Jammu and Kashmir - NEWS Of KASHMIR

Khidmat Centre Operators Protest in Jammu; President Tanveer Haji Demands Monthly Support and Permanent Settlement Policy

November 6, 2025 by NOK Desk

The Jammu and Kashmir Khidmat Centre Association has launched a protest demanding the immediate implementation of the long-promised Permanent Settlement Policy, citing a total collapse of their livelihoods after 16 years of dedicated public service.

For more than a decade, Khidmat Centres have played a vital role in delivering essential government and banking services, particularly in some of the most remote regions of Jammu and Kashmir. The operators have served as frontline workers during major crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that citizens continued to receive vital services when most institutions were shut down.

However, with the cessation of banking services, the operators now face an unsustainable future. Their operations have been crippled, and the association asserts that J&K Bank, the designated Service Centre Agency, has failed to secure the future of these vital centres.

Despite several high-level assurances from government officials over the years — including from Dr. Jitendra Singh (MP) — no concrete steps have been taken to formalize the employment status of the operators. This prolonged inaction has left 1,109 highly skilled professionals in a state of deep financial and professional uncertainty.

The association strongly argues that a permanent settlement is not only their rightful demand but also an obligation for all stakeholders who initially established and benefited from these centres.

Speaking on behalf of the association, President Tanveer Haji stated:

“Our demand is clear and just — implement the promised Permanent Settlement Policy. Until this is achieved, the Government must announce Gap Support of ₹50,000 per centre, per month without any further delay.”

The association has now made a direct appeal to the Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for their personal intervention to resolve this critical issue.

Furthermore, the Khidmat Centre Association has warned that if a policy decision is not made soon, they will be forced to intensify their agitation until their legitimate demands for stability, security, and dignity are met.

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Kashmir Agriculture

SKUAST-K’s RBIC Hosts Workshop on Innovation to Product Commercialisation with NABARD Support

November 6, 2025 by NOK Desk

Rural Business Incubation Centre (RBIC) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, supported by NABARD, hosted a one-day hands-on workshop on ‘Innovation to Product Commercialisation’, aimed at transforming research ideas into commercially viable ventures in the agriculture and allied sectors.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The workshop was conducted by national deep-tech expert Dr Kaushik Choudhury, CEO, AIC IPR Plasmatech Innovation Foundation (Department of Atomic Energy, GoI), Ahmedabad. Dr Choudhury shared a practical roadmap for innovators, drawing on his vast experience in supporting startups and co-founding companies that successfully commercialised high-impact medical and agricultural technologies.

The session focused on bridging the critical gap between laboratory discovery and market application, providing participants with the mindset and tools needed for scaling up their products. About 100 scholars, students, faculty members, innovators and startup founders participated in the daylong workshop.

The workshop was inaugurated by Director Education, SKUAST-K, Prof Mohd Altaf Bhat, who was the chief guest at the occasion.

Prof Bhat highlighted the University’s commitment, driven by the vision of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, who established Innovation and Entrepreneurship as the Fourth Mandate of the institution. He emphasised SKUAST-K is equipped with 21 state-of-the-art labs and vast intellectual capital to turn the valley into a startup hub.

Assistant General Manager, NABARD, Kanav Sharma, said that RBIC at SKUAST-K shall prove a game changer in empowering rural community through entrepreneurship and innovation for employment generation and economic development.

Head, IBPR, SKUAST-K Prof Farhet Shaeen, in his concluding remarks, said that RBIC must reach out to young talent to look for innovative ideas that have high potential of real world problem solving.

Dr Jameel Ahmad Khan, CEO, RBIC, introduced the centre as the institutional mechanism to provide end-to-end support through its five verticals – incubation, mentorship, capacity building, funding – to agripreneurs and rural startups in the region.

A select number of startups that displayed their products will receive an opportunity to showcase their products and ideas at the People’s Festival of Innovations 2025 in New Delhi from November 17-20, 2025.

Recently established Rural Business Incubation Centre hosted at SKUAST-K, funded and supported by National Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (NABARD), aims to strengthen the innovation and startup ecosystem in J&K and Ladakh through dedicated mentorship, incubation facilities, funding and other required facilities for startups and ventures.

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Developing Story

Hotelier Mushtaq Chayya Slams IHPL Organisers After Tournament Collapse, Says ‘They Took Our Money and Vanished’

November 5, 2025 by NOK Desk

Prominent hotelier and owner of Radisson Hotel Srinagar, Mushtaq Chayya, has sharply criticised the organisers of the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) after the tournament was abruptly cancelled and its organisers reportedly fled, leaving behind unpaid bills and accusations of fraud.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Speaking to reporters, Chayya said, “We were told a big, reputable company was coming to give our children a platform to showcase their talent. Many outside cricketers had come, and we had high hopes — but it turned into a big disappointment. They have taken money belonging to vendors, players, and hoteliers. In particular, our funds are still with them.”

