Embrace Goal Based Learning

For many years, India's education system placed a strong emphasis on the notion that degrees are the key to securing one's future. College degrees, particularly in fields like engineering, medicine, business, and government positions, were viewed as the most reliable means to secure employment, advance socially, and earn respect. Consequently, parents invested heavily in their children's education, students faced intense competition, and colleges rapidly expanded to meet the demand for more degrees. Unfortunately, this surge in degree holders has also led to rising unemployment and underemployment among educated youth. This difficulty has compelled India to confront an absolute reality that degrees alone no longer serve.

India is shifting its focus from degree acquisition to skill development. Despite producing millions of graduates annually, many companies report a shortage of job-ready workers. Business reports indicate that these graduates are deficient in practical skills, problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and real-world experience. This highlights a significant mismatch between academic curricula and the needs of the job market. While degrees are certainly valuable, many educational programs remain overly reliant on theory and testing rather than practical application. Furthermore, rapid technological advancements—like automation, AI, data analytics, and digital platforms—are transforming the workplace faster than educational institutions can keep pace.

In today’s job market, employers prioritize skills over just holding a degree. Skills can become obsolete more rapidly than degrees. For example, a student might spend 3-4 years earning a degree, only to find that the technologies and methodologies they studied have become outdated by graduation. There is substantial demand for skills like coding, online marketing, financial analysis, machine operation, green energy technology repair, healthcare support, and supply chain management—often without needing a degree. Moreover, employers look for soft skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, adaptability, effective communication, and sound judgment. These skills allow individuals to continue learning and smoothly transition between various roles in an unpredictable job market.

Recognizing this issue, India has enacted major reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This policy marks a departure from rote learning and rigid degree paths, advocating instead for flexible curriculum options and skills development. The emphasis now is on lifelong learning through continuous skill training and retraining rather than merely obtaining a single degree. A crucial aspect of NEP is incorporating job skills into school and college curricula.  Another significant NEP feature is the introduction of flexible enrollment options via the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), allowing students to accumulate credits from various institutions and platforms to combine degrees with professional certificates. This approach aims to cater to diverse educational needs and reduce the stigma surrounding non-traditional career paths.

Additionally, micro-credentials—short courses focused on specific skills—are being launched in fields such as data analysis, AI, online security, fintech, design, and manufacturing technology. These courses are often developed with industry insight for practical relevance. They are generally less expensive, quicker to complete, and easily adjusted to shifts in industry needs. For employers, these credentials often prove more pertinent than the qualifications associated with traditional degrees. Effective change necessitates collaboration between businesses and academia. Increasingly, Indian companies are helping design curricula, provide internships and on-the-job training, and educate instructors. Blended learning—which combines classroom instruction with practical experience—is gaining traction as an effective method for skill acquisition. Countries like Germany and China have successfully implemented this approach where vocational training holds as much value as academic theory. Extending this model across India, especially in rural areas and smaller towns, is essential.

Despite these initiatives, challenges remain. A major hurdle is teacher quality; many educators adhere to outdated teaching methods and lack practical experience themselves. This necessitates extensive retraining efforts. Additionally, numerous educational institutions face shortages in essential resources like laboratories etc. Changing societal attitudes is also critical, as many people still equate success with attending prestigious colleges. Shifting the perspectives of parents and society regarding the value of job skills will take time. Without their support, effective programs may struggle to attract students. It's important to note that emphasizing "skills over degrees" can create a false contradiction. Skills without a conceptual understanding can be weak and quickly become irrelevant, while ideas without practical application can be ineffective. The goal is to achieve balance—practical skills and deep thinking should complement degrees. Colleges need to embrace goal-based learning, incorporating projects, internships, research, and community work. Assessments should evaluate genuine capabilities, creativity, and problem-solving skills rather than just rote memorization. In this way, degrees regain their significance.

India has a large youth population, which can be either a tremendous asset or a significant challenge. With the right skills, adaptability, and entrepreneurial abilities, young people can drive the country's growth and compete globally. However, without these skills, the result could be frustration and sluggish development. Therefore, transitioning to a skills-oriented approach is essential for job creation, job satisfaction, and lifelong learning. This also promotes diverse pathways to success, not limited to prestigious degrees. Basically, degrees will remain, but their value will stem from the skills learned and the tangible results achieved. This shift requires consistent government support, reforms in educational institutions, collaboration with businesses, and new perspectives. If executed effectively, India can develop flexible, inclusive, and future-ready schools that equip individuals to not just obtain certificates, but to lead fulfilling and productive lives.

Introduce Enhanced Teaching Methods

As new college and university classes are beginning, it's an opportune moment for teachers to reflect on engaging students and enriching the educational experience. Education should not only convey facts but also foster clear thinking, inquiry, and real-world problem-solving. When students feel engaged, their learning improves and retention increases. Despite the New Education Policy introducing student-friendly courses, enhanced teaching methods, innovative assessments, skill development, and teacher training, the anticipated improvements in learning outcomes are still not widespread. This suggests that the education system requires further enhancements. Students should evolve into thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers as they progress, but this isn’t fully happening, as both teachers and students often do not utilize their full potential.

In India, many educators still adhere to two traditional habits: teaching only what they already know well and continuing to use outdated methods. As a result, many teachers hesitate to experiment with new approaches or step out of their comfort zones. However, with the world changing rapidly, teaching methodologies must evolve accordingly. Simultaneously, today’s students have different learning styles and expectations. They learn and think differently, demanding more from their education. Thus, teachers must continually update their subject knowledge and adopt improved teaching strategies. Teachers and students should grow together, making learning more dynamic, valuable, and compelling.

A successful teacher is not just a lecturer but also a guide, mentor, and learner. Projects that tie classroom learning to real-world applications should be encouraged. Students should become T-shaped learners: possessing deep expertise in one area while having a broad understanding of related fields. This type of learning is beneficial for careers, research, and everyday life. The traditional lecture model, where teachers deliver information and students passively listen, is outdated. It should be replaced with active learning methods, where students engage in discussions, compare perspectives, analyze data, and solve problems independently. Learning becomes more effective when students actively participate in the process rather than just receive information.

The conventional classroom setup with rows of chairs often leads to a formal and uninteresting environment that limits interaction. Classrooms should be redesigned to facilitate group work, discussions, projects, and inquiry-based learning. Teachers should understand each student’s unique learning path and provide personalized growth opportunities. Since every student is different, a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective. Additionally, interactions between teachers and students are often limited to scheduled class hours. Students might benefit more from informal settings such as outdoor activities, open discussions, or hands-on work. Teachers should tailor their methods to fit the diverse learning styles of their students and spend more time engaging with them outside of class—practices that were more prevalent in the past. Teachers should encourage students to ask insightful questions and discover answers independently rather than simply providing ready-made solutions.

This approach is particularly important in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, where young people possess significant talent and potential. By promoting creativity, confidence, and skill-based learning in schools and colleges, students from Jammu and Kashmir can excel in higher education, public service, business, research, and community development. Improved education can empower them to be active contributors to both regional and national progress. In summary, teachers should become companions on students' learning journeys. Education should help students grow into independent, thoughtful, and responsible individuals. If teachers and students fail to adapt to the changing world, they risk losing their relevance in the future.

