In this Issue ...

DRDO’s Ladakh lab wins award

Home Minister Shinde visits J&K

Srinagar hostsScience Congress

Z-Morh tunnelto facilitate all weatherconnectivitybetween Srinagar and Leh

Building bridgesthrough football

7,000 J&K youthto get jobs under‘Himayat’ scheme

Sufi music concert

Saras Mela provides platformto artisans

School children from J&K meet President Mukherjee

Reviving theatre in Kashmir

Vol.III, No.11, November, 2012

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agriculture, animal husbandry and

developed agro-practices of 78 types of vegetables and 30 types of high altitude medicinal and aromatic plants to boost local production in

It has developed and successfully commercialized seabuckthorn products. The seabuckthorn berries

till 2001. However, after setting up

was taken as an important activity and an additional source of income for farmers.

DIHAR has helped enhance the availability of fresh foods such as

Defence Institute of High Altitude

DRDO lab, was given a Council of

(CSIR) award by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for its efforts in developing agriculture in arid and high altitude areas, at a function in New Delhi recently.

The CSIR Award for Science and Technological Innovations for Rural Development (CAIRD) for the year 2010 was received by DRDO Director Dr R B Srivastava and its Chief Controller (Research and Development), Dr. W Selvamurthy.

The institute, through its pioneering R&D efforts over the years, has brought about perceptible qualitative and quantitative changes in

vegetables, fruits, milk, meat, eggs, supplementary herbal products and medicinal and aromatic plants to both the local population and

DIHAR, located at an altitude of 3500

Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, and was established in 1962 with the objective of becoming a world class leader in the area of cold arid agro-animal technologies.

DRDO’s Ladakh lab wins award

The eighth Jammu and Kashmir Science Congress, themed “Science, Technology and Regional Development: Opportunities and Challenges”, was held at Kashmir University in Srinagar recently.

The main objective of holding the event was to provide an opportunity to participants from Jammu and Kashmir to interact with leading scientists from other parts of the

and technological understanding, improve research and teaching of sciences, improve quality of

interdisciplinary research and

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Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde visited the Kashmir Valley and Jammu from October

the region as Home Minister.

Besides reviewing the security situation in the state, Shinde also assessed the progress of cross-

He lauded the people of Jammu

and putting the state back on the track of peace and prosperity, and said the Government of India had taken many steps to restore peace, but without their cooperation, they would not have succeeded.

Highlighting the improvement in the security scenario in Kashmir, the Union Home Minister, who was accompanied by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, went shopping for Kashmiri handicrafts in the Polo View market in Srinagar, and also drove through

Shinde also visited the Hazratbal Shrine and paid obeisance at

Nooruddin Noorani at Charar-e-Sharief.

Home Minister Shinde visits J&K

The three-day event was inaugurated by Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who underlined the enormous challenges that Jammu and Kashmir faces in the area of science and technology education and research infrastructure.

Ansari said most of these challenges can be addressed by the adoption and implementation of various schemes of the Government of India that are aimed at attracting students towards science subjects.

Similarly, various doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships to promote interest in research can also be availed of, Ansari added.

The state’s governor, N.N.Vohra,

pashmina goat, ‘Noori’, marked

revolution in the state.

Scientists at the local Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) cloned

this year.

Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of the Kashmir University, asked for better coordination between the state planning department and various universities in the state.

Holding of Science Congress

annually on the pattern of Indian Science Congress has been a regular feature of the Jammu and Kashmir State Council for Science and Technology since 2005.

This has been made possible with the support of the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India and the two state universities - the University of Jammu and the University of Kashmir.

This was the fourth such meet organised by Kashmir University. Four earlier congresses were hosted by Jammu University.

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The foundation stone laying ceremony of the 6.5-km-long tunnel at Z-Morh, Ganderbal, was recently formalised in the presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways C.P. Joshi, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minis-ter Omar Abdullah, Union Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

The Z-Morh tunnel is a two-lane tunnel with parallel 6.5 km long escape tunnel on a new alignment between

NH-1 that will provide all weather connectivity between

The total capital cost of the project will be Rs.2716.90 crore, out of which approximately, Rs.36.48 crore will be for land acquisition, rehabilitation, resettlement and pre-construction.

-

It will connect Srinagar with Sonamarg. The second tun-nel - the Zojila Tunnel - of 13.8 km length, estimated to

cost Rs. 5,500 crore, is likely to start in 2013.

of the year during winter due to heavy snowfall on the -

It can only be reached by air during the winter months.

