Vol: 4 | No.: 4 | May 30, 2010 Lab newspaper of Media Education Research Centre for private circulation only

Shafqat : Helping special Happy days of tourism Tale of city’s favourite children with compassion 3 in Kashmir 4 Kulfi shop 7 Rouf Ahmad Dar adds, “If a weaver applies for a loan in Khadi Village Kashmir valley, which is known Industry he has to fulfi ll for its art and crafts, is home to hectic formalities.” the tradition of shawl weaving Ghulam Qadir Hajam, 50, and embroidery work. Kanihama, who has been associated with a small village on - Kanihama Kani Shawl weaving from the highway is known for last 35 years says,” I would Kani Shawls, one of the popular not let my children to come shawl varieties. and dying art of in this profession as the art The original name of the is very diffi cult without much village, elders say, was “Gund economical rewards. Instead I Karhama” until it became famous would recommend them to do for its Kani Shawls and hence other job so that atleast our the name “Kanihama” (“Kani” Kani Shawl poverty is alleviated to some for Kani shawl and “Hama” for extent.’ village). It was through the efforts weaving The process of Kani Shawl weaving is complex and needs high degree of skill of 14th century saint Shah-i- and patience. One shawl may take six Hamdan (RA) that the art reached months to two years for completion. Kani Kanihama. Sultan Qutub-ud- shawl weaving is done in a well organised Din, who was the then ruler of and co-ordinated manner. Raw wool for Kashmir, patronized the trade Kani Shawls is procured from Ladakh. The till it reached its zenith. It is said wool is obtained from Pashmina Goat, that Napoleon in 1776 presented known locally as Lena Rama, mostly found a Kashmiri shawl to his Empress in Changthang area of Ladakh. The raw Josphine, which set a new trend in wool is cleaned and spun European fashion. into yarn on the traditional spinning wheel. The Kani shawls weaved at The yarn is then soaked in rice water and then dried so as to make it easy to Kanihama are of great quality and handle and increase its strength. The yarn exported to Europe and America. is ready to be loaded on the handloom so Apart from foreign buyers, people as to make the framework of the shawl of other states of also like according to its size. After the framework these shawls as much as foreign comes the turn of needles without eyes people do. (locally called as “tojis”). The “tojis” Kani shawl weaving used to be are made from smooth and light wood the mainstay of village’s economy locally called “Kani” and hence the name apart from agriculture. The Kani “Kani Shawl.” The “tojis” (50 or more) are shawl weaving used to fetch the tapered at both the ends , wrapped with locals good profi t. However, the coloured yarn and fi xed on the one side of the handloom which is also the backside craft received a severe blow from of the shawl (kani shawl is weaved from vested interests who started to tag backside). Under the supervision of the the machine-made cheap shawls as instructor called “Tarn-guru” the weavers genuine handmade Kani shawls. knot the coloured yarn of the “tojis” with Besides, due to lack of the framework of the shawl made by yarn. patronage, the local shawl weavers The knots are made according to a set also abandoned the traditional ancestors are no longer interested in Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, 30, who design which is already written on paper art and looked up for alternative retaining and propagating this art. inherits this art from his father called “taleem-e-kakud” in a language avenues of employment. They are now switching over to other and manages fi ve handlooms says, which only the “taran-guru” can interpret. Ten year back there were professions as the art does not fetch “The state government also shows The process of weaving line by line is about 5000 handlooms operating the profi t as it used to do in the past. indifference towards this art and repeated again and again till the fi nal product (kani shawl) is not made which in Kanihama. The number has Moreover, the young generation is not providing any platform to may even take six now been reduced to just 1500. is not interested in taking over Kani showcase it.” months to two years to complete. The artisans who had Shawl weaving because of economic Lamenting on the pathetic inherited this art from their uncertainty associated with it. condition of the weavers, Mushtaq CAMPUS ROUNDUP MERCTIMES 2 Lal Chowk Beautification: Bane or Boon Arif Hussain Nadaf