Protect Kids From Harmful Online Content

In today's India, smartphones and internet access are now common in almost every household. While this brings many benefits, it also exposes children to harmful online content. Violent cartoons, inappropriate videos, and even sexually explicit material are easily accessible. Many parents are busy with work, household duties, or long commutes, leaving children unsupervised while they watch content on phones, tablets, or TV. This situation is becoming a serious concern for children's mental, emotional, and physical development. In Indian families, both parents often work full-time jobs. Grandparents may not understand digital devices, and older siblings are sometimes busy with studies. This leaves young children alone with screens for hours. Children between ages 3 and 12 cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality. When they watch violent cartoons or aggressive behavior online, they may copy it at school or at home.

Research shows that children who view violence onscreen are more likely to show aggressive behavior and fear that the world is dangerous. They may also experience nightmares, trouble sleeping, and behavior problems. Some cartoons released on platforms like YouTube contain hidden offensive scenes that surprise parents when children watch them alone. The effects of harmful online content are wide-ranging. Children face mental health issues like anxiety, stress, social isolation, and depression. Their behavior changes as they show aggression and copy violent behavior. Their physical health suffers from being overweight due to too much screen time and poor sleep. Their academic performance drops because they are distracted from homework and get lower school grades. They also face safety risks like cyberbullying, grooming, and exposure to pornographic material.

In India, cyberbullying has been linked to depression and even suicide among teenagers. Digital addiction is also growing, with children spending hours watching videos instead of playing outdoors or studying. Parents can take several steps to protect their children. They should use parental controls by setting up iOS or Android profiles to restrict apps, games, and websites children can access. Installing YouTube Kids is important because this app filters inappropriate content and is designed for children. Parents should watch together by spending time watching cartoons with their child and explaining the difference between cartoons and reality. Setting time limits is essential, such as no devices one hour before bedtime. Creating tech-free zones means keeping screens out of bedrooms and making mealtime device-free. Parents should also regularly ask their child what programs, games, or apps they used each day.

Schools and communities can help too. Schools should teach children about cyberbullying, safe browsing, and recognizing harmful content through online safety education. Schools can organize parent workshops to help parents understand digital tools and parental control apps. Communities should encourage physical activity programs that promote sports and outdoor play to reduce screen time. The government and tech companies also need to act. India needs stronger laws with better enforcement of child safety laws and age verification on platforms. Streaming platforms must filter harmful content and block Child Sexual Abuse Material. Government campaigns focusing on protecting children from online harm by establishing regulatory frameworks, digital literacy, and age-verification systems under NITI Aayog can educate families about online safety.

Harmful online content is a growing threat to Indian children, especially when busy parents cannot supervise them. The impact includes mental health problems, aggressive behavior, poor academic performance, and safety risks. However, with parental controls, screen time limits, school education, and government action, we can protect children. Parents must take responsibility by watching content with their children, using safe apps like YouTube Kids, and creating tech-free family zones. Together, we can ensure that technology serves children positively instead of harming them.

 

Youth: Catalysts for Voluntary Blood Donation

Voluntary blood donation remains one of the most vital yet  underutilized resources in modern healthcare. Every year, on June 14, the world observes World Blood Donor Day to highlight the life-saving impact of safe, voluntary blood donations and to encourage more people to become regular donors. In Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a compelling appeal for voluntary blood donation, emphasizing that youth play a crucial role in building a sustained culture of giving. This message underscores a fundamental truth: while medical infrastructure and blood banks are essential, it is the attitude and participation of society—especially the youth—that determine whether blood donation becomes a routine act of compassion or remains an occasional emergency response.

A single unit of donated blood can save multiple lives. It is indispensable for accident victims suffering severe blood loss, patients undergoing complex surgeries, mothers experiencing postpartum hemorrhage, and individuals living with chronic conditions such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, and other blood-related disorders. Despite this, many blood banks in India, including those in Jammu and Kashmir, face chronic shortages, especially during holidays, summer months, and times of crisis. Voluntary, non-remunerated donation is the only sustainable way to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply. Unlike replacement donation, where family members are asked to donate only when a patient needs blood, voluntary donation builds a reliable reservoir that is available when least expected but most needed.

Young people possess unique qualities that make them ideal ambassadors for voluntary blood donation. They are energetic, socially aware, digitally connected, and often more open to taking initiative for civic causes. Youth have the energy, awareness, and social influence needed to inspire others. In a society where blood donation is still sometimes surrounded by myths, superstitions, or fear, young donors can act as trusted role models who normalize the act and dispel misconceptions. Youth can leverage social media platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook to spread awareness, share personal donation stories, and organize campus or community drives. Universities, colleges, and schools provide natural ecosystems for building a culture of giving. When blood donation becomes a peer-led, youth-driven movement rather than a top-down directive, participation rates increase significantly. Young professionals, too, can integrate blood donation into their corporate social responsibility initiatives or workplace wellness programs. Moreover, the habit of voluntary donation, once formed in youth, tends to persist throughout life. A person who donates blood for the first time at age 18 or 20 is more likely to become a regular donor over the next decades, creating a stable donor base that benefits society for generations.

Despite its importance, voluntary blood donation in India faces several challenges. These include fear of pain or weakness, misconceptions about health effects, lack of awareness about nearby blood banks, and insufficient promotion of regular donation. In some communities, cultural or religious misunderstandings further hinder participation. The emphasis on awareness is critical. Sustained initiatives committed to spreading knowledge, encouraging voluntary donors, and serving humanity through sustained blood donation initiatives address these barriers directly. Awareness campaigns must be continuous, not limited to World Blood Donor Day alone. They should explain that donation is safe, sterile, and does not weaken the body when done responsibly, outline the simple eligibility criteria and the quick process involved, clarify the exact types of patients who benefit from donated blood, and provide the location and contact details of the nearest government blood banks in Jammu and Kashmir. Government hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir offer free, safe blood donation services, yet many people remain unaware or hesitant to visit them. Targeted outreach by youth groups can bridge this gap.

Building a culture of voluntary blood donation requires more than occasional appeals; it demands a shift in social norms. When donating blood becomes as normal and expected as voting, recycling, or helping a neighbor in need, the culture has truly changed. Youth are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. Individual actions matter: each young person can commit to donating blood at least once a year, encourage friends and family to do the same, and participate in or organize local blood donation camps. Collective actions amplify impact: student unions, youth clubs, religious organizations, and corporate employees can coordinate regular drives in partnership with government blood banks. The message is both urgent and hopeful: the capacity to save lives is within our reach, and the youth hold the key to unlocking it. By embracing voluntary blood donation as a regular, valued, and proud act of service, Jammu and Kashmir—and indeed the entire world—can move closer to a future where no life is lost due to lack of timely blood.

