Tabia Masoodi

Srinagar, Apr 22: Former chairperson Jammu and Kashmir women’s commission Vasundhra Phatak Masoodi on Wednesday said that she is getting a lot of calls from women in Kashmir complaining about domestic violence amid COVID-19 lockdown.

Talking to news agency KNO, Phatak said that she is getting a lot of distress calls from women in Kashmir complaining about domestic violence against them in one way or the other.

She said that as there is lockdown in the Valley like other parts of the country the women have nowhere to go and they also cannot register their complaints anywhere.

“I try to counsel them over phone. What else can I do for now. It helps a little bit as they feel someone is there to listen to them. But this surely indicates a rise in domestic violence cases in Kashmir,” she said.

There have been many new cases of domestic violence against women in Kashmir but during the lockdown it is quite difficult for them to report these cases.

Shaista (name changed), a teacher by profession said, “As I am a teacher and I have to give lectures online and my in-laws think I am home now and don’t have to do anything else and I should do all the home chores alone. But when I tell them that I have other work to do as well they think I am making excuses. It is causing me mental trauma.”

Many women said “As our husbands and children are home all day now, it is difficult for them to do daily chores and we have to manage everything alone. Our husbands don’t help us with anything instead, if meals or anything is not on time, they get angry and start abusing us.”

They further said that they would usually go to their parents place, meet their friends or talk to them over phone to share their pain which helped them release some stress. “But now they cannot even talk to anyone and they can’t go anywhere due to the lockdown which has compounded their problems and stress as well.”

It is pertinent to mention that after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, J&K women’s commission was also winded up and new commission is yet to be formed which has made matters even worse for women facing domestic violence.

As it has come under the notice of court, a bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court comprising of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Rajnesh Oswal have suggested certain measures to help women and ensure their safety during the lockdown. (KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 22: Strict restrictions on movement and assembly of people were on Wednesday intensified even as locals preferred to stay indoors in view of COVID-19 cases crossing 350-mark in Kashmir, where Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been issued for pregnant women in the COVID-19 Red Zone areas.

‘Main roads in most places in the Valley remained sealed while barriers were erected at other places to check unwanted movement of people. All roads leading to areas, which were declared as ‘Red Zones’ after several COVID-19 positive cases surfaced from there, also remained sealed.

Shops and business establishments remained closed while streets were deserted due to strict restrictions imposed by authorities to curtail the spread of Coronavirus in the valley.

The streets in uptown and civil lines were deserted as shops and business establishment were closed and traffic was off the roads. Security forces were deployed in these areas, where people alleged that security personnel were not allowing them to move out of their houses. Similar situation was witnessed in downtown, where people also alleged that they were not allowed to move out of their houses even to buy groceries and vegetables.

Similar reports of lockdown were received from other parts of the valley, including Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla in north, Budgam and Ganderbal in central and Anantnag, Pulwama Kulgam in south Kashmir.

New Delhi, Apr 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with the state chief ministers through video conferencing on Monday, ABP news reported.
In the meeting, the leaders will discuss the upcoming strategy to deal with coronavirus crisis in the country. Some important decisions over lockdown relaxations and restrictions will be taken. Previously, PM Modi had announced Lockdown 2.0 after talking to the chief ministers.

7 days salary expenditure of govt departments incurred on shifting civil secretariat: AAG informs DB   

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 22: A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir High Court comprising Chief Justice, Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajnesh Oswal today heard the government submissions with regard to the issue of the impending Darbar Move during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jammu and Kashmir.

Additional Advocate General, Amit Gupta, on behalf of the Financial Commissioner, Finance Department placed a list of 151 Departments including Public Sector Undertakings and Statutory Corporations which are all involved in the Durbar Move.

The AAG submitted that in view of recent hike in the number of COVID-19 cases and the need for effective control of the same, the Annual Durbar Move arrangements have been reviewed.

Gupta submitted that the Government has observed that the formal opening of the Durbar on 4th May 2020 as ordered vide Government Order dated 10th April 2020 may affect COVID-19 control efforts in the Union Territory.

“The said order has therefore been partially modified by an order dated 17th April 2020. The formal opening of the Durbar at Srinagar has been directed to take place on 15th June 2020.”

He further submitted the tentative seven days salary expenditure incurred by Government Departments of the Annual Durbar Move.

After hearing the government’s submission, the High Court reserved its order in the matter.