To boost horticulture production in the Kashmir valley, the government is bringing in new scientific techniques and methods to help farmers produce world-class fruits.

Horticulture is one of the main industries in the Union Territory and contributes around 8 per cent to the state’s GDP. Amongst them, Kashmiri apple production takes the biggest chunk of the sector.

Hence, in order to further boost the production and expand the market for Kashmiri apples across the globe, the government has been convincing farmers to set up high-density apple orchards.

Under the high-density farming technique, farmers use their land more efficiently, increasing yields without increasing the space devoted to planting. More importantly, high-density farming shows that farmers can make a living from farming without much, contrary to the common belief that successful farming is land-intensive.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmirs-famous-saffron-farming-gets-a-boost-with-new-initiatives-by-the-government-of-india-406303">Kashmir’s famous saffron farming gets a boost with new initiatives by the Government of India</a>

“Our economy is based on horticulture and our Kashmiri apples are renowned all over the world. So to compete with the other countries in apple cultivation, the government has come up with the idea of setting up high-density orchards. It accommodates more plants and helps produce high-quality grade A apples,” said Javaid Ahmad Bhat, Chief Horticulture Officer, Budgam.

In Kashmir, Budgam district has been the centre of this transformation. Here, hundreds of acres of land, which was earlier used by brick kiln owners, have been now converted into apple orchards, bringing economic benefits to the them without taking a toll on the environment.

“In Budgam, several acres of land was earlier used for the production of bricks. We approached the owners and convinced them to grow apples. We helped them by providing a subsidy of up to 50 per cent. The harvest was much more valuable than what they were getting earlier. We have now successfully converted thousands of acres of lands that earlier spaced brick kiln to orchards. '' Bhat said. &nbsp;
<img alt="Apple cultivation in Budgam" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="774a5482-c52e-48c1-b95b-9cbfc5d3e51a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/apple%202.jpg" />
Ghulam Ahmad Pal, a farmer and former brick kiln owner in Budgam, said ever since he shifted to apple cultivation under the new method, his earnings have doubled

“The credit goes to the horticulture department. The officials helped us a lot. Earlier, we used to get only Rs 5,000&nbsp;rent on a kanal (0.12 acre) of land for brick production. We had no apple orchards in the area. Then the officials approached us and apprised us about this new apple cultivation technique. Now, we are getting more than Rs 50,000 for growing apples on a kanal of land. They gave us the plant, provided the necessary infrastructure and gave a 50 per cent subsidy. They also helped us with pruning and cutting. I am happy that after retirement, I have taken to farming,” he said.

Pal’s success story has also inspired several other brick kiln owners who are now taking up apple cultivation.

To boost horticulture production in the Kashmir valley, the government is bringing in new scientific techniques and methods to help farmers produce world-class fruits.

To boost horticulture production in the Kashmir valley, the government is bringing in new scientific techniques and methods to help farmers produce world-class fruits. Horticulture is one of the main industries in the Union Territory and contributes around 8 per cent to the state’s GDP. Amongst them, Kashmiri apple production takes the biggest chunk of the sector. Hence, in order to further boost the production and expand the market for Kashmiri apples across the globe, the government has been convincing farmers to set up high-density apple orchards. Under the high-density farming technique, farmers use their land more efficiently, increasing yields without increasing the space devoted to planting. More importantly, high-density farming shows that farmers can make a living from farming without much, contrary to the common belief that successful farming is land-intensive. Also read | Kashmir’s famous saffron farming gets a boost with new initiatives by the Government of India “Our economy is based on horticulture and our Kashmiri apples are renowned all over the world. So to compete with the other countries in apple cultivation, the government has come up with the idea of setting up high-density orchards. It accommodates more plants and helps produce high-quality grade A apples,” said Javaid Ahmad Bhat, Chief Horticulture Officer, Budgam. In Kashmir, Budgam district has been the centre of this transformation. Here, hundreds of acres of land, which was earlier used by brick kiln owners, have been now converted into apple orchards, bringing economic benefits to the them without taking a toll on the environment. “In Budgam, several acres of land was earlier used for the production of bricks. We approached the owners and convinced them to grow apples. We helped them by providing a subsidy of up to 50 per cent. The harvest was much more valuable than what they were getting earlier. We have now successfully converted thousands of acres of lands that earlier spaced brick kiln to orchards. '' Bhat said. Ghulam Ahmad Pal, a farmer and former brick kiln owner in Budgam, said ever since he shifted to apple cultivation under the new method, his earnings have doubled “The credit goes to the horticulture department. The officials helped us a lot. Earlier, we used to get only Rs 5,000 rent on a kanal (0.12 acre) of land for brick production. We had no apple orchards in the area. Then the officials approached us and apprised us about this new apple cultivation technique. Now, we are getting more than Rs 50,000 for growing apples on a kanal of land. They gave us the plant, provided the necessary infrastructure and gave a 50 per cent subsidy. They also helped us with pruning and cutting. I am happy that after retirement, I have taken to farming,” he said. Pal’s success story has also inspired several other brick kiln owners who are now taking up apple cultivation.

In Kashmir’s Budgam, brick kiln owners taking up apple cultivation thanks to govt’s new initiative

Kashmir's tourism Industry is witnessing a boom after hitting the lowest in the last two years. In the month of July and August, Kashmir has seen maximum tourist arrivals. The Srinagar airport has more than 8,000 travellers flying in and out of Srinagar with a total of 62 flights everyday.&nbsp;

The numbers have increased after the authorities started late evening flights in Srinagar. It has not only helped the tourists but locals of the valley too.

"A total number of 8,059 passengers travelled on 62 flights (31 Arrivals and 31 Departure)," tweeted Srinagar Airport Authority.&nbsp;

The tourism stakeholders of Kashmir valley have finally had some respite. They are hoping the tourist arrivals continue like this so that the industry flourishes again.&nbsp;

"The flow of tourists is much better than what it was earlier. After Covid we are thankful to the tourism department for the promotion and with time its getting better and better. Department started a vaccination drive and we were the first ones to open for tourists in the country. We are adding new attractions like water transport and a new destination Gurez also picked up. We are hoping that with festivals coming the number of tourists will increase. We are also doing regional promotions in different states," said Manzoor Pakhtoon, a tour operator.

After the second wave of Covid subsided in the country, people have finally started travelling and Kashmir is one of the most favourite destinations for the domestic tourists.

A lot of tourists could be seen around Dal Lake, Gulmarg and places like Pahalgam.&nbsp;

"We have come to Kashmir for the first time and we are liking it. What we hear in the news, it's not like that at all. We like everything from people to places. We are going to Pahalgam and Gulmarg for the next three days. Everyone should come to Kashmir and there is nothing to worry about. People are bored at home so people should travel now," said Naresh Kumar, a tourist.

The tourists also asked people from across the country to visit the Valley.&nbsp;

"Kashmir is a paradise and it's the truth. We are so happy to be here. And I would also come again for sure. I would ask people to come as it's a very beautiful place," said Aakash Tilak, a tourist.&nbsp;

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has also given special discounts and offers to the tourists coming to the valley. Some new sites are being added as well as adventure tourism is also being promoted.

Kashmir's tourism Industry is witnessing a boom after hitting the lowest in the last two years. In the month of July and August, Kashmir has seen maximum tourist arrivals.