World Blood Donor Day serves as an important reminder that blood cannot be manufactured; it can only be given. Voluntary blood donation is one of the noblest services to humanity, and its sustainability depends on the active participation of society, especially its youngest members. Youth are not just future leaders; they are present-day change-makers who can build an enduring culture of blood donation. By combining awareness, accessibility, and youth leadership, communities can ensure that every accident victim, surgery patient, thalassemia sufferer, and person in need receives the life-saving gift of blood—when they need it most.

 

Jhajjar Kotli: Jammu's Natural Heritage Bypassed

Jhajjar Kotli was once a lively place just a short drive from Jammu city, known as a favorite spot for families to escape the harsh summer heat. Old photographs from the 1990s in our homes show busy people enjoying the clear water, smooth stone pools, and green hills that made this area special. In addition to its beauty, Jhajjar Kotli played a big role in the local economy, helping street vendors and nearby shops by attracting many visitors. Travel groups often praised it as a hidden treasure, making it the top choice for short trips. It was also a popular spot for school outings and outdoor learning. Teachers liked using the place as a classroom where students could study nature by looking at rocks, identifying plants, and watching how water flows. These trips combined fun with learning, as children drew waterfalls, played games by the river, and shared meals. These experiences created lasting memories, a love for the outdoors, and a lasting curiosity about nature among young people.

Today, however, Jhajjar Kotli is in a sorry state, neglected and empty, leaving only memories of a paradise that once was a key part of Jammu's tourism. The place is overgrown with weeds, and litter covers the land. The old walkways are breaking down and falling into the stream, while the once lively waterfalls are now polluted and deserted, with no visitors. Several issues have caused this sad decline. First, a new elevated highway was built right over the area, making it completely inaccessible. Also, a lack of funding stopped repairs and cleaning services, causing the site to fall into disrepair. Instead of trying to adapt, the tourism department handled the situation carelessly. Moreover, waste from nearby towns filled the water systems, and natural wear and tear caused more damage, making the place less attractive.

Jammu can revive this place with focused efforts. Jhajjar Kotli has great potential to become an eco-friendly weekend getaway. Preserving it is no longer just about leisure; it's a duty to protect Jammu's shared memories and natural heritage. To begin, a single authority should be given control to manage the site. Next, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should help build a safe exit ramp from the main highway to the original site. At the same time, the administration needs to launch a clean-up drive to remove unwanted vegetation from the stone stairs and clear the natural pools of mud and debris.

To generate interest again, we should post old photos on social media and use local community pages to remind people of the past and attract younger visitors who enjoy short trips. Organizers can then plan new school visits with guides, working directly with teachers to make these visits both educational and fun. These trips can teach children about the local environment and history, just like before, while fostering a sense of community and offering schools a low-cost, nearby activity. In the end, these steps can restore Jhajjar Kotli's charm and joy for future generations, provide jobs for locals, increase tourism revenue, and preserve a part of Jammu’s heritage before it disappears forever.

 

Congress Reality Versus Expectations

 Two decades in politics is a long time. Leaders keep learning, but eventually they must account for their record and make hard choices. Moreover, the fast-changing political world won't wait forever. Ironically, after 20 years in active politics—including not taking the top job in India's oldest party, the Indian National Congress—Rahul Gandhi remains at a crossroads. Consequently, he seems unsure which path to take. He has become the party's unofficial boss, even as his aides insist that Mallikarjun Kharge is the duly elected president. No one denies the facts, but reality on the ground tells a different story. Mallikarjun Kharge has been Congress president for over three years after beating Shashi Tharoor, with full backing from Rahul Gandhi and his family. Furthermore, Sonia Gandhi openly supported Kharge. Since then, Tharoor—doubted by Gandhi loyalists—has been labeled a rebel. In practice, Rahul Gandhi remains the real boss, pulling the strings. Everything Rahul did in these three years bears his mark. Equally, everything he didn't do also bears his mark, and that dual responsibility shapes both credit and blame.

Recently, the Congress found a new alliance partner and a new lease of life in South India in the assembly elections. However, that alone is insufficient to win the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, ignoring the need to revive the party won't help if the strategy is only to come to power via alliance partners. This contradiction is dangerous and badly needs a fix. Worse still, the momentum from Rahul Gandhi's tough Bharat Jodo Yatras (BJYs) is fading fast. Without a clear, follow-up plan, divided party units—from the national All India Congress Committee (AICC) down to state units—aren't spreading Gandhi's message to the grassroots. Moreover, BJP sympathizers inside Congress are effectively running some state Congress committees (PCCs) in many places, creating a governance and organisational challenge.

If this points to Rahul Gandhi's weaknesses, it also reflects failures within his close team—either to keep the momentum from those huge events alive on the ground or to provide candid, strong advice. Indeed, party insiders at the AICC often complain—and the public frequently asks—"Who are Rahul Gandhi's advisers?" Frankly, no one knows. Another big gripe is how hard it is to reach Gandhi and his AICC team, especially general secretary (organisation) K. C. Venugopal. This applies to party leaders, ordinary workers, and the general public. In short, it's a problem only Rahul Gandhi himself can fix. He has a complex personality and strong knowledge, but he often forgets that top leaders must lead from the front through visible actions as well as strategy. His persistent advocacy for marginalized groups is admirable and defines part of his political identity. Nevertheless, his primary objective must be broader: to win back the party's core supporters, especially the urban and aspirational middle class who once formed Congress's backbone.

Today, Indian politics has changed fast and is now overwhelmingly governed by social media narratives. The Congress isn't prepared to respond cohesively or stay ahead of these rapid shifts. In contrast, the BJP and Modi's team are quick with damage control and adept at reframing debates. Therefore, Congress and Rahul Gandhi must shed complacency if they want to be competitive. He cannot appear as a lone warrior—he needs to build and lead a competent, visible team quickly and decisively. Indecision and secrecy within the AICC have exacerbated organizational challenges.

While Modi keeps his distance from many BJP workers, his popularity endures because the BJP's organisation provides solid backing and a willingness to make tough calls. Consequently, an opposition leader like Rahul—constantly watched by rivals—cannot ignore internal challenges or the need to adapt. For example, the J&K Congress renaming the Jammu office as ‘Rajiv Bhawan’ shows a symbolic disconnect—the new generation may not connect with Rajiv Gandhi the same way, having grown up watching Narendra Modi since 2014. Ultimately, reviving Congress requires courage, conviction, strength, and flexibility; therefore, political reality must be honestly scrutinised against political expectations for the party to recover.

New Lawyers Struggle To Survive

Ever since demands have been raised to establish a National Law University (NLU) campus in Jammu, I have wondered whether its graduates—trained at this prestigious institution—will practice in J&K. I am not optimistic. Another question stays; will they transform Jammu's legal system by making professional life economically viable for graduates from other law colleges? I lack answer to this question. These questions came to my mind because in India law degrees promise grand dreams and prestigious careers, but the vast majority of students face economically extremely challenging and disappointing outcomes.

