Conducts surprise visit of Srinagar schools, says morning assemblies must integrate moral education Srinagar, Apr 3: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani Friday directed all the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) of across Kashmir to visit schools in their jurisdiction for morning inspections. The ZEOs were asked to submit weekly reports to the directorate as well. He issued these instructions to the heads of the schools during his surprise visit to some of the schools of Srinagar district during first half hour of opening of the educational institutions. He further asked the school heads to incorporate moral and value based education in morning assemblies besides focusing on ensuring punctuality, discipline, and institutional accountability. DSEK also monitored the attendance of teaching staff and assessed the overall functioning of schools as well. During his visit to Government Middle School (GMS) Aloochi Bagh, DSEK personally verified staff attendance and also joined the students in the morning prayer. During his interaction with the staff, Wani said the initial moments of school opening set the tone for the entire day and must reflect discipline, commitment and a sense of purpose. "Morning assemblies should be conducted with full enthusiasm while incorporating moral and value-based education as an essential component," he said. He also highlighted the importance of structured academic functioning and emphasised that all teaching-learning activities should be carried out in an organized manner and strictly in accordance with the academic calendar prescribed by the department. DSEK said the department was committed to strengthening accountability, improving academic standards and fostering a disciplined and value-driven educational environment in all schools across Kashmir.
Srinagar, Apr 3: Bharti Airtel, the worldâs second largest telecom operator by customer base and one of Indiaâs leading telecommunications service providers, has achieved another milestone - crossing 650 million customers. According to GSMA Intelligence, Bharti Airtel is ranked second globally by mobile customer base, with operations spread across India and Africa. Executive Vice ChairmanBharti Airtel Gopal Vittal, while commenting on the milestone said achieving the milestone of 650 million customers to be the second largest operator globally is a great responsibility for us to serve our customers better every day. "This is why we invest in state-of-the-art technologies to not only provide connectivity but to also deliver a safe network," he said. He said the purpose is clea as they deepen and expand presence. "We will strive to raise the bar on innovation, reliability, and experience so that every customer interaction is an opportunity to earn trust and deliver value connection," he said. Airtelâs rank as the second-largest telecom operator by mobile customer base underscores a sustained improvement in its global standing. The companyâs operations span India and Africa, supported by a growing portfolio of digital services and infrastructure capabilities across its markets of operation. Serving over 368 million mobile customers, Airtel was the first to launch 5G Plus services, which now anchor a converged ecosystem including Xstream AirFiber (FWA) and an integrated IPTV service. Airtel now serves over 13 million homes with high-speed internet services and over 15 million through our Digital TV offering. This "customer-obsessed" innovation is supported by the worldâs first network-based AI spam protection solution. Airtel Business offers mission-critical solutions to enterprise customers. These span across Airtel IQ, cybersecurity, SD-WAN, cloud, managed services, and IoT in addition to secure connectivity. These offerings are powered by an expansive network of over 400,000 route kms of subsea fiber and Nxtra's green data centers, which sustainably support the nationâs rising AI and digital workloads. Furthering its digital services, Airtel has recently announced its foray into the NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company) space, leveraging its data insights to offer personalized credit and financial products through the Airtel app. With a base of over 179 million customers across 14 countries, Airtel Africa provides a vital digital lifeline through integrated mobile voice, high-speed data, and international roaming services. The core of its regional strategy is Airtel Money, a transformative mobile financial platform with over 52 million customers, which drives financial inclusion by providing banking and instant payments to millions of previously unbanked users across the continent. Beyond its regional hubs, Airtel is bridging the digital divide through strategic partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb and SpaceX, utilizing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband to the most remote maritime, aviation, and rural areas.
