Srinagar, Feb 17: J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday made a sweeping case for transforming Jammu and Kashmir's economic future through horticulture.
During his address in the Assembly, Sajad Lone took a sharp aim at policy gaps ranging from highway mismanagement to the corporate capture of post-harvest subsidies during his address in the J&K Legislative Assembly.
Opening his remarks on the highway blockade crisis, Lone said the government was "unfortunately caught sleeping" when the roadblock struck and only moved after orchardists hit the streets.
He rejected the government's claim that merely one percent of fruit worth 22,000 metric tons was ready at the time, calling it inaccurate.
He pointed out that the National Highway has always been a National Highway both before and after the abrogation of Article 370 and that the administration's sluggish response resulted in losses of crores with no accountability and no possibility of recovery.
"It is a permanent damage which will never be recovered," he said.
On the pending US trade deal, Lone urged the government to act proactively rather than wait for the agreement to be signed and then raise an outcry.
He said the landed cost of American apples in duty-free markets like Dubai is publicly available and that even a basic desktop analysis could arm the administration with enough data to formally represent J&K's interests before the Government of India.
He said that India's Trade Minister may have little knowledge of walnuts, apples or pears and that it falls on the J&K government and the Chief Minister to make a pre-emptive representation before the deal is finalised.
"The deal hasn't been signed yet," he said.
He questioned why the concerned department was not already on this.
Lone said that that J&K has no competitive advantage in growing rice and questioned why the region continues to cultivate it, attributing it primarily to food insecurity.
He said that if all agricultural land were converted to horticultural use over the span of a decade, revenues could reach approximately two lakh crores, an amount he equated to three to four lakh jobs.
He added that existing horticultural land alone has the potential to grow from generating ten thousand crores to seventy thousand crores.
"If there is an economic revolution waiting to happen in J&K, it's through horticulture," he said.
He said that besides tourism, horticulture was the only sector capable of genuinely transforming the region's economy.
Lone acknowledged that the government is doing a lot but stressed that the real change would only come when conversion efforts reach the village and Halqa level with officers physically present on the ground.
He also flagged what he termed as monopolisation of post-harvest subsidies by the corporate sector, warning that the growers for whom these subsidies are intended are seeing little to none of the benefit. He called for direct government intervention to redirect these funds to the actual fruit growers.
Turning to rural development, Lone made an unusually candid and pointed appeal to remove elected representatives including MLAs entirely from the rural development process.
He argued that MGNREGA and Gram Sabha funds come from the Government of India for the poor and should remain with the poor, governed at the village level through the Gram Sabha without political interference.
He criticised the transfer of a Gram Rozgar Sahayak earning ten thousand rupees by ten or twenty kilometres, calling it an abuse of political power and asking pointedly whether MLAs were elected for this purpose.
On MGNREGA administration, he said that the rest of India employs dedicated trained programme officers who develop expertise over time whereas in J&K the responsibility has been handed entirely to the BDO.
While expressing full respect for the KAS cadre, Lone said that rural development was a specialist technical subject that cannot be effectively handled by generalist officers who need time to learn the rules before they can deliver results.
Lone also proposed a fundamental reorientation of MGNREGA's core objective, suggesting that asset creation should be the primary goal with employment as its natural byproduct rather than the other way around as it currently stands.
He acknowledged this may be difficult to change but said it would significantly improve outcomes on the ground.
Closing his remarks, Lone once again urged the minister to keep elected representatives away from the Gram Sabha, framing it as a matter of integrity toward the rural poor.
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.
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.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
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.
Srinagar, Jan 17: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi on Saturday strongly condemned PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti’s statement suggesting that if religious places are to be “profiled”, the process should start with temples and Hindu priests, instead of mosques and Imams. Inam Un Nabi said AIP was categorically against profiling of any religious place, irrespective of faith or community and such statements only deepen mistrust and polarisation in society. “Let it be Masjids and Imaams or temples and priests, profiling of religious institutions is unacceptable. AIP rejects it completely. Had the issue involved only temples or priests, AIP would have shown the same resentment and protest as we do for Masjids and Imaams,” he said. The AIP spokesperson said faith is a matter of personal conscience and religious belief and it should not be dragged into a culture of surveillance or administrative interference. “We do not want policing of faith. The role of the administration is to ensure peace and law and order, not to monitor religious identity or religious spaces,” Inam Un Nabi added. He appealed to all political parties to act responsibly and avoid statements that pit one community against another, stressing that Kashmir has a long history of communal harmony which must be protected. “AIP stands for dignity, equality and justice for all. We will oppose any attempt that targets places of worship, whichever religion it belongs to,” he said.
