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."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/organ-donation-dropped-significantly-due-to-covid-19-experts-405192https://www.wionews.com/india-news/organ-donation-dropped-significantly-due-to-covid-19-experts-405192">Also read |&nbsp;Organ donation dropped significantly due to COVID-19: Experts</a>

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

The Jammu and Kashmir police have&nbsp;started a recruitment rally for the women of Kashmir valley. A three day-long rally was held in RTC Ground in Humhama in Budgam District where hundreds of women participated in this recruitment rally. The first day was kept for the women from Central Kashmir, the second day for North Kashmir and the last day was for the women from South Kashmir.

Around 1,300 women&nbsp;will&nbsp;be recruited into police services during this rally including 650&nbsp;from the Jammu division, with the same number expected to join from the Kashmir division. The rally in Jammu was held two years ago while due to Covid, the Kashmir rally was postponed.

''The sanction for two women battalions was approved, We started the process in 2019 and today is the first stage of the recruitment in Kashmir valley. Jammu recruitment was done before the covid. We started a three day recruitment rally for the Kashmir zone, and started with Central Kashmir and then North Kashmir and today South Kashmir. In one battalion we have to recruit 650 females",&nbsp;said Danish Rana, ADGP Co-ordination.

The women who had come for the rally were excited to don the uniform and work for the country. Some even saying that they are not scared to be part of police in the valley at all.

''I am so happy to be here, I have so many dreams and I hope I&nbsp;will make them come true. I always wanted to join police services, I am not scared at all. I want to work for the society and people and I am feeling very proud that I have come here. I have full support from my family", said Munazah Farooq, aspirant.

Some of the aspirants also said that wearing the uniform has been their dream and now its seems to be coming true.

''I have always wanted to wear uniform and work for the country. I have full support from family and that's why i am here. I am feeling very happy'', said Manjeet Singh.

There will be a written exam for the candidates who qualify in the first round. The third leg of this rally will be help in Leh&nbsp;and Kargil.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have started a recruitment rally for the women of Kashmir valley. A three day-long rally was held in RTC Ground in Humhama in Budgam District where hundreds of women participated in this recruitment rally.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have started a recruitment rally for the women of Kashmir valley. A three day-long rally was held in RTC Ground in Humhama in Budgam District where hundreds of women participated in this recruitment rally. The first day was kept for the women from Central Kashmir, the second day for North Kashmir and the last day was for the women from South Kashmir. Around 1,300 women will be recruited into police services during this rally including 650 from the Jammu division, with the same number expected to join from the Kashmir division. The rally in Jammu was held two years ago while due to Covid, the Kashmir rally was postponed. ''The sanction for two women battalions was approved, We started the process in 2019 and today is the first stage of the recruitment in Kashmir valley. Jammu recruitment was done before the covid. We started a three day recruitment rally for the Kashmir zone, and started with Central Kashmir and then North Kashmir and today South Kashmir. In one battalion we have to recruit 650 females", said Danish Rana, ADGP Co-ordination. The women who had come for the rally were excited to don the uniform and work for the country. Some even saying that they are not scared to be part of police in the valley at all. ''I am so happy to be here, I have so many dreams and I hope I will make them come true. I always wanted to join police services, I am not scared at all. I want to work for the society and people and I am feeling very proud that I have come here. I have full support from my family", said Munazah Farooq, aspirant. Some of the aspirants also said that wearing the uniform has been their dream and now its seems to be coming true. ''I have always wanted to wear uniform and work for the country. I have full support from family and that's why i am here. I am feeling very happy'', said Manjeet Singh. There will be a written exam for the candidates who qualify in the first round. The third leg of this rally will be help in Leh and Kargil.

J&K police hold recruitment rally for women in Kashmir to fill 1,300 posts

In a surprise move, the Jammu and Kashmir government&nbsp;today cancelled the residential accommodation of "Darbar Move" employees in Jammu and Srinagar depending on their location. The order, which was issued by the government stated that all the employees will have to vacate their accommodation within three&nbsp;weeks.

"Cancellation of allotment of residential accommodation of officers/officials at Srinagar as indicated at Annexure-A to this order who are stationed at Jammu, and cancellation of allotment of residential accommodation of officers/officials at Jammu as per Annexure-B to this order who are stationed at Srinagar," said the Government order.

Earlier this month, The LG of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha had said that the&nbsp;administration has completely transitioned to e-office, thereby ending the practice of the biannual ''Darbar Move''.