Lal chowk, the heart of Srinagar city, has a historical importance, both politically as well as commercially. This is perhaps the reason why the state government decided to embark on an ambitious “beautification project.” The officials claim that it will restore Lal Chowk’s past glory. However, many people question the development of the park at the city centre particularly when it was already facing traffic congestion. Lal Chowk has been witness to changing political scenario of Kashmir. Leaders like Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and Jawahar Lal Nehru addressed Kashmiris here. During the past 20 years of turmoil, this place has also witnessed bloodshed with explosions to gunbattles to violent processions. In February this year, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah announced a development package of two crore rupees for beautification of Lal Chowk. Surprisingly, the work began soon after. While some people appreciated the step others criticised it on various grounds. They believe the plan fell short of people’s expectations and on the contrary created problems for them. done first,” said Noor Muhammad, a Srinagar at Lal Chowk also oppose the “beautification” Lal chowk was already suffering from huge resident said. project. traffic rush. Now with the construction of a “The area here should be increased not A local shopkeeper, Ahmadullah said, “Lal fenced park within it has further increased the decreased like this in order to prevent traffic Chowk is prone to attacks and gunbattles so the problems. jams.Lal chowk has been lacking a parking tourists who would be coming to this park can “There was no need to construct the park place so there is a dire need to create a parking be easy victims.” here. Instead they (Government) should have place first. This is misappropriation of public However, the shopkeepers appreciated developed Pratap Park for public amusement. funds by state government,” he added. the reconstruction of the footpath by the Road widening and repairs should have been Meanwhile, majority of the shopkeepers authorities. Bad weather hits agriculture Farooz Ahmad Bhat problems. Some areas were also hit by “We plant hailstorm adding to the worries of Untimely and heavy rainfall in the paddy by 15th local orchard owners. last week of May has resulted in May but this The fruits are falling damage of Rabi crops. Pulwama, year we are late prematurely especially apples, rich in agriculture and horticulture by 12 -15 days,” pears and apricots. The trees have produce, has been one of the worst said Ghulam been attacked by various diseases hit districts with Mustard and oats Nabi Kouchey, and pests. being the main affected crops. another farmer. “Due to bad weather, the Oats is dried and stored for Moreover, foliage has been damaged. Various cattle in winter season. But this torrential rains diseases have attacked the fruits. time major crop was decomposed. lowered the The orchard owners should Same is the case with mustard, temperature spray prescribed chemicals,” said which received heavy rainfall from d a m a g i n g Ahrar, an officer of horticulture reaping till thrashing. Mustard paddy saplings department. was kept in ricks and when in some areas The milk production in the opened, it was found sprouted and while in district has also reduced due to low decomposed. other areas temperature. The cattle couldn’t “We enjoyed a good crop this the saplings be fed properly as they were kept year, but Allah had other ideas,” were ready to indoors. said Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, a local The areas which fall downstream be planted, but the land was not “We do not have mechanized farmer. undertake plantation first followed prepared. dairy farms and are dependent The plantation of paddy was by the upstream areas. This is “The Agriculture Department on traditional methods of rearing also delayed due to inclement done to prevent shortage of water. is monitoring the situation and cattle. This has led to decrease weather. In Pulwama, there is a However, with the bad weather this has informed people to protect the in milk production,” said difference of about 15 to 20 days year the entire district is going to saplings by applying fertilizers,” Assistant Veterinarian at Animal among different areas as far as plant paddy simultaneously leading said Agriculture Extension Officer, Husbandry Talangam, Pulwama, paddy plantation is concerned. to water shortage and related Pulwama, Zameer Ahmad Khan. Jalal-u-din. 3 MERCTIMES CAMPUS ROUNDUP Shafqat: Helping special children with compassion

