300 million Indians go hungry everyday!

One piece of bread a day / Was all I had,
Sometimes I would break it in half,
Sometimes, I could make it toast,
My children's bellies full / My stomach churning,
I drank water / To calm the burning,
I had more than most / Reminding myself of those,
Who have a handful of rice / Once a week,
They know fear / They know pain,
They know hunger / Far better than I ever could.

Alisha Rose's poem, Hunger, brings out the essence of a grave problem that plagues not only India, but the entire world.

According to the Global Hunger Index, India ranks 65th out of 88 countries, with a hunger rate of 23.9.

India, which was largely unaffected by the recent global economic slowdown, however, appears to have made little progress in tackling hunger and malnutrition. The situation remains 'alarming' in the country on this front.

Countries like Uganda (38th); Mauritania (40th); Zimbabwe (58th) and many others have a better record than India on this front. Even war-torn nations have managed to combat the scourge of hunger quite well, while India -- even though it boasts of being the second fastest growing economy in the world -- languishes far behind and millions in the country go hungry.

Govt conspiring to sabotage Civic Elections in state: PDP

JAMMU: The Omar Abdullah led Government is hobnobbing to sabotage the much awaited Civic elections in the State alleged PDP Spokesman Mr. A K Sawhney, Advocate in a press statement issued here today.

The PDP Spokesman said that the Omar Abdullah led Government of J&K has murdered the democracy in the state and has usurped the powers of the Mayors and Corporations of the Jammu and Srinagar and other civic bodies in the state when the elections for the said Corporations were due why the Govt has failed to conduct the said elections at the right time before 6th March 2010 the PDP questioned. Mr Sawhney alleged this as murder of democracy.

The elections were not conducted on time by the Omar led Govt for which the Govt's acts of omission and commission are highly deplorable.

The conduct shows that the NC Govt wants to take over and rule through the Govt appointed Administrators for the Corporations and has succeeded in its nefarious designs which is a fraud of power and the democratic institutions have been slaughtered.

The Govt is creating the circumstances and situation with nefarious designs where the elections will not be possible.

Mr. Sawhney PDP Spokesman alleged that genuine demands of the employees have not been considered and breach of trust has been committed with the employees, resulting into an impending volcano of the employees strike, and if things are let loose in such a way the elections will not be possible if the Govt fails to sort out the issues with the employees.

Mr. Sawhney ridiculed the claims of the Govt that the Civic elections will be held in April 2010, when the electoral rolls are yet to be prepared and corrections issued. He said that under law there is statutory period fixed for all these preparations and now the Govt has woke up after its slumber and making these cosmetic exercises.

The PDP Spokesman doubted the intentions of the Omar Abdullah led Govt if it really wants to conduct the elections or is just making these fickle exercises as eyewash.

He said that on one side Mufti Mohd Sayeed, the tall leader of J&K, after taking over the reins gave powers to the grass root democratic institutions- the Civic bodies and on the other side the Omar Abdullah led Govt has slaughtered and murdered these institutions with impunity.

PDP urges for early passage of bill imposing ban on Inter -District Recruitment

Srinagar, March 25::::: PDP today urged for early passage of Bill imposing ban on Inter- District Recruitment, and asked the government to table the Bill in the ensuing budget Session for its passage.


In a statement issued here today, President of its Youth Wing Bashir Assad that the timely passage of the Bill will help in removing the discontent among the educated youth of the remote districts of Jammu and Kashmir state viz-a-viz discriminatory recruitment policy operational in the state.

Bashir Assad further added that given the social and community composition of each district it was necessary that the government introduces a Bill banning the inter-district recruitment to safeguard the interests of the educated youth of each district. He said that PDP has all along been advocating recruitment in government services at district level to do away with the discrimination meted to the youth of the remote areas.

Assad said that the government had earlier promised to pass a legislation to this effect but for past one year it has been dithering over moving it for consideration. Assad said that it (Bill) has become necessary in view of the concern voiced by the legislators and also to protect the rights of the youth of the remote areas.