-tant for the strategic interests of the Indian Army, but also

-dakh and holistic development of the state.

This project will improve infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, increase the employment potential of local la-

growth and economic activities, with better commuting facilities in villages, towns and semi-urban and urban ar-eas.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govern-ment of India has entrusted the implementation of this project to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Z-Morh tunnel to facilitate all weather connectivity between Srinagar and Leh

with the unemployment problem and is working towards creating new avenues of employment, besides raising awareness about job opportunities.

The Centre aims at providing jobs to 7,000 youth from Jammu and

under the ‘Himayat’ scheme, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said in Mohali recently.

The Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir jointly

launched Project Himayat in 2011 for a training-cum-placement-linked skill development initiative for one

years.

The Union Cabinet has approved 235 crore rupees for the project, which mostly caters to youth from low-income families, and gives priority to those with low educational

Ramesh added that jobs have already been provided to 1,700

was launched.

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The 58th National School Games U-17 football tournament for boys concluded recently in Srinagar. Tripura beat Chandigarh in a thrilling penalty shootout

Twenty-seven teams participated in the tournament with about 470 players and

The matches were spread across four grounds in Srinagar, namely, the University of Kashmir, Bakshi Stadium, Islamia College and the Polo Ground.

The organizers hoped the tournament would provide an opportunity to football lovers to witness some exciting action, further promote the game in the state and serve as an important medium to promote interaction and camaraderie among the young players.

“Soccer and sports increase interaction between players. Athletes from various states talk to each other, exchange phone numbers, talk about their states and become friends. Such tournaments should be promoted in the future,” said S.D. Raman, coach of the Rajasthan team.

Many said the players were models of national integration, friendship and amity.

“It is a great feeling playing here. The weather in Punjab is very different from the weather here. The ground and facilities are very good here. We played against Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, West Bengal and other teams from eastern and northeastern part of the country. It was a great experience playing against all these teams,” said Nishu Kumar, a player from Punjab.

The tournament was organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sport, under the aegis of the School

Games Federation of India.

The government is sparing no effort to ensure that sporting activities in the region get a boost, and talented sportspersons from the state do not lack exposure or the facilities required to hone their skills, which would enable them to compete with the best in the country.

A British missionary, Canon C E Tyndale Biscoe, who was also the founder of Srinagar’s historic Biscoe School, introduced football in Kashmir in 1890. Over the years, football has become extremely popular. The state has produced talented footballers like Abdul Majeed Kakroo, Mushtaq Ahmad Baba, Gulzar Ahmad, Muhammad Yousuf Dar, Ishfaq Ahmad and Mehrajuddin Wadoo.

7,000 J&K youth to get jobs under ‘Himayat’ schemeHe said about 2,000 youth would get appointment letters for various jobs in October, and for 2012-13, the government’s target is to provide employment to 7,000 youth from Jammu and Kashmir.

Ramesh was addressing a group

Kashmir.

Under the scheme, people have been placed at entry-level positions in hospitality, insurance and other sectors, Ramesh said, adding

employed in Chandigarh, the rest of them were absorbed by companies

some in Jammu and Kashmir itself.

The Union Minister also promised enhanced support to project

placement support (PPS) had been revised from the present Rs.2000 to Rs.12000 to facilitate candidates in addressing their initial settlement problems outside of their homes.

He said that efforts would also be

made to sort out the problem of accommodation for these youths, and added that steps like providing them vacant government houses and hostels are under consideration.

The Centre is also trying to make the process of opening of bank accounts

he said.

The programme is part of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s vision for creating employment for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Kashmir has a unique way of life that is a synthesis of a variety of cultures

ethos is known as Kashmiriyat and, it symbolizes religious and social harmony and brotherhood.

humanism, compassion, peace, love, brotherhood and equality, and knitted together people of different faiths, castes and creeds, had a

the social, religious and cultural life of the people.

The Department of Tourism recently

Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre in Srinagar to promote this aspect of the state’s culture.

singer Zila Khan was appreciated by the audience.

Speaking on the occasion, Talat Parvez, Director of the Department of Tourism, said that such events

that is an integral part of Kashmir’s cultural heritage.

Sufi music concert

Around 150 skilled crafts persons from 16 states participated in the handicrafts fair- Saras Mela -- that was organised in Srinagar recently.

The fair, known as SARAS or Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Societies, is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development.