the school is off. The VMS management has already started construction of a boarding school at Bemina campus. The Society aims to bring Special Children from all parts of valley to the school for treatment. The children, enrolled in the school, are divided into three categories as per their intelligence quotient. “We keep the students into three groups - Mild, Moderate and Severe,” Says Abdul Rouf, a Speech Therapist at SHAFQAT. “Children in Mild-Group have higher chances for development and they are usually integrated into the mainstream,” says Rouf. “The children in Moderate Group also pull through if given the required care, but they carry some traces of their past. While as children in the Severe Group have very bleak chances of improvement,” he adds. “In all the cases, the parental care is a must along with therapies at school,” says Dr Ambreen. Another thing that determines Umar Sultan Children, independent of others’ visit Uri in North Kashmir, but the chances of one’s recovery is the assistance to carry daily chores. usually it was difficult to go beyond early treatment. If the initial time When Asma (name changed), was “We train them how to Srinagar safely,” says an official at is lapsed, the children may lose brought to SHAFQAT, a school for maintain themselves, interact with SHAFQAT. their ability to recover. children with mental illnesses and others and how to go Determined “Time is an important factor multiple disabilities in 2008, her about in the market to keep pursuing for the beginning of treatment in teacher, Dr Ambreen, was little etc,” says Ambreen. Earlier, the VMS its mission, VMS case of Special Children,” says optimistic about the improvement The school teams would visit despite heavy Ambreen, adding, “Some students of this new comer. Two years later, also trains these odds, decided to fail to respond to the treatment Asma studies with normal children children in far off villages of set up a school for simply because they are brought in one of the best known schools of handicrafts to make Kashmir to organize Special Children here late.” the valley. them economically where they would Abid, 28, son of a well-off “Initially Asma’s case looked self-reliant. free medical be given required businessman is suffering from like a Severe one (third stage of S H A F Q A T and awareness treatment to speech problem. He was brought to sickness in which special children was set up in bring them into the school only few years ago and are categorized, with bleak chances year 2000 by camps for special mainstream. has not shown much improvement of recovery). She was having Voluntary Medical children. But as the In the past since. behavioural problem and would Society (VMS), situation changed ten years, the The school staff speaks, with a vomit whatever was given to her a philanthropy school has come sense of relief and accomplishment, for eating,” says Ambreen. driven venture by in late eighties a long way; about the discharged students. Asma would also retort every some valley-based and far flung areas 74 children Yaqoob, a 20-year-old boy from single word the teachers put across senior medicos, are currently central district of , who to her. But she began improving established in 1970. were thrown out enrolled in was brought at an early age to the within a year. Earlier, the VMS of bounds for S H A F Q A T , facility, passed his matriculation Today Asma studies in Prime teams would visit common people receiving examination last year. Public School, Srinagar and her far off villages of therapies of However, he has not been past is a closed chapter. “She is Kashmir to organize in Kashmir, VMS different types discharged yet. “He needs therapy normal now,” says Ambreen, who free medical and activities were as per their for some more time as he cannot often visits her former pupil. awareness camps requirement. still speak properly,” says the Asma is one of the beneficiaries for special children. confined to Srinagar Early in speech therapist. of SHAFAQAT. Every year, But as the situation district only. the morning a But there are some worries too. many children with disabilities changed in late cab ferries the Ambreen says the Special Children are admitted for “treatment” eighties and far flung areas were children from different parts of need special care constantly even in the school. Most of them are thrown out of bounds for common Srinagar and Budgam districts after they are discharged from the “discharged” only after they people in Kashmir, VMS activities to SHAFQAT, housed in a single- school. recover. were confined to Srinagar district storied building near Hajj House in “Some students even relapse The school has a noble aim: to only. Bemina, Srinagar and drops them due to lack of care by parents,” she make otherwise dependent Special “Sometimes we managed to back at their respective places after says. MERCTIMES 4 Lost charm of Mahraj Gunj Heritage market on verge of extinction! Mohammad Anwar | Shah Waseem situation is such that near about 85 per cent of shops have zero counter Once the hub of economic and sale while rest run on debt. commercial activities in Kashmir, “We pay more taxes than any Mahraj Gunj market of old city, other market, still we are neglected. has lost much of its glory, thanks If the market’s charm is restored, to government “apathy and it will boost trade and in turn