By Ajaz Rashid On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation, not merely with festive greetings, but with a message signaling a new chapter in India’s economic journey. With the launch of the Next Generation GST reforms, India steps forward in its pursuit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, bringing relief, simplicity, and […]
Editorial
Kashmir’s Horticulture Gets a Lifeline
By AJaz Rashid Kashmir’s Horticulture Gets a Lifeline: The launch of the daily parcel train service connecting Kashmir with New Delhi marks a significant milestone in the region’s economic development and infrastructural modernization. Flagged off recently from Nowgam Railway Station, this initiative promises to transform the way perishable horticulture produce, particularly apples and walnuts, reach […]
Rising Drug Overdoses
By Ajaz Rashid Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing a silent but alarming public health crisis: the rise of drug overdose cases among its youth. This trend is no longer limited to illegal narcotics; prescription drugs and sedatives are increasingly being misused, often with fatal consequences. What makes the situation particularly concerning is that the majority […]
From Pen Drives to GovDrive
By Ajaz Rashid The Jammu & Kashmir government’s decision to prohibit the use of USB drives and pen drives on official devices is more than just a bureaucratic directive—it is a recognition of how fragile digital security has become in an era of cyber vulnerabilities. In a region where governance often intersects with heightened political […]
A Matter of Dignity in Healthcare
By Ajaz Rashid The ongoing complaints from women patients in Jammu and Kashmir over the absence of female staff in ECG rooms highlight a gap in our healthcare system that is too significant to ignore. An electrocardiogram is among the most common diagnostic procedures, yet for many women in the Valley, the thought of undergoing […]
From Slaughter to Scandal
In Kashmir, where fo By Ajaz Rashid In Kashmir, where food is both a cultural pride and a religious duty, the recent discovery of over 3,500 kilograms of rotten, possibly non-halal meat has done more than disgust—it has shattered public trust. This is not merely a public health scare; it is a collapse of the […]
The Rotten Truth
By Ajaz Rashid Few events strike at the heart of public trust as severely as a food safety scandal. The recent seizure of 1,200 kilograms of rotten and unfit meat across the Kashmir Valley has triggered one of the most severe blows to the region’s hospitality sector in recent memory. What was once a vibrant […]
Funding Lifeline for Kashmir Artisans
By Ajaz Rashid The recent release of ₹33.34 lakh for the Karkhandar Scheme in Kashmir Division is more than a budgetary note—it is a statement of intent. In a region where artistry is woven into the social fabric, this initiative by the Handicrafts and Handloom Department represents both cultural preservation and economic necessity. The Karkhandar […]
Leading in Conservation Excellence
By Ajaz Rashid In a momentous recognition of conservation excellence, Jammu & Kashmir’s Dachigam National Park has emerged as the highest scorer in the latest Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of protected areas across India. Topping a competitive list of 438 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, Dachigam secured an impressive score of 92.97% a feat that […]
Will The Government Grasp The Opportunity
By Ajaz Rashid Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s unequivocal assertion at the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan—“Only security is under my control; everything else rests with the elected government”—marks a significant political and administrative shift in Jammu and Kashmir’s evolving governance narrative. More than just a statement, it reflects a growing maturity in the Union Territory’s transition […]