DPS Row: An Alumna Speaks Up

By Ann Saad Keeping the recent rush of write ups on Delhi Public School (DPS) abaya row in mind, let’s put the things in perspective. Kashmir isn’t a normal place, so let’s not try hard to normalize a situation or a place by keeping a very narrow vision. DPS came to Kashmir in 2003 and I was one among the first students to join the school. My parents had waited so long for the school to finally open. The craze of nyebrem Indian teachers teaching their kids had gripped my…

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PDP used goons, official machinery in Anantnag by-polls: Congress

Congress today blamed PDP for using muscle power and official machinery during polling in Anantnag on Wednesday. In a statement here a Congress spokesman said, “Despite having crossed all limits in just concluded Anantnag by-polls, the PDP- BJP coalition could not ensure the percentage of votes in the as was expected by them, which is indicative of the resentment against PDP for having betrayed people for power.” The Congress spokesman also accused PDP for using muscle power during voting in order to secure votes for “RSS backed Chief Minister Mehbooba…

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SMC, Revenue evacuate 17 kanals of land at HMT

In a joint inspection by officials of Revenue department and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Wednesday evacuated 17 kanals of illegally occupied land at HMT opposite Ansari Toyota at outskirts Srinagar. A team, headed by Sub District Magistrate (SDM) Srinagar west, Rifat Naseem reached the spot and evacuated the land with the help of revenue and SMC officials. Tehsildar HMT Showkat Ahmad told Kashmir POST that it was government land and it was allotted to people in past under the scheme “Grow More Food’’. He said that people were not growing…

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Govt revokes PSA order of ‘lunatic’ Doda youth

The J&K Government on Thursday evening revoked the Public Safety Act of a “lunatic” Muslim youth who was arrested for allegedly desecrating a temple in Jammu last week. The prompt action from the Government after the issue echoed in the Legislative Assembly this morning. “The detention order Mo 08/PSA of 2016 dated June 20, 2016 is not justified…and hence has not been approved,” said an order issued by Home Department, disapproving PSA detention of the youth. As per the Home Department order, accessed by Kashmir POST, Yasir Alfaz doesn’t have…

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Teachers to get promotion, incentive if school student tops in Class X

Performance of govt schools unsatisfactory, says Akhtar Cites lack of basic infrastructure, absenteeism & inadequate stakeholder participation as reasons In order to get good results in government schools, the Department of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has announced incentives, including promotions, for teachers whose student tops in Class X exams. The DSEK today announced that the entire staff of the school where a student tops in Class X exams in the current academic session will get out-of-turn promotions. “If a student of any government school of the Kashmir division gets the first…

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Sajad Lone opposes minority status for Hindus, Sikhs

BJP members protest; minister for Muslims joining mainstream Saying there is a “need to merge Muslims of Kashmir into the mainstream of India”, Minister for Social Welfare, ARI & Trainings and Science & Technology Sajad Gani Lone today said there was no need to establish a minority commission in the state. “They need incentives and a healing touch as they have suffered a lot,” the minister said in the Legislative Council while responding to queries of BJP legislators during Question Hour on setting up a minority commission and minority status…

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College with 2 rooms, 8 students, 10 faculty members!

GDC Bagh-i-Dilawar Khan presents dismal picture of education sector Two rooms, eight students and 10 faculty members! Welcome to the Government Degree College (GDC) Bagh-i-Dilawar Khan in Shaher-e-Khaas. Away from the hustle and bustle which dominates other colleges in the summer capital, the scene at this college is different with empty classrooms as the authorities have failed to attract students since its inception. The enrollment of students has decreased over the past several years. “Earlier the enrollment in the college was 16 and later it was 11. Now this year,…

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Cabinet okays supply of atta, wheat in 75:25 ratio

The state Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti approved various decisions here today. The Cabinet approved the proposal to allow the CA&PD Department to grind 75 per cent wheat out of the total allocation for distribution among the consumers into “atta” (flour). Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), wheat is supplied at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 2 per kg but the NFSA does not provide grinding charges for wheat. When the CA&PD Department supplied wheat to the ration-card holders, a section, especially…

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Amnesty for Kashmir’s ‘misguided’ youth : CM’s Eid Gift

In a goodwill gesture before Eid-ul-Fitr, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to grant amnesty to the Kashmiri youth facing charges for their involvement in protests and stone-throwing over the years. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said in the Assembly that the home department has been told to prepare a list of the youth booked under various criminal charges. She said her government will study these cases and grant amnesty to those willing to shun the path of violence and lead normal lives. Mehbooba called these youth “misguided” and declared…

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In defence of Kashmir’s unpopular poplars

Mathematician Fozia Qazi has undertaken a campaign to protect the trees that are in danger of being axed in large numbers in the valley. With around 16 million poplar trees facing the axe in Kashmir Valley following a High Court order, noted mathematician Fozia S. Qazi has started a campaign to “dispel the myths” that led to the systematic felling of the trees synonymous with the Valley landscape for decades. In 2014, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court first banned the sale, purchase and plantation of female Russian poplars (Populus…

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