Kashmir's tourism Industry is witnessing a boom after hitting the lowest in the last two years. In the month of July and August, Kashmir has seen maximum tourist arrivals. The Srinagar airport has more than 8,000 travellers flying in and out of Srinagar with a total of 62 flights everyday. The numbers have increased after the authorities started late evening flights in Srinagar. It has not only helped the tourists but locals of the valley too. "A total number of 8,059 passengers travelled on 62 flights (31 Arrivals and 31 Departure)," tweeted Srinagar Airport Authority. The tourism stakeholders of Kashmir valley have finally had some respite. They are hoping the tourist arrivals continue like this so that the industry flourishes again. "The flow of tourists is much better than what it was earlier. After Covid we are thankful to the tourism department for the promotion and with time its getting better and better. Department started a vaccination drive and we were the first ones to open for tourists in the country. We are adding new attractions like water transport and a new destination Gurez also picked up. We are hoping that with festivals coming the number of tourists will increase. We are also doing regional promotions in different states," said Manzoor Pakhtoon, a tour operator. After the second wave of Covid subsided in the country, people have finally started travelling and Kashmir is one of the most favourite destinations for the domestic tourists. A lot of tourists could be seen around Dal Lake, Gulmarg and places like Pahalgam. "We have come to Kashmir for the first time and we are liking it. What we hear in the news, it's not like that at all. We like everything from people to places. We are going to Pahalgam and Gulmarg for the next three days. Everyone should come to Kashmir and there is nothing to worry about. People are bored at home so people should travel now," said Naresh Kumar, a tourist. The tourists also asked people from across the country to visit the Valley. "Kashmir is a paradise and it's the truth. We are so happy to be here. And I would also come again for sure. I would ask people to come as it's a very beautiful place," said Aakash Tilak, a tourist. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has also given special discounts and offers to the tourists coming to the valley. Some new sites are being added as well as adventure tourism is also being promoted.

Tourism industry in Kashmir booms again: 8,000 travellers fly in and out in a day

If there is a will, there is a way. The age-old saying has been proven right by two cricketers of Kashmir Valley. Feroz Ahmad Ganie of Anantnag and Nayeem Ahmad Malla of Budgam have been selected in the Indian cricket team by the Board of Disabled Cricket Association (BDCA) India.&nbsp;

Feroz Ahmad Ganie met with an accident in 2014. He was hit by a car which led to multiple fractures in his leg. The irony is Feroz was carrying his cricket equipment on his shoulders and was on his way to play a cricket match when the accident took place.&nbsp;

"I have been playing cricket since childhood. It's my first love. I met with an accident in 2014, I was on my way to play a match and a vehicle hit me. I was left with multiple fractures and I have a rod and pins put inside my leg for me to walk. The accident did not kill my love for cricket, After being in bed for two years I started again. I was helped by my family and friends," Said Feroz Ahmad Ganie, Cricketer.&nbsp;

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Feroz has played 7 Nationals so far. He has been the captain for all the tournaments representing Jammu and Kashmir. Both the players were called to Hyderabad for a trial where they were selected to be a part of the Indian Cricket Team of specially-abled.&nbsp;

"We are happy that the Governor tweeted about us. We are thankful but we would like the administration to give us more support. There is hardly anything specially-abled in Kashmir valley. Whatever we have done, has been done on our own. I wish the government pushes for initiatives where specially-abled get to play all sports. It's very important for us to be involved into these activities to keep ourselves fit," said Feroz Ahmad Ganie, Cricketer.&nbsp;

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Feroz has personally trained more than 30 boys from various districts and hopes to help as many as possible in the near future.&nbsp;

In Budgam district of Central Kashmir, lives Nayeem Ahmad Malla, another cricketer selected for the Indian team. Nayeem says it's no less than a dream come true for him.&nbsp;

"I have been playing since childhood. I have played four&nbsp;Nationals so far. It was due to these nationals that we got called for this selection trial. This selection is a dream getting fulfilled. I met an accident in 2006 and another one in 2008 which injured my shoulder and right hand, but that did not change or affect my love for cricket, I kept going on and today I am selected for the Indian Team'', said Nayeem Ahmad Malla, Cricketer.

Nayeem has also been an inspiration for hundreds of specially-abled people. He has trained more than 17 boys in the sport.&nbsp;

Earlier, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had said ”Proud moment for J&amp;K! Feroz Ahmad Ganie of Anantnag &amp; Nayeem Ahmad Malla of Budgam have been selected in the Indian Cricket Team by Board of Disabled Cricket Association, India. Your achievement in the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh will inspire J&amp;K’s youth, make India proud,”&nbsp;

If there is a will, there is a way. The age-old saying has been proven right by two cricketers of Kashmir Valley. Feroz Ahmad Ganie of Anantnag and Nayeem Ahmad Malla of Budgam have been selected in the Indian cricket team by the Board of Disabled Cricket Association (BDCA) India.

If there is a will, there is a way. The age-old saying has been proven right by two cricketers of Kashmir Valley. Feroz Ahmad Ganie of Anantnag and Nayeem Ahmad Malla of Budgam have been selected in the Indian cricket team by the Board of Disabled Cricket Association (BDCA) India. Feroz Ahmad Ganie met with an accident in 2014. He was hit by a car which led to multiple fractures in his leg. The irony is Feroz was carrying his cricket equipment on his shoulders and was on his way to play a cricket match when the accident took place. "I have been playing cricket since childhood. It's my first love. I met with an accident in 2014, I was on my way to play a match and a vehicle hit me. I was left with multiple fractures and I have a rod and pins put inside my leg for me to walk. The accident did not kill my love for cricket, After being in bed for two years I started again. I was helped by my family and friends," Said Feroz Ahmad Ganie, Cricketer. ALSO READ | The Hundred: Rashid Khan's pictures with Afghanistan's flag painted on his face go viral Feroz has played 7 Nationals so far. He has been the captain for all the tournaments representing Jammu and Kashmir. Both the players were called to Hyderabad for a trial where they were selected to be a part of the Indian Cricket Team of specially-abled. "We are happy that the Governor tweeted about us. We are thankful but we would like the administration to give us more support. There is hardly anything specially-abled in Kashmir valley. Whatever we have done, has been done on our own. I wish the government pushes for initiatives where specially-abled get to play all sports. It's very important for us to be involved into these activities to keep ourselves fit," said Feroz Ahmad Ganie, Cricketer. ALSO READ | MS Dhoni announces return of IPL 2021 in a never-before-seen avatar - watch Feroz has personally trained more than 30 boys from various districts and hopes to help as many as possible in the near future. In Budgam district of Central Kashmir, lives Nayeem Ahmad Malla, another cricketer selected for the Indian team. Nayeem says it's no less than a dream come true for him. "I have been playing since childhood. I have played four Nationals so far. It was due to these nationals that we got called for this selection trial. This selection is a dream getting fulfilled. I met an accident in 2006 and another one in 2008 which injured my shoulder and right hand, but that did not change or affect my love for cricket, I kept going on and today I am selected for the Indian Team'', said Nayeem Ahmad Malla, Cricketer. Nayeem has also been an inspiration for hundreds of specially-abled people. He has trained more than 17 boys in the sport. Earlier, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had said ”Proud moment for J&K! Feroz Ahmad Ganie of Anantnag & Nayeem Ahmad Malla of Budgam have been selected in the Indian Cricket Team by Board of Disabled Cricket Association, India. Your achievement in the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh will inspire J&K’s youth, make India proud,”

Two specially-abled cricketers from Kashmir selected for Indian team, will play ODI series against Bangladesh

A new saffron park has been started just for the sole purpose of processing and promoting the sale of saffron from the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;

To give a boost to saffron farming in the Kashmir valley, the government of India has initiated new schemes and techniques for its promotion. With the introduction of GI Tagging and new techniques of processing, the quality of Kashmir's saffron has been raised to be among the top in the world.

