indifference

KU Releases
Annual Report 2010-11
2 5
Crammed for space
Vol: 4 | No.: 3 | May 30, 2011 Lab newspaper of Media Education Research Centre for private circulation only
From fertile Dal to marshy Rakh
Photo By : Tawseef Ahmad
to them.”
The residents also complain of water
seeping into their homes during rains.
This, they said, also hindered their plans
of constructing a proper house.
Rakh-e-Arth is a low lying area and
though much of the project cost has been
spent on filling of the land with hundreds
of truckloads of soil, the threat of flooding
persists.
“Most people of our community
didn’t come here because of this problem,”
said Irshad.
According to LAWDA VC, the irrigation
department is working to solve the
problem.
The Rakh settlers say the government
overlooked their livelihood needs.
“We were dependent on agriculture,
which is impossible to carry out in this
area,” said Ali Muhammad.
Continude on Page 3
Mir Usman
‘We were betrayed’
Not far from Rakh-e-Arth is Boat Colony,
another habitation created for families
relocated from Chinar Bagh on the banks
of Dal Lake’s main outflow channel, Chunt Kol.
The locality in Bemina area used to be deserted
before the present dwellers moved in 1990.
Like the Rakh settlers, they also allege government
apathy towards their needs. They accuse the
authorities of reneging on their promises.
“The government officials had promised
to provide us living quarters, but instead we got
dirt and filth,” said 62-year-old Abdul Rehman
Dandroo, president of the local shopkeepers’ association,
pointing to the dusty road.
Before the settling at Boat Colony, the
people from Chinar Bagh and other peripheries
of Dal Lake lived in houseboats and shacks and
therefore its name.
Continude on Page 3
Leaving behind their home and
hearth in the interiors of Dal Lake,
the Bala household shifted to Rakh-e-Arth
despite widespread concerns
over the marshy nature of land in this
suburban neighbourhood, only to be let
down by the government.
Bashir Ahmad Bala, along with
seven other farming families, moved to
Rakh-e-Arth (Kashmiri for game-preserve)
near Bemina 10 months back.
The vast stretch of land, spanning over
7,526 Kanals, has been earmarked for
rehabilitation of people living in the
interiors of Dal under Rs 402-crore
project for conservation of the world
famous lake, overseen by Lakes and
Waterways Development Authority
(LAWDA).
Residing in temporary wooden
shacks, the families allege official indifference
towards their needs.
“We are not happy with the authorities.
We were promised good accommodation,
school and healthcare
facilities but there are no such things
present here,” said Bashir.
“With no school nearby the future of
our children is at stake.”
The families spent the last winter
in the shacks finding it hard to cope
with the cold.
“We are living in temporary shelters
and have to bear the brunt of the weather,”
said Irshad Ahmad, who resides next to
Bashir.
They also complain about lack of
transport facility, having to travel about
one kilometre to board public transport.
When asked about the complaints,
Vice Chairman LAWDA, Irfan Yasin
said, “The developmental work in the
area is taking place in a phased manner.
All these facilities will be provided
‘Freeze Frame’
released
Syeda Afshana’s anthology
well received
Mohammad Rafi Dar
Freeze Frame: Glimpses from Kashmir,
a book by Syeda Afshana was released
at Ibn-I-Khaldun Auditorium of Allama
Iqbal Library, Kashmir University on May 19.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor,
Kashmir University, Prof Riyaz Punjabi
appreciated the author.
“The society which doesn’t tolerate
dissent would decay but dissent should be
constructive not destructive,” he said.
Noted academician, Prof Aga Ashraf Ali
praised the author for her “courage” to write
on sensitive issues at such a young age.
Continude on Page 3

MERCTIMES 2
Srinagar: City of unplanned colonies
Mohammad Rafi Dar
It is summer and Farida Begum’s
single-storey brick and mud house
is surrounded by stagnant water.
The only approach to this house is a
temporary wooden bridge-like structure
that passes through the marshy
land. Welcome to Hamdania Colony in
Srinagar.
On the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad national
highway, Begum’s house is not
a solitary example. A large number of
houses in the backside of this residential
colony are inundated by water for
most part of the year. Reason: a flood
spill channel was turned into a housing
colony more than two decades ago.
“There is hardly any land available
in Srinagar and its peripheries,” says
Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal
Corporation, Sheikh Mushtaq. “That is
why people are constructing houses in
these areas”.
Urbanization, poverty and rural
migration are generally attributed for
the constructions in this low-lying area.
