The Kashmiri Youth -

Today’s youth has only seen strife, death, destruction and pain but still yearns for peace .
It is an exciting time to be alive! I have personally spoken with many who lost their dear ones during the 13-years of tumult but they all seem to echo the same chorus: "Enough is enough let peace be given a chance." Though everyone agrees that it should be ‘youth specific’. We know for sure that today’s young generation wants to play a positive role in extricating the State from the intractable quagmire created by the power hungry political wolves of yesterday and carry it to an era of prosperity and peace .
With each new scene of Killing in Kashmir, outrage has intensified against the paramilitary forces, raising the prospect of a backlash and washing all gains made towards peace and prosperity. Although the prime Minister has urged the forces to use restraint, the Chief minister has strongly defended the military retaliation as a reasonable response to attacks, a position increasingly at odds with the political parties that see a deadly overreaction. It seems that if the killing and atrocities drag on, as appears likely, it could leave India more isolated than at any time since the tumult began 17 years ago. In the long run the situation could cement the perception that India is so Anti-Kashmiri that a new generation of youth will grow up perceiving Indians as enemies. Some of the overheated rhetoric that we’ve lost our leadership in the world, is just completely ridiculous, I personally feel that the present politicians comprising of leaders like Omar Abdullah, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq , Sajad Lone are genuinely committed to find a solution that lasts. They all have a very straight forward attitude and have the courage to call a spade a spade. They have certain credibility among the people and they cannot afford to squander. Gone are the days when a leader would feed the audience with slogans or utopian dreams. People want results now and they don’t have the patience to wait until tomorrow. As they say, things happen when they have to happen. Could it be that Providence desires the youth to bring about a revival of what has been destroyed?. According to the present configuration of our population we have 60% in the age group up to 30, around 30% in their 50s and the remaining 10% in the age group of 60 or above. In the past it is generally the later 10% that has held the reins and created a mess partly because of a rusty mindset or partly because they don’t understand the global compulsions. Comparing today’s youth with their parents when they were young or their grandparents when they were children, the lives of today’s youth have become more and more circumscribed. The constant social pressures and daily killings have made it impossible to socialize. We have lost our individual life and become virtual prisoners within our homes putting a stop on all physical activity. We live in a selfish place where we talk for the sake of talking ? We usually don’t write about something that brings laurels to this part of the world instead we go on writing against issues that are good for many but disliked by few. Our current paradigm for Kashmir issue is much like an entertainment show. We come in to a comfortable auditorium and watch others do the ‘Drama.’ And when it finishes, we clap and leave. So we have to start now, Kashmir is our problem and we have to find out an acceptable solution. Why can’t all our leaders of all shades of opinion come on one stage and then arrive at an agreeable solution? Unless all the political parties, repeat ALL, converge on a solution you will continue finding faults with PDP, APHC,NC and vice versa. I think we have reached a stage where we don’t want to see Kashmir turning into another Iraq, Afghanistan or Lebanon
There seems to be recognition worldwide now that today’s youth is better informed, is highly focused and productive and is better suited to deal with the problems around him. There is a greater realization with the youth of today that worldwide they sow the seeds but the harvest goes to a generation that only makes speeches. There is a resolve that it is he who has to decide his future and a world he wants to live in. In this new world order no one can afford to ignore the aspirations of youth and its dreams. Today’s youth has only seen strife, death, destruction and pain. It is ONLY the youth that has been used as fodder. How many people in their 60s have lost their lives? The bottom-line is that today’s youth wants PEACE. The entire Kashmir leadership has a moral obligation not to allow the peace loving people to become hostages of enemies of peace. In a vibrant democracy, people throw up new leaders. They don’t have to be thrust on the people. That way we can take pride that we who are discussing the Kashmir imbroglio here belong to a generation that does not have much of excess baggage on our shoulders. We were not a witness to the partition holocaust or the partition itself. We have only been experiencing the pain and suffering that the partition brought to the entire region.And Finally, The momentum is on, now is the time to be futuristic in our approach and believe in the concept of, “Give and Take”, we cannot dictate terms to countries like India or Pakistan but we can be flexible and with a united approach, we can help in the process of Confidence Building Measures to lead to an ultimate solution of Kashmir, of the both sides. But Youth cannot and should not be ignored

City Council Needs United Effort

Join hands and do it

Finally we have an elected corporation in the city, now is the time to make it effective