A new saffron park has been started just for the sole purpose of processing and promoting the sale of saffron from the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;

"We test the samples that we get here. There are 8 parameters we test these samples on, which are internationally recognized. Our lab is recognised across the world. The 8 parameters include moisture, extraneous matter and foreign matter, and total ash and three main characteristics. We grade them and then we do an e-auction. The farmers get the flowers and then we do the stigma separation and then we do the vacuum drying. Traditionally, farmers used to dry the saffron under shade at home, but due to that, the saffron used to lose its main components. We save all the parameters which help us to get the best grade. Our saffron is better than Spain and Iranian saffron. " said Dr Majid Ali, Deputy Technical Manager.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="saffron" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c000ab28-7f4f-4111-af03-f00fd7088119" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Image%282%29.jpeg" />

The saffron flowers are sent to this laboratory where scientists with all new technology process them and can retain the finest quality. With this quality assurance and GI Tagging, the government can sell the products on all national and international platforms.&nbsp;

"Anytime a laboratory or institution checks the quality of a product, they have to survey the establishment. There are many procedures that ensure the quality and quantity of the product. There are many schemes and standard operating procedures. 
 
<img alt="saffron" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="97f65c3b-969b-458e-b22c-3642a9767aec" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Image%281%29.jpeg" />

If we want to get these products recognised on international platforms, we have to follow these steps. It's not a cumbersome process, but it's a process that ensures the quality, quantity, and income of the farmers. SOP is made for people to benefit the people, so in that way, there are many processes and camps where we are aware of the farmers, "said Baseer Ul Chaudhary, DC Pulwama.&nbsp;

With this step, the farmers and retailers of the Kashmir valley are extremely happy. They say it will benefit the farmers directly and they can sell the product despite lockdowns.&nbsp;

"It's very good for us. The farmers were not satisfied with the money they would get for their produce. If there is a good price for it, it will help. Due to COVID-19, there were problems. Now if we could sell it online, it would be a lot more beneficial. We have been personally selling it online and if the government also did the same, it would help, "said Wahid Bhat, a farmer and retailer.

Tourists coming to the Kashmir valley always buy saffron on their visit. But with initiative now, they can buy the best quality saffron online. They say it will be very helpful.&nbsp;

"Since childhood, we have heard about it and we get it every year. It's very good quality. If it's as good quality as we get from Kashmir, then it's very helpful. Then you don't need to wait long to get the best quality. It is good for the farmers also, as due to COVID-19, tourism has come to a halt. The farmers will not have to suffer from it. The product will not have to suffer. "said Nidhi Aggarwal, a tourist.&nbsp;

These new initiatives by the government of India will benefit the farmers as well as the retailers in the Kashmir valley.

A new saffron park has been started just for the sole purpose of processing and promoting the sale of saffron from the Kashmir Valley. To give a boost to saffron farming in the Kashmir valley, the government of India has initiated new schemes and techniques for its promotion.

A new saffron park has been started just for the sole purpose of processing and promoting the sale of saffron from the Kashmir Valley. To give a boost to saffron farming in the Kashmir valley, the government of India has initiated new schemes and techniques for its promotion. With the introduction of GI Tagging and new techniques of processing, the quality of Kashmir's saffron has been raised to be among the top in the world. A new saffron park has been started just for the sole purpose of processing and promoting the sale of saffron from the Kashmir Valley. "We test the samples that we get here. There are 8 parameters we test these samples on, which are internationally recognized. Our lab is recognised across the world. The 8 parameters include moisture, extraneous matter and foreign matter, and total ash and three main characteristics. We grade them and then we do an e-auction. The farmers get the flowers and then we do the stigma separation and then we do the vacuum drying. Traditionally, farmers used to dry the saffron under shade at home, but due to that, the saffron used to lose its main components. We save all the parameters which help us to get the best grade. Our saffron is better than Spain and Iranian saffron. " said Dr Majid Ali, Deputy Technical Manager. The saffron flowers are sent to this laboratory where scientists with all new technology process them and can retain the finest quality. With this quality assurance and GI Tagging, the government can sell the products on all national and international platforms. "Anytime a laboratory or institution checks the quality of a product, they have to survey the establishment. There are many procedures that ensure the quality and quantity of the product. There are many schemes and standard operating procedures. If we want to get these products recognised on international platforms, we have to follow these steps. It's not a cumbersome process, but it's a process that ensures the quality, quantity, and income of the farmers. SOP is made for people to benefit the people, so in that way, there are many processes and camps where we are aware of the farmers, "said Baseer Ul Chaudhary, DC Pulwama. With this step, the farmers and retailers of the Kashmir valley are extremely happy. They say it will benefit the farmers directly and they can sell the product despite lockdowns. "It's very good for us. The farmers were not satisfied with the money they would get for their produce. If there is a good price for it, it will help. Due to COVID-19, there were problems. Now if we could sell it online, it would be a lot more beneficial. We have been personally selling it online and if the government also did the same, it would help, "said Wahid Bhat, a farmer and retailer. Tourists coming to the Kashmir valley always buy saffron on their visit. But with initiative now, they can buy the best quality saffron online. They say it will be very helpful. "Since childhood, we have heard about it and we get it every year. It's very good quality. If it's as good quality as we get from Kashmir, then it's very helpful. Then you don't need to wait long to get the best quality. It is good for the farmers also, as due to COVID-19, tourism has come to a halt. The farmers will not have to suffer from it. The product will not have to suffer. "said Nidhi Aggarwal, a tourist. These new initiatives by the government of India will benefit the farmers as well as the retailers in the Kashmir valley.

Kashmir’s famous saffron farming gets a boost with new initiatives by the Government of India

On the occasion of India's 75th Independence Day celebration in Jammu and Kashmir, numerous flag hoisting ceremonies were held across the Union Territory.

Among such celebrations was one held in the Tral area of South Kashmir, where deceased&nbsp;Hizb Militant Burhan Wani's father, Muzaffar Wani, hoisted the national flag at Higher Secondary school in Tral.&nbsp;

Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in 2016, leading to massive unrest in the Kashmir valley.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/independence-day-special-this-is-how-military-assets-were-divided-among-india-and-pakistan-405698" hreflang="en">Independence Day Special: This is how military assets were divided among India and Pakistan</a>

Muzaffar Wani is working as a headmaster in a government school at Tral In Pulwama.&nbsp;

The government under the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav", &nbsp;had directed the education department as well as many other government-run departments to ensure that flag hoisting is held in all offices on Independence Day.