Srinagar, Apr 3: The education sector in north Kashmir's Kupwara district has been left on crutches as around 62 percent posts of lecturers are lying vacant in the higher secondary schools of the district. Besides, 42 percent posts of masters are also lying the schools, affecting the academics in the schools. The figures were revealed by the J&K Government in response to a question raised by MLA Langate Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh who sought cadre-wise details of sanctioned positions of lecturers, masters, teachers and other allied staff in Kupwara district. The minister for education informed the House that against sanctioned strength of 675 posts of lecturers, 254 posts were filled while 421 posts were vacant in the district. "Out of 866 posts of Masters, 501 are filled while 365 posts are lying vacant," the minister informed the Assembly. The government further informed the House that out of 3500 posts of teachers, 2871 were filled while 365m posts were lying vacant. "These vacant posts have been freezed for drawal of salary for Grade II and III teachers," the minister informed the House. The government further said against the total sanctioned strength of 6424 posts of teaching and non-teaching staff 4767 were filled while 1165 posts were unfilled in education department of Kupwara district. About Langate constituency, the government said that 93 posts of lecturers, 59 posts of Masters and 17 posts of teachers were lying vacant in Langate constituency. "Out of total sanctioned strength of 1673 teaching and non-teaching posts, 1407 were filled while 266 posts were lying vacant," the government informed the House. The government further said that the shortage of teaching staff in District Kupwara, particularly Langate Constituency was being addressed through rationalisation of available teaching staff in accordance with established norms and requirements. "In addition, the services of Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs) are being utilized, wherever necessary, to ensure that academic activities in the concerned institutions continue smoothly and effectively," minister for education informed the House.
Srinagar, April 3: The educational institutions in remote areas continue to remain out of sight of the government as around 80 percent of the lecturer positions are lying vacant in higher secondary schools of Gurez valley. The revelation was made by the government during the ongoing Budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly in response to a question raised by MLA Gurez Nazir Ahmad Khan. MLA Gurez raised the issue about the "severe dearth" of teaching faculty in the higher secondary schools of Gurez constituency which has adversely affected the educational prospects of the students enrolled in these schools. The government in its reply informed the House that out of 85 sanctioned posts of lecturers only 25 posts were filled while 60 positions of the lecturers were lying vacant in the Gurez. "To overcome the shortage of staff at the +2 level Zone Gurez, series of local postgraduate teachers and masters are being utilized against the vacant lecturer positions, and CRCs are being engaged," the government in its reply informed the Assembly. The government further said that the administrative department was actively pursuing the promotion aspects which is expected to narrow down the gap. However sharing school wise details, the government informed the Legislative Assembly that 12 posts of lecturers were vacant in Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS) Purana Tulail while seven posts were vacant in BHSS and six posts were lying vacant in BHSS Baduab. The government further informed that seven posts were vacant in Girls HSS Dawer, BHSSS Izmarg (9), BHSS Badugam (9) and HSS Kilshat (10). "594 vacancies of lecturers of different subjects have been referred to the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC). The selection lists of these vacancies are in final stages and selections have been received in some subjects," the government said. The House was informed that the department has already initiated the exercise of placing eligible PG masters and PG teachers as in-charge lecturers to fill up the vacancies arising in schools. "Since January 2026, 48 PG Masters/Teachers in the discipline of Geography, 87 in the discipline of Political Science, and 10 in the discipline of Dogri have been placed as in-charge lecturers," the government said. The Government further said that the School Education Department was contemplating placing more PG masters in other disciplines as in-charge lecturers to fill up the vacancies of lecturers. "The teachers currently on deputation outside Gurez have also been detached and repatriated back to Gurez," Government informed the House. As already reported, in February this year, CEO Bandipora was put under suspension a day after he cancelled the deputation of teaching staff in Bandipora and repatriated them to their original place of posting Gurez. On Monday, minister for education Sakina Itoo revealed in the Legislative Assembly that around 150 lecturers and principals of Gurez were working in urban areas. She said that all these lecturers will be sent back to their original place of posting, provided there is no "undue influence" from any quarters. She said that directions were already issued to the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) to detach these teachers from their current postings and send them back to their original place of postings in Gurez," she informed the House. "There should be no undue influence or recommendations from any member or other quarters if these lecturers and principals are sent back to their original place of postings," Sakina Itoo said in the Assembly.