People from various parts of the city
and other districts of valley have shifted
to this place. Mostly, people have
come from Karnah-Kupwara, Sopore,
Baramulla and Anantnag.
“We used to live in a joint family at
Solina. Later, I decided to shift to this
place. Since I didn’t have much financial
resources, I had no option but to purchase
land here,” said Mehraj Ahmad, a
local, who was busy in land-filing.
“Most of the houses are not approved
by authorities. Usually, they
drop in when people are constructing
houses and raise objections. Finally,
locals get their work done by greasing
their palms,” said Sheikh Hafizullah,
president of Hamdania colony. He
himself has migrated to this place from
Kandi Kupwara in 2008.
Hafizullah said that usually jobs
and studies compel people to migrate
from rural areas. “Besides, it is the exorbitant
prices of land that force people
to purchase land in this low-lying area.”
Even Municipal Commissioner
says “we can’t deprive them from basic
amenities as it is their constitutional
right. We can’t do anything now. So we
are issuing NOC’s.”
“I have valid documents and has
taken land under section 4 and 8 of land
grants act”, says Shiekh.
Hamdania colony is a low lying
area and flood prone. Lack of drainage
system is another cause of water lodging.
During rains it gets flooded and the
movement of inhabitants halts for long
time.
“I met divisional commissioner
Kashmir, chief engineers of R&B,
UEED and power departments but
no improvement or action has taken
place”, adds sheikh.
According to government authorities,
illegal construction in this area is
banned but it is going on. On another
side they are providing facilities to the
residents like water supply, drinking
water etc.
A 19 kilometre drain from Nowgam
to Parimpora is under construction. It
will help in dewatering these colonies.
Ghulam Rasool Shah of Hamdania
colony says” if government has banned
construction here, why are they allowing
us to construct houses”.
Firdoos-ul-Islam
KU Releases Annual Report 2010-11
Important reference for future
varsity planning: VC
In order to keep pace with globally recognized
institutions, Kashmir University pursues a
continual process of introspection, integration
, innovation and improvement in order to build
bridges between diverse disciplines , communities
and cultures for promotion of educational ,
economic social and cultural growth of the society.
This was stated by Vice Chancellor Kashmir
University Prof Riyaz Punjabi while releasing the
annual report 2010-11 compiled and produced by
Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance of the
varsity. The event was held at the committee room
of the administrative block.
He said the annual report is an essential and
valuable document for any educational institution
trying to tread the
path of excellence in
education.
VC complimented
DIQA coordinator
Prof G M Bhat and
his team for what
he termed as their
‘hectic and relentless
efforts in garnering
the information
from various sources
and transforming the
same into a mirror in
the shape of the annual
report.
VC said the document
would serve
as an important reference for the future planning
and projecting KU in the academic circles and the
civil society within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
DIQA coordinator Prof G M Bhat said the
present annual report is a compilation of the work
carried out in various departments , research centers
and supporting centers during the year 2010-
11. “This report will go a long way in helping us at
the time of evaluation.”
Registrar KU Prof Syed Fayaz and Dean
academic affairs of the university Prof A R Yousuf
, Controller examinations Prof A M Shah, Prof
Shabir A Bhat of business school also spoke on the
occasion . Deans of various faculties ,heads of the
departments were present at the release function
of the report.
Hajin boy scores hatrick
Secures first rank in all 3
subjects he opted for
Mohammad Imran Parray
In an unprecedented feat, a boy from
Hajin Sonawari stood first in all the
three postgraduate courses he had
opted for in the annual entrance examinations
held by University of Kashmir.
Shabir Ahmad Parray, a B.A. student,
had opted for Political Science,
Kashmiri and Law. He secured first rank
in all the three, making his family and people of his hometown proud.
Shabir considers the day he came to know about his results in
the third subject as the best day of his life.
“This day marks the best day of my life,” says Shabir with
a smile on his face.
Shabir recalls the “days of hardship” when he had no money to
buy books and clothes.
“I never forced my family to fulfil my educational needs as we
have fewer resources. We struggle to meet the ends.”
Shabir had promised his mother to hug her the day his
dream of qualifying the entrance test is fulfilled. “This day I
have to hug my mother who made all this possible, who stood
firm against all odds during my studies and how can I forget
her sleepless nights of hard work.”
Shabir’s siblings are virtually reborn to see their younger Boi
(brother) “shine like a star”.
“I am so happy I can’t express,” said his sister, Shameema with
tears rolling down her cheeks.
“How can I make you understand what this day means for us,”
says Shabir’s brother, Altaf.