''It's the biggest change we can see as far as the ground situation in Kashmir Valley is concerned. Burhan Wani's father hoisting the national flag in itself is a bigger message not only to the national community but also to the international community that things in Kashmir have started to change. Change has already started after the abrogation of article 370. The families which were ruling for three decades had done nothing and now we see the progress of common Kashmiris," said Nasir Khan, a youth activist.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/this-is-the-moment-the-right-moment-pm-modi-recites-poem-for-youth-during-independence-day-address-watch-405561" hreflang="en">'This is the moment, the right moment': PM Modi recites poem for youth during Independence Day address - Watch</a>

The young political leaders in the valley appreciated Muzzafar Wani for hoisting the national flag.&nbsp;

''It's a wonderful thing that he has supported change and peace, he has shown his love to the nation. I would appeal to the government that Kashmiris are giving love to the nation and now Delhi has to reciprocate,'' said Aaqib Renzu, a youth counsellor.&nbsp;

The LG of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha said that 23,000 flags were hoisted in educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. The main function to celebrate Independence Day was held at Srinagar Sheri Kashmir Cricket Stadium.&nbsp;

Sinha also hoisted a flag on Srinagar's only Fort Hari Parbat. A 100 feet flag was hoisted there which will be visible to all the people living in the Srinagar city.&nbsp;

On the occasion of India's 75th Independence Day celebration in Jammu and Kashmir, numerous flag hoisting ceremonies were held across the Union Territory. Among such celebrations was one held in the Tral area of South Kashmir, where deceased Hizb Militant Burhan Wani's father, Muzaffar Wani, hoisted the national flag at Higher Secondary school in Tral.

On the occasion of India's 75th Independence Day celebration in Jammu and Kashmir, numerous flag hoisting ceremonies were held across the Union Territory. Among such celebrations was one held in the Tral area of South Kashmir, where deceased Hizb Militant Burhan Wani's father, Muzaffar Wani, hoisted the national flag at Higher Secondary school in Tral. Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in 2016, leading to massive unrest in the Kashmir valley. Also read | Independence Day Special: This is how military assets were divided among India and Pakistan Muzaffar Wani is working as a headmaster in a government school at Tral In Pulwama. The government under the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav", had directed the education department as well as many other government-run departments to ensure that flag hoisting is held in all offices on Independence Day. ''It's the biggest change we can see as far as the ground situation in Kashmir Valley is concerned. Burhan Wani's father hoisting the national flag in itself is a bigger message not only to the national community but also to the international community that things in Kashmir have started to change. Change has already started after the abrogation of article 370. The families which were ruling for three decades had done nothing and now we see the progress of common Kashmiris," said Nasir Khan, a youth activist. Also read | 'This is the moment, the right moment': PM Modi recites poem for youth during Independence Day address - Watch The young political leaders in the valley appreciated Muzzafar Wani for hoisting the national flag. ''It's a wonderful thing that he has supported change and peace, he has shown his love to the nation. I would appeal to the government that Kashmiris are giving love to the nation and now Delhi has to reciprocate,'' said Aaqib Renzu, a youth counsellor. The LG of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha said that 23,000 flags were hoisted in educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. The main function to celebrate Independence Day was held at Srinagar Sheri Kashmir Cricket Stadium. Sinha also hoisted a flag on Srinagar's only Fort Hari Parbat. A 100 feet flag was hoisted there which will be visible to all the people living in the Srinagar city.

India Independence: Burhan Wani’s father hoists national flag, young leaders appreciate the move

The famous Mughal Gardens of Kashmir are all set to get the UNESCO World Heritage tag. The Jammu and Kashmir government has signed an MoU with a private firm for the conservation of the Six gardens in the valley.&nbsp;

With this tag, the government expects that tourism in the valley will get a boost and these gardens will be a must visit place. The department of Floriculture is working with various stakeholders for the conservation of these gardens. Many horticulturists, architects, historians and conservationists have been taken onboard for the conservation of these gardens.&nbsp;

<img alt="Mughal Gardens in Kashmir aim for UNESCO heritage tag" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3650dcd3-e825-46cd-bb02-6cc267671379" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/thumbnail_Image.jpeg" />

''If you see the Mughal Gardens, they are four centuries old and they are live gardens thronged by millions of tourists. Wear and tear will always be there so conservation works need to be done on a regular basis and the department has been actively doing it from time to time with due consultations with experts. Under their guidance we are conserving these places,'' said Javaid Masood, Floriculture Officer. "Once these sites are enlisted in the permanent list of world heritage sites, they will be must visit sites. They will be a common cultural site, a common heritage of humankind. When a site gets the tag of UNESCO, it's a big achievement and naturally tourist flow increases, it will bring a lot of benefits and promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir."

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The team from UNESCO can come to inspect these gardens anytime now. The floriculture department is now working hard to restore and conserve these gardens in the best possible way before the inspection team arrives.

''The department of floriculture has been continuously working on the conservation of the Mughal Gardens. Due to the efforts of the department, Six gardens of Kashmir are in the tentative list of heritage gardens of the world. We are on the path of improving their status of conservation. The government has hired a Mumbai based consultancy for completion of nominations in UNESCO Heritage list,'' Masood said.&nbsp;

If these Mughal gardens are enlisted in UNESCO heritage list, not only will it bring more tourists to Kashmir valley but will also put these sites on world map.

The famous Mughal Gardens of Kashmir are all set to get the UNESCO World Heritage tag. The Jammu and Kashmir government has signed an MoU with a private firm for the conservation of the Six gardens in the valley.

The famous Mughal Gardens of Kashmir are all set to get the UNESCO World Heritage tag. The Jammu and Kashmir government has signed an MoU with a private firm for the conservation of the Six gardens in the valley. With this tag, the government expects that tourism in the valley will get a boost and these gardens will be a must visit place. The department of Floriculture is working with various stakeholders for the conservation of these gardens. Many horticulturists, architects, historians and conservationists have been taken onboard for the conservation of these gardens. ''If you see the Mughal Gardens, they are four centuries old and they are live gardens thronged by millions of tourists. Wear and tear will always be there so conservation works need to be done on a regular basis and the department has been actively doing it from time to time with due consultations with experts. Under their guidance we are conserving these places,'' said Javaid Masood, Floriculture Officer. "Once these sites are enlisted in the permanent list of world heritage sites, they will be must visit sites. They will be a common cultural site, a common heritage of humankind. When a site gets the tag of UNESCO, it's a big achievement and naturally tourist flow increases, it will bring a lot of benefits and promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir." Also read | Organ donation dropped significantly due to COVID-19: Experts The team from UNESCO can come to inspect these gardens anytime now. The floriculture department is now working hard to restore and conserve these gardens in the best possible way before the inspection team arrives. ''The department of floriculture has been continuously working on the conservation of the Mughal Gardens. Due to the efforts of the department, Six gardens of Kashmir are in the tentative list of heritage gardens of the world. We are on the path of improving their status of conservation. The government has hired a Mumbai based consultancy for completion of nominations in UNESCO Heritage list,'' Masood said. If these Mughal gardens are enlisted in UNESCO heritage list, not only will it bring more tourists to Kashmir valley but will also put these sites on world map.