Chayya confirmed that a police complaint has been lodged and that he expects legal action. “We have reported the matter to the police, and they are on it. Let’s see what happens, Insha’Allah,” he said.

On the recovery of funds, he added, “The police have assured us they are in touch with the organisers. Our management was in constant communication, and the organisers kept promising the money would be returned either today or tomorrow. Once the funds are recovered, I will update everyone.”

Police have launched an investigation after multiple complaints from players, hotels, and vendors who say they were left unpaid following the abrupt cancellation of the league.

The high-profile tournament, which began on October 25, was scheduled to continue until November 9, featuring eight teams and over 70 players, umpires, and support staff.

Among the international cricketers invited were West Indies legend Chris Gayle and New Zealand’s Jesse Ryder, whose participation brought glamour and international attention to the event.

Accommodation had been arranged at Hotel Radisson Collection, Rajbagh, with organisers assuring that all expenses would be covered. However, on the morning of November 2, the organisers allegedly disappeared without clearing dues.

According to the Radisson management, the hotel is owed around ₹51 lakh, while the total unpaid amount owed to vendors, staff, and participants remains unclear.

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Politics

BJP Welcomes LG’s Decision to Maintain Public Holiday Status Quo in Jammu and Kashmir for 2025

December 30, 2024December 30, 2024 by NOK Desk

In an official hand out issued by the Bharatiya Janata Party, it has appreciated the decision of the government to maintain status quo in the list of public holidays to be observed in the Jammu and Kashmir UT during 2025 issued by the General Administration Department.

In a significant decision taken by the LG Administration on 28 December 2019, the two controversial state holidays on July 13 and December 5 were deleted from the list of public holidays to be observed in 2020. The practice has been continuing unchanged since then. The decision was widely welcome across the nation as these holidays were controversial and region specific.

The restoration of these two holidays was included in its election manifesto by the National Conference. It was one of the many controversial commitments made by the party. After forming the government its many leaders and legislators including the party’s general secretary had upped the ante making fervent appeals to the LG to declare December 5, 2024 as a public holiday but were ignored.

It is also learnt that further pressure was exerted on the LG through submitting a cabinet proposal to the LG. “The firm stand taken by the LG and ignoring the parochial demand is really praiseworthy,” stated Brig Anil Gupta, Spokesperson of the Party.

“Both the holidays were mired in controversy and were thrust upon the people of the other two regions of the erstwhile state by the National Conference,” asserted Brig Gupta.

Incidentally, December 5 was never a state holiday between 1948-1981 and was declared as a holiday to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah after his death in 1982 by his son and successor Dr Farooq Abdullah.

In fact, controversy surrounds the actual birth date of the Sheikh. According to MY Taing, a noted Kashmiri historian and literary assistant of the Sheikh for writing latter’s autobiography Aatish-e-Chinar, December 5 is not the actual birth date of the Sheikh. Even Sheikh has not mentioned December 5 as his birthdate in his autobiography. “What is the justification of December 5 as a state holiday when the Sheikh himself does not acknowledge it as his birth date” exclaimed Brig Gupta!

Nothing can be more controversial and divisive than celebrating July 13 as a state holiday with full government support. While it was celebrated as Martyrs Day in Kashmir, it was celebrated as a Black Day by the Hindus in Jammu including the Kashmiri Pandits to protest against plundering of their properties in Kashmir by members of the majority community and also endangering their dignity, honour and lives.

Historically, the events of that day divided the people on regional, religious and ideological basis. The divide continues to persist and has widened further due to the monolithic attitude of Kashmir based regional political parties.

Reacting sharply to the NC Spokesperson post on the X where he has termed the exclusion of these two holidays as “disregard to Kashmir’s history and democratic struggle,” Brig Gupta reminded the National Conference that it is Jammu and Kashmir and not Kashmir alone.

The Raj Dharma demands the government to be fair and just to the sentiment and aspirations of the people of both the regions. The people of Jammu and their sentiments can not be ignored any more even if the government enjoyed brute majority. “It is high time that NC shuns the politics of exclusivity and embraces inclusivity by giving equal respect and status to the Dogra heritage and sentiments.

Cosmetic statements and theatrics wouldn’t suffice. It also needs to apologise to the Kashmiri Hindu community for the atrocities committed on them despite being the original inhabitants of the Valley. Rather than opening the old wounds, it should focus on their honourable and safe return to their abode.”