indifference”. government can earn more revenue “This market has a history of out of it,” suggests Sheikh. more than 200 years. Goods worth According to Sheikh, despite crores used to be supplied from here frequent appeals by the trade to every nook and corner of the valley. association nothing has been done so It was the centre of all commercial far to revamp the market. activities up to 1947,” says Ghulam Turning nostalgic Manzoor Rasool Sheikh, President of Mahraj Ahmad, a cloth merchant recalls Gunj Traders Association. good old days when this market used “The market lost its signifi cance to be abuzz with people. due to political turmoil in late 40’s, “Trucks laden with goods fi nd it diffi cult to “We would import goods from the business ebbed to its low afterwards and enter the narrow by-lanes of Mahraj Gunj,” says England, Germany and many other countries, government’s negligence turned things from Sheikh. which wouldn’t have been even available in big bad to worse. They gave preference to uptown Highlighting the need to restore Maharaj markets of India.” markets and totally ignored this historical Gunj, Sheikh who also runs a shop in this market “The condition of roads is worse and there market,” laments Sheikh. says, “This market houses around 2000 shops is no parking facility, which stops the visitors Sheikh sees lack of electricity, transport and all essential commodities are available from coming here and as such the future of this and congested roads as main causes of market’s here but due to lack of direct transport, people, market appears bleak,” asserts Manzoor while downfall. mostly retailers, prefer uptown markets and the another shopkeeper nods in affi rmation. Happy days of tourism in Kashmir Govt too cautious to celebrate Rakib Altaf gone to farther countries this Abdul Razak is a happy man these time. days. He hardly gets time for lunch “This year while he rows his shikara full of the number of tourists around the Dal Lake. tourists from Far- Kashmir is witnessing a huge East countries rush of tourists this year. “This like Malaysia year has been considerably a good and Thailand has one. It is wonderful. Such numbers improved a lot. We of tourists haven’t come here in last also expect many fi ve years together,” he says tourists from Gulf He may be exaggerating but countries like president of the Houseboat Owners’ Dubai in June.” Association, Manzoor Wangoo says Tourism in the the tourist season this year has, state was badly hit quite unusually, begun early. when the armed “The marketing strategy by uprising began in tourism department in outside the early nineties. states and other countries has Many people ran helped. Usually our tourist season out of business would begin mid-April but this and were forced to either switch believes things to have defi nitely forever now,” he says. year it began in March itself. jobs or live in poverty. changed for better now. Strangely, though the tourist We expect a good number in the A sharp decline in violence “There were times when I season has had a good start this coming months,” he says. over the recent years saw tourism earned just forty to fi fty rupees year, the government seems to be Tourists to Kashmir come picking up in the valley. in a month. Nowadays I earn wary of playing it up. The chief mostly from the tropical Indian There have been better tourist around 1500 rupees a day. Thank Minister simply refused to answer states. The fewer foreigners include seasons in the past. A record of sorts God things are totally different. questions regarding tourism on mainly Europeans. But president was created eleven years ago when I cannot tell you how happy I am many occasions recently. of the Kashmir Hotel Owners’ tourists slept on roads due to full after facing so many hardships.” Unlike the previous years the Association, Mushtaq Ahmed, says occupancy of hotels and houseboats. “Tourists are coming and I state tourism department has government promotion events and The present numbers do not match can earn a lot for my family. But I not organized any celebratory word-of-the-mouth publicity have up. But a local, Showkat Ahmed, pray that things remain the same functions. 