Mughal Gardens in Kashmir aim for UNESCO heritage tag

An award-winning 'paper mache' artist in Srinagar, Maqbool Jan has been making a masterpiece.

He is making a map of Srinagar city on a cloth by using 'paper mache' techniques. He wants to see the&nbsp;masterpiece displayed in the Indian Parliament.&nbsp;

''My actual wish is that this should be put up in Parliament. Or if they can put it in the Kashmir assembly or a big art gallery. The new generation should see our culture through our art. I would be extremely happy if it was put up in Parliament. It would give a boost to artisans of Kashmir Valley. They would make better things in the future,&nbsp;'' said artist Maqbool Jan.

Maqbool has been working on the&nbsp;map for over&nbsp;a year and says it will take a few more months to complete. The inspiration for the&nbsp;map has come from a shawl which&nbsp;is displayed&nbsp;at the Srinagar museum. The map on the&nbsp;shawl is drawn by Sozni work. He wants to recreate the same with 'paper mache'.&nbsp;

''I got the idea from a shawl in the museum and wanted to bring that art alive again. I wanted to show how Dal Lake used to be, how old Srinagar looked like and that's the reason I created this. The new generation should take up this art. It took me a year to make this and it will take me a month more to complete this. I thought about the colour scheme first and how water colours used to be. How our shrines and mosques and gardens used to look,&nbsp;'' said Maqbool Jan.

<img alt="Paper mache artist in Kashmir Valey" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e661ace-a4ba-44ea-8c61-ed44a2ed536c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Tot1.jpeg" />

There is no school where the art of paper machie is taught to the youngsters of Kashmir Valley. The artists have been demanding that a degree course should be introduced by the institutions of Kashmir Valley to uplift the&nbsp;art form.&nbsp;

''Our children are extremely talented but we don't have any local designers. We have to get designers from outside, so we want the government to start courses so that students can learn here. Our children want to have a degree before starting&nbsp;work, they don't want to leave education and then pick this up. We want the government to introduce a degree course. They say artists are not respected here,'' said Maqbool.&nbsp;

The centuries-old art is being revived by artists&nbsp;like Maqbool Jan. He is making sure that this art form survives in tough times and emerges again in the Kashmir Valley.

Maqbool has won four&nbsp;national and one international award for his contributions towards this art.

An award-winning 'paper mache' artist in Srinagar, Maqbool Jan has been making a masterpiece. He is making a map of Srinagar city on a cloth by using 'paper mache' techniques.

An award-winning 'paper mache' artist in Srinagar, Maqbool Jan has been making a masterpiece. He is making a map of Srinagar city on a cloth by using 'paper mache' techniques. He wants to see the masterpiece displayed in the Indian Parliament. ''My actual wish is that this should be put up in Parliament. Or if they can put it in the Kashmir assembly or a big art gallery. The new generation should see our culture through our art. I would be extremely happy if it was put up in Parliament. It would give a boost to artisans of Kashmir Valley. They would make better things in the future, '' said artist Maqbool Jan. Maqbool has been working on the map for over a year and says it will take a few more months to complete. The inspiration for the map has come from a shawl which is displayed at the Srinagar museum. The map on the shawl is drawn by Sozni work. He wants to recreate the same with 'paper mache'. ''I got the idea from a shawl in the museum and wanted to bring that art alive again. I wanted to show how Dal Lake used to be, how old Srinagar looked like and that's the reason I created this. The new generation should take up this art. It took me a year to make this and it will take me a month more to complete this. I thought about the colour scheme first and how water colours used to be. How our shrines and mosques and gardens used to look, '' said Maqbool Jan. There is no school where the art of paper machie is taught to the youngsters of Kashmir Valley. The artists have been demanding that a degree course should be introduced by the institutions of Kashmir Valley to uplift the art form. ''Our children are extremely talented but we don't have any local designers. We have to get designers from outside, so we want the government to start courses so that students can learn here. Our children want to have a degree before starting work, they don't want to leave education and then pick this up. We want the government to introduce a degree course. They say artists are not respected here,'' said Maqbool. The centuries-old art is being revived by artists like Maqbool Jan. He is making sure that this art form survives in tough times and emerges again in the Kashmir Valley. Maqbool has won four national and one international award for his contributions towards this art.

Award-winning paper mache artist makes Srinagar map masterpiece

The Jammu and Kashmir government has established&nbsp;a special initiative for the first time for the youth of the union territory. The initiative called ''Mission Youth'' will benefit more than 50,000 youngsters&nbsp;in different streams.&nbsp;

The motive behind this is to engage the youngsters of the union territory&nbsp;from developing their skills to training them for starting their own ventures. This initiative will also work in sports activities where more than 20,000 youth will&nbsp;be engaged&nbsp;and trained in various sports to become professionals.&nbsp;

''Under mission youth we are working under five-six major parameters, one is skill development. We have rolled out 98 courses for the youth. They are linked with employment. Second&nbsp;is sports, we want youth to take sports as a profession. We are engaging 20,000 youth in sports and different activities. We are holding counselling&nbsp;centres for youth. Scholarships for women have been rolled out — super 75 scholarship&nbsp;under the guidance of LG Manoj Sinha where we provide INR 100,000 to each girl student to pursue&nbsp;further studies. We are also going to coach students for different competitive exams,'' said Shahid Chaudhary, Director, Mission Youth.

In the Mission Youth, special schemes and scholarships have been rolled out specially for women. Female students wanting to pursue post-graduate courses will be helped with around INR 100,000 worth of scholarships and&nbsp;many skill development courses have also been introduced for women.&nbsp;

''The performance of women&nbsp;has been low and when we launched these schemes the first few ones were only for women. We want at least&nbsp;50 per cent of women participation. We are engaging 20,000 in sports only, self-employment for 50,000 youth in collaboration with JK bank,'' Chaudhary explained.

Young people of the valley have appreciated this move by the government. They say it will help many unemployed youngsters to find a path for deciding their careers and also take them away from social evils such as drug addiction.&nbsp;

"First of all, I would like to appreciate this move by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. It was very much required. Mission youth has funding of around 600 crores, and I recently saw 75 students will get scholarships for the courses, youth engagement schemes are there in it. We have nothing to do otherwise and this initiative will give a boost to the youth in sectors like entrepreneurship etc. They should take more such initiatives for the young, otherwise, we have seen young people going towards drugs and other social evils," said Mir Khubaib, a youngster in the valley.&nbsp;

Some youngsters even say that it's the first time the government has thought about young people. However, they appreciated the efforts made by the LG Manoj Sinha.&nbsp;

"It's the first time in seven decades that something has happened so it's really fabulous that they are delivering on ground. If we see in departments it used to be extremely difficult to get a loan but with these schemes it would be helpful. Youth can get engaged in recreational initiatives. Mission Youth is a great initiative and the officer leading is also good. In Srinagar downtown area, 99 per cent are not government employees and they used to face a lot of issues in getting loans. Youth were demanding something should be done and this is something great LG Manoj Sinha has done for the people of Kashmir. The main reason behind drug addiction is unemployment and with these initiatives, we can involve these youth in something constructive,"&nbsp;said Aqib Renzu, a youth activist.&nbsp;

Youngsters from downtown, however, say that they have been neglected always but hope this scheme will benefit them too.&nbsp;