Conducts surprise visit of Srinagar schools, says morning assemblies must integrate moral education Srinagar, Apr 3: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani Friday directed all the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) of across Kashmir to visit schools in their jurisdiction for morning inspections. The ZEOs were asked to submit weekly reports to the directorate as well. He issued these instructions to the heads of the schools during his surprise visit to some of the schools of Srinagar district during first half hour of opening of the educational institutions. He further asked the school heads to incorporate moral and value based education in morning assemblies besides focusing on ensuring punctuality, discipline, and institutional accountability. DSEK also monitored the attendance of teaching staff and assessed the overall functioning of schools as well. During his visit to Government Middle School (GMS) Aloochi Bagh, DSEK personally verified staff attendance and also joined the students in the morning prayer. During his interaction with the staff, Wani said the initial moments of school opening set the tone for the entire day and must reflect discipline, commitment and a sense of purpose. "Morning assemblies should be conducted with full enthusiasm while incorporating moral and value-based education as an essential component," he said. He also highlighted the importance of structured academic functioning and emphasised that all teaching-learning activities should be carried out in an organized manner and strictly in accordance with the academic calendar prescribed by the department. DSEK said the department was committed to strengthening accountability, improving academic standards and fostering a disciplined and value-driven educational environment in all schools across Kashmir.
'Enrolment drives conducted every year to ensure 100% enrollment' Srinagar, April 3: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislator Devinder Kumar Manyal on Thursday raised alarm over the dropout rate of students from primary to secondary level students in government schools across J&K. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, BJP Legislator said that the dropout rate of students at primary level was 1.6 percent and 3.3 percent at Upper Primary level. He said that the dropout rate of students at secondary level was 13.4Â percent as compared to national average of 8.4 percent. "The percent of dropout rate of students is higher than national average which is a major concern for the government," he said. He was speaking in the House in response to the reply provided by the government regarding the steps taken by the School Education Department (SED) to address the declining enrollment of the students in government schools. "School Education Department has taken a number of initiatives to bring the children to the school and to ensure 100 percent enrolment at primary level," the minister in-charge for education informed the Legislative Assembly. She said the department was holding enrolment drives at directorate level annually besides the Out of School Children were also identified through door-to-door survey and their mainstreaming is done through direct enrolment. "The department has established seasonal centres for the children of tribal migratory population to prevent learning disruption during the migratory period," the minister for education, Sakina Itoo informed the Assembly. She also said that free uniforms and textbooks are being provided to around eight lakh children in government schools besides Mid-Day Meal (MDM) was provided under PM POSHAN to every child from pre-primary sections to class 8th. "Pre-primary sections have been started in 15550 government schools and an increase in enrolment has been recorded at pre-primary level," she said. She said that enrollment at pre-primary level has increased from 1.80 lacs in 2023-24 to 1.85 lacs in 2024-25. "Scholarship is being provided to the girls students under the Beti Anmol Scheme to encourage the girl's education at Senior Secondary level," she said. About the utilisation of buildings and vacant land of clubbed schools;, the government informed the Assembly that the school buildings and land rendered vacant due to the merger of schools has been handed over to the concerned district administration for utilisation by other departments. About the proposal for up gradation of schools, the government said that there was no such proposal for up-gradation of schools to their next higher level from (Primary to Middle), (Middle to High) and (High to Higher Secondary) including the schools of the border areas. "The School Education Department is focusing on creation of required infrastructure and providing staff to all schools especially the upgraded ones. As and when there is any proposal for up-gradation of existing schools, the feasible schools of border areas shall also be examined for consideration," the minister informed the House.