“We are reborn…,” says his eldest brother Sharif-ud-din
Mohammad.
Shabir has decided to pursue masters in Political Science as he is
optimistic of the opportunities and prepares himself for the “warfare”.
“I have decided to make my mark as a lecturer and be a torch
bearer for future generations. For me it is a warfare. We only
need to work hard and with conviction.”

3
MERCTIMES
From fertile Dal
“How would we run our families now?” he asks, even as he suggests that government could
have employed their boys in places like the power-transmission plant coming up in the colony.
The settlers accuse the authorities of luring them into a trap by promising five lakh
rupees to the families who shift to Rakh-e-Arth even as it was yet to be ready for housing
the colony.
“We were promised five lakh rupees but a year has passed since then. We haven’t
got anything yet,” said Bashir.
Responding to the allegations, VC LAWDA said, “We have never mentioned any such
thing, there is no such thing on record.”
“The families were provided due compensation,” he added.
The government has so far spent Rs 22.50 Cr on the development of the plots out
of Rs 402 crores earmarked for the project.
Out of the 500 demarcated plots, 79 have been allotted.
With the present settlers unhappy about the arrangement, it remains to be seen if
the government can manage to convince rest of the Dal families to move here.
‘Freeze Frame’ released
“The impression which I got
after reading Afshana’s book
is that don’t be afraid of anything,”
said Ali, who was also
chief guest on the occasion.
Senior journalist, Muhammad
Syed Malik appreciated
Afshanas’s efforts.
“Selection of topics touches
moral aspects of subject like
commitment to values, quality
of work and credibility. It
will also encourage others to
write,” said Malik.
Prof Neerja Matto, visiting professor Oxford
University read the book review.
Published by Wattan Publications, Freeze
Frame is divided into seven segments. It includes
collection of essays on different topics which include
anecdotal narrations that have appeared in a
local daily Greater Kashmir under the same name.
Sheikh Saleem
It was a bright summer morning. As
13-year-old Rafiq Ahmad Khatana
stepped outside his house, a bear
jumped on him. Khatana was saved by the
villagers but not before he lost five fingers of
his right hand. Khatana lives at Mazargund
up in the Zabarwan mountains.
As the land in Srinagar is shrinking
with rapid urbanization, the people are moving
up towards the mountains making houses
in the forest belt of Srinagar. And this has
resulted in a steep increase in man-animal
conflict resulting in death of more than 100
people and several wild animals.
“The conversion of prime habitats of
wild animals into croplands, orchards and
human settlements is a major factor for increasing
human-wild animal conflict,” says
Wildlife Warden Raashid Naqash. “The expanding
human population, decimation of
forest cover and encroachment of forest land
has given rise to this conflict”.
Afshana teaches at Media Education Research Centre
of the varsity.
Replying to the comments of the speakers,
Afshana says, “I will try to hone my writing skills.”
The function was attended by academicians,
scholars, civil society members, journalists and
students.
As the population
in Srinagar is increasing,
people are moving
out of the city towards
the forests up in the
mountains. A large
number of residential
colonies have come up
at Dara Harwan, Mazargund,
Gujar Fakir,
Shuhama and around
the Dachigam national
park. Few decades ago,
these residential colonies
were the natural
habitats of wild animals
especially bear and
leopard in Srinagar.
“It is not surprising,
if the leopards or
bears are found in Shuhama,
Dara or Lal Bazaar
because it is their
(wild animals’) habitat,”
The main aim to relocate
them was to increase the area of
the lake and also prevent pollution
of the water body. Since then, according
to Dandroo, this colony
based on the population of around
600 households has been ignored
right through by the government.
“We built temporary structures
from our own hard-earned
money with no help from the government.
We were not even given
compensation,” he alleged.
The Boat Colony residents,
who were involved with tourism
for their livelihood, claim they
were assured of jobs by the government
when they left Chinar
Bagh, but were “abandoned” and
forced to do menial jobs to run
their homes.
“They destroyed our houseboats
and assured us that we will
be given employment but that day
never came,” said Dandroo.
“Being dependent on tourists
for our livelihood we had a difficult
time earning our livelihood
here.”
The bad condition of roads
and lack of drainage system in the
colony are posing inconvenience
to the residents.
says Dr Altaf Hussein
Malik, a professor
at Sheri Kashmir
Institute of Agricultural
Sciences Kashmir.
“It is wrong to
say that wild animals
are moving towards
human populations.
The fact is that we
are intruding into
their habitats”.
