Power dept workers at risk

In the absence of safety equipment, thousands of daily wagers being engaged by the Power Development Department (PDD) for maintenance work or laying of new infrastructure are working under a constant threat. Repeated pleas by employees unions to equip the field teams with necessary gadgets have fell on deaf ears. Despite clear directions from the Central government, the PDD has failed to provide helmets, high-quality ropes and special gloves to the workers. As per the government record, more than 120 daily wagers engaged in maintenance work have died mostly from electric shock or by falling from poles and high-tension towers in the last two decades. Sumit Hakhoo

BJP frantic over PDP impasse

After two PDP Cabinet ministers submitted their resignations on Friday following the Cabinet reshuffle, families of BJP ministers were more worried and concerned than the PDP leadership. As soon as news flashed that two PDP Cabinet ministers had submitted their resignation, worried families of BJP ministers started contacting mediapersons to get authentic information. While none of the PDP leaders has shown any concern about the resignation of the two ministers, it was only BJP ministers and their family members who were worried about the instability of the coalition government. The BJP ministers, enjoying power for the first time, and their families do not want them to get out of power just after a span of two years. They are hopeful that the government will complete its full term. Dinesh Manhotra 

Unfolding of political drama

The state’s political forum saw a high-profile drama recently. The Friday rejig and resignations have made people think that the alliance of the two opposite ideologies has failed to meet the aspirations of both regions and is likely to fall apart. People are also apprehensive of the chaos returning to the state. While the BJP is accused of playing a second fiddle to its alliance partner PDP, the PDP is standing on flimsy political ground as its inner conflicts are coming to the fore.  Vikram Sharma

Govt order confuses Pandits

The government order to resume registration of migrants by the Relief Organisation has confused displaced Kashmiri Pandits. The process was stopped in 1999 but the government had allowed registration under a special category. It was completely stopped by the government in 2008 to stop the migration of people, especially minorities, from the Valley. The decision of the PDP-BJP coalition is seen as an acceptance of the deteriorating security situation in the Kashmir valley and preparation by the administration to deal with another ‘exodus’ of people as militancy is back. Only the coming few months will clear the fog over the government decision. Sumit Hakhoo

Winter on its way out

Winter in Kashmir is in its last phase now. The first phase of 40-day “xchillai kalan” was over by January-end. It was followed by 20 days of “chillai khurd”. The current and the last phase belongs to “chilla bacha” (child). This last phase of 10 days has its own childlike characteristics. During this period, the weather quickly changes from torrential rain to bright sunshine at any place. It also keeps changing from place to place, sometimes even within a few yards. Ehsan Fazili

Slum children showcase talent

The participation of children living in slums in extracurricular activities such as painting competition and clay modelling competition, being conducted by various organisations, is giving these children the much-needed exposure. A number of social organisations and educational trusts have taken the responsibility not only to provide free of cost education to the underprivileged children but also make them compete in a number of activities to showcase their talent. In the past few years, a number of schools for slum children have been opened by social activists in Trikuta Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Channi Himmat. The schools visit the slums and motivate the parents to send their children to school. Vikas Sharma 

Marriage season brings chaos 

As this is the season of marriages, commuters travelling on the narrow roads of Jammu city are having a hard time. The commuters get stuck in traffic jams for hours these days. The Jammu-Akhnoor road is the worst-affected area as a dozen marriage halls are situated along it. The Traffic police are unable to manage the traffic given the narrow roads and thousands of vehicles. They have no other option, but to let people suffer.  Amit Khajuria