Udhampur, Jan 10: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo Saturday conducted an extensive tour of far-flung areas of Tehsil Panchari of District Udhampur and felicitated the winners of 6th ISKOI India Karate Championshipâ2025 during an impressive medal ceremony held at Government Higher Secondary School, Panchari here. Mission Director POSHAN Sajad Ahmad Ganai, Director Social Welfare Jammu Ranjeet Singh, Director Health Services Jammu, Director Colleges, PO Poshan, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Joint Director School Education Udhampur -Reasi, DDC Member Panchari, other district officers, parents of medal winners and large number of locals were also present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the Minister congratulated the girl achievers, their parents and the local populace on the remarkable accomplishment of young girls. She lauded their dedication, discipline and fighting spirit and expressed pride in the fact that many of these medal winners hailed from far-flung and remote areas, overcoming limited resources and challenging circumstances, to bring laurels to Jammu and Kashmir. Minister Sakeena said that the achievements of these young girl sportspersons reflect their hard work and their parents as well as the growing sports culture in the region. âYour success proves that talent knows no geographical barriers. With determination and proper guidance, our youth can excel on any national and international platform,â she stated. Highlighting the importance of sports, the Minister said that sporting activities provide a common platform for budding sportspersons to showcase their talent and prepare them to face challenges in life. She urged the participants to actively engage in sports for physical fitness, mental well-being and overall personality development. She assured continued government support for promoting sports activities, especially in rural and far-flung areas, to ensure equal opportunities for talented players. She also lauded the efforts of the International Shito-Ryu Karate Organisation of India for promoting sports culture among youth, especially in rural areas. During the ceremony, the Minister interacted with the players, coaches and parents, appreciating the role of coaches and families in nurturing young talent. She encouraged the medal winners to continue their training and aim for greater achievements at national and international competitions. During the ceremony, as many as 47 medal winners of the 6th ISKOI India Karate championshipâ2025 were felicitated by the Minister and presented trophies and prizes to them. On the sidelines of the event, Sakeena Itoo Later distributed school bags and umbrellas under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme. Later, the Minister also interacted with DDC Member Panchari, former PRI members and locals who projected several issues and demands pertaining to health, education, road and other sector before the Minister. While interacting with them, the Minister said that the Director Health Services Jammu has been given strict instructions to prepare a holistic plan for upgradation of medical care facilities at the PHC Panchari as well as addressing shortage of staff, owing to the remoteness of area from district head quarters. She further added that the maintenance of road and allied works will be taken up with concerned quarters for immediate redressal. She reaffirmed that the Government led by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah is committed to strengthen road connectivity, health infrastructure and other essential facilities to ensure every basic service is available at the doorsteps of common people. She also said that the Tourism potential of the Panchari area will be tapped to its full extent by the Government, which will eventually lead to overall development of the area and add to its economic efficiency.
Baramulla, Jan 25: The Indian Army on Sunday organised Know Your Army event at District Police Line (DPL) Baramulla. From Artillery guns to Fly past by Drones in action and from new generation vehicles and latest equipment on display, the Dagger Division of Indian Army put on display its weapons to instill national pride among locals in Baramulla. The event was organised to commemorate 77th Republic Day with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour. The event was organised by Dagger Division of Chinar Corps to showcase the operational capabilities of the Indian army and to inspire local youth to pursue careers in the Armed Forces, reinforcing National pride and unity. GOC, Dagger Division was the Chief Guest at the occasion while other and senior army officers and officials from civil administration were also present at the occasion. The event was declared open by the by GoC Dagger Division for the public. "Weather did not dampen the spirit of the enthusiastic locals and children who thronged the event in large numbers to witnessed the display," an official handout reads. Major highlights of the celebrations were an impressive capability display of Swarm of Drones, martial arts by Army and children of Chinar Yuva. "Children witnessing the event were enthralled by the mesmerising show of the Canine companions of soldiers," the handout reads. The people present at the occasion were entertained by vibrant, energetic and melodious Kashmiri renditions of famous songs sung by the local band, Strings of Baramulla of Chinar YUVA Center.  A captivating display of state of the art weapons and military equipment found favour with the youth. The event witnessed by approximately 1500 spectators, including Army and government officials besids the students from schools and colleges. The event received widespread appreciations from students and the local community, who expressed admiration for the discipline, dedication and combat readiness of the Indian Army. "Event successfully strengthened public confidence in the armed forces and fostered a renewed sense of patriotism among the youth of Baramulla," the handout reads.