Ghulam Mohiu-din
Bhat was living
at Nawabazar
in the old city two
decades ago. As the
family split, Bhat
moved to Shuhama
village in the foothills
of Sindh Forest
range. “We had less
space in Nawabazar
(Old Srinagar city) so
The lack of drainage and sewer
system has lead to been worsened
by the poor waste disposal
leading to overflowing street gutters
at some places.
“Even the sweepers have neglected
us,” said Dandroo, in a
sarcastic tone.
The government is yet to
blacktop the main street of the
colony and owing to the vehicular
rush through the area, some locals
have developed chest disease because
of the dust coming off the
roads.
Besides the civic complaints,
Dandroo says the residents of Chinar
Bagh lost their identity when
they shifted to Boat Colony and
they had to bear taunts from other
communities living in the area.
“People called our colony
“Boot colony” (ghost colony) and
whenever there was any theft in
other areas they would accuse us;
we were called thieves,” he said.
“We would have been better
off if we had not shifted here.”
With the 20-year-old settlers
of Boat Colony still complaining,
the government has a tough task
at hand to settle a much bigger
colony at Rakh-e-Arth.
Urbanisation takes toll on Man-Animal relation
I came here in early 90’s to live,” says Bhat. “It
is difficult to move out here in the evenings
as the bears freely roam around”.
Though the construction of buildings in
the forest land is illegal, the conflict in Kashmir
gave an opportunity to people construct
houses in and around the forest areas. “In
90’s due to uncertain circumstances, people
took advantage of it and encroached the
forest area as there was no government on
ground,” says Shakeela Begum, a resident of
Dara village.
The census records of past two decades
reveal that the population in Srinagar
has increased by 30 and 24 per cent respectively.
The 2011 census shows that density
of Srinagar is 703 persons per square kilometer
as compared to 559 in 2001. “This resulted
in migration of people towards outskirts
of the city. They have thus intruded
into the wildlife habitat,” says Dr Hussein.
“If rapid urbanization is allowed to continue
unchecked, many Kashmir’s precious
wild life species will vanish”.

MERCTIMES 4
Yateem Trust:
Lending a
helping hand
Jibran Ali
The number of orphans and widows in the valley
has increased over the past two decades. Keeping
their hardships in mind, a voluntary organization,
Jammu and Kashmir Yateem Trust, was set up
on 24 July 1972.
The organization, which works for the welfare and
rehabilitation of orphans and widows, was founded
Yateem Trust founder,
Abdul Khaliq Tak
by late Abdul Khaliq Tak Zainagiri in his native village
Hardushiva of Zainagiri area (10 kms from apple town
Sopore). The trust was later shifted to Srinagar.
Zainagiri was born on 19 May 1924. Recalling his
contributions, Zainagiri’s son, Zahoor Ahmed Tak said
he spent his whole life in the service of mankind.
“He was a great academician, administrator and
poet. In addition to this he was also a great social
worker who served orphans, widows and downtrodden
throughout his life,” said Zahoor.
Zainagiri died on 24 July 1989. The organization
observes his death anniversary every year. After his
death, Zahoor, who is a revenue officer, was chosen as
patron of the trust.
At present the organization is running eight orphanages
in Srinagar, Budgam, Kupwara, Baramulla,
Pulwama and Anantnag in which about 320 children
are enrolled among which 165 are boys and 157 are girls.
But the trust finds it difficult to accommodate more orphans
because of limited resources and “half-hearted
support” from large section of donors.
The trust was established as an orphanage but later
it performed other activities. The trust is providing shelter,
food, medical facilities and education to orphans
with the help of donors. The trust is also running school
for boys and girls separately.
“Many orphans were looked after by the trust and
at present most of them are engeneers, doctors and
lawyers and are well settled in the community,” the patron
said.
Lal Chowk gasping for space
Firdoose Ul Islam
It was an attempt to “give a face”
to the historic Lalchowk – the
city centre. A year and rupees
two crores later, it has given an
identity to Lalchowk but not the one
that was aimed. Today, Lalchowk is
known for its traffic mess and frequent
jams.
The reason for this mess is a
park constructed by
the J-K’s Tourism department
to give an
“identity” to Lalchowk
and to beautify it. The
60-feet wide concrete
park has choked the
city centre and causes
frequent traffic jams
on the already overburdened
road.
“This road needed
widening but they
have instead constructed a park
here,” says Rakesh Kumar, owner
of a bookshop adjacent to the park.
“We fail to understand the logic
behind this construction. It has resulted
in chaos in traffic”.