As a law graduate myself and then having taught law in a college, I have witnessed this bitter truth through close observations of peers and my numerous students who graduated with law degrees. Even after diligently completing several internships at law firms or courts, law graduates yet find themselves stuck in entry-level junior lawyer positions that pay a meager stipend of just ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 per month in J&K—particularly those who studied at mid-tier law institutions in or outside Jammu and Kashmir. These widespread experiences clearly reveal a deeply rooted and systemic problem within our country's legal education and employment framework of law graduates.

Additionally, India presently has about close to 2,000 law colleges that collectively produce around 100,000 new law graduates each year, but unfortunately, only roughly 4,000 of these graduates come from the prestigious group of top National Law Universities, often referred to as NLUs. India has an astonishing total of around 20 lakh lawyers, but a large segment of them either sits inactive without engaging in legal practice or find it difficult to make a modest living—indicating that the genuine count of fully active and employed lawyers is probably  near to only 13-14 lakh at most. Due to this oversupply, the most renowned top law firms carefully choose only a small number of exceptional students annually—for instance, merely 555 recruits from the whole 2025 graduating cohort of 100,000 students. Likewise, obtaining positions in the judiciary is an even greater risk, as the chances of success are extremely slim despite more than 5,000 open vacancies needing to be filled.

Furthermore, I recognize that for first-generation lawyers in any family practicing law in courts involves a tough 7-10-year journey characterized by persistently low salaries and unending hard work, which understandably deters numerous young hopefuls, particularly when paired with the soaring cost of living in today’s urban environments. Consequently, recent graduates opting to begin their careers in court litigation have to accept starting salaries ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹14,000 monthly, which inevitably compels many to pursue unrelated side jobs to make ends meet or move back in their family businesses due to financial constraints.

Conversely, I have observed that alumni from prestigious NLUs tend to excel financially and experience superior work opportunities. For example, the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru students get an average salary package of ₹16 lakh per year, alongside commendable placement statistics; NLU Delhi reaches even greater numbers with an average of ₹18 lakh; whereas West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) in Kolkata distinguishes itself with an average salary of ₹20 lakh and nearly flawless placement success. Nevertheless, the scenario shifts significantly for mid-tier NLUs, as average salaries fall to ₹7-14 lakh per year and fewer students find employment. It turns particularly bleak for students from smaller private colleges, who frequently only manage to earn ₹2-6 lakh with poor job prospects.

Moreover, graduates from institutions not ranked among the top 10 NLUs face a true and persistent crisis—a scenario that is entirely different from the wider prospects accessible to engineering graduates, who enjoy significantly varied job options—mainly because opportunities are influenced more by the perceived prestige of their college than by real skills or competencies. Therefore, it would be wise for new law graduates to contemplate turning towards different career options such as legal consulting, corporate compliance, public policy roles, or freelance legal advising—fields where transferable skills like strong analytical reasoning, ethical decision-making, and effective communication are particularly valuable.

Above all else, the key advice is to grab hold of any paying job opportunity that comes your way first and foremost, simply to achieve basic financial independence, and then strategically build and advance from that foundation over time.  To truly fix this broken system, we urgently need a set of practical, actionable steps implemented across the country. For students and recent graduates, the focus should be on prioritizing practical skills over mere academic degrees. Next in line, building a strong professional network early on is crucial—whether by joining active online lawyer communities on platforms like LinkedIn, participating in free webinars hosted by industry experts, or actively seeking out mentors from mid-sized law firms who can provide real-world guidance.

Also, it pays to keep an eye on non-traditional, non-courtroom career paths such as contract drafting for innovative startups, or policy advocacy roles within non-governmental organizations—these avenues often deliver better and quicker financial returns compared to the slow grind of litigation. Likewise, law schools should assume accountability by specifically establishing collaborations and agreements with law firms and corporations to ensure compulsory internships for every student and highest placement opportunities. Simultaneously, it is crucial to adopt intelligent strategies to reduce student enrollment in ineffective or struggling colleges for which government and the Bar Council of India should adopt a strong stance on quality control by closing or merging institutions that do not meet standards and required job placement records as a prerequisite for renewing operating approvals. It is also crucial to enhance regular recruitment openings for judicial roles without long delays.

Finally, law firms and big companies can make a big difference by doing better when it comes to training new talent. Instead of using unpaid or unfair internships, they should create paid apprenticeship programs that have clear steps leading to full-time jobs. Overall, making better rules for colleges, using teaching methods that focus on skills and real-world practice will help the whole legal system improve. This would let law become a rewarding and realistic career choice again for young, ambitious people. Otherwise, more graduates will face the same struggles and disappointments.

Adulterated Food: A Silent Health Crisis

To begin with, food adulteration means adding poor-quality or cheap ingredients to food to trick customers and save money. The biggest problem is with milk sellers, who often add water to their milk to make it last longer. Also, many reports show that some people are mixing harmful chemicals and detergents into paneer. Similarly, spices are sometimes mixed with powdered bricks and artificial bright colors. Because of this, sellers make more money, but consumers end up with food that is not only of bad quality but also very dangerous to health, which can lead to serious health problems for many people. In the lively markets of Jammu, enjoying a glass of milk or a plate of sweets should be a simple joy for both families and visitors. But too often, these everyday treats come with hidden risks that people don't even realize. Food adulteration is a serious threat to health and damages the trust people have in local sellers. In Jammu, common examples include milk, paneer, and sweets that are sold in different markets around the city.

That's why it's important to look closely at the issue. Reports and real examples show how bad this problem can be for people's health. This shows the urgent need for stronger and faster checks to protect our communities properly. Moreover, the figures paint a grim picture that can't be ignored. From 2016 to 2019, many food samples failed rigorous tests across Jammu and Kashmir, indicating adulteration and unfitness for consumption. In 2024-25 alone Parliament data indicated that in the financial year, 6,955 samples were tested in J&K, of which 651 were found to be unsafe, leading to over 1,200 penalties. Furthermore, recent raids confirm this isn't improving, as in July 2025 police seized quintals of fake paneer in Jammu. Meanwhile, a cold store in Bishnah was busted with approximately 440 quintals of adulterated rasgullas loaded with harmful preservatives. Likewise, viral videos have repeatedly exposed poor food standards in Srinagar. As a result, Jammu's tourist-packed markets act like magnets, drawing in unchecked street food, dairy, and meat from outside states, all slipping past tax border points like Lakhanpur without proper scrutiny. As of February 2026, 5 quintals of decomposed meat and 6,000 kg of raw fish were seized, highlighting an ongoing issue of this silent health crisis.

Notably, this poison doesn't just sit idle; it builds up silently in our bodies over time. For example, toxic chemicals in adulterated spices directly cause liver damage. Likewise, fake milk contaminated with detergents or urea leads to severe kidney problems. In fact, Jammu and Kashmir reported a stepping number of active cancer cases in 2025, and health officials have explicitly linked a portion of this rise to long-term exposure to contaminated diets. Additionally, school canteens put our children's futures at risk with potentially unsafe meals. While festivals like Diwali flood markets with sweets artificially colored with banned dyes. For poorer families, who stretch budgets on the cheapest market options, this means they're often buying slow poison unaware. Ultimately, hospitals across Jammu overflow with cases of acute food poisoning, upset stomachs, chronic weakness, and diseases that linger for years.