Jammu, Mar 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress protested against the LPG price hike here on Sunday, saying this "anti-poor" decision by the government will add to the financial burden on the common man. Led by PCC president Tariq Hamid Karra and working president Raman Bhalla, the protesters also criticised the Indo-US trade deal, alleging that it will adversely impact the country's economy, according to a party spokesperson. The protesters gathered in Model Town, Digiana, near here, raised slogans against the ruling BJP and criticised what they described as the government's "surrender" in the Indo-US trade negotiations. The price of domestic cooking gas LPG was hiked on Saturday by a steep Rs 60 per cylinder, the second increase in less than a year, as the spike in global energy rates following the West Asia crisis weighed on the world's third largest energy consumer. Non-subsidised LPG -- the one that common households use in kitchens -- will now cost Rs 913 per 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi as against Rs 853 previously, according to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) website. The protesters said the continued rise in the prices of essential commodities, particularly cooking gas, has added to the financial burden on ordinary households. Addressing the protesters, Karra termed the LPG price hike "cruel". Many rural households still do not have access to piped gas supply and rely entirely on LPG cylinders. This will force them to plan their monthly budgets more carefully, he said. He demanded an immediate rollback of the price hike. The Congress leader described the Indo-US trade deal as a "major blow" to the country's economic interests. Instead of safeguarding the nation's economic and strategic priorities, the Centre "bowed to pressure" from the United States, he charged. He also expressed concern over the possible implications of the trade deal on India's agriculture and dairy sectors, and claimed that orchardists and dairy farmers in Jammu and Kashmir will be severely affected if safeguards are not put in place. "Our apple growers, walnut producers and small dairy farmers could face serious challenges if cheap imports enter the market without minimum support guarantees," Karra said. He demanded that the government present a white paper on the trade deal in Parliament. PCC working president Bhalla also strongly condemned the "unprecedented" hike in LPG prices and said poor and middle-class families will be badly affected by this decision of the Union government. He called for an LPG relief package for families belonging to the BPL (below poverty line) category, along with a special subsidy buffer for Jammu and Kashmir, citing the higher transportation and logistics costs in hilly regions. (PTI)
Srinagar, Jan 15: After the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) declared the result of the class 10th and 12th annual (regular) examinations, the whole focus shifted to the achievers, particularly the toppers. Amidst the appreciation and celebrations for the successful candidates, a stark reality has emerged in society that none of the stakeholders talk about those students who could not pass the examination. This emerging trend has become dangerous for the young students particularly the average performers or those who do not pass the exam in their first attempt. Amid this, a government school teacher has put forth a clear message for the parents of those children who could not qualify the JKBOSE exams. Aasima Jan, a government school teacher from Baramulla district said that expectations of the parents should not make the students victim of depression. She believes that the parents must stand by their children who could not qualify the JKBOSE exams or qualified it with average grades. After the announcement of the results, some students qualified the exams with good marks in class 10th and 12th exams while qualified with average grades while some could not qualify the exams. "Those parents whose children either took less marks or could not qualify for the exam, must be a little upset with their children. As a parent, it is natural to feel disappointed when your child does not come up to your expectations," Aasima Jan said. She however said that the high expectations of parents should not make the child a victim of depression. "Class 10th exam is just a first step in the educational journey of these children. This is not the end of life. Life will provide more opportunities, with more chances and more ways to excel," Aasima Jan said. She said the parents must support their child at this time deal with this setback. "If parents support their child at this time, their kids will bounce back more stronger in future. Parents must tell their children that failures are not opposite to success but are actually part of success," she said. She said there were many people who did not qualify normal exams but proved their worth in life after facing setbacks. "Parents must put in their efforts. Embrace their child, support them instead of letting them down," she said. As the JKBOSE declared the result of class 10th and 12th class examination, the stakeholders and society at large pour praise and attention on the top performers while there was a deafening silence surrounding those who do not pass the examination. The move raised a serious concern, particularly about the way children are being brought up. It raised big question that: âAre we preparing our students to be strong enough to cope with the failure?â