The tourism department has
not taken the people and shopkeepers
into confidence before constructing
this park. “They (government
officers) do whatever they like,” Kumar
says. “They devise plans without
thinking of its consequences for
the common people”.
The park not only results in traffic
mess, it has also failed to attract
the people. At a time when the governments
prefer greener areas in the
cities, the planners have constructed
a concrete park with tiled floors and
iron fencing. “People don’t like to sit
here,” says Gowhar Ahmad, owner
of LA Vision electronics shop at Lalchowk.
“The park doesn’t serve any
purpose but only adds problems for
the common people”.
Mohammad Iqbal of Geeco
Stationery agrees with Ahmad. “Nobody
will like to sit in dust, smoke
and in middle of the road,” he says.
The concrete park at Lachowk
was a car parking. In 2009, the J-K
government dismantled the parking
area and included in into the road.
However, few months later, the government
came up with a new plan to
set-up a park here.
People aside, the Tourisms department
in valley has not even consulted
with Srinagar Municipal Corporation
(SMC). “The park has been
constructed by the Tourism department,”
says Sheikh Mushtaq, SMC
Commissioner. “I can’t say anything
about it”.
However, the officials
of the Tourism
department maintain
that the park is a step
in the right direction.
“It (park) is a part of
our big project. Lalchowk
has a historical
importance and we
have to renovate it as
in other parts of the
world,” says Deputy
Director, Tourism Abid Maqbool.
“People will pass comments about
this park; they will criticize it but in
future they will themselves appreciate
it”.
People, however, don’t agree.
“One day, the government will have
to remove it – if not today, tomorrow
definitely,” says 40-year-old
Muzamil Ahmad, a government employee.
National Trade Fair
evokes warm response
Syed Hamid Hussain
The 15-day Kashmir National Trade Fair, which
commenced at Kashmir Haat in Srinagar on
May 16, received a good response from people
including tourists.
The trade fair, organised by Directorate of Handicrafts
every year, is aimed at bringing people of various
states together on social and economic fronts.
“This fair is held to minimize economic and social
gap among people of various states,” said Noor Mohammad
Khan, manager Central Market, Kashmir Haat.
“The aim of the fair is only to create newer opportunities
for young men to earn while people entertain
and get best quality products,” he added.
The central market remained flooded with people
of all spheres picking and choosing their favorite things
from glass jars to kitchenware to cotton drapes.
“I have come here to buy kitchenware items which
are of good quality,” said a housewife Khalida Usman.
“This trade fair brings good things to Kashmir every
year.”
Meanwhile, the traders also expressed their happiness
over the response of people.
“This year people thronged the fair and we made
good business. It must be held every six months,” said
Saeed Ahmad from Uttar Pradesh, who runs a handicraft
stall.
However, some people complained they were overcharged
by the traders.
“The shopkeepers here are charging us more when
the same things are available at a much lower price in
open market,” said Nisar Ahmad, a visitor.
The shopkeepers denied the allegations. “There is
only a difference of quality. Superior quality products
are costlier than the inferior ones,” said a handicraft
stall owner, Rajeev Sharma from Bihar.
Game shows are a regular feature of the trade fair
with some of them like Circus, Mout ka Kunwa, Mickey
Mouse and Columbus being popular with children.
“The game shows have been very terrifying yet
interesting and we bring our children here every year,”
said a parent Khurshid Ahmad.
“These games are very essential for our children.
They become bold and cope with the fear they usually
have,” he added.

5
MERCTIMES
Crammed for space
Towseef Ahmad
Encroachment of roads and footpaths
by vendors is hampering
vehicular and pedestrian movement
alike at the already congested Lal
Chowk.
The pavements along the Residency
Road leading to the main city square
have little room left for pedestrians with
vendors on both sides taking much of the
space. People keep getting down from
the footpath to avoid bumping into street
vendors or other pedestrians. Some even
prefer to walk along the main road amid
traffic.
“There is very less space on the footpaths
and we are forced to walk on the
road increasing the risk of accidents,”
said Mansoor Ahmad, a businessman
from Nawa Kadal area of old city, as he
points to the congested footpath.
“They (vendors) should be removed
from the pavements and given an alternative
place somewhere else.”
The vendors, meanwhile, cite livelihood
issue as the main reason for not vacating
the footpath, even as they say they
are ready to shift to some other place if
provided by the government.
“Although we are registered sapling
vendors, we have no place to go except
this footpath,” said Muhammad Rafiq, a
sapling vendor.
“If we are given some other place to
sell our goods by the authorities, we will go
there without any hesitation,” he said.