This is the exact reason why outdated practices are failing Jammu, and at this point, stringent, proactive monitoring is crucial. We require regular surprise inspections by FSSAI personnel, quick on-site laboratory testing at crowded marketplaces and border tolls like Lakhanpur, harsher penalties to discourage repeat violators, and extensive public awareness campaigns in villages and schools. Imagine, for instance, mobile testing vans speeding through Narwal or Talab Tillo, like Kerala's successful "Food Safety on Wheels" (FSW) models that reduced adulteration rates to large extent. Therefore, it's time for law enforcement, trustworthy merchants, and regular people to join in this struggle since everyone has a fundamental right to safe, pure food. To put it briefly, Jammu deserves food that you can eat with confidence.

 

J&K Forests: A Vital Natural Heritage

While driving out of Jammu towards Kashmir on the curvy roads, trees and green forests start flashing around us. Some moments come when we stop on the highway and it feels as if forests are alive and are standing tall like guards as they eat bad air from the passing vehicles.  Forests are the foundation of Jammu and Kashmir's environment as they keep life going. In fact, new data shows that about 20,194 square kilometers of area of the Union Territory's land is covered by forests which is around 48% of its geographical area. As a result, it ranks among India's greenest areas and a true natural heritage treasure. This green cover is more than just numbers—it's our living heritage.

I learned about them from my car and developed love for nature while watching trees everywhere as they hold animals, bees, birds, medicinal plants and add in many other ways to our life. For centuries, it has protected wildlife, regulated climate, supported water sources, and we must plant more and protect them as in present times they are being cut and need protection more than ever before. Moreover, local stories and traditions honor these woods as sacred gifts from nature. Different districts highlight this heritage's strength. For example, Doda district has most of the total forest area. Baramulla, Udhampur, and Anantnag also have significant forest cover. Likewise, Kupwara has the highest density of its land coming under forest area. In addition, these regions are heritage hotspots with habitats for rare species, and vital for biodiversity that generations have cherished and tell stories about.

However, there are variations across regions, places like Srinagar and Budgam have less forest due to expanding towns and development which appears like a danger to our life too. We need growth, but not at the expense of our irreplaceable heritage. Jammu and Kashmir's forests are especially important because they lie in the sensitive Himalayan area which serve as natural barriers, preventing soil erosion, landslides, and floods. Additionally, they maintain river flow for agriculture and drinking water—a lifeline our ancestors relied on. So, losing these forests would erase this vital legacy from our life because every tiny root in the soil is working hard to keep tress flashy and provide us clean air.

Nevertheless, threats loom over this heritage. Adding to it is illegal logging, land encroachment, fires, and climate change which pose serious risks. Next, rising temperatures and irregular rainfall damage trees and wildlife. Moreover, human activities in wild areas accelerate loss and lead to animal conflicts.  We need to take strategic steps to protect our natural heritage, like involving local communities that have been protecting forests for generations because they have the best knowledge of the land and can help monitor threats; planting more trees through community initiatives to quickly restore degraded areas; managing forests sustainably with techniques like selective harvesting to maintain healthy ecosystems; using satellites and technology for real-time monitoring of fires and illegal activities to address issues early; and responsibly developing eco-tourism to create jobs, draw tourists who value the heritage.  

Jammu and Kashmir's forests are a source of pride and an invaluable inheritance. There are different laws in various acts that address the protection of forests. However, laws and regulations alone won’t bring results unless we develop a sense of value toward our forests. For this, reminding people about fundamental duties in the constitution is more important, as Article 51 A-g clearly emphasises that we must protect our forests, which are an integral part of India’s natural heritage. Sustained efforts toward afforestation can lead to the conservation of forests in J&K. Ultimately, safeguarding them requires effective policies, decisive action, and increased awareness. Together, we can build a more sustainable future, as forests are not just scenic views—they underpin environmental stability and support life. In fact, preserving this heritage ensures a resilient future for all because healthy forests mean clean air and safe homes. So, we must act now for the sake of future generations despite all challenges.

 

Cultural Unity Sidetracked By Social Media

The Jammu region has always been a place where cultures blended like colors in a painting. People of different religions coexist here like an extended family, sharing diverse languages, arts, and a deep traditional culture that connects everyone. The lively sounds of Dogri folk songs tell ancient stories, while the touching words of Punjabi and Urdu poems move the soul. Real-life tales in Gojri and Pahari come from the hill folk. Jammu's true essence shone through this shared life and culture. From the University of Jammu emerged "Jammuiyat," a meaningful concept representing collective peace, kindness, respect, and strong intercultural bonds. The University of Jammu planned to bring it to life with the event "Jammuiyat: Sahitya–Sanskriti Samagam." Despite its promise, the idea faced fierce criticism and intense social media pressure, leading the University to rename the event.

This change muted what could have been a bolder stand. Jammuiyat sought to reconnect local communities with fading traditions threatened by globalization and smartphone dominance. Endangered languages like Punjabi and Paddari, along with cherished practices such as oral stories from grandmother to grandchild, village folk plays, field songs, and intricate wall or cloth paintings, risked vanishing as youth chased repetitive TV and app stories. The Samagam aimed to counter this as a vibrant platform where teachers, writers, painters, musicians, students, and community members collaborated to preserve heritage and keep local stories relevant. By blending literature, traditions, and youthful energy, Jammuiyat could have ignited pride in Jammu's sense of one big family, emphasizing unity over division.

Had it proceeded under the original name, the event would have helped further to preserve and revive culture through grand gatherings of poets singing of love and land, thinkers posing profound questions, and performers dancing and acting out stories. Thoughtful discussions would have traced the evolution of local arts and customs, ensuring their endurance. Interactive sessions would have further sparked deep genuine exchanges among writers, scholars, artists, and students, turning passive audiences into active participants. Youth, as trendsetters, would have joined conversations under the banner of Jammuiyat on literature, shared history, and sustaining traditions, countering screen-induced isolation with real connections—leaving a lasting social impact on unity and revival.

Basically, Jammuiyat embodied peaceful coexistence—the true spirit of Jammu. In an era when neighbors became strangers, the Samagam under its original banner could have served as a powerful wake-up call, protecting and reinventing local languages and performances. Workshops might have seen children blend Dogri love poems with smartphone videos, hill folk infuse traditional tunes with modern humor, young creators turn Gojri hill songs into short audio clips, and artists merge ancient floral motifs with city lights and digital tools—all preserved in a grand hall. These activities would have documented Jammu's rich cultural history in a new manner and passed it to future generations, fostering widespread pride and innovation.

If the University had resisted pressure and kept "Jammuiyat," it would have signaled a new beginning, like the morning sun, positioning itself as guardian of yesterday's gifts and catalyst for tomorrow's success. The unchanged Sahitya–Sanskriti Samagam would have invited every citizen to nurture vibrant cultural pride extending far beyond the hills, proving Jammuiyat not just a one-time event but a lasting movement. Ancestral traditions could have united people, spark new kind of ideas, and ensured heritage endured for generations—creating the good cultural unity that the people on social media with criticism regrettably sidetracked.

