Baramulla, May 19: The Non-Gazetted Employees Forum of Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla on Tuesday organised a peaceful candlelight protest in support of employees facing long-pending service issues and stagnation in promotions.
The protest was held in a disciplined manner, with employees gathering to express solidarity with staff members working across various medical colleges.
The participants said that despite rendering years of dedicated service, many employees have not received promotions for the past seven years, leading to growing frustration and mental stress among the workforce.
Speaking during the protest, an employee said the prolonged stagnation and lack of career progression had severely affected the morale of workers.
He said the employees have continued to perform their duties sincerely despite uncertainty surrounding their professional growth.
The employee further said that the six-day strike earlier launched by the employees was suspended following assurances given by Javid Hassan Baig.
He said the employees respect the assurance of the MLA and hope that their genuine demands will be addressed in a positive and time-bound manner.
The Non-Gazetted Employees Forum reiterated that its movement remains peaceful and democratic and appealed to the administration and concerned authorities to resolve the long-pending issues of employees at the earliest.
New Delhi, May 12: A massive protest organised by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) broke out near the Shastri Bhawan on Tuesday, against the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG this year. The exam was held on May 3, following which allegations of paper leak surfaced, triggering investigations by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and central agencies. Earlier, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, and said the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately. In a statement, the NTA said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system.
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. “Hundreds 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,” said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the faculty’s demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. “We are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,” 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. “The 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,” 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 “equal work, equal pay” gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. “Promises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,” 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. “This issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Jammu, Jan 18: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology, ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma Sunday said that the remarkable achievements of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth are a powerful testament to what can be accomplished through fair opportunities, modern infrastructure and unwavering government support. Addressing the gathering during the SRIJAN initiative conference, the Minister stated that the success of young athletes clearly demonstrates that with the right ecosystem in place, the UT youth are capable of overcoming every challenge and competing confidently at national and international platforms. Highlighting the core focus areas of the SRIJAN programme, Satish Sharma said "the initiative is playing a transformative role in strengthening the sports landscape of the Union Territory by expanding grassroots sports infrastructure across Jammu, Kashmir and other regions. This is being done by ensuring transparent, merit-based selections free from any bias; integrating sports with education and skill development; promoting greater participation of girls and enhancing inclusivity and establishing sports as a dignified and sustainable career option with viable livelihood opportunities, he said0. He reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment and said that sustained efforts were underway to create international-standard sports facilities, including modern cricket stadiums in Jammu and Srinagar. He also highlighted the strengthening of Khelo India Centres, promotion of traditional sports such as Dangal and enhanced collaboration with the Union Ministry to transform Jammu & Kashmir into a national sports hub. “As Sports Minister, I assure our athletes that the government stands firmly with them. Our focus is not only on infrastructure creation but also on nurturing talent, discipline and confidence among the youth,” he said. The Minister lauded the determination, resilience and dedication of young sportspersons, describing them as the living legacy of the SRIJAN mission. He urged them to continue training with passion, remain disciplined and dream fearlessly, assuring them of full institutional support at every step of their journey. Satish Sharma expressed hope that the conference would serve as the foundation of a new era where every talented child, from the mountains of Kashmir to the plains of Jammu, is provided an equal opportunity to shine on the global stage. He concluded by reiterating the government’s resolve to make sports a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment, social inclusion and regional pride in Jammu and Kashmir. Director General, Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta and prominent persons from different fields and states along with senior officers of the Youth Services and Sports Department, were also present on the occasion.
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) will declare the result of class 10th and 12th examination on January 14 of, 2026 (Wednesday), minister for education Sakina Itoo said on Monday. Minister for education Sakina Itoo said the government has decided to declare the result of both the classes-10th and 12th on the same day. "We understand that students have been waiting for the results. So we decided that result of both the classes will be declared on Wednesday (January 16 of 2926)," Sakina Itoo said. She said the meeting of the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) will be convened by the Secretary JKBOE along with the members-Director School Education (DSE) Kashmir and Jammu division besides the joint secretaries as well. "We will give the administrative approval to the result instead of getting approved by the chairman," she said. The announcement comes amid the delay in appointment of chairman JKBOSE as the position is lying vacant for the last one year. "After declaration of the results, we will also appoint the permanent chairman for JKBOSE as well," education minister said. An official from JKBOSE said the class 1oth result will be declared on Wednesday morning followed by the declaration of result of class 12th students in late afternoon on the same day. As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year. Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively. Approximately, 81622 students – 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 students—56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). “About a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,” he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.“If we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,” he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeeb’s research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. “In this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,” he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. “It is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,” he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,” he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. “My parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,” he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. “Just as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.” “Young people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,” he further added.
Baramulla, May 19: The Non-Gazetted Employees Forum of Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla on Tuesday organised a peaceful candlelight protest in support of employees facing long-pending service issues and stagnation in promotions. The protest was held in a disciplined manner, with employees gathering to express solidarity with staff members working across various medical colleges. The participants said that despite rendering years of dedicated service, many employees have not received promotions for the past seven years, leading to growing frustration and mental stress among the workforce. Speaking during the protest, an employee said the prolonged stagnation and lack of career progression had severely affected the morale of workers. He said the employees have continued to perform their duties sincerely despite uncertainty surrounding their professional growth. The employee further said that the six-day strike earlier launched by the employees was suspended following assurances given by Javid Hassan Baig. He said the employees respect the assurance of the MLA and hope that their genuine demands will be addressed in a positive and time-bound manner. The Non-Gazetted Employees Forum reiterated that its movement remains peaceful and democratic and appealed to the administration and concerned authorities to resolve the long-pending issues of employees at the earliest.
