#rehabilitation Archives

Sidhra Demolition Row Deepens: Nomadic Communities Allege ‘Atrocities’ as J&K Forest Minister Boycotts Own Department Event

May 24, 2026 Editor

Sidhra Demolition Row Escalates as Nomadic Communities Allege ‘Atrocities’, J&K Minister Boycotts Event By: Javid Amin | 23 May 2026 Gujjar and Bakarwal Families Accuse Authorities of Targeting Settlements; Minister’s Protest Signals Growing Rift Within Government The political and humanitarian fallout from the controversial Sidhra demolition drive in Jammu & Kashmir has intensified after members of nomadic communities filed formal complaints alleging “atrocities” by authorities, while the Union Territory’s Forest Minister staged a dramatic boycott of his own department’s event in apparent protest against the handling of the demolitions. The…

Sakina Itoo Questions Bulldozer Policy in J&K: ‘Counseling, Not Demolitions, Can Fight Drug Crisis’

May 9, 2026 Editor

‘Bulldozers Won’t Cure Addiction’: Sakina Itoo Challenges J&K’s Demolition Policy By: Javid Amin | 08 May 2026 A sharp debate is emerging in Jammu and Kashmir over the government’s controversial demolition drives targeting properties linked to alleged drug peddlers. Senior leader Sakina Itoo has openly criticized the policy, arguing that bulldozing family homes is “wrong and counterproductive” and warning that such actions punish entire households rather than addressing the root causes of addiction and drug trafficking. Her remarks have added momentum to a growing conversation in Kashmir about whether the…

100 Days of Nasha Mukt Kashmir: 13 Lakh Addicts & The Ignored Alcohol Crisis

May 4, 2026 Editor

100 Days, 13 Lakh Addicts: Can Kashmir Actually Win This War? By: Javid Amin | 03 May 2026 A Campaign at a Crossroads As the Nasha Mukt Kashmir campaign completes 100 days in Jammu and Kashmir, it stands at a defining moment. What began as a mass awareness movement has now evolved into a full-scale socio-economic and public health challenge. Ground reports, combined with official estimates, suggest that over 13 lakh people across the Union Territory are battling some form of substance addiction. The numbers are not just statistics—they represent…

Kashmiri Pandits Protest in Jammu, Demand ₹26,000 Monthly Relief Amid Rising Costs

April 17, 2026 Editor

Kashmiri Pandits Protest in Jammu: “₹13,000 Is Not Enough Anymore” By: Javid Amin | 16 April 2026 A Community on the Streets After Eight Years of Silence In a renewed expression of long-standing economic distress, displaced Kashmiri Pandits gathered at the Press Club Jammu on April 15, staging a protest to demand a two-fold increase in monthly relief assistance. Led by community figure Ravinder Koul, the protest highlighted a growing concern: the current relief of ₹13,000 per family, unchanged since 2018, is no longer sufficient to meet basic needs. Their…

Kashmir’s Silent Crisis: Unmasking the Devastating Toll of Online Gambling on Youth and Society

May 30, 2025 Editor

Kashmir, often celebrated for its breathtaking natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, is grappling with a silent yet rapidly escalating crisis – the insidious rise of online gambling. What began as a seemingly innocuous form of digital entertainment has morphed into a pervasive menace, silently eroding the socio-economic fabric of countless families and casting a long, dark shadow over the future of its youth. The allure of quick riches, amplified by aggressive online marketing and easy accessibility, is drawing thousands into a perilous cycle of addiction, debt, and despair. Across…

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

September 3, 2023 Editor

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…

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

August 31, 2023August 31, 2023 Editor

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…