5 MERCTIMES C O O L D E L I G H T Tale of city’s favourite Kulfi shop tourists, who frequent this place, whenever he visits Kashmir. “I have eaten kulfi at Delhi, but it tastes remarkable here. Show me a place where you fi nd kulfi for Rs 5,” he says as others in his group nod in agreement. Manzoor’s hair is graying now. But till now he has not shared the recipe, which he learnt from his brother, with anyone. Even the long-time helpers at his shop are kept at bay. “How can we disclose the recipe? It is my Trade-Secret. But I can tell you that our kulfi has evolved with time. Ours is different because the proportion of ingredients is slightly different.” “I know I have to pass it on though. I am just waiting for the right time to teach my son. It’s a secret that he’ll have to keep,” he says. Kulfi is traditionally Arshi Javid hit and Manzoor did not wait to “Dil-Bahaar provides you prepared by boiling fl avored join the business. Mann ki thandak (coolness cardamom on a low fl ame Manzoor Ahmed Khan is busy The two brothers own the Dil- of mind),” his wife laughingly with continuous stirring. The peeling-off Kulfi sticks at his Bahaar ice cream shop near Sarai adds. mixture is then poured into home. He occasionally calls out to Although moulds which in turn are put in Mahadev, his helper for last eight t h e Kulfi shop is ice for hardening. years, and instructs him to buck up Kulfi sticks situated in Each day after the morning with the work. Their hands follow a congested prayers Manzoor and his brother mechanical movements; taking out are made area, yet it start with their job. The thought coarse sticks from one box, fl aking doesn’t deter of expanding their business has, off them and arranging them in kulfi lovers. however, never crossed their another box. from wheat The setting minds. “Kashmir has summer “Kulfi sticks are made from of the shop is for only four months. For the wheat straw. It is necessary to fl ak straw. It is interesting. remaining eight months we sell off them, else a coarse straw may Interestingly groundnuts. Buying another shop irritate a customer’s tongue and necessary the Khans owe will be useless.” throat,” informs Manzoor. their success “But we are defi nitely working Manzoor is a fl abby middle- partly to towards luring more and more aged man. He has been selling to fl ak off women. Ever customers. Our kulfi should be kulfi or Ice-Cream along with his since the shop the best at the cheapest rates,” he brother Ghulam Nabi Khan for them, else was opened, its adds. four decades now. His creased customers have During a normal summer day, hands tell a story of long struggle a coarse mostly been swarm of customers throng the but the spark of his eyes wins over school girls and shop to grab a kulfi . Selling kulfi s the fatigue. straw may working ladies. at fairly reasonable rates of Rs 5 “Forty years ago, we started “I have and Rs 10, he claims to earn 10,000 selling Kulfi s on a cart which was been coming to to 15,000 rupees on a sunny day painted with portraits of fi lm stars irritate a this place since while a rainy day fetches merely Rs and 15 years later we shifted to this 1987. I was a 3000 or more. shop. Since then there has been no customer’s college student Manzoor suddenly gazes at the looking back”, he says. then. Every visit sky and his face turns grim. The Manzoor’s elder brother tongue and here conjures up poignancy is disturbing. Though it Ghulam Nabi Khan learnt delicious is summer in Kashmir gray clouds the art of kulfi -making from a memories”, says are forming in the sky. He keeps Bengali Sweet-Meat seller more throat. Arifa, an employee with looking towards the containers fi lled than forty years ago. A young Bala, Amira Kadal. Manzoor education department. with semi-condensed kulfi mixture. man then, Ghulam Nabi kept says, “Isn’t the word Dil-Bahaar But apart from local He wraps up the conversation “Look innovating with the newly learnt soothing to hear? It somehow Kashmiris, tourists are seen above, it’s not always a win-win recipe and started a business of makes the customers curious to hollering for sampling this delight. situation for us. Everything will his own. The special kulfi was a taste our kulfi atleast once.” Ankit Gujral is among the many get wasted today ”. MERCTIMES 6 A driver’s love Dearth of funds, power cuts affect work for newspapers at Sericulture Div Mirgund Harris Zargar frequent power cuts,” he adds. Silkworm rearing is done Irfan Aziz The division has a botanical round the year but in Kashmir it Lack of funds and infrastructure section dealing with research is only a two-month affair. There is He is a story teller for his fellow coupled with frequent power cuts on mulberry cultivation and only spring rearing of silkworms in drivers and conductors. Though they are affecting work at Sericulture diseases. The zoological the valley. occasionally pull his leg for his habit Division, Mirgund, complain the section deals with rearing and Director Sericulture Mirgund, of reading many newspapers, they staff and faculty. research on silkworms. Apart Afi fa Kambili admits that due to surround him whenever there is a news “We don’t have requisite from research, the division is environmental constrains non- concerning them like transport strike chemicals and equipments in the used for academic purposes seasonal rearing is avoided. and petrol or diesel hike. Research laboratory. The funds both at graduate and post “There are artifi cial methods, Anaytullah, a bus driver