''This is a great initiative, mission youth for the young. I am from the downtown area of Srinagar and we have been neglected for a very long time and now for the first time we are seeing some hope. I appreciate this. Inshallah it will be a great platform,'' said Tabish Abbas Pathan, a local youngster.&nbsp;

The scheme, if implemented, properly across the union territory can really bring a major change across the Valley.&nbsp;

The Jammu and Kashmir government has established a special initiative for the first time for the youth of the union territory. The initiative called ''Mission Youth'' will benefit more than 50,000 youngsters in different streams.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has established a special initiative for the first time for the youth of the union territory. The initiative called ''Mission Youth'' will benefit more than 50,000 youngsters in different streams. The motive behind this is to engage the youngsters of the union territory from developing their skills to training them for starting their own ventures. This initiative will also work in sports activities where more than 20,000 youth will be engaged and trained in various sports to become professionals. ''Under mission youth we are working under five-six major parameters, one is skill development. We have rolled out 98 courses for the youth. They are linked with employment. Second is sports, we want youth to take sports as a profession. We are engaging 20,000 youth in sports and different activities. We are holding counselling centres for youth. Scholarships for women have been rolled out — super 75 scholarship under the guidance of LG Manoj Sinha where we provide INR 100,000 to each girl student to pursue further studies. We are also going to coach students for different competitive exams,'' said Shahid Chaudhary, Director, Mission Youth. In the Mission Youth, special schemes and scholarships have been rolled out specially for women. Female students wanting to pursue post-graduate courses will be helped with around INR 100,000 worth of scholarships and many skill development courses have also been introduced for women. ''The performance of women has been low and when we launched these schemes the first few ones were only for women. We want at least 50 per cent of women participation. We are engaging 20,000 in sports only, self-employment for 50,000 youth in collaboration with JK bank,'' Chaudhary explained. Young people of the valley have appreciated this move by the government. They say it will help many unemployed youngsters to find a path for deciding their careers and also take them away from social evils such as drug addiction. "First of all, I would like to appreciate this move by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. It was very much required. Mission youth has funding of around 600 crores, and I recently saw 75 students will get scholarships for the courses, youth engagement schemes are there in it. We have nothing to do otherwise and this initiative will give a boost to the youth in sectors like entrepreneurship etc. They should take more such initiatives for the young, otherwise, we have seen young people going towards drugs and other social evils," said Mir Khubaib, a youngster in the valley. Some youngsters even say that it's the first time the government has thought about young people. However, they appreciated the efforts made by the LG Manoj Sinha. "It's the first time in seven decades that something has happened so it's really fabulous that they are delivering on ground. If we see in departments it used to be extremely difficult to get a loan but with these schemes it would be helpful. Youth can get engaged in recreational initiatives. Mission Youth is a great initiative and the officer leading is also good. In Srinagar downtown area, 99 per cent are not government employees and they used to face a lot of issues in getting loans. Youth were demanding something should be done and this is something great LG Manoj Sinha has done for the people of Kashmir. The main reason behind drug addiction is unemployment and with these initiatives, we can involve these youth in something constructive," said Aqib Renzu, a youth activist. Youngsters from downtown, however, say that they have been neglected always but hope this scheme will benefit them too. ''This is a great initiative, mission youth for the young. I am from the downtown area of Srinagar and we have been neglected for a very long time and now for the first time we are seeing some hope. I appreciate this. Inshallah it will be a great platform,'' said Tabish Abbas Pathan, a local youngster. The scheme, if implemented, properly across the union territory can really bring a major change across the Valley.

Mission Youth: 50,000 youth to be engaged in JK for employment opportunities

There is good news for the people interested in horse riding in the Kashmir Valley. The first of its kind horse riding school has been opened in central Kashmir's Budgam district.

''Fazlullah Farms'' will train the youth of the Valley to become professional horse riders who can represent Kashmir and India at the national and international level. The farm started by a young man named Ali Abbas himself a rider&nbsp;says a lot of people used to stop him while he rode horses, asking if he can teach them too.&nbsp;

<img alt="Horse riding school in Kashmir Valley" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="826b04bf-456e-409f-a5b1-d4c98ae80f40" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/oooo.jpg" />

''The idea was already in my mind a few years before but it came to fruition a few months back&nbsp;because&nbsp;I wanted people to ride horses.&nbsp;There are people who wanted to learn but didn't have enough money to buy a horse or keep one. So in order to teach them I started this school. The response has been surprising. We get 5-6 admissions everyday. We have&nbsp;12 horses, eight&nbsp;for riding and two trainers and two helpers,'' said Ali Abbas, owner of&nbsp;Fazlullah farms.

Kashmir is a mountainous&nbsp;region and horse riding is not new. However, &nbsp;no one has ever taken this sport professionally. The Valley hasn't&nbsp;produced a good horse rider who can&nbsp;represent the UT or the country in competitions held across the world. But with the opening of this school, there are many who want to take this professionally.&nbsp;

There is good news for the people interested in horse riding in the Kashmir Valley. The first of its kind horse riding school has been opened in central Kashmir's Budgam district.

There is good news for the people interested in horse riding in the Kashmir Valley. The first of its kind horse riding school has been opened in central Kashmir's Budgam district. ''Fazlullah Farms'' will train the youth of the Valley to become professional horse riders who can represent Kashmir and India at the national and international level. The farm started by a young man named Ali Abbas himself a rider says a lot of people used to stop him while he rode horses, asking if he can teach them too. ''The idea was already in my mind a few years before but it came to fruition a few months back because I wanted people to ride horses. There are people who wanted to learn but didn't have enough money to buy a horse or keep one. So in order to teach them I started this school. The response has been surprising. We get 5-6 admissions everyday. We have 12 horses, eight for riding and two trainers and two helpers,'' said Ali Abbas, owner of Fazlullah farms. Kashmir is a mountainous region and horse riding is not new. However, no one has ever taken this sport professionally. The Valley hasn't produced a good horse rider who can represent the UT or the country in competitions held across the world. But with the opening of this school, there are many who want to take this professionally.

First horse riding school opens in Kashmir Valley

The houseboats in Kashmir valley are famous all around the world but they have been dying a slow death. The numbers have gone down from 5,000 houseboats to 900. And at this speed, it seems they might become history soon.&nbsp;

The rich heritage of houseboats on water bodies of Kashmir valley has&nbsp;always been a big tourist attraction. The stakeholders have always called it the Jewel of Tourism Industry in Kashmir valley. More than 40 per cent of houseboats have vanished in just three decades.&nbsp;

The reason people living on the lake say they are getting no permissions to repair the houseboats. A huge number of repair requests are pending with the government for the restoration of these houseboats. And the unending wait has led to a decrease in the numbers of these houseboats.&nbsp;

''There were thousands of houseboats across Srinagar, in Dal Lake, Jhelum river, Chinar Bagh, and Nigeen. Four Places had the majority of these boats. There was dunga, houseboats and bahach. The reason is that we don't get permission on time, we don't get timber, we have been asking the government for subsidised timber because Kashmir tourism was hit. Before 1989 we never used to ask anything from the government because we had business and now since we don't have much business we are asking for their help. Government should come forward to help the community, otherwise there are only 900 houseboats left and many need repair and attention from the government otherwise in the coming days there would be no houseboats. '' said Tariq Patloo, a houseboat owner.&nbsp;

The houseboat owners allege that injustice is being done to them by the government. They say that thousands of liters of sewage goes into Dal Lake every day, and less than two to three per cent pollution is caused by houseboats. But the whole blame is put on them.

