February 2025 | Page 6 of 10

Digital Addiction Epidemic in Kashmir: Experts Call for Immediate Intervention

February 13, 2025 Editor

Dr Margoob Warns of Digital Addiction Crisis in Kashmir, Calls for Urgent Action Srinagar: Dr Mustaq A Margoob, an eminent psychiatrist, has raised alarm over the growing crisis of digital addiction among children in Kashmir, describing it as a pandemic that is already reshaping the mental health landscape of the region. Speaking at an interaction on “Digital Addiction: An Invisible Pandemic,” organised by the Amar Singh Club in Srinagar, he warned that excessive use of digital devices was leading to severe behavioural and psychological disorders among children, including virtual autism—an…

Rupee Hits All-Time Low of 87.94 Against US Dollar: Experts Warn of Further Decline

February 10, 2025 Editor

The rupee’s fall comes at a time when it has already become Asia’s worst-performing currency of the year and as the RBI tries to build up its forex reserves. The rupee plunged 44 paise to hit an all-time low of 87.94 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday. This comes at a time when the rupee has already become Asia’s worst-performing currency of the year after experiencing a series of record lows, according to a Bloomberg report which cited brokerage firm Nomura. Why did the rupee fall? The rupee’s…

Political Slugfest Erupts Over Proposed Modifications: Sajad Lone and Waheed Para Speak Out

February 10, 2025 Editor

Proposed modifications trigger new political slugfest; Triggers were pressed by Peoples Conference (PC) supremo Sajad Lone and PDP MLA Waheed Para through their posts on the microblogging site ‘X’ Jammu, Feb 9: Ahead of the ensuing Budget session commencing on March 3, 2025, the proposed medications in the draft rules of procedure for conducting business in the J&K Legislative Assembly (LA) have triggered a new political slugfest in the Union Territory. The latest sequence of allegations and counter-allegations began on February 4, 2025, when the Business Rules Committee of J&K…

#SrinagarSchoolFeeCrisis: Parents Demand Action as Institutions Hike Fees; Where is the Administration?

February 9, 2025February 9, 2025 Editor

#SrinagarSchoolFeeCrisis - Parents Demand Action as Institutions Hike Fees by 40%—Where is the Administration

A Deep Dive into the Education Affordability Crisis Gripping Kashmir’s Capital By: Javid Amin The Rising Cost of Education in Srinagar By the Numbers: Staggering Fee Hikes in 2024–2025 Behind the Crisis: Why Are Schools Raising Fees? Parental Anguish: Stories of Financial Strain & Broken Trust Administration’s Silence: A Systemic Failure? Legal Frameworks: What Does the Law Say About Fee Regulation? Community Resistance: Protests, Petitions & Parent-Led Movements The Way Forward: Solutions for Fairer Fee Structures Resources & Contacts: Who to Reach for Help Bottom-Line: A Call for Accountability &…

Public Drunkenness Leads to Community Service: Offender Sentenced in Bhagat Barzullah

February 9, 2025 Editor

Man caught for public drunkenness, sentenced to community service for 3 days; The offender must perform three-days community service of cleanliness and hygiene at public buildings/areas/spaces at Bhagat Barzullah and report to Mohallah president and SHO concerned for compliance, who shall report the same to the court Srinagar, Feb 08: A man was caught for public drunkenness, sentenced to community service for three days. A police statement said that with the advent of New Criminal Laws, aimed at promoting social responsibility, police in Srinagar after reporting a case in the court…

Devastating Fire Hits Sonmarg Market in Ganderbal: Rescue Operations Underway

February 9, 2025 Editor

Massive fire breaks out at Sonmarg market in Ganderbal A massive fire broke out in the market of the famous resort town of Sonmarg in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. The fire, which started from a restaurant quickly spread to the adjacent shops in the Sonmarg market, they said. Fire tenders are on the spot, working to bring the fire under control, officials added. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was in constant touch with the local administration to ensure all possible assistance. “Deeply saddened by…

Omar Abdullah Mocks INDIA Bloc: ‘Aur Lado Aapas Mein’ Amid Delhi Poll Results

February 9, 2025 Editor

“Aur lado aapas mein!!! (Keep on fighting each other),” Omar posted on X with a meme. He mocked at the INDIA bloc leaders for not putting up a joint fight in the Delhi assembly elections which resulted in the defeat of AAP and the Congress. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday took an indirect dig at the opposition INDIA bloc members, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, as the BJP was heading for a decisive victory in the Delhi assembly polls. “Aur lado aapas mein!!!…

Kashmir Crisis: Aga Ruhullah Criticizes Security Forces for Torturing Individuals Labeled as OGWs

February 8, 2025 Editor

Situation in Kashmir getting worse; “The security forces label these boys as OGWs, a term which has no place in the law or in the constitution, and on the pretext of that, they get license to torture those individuals,” Ruhullah Srinagar Feb 7: Member Parliament (MP) and National Conference leader Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Friday pointed fingers at security review meeting and said that killings were reported in Kashmir a day after a high level security meeting. Addressing media persons in Delhi, Ruhullah said that no one from the…

J&K’s Fertility Rate Falls Below Replacement Level: What’s Next?

February 8, 2025 Editor

Low Fertility Rate in Jammu and Kashmir: A Cause for Concern By: Javid Amin Srinagar, February 8, 2025 – The fertility rate in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has been steadily declining over the years, raising concerns about the region’s demographic future. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in J&K is 1.4, significantly lower than the national average of 2.0 and well below the replacement level of 2.1. This trend suggests that the region’s population is shrinking rather than maintaining a stable growth rate,…

Illegal Riverbed Mining in Kashmir Leads to Drying Up of Springs in Pulwama and Beyond

February 8, 2025 Editor

Illegal Riverbed Mining in Kashmir Leading to Drying Up of Springs By: Javid Amin Srinagar, February 8, 2025 – The natural springs of Kashmir, which have been crucial sources of drinking water for centuries, are under threat due to illegal riverbed mining. One such example is Bulbul Nag, located in Newa village of Pulwama district, which has historically provided water to the entire area. This spring, among many others, has been chosen by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, also known as the Jal Shakti Department, as a key water…