Baramulla, Apr 1: Political leader Touseef Raina on Wednesday asked Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Baramulla Javid Hassan Baig to apologise for his remarks about women he made during a speech in the Legislative Assembly. Raina termed the remarks âregrettableâ and âhurtful to public sentiment.â In a video message, Touseef Raina took strong exception to Baigâs reference to Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone, wherein he described Loneâs stance as having a âwomenistic attitude,â which he linked to âcrying over everything.â Raina said a public representative having such ideology reflects a âdemeaning mindsetâ towards women which was unacceptable in public discourse, especially within a legislative forum. âIt is a matter of great shame and regret that an elected representative has used such words saying that women are prone to crying. These remarks have deeply hurt the sentiments of women,â he said. Raina emphasised the role and contribution of women in society saying that these days women stand as equal partners in all spheres of life. âWomen are a source of inspiration. There is no place for gender inequality in todayâs world. Our mothers and sisters contribute immensely whether at home or in workplaces and deserve respect, not ridicule,â he added. Referring to Islamic teachings, Raina reminded MLA about the high status accorded to women, stating that a personâs character is reflected in how he treats women, particularly within his family. He further questioned Baigâs commitment to womenâs rights, saying such remarks raise concerns about the seriousness of leader who seek votes on promises of empowerment but resort to âinsensitive languageâ in Assembly debates. He expressed his personal anguish over the issue and said he was felt âdeeply hurtâ by the comments made by MLA Baramulla. "MLA Baramulla should tender an unconditional apology to women. Such statements, even if made in haste, cannot be justified. An apology is necessary to address the hurt caused to women across society,â he said.
Srinagar, Mar 31: The J&K government has admitted that the residents of Baramulla were currently receiving water supply facilities from the existing system at a low service level owing to inadequate infrastructure and intermittent power supply. This was revealed in a reply of minister in-charge for Jal Shakti department to a question raised by MLA Baramulla Javid Hassan Baig. Baig asked the government whether residents of Baramulla town continue to suffer due to scarcity of same despite dozens of water supply scheme exists there. "The residents of Baramulla town are currently receiving water supply facilities from the existing system at a low service level owing to inadequate infrastructure and intermittent power supply," the government informed the House. The government further said that to address the issue, under AMRUTâ2.0 the old / existing electro mechanical equipmentâs is proposed to be replaced by newly designed pumping equipmentâs for which the work is in process. "Moreover for improvement in quality of water in Baramulla town, Gas Chlorination plants at two main rapid sand beds viz 1.6 MGD RSFP Azadgunj, 1.6 MGDRSFP Baag-e- Islam is under construction," the government said. About the details of households in Baramulla town and rural areas of District provided functional tap connections under JJM along the details of areas yet to be covered, the government said 23298 households in the town and 129664 households in rural areas have been provided with Functional Tap Connections (FTCs) under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). As per the government figures, some wards and areas in the rural parts are yet to be covered and/or covered but with low service levels under JJM due to paucity of funds and issues related to forest/land clearance or source failure. These areas include Zithen, Waripora, Darina, Scamblan, Sheeri, Mirgund, Chinnibal, Hartreh, Devel, Yakmanpora, Gund Ibrahim, Dislpora, Dargam, Khushalpora Chinned, Chopan Mohallah Delina, Milat Colony, University Colony, Shaipora, areas under WSS Abu Bakar Colony Hamray. "Approximately 21,000 households in these areas are either partially connected or are being supplied water through tanker services," the government said. The House was informed that these areas shall be covered fully once JJM funds are made available, as the schemes remain incomplete due to paucity of funds. "Under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the district has 229 schemes for rural areas and one scheme under AMRUT-2.0. Out of these, 110 schemes stand completed as on date and the remaining 120 Schemes are at different stages of execution which shall be completed as per JJM timeline subject to availability of funds," the government informed the House. About the reasons for the repeated failure of Water Supply Schemes in Baramulla, the government said there was no repeatable failure water supply in the said town. "However, power outages sometimes cause temporary disruptions, and the affected areas are being covered with available tanker services," the government said. The government said that at present, the total installed capacity of water treatment plants is 29.7155 MGD (million gallons per day). "The existing infrastructure is being wellâmaintained under yearly maintenance and repair (M&R); there is no loss of water due to lack of maintenance," the government said.