For Bashir Ahmad, who has been
selling track suits on the footpath outside
Biscoe School for many years, it is
the only place to earn their livelihood.
“This is the only place where we can
put our merchandise. Though we are often
forced to evict the footpath, but once
the authorities are out of sight we rearrange
our goods,” said Bashir.
Asked if their stalls hamper movement
of pedestrians, he said, “To some
extent it does, but we are helpless.”
As the president of the local vendors’
union, Bashir said they approached concerned
authorities many a times seeking
a separate space for erecting their stalls,
but to no avail.
“If we are given some other place
nearby where we can sell our goods, we
will have no hesitation in going there.”
Responding to the demands of
the vendors, Commissioner, Srinagar
Municipal Corporation, Sheikh Mushtaq
Ahmad said a committee has been
framed to devise a policy for the relocation
of roadside and footpath vendors
from the city centre.
“The policy is likely to be finalised in
three months time. The committee will
look into the demands of the vendors for
allocating a separate space so that they
do not encroach on roads.”
Besides the footpaths, some of the
vendors run their stalls on roadside affecting
the traffic movement in the area.
Muhammad Sarfuddin of Bijnoor,
Uttar Pradesh has been selling Gol Gappas,
popular snack food, for the last four
years at Lal Chowk.
Whether officials ask them to keep
off the road, he said, “We are forced to
move occasionally, usually during morning
rush hour. No official says anything
to us for the rest of the day.”
While the roadside vendors stay put,
the area witnesses frequent traffic jams.
“Encroachment by street vendors
is one of the main reasons for frequent
traffic jams,” said SP Traffic (City), Maqsood-ul-Zaman.
“I have raised the issue with SMC,
but they have not responded yet,” he
said. Responding to the remarks of
S P Traffic, the SMC Commissioner
said, “They (traffic police) may be facing
problems at some places which
we will sort out soon.”

Inter-College Cycle Race
Women’s College M.A. Road
bags top honours
Rouf Bhat
In continuation to its Four Race
Series the Directorate of Physical
Education, Kashmir University organized
the last Inter-College Cycle Race
for Women from Kralsangri (Nishat) to
University Main Gate via Foreshore on
May 26 in which 40 top women cyclists
of different Colleges and postgraduate
departments of the university took part.
The race was flagged off by the Director
Sports, Prof Nisar A. Rather. Due
to high traffic inflow on Boulevard the
organizers had to take extra precautions
for the safety of the cyclists.
The first three position winners were
awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals
while, first ten position winners were
awarded the certificate of Merit by Prof.
Nisar.
After accomplishing the race in
14.04 minutes Quratul Ain of womens
college MA road WC, MA Road lifted
the title for her College, while two other
girls of the same College, Ulfat Jan and
Sapna Kumari won Silver and Bronze
medals after completing the race in 14.20
and 14.35 minutes respectively. WC, MA
Road won five positions out of the first
ten positions and brought laurels for
their College.
In his concluding address Prof.
Nisar expressed his gratitude for J&K
Health Department, J&K Traffic Police,
Physical Directors of different College
and different Units of the University for
extending their full support and cooperation
in making the series of Road events a
grand success.
“It may not have been possible to
conduct these sporting events so successfully
without their assistance,” Prof Nisar
said.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Department
Cricket match for men is in progress at
University Campus and some more Inter-
Department activities are in the offing.
MERCTIMES 6
MERC, Yakjah organize
film screening
Kaneez Zehra
Media Education Research
Center of Kashmir University
organized film screening for
students of the department at the Media
House auditorium of the varsity here on
May 28.
Films pertaining to role of media,
conflict and other themes were screened
during the event organized in collaboration
with Yakjah Reconciliation and Development
Network.
Founder Director
Yakjah,
Ashima Kaul said
the purpose of
the event was to
understand various
issues which
the society faces
at large and media
in particular as
well as to provide
a platform for expression
to youth.
Kaul termed
the film screening
event as a platform
for youth to discuss
issues and to
provide exposure
to them. “It is to bridge the gap between
people with different shades of opinion or
sects.”
Earlier, in his welcome address,
Head MERC, Dr Shahid Rasool said, “It
is an effort to help students to understand
cinematic craft and to understand
the medium and to discuss issues that
are being raised so that they become well
equipped to deal with the challenges in
future.”
Dr Shahid asked young media trainees
to learn media and film appreciation
“as it sharpens one’s intellect to understand
the world of films.”
