Drinking to Death?

Adil (name changed), 22, had a fever for two weeks and took paracetamol. But the fever didn’t subside. Anxious, his parents consulted a doctor in their locality of Awantipora, who prescribed medical examinations and blood reports. These confirmed that Adil had jaundice—a waterborne disease. Three months later, Adil is still on medication because he was not diagnosed early enough; and his doctor has suggested he remain under observation for about a year.

In Awantipora, reservoir tanks store water from the Jehlum, supplied to the entire town of Awantipora without any filtration whatsoever. And residents are facing the consequences.

Naseema, a resident of Kumar mohalla says, “The water they provide us is no better than urine and we boil that urine as we do not has any other option rather than to drink that water.”

People of this town receive water in the morning for only one hour, and the next time they see water flowing from their taps is after 24 hours. Sometimes, there is no water supply at all for two consecutive days. “In that one hour we fill up our all tanks which we use for washing, cleaning and bathing,” says another resident, Shameema. “People can’t imagine the pathetic conditions we are living in. No one can keep their houses clean as we don’t get a sufficient water supply,” she adds.

Doctors in Awantipora observe that initially, residents would drink tap water without boiling it, but gradually people realized that there was an increase in the number of complaints related to stomach aches and intestinal infections—leading them to conclude that they were being supplied untreated water.

Ahmadullah Dar, a resident says, “I do not even trust the tube well water now because so far no one, not even government, has ever tested the water.” Ahmadullah has un-controlled thyroid problem which he believes he acquired from unsafe, untreated drinking water.

Economic indicators reveal that most residents of this town live below the poverty line, and therefore can’t afford to boil their water. Mohammad Shaban Kumar, a stone cutter says, “They provided us with six tube wells for drinking purposes, but among them only four tube wells are working. We too had one in our Mohalla, but that used to give black water first and then it stopped giving that black water too. Presently our women have to go to another mohalla from where they get water for drinking at least, and there they have to wait for their turn in a line of 15 or 20 women.”

The filtration plant which was planned to be setup before 2008, is still in the process of being set up, according to officials. Manzoor Ahmad, JE Civil Division, PHE Awantipora, says it is going to take five or six more months to complete the process of ‘civil construction and allotments’ and after that, they can’t say how long it would take to complete the project—which is assumed to provide 1MGD (million gallons/day) water. more

A Mother's Love

ISHA NIGHAT
She was blessed with a son after a year of marriage, but as fate would have it—she is now the mother of 111 girls.

Isha Nighat, 49, was married in 1987, had a son, and was divorced ten years later. Soon after, she started her own boutique with the hopes of earning a livelihood, and completed a diploma in tailoring. In 1999, she got a job in a women’s center for tailoring—a center that was under the J&K Yateem Trust. Soon, Isha was guiding 40 women there on how to earn their livelihood.

After noticing Isha’s work ethic and nature for three years, the Trust’s chairman offered her the job of a warden for a girls-only orphanage. “Girls are a huge responsibility, one that can be only given to a reliable person; and I don’t know why the Chairman Sahib chose me,” shares Isha. She decided to accept the offer. Isha says her religious principles always made her want to contribute to society, and so she took the step. At this point, her son was in 9th, and she says he was able to understand why she took such a move.

So in 2002, Isha joined the girl’s orphanage Banaat Institute. Soon though, she began to feel homesick, and had second thoughts about her decision. “I used to cry during the late hours of the night for my son,” she says. “But with time I started realizing how God gave me this opportunity to be a mother of around 100 kids instead of just one. And these children were in more need of love. God is the best planner and I left my decision in his hands.” Gradually, she says her bond with the children grew stronger. more

Achievers of 2011

FELLOWSHIPS

Arshad Mushtaq was awarded the International Fellow at the Documentary Center, George Washington University in Washington DC, USA for the year 2010-2011. The fellowship, designed for practicing documentary filmmakers, brought together 20 filmmakers from across the globe to the United States.

A Kashmiri theatre play, ‘Wattepaed’ (footprints) directed by Arshad Mushtaq has been selected for performance in National School of Drama’s annual International Theatre Festival, Bharangam-2012, a rare feat for a Kashmiri production. Arshad has also directed plays like ‘Su Yee’ (He will come) and ‘Akh Daleel Loolech’ (A story of Love). ‘Su Yee’ was the first ever Kashmiri production to be showcased in the same festival earlier.


Showkat Nanda, a freelance photojournalist and formerly Assistant Editor with Kashmir Life has been awarded the Fulbright fellowship 2012-2013 to study photojournalism in a top American university. The fellowship is given by the US State Department to people who demonstrate excellence in their respective fields of study.

A postgraduate from Kashmir University’s MERC, Showkat began his career from AFP in Srinagar as a trainee photographer. Since then he has worked with several local national and international media organizations both as a reporter and photojournalist. He has also taught photography at IUST, Awantipora and Baramulla Degree College.

