Category: Community

Kashmir’s Mental Health Crisis: The Invisible Scars of Conflict

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Kashmir's Mental Health Crisis: The Invisible Scars of Conflict

After consulting with several doctors in the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Aayat Hameed was advised to seek help from a mental health expert for her bouts of unspecified anxiety, random palpitation attacks and occasional but strong suicidal thoughts. A psychiatrist diagnosed her with acute depression. On a recent hot summer day, Hameed was among scores of other patients visiting a mental health clinic in Srinagar, where she had been undergoing rounds of counselling along with prescription medication. “I realized seeing a psychiatrist or reaching out to someone you trust…

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Combatting Youth Drug Addiction: A Multi-Front Battle in Kashmir, from Mosques to Classrooms

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Combatting Youth Drug Addiction: A Multi-Front Battle in Kashmir, from Mosques to Classrooms

Religious centres and educational institutions are assuming a new role in Kashmir by doubling up as counselling and testing centres to curb the fast-spreading menace of drugs. These rare interventions come as the Valley is battling a drug addiction crisis; over 10 lakh people were officially designated drug addicts by the Jammu and Kashmir administration this year. Otherwise restricted for the clergy, the pulpit at Magam Imambara in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, where Shia Muslims organise large religious congregations, recently saw Muzaffar Khan, a clinical psychologist who heads the Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation…

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Kashmir’s Drug Crisis: A Growing Threat to Young People

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Kashmir's Drug Crisis: A Growing Threat to Young People

Kashmir’s Drug Crisis: A Call to Action By: Javid Amin The Himalayan region of Kashmir is facing a growing drug addiction crisis. A recent survey found that nearly a million people in Jammu and Kashmir – around 8% of the region’s population – use drugs of some kind. This is a significant increase from previous years, and experts say it is a major cause for concern. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the rise in drug addiction in Kashmir. One is the long-running conflict between India…

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PDP slams Waqf Board’s recruitment order, Says RSS trying to take over Religious Institutions

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PDP slams Waqf Board's recruitment order, Says RSS trying to take over Religious Institutions

Jammu Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP), strongly criticized the recent announcement by the Chairperson of the Waqf Board, Darakshan Andrabi regarding the recruitment of Imams and Muazzins with degrees, expressing concerns about the underlying motivations behind the decision. In a statement issued to media, the Party’s Chief Spokesperson Syed Suhail Bukhari said the move seems to be an attempt to implement the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which aims to gain control over the pulpit of Mosques and Khanqahs in Jammu Kashmir. Bukhari noted that the pulpit holds…

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Srinagar Properties, Heritage sites to be tagged with Unique IDs: Divisional Commissioner

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Srinagar properties, heritage sites to be tagged with unique IDs: Divisional Commissioner

Unique Identification Numbers for Every Property and Heritage Site in Srinagar The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, VK Bidhuri, has announced that a Unique Identification Number (UIN) will be assigned to every house, street, and heritage site in the Srinagar district. This initiative is part of the Smart City Project, which aims to make Srinagar a more efficient and livable city. The UINs will be used to streamline identification processes for both individuals and authorities. For individuals, the UINs will make it easier to access government services, such as getting a…

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Unchecked Stray Dog Menace Continues to Pester Srinagarites

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Unchecked Stray Dog Menace Continues to Pester Srinagarites

By: Javid Amin The unchecked stray dog menace in Srinagar is causing widespread fear and anxiety among the people. Residents of various parts of the city have complained of packs of stray dogs roaming the streets, posing a threat to their safety. In the Downtown area, dozens of stray dogs can be seen roaming in packs, making it difficult for people to move around freely. “We are unable to roam freely in the presence of stray dogs,” said Ishfaq Ahmed, a resident of Nowhatta. “Unless there is a proper mechanism…

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The Kashmir Files wins National Film Award for ‘Integration’, NC, PDP call it ‘Unfortunate, Ironic’

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The Kashmir Files wins National Film Award for 'Integration', NC, PDP call it 'Unfortunate, Ironic'

“The Kashmir Files” winning the Nargis Dutt award for best film on national integration is very unfortunate and nothing can be more ironic than this, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party said here on Friday. “There is not a single scene in that movie that depicts national integration…. Unfortunately, the movie only shows Kashmiri Muslims in bad light. Not only that, a lot of agencies, including Jammu and Kashmir Police, have been shown in a very bad light,” NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said. He said the film…

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Govt Employee’s appearance in Supreme Court Case on Article 370 Abrogation leads to Termination

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Govt Employee's appearance in Supreme Court Case on Article 370 Abrogation leads to Termination

A government employee in Jammu and Kashmir was suspended on Friday for appearing before the Supreme Court in an ongoing hearing on the abrogation of Article 370. The employee, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, is a senior lecturer in political science at a government school in Srinagar. He is also an advocate and appeared in the apex court on Wednesday, arguing for the petitioners in the case. The government order suspending Bhat said that he had violated the provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Service Regulations, Jammu & Kashmir Government Employees…

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Elderly Kashmiris abandoned in old-age homes due to disease, distress, and desertion

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Elderly Kashmiris abandoned in old-age homes due to disease, distress, and desertion

Kashmiris have been known for their strong community bonds, but some of them now abandon their old ones at newly opened old-age homes. By: Shaista Altaf Coppersmith Bashir struggled throughout his life for family welfare. He never let his loved ones suffer despite the situational-crippled market and his limited means of income. They appreciated his selfless efforts until the octogenarian suffered a heart attack. His ailing state eventually sent him packing to an old-age home in Kashmir. The brutal shift took place shortly after the demise of his spouse. Alone…

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Emergence of the Canine Civilization: The Rise of the Planet of the Dogs

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Emergence of the Canine Civilization: The Rise of the Planet of the Dogs

For every 13 people, there is a dog in Srinagar meaning we have a personalised foe for nearly every household! Dr. Ambreen Hamadani They are everywhere, even in our nightmares. You should (or rather shouldn’t) see them after sunset. It is their reign. They run in packs and cast terrifying shadows under the streetlights. Their sight sends shivers down the spine of us humans, the weaker mortals. Needless to say, that the Gabbar Sighs who scare our toddlers into sleep are the hordes of these canines that howl under the…

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