Srinagar, Feb 17: J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday made a sweeping case for transforming Jammu and Kashmir's economic future through horticulture. During his address in the Assembly, Sajad Lone took a sharp aim at policy gaps ranging from highway mismanagement to the corporate capture of post-harvest subsidies during his address in the J&K Legislative Assembly. Opening his remarks on the highway blockade crisis, Lone said the government was "unfortunately caught sleeping" when the roadblock struck and only moved after orchardists hit the streets. He rejected the government's claim that merely one percent of fruit worth 22,000 metric tons was ready at the time, calling it inaccurate. He pointed out that the National Highway has always been a National Highway both before and after the abrogation of Article 370 and that the administration's sluggish response resulted in losses of crores with no accountability and no possibility of recovery. "It is a permanent damage which will never be recovered," he said. On the pending US trade deal, Lone urged the government to act proactively rather than wait for the agreement to be signed and then raise an outcry. He said the landed cost of American apples in duty-free markets like Dubai is publicly available and that even a basic desktop analysis could arm the administration with enough data to formally represent J&K's interests before the Government of India. He said that India's Trade Minister may have little knowledge of walnuts, apples or pears and that it falls on the J&K government and the Chief Minister to make a pre-emptive representation before the deal is finalised. "The deal hasn't been signed yet," he said. He questioned why the concerned department was not already on this. Lone said that that J&K has no competitive advantage in growing rice and questioned why the region continues to cultivate it, attributing it primarily to food insecurity. He said that if all agricultural land were converted to horticultural use over the span of a decade, revenues could reach approximately two lakh crores, an amount he equated to three to four lakh jobs. He added that existing horticultural land alone has the potential to grow from generating ten thousand crores to seventy thousand crores. "If there is an economic revolution waiting to happen in J&K, it's through horticulture," he said. He said that besides tourism, horticulture was the only sector capable of genuinely transforming the region's economy. Lone acknowledged that the government is doing a lot but stressed that the real change would only come when conversion efforts reach the village and Halqa level with officers physically present on the ground. He also flagged what he termed as monopolisation of post-harvest subsidies by the corporate sector, warning that the growers for whom these subsidies are intended are seeing little to none of the benefit. He called for direct government intervention to redirect these funds to the actual fruit growers. Turning to rural development, Lone made an unusually candid and pointed appeal to remove elected representatives including MLAs entirely from the rural development process. He argued that MGNREGA and Gram Sabha funds come from the Government of India for the poor and should remain with the poor, governed at the village level through the Gram Sabha without political interference. He criticised the transfer of a Gram Rozgar Sahayak earning ten thousand rupees by ten or twenty kilometres, calling it an abuse of political power and asking pointedly whether MLAs were elected for this purpose. On MGNREGA administration, he said that the rest of India employs dedicated trained programme officers who develop expertise over time whereas in J&K the responsibility has been handed entirely to the BDO. While expressing full respect for the KAS cadre, Lone said that rural development was a specialist technical subject that cannot be effectively handled by generalist officers who need time to learn the rules before they can deliver results. Lone also proposed a fundamental reorientation of MGNREGA's core objective, suggesting that asset creation should be the primary goal with employment as its natural byproduct rather than the other way around as it currently stands. He acknowledged this may be difficult to change but said it would significantly improve outcomes on the ground. Closing his remarks, Lone once again urged the minister to keep elected representatives away from the Gram Sabha, framing it as a matter of integrity toward the rural poor.
Srinagar, Feb 12: Jammu and Kashmir recorded over 15.48 lakh traffic violation cases in 2025, with authorities collecting more than Rs 34.17 crore as penalty under the Motor Vehicles Act, the Centre informed Parliament on Thursday. The information was shared in the Lok Sabha in response to a question raised by MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal. According to the official data, 15,48,525 challans were issued across the Union Territory in 2025, while the penalty amount recovered stood at Rs 34,17,36,740. The figures further show that in 2024, a total of 15,44,105 violations were registered with a penalty collection of around Rs 43.40 crore, while in 2023, 12,38,584 challans were issued and Rs 34.56 crore was collected. For the current year, till February 8, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 1,63,531 traffic violation cases, with revenue collection of about Rs 2.11 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 are aimed at ensuring better compliance and deterrence. It also said that traffic enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of States and Union Territories. The government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for electronic monitoring and is promoting technology-driven enforcement through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras integrated with the VAHAN database. Awareness campaigns under the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan are also being carried out to improve road safety.
Jammu, Feb 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that over 77000 posts were lying vacant across various departments in the Union Territory, including both direct and promotion quota posts. In a reply to a question raised by MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone regarding department-wise vacancies and steps being taken to fill them in a time-bound manner, the Minister in-Charge informed the House that the vacancies reflected include direct quota posts already referred to recruiting agencies as well as posts that stand advertised for selection. The House was informed that all advertised and referred posts shall be filled in a time-bound manner. As per the official figures, the total number of vacancies stands at 77,099 posts. These include 3,808 Gazetted, 24,507 Non-Gazetted and 12,351 MTS posts under Direct Quota. Also 6,409 Gazetted, 24,451 Non-Gazetted and 5,573 MTS posts fall under promotion quota The government said it has taken a series of measures to ensure timely filling of vacancies, including identification and referral of posts to recruiting agencies, adherence to statutory framework, advance planning of recruitment cycles and close monitoring at various stages. "Efforts are being made to streamline procedures, strengthen coordination with recruiting agencies and leverage technology to expedite the recruitment process while maintaining transparency and merit," the government informed the House. "The recruiting agencies have also issued examination calendars for the year 2026, which are being strictly followed."