The elections to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation was a land mark decision. Inspite of all odds and danger People participated in it. The reasons may differ but I am sure everyone’s intention was to make his or her city a better place to live in. Healthy criticism may be good for democracy but criticizing just for the sake of criticizing is against the basic essence of democracy or in that case even humanity. I don’t agree when people suggest or relate the civic polls with the Kashmir issue because both are miles apart. Municipal Corporation is only meant for civic amenities wherein people’s comfort is primary. Don’t we stage a protest when we don’t have Electricity, don’t we protest when we have unhygienic condition everywhere around. Well that’s what we are. Hypocrats? We want the cake and eat it too! Some protested against the holding of civic polls or advocated poll boycott because they thought they would lose their base if people were given an equal share in power. We have a grand chance to give a helping hand to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in general and Srinagar in particular. Now it’s upto us as responsible citizen of Srinagar to take the maximum benefit out of it. Wherever we have an elected corporation in the world or the country the development is worth mentioning places like Delhi, Mumbai, New Mumbai, Kolkata or the civic bodies abroad, They are just extra ordinary. I know we have to start from the scratch and build our own resources and I am sure we will one day .we have to think fast and think positive. we have to encourage profitable institutions which in turn becomes our track to development. We need a Master Plan for Srinagar which does not take many years to realize. Combined and separate actions by the various implementers and promoters must unfold in a sequenced progression of moves, directed by the coordinated Master Plan. The Plan should identify key development and conservation sites, and should present a set of actions organized by priority. We can’t keep on changing the master plans every time, We have to think forward, we have to be futuristic and think 20 years from now instead of 5.We cant compromise on the green belt area of our city for an amusement park, we have to UNITEDLY fight for the cause of saving our water bodies. New private development projects cannot substitute natural balance or environmentalism. We cut a sorry figure while comparing with different Civic bodies elsewhere. I hope my piece of work will contribute in the process of developing our city. Let me share!

The increase in urban population has given rise to many problems mainly Unemployment, poor standard of living, lack of infrastructure facilities, environmental Problems and a significant increase in municipal waste of the Srinagar city. It is recognized that Class I cities (100,000 population) are responsible for more than 25 % of the sewage generation in the country. A common feature in most of the towns is the non-existent, or poorly maintained, sewage conveyance system. The sewage is not properly drained and accumulates within a city’s premises or on its outskirts creating unhygienic conditions. If you ask any one about the unhygienic conditions in our city while he complains it will take ages for him to complete or it would be a prize wining situation to tell someone about one hygienic place worth mentioning. There are large numbers of cesspools which, apart from creating unhygienic conditions, are good breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other vectors. Even the best lakes like Khoushalsar or Anchar are made dumping grounds or in that case the Dal lake as well. Now that we have a formal corporation in place and with good number of seasoned and educated people, I am sure we can share the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation to ensure safe and hygienic collection, storage, segregation, transportation, disposal / treatment of Municipal Wastes and other fields concerning the civic part of the city. The Dal lake and its banks are an important public resource, and critical to the environmental health of the region. Special considerations must be applied to the development of the Dal lake’s banks.

In order to address flooding and water quality, a development-free corridor can be maintained along the edges of the Dal Lake. It is quite certain that we may have heavy rains this year resulting in floods so we have to be prepared for it so that it doesn’t create a Snow-Mi like situation. Streets within the Srinagar district are important for establishing continuity and connections between key destinations for tourism purposes. Wide, tree-lined sidewalks will help to invite walking in the city and in that case along the boulevard road. Pedestrian traffic translates directly into purchasing power.

A city whose life line relies on tourists and tourism related goods and services the pedestrian concept is very important for it. People who walk are people who buy, eat and drink, support culture, and who socialize, keep watch over public safety, and draw more people to the streets which ultimately increase investment in the city. There is growing awareness of the importance of pedestrianization as key to downtown/Uptown revitalization. Guidelines for the City need to be applied with pioneering effort for greater and targeted impact. Retail and cultural opportunities, including culinary, night and day entertainment events, shops, restaurants and services, can be encouraged at street level. Apartments and lofts, along with business and professional offices, can be accommodated on higher floors, to maintain a mixed-use character to these key streets. The idea of Turing the Road from Saida kadal to Nigeen like the one from boulevard Road is worth a discussion, We cannot afford to destabilize the population in and around Dal .Even if scientifically thought the lake survives because of the inhabitants of Dal and around. Corporation should introduce fresh guidelines for development within the Influence area of Dal Lake. We can have discussion on clusters like structures as we have them abroad. Then the other important roads like the Fore shore, bye pass road and many more important roads can be used for both commercial as well as residential aspect. I don’t say we should create an environment disaster but what about environmentally sound development that substitutes gigantic constructions. We should encourage the concept of “Open Market Borrowing” where Municipal Corporation is in a position to carry out developmental works in Municipal limits by borrowing funds from commercial banks ceiling of which can be determined by the State Government. The main issues that need to be addressed on priority are: the Waterways in and around the Srinagar city, main Roads, Green Belt roads, and Neighborhood/ Local Streets, Street edges and lanes, environmentally Sound Development, shared Facilities, such as Shared Parking and transportation Apart from all this we need to sincerely and seriously think about Employment generation, Improving the quality of life, especially of the poor in a resource efficient Manner, Efficient and equitable delivery of Services, including urban transport, Strengthening and reorienting the municipal authorities to enable them to play the role of development managers, Strengthening the existing institutional mechanism and, Balancing the widening city size hierarchies.

We may not be able to move the mountains, but we can at least remove the barriers” with this I sincerely hope of a cleaner and better Srinagar City, We all should! Let’s hope for the best.