Kishtwar boy develops anti-piracy software

Kishtwar: A Kishtwar boy claims to have developed software which may be soon used world over to stop piracy.
Named as ‘Bharat’, the software has recently received special prize at Srijan’10 - an initiative of IWSB, which provides a springboard to the numerous entrepreneurial ideas across the whole country - organised by Indus World School of Business (IWSB) at New Delhi and has also been tested by the worlds leading software giants Microsoft and DEL.
Though yet to get recognition, the software developed by Vishnu Bhanu, son of a local scribe Balbir Jamwal, has the potential to stop the growing menace of piracy world over.
The Kishtwar lad claims to have ‘invented’ the software while making a CD pack. "I realized that the hard work rendered by some one to prepare a software or any other like computer programme can easily be cracked", he told Greater Kashmir adding, "It was beyond my imagination that one day I will be able to prepare a software like this".
The young boy, whose father cut many expenses to procure him a computer, claims that if put to use this software would save the reputed software companies from considerable loss.
Without any advance training in the computers, the boy said that he had to study the computer language from the books before starting work on the project. "Initially I practice the language on the computer in my school before I was lucky to have my own PC".
It took more than three years to Bhanu to develop the software and is now waiting for the right day when he will get it recognized world over.
The young software developer claimed that the Indus World School of Business (IWSB) has agreed to develop the software in partnership with the company he would soon be floating.

Rules for Fools: ReT, Regular teachers attached, transferred

Govt Schools depicts true picture of ‘educational reforms’
SHEIKH NASIR

Kishtwar: Despite repeated claims of the coalition government regarding measures being taken to uplift educational standard in the rural areas, schools in this part of the state are in pathetic condition due to the acute shortage of adequate staff, illegal attachments and premature transfers of teachers.
Appointments of teachers under Rehber-e-Taleem and Serva Shiksha Abhiyan have failed to rescue the people from the deplorable conditions and the measures seems to have failed to yield the desired results.
Government Middle Schools Chicha and Bhella in Nagseni zone are the glaring examples of the ‘educational reforms’. Having the total sanctioned strength of six teachers only one (ReT) teacher was reportedly servicing in each school.
Middle School Checha is near about 40 years old as it has been established in 1971.The schools is the only middle School in the area where the students after covering a long distance are coming daily from near about 10 surrounding villages.
Not only the regular line teachers even some of the ReT teachers posted in these schools have also been attached to other schools. Despite the fact that government has imposed blanket ban on attachments and there are clear directions for the ReT to serve in the respective school even after being inducted as permanent teachers. But rules and regulations seems to be not meant for far flung areas like Chicha Nagseni.
Villagers told The Bold Voice that they have knocked the doors of the authorities at the helm of affairs and have apprised them about the problems confronting the students of the school but all in vain.
Ghulam Hussain, a local resident said, "We approached the CEO Kishtwar as well as the concerned ZEO but no action was taken and it seems that the authorities are sleeping over the matter". He claimed that non availability of teaching staff in the schools have forced the residents to migrate from the area.
"It is very unfortunate that for teaching 8 classes only a single teacher has been posted whereas in the schools situated in the towns more than 20 teachers are being posted in one school" said Mohd Shafi, another local resident. He also criticized this step motherly treatment by the higher authorities and has demanded immediate adjustment of the teaching staff in the school.