 

Jammu's Sikh Youth Deserve Transformative Learning

If you know someone working in coordination with the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) or the District Guruduwara Prabhandak Committee (DGPC) in J&K, then this piece will be a good thought-provoking read for you. The Sikh community in Jammu is a vibrant minority of the city's population and holds significant potential. However, it still faces educational hurdles that constrain its growth. For instance, fewer Sikhs from rural areas pursue college education, professional courses, or crack competitive exams compared to their numbers. This happens because families struggle with fees, transport, and a lack of guidance. Moreover, the situation of Sikh people living in urban areas is a little better, but still not something that can set a trajectory for the growth of the Sikh community in the coming decades.

Therefore, this overall situation requires targeted action at the household, community, policy, and advocacy levels for Sikhs in Jammu. By implementing practical steps—starting from scholarships to minority schemes to education mentoring—the entire Sikh community can achieve upliftment. Consequently, this would lead to economic stability, social strength, and lasting pride for coming generations, because education is the surest ladder out of challenges for any community. In Jammu, many Sikh families have backgrounds in transportation, trade, or daily wage labour, and they often aren't aware of modern educational options. Thus, the SGPC and DGPC could have been more effective if they had planned to start "Education Clinics" in local gurdwaras. These clinics would help families learn about different schools and colleges in subject areas like science, commerce, and arts, as well as highlighting eligibility for competitive exams and professional courses.

Furthermore, since SGPC runs professional colleges and universities in Punjab, it can coordinate with DGPC in J&K to take needy and deserving students to those colleges by providing scholarships and free seats—which remain unfilled every year. When Sikh parents are well-informed, they are more likely to invest in their children's education, which can help reduce the number of students dropping out of college—a problem that is common in the community. For example, when families learn that financial help is available through different schemes, they would choose to send their children to do professional courses and coaching, which otherwise cost lakhs of rupees. This small change can create a culture of hope and ambition, making homes places where learning and growth take place. In addition, India's robust system for supporting minority communities offers easy access to various resources. Sikhs are eligible for government-sponsored programs run by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, including scholarships for students before and after matriculation, as well as merit-based financial aid.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Sikhs can also benefit from education loans that help them pursue higher degrees and vocational training in fields like IT, nursing, and entrepreneurship. Despite these opportunities, however, there are not many Sikh students enrolling in these programs. The issue seems to stem from certain so-called 'social leaders' who focus more on improving their social standing and moving into politics rather than helping young Sikhs build a strong educational background. If these government programs are implemented in the Sikh community, they can reduce costs by 30–50% for families who find it difficult to pay for coaching and books. Without this assistance, young people feel that their professional options are limited and prepare to relocate overseas in search of employment as a means of survival.

Therefore, the young administrators in different Guruduwara committees must start to go beyond langar, prayer, and internal affairs management, since gurdwaras must serve as community hubs. Similarly, Sikh Naujwan Sabhas or Sikh youth organisations should take up setting up "education cells" in every local gurdwara in the Jammu region. These “education cells” can raise money through crowdfunding for things like books, laptops, and fees, and help young people start enrolling in college and university courses. Because merely promoting Punjabi as a subject in Jammu won't be beneficial. Instead, the goal should be to increase cultural confidence and reduce alienation, which is the primary cause of the high dropout rate among Sikhs.

Successful models show communities raising lakhs every year—for example, the scholarships offered by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. This might involve pooling resources for 50–100 children annually in Jammu, establishing a cycle of individualised guidance to turn promise into achievement. In addition, Sikh professionals, including doctors, engineers, military officers, and media specialists, should "adopt" five to ten pupils by providing them with career guidance, exam hints, and internships to help them advance into their chosen industries. To make competitive exam preparation cheap, study circles for NEET, JEE, law admissions, and civil services should be started at 3-4 centrally located gurdwaras in the Jammu district. Research indicates that communities that implement youth mentoring programs find improvements in their young people's confidence and grades of between 50 and 70 per cent. So, why are Sikhs unable to embrace this?

In Jammu, this wide network of ‘clinics’ and ‘cells’ would bring out role models, inspiring youth to aim for other options rather than settle for migration plans as the first and last option. Moreover, those who call themselves ‘community leaders’ should survey 100-200 Sikh families in the Jammu region where youth drop out of college or haven't enrolled in universities due to barriers in educational plans. These steps, if adopted, would yield layered results. In the short term, such scholarships, schemes, and mentoring will lower costs and increase the number of Sikh youths in professional fields. In the long term, as more Sikhs gain access to professional courses and college admissions rise, this will strengthen social bonds and reduce divisions within the community.

Ultimately, the Jammu social system would also benefit from skilled contributions coming in the service and business sectors from the Sikh community, serving the public at large. Uplifting Jammu's Sikhs through education requires unity and persistence, starting at the gurdwara level with SGPC and DGPC coordination by thinking over and above kirtan programs. The rewards will be prosperous families, empowered women, and proud youth. As Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught—knowledge liberates—Jammu's Sikhs, acting now, will not only survive but thrive, inspiring minorities everywhere.

 

Parental Comparisons: An Intergenerational Practice

Exam season is around, and so is the time when parents often compare their children to others, saying things like, "Why can't you score like your cousin?" or "Look at the neighbor's kid who topped the class." Such parents feel that this habit pushes children toward success. However, if you talk to psychologists, it does more harm than good, especially to youth. Therefore, parents compare without knowing its negative effects on young minds, and hindrance to nurturing growth. In short, comparisons create pressure instead of progress.

Several reasons drive parents to compare. First, it's a habit passed down from their own childhood, mostly from their parents. Specifically, parents who faced comparisons themselves often repeat it unconsciously. Moreover, they grew up hearing similar words and believe it builds discipline and ambition. In fact, psychology calls this intergenerational transmission—parenting styles like comparisons pass from one generation to the next. As a result, parents copy what they saw, thinking it worked for them. Additionally, not all are "negative" people; many mean “well” for their children but lack awareness about the negative impact it causes. Besides, in places like India, society adds pressure too on parents and they start fearing that their child will lag in exams, jobs, or marriage prospects.

As a result, they observe high-achieving friends and start to worry about falling behind. Our brains naturally use comparisons to stay motivated, a concept known as ‘social comparison theory’. This is also seen in Jammu and Kashmir, where young people compete for limited government jobs and college admissions. Parents often compare their children's ranks or skills to help them face the challenges of life. The negative effects start at an early age but are most damaging during youth. Between the ages of 13 and 25, young people are developing their sense of self. During this time, their brains are especially sensitive to judgment, making them more vulnerable. Constant comparisons can really hurt their self-esteem and feel like they're not good enough. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and a lack of confidence.

Research shows that youth who compare themselves to others experience higher stress and are more likely to want to give up. They may also start to believe they aren't smart or capable. Sibling competition can make this worse, with one child becoming the "star" and the other the "failure." This leads to emotional strain within families. In youth, this stress often shows up as rebellious behavior, trouble focusing on school, or withdrawing from friends and family. This age brings peer pressure, also pressure by parents on children for exams like JEE or NEET add to the problem in young people’s lives because targets and comparisons steal joy from life of the growing generation.