from provided are insuffi cient,” says graduate level. but it reduces the output both Wanigam Pattan, is known for his Laboratory and Field Assistant Khurshid Ahmad, a senior qualitatively and quantitatively,” attachment with the newspapers. Sayeed Afsal. technical assistant and a faculty she says. “After reaching Batamaloo, I “Since the division member at the division says,” “Power cuts are hampering straightaway fetch newspaper copies,” works under Sher-i-Kashmir There is not even a proper the work. But the matter has he says, adding, ““I subscribe six Agriculture University of Science infrastructure for academic been taken up with the Power newspapers daily. I have to spend 15 and Technology (SKAUST), and purposes here. Most of the Development Department and rupees a day.” is involved in scientifi c research polyhouses are conventional the problem will be soon rectifi ed. Anaytullah, middle-class dropout, programmes in sericulture, and not foolproof. It affects the The research department and has been reading newspapers since his there should have been an research to a large extent.” the faculty are doing well and the childhood. He learnt reading newspaper uninterrupted power supply “The only reason is lack of funds provided are suffi cient,” from his father and his uncle. to the division, but there are proper funding,” he adds. Afi fa maintained. “Newspaper is my life partner. My tensions vanish when I read newspapers,” he says while having a cup of tea and fl ipping through the Silk rearing regaining newspapers. He says newspaper reading has helped him improve his language. Not many people get newspapers popularity in his village. Students come to him to see date sheets, results and other information in newspapers. Anaytullah keeps all the newspapers stored. He has been retaining important newspaper cuttings in a fi le since early 90s. He reads newspapers before going to bed as he does not get much time during the day. Besides reading newspapers, he listens to Voice of Amercia and national news from Delhi. He is very much interested in reading sports news. “I advise my children to read newspapers. It increases knowledge,” Anaytullah says with a smile and in a distributed among the farmers by the Sericulture tone of confi dence. Tawseef Wani Division. The saplings (poly tubes) are grown by a In the wake of the decline in Valley’s silk special technique called poly house technique industry over the years, Sericulture Development which reduces the period of conventional growth Department (SDD) and Sericulture Division method by one year. of Sheri Kashmir University of Agricultural SDD has planted 35,000 mulberry trees on Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) are working a land spanning 18 hectares. The farm produces for promotion of silk rearing among people around 800 metric tonnes of silk annually out of resulting in an increase in silk production. which 80 per cent is being exported outside. “With the eruption of armed confl ict, the The farmers are too benefi ted by this trade. trade witnessed decline. However, it has now The cocoon markets are being installed at started to emerge again. Every year we distribute district levels for the sale of cocoons and each around 10,000 mulberry saplings among farmers kilogram fetches 500 rupees. This is the easiest free of cost,” says Dr Mushtaq, in charge HOD way of earning money in a lesser period of time Moriculture at sericulture division Mirgund particularly for poor farmers. Pattan. “Every farmer earns at least 20 to 30,000 SDD pays for the saplings of Goshoerami, rupees in a single rearing of silk-worms,” says Dr which costs eight rupees each. These are in turn Mushtaq. 7 MERCTIMES Public places in Bandipora: Safe havens for drug addicts Civil society expresses concern

Sheikh Saleem the district. The local students union and cannabis. Far more surprising is A large number of chemists recently submitted a memorandum the easy availability of these products in Bandipora town, Aythmulla, Public parks, bus stand and even to district magistrate stating, “The among schoolchildren,” says a social Watpora, Aloosa, Mangnipora, Eidgah in Bandipora district have Arin, Nadihal and Hajin are selling become a safe haven for drug addicts. narcotics and habit-forming drugs The addicts after procuring syrups, without proper medical prescription. injections and tablets from nearby An executive member of District chemists take refuge in these parks Chemists Association Bandipora, as is evident from the empty bottles Muhammad Muzzaffer says, “We of cough syrups and injections left have extended support to the health behind in the corners of the parks authorities to take action against the and bust stand. guilty drug store owners. However, Codeine, Spasmo-proxyvon, it needs a proper check from both Corex, Fortbin, Norphin, Dexovon, police