Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 02: The mutton wholesalers and dealers association of Kashmir on Wednesday staged a protest against the government for ‘pushing their families towards starvation’.
Scores of mutton wholesalers and dealers assembled at Srinagar’s press enclave here and raised slogans in favor of their demands.
Sahil Ahmad, one of the protesters said that their shops are closed from last one month after the government fixed fresh rates for mutton. “In an interview, the concerned Director has claimed that 20 shops are open and selling meat at the rate of Rs 480 per kg. But, we want to tell the Director Sahab that there are at least 30,000 families who are belonging to this trade and are suffering at present,” he said.
He added that if the government sticks to its order, then it should provide them mutton on its own at less rates so that they can sell meat as per the fixed rates.
“The government should hold meeting with the mutton dealers again and address our concerns,” he said, adding that in case the government is reluctant to fulfill their demands, it should give them an alternative too to earn their livelihood.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 2 Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Srinagar has suspended an employee for harassing a lady official and on charges of misconduct of duties.
Joint Commissioner Administration, SMC has issued an order which reads that pending enquiry one Ghaneemt Wani, Class 1V, Secretary Office, is placed under suspension with immediate effect.
The employee has been attached with Drainage Circle, SMC.
Joint Commissioner Administration has stated that a charge sheet in this regard will be issued separately. (KNT)

Umaisar Gull Ganie
Qazigund, Dec 02: A youth from Qazigund of Kulgam district along with his team have been arranging food for thousands of passengers and drivers who often get stranded on Srinagar-Jammu highway due to inclement weather.
Ishrat Rashid Khan aka Laly Khan a resident of Badragund Qazigund under the banner of his trust ‘Rahaat- A ray of hope’ has also helped over 20 poor families in getting married.
Ishrat, 39, while talking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that since 2017, he along with nine members and 11 volunteers have been continuously serving food packets to the stranded passengers and truck drivers.
“So far we have served over 10 thousand people mostly non-locals,” he said.
Ishrat said that due to frequent closure of Highway, passengers often face problems like shortage of food, clothes and other items.
“Since, 2017 we have been serving stranded people by providing them food, clothes and other necessary items,” he said
Ishrat said that during covid lockdown, his team distributed 1500 food kits,15,000 masks and sanitizing material in his adjacent neighbourhood.
“We mainly get donations from people from our area. Recently, we provided a sanitization tunnel to Qazigund hospital,” he said.
Ishrat said they are also distributing Rs 40,000 to poor families to help them in getting their daughter married.
“So far we have helped around 20 families,” he said. “Moreover, we have been involving youth in sports activities to keep them away from drug addiction”—(KNO)

1/3rd of seats to be reserved for women
Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Dec 2 : The chairpersons of District Development Councils in Jammu & Kashmir will be elected immediately after the members elected during the ongoing elections are administered oath.
The amendments made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in “The Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act’’-1989, define the procedure for election of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of DDCs.“After the declaration of the results, the deputy commissioner shall, as soon as possible but not later than one week of such declaration, call under his presidentship a meeting of elected members of the district development council for the purpose of oath or affirmation or allegiance,” reads the amendments.
According to the law, the chairpersons and vice-chairperson of a DDCs will be elected from among elected members of the council.
“Immediately after oath or affirmation of allegiance is administered or made, the elected members of a district development council shall, in the prescribed manner, elect from amongst themselves one of its members to be the chairperson and another to be the Vice-chairperson of the district development council,” reads the law.
Under the law, if the office of the chairperson or vice-chairperson is vacated or falls vacant during the tenure on account of death, resignation or no- confidence motion, a fresh election shall be held within a period of three months from the date of occurrence of vacancy.
According to the amendments, one-third of the total number of seats for the office of the chairperson of district development councils in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir shall be reserved for women.
It further states that the seats reserved for women shall be allotted by rotation in such manner as may be prescribed. (KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 1: Seven government officials were on Tuesday suspended for dereliction of duties during the second phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections in central Kashmir district of Budgam.

An official spokesperson said that District Panchayat Election Officer (DPEO) Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza on Tuesday placed seven officials under suspension for dereliction of Election duties till further orders.

“The accused had failed to report on poll duties scheduled for second phase at Beerwah, Budgam.

He said officials have been directed to remain attached in the office of Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam till further orders.

Tasaduq Hussain

Kupwara, Dec 1: A Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) resident is among nearly a dozen contestants in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district contesting the ongoing District Development Council (DDC), elections from Drugmulla constituency.