Thus, creativity fades away; young people choose safe paths instead of pursuing their passions. Also, in sports and arts, they quit because they're afraid of failing. Because of this, mental health problems increase—surveys show that comparing oneself to family members is connected to youth depression cases. In areas like Jammu, youth unemployment makes things worse. In fact, parents use comparisons to "toughen" their kids, but this only makes them feel hopeless. Instead of strong, confident leaders, we end up with adults who are insecure and always looking for approval. Comparisons also don't work as a real source of motivation and in turn kids stop listening when they hear negative words. Instead, praising effort is more effective to take young people in the right direction.

So, experts suggest using positive role models who inspire without directly comparing. Parents can break this cycle. To start, they should become more self-aware. For instance, they can ask themselves, "Am I repeating the same behaviors my parents did?" Next, they should focus on their child's individual strengths—track their progress, not that of others. Furthermore, creating open and supportive conversations helps. As a result, young people grow in an open and supportive environment. At the same time, schools in Jammu should hold workshops on positive parenting before annual exams to help the families with young growing children.

Communities can also run campaigns that say "every child is unique" at different times of the year. The role of media becomes critical if it also focuses on showing different kinds of young people succeeding, not just the top achievers. Similarly, governments could offer support through counseling for families who are feeling stressed due to their child. Raising awareness even helps children from difficult emotional situations become better human beings who spread positivity rather than comparisons. So, celebrate what kids do, accept their differences, and watch them succeed because happy families raise confident children.

 

 

Balgran Home for Children: A Beacon of Hope

Established in 1975 in Channi Rama, Balgran—meaning "Children's Village" in Dogri—has evolved into a transformative sanctuary that has nurtured over 2,000 orphaned and abandoned children. Inspired by the global SOS Children’s Village model, the institution moved away from the cold atmosphere of traditional orphanages by opening family-style dormitories in 1978. These homes are anchored by dedicated "mother-wardens" who provide the emotional continuity and familial warmth essential for healthy psychological development. This holistic approach, which integrates rigorous health checks, high-quality education, and advocacy for child-welfare policies, earned the organisation a prestigious National Award for Child Welfare in 1999. Today, Balgran stands as a nationally recognised society that bridges the gap between grassroots care and government-level consultancy, ensuring that every child is equipped with the resilience and skills needed to transition from a vulnerable past to a self-reliant, productive future.

Balgran functions as a comprehensive rehabilitative ecosystem that nurtures vulnerable children through a seamless journey from primary education to vocational independence. By operating the on-site Bal Bharti Public School and supporting students in higher studies until age 22, the organisation ensures a long-term commitment to academic success that extends far beyond the typical age of transition. This academic foundation is boosted by smart classrooms and a computer lab, which bridges the digital divide and promotes sustainable operations. Beyond the classroom, Balgran prioritises holistic development through vocational training for lifelong employability and specialised recreational spaces like a gym and playroom. Supported by vital community partnerships such as J&K Bank, which facilitated the addition of a girls' dormitory and enhanced learning facilities in 2016, Balgran creates a stable and caring environment that empowers children to break the cycle of poverty and enter adulthood as skilled, healthy individuals.

Deeply rooted in the social fabric of Jammu since 1975, Balgran serves as a vital transformative point that converts vulnerability into resilience. By providing a structured, family-oriented environment, it bridges the gap between a traumatic past and a self-reliant future, ensuring that children are not merely sheltered but are groomed into productive, compassionate citizens. The institution’s impact is amplified through strategic social integration, such as the high-level mentorship provided by IIM Jammu students in 2025 and the emotional wellness fostered by Art of Living workshops in 2023. These milestones highlight Balgran's evolution from a modest orphanage into a sophisticated "safety net." In a region often marked by instability, Balgran remains a cornerstone of hope, fostering a culture of teamwork and kindness that strengthens the community one child at a time.

Operating as a vital humanitarian ecosystem in Jammu, Balgran balances its nurturing mission with the harsh realities of high operational costs and logistical challenges. The institution relies on a "Total Community Response" model to sustain its daily needs. This support is critical during periods of crisis, such as the 2020 food shortage, when maintaining the required 25kg of daily flour became a struggle. Despite these hurdles, Balgran’s "smart plans" have consistently turned potential tragedies into success stories.  By expanding into digital literacy and establishing formal corporate partnerships for scholarships and job placements, Balgran can empower its alumni to secure stable careers. This strategic shift ensures that the children do not just survive their circumstances but emerge as self-reliant leaders who contribute back to the society that supported them.

To ensure Balgran’s impact lasts for generations, the focus must shift toward narrative change and collective civic responsibility. By actively sharing success stories through local media and school exchanges, Balgran can dismantle the stigma surrounding orphaned children, reframing them as capable future leaders rather than mere recipients of charity. This cultural shift encourages a more dignified form of support, where society contributes through a multi-tiered approach: individuals provide consistent donations and weekend mentorship, while Jammu’s business sector offers steady CSR funding and "bridge-to-employment" opportunities for alumni. Furthermore, by amplifying these efforts on social media and in the press, the community can generate the public momentum needed to advocate for larger, permanent government grants. Ultimately, when the public, private, and state sectors unite, they transform Balgran’s "safety net" into an unbreakable foundation that ensures every child has the resources, skills, and social standing as a self-reliant leader.

 

Shrinking Footpaths: A Big Problem

Footpaths are important because they let people walk safely on roads, giving them a special place to move around. But in Jammu, these footpaths are becoming smaller and narrower over time. This is happening because shops, street vendors, parked cars, and other things are taking up the space meant for walking. Because of this, people, including children, are forced to walk on busy roads where vehicles are moving fast, which makes accidents, injuries, and even deaths more likely. This issue is getting worse quickly and is affecting everyday life. For example, in places like Purani Mandi in the old city, street sellers often set up their stalls directly on the footpaths in the morning, making it impossible to walk through. Also, many of these footpaths don't have proper ramps, which makes it hard for people using wheelchairs, strollers, or those with walking difficulties to use them.

This makes it very hard and annoying for elderly people, young kids, pregnant women, and those with disabilities to move around safely in their local areas. The government has set clear rules about keeping footpaths clean and open, but local officials often fail to follow them properly because of corruption or not having enough money. Even when courts strongly tell these authorities to remove the blockages and fix the situation, the changes don't stay for long. The same problem happens again within a few days. At the same time, there's a serious lack of proper parking spaces in Jammu, which leads more people to take over footpaths illegally. Because of all this, the footpaths are not kept clean, safe, and open as they should be, which breaks important city laws and hurts the basic rights of all citizens to use them freely.