''There will be a time when our grandchildren will read about the houseboats in books, as none would exist. If there are houseboats in Kashmir, the tourism industry is alive. The way we move the oar while riding a shikara is how we keep the water clean. You should see the old pictures of chinar bagh and see how many houseboats there were. Dal Lake has 600 houseboats, Nigeen has 195 and Chinar Bagh has 40 while the river will have 70. Slowly numbers are going down and the day it finishes tourism will finish too. They come here for Shikara and Houseboats. We say with pride that we own houseboats, the government knows and called it heritage. This is a very small thing of repairing the houseboats, an officer started a boatyard for the repairs and would you believe that not even a single houseboat was repaired there. The timber is banned for us, but people all across the city are using it but we have no access to it. The coming generation would blame us for not saving the heritage. '' said M Ashraf Badyari, Houseboat owner.&nbsp;

In 2009, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had banned the repair and renovation of houseboats after the government told the court that houseboats were the main cause of pollution of water bodies in Srinagar.&nbsp; The government says they are working on a policy to keep the heritage alive.

The houseboats in Kashmir valley are famous all around the world but they have been dying a slow death. The numbers have gone down from 5,000 houseboats to 900. And at this speed, it seems they might become history soon.

The houseboats in Kashmir valley are famous all around the world but they have been dying a slow death. The numbers have gone down from 5,000 houseboats to 900. And at this speed, it seems they might become history soon. The rich heritage of houseboats on water bodies of Kashmir valley has always been a big tourist attraction. The stakeholders have always called it the Jewel of Tourism Industry in Kashmir valley. More than 40 per cent of houseboats have vanished in just three decades. The reason people living on the lake say they are getting no permissions to repair the houseboats. A huge number of repair requests are pending with the government for the restoration of these houseboats. And the unending wait has led to a decrease in the numbers of these houseboats. ''There were thousands of houseboats across Srinagar, in Dal Lake, Jhelum river, Chinar Bagh, and Nigeen. Four Places had the majority of these boats. There was dunga, houseboats and bahach. The reason is that we don't get permission on time, we don't get timber, we have been asking the government for subsidised timber because Kashmir tourism was hit. Before 1989 we never used to ask anything from the government because we had business and now since we don't have much business we are asking for their help. Government should come forward to help the community, otherwise there are only 900 houseboats left and many need repair and attention from the government otherwise in the coming days there would be no houseboats. '' said Tariq Patloo, a houseboat owner. The houseboat owners allege that injustice is being done to them by the government. They say that thousands of liters of sewage goes into Dal Lake every day, and less than two to three per cent pollution is caused by houseboats. But the whole blame is put on them. ''There will be a time when our grandchildren will read about the houseboats in books, as none would exist. If there are houseboats in Kashmir, the tourism industry is alive. The way we move the oar while riding a shikara is how we keep the water clean. You should see the old pictures of chinar bagh and see how many houseboats there were. Dal Lake has 600 houseboats, Nigeen has 195 and Chinar Bagh has 40 while the river will have 70. Slowly numbers are going down and the day it finishes tourism will finish too. They come here for Shikara and Houseboats. We say with pride that we own houseboats, the government knows and called it heritage. This is a very small thing of repairing the houseboats, an officer started a boatyard for the repairs and would you believe that not even a single houseboat was repaired there. The timber is banned for us, but people all across the city are using it but we have no access to it. The coming generation would blame us for not saving the heritage. '' said M Ashraf Badyari, Houseboat owner. In 2009, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had banned the repair and renovation of houseboats after the government told the court that houseboats were the main cause of pollution of water bodies in Srinagar. The government says they are working on a policy to keep the heritage alive.

How Kashmir is losing its houseboat heritage

Golf courses of Kashmir Valley are famous across the world, but Kashmir has not produced a single international player in Golf. The reason being no Golf academies or training. The LG of Kashmir, Manoj Sinha recently inaugurated a golf academy for the students of government schools to take up the sport.

Golf has always been called the game of the rich&nbsp;and access to golf courses in the Valley has always been difficult.&nbsp; However, now the state administration has come up with an idea to introduce a golf academy for the students to learn and take up this sport professionally.&nbsp;

“We have made golf accessible to the common man. It is no longer the game of the elite. Dream of inclusive society being realised. J&amp;K is a powerhouse of sporting talent; UT administration is working diligently in creating a flourishing sports culture and providing the right platforms to budding sportspersons,&nbsp;'' said Manoj Sinha, LG of Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

The state administration is coming up with a multi-pronged strategy of developing sports infrastructure by organizing sports events across the UT. Also providing the best coaching, continuously monitoring and fully utilising the assets that have been prepared.&nbsp;

The golf academy has taken 50 students, 25 girls and 25 boys in its first batch. It's the first such initiative taken by the state to promote golf among the youth.&nbsp;

''Golf is not new to Kashmir, it’s been here since the 19th Century and quite a few people have taken a liking to this sport. We put up a proposal to start this academy, the LG pushed us to do so. And we have Amandeep Johar, a renowned golfer who is helping. In total 25 boys and 25 girls have been taken in the first batch. Our endeavour is to train these kids. We are bearing all the cost of the training. We are hoping to see them on international platforms. And in the future we will take more students,"&nbsp;Javaid Bakshi, secretary, golf course, said.

The student community in the Valley are extremely happy and joyous with the opening of this academy.&nbsp;

''I had no idea about it earlier but I am extremely happy about this opportunity which we have got with the help of LG of Kashmir. Now our dream is to become professional like our coaches and we are extremely happy about this opportunity. It was called the game of royals, we didn’t have the concept that we will be able to play this game. We are extremely happy especially all the girls,&nbsp;'' said Falak Shabir Khan, student.&nbsp;

The student community feels that they believed that it was the game of elites and they can’t afford to play it ever.&nbsp;

''We are very happy and this is for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that students would be trained to be professional golfers, This is a great opportunity for the students, we always heard that it’s a royal game and we always thought only rich people can afford this game. But the department has made it possible for us to play this sport and I wish I could make this sport my career,"&nbsp;said Arooj Mushtaq, student.&nbsp;

At least 17 national level sports events will be held in J&amp;K alone this year. More than 17 lakh children will take part in different sports avenues.&nbsp;

Golf courses of Kashmir Valley are famous across the world, but Kashmir has not produced a single international player in Golf. The reason being no Golf academies or training.

