By: MOOL RAJ
I am writing to express a growing concern that I believe requires immediate attention: the extreme and unprecedented rise in temperatures currently being experienced in Jammu and Kashmir. This summer has seen temperatures soar to levels that are not only uncomfortable but also pose significant health risks to the population. Moreover, forecasts indicate even higher temperatures in the coming week, exacerbating an already critical situation.
The residents of Kashmir are not accustomed to such intense heat, and our infrastructure, including homes and public spaces, is not designed to cope with these conditions. The health impacts, especially on vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing medical conditions, can be severe. Heat-related illnesses, including heatstroke and dehydration, are real and present dangers. The prolonged exposure to such heat can also aggravate chronic conditions, leading to more severe health crises.
In light of these challenges, I propose the introduction of an additional short summer break. This break would provide much-needed relief to students, teachers, and working professionals who are currently struggling to function effectively in this heat. A temporary suspension of activities would allow people to stay indoors, hydrate adequately, and avoid the worst of the heat during the peak temperature periods.
An additional summer break is not just a measure of comfort but a necessary step to safeguard the health and well-being of the people of Jammu Kashmir and Chenab Valley. I urge the relevant authorities to consider this proposal seriously and act swiftly to provide the community with the respite it desperately needs.Since the day temperatures have soared to a new highs, the demand of a short summer break dictated by the unprecedented rise in day temperatures going viral on social media sites deserves immediate consideration from the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha , his advisor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary Attal Dulloo and Principal Secretary School Education Shantman IAS and Honble Education Minister Ms Sakeena Masood Itoo.Experiences of decades have shown that weather does not accept the calendars of Governments and people but enforces its own calendars’ on both the Governments and its people at different times in different parts of the world and same holds good this time for the School Education Department in Jammu and Kashmir amid ongoing intensifying heat wave. Unfortunately the incumbent Director School Education Kashmir is known for tending and trying to enforce his own calendars’ for both the winter and summer breaks for last more than three years instead of drawing calendars for summer and winter holidays on the basis of prevailing weather conditions in Kashmir. Unfortunately this time also Director School Education Jammu and Kashmir are as usual unnecessarily tending to unrealistically deny a short summer break for the ongoing high intensity heat wave period for schools in Jammu and Kashmir Valley. Now reluctantly the Director with the approval of the Government has changed school timings by fixing 8.00 A.M the reporting time at schools. Perhaps Director School Education won’t dispute the hard reality that even during his school days the school timing in high intensity heat wave periods in Kashmir used to be 7.00 A.M to 12.00 noon and summer break period during those years used to be of 15-20 days duration. Since the day temperatures have soared to a new highs, the demand of a short summer break dictated by the unprecedented rise in day temperatures going viral on social media sites deserves immediate consideration from the Hon’ble Chief Minister Mr Omar Abdullah Lt Governor Manoj Sinha , his advisor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary Attal Dulloo and Principal Secretary School Education Shantman IAS ,Hon’ble Education Minister Ms Sakeena Masood Itoo . The announcement of a short summer won’t be a concession to teachers of Government and Private Schools but a respite to children whose physical and psychological health has hugely come under increasing stress of the ongoing intensifying heat wave across Jammu and Kashmir. God forbid a single casualty or a single critical health issue of any child at any school can become a cause for police investigation which would be obviously humiliating and harassing for both the teachers and as well as the school education department.Fact remains that highest priority is the education of children for people in all parts of world and same holds good for people in Jammu & Kashmir but it is also an irrefutable fact that education comes next to health safety of people particularly children. Since ground realities speak themselves about the growing compulsions of a short summer break in Jammu and Valley and risking the lives of children for a short summer break of one or two weeks is not apparently advisable particularly these days when the trend of online teaching is growing tremendously in Jammu & Kashmir like other parts of the country. Though administrative wisdom demands that timing of the summer vacations should not have been different for schools and colleges in view of the fact that heat waves is as good a respite for elders as it is for children. It is not at all advisable for the Government to fix different timings for summer and winter vacations for schools and Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. Interestingly this time schools are open but colleges are shut for summer break and the trend as such has made children but not the elders of colleges vulnerable to intensifying heat wave.
Scorching heatwave and extreme temperatures can severely effect our health. Heatwave can strain our bodies so we cannot afford to ignore them. The effect of heatwave on human health can be significant, particularly for venerable groups such as tender children, older and those with chronic medical conditions. Heatwave can cause heat exhaustion, dehydration, headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps and so on.
Studies have attributed insufficient sleep as one of the factor contributing to poor school performance also can impair memory and concentration, make it difficult for students to learn. Recent government decision of changing school timings with effect from 24th of June have raised mixed reactions among general masses. I had met so many parents which were annoyed with the decision that change in timings yield nothing, it would have been better if extension of summer vacation got endorsed.
Considering the prevailing heatwave situation and change in timings, officials coming from distant places might face lot of inconveniences by reaching school before 8am triggers a lot of contradictions.Most of schools stretching from primary upto upper primary don’t have sophisticated Infrastructural facilities to beat the severe heat. Government should have come up with the strategy without being marred the children’s cozy cot. Most of the parents decided not to send their wards to school, because they prioritize their health first then education. There have been surge in heat stroke, dizziness and extreme fatigue among blooming buds since culmination of summer break.
This adjustment aims to mitigate the adverse effects of the heatwave on students and ensure their safety and well-being. To lessen the burden of early going to school, better would have been from 9am to 2pm for primary upto secondary level. I witnessed many students of my native hamlet wiping their tender eyes before boarding in school buses. Their guardians holding school bags in early time bears an awkard look. School going tender buds with insufficient sleep hours had serious repercussions on their learning aspect. Falling asleep in class makes it impossible to learn. More common less noticeable and therefore much more of a problem is that students who don’t get 8-9 hours of sleep find it more difficult to concentrate in class and their ability to remember what they read or hear is impired.
Teens need to get up before dawn to get to school on time. Teens who get less sleep are also more likely to be overweight or obese. When teens don’t get enough sleep, their bodies go through hormone changes that make them more tired and hungry. Because they are more tired, they often exercise less and drink more sugar filled caffeinated drinks. This starts a vicious cycle of weight gain, which leads to stress, which leads to sleeping less.
Putting in succinct, morning time is essential for both student and teacher.The atmosphere is congenial and deviod of noise and congestion.The only negative aspect is that schools aren’t self sufficient in accomodating and offering all the desired facilities keeping in view of scorching heatwave.Those at the helm of affairs should look into it that schools are facing innumerable hardships. Portable water scarcity has hit almost every school.Schools have been doing hard round the clock to arrange potable water. Lavatory sector in most of the schools has got severely affected. The long dry spell has badly affected the wells and tap water system.Think tanks must ponder over such grave issues to extend Summer break instead of timing change.Coming back to the growing demand for short summer break for school in view of the ongoing intensifying heat wave the fact remains that highest priority is the education of children for people in all parts of world and same holds good for people in Jammu & Kashmir but it is also an irrefutable fact that education comes next to health safety of people particularly children. Since ground realities speak themselves about the growing compulsions of a short summer break in Jammu and Kashmir Valley and risking the lives of children for a short summer break of one or two weeks is not apparently advisable particularly these days when the trend of online teaching is growing tremendously in Jammu & Kashmir like other parts of the country.
—The author is a regular columnist
and freelance writer