Kishtwar Sapphire: The truth we know

SHEIKH NASIR
KISHTWAR: The tall claims of the successive state government that it is has taken possible steps to explore the world famous Kishtwar mines remained on papers while the mines continue to be ravaged by vandals and smugglers.
The state government claimed in 2005 that it has invited bidders for the Paddar Sphire mines and the process is expected to complete soon. However, even after around four years the process seems ending no where.
Who will believe that in this age it is impossible to rescue the Paddar sapphire mines from being ravaged by vandals and smugglers during winter? An official version to the effect that there indeed is a problem leaves us baffled. Asmuggling racket in which sapphires worth Rs 35 lakh have been seized reveals quite a few chinks in our safety apparatus.
As reported earlier by this newspaper, a small posse of five to seven police personnel which protects the front portion of the mines during summer altogether abandons them once the winter sets in. Why should it happen? It is true that the Paddar valley rising as high as more than 15000 feet is the farthest corner of Kishtwar district touching idyllic Zanskar in the Ladakh region and the adjoining state of Himachal Pradesh.
The mines are situated in highly rugged terrain of the Himalayas which is mostly snow bound. The working season there is between July and September. During this period too the temperature seldom exceeds 10 degree Celsius. In the mines the temperature is said to be mostly minus 2 to minus 10 degree Celsius.
The short extraction period — apart from the widespread perception about the adverse security scenario — is the reason for global players to keep off offers for exploring the area. There is little that one can do if investors from other states and abroad are less than keen in helping us out. Why should we, however, be not able to set our house in order? It is said that the location is a big deterrent.
From the district headquarters of Kishtwar to Atholi, a distance of 60 kilometres is covered by a fair-weather road and from Atholi to Sumcham, where the mines are situated, there is a distance of 40 kilometres through the bridle path only. It means that it takes two to three days for the police party to travel from one end to the other. Is this the only place in the State which has such difficult topography?
There are several populated helmets which are in a worse condition. Their inhabitants overcome hardships everyday unless when devastated by natural calamities like snow avalanches. Don’t we assist them to live a normal life? Don’t we protect the Jawahar Tunnel through the mighty Pir Panjal against all vagaries of weather? Are our jawans not posted in Siachen, the world’s highest and coldest battlefield, so that we in the rest of the State and the country can sleep comfortably? Why should we then be found wanting in looking after such a big source of income as the Paddar mines are? We are constrained to say that the argument that the land and weather are treacherous does not cut much ice. There are necessary facilities available these days to ensure a comfortable stay for the police men everywhere snow or no snow. How do the villagers live in the same vicinity throughout the year?
Yes, for any such exercise to be meaningful we have to commercially exploit the mineral wealth with a high degree of efficiency. For this we have to gear up our own resources. As it is we don’t have evaluation of deposits in the area. Does this not mean that our homework leaves much to be desired? We have limited infrastructure at the mines. We always keep grumbling about financial restraints. Why don’t we achieve the returns which may far exceed the expenditure? The collective effect of our negative attitude is that we have done very little mining. Instead, we have left the doors open for all those wanting to loot and scoot. Paddar sapphires are compared with the best in the world, the other notable places being Myanmar, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. It is said that it is characteristic of equally prized ruby to be found along with blue sapphire in the mines as both of them belong to the same corundum family. Have we ever heard of any such valuable find being made in our mines in the picturesque Kishtwar district?

Doda water crisis, a cause of worry for locals

Doda: The acute water crisis in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir has added to the worries of local residents, who have been forced to face numerous problems due to it.
More than sixteen villages of the district are facing problems due to the acute shortage of water in the area.
The villagers are the major sufferers, as they have to walk for around 3 Kilometers one side to fetch water for their daily chores. Women and children have to stand in lines for several hours to cumulate water.
Villagers have no other alternatives because there is no other source of water till around 10 kilometers from the village.
They have adopted different measures to preserve rainwater and in adverse conditions they even use this water for drinking purpose. Villagers have to buy water at the rate of Rs50 for 40 litres.
Global warming has resulted in delay of the monsoons, which has further dried up major natural sources of water like the rivers, streams and ground water sources like hand pumps. Consequently, the harried locals are suffering due to the limited water supply.
Villagers complained that they have been facing this problem from the last 15 years.
Despite repeatedly approaching the concerned officials, no steps have been taken by the administration to cure their problems.
On their part, concerned officials acknowledge that there is shortage of water in the region while assuring some schemes have been planned and these will bring relief to the locals.
Irregular pattern of rains and a delay in monsoons has caused a serious concern amongst people putting up in several parts of India.