Earlier this year, he received the National Press Photo Award- the most prestigious honor given for excellence in the field of photojournalism in India. In addition to winning the top title, he also won two other prizes in the prestigious photo contest held in February 2011. more

Beat The Cold

The world famous Kashmiri Pashmina isn’t the only product that will keep you warm this season. Tweed is another Kashmiri product known for its pure quality of virgin wool, and it’s comfortably warm. Tweed coats are made from indigenous virgin wools; and as a result they provide good insulation during colder days.

Tweed cloth is available across the globe, especially in colder, European countries. The world famous tweeds are Scottish and British tweeds. Tweed can be tailored into long winter coats, blazers, jackets, suits, waistcoats, trousers, shooting jackets, caps and even wedding suits. However, in Kashmir it can also be tailored into a traditional Pheran.

“Kashmiri tweed is made of 100 percent wool, meaning it is of superior quality compared to other tweed like that from Amritsar which has also viscose in it. In Kashmir, there is an emphasis is on handmade weaving only, more closely woven because that way the product is of superior quality,” shares an employee associated with tweed sales. Tweeds from states other than Kashmir is reconstituted / recycled wool which is of inferior quality whereas Kashmiri tweed is the only tweed of 100 percent pure wool and sold at affordable price.

Tweed cloth is sold at Rs 500 per meter and the cost of a gent’s readymade coat is Rs 2710 whereas a female readymade long coat costs around Rs 3500. Presently there is a discount of 10 percent on tweed coats.

If you’re out shopping for tweed, you can get it in a variety of textures, such as checkered, herring bone, plain, striped, hopsack, matte, hondse tooth and in twills — as is the case in foreign countries. It also comes in different colors. Tweed can be lightweight, of 9NM (400-450 grams) or heavyweight, of 7NM (525- 550 grams). 9NM meters goes for Rs. 435 and 7NM for Rs. 500.

Tweed coats have been in fashion for many years and they never go out of season. Kashmir Tweed is durable and intricate in its design, and it lasts longer than other fabrics in your wardrobe. It is widely accepted as both formal and informal wear all over the world and is also used as a uniform in some foreign schools. Some big fashion houses like Bookster (UK) deal exclusively with the tweed suiting, and the brand Burberry also deals with tweed coats, which they sell for about Rs 82000. more

'FDI Crushed Even USA'

Kashmir Life: FDI in retail is the hot debate. You opposed the idea from the very beginning. Tell us what are its pros and cons in your opinion?
Yousuf Tarigami:Our party CPIM, the entire left, some political parties, social activists and some NGOs have always opposed FDI retail. UPA-I is lying about FDI retail trade. This retail trade has been under debate since UPA-I, and that time they were dependent on Left groups (part of coalition) and we didn’t allow it to happen. The issue was debated in Parliament and in almost every political party, and it was decided that the trade won’t be allowed to happen, because it will increase unemployment figures.

If it does not help us in promoting growth then how can the trade help us? USA, a developed country,was crushed due to this trade and they are suffering from this new liberalisation. Americans are crying ‘please put a stop to greedy cooperates’, they are facing massive unemployment. So if you want to have a strong economy then you must have toguaranteejobs for your population, and unless that is done, any measure in economic reform is bound to create problems for people—and is thereforeunacceptable to us.

This crushed a nation like USA, a world power. For countries like India, it is very important to first provide food for its starving population. Statistics reveal Indian economy is increasing but people should understand that the economy is of the corporate world and of monopolists. Once NDA said India is shining, but I want to ask them which India? The corporate world doesnot mean India, what about middle and lower class families? If India was shining, then why do farmers go for suicides, why do people wander from corner to corner for jobs? This new liberal frame has failed miserably, not only in India, but in the whole world, earlier it was in the US only, and now it has destroyed the UK too.

I feel there is no future for the younger generation. The government says we have to be with global economies, but we say it has collapsed. So why to be part of failed economies?This trade doesnot suit our population. It must be rejected.

KL: The government launched a new employment policy recently. Do you think it is in the interest of youth? more

Shazia's Father Fights for Justice

A day before Eid ul Azha, Shazia, 28, was found hanging to a ceiling fan in her house in mysterious circumstances. She was a mother of a three year old baby girl. She had disputes with her husband, Javaid Ahmad Wani ever since they got married.

Shazia, the only daughter and sister of her two brothers was living happily with her family. She was a gold medalist of her batch ( at University of Kashmir) and then got a job of librarian in Islamic University, Awantipora. After getting a job her parents started looking for best matches for her and selected one, Javaid Ahmad Wani and thought he has also done a masters in engineering so he will be compatible with their daughter and will keep her like princess as she used to be in her house but destiny had stored something different for her, extremely opposite to what her parents had dreamt of and now her father feels guilty of giving preference to an educated person. more

Women on Resolution, Government and Future

Kashmiri women has long been portrayed as a mute spectator of all that has happened and is happening. Considered to be a bystander in Politics of kashmir, more