Now, let's look at Jammu city areas, where the problems are especially serious and clearly seen in daily life. Busy places like BC Road, Rehari, City Chowk, Canal Road, and others have almost no space left for safe walking. Vendors with their carts, parked bikes, scooters, and illegal shop extensions fully block the footpaths from morning till late at night. People living in these areas and those who travel through them often express strong frustration about this ongoing issue. It makes simple tasks like buying groceries, going to work, or taking a family trip difficult and stressful, as there's always a worry about safety. For instance, just on December 15, 2025, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) took strong and decisive action by breaking down numerous illegal structures and stalls to free up much-needed space along BC Road and other equally crowded areas in the city. In addition, JMC has recently launched major anti-encroachment drives across various city zones, working tirelessly to restore footpaths and reclaim precious road space for the public's benefit.

Moreover, the Jammu & Kashmir High Court issued a firm and landmark order in June 2025 to immediately remove all commercial encroachments from key roads like Rehari and surrounding areas, emphasizing the urgent need for regular cleanup drives every two weeks, zero tolerance for any pathway blockages whatsoever, and a strict minimum width of 1.5 meters to ensure truly safe walking for all citizens regardless of ability. Local traders in Jammu welcomed this important decision as a positive step forward for business and safety, but unfortunately, problems tend to return quickly due to inconsistent follow-up, limited manpower, and sometimes political pressures.

Although the city has started adding helpful underpasses for safer road crossings, such as the newly opened JMC pedestrian subway, these isolated measures alone are still not sufficient to fully address the massive scale and urgency of the ongoing problem. The bad effects of these shrinking footpaths are quite clear and far-reaching across society. They hurt public health in multiple ways because people walk less often for exercise or necessity, rely excessively on private cars and bikes, and cities become dirtier with increased air pollution from extra vehicles. While the government does have various plans, Smart City projects, and initiatives in place to improve infrastructure, they often fail to deliver real, tangible results on the ground due to poor coordination. Courts continue to demand thorough audits, regular checks, and dedicated regulated areas for sellers to operate fairly. Some cleanup operations do provide much-needed temporary relief and hope to residents, but sustained, long-term efforts with community involvement are essential for creating lasting change that benefits everyone.

To address this properly and for good, officials need to start by strictly following and applying all current rules without making any exceptions or delays. They should also quickly set up well-organized areas for vendors, especially in Jammu's busy markets, with basic amenities like water and shelter. Additionally, practical improvements such as installing bright streetlights for safety at night, adding smooth ramps for easier access, and fixing all damaged areas on time should be done everywhere without any excuses. Most importantly, future city planning should always consider walkers and pedestrians from the start of every project. This means using Smart City funds in Jammu and Kashmir more effectively and specifically to build strong, lasting infrastructure.

Finally, local media campaigns, social media drives, and public awareness programs can help raise consciousness, build strong community pressure, and hold officials accountable for real progress. In end, Jammu and Kashmir, can become much nicer, safer, and more livable if footpaths are properly restored, protected, and maintained as a top priority. Every single walker, from young students to senior citizens, deserves this basic human right without compromise, so there should be no more excuses or delays in taking bold, immediate action to make it happen.

 

 

Critical Time For Congress In 2026

The Congress party faces significant political challenges in 2026, as it struggles to transform its gains from the 2024 and 2025 elections into a revival plan. After performing better than expected in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and some state elections, the party now confronts a tough landscape dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and powerful regional players. Key state assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, combined with crucial Rajya Sabha vacancies in 2026, will put immense pressure on Congress. A major turning point is the party's planned "MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan" (Save MGNREGA Campaign), protesting the BJP's Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G Bill), which replaces the UPA-era Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Without bold reforms, Congress risks further decline in a polarized political environment. At the national level, Congress faces persistent leadership uncertainties and organizational weaknesses that erode public trust. For instance, questions still linger about Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi's roles and the high command's ability to project a united, decisive front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Many voters and analysts doubt whether Congress can offer a credible alternative government in 2029, given its history of internal factionalism. Additionally, the party's agenda remains unclear, focusing more on criticizing BJP policies—like the MGNREGA name change. Instead of bringing more youth leaders on top positions in the party, Congress often resorts to mere anti-BJP rhetoric.

Moreover, years of electoral setbacks have hollowed out Congress's grassroots machinery. Weak booth-level cadres in key states mean the party would again struggle to convert anti-incumbency sentiment into actual votes and seats. In 2024, it managed a vote share increase partly through alliances within the INDIA bloc, but sustaining this requires massive investment in young local leadership, membership drives, and digital outreach. Without refreshing its organizational base, recent successes could prove momentary, leaving Congress vulnerable to the BJP's superior election machinery and resource mobilization. Building cadre depth requires cultural change; empowering state units and holding veteran leaders accountable could help rebuild worker-level loyalty within the party. Alliance dynamics within the INDIA bloc present another major dilemma because of mistrust and competing ambitions. Regional parties like Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and others fear that a resurgent Congress will encroach on their voter bases. As a result, negotiations over seat-sharing for polls often turn controversial, with allies demanding unequal considerations. The BJP exploits these cracks by branding Congress a "parasite" that weakens opposition unity, encouraging regional leaders to go solo or realign. For example, in Bihar's recent elections, Nitish Kumar highlighted how fragile these partnerships are.

The INDIA coalition members disagree on many issues and small details. Creating a national program is tough because of different opinions among alliance partners, which is even visible in J&K politics. This makes it hard to reach an agreement. In states like West Bengal and Kerala, Congress faces competition from groups like the TMC and the Left, who also fight against the BJP. This creates a problem: working together nationally against Modi means making many compromises that weaken Congress's unique identity. To move forward, the Congress party needs to focus on practical talks on issues that affect the whole country. State elections in 2026 will intensify this, testing Congress's survival instincts rather than focusing only on total victory prospects.

In Assam and Puducherry, the BJP-led NDA holds strong advantages, backed by welfare schemes and Hindu vote consolidation. MGNREGA protests could not impact the BJP if the campaign was not made strategic. In West Bengal, the party faces TMC's machinery on one side and BJP's rising Hindutva wave on the other, forcing tough choices on targeting Mamata or Narendra Modi. Tamil Nadu's DMK and Kerala's contest between Left and Congress allies complicates matters further in Southern India. These polls are existential battles for Congress, where failure could signal irrelevance, prompting defections and ally desertions. Yet, opportunities exist amid widespread discontent over economic slowdowns and governance lapses that could boost opposition turnout if Congress invests in targeting swing voters through social media and door-to-door canvassing tied to the campaign.

The Rajya Sabha elections present a key moment, with about 75 seats becoming vacant in 2026. These indirect elections might change how the Congress party operates in the upper house, especially when it comes to passing new laws and making changes. If Congress performs badly, its influence in the upper house will likely decrease. On the other hand, the party needs to carefully shape its message to show it supports secularism, social justice, and national pride. The idea that Congress is "anti-Hindu" still lingers, which could push away upper castes and undecided voters. Instead of just criticizing Modi, the party should focus on positive ideas like Nyay Patra 2.0, which aims to create jobs and support young people. In short, 2026 is a time for Congress to completely refresh itself: it needs clear leadership, a new way of working, strong partnerships, and a clear set of ideas. If Congress gets this right, it could become a real rival to Modi by 2029 and once again be a major player in India’s lively democracy.