeep Kaur in her address revealed that the progress of UT from last few years is although good but much has to be achieved yet. She made out that around 4400 of our villages are in the aspiring category of becoming ODF+ villages.

She set out that the model is lying with us and the process is underway to make whole of the UT as ODF+ within the given timeframe. She made out that much of the work like door to door collection of waste and clearing of legacy waste has been started in all of our villages.
While highlighted the importance of capacity building she said that it helps us in implementation of our policies in a smooth manner. She remarked that the trainings are going to be imparted in every panchayat in order to take the mission to its conclusion.
In his Welcome address, the Director Rural Sanitation, Charandeep Singh made out that the mission is the outcome of the priority nation gives to sanitation of villages. He revealed that more than 140 villages have already been declared ODF+ in the UT. He said that this capacity building would enhance our ability to perform the task in an efficient manner. He emphasized bringing about behavioural change rather than just creating the physical infrastructure.
He said that we have been successful in preparation of DPRs to create the Soak pits, Composit pits, Leach pits, Twin pits besides the plans for solid, liquid and plastic waste management. He acknowledged that today we have district plans available for each component of cleanliness and the necessary infrastructure and manpower is in place everywhere to make our villages clean.
During the ceremony it was revealed that after this Divisional level workshop the trainings are to be held at district level to train master trainers. These Master Trainers would thereby impart trainings at panchayat level. It was given out that at least two trainers would be trained in each block. A pool of around 600-650 field trainers would be created to give trainings in all the 4280 GPs in 285 blocks across the 20 districts of the UT.
The objectives of this programme was to undertake capacity building activities in Gram Panchayats to ensure open defecation free behaviours among all, to ensure proper solid and liquid waste management and to encourage cost effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation.
These also include strengthening of grass root democracy of Jammu and Kashmir through Capacity building & training and Exposure visits, besides developing governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRls) to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).
Pertinent to mention here that all the Deputy Commissioners and concerned officers of the RDD present in the training program like ACDs and BDOs committed to put in their best efforts for achieving ‘ODF Plus Model’ villages by the deadline of 15th of August this year as directed by the Chief Secretary. (GNS)
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#declaring #villages #ODF #Model #Aug
( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )

February 11, 2023
6 Days On, 5 Villages Along LoC in Boniyar Cut off With Rest of Kashmir

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Villages at high altitude, takes time to clear roads, Exen PMGSY Uri
Zaffer Iqbal
Uri, Feb 11 (GNS): Owing to snow-clogged roads, at least five villages in Boniyar Uri, falling along Line of Control, continue to remain cut off from rest of the Valley for last six days.
Local residents told GNS over phone that, villages including Chotali, Jabdi, Gaggerhill, Korali and Samali falling along Line of Control continue to remain closed as the authorities are ‘yet to clear the roads of accumulated snow.’
A local identifying himself as Abdul Rasheed said that the road leading to their village was closed due to snow-slides at various spots from Madanan Boniyar. He claimed that despite repeated requests to PMGSY officials, no one has came forward to clear the road so far.
He further said that the authorities concerned aren’t paying any attention at all, leading to huge inconvenience to the general populace.
“We had to take a pregnant woman on cot for several kilometres few days back and it was only after walking the distance that she was boarded in a vehicle and taken to hospital”, he said.
When contacted, Executive Engineer PMGSY Uri Manzoor Ahmad told GNS that the snow clearance work was going on at many upper area roads, including on Chotali road. “The villages fall on high altitudes and witness frequent snow avalanches which is why the clearance takes time”, he said.

“As a precautionary measure, we cannot deploy more than one machine at one time as the road width is very less”, he said adding “We nevertheless are on job to clear the clogged roads as soon as possible”. (GNS)
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#Days #Villages #LoC #Boniyar #Cut #Rest #Kashmir
( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )

February 11, 2023
Illness count from contaminated water in Hamirpur villages touches 535, Himachal CM seeks report

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Hamirpur: The number of people taken ill after allegedly consuming contaminated water in a dozen villages of Nadaun sub-division in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district rose to 535 on Sunday.
People from a dozen villages, including Banh, Jandgi Gujran, Jandali Rajputan, Panyala, Pathiyalu, Niyati, Rangas Chowki Haar, Thain and Sankar have been affected by the outbreak of water-borne diseases.
Rajeev Kumar, the head of Rangas panchayat, had earlier in the day said the number of people taken ill crossed 300.
Some patients have been referred to hospitals in Hamirpur.
Two to three people in every household have taken ill after consuming contaminated water provided by the Jal Shakti department, he added.
It is believed that the high amount of bacteria in the water is causing the illness, Kumar said. He attributed it to contamination of the pit from which the water is supplied.
Villagers said the water was supplied without being filtered from an under-construction tank, causing the outbreak.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who is also the MLA from Naudan, has directed the district administration and the Health department to take proper care of the patients and ensure no shortage of medicines and other items.

He has also sought a complete report from state- and district-level agencies.
Health department teams have reached the affected villages to provide treatment to the people under the direct supervision of Chief Medical Officer (Hamirpur) Dr RK Agnihotri.
Officials from the Jal Shakti department have swung into action. It has stopped water supply to the affected villages and sent samples for testing.
Bottled water is being distributed among the people after supply was stopped, said a junior engineer in the department.
Deputy Commissioner Debasweta Banik said essential medicines, ORS packets, chlorine tablets and other materials were delivered to the villages through doctors, health and Asha workers.
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#Illness #count #contaminated #water #Hamirpur #villages #touches #Himachal #seeks #report
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 29, 2023