The district posts should be filled by candidates from the concerned districts only and the reservation of jobs for the outsiders is detrimental to the interests of the local youth” Assad said.

No N-deal, no interference in India: Pak let down in Washington?

Pakistan's hopes for a nuclear deal and call for a more active US role in resolving the Kashmir issue seem to have been dashed.

During the strategic dialogue between the two countries, Washington has made it clear that such a deal is out of the question and it cannot and will not interfere with India's foreign policy.

Foreign Minister Qureshi had openly said at the start of the first ministerial strategic dialogue between the US and Pakistan that Pakistan wants the US to have a non-discriminatory access to energy, clearly indicating that Islamabad would like to be treated at par with New Delhi on a civilian nuclear deal.

He also called for a constructive US role in ending the Kashmir dispute.

But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not make any mention of a nuclear deal and instead stressed that there are other avenues of improving the existing energy situation in Pakistan.

he also said her government can only encourage India and Pakistan to have dialogue.

I want to just underscore that our goal in the Obama Administration is to make clear that we are going to be a partner with Pakistan going forward on a full range of matters. Now, we can't dictate Pakistani foreign policy or Indian foreign policy. But we can encourage, as we do, the in-depth discussion between both countries that we think would benefit each of them with respect to security and development," Hillary said.

Meanwhile amid all the diplomatic overtures, what caught the media attention was how the delegates of the two countries sat, not across the table separately, but intermingling with each other.

Advocated Mohd Hussain Mir and Syed Mohd Abbas of Dooru ( Anantnag) today Joined the PDP

Srinagar, March 21::::: Advocate Mohd Hussain Mir and Syed Mohd Abbas the prominent figures of Dooru Shahabad who joined Peoples democratic Party in a simple ceremony held at Residence of PDP Patron Mufti Mufti Mohammed Sayeed at Gupkar Srinagar.


Welcoming the two leaders into the PDP fold Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said it was time that educated and intellectual opinion leaders of the state joined political field to bring a positive change into the conduct of politics.

On this occasion the two leaders said that they were impressed by the pro people agenda of the party and leadership of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti.

District vice President Advocate Ab Rahim Rather expressed hope that the joining of these two leaders will add in extending the party agenda and will help in strengthening of the party in the area.

Jamaat-e-Islami,strongly in favour of the visit of APHC delegation to Pakistan

Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir is strongly in favour of the visit of APHC delegation to Pakistan on the invitation of the Govt. of Pakistan so that all the issues of mutual interest can be discussed face to face and a joint strategy adopted for early resolution of the long pending dispute of J & K and also for removal of misunderstanding, if any.


Moreover, Jamaat strongly protests the non inclusion of this largest socio-politico-religious party of J & K. in the list of invitees by the Pakistan Government and hopes that this grievance of Jamaat will be redressed soon by including it (Jamaat) in the list of invitees.

Peoples League Invited By Pakistan High Commissioner In Pakistan Day Celebrations

A high profile delegation of Jammu Kashmir Peoples League lead by Senior Hurriyat Leader Mukhtar Ahmad Waza along with Secretary General Mohammad Ashraf Vaid left for New Delhi to attend Pakistan Day celebrations and will met with Pakistan High Commissioner, Shahid Malik.


Peoples League during their meeting with Pakistani High Commissioner will discuss the present political and human rights situation in Kashmir.

Mukhtar Waza expresses confidence that Pakistan will continue its political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris’ just struggle for right to self-determination.

Mukhtar Waza emphasized that the government of Pakistan was of the firm opinion that peace and stability would elude South Asia till the Kashmir issue remained unresolved.

Waza pointed out that Pakistan had a historical and unique role vis-à-vis the Kashmir dispute and the country had been extending wholehearted political, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris’ struggle for their right of self-determination

PDP nominates Mr Javed Beig as State Secretary

Srinagar, :::: Peoples Democratic Party today nominated Mr Javed Hussain Beig of as state secretary of the party.


In a statement the party spokesman said that his nomination was approved by Party president Ms Mehbooba Muft. Mr Javed’s appointment will add in strengthening the party at gross root level particularly in north Kashmir.