Dry weather triggers rise in respiratory problems: Dr Naveed Nazir

Srinagar, Dec 5: Pulmonologist Dr Naveed Nazir Shah on Friday said that the current dry weather in Kashmir is contributing to a rise in respiratory problems, including eye, nasal and throat irritation, coughing, breathing difficulty and chest tightness.

Talking to Kashmir News Service(KNS), he said the absence of rain and snow keeps pollutants suspended in the air.

These particles mix with fog during cloudy mornings, creating smog, which increases risks for people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and causes irritation in the nose and throat.

Dr Shah said short-term effects of poor air quality include eye, nasal and throat irritation, coughing, breathing difficulty and chest tightness.

He added that prolonged exposure to pollutants may lead to neurological issues, higher cancer risk and complications during pregnancy.

He said snowfall or rainfall helps settle particulate matter and improves air quality, but natural relief alone cannot be relied upon.

He called for societal awareness and strong government action to reduce pollution levels.
Dr Shah advised high-risk individuals, including the elderly, to avoid venturing outdoors in cold or polluted conditions.

He said those who must go out should wear masks or cover their faces to limit exposure to airborne pollutants.-(KNS)

34 Schools Found Violating MDM Norms; 2 Teachers Suspended in Rajouri

CEO Rajouri Withholds Salaries, Seeks Explanations After Surprise Inspection Reveals Major Lapses

Srinagar, Dec 5: In a major administrative action, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Rajouri has suspended two teachers, withheld salaries of staff from 11 schools, and issued strict notices to 34 schools after a district-wide inspection exposed serious lapses in the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme and academic performance.

According to the order issued by the CEO Rajouri as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, a team of senior officers conducted surprise inspections across 200 schools on December 3, 2025, to assess punctuality, work culture, and the serving of cooked Mid-Day Meals.

The inspection revealed that 34 schools, listed in Annexure-A, failed to serve Mid-Day Meals as per the approved menu, raising concerns about compliance and student welfare.

Additionally, 11 schools, listed in Annexure-B, demonstrated poor academic performance. Notably, 7 of these schools also failed to serve the Mid-Day Meal as per norms, while in 2 schools, the meal was not cooked at all.

In another serious violation, the report states that two teachers Farnaz Kouser (PS Dhara Pathana) and Mohammad Altaf (PS Namble Kalyan) left their respective schools after marking attendance, without informing the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO).

Following the findings, the CEO Rajouri ordered the following measures, Immediate Suspension of Farnaz Kouser, Teacher, PS Dhara Pathana. Mohammad Altaf, Teacher, PS Namble Kalyan, order reads.

Both have been placed under suspension and attached to HS Lower Bhangai and HS Kallar, respectively.

Salary Withheld, The salaries of all masters and teachers from the 11 academically weak schools (Annexure-B) have been withheld for December 2025, pending tangible improvement in academics and MDM implementation.

Explanations Sought, All staff from the 34 schools listed in Annexure-A have been directed to submit written explanations through their respective DDOs within two days, failing which strict disciplinary action will be initiated.

The CEO has warned that any further negligence will invite “strict action under rules, without any further notice.” (KNC)

RBA Students Association Opposes Any Further Dilution of Quota, Warns of Unrest

Srinagar, Dec 5: The RBA Students Association of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a  resolution opposing any further dilution of the Reservation Backward Area quota, claiming that the community has already suffered significant cuts over the years. The statement, released on Thursday, stressed that even a one percent reduction would amount to what it called a direct attack on backward belts of the region.

According to the Association, the RBA share was halved from 20 percent to 10 percent in 2020 during the tenure of the then Lieutenant Governor G. C. Murmu. The body argued that the reduction was carried out without any census, survey or accepted scientific method, and said the remaining quota should not be subjected to further rationalisation. “The Association rejects any further move to dilute even one percent from the present share without any rationale,” the resolution stated.

The group said that rationalisation of reservation should be uniform across all categories and must be backed by updated and transparent data. It further demanded the restoration of district-cadre and division-cadre recruitment, calling it the most effective solution for ensuring equitable opportunities in backward areas. The Association also insisted that any rationalisation exercise must be based on a proper census, survey or other scientific approach.

Citing population figures, the group said that RBA communities constitute about 32 percent of Jammu and Kashmir’s population and that 3,046 villages in the region fall under backward areas, accounting for roughly 45 percent of rural belts. It argued that the quota percentage should reflect this proportion and claimed that the earlier 20 percent allocation was more appropriate.

The Association, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust warned that any further reduction in the quota could trigger unrest in backward belts and deepen regional disparities. It reiterated its demand for the restoration of the erstwhile 20 percent RBA reservation. The body concluded that it would continue to advocate for the rights of backward communities within the framework of the Indian Constitution. [KNT]