The films which were screened included
‘The Independent Intervention’,
a film on US media coverage of Iraq
war and the contrast between embedded
journalism and independent media
‘Budha Collapsed Out Of Shame’, First
Lessons in Peace and ‘bell baja’ (ring the
bell) campaign of human rights group
Breakthrough against domestic violence.
The event was followed by a discussion
in which students and faculty members
of the department participated.
Traffic jams continue to take toll on commuters
Shabeena Ashraf
With the increase in the number
of vehicles, long and frequent
traffic jams have become
a norm posing inconvenience to
commuters.
The worst-hit areas by traffic jams
in city include Jahangir Chowk, H.M.T,
Pantha chowk and Batamaloo. These
busy roads lead to various government offices
like Civil Secretariat, Police Control
Room and High Court. As per sources,
80,000 vehicles ply on Jahangir Chowk
to areas in the south of Srinagar including
Solina, Natipora, old airport road and
Hyderpora.
Residents attribute the problem to
different factors. “Roads are same since
decades, very narrow, suited for limited
number of vehicles. Traffic jams are obvious
since there has been a surge in the
number of vehicles. Besides, the easy
availability of loans extended by the
banks for purchase of cars, the graph of
cars is ever increasing,” said an elderly
citizen Ghulam Mohammad.
According to reports, four lakh vehicles
ply on roads and streets of the city
every day, leading to frequent traffic jams.
Students and employees seem to be the
worst-hit by the morning rush hour.
“I am always late because of regular
traffic jams,” said a university student
Faisal Rafiq.
“Despite leaving my place two hours
early I still reach office late due to these
frequent traffic jams,” said a government
employee Ashiq Hussain.
The shifting of Durbar Move from
Jammu to Srinagar also creates problems
disrupting the normal traffic due to route
diversions.
“The additional traffic of V.V.I.Ps,
Army convoys and police personnel complicate
this problem. It really has some
adverse effects on all sections of the society,”
MBA Finance student, Shiraz Ahmad
said.
“Students are not able to reach their
schools and colleges in time. Emergency
services get halted and common people
have to suffer a lot. As a result of this chaos
created by the traffic jams, everything is
thrown out of gear,” he added.
Some residents blame the government
in general and Traffic Department in
particular for the “indifferent” approach.
“It happens in Kashmir only. No traffic
rules exist here. Traffic policemen are
not discharging their duties properly. Instead
of addressing the problem, they are
busy in checking licenses and collecting
money from truck drivers that too on busy
roads,” said a headmaster of a government
school, Abdul Ahad Bhat.
Meanwhile, traffic officials believe
the problem persists due to lack of awareness
among people.
“Traffic jams occur due to lack of
awareness. Everyone wants to reach home
quickly and in this hurry they violate laws.
There is an immediate need to aware people
about the traffic rules especially the
drivers,” a traffic police official said on the
condition of anonymity.

7
MERCTIMES
J&K fails to reap SSA rewards
Experts blame ‘inconsistent’ education system
Souzeina Mushtaq
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was
launched across India to provide useful
and relevant elementary education for
all children in the age group of 6 to 14 by 2010.
But in Kashmir, this scheme has been limited
to building structures and appointing semiliterate
teachers with little focus on its prime
objective.
Another scheme conceived to universalize
education, the Education Guarantee
Scheme (EGS) was hailed as a move to revolutionise
education. However, like SSA, it is also
scripting a story of failure in Kashmir, putting
the future of thousands of children at stake.
So why have SSA and EGS failed in Kashmir,
although they have been pretty successful
elsewhere in India? There are several reasons:
A teacher employed under EGS is required
to set up a school in his home and enroll
students. But they complain of being paid
“peanuts” and that too only after they enroll “a
good number of students”.
To get more enrollments, these centers
bring students from the nearby SSA and primary
schools, defeating the very objective for
which the school was set up in the first place,
that is to increase student enrollment. At some
places, these schools have even been set up in
existing primary or middle schools.
Take an example: While the SSA school
setup at Iqbal Nagar in Sopore a few years ago
has been rendered defunct, the School Education
Department has come up with an advertisement
for yet another SSA school at Baghe-Rehmat,
the catchment area of Iqbal Nagar.
Lack of proper infrastructure has also
handicapped these schools. “Our classes are
being taken in open because we don’t have
a building. We are made to sit in the scorching
heat and we fail to learn anything. I have
suffered sunstroke twice but nobody is concerned,”
said a student enrolled at a SSA
school.
And if the mental agony of students was
not enough, the centrally sponsored Mid Day
Meal scheme to provide healthy food to students
in these schools has been ruined by corruption,
making the students suffer. Students
are served meager and unhealthy meals.