Slams Mehbooba Mufti over âmishandlingâ this vital project in past Srinagar, Mar 31: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Tuesday welcomed governmentâs decision of approving flyover connecting Rajbagh to Sangarmal in Srinagar city. He said that the long much-awaited decision will certainly help reduce traffic congestion in the Srinagar city. In a post on micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter), Bukhari welcomed and appreciated the governmentâs decision to approve the flyover connecting Rajbagh to Sangarmal in Srinagar. "This was a long-awaited and much-needed decision. Once completed, the flyover will certainly help reduce the growing traffic congestion in the area," he wrote on X. Bukhari slammed PDP President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti over mishandling this vital project in the past. âAt the same time, it is important to recall how this vital project was mishandled in the past. During her tenure in government, Mehbooba Mufti, exhibiting her typical Nadirshahi behaviour, altered the very nature of the project," he wrote on X. "Ignoring expert advice and reasonable voices, she changed the plan and converted the proposed motorable bridge into a footbridge, even though it had originally been designed and its foundation laid as a bridge meant for vehicles,â he said on X. He cited shifting of Batamaloo bus stand to Parimpora area of Srinagar, as âfoolishâ one and âdeeply damagingâ. âSadly, this was not the only decision during her time in power that caused hardship for people in Srinagar. Another glaring example was the shifting of the Batamaloo General Bus Stand to Parimpora in Srinagar. This decision proved to be foolish and deeply damaging. Batamaloo, which was once a thriving economic hub, suffered greatly, and thousands of traders, transporters, and local residents were pushed into serious financial distress,â he said. He said that similarly, the ban on stone mining in the Athwajan and Pantha Chowk areas on the outskirts of Srinagar deprived hundreds of labour-class families of their livelihoods. "Again, this decision brought misery and economic hardship to a large section of the population," he said. He said these are only a few examples that show the poor judgment and disregard for public welfare that marked Mehbooba Muftiâs time in government. "Without mincing words, today I want to tell Mehbooba Ji directly that the damage she caused to Srinagar during her tenure is unforgettable," he said. "I understand that some unelected representatives in your party at that time further influenced you to intensify the anti-city sentiments that you already harbored. However, the fact remains that you personally left no stone unturned to undermine the interests of Srinagar and its people,â he added on X. âNow, mark my words: the people of Srinagar will neither forget nor forgive the harm you caused them, and history will ultimately judge the consequences of the damage that was done. Any ways , I hope that the work on flyover construction begins without any further delay so that the people can finally get relief from the severe traffic congestion in the city centre and adjoining areas,â he further added on X.
Kupwara, Mar 28: The Indian Army Saturday organized a free medical-cum-veterinary camp at Wader Rajwar in Handwara Sub District, benefiting a large number of local residents and livestock owners. A team of doctors from GMC Handwara, along with medical team from the Indian Army and veterinary specialists, participated in the camp. During the programme, more than 350 medical patients were examined and provided with free medical consultation and medicines. In addition, veterinary doctors conducted health check-ups of dozens of animals, offering treatment and distributing medicines free of cost to livestock owners. The initiative was widely appreciated by locals, who expressed gratitude to the Indian Army and the medical teams for bringing essential healthcare services to the remote area.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. âHundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,â said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the facultyâs demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. âWe are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,â he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. âThe irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,â he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for âequal work, equal payâ gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. âPromises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,â he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. âThis issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,â he said.
