Vote politics or justice to Gujjars?

“Days are not far behind when State Land worth crores will under the possession of encroachers”
A common man has failed to understand whether the Flai Mandal incident is being politicized for securing the votes from Gujjar community or some leaders who are frequently visiting the Gujjars at the incident site really want justice for those, whose home and hearth had been damaged. 
The government, which should have protected the Sate Land earlier, failed to do so and now when the State Land got encroached; it was the same Govt which directed its officers to get the land vacated. The officers took the action and when the situation took another turn the leaders of the party in power came out with the anger against the officers, for doing their duties honestly. This all is nothing more than political stunts which these leaders had been playing with the common people and officials since decades.
Whatever the reason may be, Govt has to be cautious and initiate ensure that the situation remain under control as it is threatening some sort of reaction from certain groups as observed from the widespread protest demonstration against the government policies by Shiv Sainiks in different parts of the Jammu city. The protests were held to warn the Chief Minister (CM) Omar Abdullah to keep his party leaders away from politicizing the matter. 
As far as wise persons are concerned the incident itself raises many questions. According to them the leaders who are making hue and cry is nothing else but for the sake of vote, the intension can be judged on the fact that every leaders are rushing to the incident site to sympathies the Gujjars but none could make their way to hospital to enquire the health of the cops who received lethal injuries. Secondly the incident has taught a lesson to the officers not to take any step to vacate any state land as ultimately they have to bear the burnt of retaliators in particular and leaders in general. Focusing on the incident some Gujjars came from some where and set their thatch shed on the ten hectares state land prior to the incident, they are told to vacate the land by the DFO and when they refused the matter was brought into the notice of police. A police team when was on job to vacate the land, they became the subject of stone pelting and in between the time thatch sheds were burnt, immediately after the incident some leaders arrived on the spot and started using non-parliamentary language to the officers to show their presence to politicize the matter, which emits foul smell. The incident also fills anger among the higher officers and sense of insecurity among the lower rungs. If such type of incidents is encouraged, the days are not far behind when state land worth crores of rupees will under the possession of encroachers. If the government is really serious for the welfare of the Gujjars, colonies for them should be built at an identified place somewhere in the outskirts of the Jammu.  

Dipping May temperature makes Kashmir ideal tourist destination

As scorching summer heat turns fatal leaving many people dead elsewhere in the country, the unbelievably pleasant temperatures in May this year has made Kashmir valley ideal tourist destination. 
“I have been in Srinagar for three days only and the weather has just blown me away. Heaven has descended on earth here and I would like to stay longer to escape heat wave back home”, said a riveted Mr. Ashwini Kumar, a tourist from New Delhi, enjoying a panoramic view of Srinagar city from Pari Mahal, on the Zabarwan hillock overlooking the Dal lake. 
The pressure-cooker heat in country plains and down south where day temperatures have even touched 47 degrees, almost 4 degrees higher than normal, should be incentive enough for travelers to converge on the picturesque Himalayan valley and enjoy its breathtaking beauty. The day temperature recorded in the summer capital was only 21.4 degrees Celsius yesterday while as night temperature was recorded at 11.8 degrees Celsius.  
Visitors have been quick to notice pleasant temperature that freshens up the serenity of exotic Valley locales. “I was in Pahalgam last week. There was a hint of winter in the air. I mean where else would you experience this kind of weather at this time of the year”, said Mr. Rupesh Vidyarthi, another visitor from Mumbai, looking much heavier than his frail frame in a pullover and jacket on top. 
The famous health resort of Gulmarg, 45 km from here, is the natural destination for people fighting scorching heat in the plains. Mr. Rakesh Mutreja from Chennai, who arrived at Gulmarg along with eight members of his family yesterday, said that he couldn’t believe the temperature would be so pleasant. Compared to the mercury as it has risen to unbearable level back home, it was like being in paradise, he said, adding that Kashmir’s atmosphere is simply wonderful. “Gulmarg has really fascinated me”, he said. Another visitor, Mr. Anil Singhi from Surat, Gujarat, who came to Kashmir after 30 years along with his family, said that summer heat was unbearable in Surat which left him with no option but to “take some days off in paradise on earth”. “The trip to Kashmir is worth taking’, he said, pointing to the sweltering heat in the rest of the country.
A first-timer in Kashmir, Ms. Saroj from Chennai, has similar experience to narrate. She is too happy to be away from the heat and sweat and fervently walks up and down the lush meadows of Gulmarg to make most of her visit.  
On dip in temperature, the meteorology department says that this is no aberration as frequent weak westerlies that result in light rains bring the mercury down. “Also, northerly winds prevail over the region at this time making the weather cool”, said Mr. Sonam Lotus, In-charge Director, India Meteorological Department here.  
In a bid to fully tap tourism potential, the Tourism Department has introduced a plethora of events like adventure trekking, nature safaris and camps and bonfires to attract tourists to the Valley. The government is also planning to set up campsites at a number of new identified places where nature lovers would be able to enjoy the scenic beauty. Around 22 Tourism Development Authorities at new locales have been created to evenly spread the flow of tourists in the State. 
The government has also struck novelty by dovetailing tourism with culture to attract a totally different league of traveler-researchers to the State. In fact, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture has been combined and is headed by one Minister.  
As summer approaches and temperature dips, Kashmir valley braces itself for tourists offering them affordable packages and enchanting places to cool off before they return to swim in their own sweats.