The government had also said that with this move, both Jammu and Srinagar secretariats will work for all 12 months. It also mentioned that the government&nbsp;would&nbsp;save on millions of rupees by this decision.&nbsp;

The practice of Darbar Move was started by the Maharaja of Kashmir, Gulab Singh in the year 1872. The administration would work from Jammu during the six months of winter while the same would be shifted to Srinagar during the summers. As part of this practice, all the offices including the Raj Bhawan, the Civil Secretariat and many other departments would shift after six months.&nbsp;

In a surprise move, the Jammu and Kashmir government today cancelled the residential accommodation of "Darbar Move" employees in Jammu and Srinagar depending on their location.

In a surprise move, the Jammu and Kashmir government today cancelled the residential accommodation of "Darbar Move" employees in Jammu and Srinagar depending on their location. The order, which was issued by the government stated that all the employees will have to vacate their accommodation within three weeks. "Cancellation of allotment of residential accommodation of officers/officials at Srinagar as indicated at Annexure-A to this order who are stationed at Jammu, and cancellation of allotment of residential accommodation of officers/officials at Jammu as per Annexure-B to this order who are stationed at Srinagar," said the Government order. Earlier this month, The LG of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha had said that the administration has completely transitioned to e-office, thereby ending the practice of the biannual ''Darbar Move''. The government had also said that with this move, both Jammu and Srinagar secretariats will work for all 12 months. It also mentioned that the government would save on millions of rupees by this decision. The practice of Darbar Move was started by the Maharaja of Kashmir, Gulab Singh in the year 1872. The administration would work from Jammu during the six months of winter while the same would be shifted to Srinagar during the summers. As part of this practice, all the offices including the Raj Bhawan, the Civil Secretariat and many other departments would shift after six months.

J&K government cancels government accommodation for 'Darbar Move' employees

A case of alleged conversion and inter-religious marriage is snowballing into a big controversy in the Kashmir valley. Three girls from the Sikh community had gone missing after they eloped with Muslim men. One of the girls has been traced by Jammu and Kashmir police and handed over to the family.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Sikh community took out many protests In Srinagar demanding the other two girls to be traced and handed over to the families. They also demanded for a change in conversion laws. The issue is also in the notice of Lieutenant&nbsp;Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and the home ministry. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

The family of a Sikh girl in Srinagar's Rainawari area of downtown filed a report with the police saying their&nbsp;daughter was abducted. The police later arrested both the daughter and her husband. When produced in the court, the judge decided that the girl is an adult and has the right to go wherever she wishes to. Although the man was taken into custody while the girl was taken by her parents.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Soon after the judge's direction, the Sikh&nbsp;community took out protests in Srinagar alleging that the decision&nbsp;was biased. They also allege that the parents of the girl were not allowed inside the courtroom while the man's family was. Police say ''the matter is being investigated''.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

The father of the girl said that we are under a lot of stress and there is no one to listen to our problems. He says the government should provide us security so that we feel safe.<o:p></o:p>

''This girl is a minor, she just turned 18 two months ago, last year she had brain surgery after she developed a clot. We had repair work going on, and he was working as a labourer here renovating my house. He knocked on my door, he pushed and kicked me and took my girl away. He said if you shout I will kill you with my pistol. There was a car waiting outside and He took my girl away. We went to the police in the early morning. And later police said we have traced the girl from the jungle and took her to the women police station. They didn't allow us to meet until they took us to court. And they didn't even allow us to enter the courtroom. They gave us the girl at 11;30 pm. We don't&nbsp;feel safe and no one listens to us.'' said Rajinder Singh Bali, father of the girl.<o:p></o:p>

Akali Dal Leader and Delhi Gurdwara committee&nbsp;president, MS Sirsa flew down to Srinagar&nbsp;to take stock of the situation.

He, while speaking to the media said. ''four girls have been forcefully&nbsp;converted, an 18-year-old girl was married to a middle aged man and we were told that she married of her own choice. The district judiciary also did not&nbsp;give any justice, he didn't even allow the parents of the girls to come inside the courtroom. The middle-aged man's whole relatives were inside the courtroom so that the girl was under pressure to give her statement against the parents. Leaders of our community world wide have condemned this act. We have written to the governor also, not only asking the government to handover these girls back to their families but also bring in changes&nbsp;in the law. We are sad that the majority community is not standing with us right now. ''<o:p></o:p>

While the Sikh community leaders and members said that if the government doesn't&nbsp;take action in&nbsp;these cases, the youth of the community will tackle the situation themselves.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

''Two girls were taken to court after their statement, they were converted. One is an 18-year-old girl who was taken by a 45-year-old man, who had twice married before. We want this to stop. We have a very small population, around 60 thousand. The brotherhood between the majority committee has always been there and we want them to intervene and return our daughters. We want conversion laws to be made here too. The girl's family wasn't allowed to come inside the court. We appeal to the leaders here also to come forward to stop these things. If the government doesn't&nbsp;do anything our youth are ready to tackle the situation. Baldev Singh, President Sikh Committee, Srinagar.<o:p></o:p>

The members of the majority community also came forward and were seen protesting and asking the government to handover the girls to their parents as soon as possible.