The objective of the fair was to promote rural products, provide employment opportunities to crafts persons and enable them to showcase their creativity. It also aimed to remove middlemen who act as the go between a craftsperson and a local buyer,

artisans.

Participants at the seventh ‘Saras Mela’ showcased an impressive range of rural products, which attracted a large number of visitors.

“The government has come up with a very good scheme. Artisans from U.P. (Uttar Pradesh), Bihar and Punjab came here and set up their stalls. We (Kashmiri artisans) showcased our products here. Many people came here to buy and sell things. The items sold here were cheaper than what is available in the local market,” said a stall owner, Nazir Ahmad Ahmed.

The fair, sponsored by the State’s

Saras Mela provides p

ghazals was a part of the culture of Kashmir. For the last two decades,

The tourism department thought of organising such programmes, as tourism was on the revival path, and we invited an artist who is liked by the music lovers. The main aim behind the concert is to promote the culture of Kashmir,” said Parvez.

Zahida Parveen, a resident of the area, said such initiatives would boost tourism in the state.

“Such events will provide a boost to the tourism sector. It is also a source of entertainment for the locals, and, it will raise awareness

generation,” said Parveen.

The return of peace and normalcy

cultural activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

music concert in Srinagar is yet another indicator of this fact.

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Children from remote villages of the

district of Jammu and Kashmir, and from the Kokrajhar and Chirang districts of Assam, met President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan recently.

The children were visiting Delhi as part of Operation Sadbhavana organized by the Indian Army.

The programme is intended to reinforce the spirit of nationalism and patriotism amongst the younger generation in these areas.

Under the programme, young people from troubled areas are taken on tours to different parts of the country to expose them to the rich and diverse social and cultural heritage

experience of latest developments in all spheres of life, to help them to widen their horizon with the purpose, that on their return to their states, they would spread goodwill and messages of peace and prosperity.

Speaking on the occasion, President Mukherjee congratulated the army on its initiative of exposing the young people of Jammu and Kashmir and Assam to the rest of India.

He said it is important that the people of these areas feel connected with the rest of the country.

Referring to India’s diversity and

School children from J&K meet President Mukherjee

s platform to artisans

Ministry of Rural Development, provided a platform to rural artisans and local self help groups.

“It is sort of providing marketing facilities to the people, for those artisans who make things directly to earn a livelihood. We are trying to provide them the marketing facilities in order to eliminate the middlemen,” said Director of the Rural Development Department (Kashmir), Altaf Ahmad Mir.

The SARAS Mela aims to give artisans exposure and interaction on a big platform.

Participation in these exhibitions

and enthusiasm of rural artisans, opened new opportunities for them and improved their awareness level.

5000-year-old civilization, he told the students that wherever they go in

civilization co-existing with a rising modern state.

He described the fact that India allows differences to exist side by side in peace and harmony as the core of civilization.

He asked the youth to take back with them the message of peace, harmony and friendship to their hometowns and spread the same across the country.

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Kashmir has a rich tradition of theatre, which is an inte-gral part of its culture.

In an effort to revive theatre, an 11-day comedy drama festival was recently held in Srinagar.

It was organized by the Jammu Kashmir Film Makers

with the State Information Department and the Jammu

The Governor of the state, N N. Vohra, inaugurated the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Vohra suggested the setting up of a cultural centre in the state which would remain active throughout the year, organising drama and art festivals, so that the talent of budding artists from each of the three regions of the state-

groomed and cultural traditions revived.

Additional Director General Doordarshan, Ashok Jailkhani, said that such festivals should be organised more often.

“If theatrical activities and shows are organised on a regular basis, then people would connect with them, enjoy them and start attending such shows. This can help bridge the gap between the audience and theatre. The responsibility has to be taken by the actors, direc-tors and writers of the plays who should choose such topics and issues, which are related to the day-to-day life of the common man so that they can connect with it,” said Jailkhani.

The festival aimed to revive the creative atmosphere of the 1970s and 1980s, when cultural activities were at their peak in the state.

An artist, Rani Bhan, applauded the efforts being made to revive theatre in the state.

“I feel really nice that we are trying to revive theatre culture. Theatre has always been a part of Kashmir’s culture when we look back into history. We want that more and more people should participate, and we are happy that we are being provided an opportunity to per-form,” said Bhan.

During the festival, artists performed plays written and directed by well-known writers and theatre personalities

the cultural heritage of Jammu, the Kashmir Valley and

Reviving theatre in Kashmir