CM’s visit disappoint may in Kishtwar

Omar for better road network to boost rural economy
Kishtwar : The recent visit of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, first since the new dispensation came into power in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, disappointed many in this mountainous district.
Much was being expected from the Chief Minister, who had not till now, paid even a single visit to the district since taking over the reign of powers in the state. However, he came and returned leaving the locals guessing as what was the basic purpose of the visit.
The state government has proposed a 212 crore road project to the Centre to increase connectivity in far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir and boost their economy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, while addressing a public rally, here.
"A Rs 212 Crore road project for linking Dacchan, Marwah, Paddar and other areas in Kishtwar district has been prepared and forwarded to the Centre for funding," he added.
Unless roads are built and far-off areas made accessible required progress in health, education and other important sectors cannot be achieved, he said.
"Our endeavour is to remove poverty and backwardness of far-flung areas by creating dependable road network which in turn will generate wide ranging economic activities", the Chief Minister said.
However, away from the media glare and publicity, the local residents feel ignored and dejected. "Nothing has been talked in real sense", a local resident Abdul Rashid said adding, "Everything said in the public meeting has been said since years but the ground situation remained same". Another resident Bal Krishan termed the visit of chief minister a "Mazzak" with the people of this mountainous district. he said that people were having high expectations from CM but all in vain.

SAFFRON BLUES

The current sorry state of saffron trade in Kishtwar merits immediate and serious policy and administrative actions. From Rs 2.7 lakhs per kg last season to Rs 1.3 lakhs this season, the price slide is simply disastrous. The market credibility and respect of Kishtwar saffron – regarded as the world’s best – and grown with most painstakingly by the farmers, is at stake today. Today, profitability for farmers from saffron is very low. Currently, over 5310 families, especially in Poochal and Cherar areas of the district, are engaged in saffron farming. Other villages, include Hanjala, Hullar, Pohi, Berwar, Bindraban Dugga Girinagar, Sangrambata, Kundhal, Narangad, Hatta, Begana, Berabhata, Hidyal, Arsi, Tund, Bemarnag, Traxina and Nagni. But low land holding remains an issue. Official figures revealed that 120 hectare of land was under saffron cultivation in Kishtwar district. There are some policy and regulation steps that need to be taken up at the central government level. Kozhikode, Mangalore and Chennai airports have become major smuggling points of saffron that comes from Iran. After import, saffron is re-branded as Kashmiri saffron and exported to international markets. This results in price reduction of genuine Kashmiri saffron in Indian, and international markets as well. The J&K government needs to impress upon Central government to look into these loopholes very seriously. If at all saffron is to be imported that must come through legal channels with applicable import duties. Now the diminished productivity; subject experts have been attributing low saffron productivity to glitches like long planting cycles, non-graded corms of random weights, no fungicide treatment of corms, non-application of farm yard manure and inorganic fertilizers. But practically speaking, such cost-intensive practices are not possible for most of the farmers given today’s market costs. As such, selling of 2-5 kanals of land in the saffron growing belts makes better economic sense for farmers today. Then there are some steps which need to be taken by saffron growers and traders themselves. One responsibility relates to ensuring purity and quality of the saffron they buy in pure form from the farmers. Second is to correct the weighing inconsistencies. There is a glaring weighing distortion which puts the farmers at a real disadvantage. While the traders buy saffron in out-fashioned system of tolas (comprising 11.75 gms), they sell the same onwards in the normal terms of 10 gms as one tola. So if a farmer sells one kilogram of saffron to a local trader he loses 175 grams in the process. Government needs to amend the Saffron Act to bring in weighing uniformity. It is a fact that the decline in production is also due to erratic rainfall and consequent drought like conditions that are now a regular feature of our climate. For the sake of better ownership, saffron growers must ideally contribute financial resources in developing irrigation systems.

