Voice Of Handwara

19/06/2026

Minister for Science and Technology, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, ARI & Trainings, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, on Friday visited Handwara and interacted with party workers and local representatives at Environmental Hall, Handwara. He was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and other senior leaders.

19/06/2026

Hard Work Always Pays: KVK Kupwara Trained Woman Entrepreneur Harvests First Dingri Mushroom Crop
Kupwara, June 2026: The saying "Hard Work Always Pays" has once again been proved true by Ms. Ruqia of Karihama village in Kupwara district, who has successfully harvested her first crop of Dingri (Oyster) mushrooms after receiving training and technical guidance from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Kupwara.
Ruqia's journey is an inspiring story of courage, determination and self-reliance. Having undergone a major lumbar spine surgery and with her father also recovering from a tumour operation, she faced several challenges in life. However, instead of losing hope, she decided to utilize the opportunities provided through agricultural entrepreneurship.
Recognizing her interest and determination, Dr. G. M. Bhat, Head KVK Kupwara, along with his team, provided doorstep training and technical guidance on scientific cultivation of Dingri mushrooms. The training enabled her to establish a small mushroom unit at her home and adopt the recommended production practices.
The efforts have now borne fruit, with her first mushroom crop ready for harvest. Expressing her happiness, Ruqia conveyed her heartfelt gratitude to the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir, Director Extension Education, and the entire team of KVK Kupwara for their continuous support and encouragement. She stated that the initiative has not only generated income for her family but has also boosted her confidence to become a successful entrepreneur.
Dr. G. M. Bhat, Head KVK Kupwara, congratulated Ruqia on her achievement and said that her success story should serve as an inspiration for educated unemployed youth, women and aspiring entrepreneurs of the district. He emphasized that agriculture and allied sectors offer immense opportunities for livelihood generation when scientific technologies are adopted.
Dr. Bhat further expressed his gratitude to the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir, and Director Extension Education for their visionary leadership and unwavering support in promoting entrepreneurship and livelihood generation programmes in remote areas of the Union Territory.
Ruqia, a graduate, has expressed her desire to further expand her enterprise and contribute towards the economic well-being of her family. Her success demonstrates how timely training, technical support and personal dedication can transform challenges into opportunities and pave the way for a brighter future.
The achievement stands as a shining example that with determination, perseverance and proper guidance, hard work indeed always pays.

Ashiq hussain

19/06/2026

19/06/2026

Ex DDC Mir Sulman & senior leader Jammu Kashmir people's Conference

19/06/2026

Here is the English version of the press statement:
Writing
Press Statement
The President of Civil Society Forum Kupwara, Malik Ghulam Hassan, has urged the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to take comprehensive measures on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh for strengthening the horticulture sector.
He stated that apple growers in Himachal Pradesh benefit from Market Intervention Schemes (MIS), processing units, juice plants, cold storage facilities, and several other support mechanisms, whereas orchardists in Jammu & Kashmir are still deprived of many basic facilities.
Malik Ghulam Hassan demanded that:
The Sopore Juice Plant be modernized and made fully functional.
A Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) be introduced for apple growers in Jammu & Kashmir.
Orchardists be provided with easy access to loans, subsidies, and other incentives.
Horticulture officers and experts regularly visit orchards to provide technical guidance and assistance to growers.
The grading, packaging, and marketing systems be upgraded and strengthened.
More cold storage facilities and processing units be established to ensure better returns for growers.
Adequate compensation be provided to farmers and orchardists affected by the recent hailstorm and adverse weather conditions.
He said that horticulture is the backbone of Jammu & Kashmir’s economy and provides livelihood to lakhs of families. If the government seriously addresses the challenges faced by this sector, it will not only improve the income of growers but also contribute significantly to the overall economic growth of the region.
In conclusion, the Civil Society Forum Kupwara appealed to the government to give top priority to the development of the horticulture sector so that farmers and orchardists receive fair returns for their hard work and dedication.
This version is suitable for submission to newspapers and media organizations.

Miriaj din Gelaani
GeneralSecretary
JKCSF KUPWARA

19/06/2026

75% Complete Yet Inactive, Handwara Biotech Park Sparks Concern Among Growers

19/06/2026

District Health Authorities Conduct TB Screening at Shogpora, Stress Active Case Finding Under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
KUPWARA, June 18: Under the flagship TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, a mega TB screening camp was successfully conducted today at the Village Shogpora Health and Wellness Center to actively screen and evaluate the local population.
During the mega event, health officials highlighted the primary objectives of the drive, laying utmost focus on creating mass awareness regarding Tuberculosis. The medical team emphasized that the core strategy of the screening was to definitively rule out TB among the attendees through immediate diagnostic measures, specifically prioritizing on-the-spot chest X-rays and sputum collection.
The screening drive recorded a highly successful turnout, with almost 300 beneficiaries availing themselves of the healthcare services. To ensure comprehensive and immediate diagnostics, a total of 236 chest X-rays were successfully conducted directly on the spot by the mobilized medical teams.
The event was organized and executed under the overarching directions of the District Tuberculosis Officer, Kupwara. To ensure effective implementation and quality patient care, the concerned Block Medical Officer (BMO) personally monitored and supervised the camp. The BMO visited the site to directly inspect the ongoing work and operations carried out by the medical staff.
A robust workforce was mobilized to ensure the successful ex*****on of the screening drive. The mega event saw active participation from all Mid-Level Health Providers (MLHPs) of adjoining centers, local ASHA workers, BPMU staff of Chogul, and the District Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) staff of Kupwara, alongside the Nodal Officer and Program Incharge of the Tribal MMU, Kupwara.

Sheikh Naseer ud din
Nodal Officer MMU/ Tribal MMU Program
District Kupwara