&nbsp;''We are protesting here even if I am alone with my daughter here. We will protest even if there are not many people. We want Sikh girl back at any cost. Sikh brothers have stayed with us through thick and thin and we will too. I am a common citizen and I couldn't see my Sikh brothers and sisters protesting alone. We all should protest for this. These Sikhs are the same who came to our rescue during floods,'' said a local citizen.&nbsp;

A case of alleged conversion and inter-religious marriage is snowballing into a big controversy in the Kashmir valley. Three girls from the Sikh community had gone missing after they eloped with Muslim men.

A case of alleged conversion and inter-religious marriage is snowballing into a big controversy in the Kashmir valley. Three girls from the Sikh community had gone missing after they eloped with Muslim men. One of the girls has been traced by Jammu and Kashmir police and handed over to the family. The Sikh community took out many protests In Srinagar demanding the other two girls to be traced and handed over to the families. They also demanded for a change in conversion laws. The issue is also in the notice of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and the home ministry. The family of a Sikh girl in Srinagar's Rainawari area of downtown filed a report with the police saying their daughter was abducted. The police later arrested both the daughter and her husband. When produced in the court, the judge decided that the girl is an adult and has the right to go wherever she wishes to. Although the man was taken into custody while the girl was taken by her parents. Soon after the judge's direction, the Sikh community took out protests in Srinagar alleging that the decision was biased. They also allege that the parents of the girl were not allowed inside the courtroom while the man's family was. Police say ''the matter is being investigated''. The father of the girl said that we are under a lot of stress and there is no one to listen to our problems. He says the government should provide us security so that we feel safe. ''This girl is a minor, she just turned 18 two months ago, last year she had brain surgery after she developed a clot. We had repair work going on, and he was working as a labourer here renovating my house. He knocked on my door, he pushed and kicked me and took my girl away. He said if you shout I will kill you with my pistol. There was a car waiting outside and He took my girl away. We went to the police in the early morning. And later police said we have traced the girl from the jungle and took her to the women police station. They didn't allow us to meet until they took us to court. And they didn't even allow us to enter the courtroom. They gave us the girl at 11;30 pm. We don't feel safe and no one listens to us.'' said Rajinder Singh Bali, father of the girl. Akali Dal Leader and Delhi Gurdwara committee president, MS Sirsa flew down to Srinagar to take stock of the situation. He, while speaking to the media said. ''four girls have been forcefully converted, an 18-year-old girl was married to a middle aged man and we were told that she married of her own choice. The district judiciary also did not give any justice, he didn't even allow the parents of the girls to come inside the courtroom. The middle-aged man's whole relatives were inside the courtroom so that the girl was under pressure to give her statement against the parents. Leaders of our community world wide have condemned this act. We have written to the governor also, not only asking the government to handover these girls back to their families but also bring in changes in the law. We are sad that the majority community is not standing with us right now. '' While the Sikh community leaders and members said that if the government doesn't take action in these cases, the youth of the community will tackle the situation themselves. ''Two girls were taken to court after their statement, they were converted. One is an 18-year-old girl who was taken by a 45-year-old man, who had twice married before. We want this to stop. We have a very small population, around 60 thousand. The brotherhood between the majority committee has always been there and we want them to intervene and return our daughters. We want conversion laws to be made here too. The girl's family wasn't allowed to come inside the court. We appeal to the leaders here also to come forward to stop these things. If the government doesn't do anything our youth are ready to tackle the situation. Baldev Singh, President Sikh Committee, Srinagar. The members of the majority community also came forward and were seen protesting and asking the government to handover the girls to their parents as soon as possible. ''We are protesting here even if I am alone with my daughter here. We will protest even if there are not many people. We want Sikh girl back at any cost. Sikh brothers have stayed with us through thick and thin and we will too. I am a common citizen and I couldn't see my Sikh brothers and sisters protesting alone. We all should protest for this. These Sikhs are the same who came to our rescue during floods,'' said a local citizen.