Golf courses of Kashmir Valley are famous across the world, but Kashmir has not produced a single international player in Golf. The reason being no Golf academies or training. The LG of Kashmir, Manoj Sinha recently inaugurated a golf academy for the students of government schools to take up the sport. Golf has always been called the game of the rich and access to golf courses in the Valley has always been difficult. However, now the state administration has come up with an idea to introduce a golf academy for the students to learn and take up this sport professionally. “We have made golf accessible to the common man. It is no longer the game of the elite. Dream of inclusive society being realised. J&K is a powerhouse of sporting talent; UT administration is working diligently in creating a flourishing sports culture and providing the right platforms to budding sportspersons, '' said Manoj Sinha, LG of Jammu and Kashmir. The state administration is coming up with a multi-pronged strategy of developing sports infrastructure by organizing sports events across the UT. Also providing the best coaching, continuously monitoring and fully utilising the assets that have been prepared. The golf academy has taken 50 students, 25 girls and 25 boys in its first batch. It's the first such initiative taken by the state to promote golf among the youth. ''Golf is not new to Kashmir, it’s been here since the 19th Century and quite a few people have taken a liking to this sport. We put up a proposal to start this academy, the LG pushed us to do so. And we have Amandeep Johar, a renowned golfer who is helping. In total 25 boys and 25 girls have been taken in the first batch. Our endeavour is to train these kids. We are bearing all the cost of the training. We are hoping to see them on international platforms. And in the future we will take more students," Javaid Bakshi, secretary, golf course, said. The student community in the Valley are extremely happy and joyous with the opening of this academy. ''I had no idea about it earlier but I am extremely happy about this opportunity which we have got with the help of LG of Kashmir. Now our dream is to become professional like our coaches and we are extremely happy about this opportunity. It was called the game of royals, we didn’t have the concept that we will be able to play this game. We are extremely happy especially all the girls, '' said Falak Shabir Khan, student. The student community feels that they believed that it was the game of elites and they can’t afford to play it ever. ''We are very happy and this is for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that students would be trained to be professional golfers, This is a great opportunity for the students, we always heard that it’s a royal game and we always thought only rich people can afford this game. But the department has made it possible for us to play this sport and I wish I could make this sport my career," said Arooj Mushtaq, student. At least 17 national level sports events will be held in J&K alone this year. More than 17 lakh children will take part in different sports avenues.

Golf academy started in J&K, game of elite open for masses

Pashmina from the Kashmir Valley is extremely famous, but little is known about the Silk produced in Kashmir. The Mulberry Silk from Kashmir valley is considered of high quality with great demand from across the world.

It is sold across the world with huge demand from buyers. But the main Silk Factory in Jammu Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar was completely damaged in the 2014 floods. And now, with the help of the World Bank, this heritage factory is being restored to its previous&nbsp;glory.&nbsp;

''When we had floods in 2014, more than 50 percent of the machinery was damaged, we have two sections, one is throwing section another one is weaving, we had lost 50 percent of spindles damaged. Earlier, we used to produce 38 varieties of silk but due to the damage, we went down to eight,'' said&nbsp;Zameer Ilahi, Manager of a&nbsp;Silk Factory in Kashmir.

''Due to the machinery and the yarn we use in silk. We couldn't change the twist and because of that we had fixed varieties. We got new machines and equipment and they are class apart, warping and new looms. whatever technical issues we were facing are now being taken care of and we are making new varieties . We will be able to to make 2.5 lakh meters of silk every year,&nbsp;'' he added.

Around 50 thousand families are associated with silk in the Kashmir Valley. And now the world bank has sponsored the restoration of this factory by funding it with more than 12 crore rupees.&nbsp;

''For the first time ever in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, we have actually done a survey and a comprehensive database of artisans has been created. Roundabout 3.5 lakh artisans have been enrolled in that database and we now know which artist caters to which industry. We are targeting 40 thousand families at the end of our project in the silk industry and the revival of the silk industry to make sure in the second stage we link it up with markets like e-commerce so as to provide them a global market. As a result, the&nbsp;industry can revive back to its pristine glory. '' said Abid Rashid Shah, CEO JKERA.

More than 35 varieties of Silk are produced in the Kashmir Valley. And the artisans working in this industry are happy that they will be able to work again to produce world-quality silk in the valley.&nbsp;

'' Since 1984 I have been working here. Due to floods, we lost everything, the new machinery is good, 36 people work here in total. This is a great factory where I have been earning my bread and butter. The money I made here is the reason I could run my house and pay for the education of my children. '' said Fateh Mohammad, Worker.

The new machinery has also helped the artisans in taking off a lot of workload. ''I have been working here for last 30 years, I have been drafting the silk since we lost everything in the 2014 floods and no machine was working. everything we had made, we lost it and even the stuff we have in the showroom was lost too. we used to work on old machines manually but with the new ones we don't have to do much. '' said Mohd Rafiq, Worker.

The factory's resurrection is part of the government's plan to boost silk production across Jammu and Kashmir. 50 thousand cocoon-producing farmers will be benefitted by it.&nbsp;

Pashmina from the Kashmir Valley is extremely famous, but little is known about the Silk produced in Kashmir. The Mulberry Silk from Kashmir valley is considered of high quality with great demand from across the world.

Pashmina from the Kashmir Valley is extremely famous, but little is known about the Silk produced in Kashmir. The Mulberry Silk from Kashmir valley is considered of high quality with great demand from across the world. It is sold across the world with huge demand from buyers. But the main Silk Factory in Jammu Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar was completely damaged in the 2014 floods. And now, with the help of the World Bank, this heritage factory is being restored to its previous glory. ''When we had floods in 2014, more than 50 percent of the machinery was damaged, we have two sections, one is throwing section another one is weaving, we had lost 50 percent of spindles damaged. Earlier, we used to produce 38 varieties of silk but due to the damage, we went down to eight,'' said Zameer Ilahi, Manager of a Silk Factory in Kashmir. ''Due to the machinery and the yarn we use in silk. We couldn't change the twist and because of that we had fixed varieties. We got new machines and equipment and they are class apart, warping and new looms. whatever technical issues we were facing are now being taken care of and we are making new varieties . We will be able to to make 2.5 lakh meters of silk every year, '' he added. Around 50 thousand families are associated with silk in the Kashmir Valley. And now the world bank has sponsored the restoration of this factory by funding it with more than 12 crore rupees. ''For the first time ever in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, we have actually done a survey and a comprehensive database of artisans has been created. Roundabout 3.5 lakh artisans have been enrolled in that database and we now know which artist caters to which industry. We are targeting 40 thousand families at the end of our project in the silk industry and the revival of the silk industry to make sure in the second stage we link it up with markets like e-commerce so as to provide them a global market. As a result, the industry can revive back to its pristine glory. '' said Abid Rashid Shah, CEO JKERA. More than 35 varieties of Silk are produced in the Kashmir Valley. And the artisans working in this industry are happy that they will be able to work again to produce world-quality silk in the valley. '' Since 1984 I have been working here. Due to floods, we lost everything, the new machinery is good, 36 people work here in total. This is a great factory where I have been earning my bread and butter. The money I made here is the reason I could run my house and pay for the education of my children. '' said Fateh Mohammad, Worker. The new machinery has also helped the artisans in taking off a lot of workload. ''I have been working here for last 30 years, I have been drafting the silk since we lost everything in the 2014 floods and no machine was working. everything we had made, we lost it and even the stuff we have in the showroom was lost too. we used to work on old machines manually but with the new ones we don't have to do much. '' said Mohd Rafiq, Worker. The factory's resurrection is part of the government's plan to boost silk production across Jammu and Kashmir. 50 thousand cocoon-producing farmers will be benefitted by it.

Century old silk factory renovated, 50 thousand families to benefit in valley

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