The School Education Department has
earmarked two rupees and forty paisa for each
student for a mid day meal. In this meagre
amount, the school has to pay for the cooking
charges, spices, condiments and oil, besides
50 grams of pulses and vegetables each; the
rice is directly provided by Consumer Affairs
and Public Distribution Department (CAPD)
of the state. A good part of the day is wasted
while serving meals to the students. In fact, in
some of the schools, the teachers provide dry
ration and pulses to the students.
Furthermore, as these schools have no
peons and sweepers, students end up doing
their jobs.
“We clean the class ourselves. The sweeper
doesn’t come to the school,” said a student
Parvez Ahmed.
The pathetic condition of these schools is
worrying the educationists. “The education system
has become inconsistent. It is an artificial
system, working on artificial respiration,” said
renowned educationist, Dr Aga Ashraf Ali.
Prominent academician, Prof A G
Madhosh terms it the corruption in the educational
system. “There is no professionalism.
Money has sneaked in our education
system; teachers have become mere profit
seekers,” he said.
Director SSA, Khurshid Ahmed Reshi,
however, believes the criticism is unjust.
“Our main aim is to provide quality education
to children upto 14 years of age. We do
take classes in rented buildings or rooms but
that is only until we construct the buildings.
The main problem is unavailability of land,”
he said.
Reshi denied charges that SSA and
EGS are bungled.
“Funds provided by the state are
transferred to Ujala Society which passes
these to Chief Education Officers, Zonal
Educational Officers and then to Village
Education Committees. They in turn utilize
the money properly for education of
children. As such there is no possibility
of scam,” he said.
‘We need educational system in J&K that nurtures creativity’
Mir Usman
Rs 200 crore announced for skill development of local youth
In the age of science technology, there
is a need to develop educational system
to the point where it nurtures creativity,
said
Union Minister of State for Earth Science,
Science Technology, Planning and
Parliamentary Affairs, Ashwani Kumar.
The minister was addressing the
faculty and the students of the University
of Kashmir on the “Role of Science and
Technology in the development process
and improvement of quality of life in the
State of J&K” at varsity’s Gandhi Bhawan
on May 26 .
He announced that Rs 200 crore
will be spend annually for a period of five
years for massive Skill Development programme
for J&k youth to increase their
employability.
“We need to pick up students from
here to premier institutions of the country
and abroad for training then so that
they come back and provide leadership in
the field of science and technology,” said
Ashwani, adding that frontiers of knowledge
can only be explored when we encourage
our students to take up science
as a career.
Stating that today we need a cutting
edge research in front areas of science
and technology , translate research into
innovation which will finally benefit aam
aadmi(common man)
Briefing media persons about the
initiatives taken by the Centre, Ashwani
said his department will encourage university
groups interested in specific research
programmes to apply ‘Respond’
scheme.
He said this will enable scientific
groups working in the universities of
Jammu and Kashmir to pursue research
activities in space technology, space applications
including natural resources
studies as well as space sciences. The
necessary support to make the proposals
from the university could be made available
from the department of Space, he
added.
The Minister said that centre for excellence
in atmospheric sciences would be
established in Jammu and Kashmir for
promotion of specialized training in post
graduate studies in atmospheric sciences
and mountain meteorology with stimulation
and modeling.
He said opportunities will be provided
to students interested in the research
areas of Astronomy and atmospheric science
and planetary science to seek short
term positions in the department of space.
Ashwani said that initiatives will be
taken to make Sher-i-Kashmir University
of Agriculture Science and Technology,
Kashmir a model university for mountain
agriculture education and research.

MERCTIMES 8
Weavan: Lost in oblivion
Weavan is a small village, 22 kms from Bandipora
town, in North Kashmir. Surrounded
by mountains. One has to walk on foot
for about three hours to reach the hamlet.
The valley remains cut off from Bandipora
town for at least six months during winter
season. The local people store provisions
for the winter. Horses are used to carry
goods from Bandipora to Weavan. The village
lacks basic facilities like electricity,
healthcare, roads and water.
Photos By : Aamir Manzoor
Patron: Prof. (Dr) Riyaz Punjabi
Editorial team: Mir Usman, Towseef Ganie, Sheikh Saleem, Aadil, Iqra.
Chief Editor:Dr Shahid Rasool, Editor: Muslim Jan, Sub-Editor : Suhail Ahmad, Graphic Designer: Aga Shahi
e-mail: merctimes@gmail.com
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