and health department.” Parvon and a number of steroids Muzaffer suggested that once are in rampant use by drug addicts. the medical shops dealing with Nishat Park, Wular Vantage Park, drugs are sealed and the offenders Sports Stadium Bandipora and are brought to book, the crimes will Jaroka Bagh are frequently visited decline. by drug abusers in late evenings. Pertinently, police busted two The newly constructed bus gangs of drug peddlers last month by stand, Eidgah, Nishat Park and Addictive drugs seized by Bandipora police arresting about eight peddlers, four the old Sumo Stand are some open each from Bandipora and Sumbal places which are being frequented by police should raid the area between worker, Sheikh Waseem. township. addicts. Ward no 1 to 6 and Nishat Park, Expressing concern over the Meanwhile, Executive Anguished over the increasing Eidgah, Bus stand and nab the growing drug addiction, reputed Magistrate Bandipora, Mushtaq trend of drug abuse amongst traffickers.” scholar and poet, Abdul Rashid Ahmed told MERC Times that on the youngsters, a local social worker Senior citizens accused police Nazki says, “Thefts, shop lifting direction of Deputy Commissioner Nizamudin Wani claims that 70 to of giving free hand to the people incidents, which were not heard of Bandipora, a squad has been 80 per cent players of the district had involved in drug trade in the area. few decades ago, are common now formed to act against growing drug succumbed to this evil. “The health authorities also have due to growing unemployment and addiction in the district. “In absence of proper check, the failed to check the drug abuse with drug addiction.” “We are going to act tough youth are fast getting caught in this addictive- drugs easily available in “Government should come up against drug addiction but public menace. Even the female students the market,” alleges Taha Mubashir, with a concrete plan to curb the support is must. If anybody has are openly using narcotics and another social worker. menace of drug addiction,” he adds. any information about the illegal injections nowadays,” Wani says. “It is shocking to find school- During the current year, some drug trade he/she can contact Use of Iodex on bread, inhaling going children from affluent 20 addicts and peddlers have been the magistrate office and his/her of adhesive, boot polish and petrol families getting hooked to narcotics, already arrested and booked by local identification will be kept a secret,” are on rise in the upper reaches of analgesics, stimulants, depressants police. Mushtaq assured. Farmers decry Govt decision to turn agri land into bus stand Firdoose-ul -Islam go after being deprived of their only resource?” questions another local The government’s decision to convert farmer, Ajaz Ahmed. 25 acres (200 kanals) of fertile Pertinently, the government has agricultural land on the banks of ordered compensation of about 2.5 Khemli river, Kupwara into a bus lakhs per kanal which according stand has irked people who term it is Haji Wali Muhammad, a local, is too as a brazen violation of government’s insufficient. “They are offering us own policy on conversion of peanuts for gold,” he adds. agricultural land. “The market rate is around ten “This huge area of land has been lakhs per kanal. They are not paying a source of livelihood to farmers of us even the half. On the other hand, Dudhwan, Regipora and Branwari the land provides us a continuous villages. The land has been inherited income of around 20000 per month,” by us from our forefathers. Our says Wali. generations have cultivated it. Now People suspect that the bus slowly but definitely pollute the not be contacted despite repeated they (government) are snatching stand may pollute the river, which water,” says Abdul Rasheed, a local. attempts. it from us and that too for an flows nearby. When contacted, Tehsildar, Meanwhile, the farmers unproductive purpose,” says Ghulam “The public bus stand will Abdul Rashid Shah said he cannot have threatened to launch public Mohammed, an elderly villager. attract a huge rush of shopkeepers comment on the matter as it pertains agitation. They also plan to move “I have four sons and three of and vendors. This means a lot of the higher authorities. the court if the government fails to them are farmers. Where will they waste will be generated which will Deputy Commissioner could address the issue. MERCTIMES 8 Dal in Sunlight Shade and

Photos by : Faisal Khan

Patron: Prof. (Dr) Riyaz Punjabi Editorial team: Ibrahim Wani Chief Editor:Dr Shahid Rasool, Editor: Muslim Jan, Sub-Editor : Suhail Ahmad, Graphic Designer: Aga Shahi e-mail: [email protected] The opinions expressed in the write ups are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy of MERC Times or the department of Media Education Research Centre