Health threat from Beauty Parlours: Is there anybody to check?

“Though all women want to look good, they should see that the Parlours they visit are clean and having qualified beauticians. They should check whether combs, scissors, manicure sets and gowns have been properly sterilized or not. The client has the right to know the quality of the products being applied on her. Promises that dandruff, wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes will vanish overnight are all false. No beautician can turn you into a Cinderella in one sitting”.

The skin infections, facial paralysis and scalp burns are the price of dangerous and unhygienic treatments carried out by poorly trained and non professional salon beauticians. But, is there any agency, body or department in the state of Jammu and Kashmir to check the standard of material used, skills and professional know-how of Beauty Parlours staff?
If, not a scandal in Jammu and Kashmir state yet but the threat has been revealed yesterday when in a bizarre incident of its kind, beatifying her face proved a costly affair for a would-be bride.
The victim suffered severe burns due to chemical reaction at a beauty parlour in Rajouri district of Jammu on Saturday. Unfortunately the victim girl was scheduled to enter into nuptial knot.
The victim Samiya daughter of Akmat Hussein of Budwan Rajouri suffered severe chemical burn injuries after she had a facial in ‘Rosy’s Beauty Parlour’ in Budwan area. 
The chemical reactions were so adverse that entire face of the Samiya suffered burn injuries and was hospitalized.
According to doctors Beauty Parlour professionals had ignored procedures including the chemical tests about reaction on particular face. But the incident indicates that they were not professionals otherwise they would have carried the required tests before.
In the worst example in Jammu and Kashmir, badly trained staff is exposing clients to the risk of infection and reactions because waxings, anti-ageing treatments and body piercing are not carried out properly. 
The warning that came from yesterday’s incident occurred in Rajouri district which has uncovered a range of dubious practices beauty salons.
Though the number of people who complain after having a bad experience is small, but true figure may be much higher because many incidents go unreported.
As the use of poor quality material and lack of professional skills go unchecked in the Beauty Parlours, the clients are more porn to risk and side effects.
Increasingly popular waxing procedures run the risk of spreading infections such as herpes and the contagious skin complaint impetigo. Bacteria can start to live in the wax if a spatula is used to apply it to two or more clients. A spatula should be single use, but sometimes it's not. Sometimes some clients have ended up in hospital with an infection, including septicaemia, after having a tattoo or piercing. Some henna tattoos that use the wrong type of henna can burn the skin.' 
Burgeoning demand for laser treatments to remove unwanted hair and blemishes and injections of anti-wrinkle substances such as Botox is also a problem, because clients could be burnt or infected.
Hairdressing staff may also suffer from dermatitis because their hands are often wet and handling chemicals in dyes, bleaches and shampoos. May people do not know the side-effects of chemical and poor quality salon products but it could do harm to your short-term or long-term health. Clients are taking a gamble with their lives and health.
The root cause of infection is a lack of hygiene in beauty Parlours, use of substandard products and incompetent beauticians.
It has been observed that these days, girls do short-term causes and set up their own Parlours to make a quick buck. Quality is sacrificed at the altar of greed, the results of which are disastrous. On the other hand all processes in a Beauty Parlour could turn out to be hazardous wherever substandard products were used. Even waxing of arms and legs, if not done properly, can cause pustules that are not only painful but also make a person sick. Sometimes, the hairs are not pulled in the right direction, which causes infection.
The application of ‘Henna’ can also be dangerous because some beauticians use strong chemicals to give a dark shade. 
Some beautician mix Hibiscus with Henna while about 90 per cent people are allergic to Hibiscus, but beauticians don’t bother to find out if their clients are allergic to anything.
The colour carton carries an instruction that an allergy test should be done before application, but how many do it.
Hair colours are manufactured commercially and beauticians have to take a full course to learn new techniques. Colours have to be mixed in a right proportion and a substance which is good for one client may be harmful for the others. Skin type, season and age have to be kept in mind before a facial.
Many clients end up losing the hair after they have had their hair permed or straightened. Sometimes, it takes longer for the hair to grow again. Even the nose and the ear are pierced in a primitive way in some Parlours, which causes infection. In many cases, the infection trickles down to glands under the ears. I put such patients on antibiotics to save them from going deaf. The face bleach can cause skin burns and one has to monitor such delicate operations. 
Though all women want to look good, they should see that the Parlours they visit are clean and having qualified beauticians. 
They should check whether combs, scissors, manicure sets and gowns have been properly sterilized or not. The client has the right to know the quality of the products being applied on her. Promises that dandruff, wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes will vanish overnight are all false. No beautician can turn you into a Cinderella in one sitting.