Alleged conversion snowballing into a controversy in Kashmir valley

Floating gardens, islands, and houseboats are all things we've heard of, but Kashmir's famous Dal Lake has a floating post office. It's the only floating post office in the whole world.&nbsp;

This two-centuries-old floating post office was started in the British era and continues to deliver letters and couriers to the people living on the lake. The delivery of the post is done by a postman while travelling in a shikara.

All the services of the post office are available at this floating post office on Dal Lake while being afloat. They use a special seal of a shikara along with a boatman to put it on the envelope.&nbsp;

"This is a 200-year-old post office that served from before the Maharaja's reign to the British era. It was finally called a floating post office. There is no change in the number of posts sent around. We don't have time to talk when there is a tourist influx. Thousands of people visit this post office to take pictures. They can buy special covers, postcards and stamps from here. The letter is delivered to the houseboat by the postman, who hires a Shikara. This has been going on for years and is still going on," according to Farooq Ahmad, the Post Master.

 
<img alt="floating post office" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0e04c3a6-392b-4c5c-933d-f805d0f0be12" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/thumbnail_Image.jpg" />

Mohd Ismail worked as a postman for India Post for many years. He has been delivering letters every day to people living on the lake. It is time-consuming to take a shikara and go to different houseboats, but the charm of doing so is what he likes the most.&nbsp;

"I have been delivering letters in Dal Lake for ten years. It's so good for my health to breathe fresh air on the lake. I deliver around 100-150 letters a day. There is also a CRPF camp within the lake, which receives a lot of letters that I deliver. It takes me hours to deliver these letters. "I start at 11 am and finish at 5:30 pm," Mohd Ismail explained.

Locals who live on or near the lake claim that the internet and social media have had a significant impact on letter writing and sending.But some people miss it as it used to be emotional to receive or send a letter in earlier times.&nbsp;

"This post office has been there for a long time. It is so easy for houseboat owners to receive and send letters. People have shifted to email and social networks for now and the art of letter writing has gone down. It was a wonderful feeling to receive or send a letter, and it was even more wonderful to open a letter and read it.I miss it all, said Noor Mohammad, the owner of a houseboat. 
 
The floating post office has a collection of old stamps and used to have a small museum in one of the rooms, which was damaged in the 2014 floods.

Floating gardens, islands, and houseboats are all things we've heard of, but Kashmir's famous Dal Lake has a floating post office. It's the only floating post office in the whole world.

Floating gardens, islands, and houseboats are all things we've heard of, but Kashmir's famous Dal Lake has a floating post office. It's the only floating post office in the whole world. This two-centuries-old floating post office was started in the British era and continues to deliver letters and couriers to the people living on the lake. The delivery of the post is done by a postman while travelling in a shikara. All the services of the post office are available at this floating post office on Dal Lake while being afloat. They use a special seal of a shikara along with a boatman to put it on the envelope. "This is a 200-year-old post office that served from before the Maharaja's reign to the British era. It was finally called a floating post office. There is no change in the number of posts sent around. We don't have time to talk when there is a tourist influx. Thousands of people visit this post office to take pictures. They can buy special covers, postcards and stamps from here. The letter is delivered to the houseboat by the postman, who hires a Shikara. This has been going on for years and is still going on," according to Farooq Ahmad, the Post Master. Mohd Ismail worked as a postman for India Post for many years. He has been delivering letters every day to people living on the lake. It is time-consuming to take a shikara and go to different houseboats, but the charm of doing so is what he likes the most. "I have been delivering letters in Dal Lake for ten years. It's so good for my health to breathe fresh air on the lake. I deliver around 100-150 letters a day. There is also a CRPF camp within the lake, which receives a lot of letters that I deliver. It takes me hours to deliver these letters. "I start at 11 am and finish at 5:30 pm," Mohd Ismail explained. Locals who live on or near the lake claim that the internet and social media have had a significant impact on letter writing and sending.But some people miss it as it used to be emotional to receive or send a letter in earlier times. "This post office has been there for a long time. It is so easy for houseboat owners to receive and send letters. People have shifted to email and social networks for now and the art of letter writing has gone down. It was a wonderful feeling to receive or send a letter, and it was even more wonderful to open a letter and read it.I miss it all, said Noor Mohammad, the owner of a houseboat. The floating post office has a collection of old stamps and used to have a small museum in one of the rooms, which was damaged in the 2014 floods.

World's only floating post office in Kashmir: Delivering letters since 200 years

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Idrees Lone

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.