Crom Rot disease affects Saffron cultivation

Farmers in doldrums, Govt turns blind eye
S.N. HUSSAIN
Kishtwar: The prevailing drought like conditions in mountainous Kishtwar district has hit the Saffron cultivators most, who are finding themselves at the cross roads.
The government also admitted the sudden fall in the saffron cultivation in the region and has shifted the blame on the prevailing weather conditions and ‘Crom rot’ disease, which has spread in the saffron cultivated areas.
Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir, in reply to a question of MLA Kishtwar Sajad Ahmed Kichloo, recently told the Legislative Assembly that government was taking steps to improve the saffron cultivation in the district. He said that the fall in the saffron cultivation was due to the drought like situation and Crom Rot disease.
Crom rot is a disease which affects many different types of plants. Plants afflicted with this disease experience rot around their stems, in the area where the stem joins the root. Typically, crown rot is fatal, although it can be treated in some cases if a gardener is willing to put in some extensive efforts. As with many other plant diseases, prevention is easier than curing.
The farmers were already suffering in the absence of a transparent marketing structure and the lack of state support for prices means a good saffron crop would not necessarily translate into cash in the farmers’ pockets.
Few outside Kishtwar even know the valley is home to a major saffron industry. Unlike their better-known counterparts in the Kashmir valley’s Pampore area, the Kishtwar saffron growers do not figure either in the Jammu and Kashmir Government tourism brochures or the minds of the Srinagar-based bureaucrats. Nonetheless, the business has, over the decades, thrived and grown. While Pampore supplies wholesale markets in New Delhi, Kishtwar feeds Punjab’s saffron hub, Amritsar.
Official neglect has hit farmers’ interests hard. Much of the wholesale trade out of Kishtwar is controlled by three large dealers who, farmers say, function as a price-fixing cartel.
Sold at upwards of Rs. 430 for 10 grams in Amritsar, saffron fetches the Kishtwar farmers between Rs. 350 and 400, depending on the quality. Besides, the buyers insist on purchasing in the traditional Tola measures, rather than by the gram. Thus, farmers sell 11.7 grams of saffron for the price of 10 grams, giving dealers another layer of profit.
While 1.7 grams may not seem a huge amount, even small quantities of saffron are precious. Few farmers can boast of more than an acre and a half of land and the yields are highly variable.
Saffron farming is a tough business. Saffron bulbs are planted once every four years. When the bulbs flower, the stamens have to be picked by hand. Every four years, the bulbs have to be removed from the soil, dried, and transplanted to new fields. For the past four years, poor rainfall has led to declining yields and many bulbs have been destroyed by the dryness.
The farmers’ hardship was partly mitigated by the fact that uses have been discovered for damaged bulbs and the plant’s blue flowers in herbal cosmetic and medicinal products. But producers fear that the benefits of a good rainfall will be undone by the absence of a government-run price support mechanism.
State disinterest is tragic since encouraging high-value crops such as saffron could transfigure the fortunes of the economically backward Kishtwar.
The region also produces wild Gucchi, or morels, which retail for over Rs. 1,000 a kg in Jammu markets. State intervention could have helped develop methods to commercially cultivate morels in the region’s poorest high-altitude hamlets. Vegetables grown in Doda district, of which Kishtwar is a part, are popular in Jammu markets along with the region’s speciality, Rajma beans. Again, the absence of a storage and marketing mechanism has meant farmers rarely get the prices they deserve.

Nahre-e-Naigad project likely to restart

Govt engages consultant for investigation, design
BOLD VOICE SPECIAL
The government has generated a new hope for the residents of mountainous Kishtwar district for the decade old Nahre-e-Naigad project for which it has engaged consultant for investigation, design and preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR), which may pave a way for resumption of the construction work for the prestigious canal.
Reply to a question of MLA Kishtwar Sajad Ahmed Kichloo, in the state legislative assembly, Minister for PHE and Irigation Taj Mohi-ud-Din disclosed that the government was contemplating to restart the construction work on the prestigious project. "A consultant has been engaged for investigation, design and preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Naigad Canal and the work was in progress", the minister informed. It is pertinent to mention here that the work on the canal was started in the early fifties. However, the project was abandoned due to the geographical and technical difficulties coupled with the financial constrains due only 9.5 kilometer canal was constructed. At that point of time the material for the construction of work was reportedly been carried for 50 kilometers on mules.
Following a fresh agitation for the construction of the project, the government prepared another proposal under which the water was to be brought to reservoir in Kishtwar by laying pipes from Naigad area. However, this project again failed to take up.
Official sources told The Bold Boice that the project if constructed would not only help in mitigating the water scaricity problem of the area but around 2000 acres of land can also be irrigated.
As per the prescribed norms PHE department is bound to supply 40 liters of water per consumer a day but only 13 liters was being supplied to the consumers in Kishtwar.
As per the official figures there are around 20 irrigation schemes/Khuls/canals under construction under District Plan and 17 irrigation scheme under CCS-AIBP, 4 schemes under BRGF, 23 schemes under RSVY and 1 scheme under Flood Control Sector during the current financial year.