Somaya Latif, a resident of Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), moved to this side of the LoCr after the government of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir led by Omar Abdullah initiated a rehabilitation policy for all the people who crossed over the border back in the 90s. She had married a Kashmiri youth in Muzaffarabad, who instead of picking arms, choose to live a normal life.

Somaya is contesting the ongoing District Development Council (DDC) election from the Drugmulla constituency that will witness a nail hitting contest between 11 candidates.

Talking to KNO Somaya said that she belongs to Muzaffarabad and is contesting the DDC election after the people encouraged her and they’ve moved from Pakistan to this side with a peaceful message for the masses.

She said the decision to contest isn’t self-centric rather several people approached and encouraged her to contest the election.  “I’ve been working in a scheme under the government titled ‘SRLM’ during which the fieldwork has evoked a huge response and I am well aware of the sufferings of the common masses,” she said.

Hoping that the people will vote in her favor, she said that she is pretty sure that she will secure win the election and she has already won because the members of “our SRLM group are doing great job and this family has ensured the support of the general masses for her.

“Women who along with their husbands and children under the rehabilitation scheme 2010 have come here with peaceful massage and all of us are in regular contact and the figure is nearly 350 across the valley. Only 75 are residing in Kupwara who are maintaining a close contact with each other,” she said.

Somaya said that there have been no discussion about the decision to contest the DDC election with Pakistani brides living across the valley or Kupwara district adding that if they get to know “I’m sure they’ll be happy with the decision and hope that there is someone who can at least represent and talk for us.”

“My contribution would be to work for the Pakistani brides who have come from across the border and living here and also for the local people,” she said. “I’m very sure about the support from the general masses and women would never intend to disrupt the peace of a family and similarly to that the peace across the nation won’t be disrupted.”

Urging the people to vote in her favor, Somaya said that her election symbol is “Laptop”. “I urge the voters to vote in my favor and support assuring that all in her ambit will be fulfilled if she wins the DDC election,” she said.

Notably, the Drugmulla constituency comprises of several areas is going for polls on December 07 with 11candidates in the poll fray.

Meanwhile, District Election Officer (DEO), told KNO that only a single candidate Somaya Latif from across the border is in the poll fray across the district.

Pertinently, in the panchayat elections held last year, at least two Pakistani brides took part in the election that includes one from Langate and the another from Khumriyal.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 1: Showing huge attendance like in the Phase-1, voters in Jammu Division yet again turned up in massive numbers as the second leg of polling for District Development Council elections and Panchayat by polls was today held here across 18 constituencies.

As per reports, a large number of enthusiastic elderly and first time voters flocked the polling booths to vote for the grassroots democracy.

Serpentine queues of voters were seen since crack of the dawn, caring little for the bone chilling cold. The voting started in all areas from 7 AM and ended at 2 PM.

As per the witness accounts, the voting was held in a peaceful manner and with due observance of Covid 19 protocols and SOPs.

The figures pouring in from different parts are suggestive of the fact that the rural masses voted for their empowerment through the grassroots democracy.

In Ramban, the polling under phase-II was held for Banihal-A and Banihal-B constituencies. The enthusiastic voters start reaching polling booths one by one which picked up as the day progressed. The voters exercised their right to franchise to decide the fate of 15 candidates including 8 women candidates.  The Phase II elections in Doda district were held for Bhagwah and Kastigarh DDC Constituencies and vacant Panchayat seats at 98 polling stations. The polling started at sharp 7 am in the morning and long queues were witnessed in all the polling booths.

In Rajouri, the polling for the second phase was held in the DDC constituency Mougla, Sarpanch constituency Junerial East and Panch constituency Breri.

The 2nd phase polling in Kathua district was held for Mahanpur & Mandli DDC seats and by-polls for 5 Sarpanch and 6 Panch seats of the twin blocks.

The DDC Election Phase- II in Udhampur district  was held for DDC constituency  Chenani  and  DDC constituency Panchari with 18 candidates in fray. Polling was also held for 2 Sarpanch vacant seats.

In Kishtwar District, the polling was held for Dachhan and Paddar DDC Constituencies and a Sarpanch seat. In Reasi, the polling for the 2nd phase was held in the DDC constituency Gulabgarh and Mahore-A and Sarpanch constituency Neoch, while in Poonch DDC elections were held for Surankote-A and Surankote-B and Sarpanch constituency Middle Marhote.