Srinagar, Feb 03: The J&K Government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla and its Associated Hospital were facing a serious manpower shortage across teaching, clinical and support staff. The minister in-charge in a reply said that large scale vacancies were unfilled in faculty, gazetted and non gazetted category as well. The government figures produced in the Assembly revealed that out of the total sanctioned faculty strength at GMC Baramulla stands at 272 posts only 209 faculty members are in place while 63 posts are unfilled till date. The shortage is acute in senior teaching positions as out of 23 sanctioned posts of Professors, only eight are filled while 15 have been rendered vacant. "Against the sanctioned strength of 33 posts, GMC Baramulla has eight posts vacant while 20 out of 65 positions of Assistant Professors are lying vacant as well," the government figures revealed. Also, six posts of Junior Residents and five posts of Senior Residents are lying vacant as well. The official figures also revealed that GMC Baramulla has a shortfall of manpower in non-gazetted staff, particularly in technical, nursing and support categories as well. The details were produced in the House in response to a query raised by MLA Aga Syed Muntazir. As per the government figures, against a sanctioned strength of 260 non gazetted posts 211 posts are filled through permanent and contractual arrangements while 49 posts are vacant. Technical Assistant and Technician posts show a gap of 4 vacancies out of 37 sanctioned positions, while key support roles such as workshop workers remain completely vacant with all 6 posts unfilled. Several specialised healthcare support services are also understaffed at GMC Baramulla as posts of Psychiatric Social Worker, Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Health Visitor, Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician besides Rehabilitation Worker are lying vacant. Against sanctioned strength of 21 posts of Senior Nurses none has been filled till date while four posts of Nursing Supervisor are vacant as well. Out of 59 sanctioned gazetted posts, only 25 are in position, leaving 34 posts vacant. Key specialties remain understaffed as well. There are no Senior Consultants in Medicine, Surgery or Ophthalmology at GMC Baramulla. Consultant posts in Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Orthopaedics, ENT, Radiology and Gynaecology also show vacancies, while Medical Officers face a shortfall of 16 posts out of sanctioned 29 posts. The non gazetted staff situation is equally concerning as against 100 sanctioned posts, only 44 are filled, leaving 56 vacancies. Nursing services are under strain with 21 vacancies in Junior Grade Nurses and 4 vacancies among Senior Nurses. Laboratory, pharmacy, dental, X Ray, theatre and technical sections also report multiple vacant posts, affecting routine and emergency services.
Srinagar, Jan 10: Over 72% of children under the age of five are suffering from anaemia in Jammu and Kashmir, one of the highest rates in the country. Experts warn that this alarming trend poses serious risks to the growth, immunity, and development of the region’s youngest population. As per the 'Children in India 2025' report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 72.7 per cent of children, including 73.9% male and 71.4% females, are anaemic in J&K which includes 73.5 per cent in rural areas and 70.1 per cent in urban areas. Doctors termed it a serious public health concern. "When a child is anaemic, their blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin needed to carry oxygen throughout the body," the doctors said. "This leads to fatigue, weakened immunity, delayed growth, impaired brain development, lowered learning ability, and increased risk of infections," they said. Dr Shabeena Shah, a child specialist, said the most common cause of anaemia worldwide and in India is nutritional deficiency, especially iron deficiency. "Young children have high iron needs for rapid growth, but many diets do not supply enough iron or other vital nutrients like folate and vitamin B12," she said. "Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) is the predominant form responsible for a large share of anaemia cases in toddlers and young children." According to the doctor, a diet too reliant on staple grains without enough iron-rich foods (like leafy greens, lentils, eggs, meat, fortified cereals) worsens this deficiency. She said the children whose mothers are anaemic themselves are more likely to be anaemic. Low maternal iron stores during pregnancy limit the amount of iron the baby receives before birth and through early infancy, Dr Shah added. Dr Showkat Hussain, another doctor, said that after six months of age, breast milk alone is not enough to meet a baby’s iron requirements. He said that if complementary foods aren’t introduced properly or are low in iron, the risk of anaemia increases. He added that parasitic infections like hookworm and other gastrointestinal infections can cause blood loss and reduce nutrient absorption, contributing significantly to anaemia. Dr Hussain added that inclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides optimal nutrition and helps build immunity. "Breast milk contains iron that is easily absorbed by infants, helping protect against anaemia in early infancy. However, after 6 months, iron stores from birth get depleted, and complementary foods need to be introduced. If the complementary diet lacks iron-rich foods, anaemia risk rises," he added. Doctors said that inadequate complementary feeding, such as giving mostly watery cereals or liquid foods without iron enrichment, can worsen anaemia. They added that eating fried or junk foods does not directly cause anaemia, but it contributes indirectly by displacing nutritious foods in a child’s diet, providing empty calories with little iron, vitamins, or minerals. Doctors called for introducing iron-rich complementary foods after six months, such as meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, lentils, beans, pair iron foods with vitamin C-rich foods (like citrus fruits, tomatoes) to improve iron absorption and avoid overreliance on packaged snacks and fried foods. They said the government programmes, such as Anaemia Mukt Bharat and Mission Poshan 2.0, provide iron and folic acid supplements for children and mothers. The weekly iron supplementation and fortified foods can substantially reduce anaemia prevalence, the doctors said, adding that routine deworming and immunisation help reduce anaemia caused by parasites and infections. (KNO
