• Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.

JKPC Youth Leader Mudasir Karim Calls for Review of 8th Class Requirement in Marriage Assistance Scheme

Published on April 30, 2025

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Srinagar, April 30, 2025:
Mudasir Karim, the Youth President of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC), has voiced strong concern over the recent implementation of a condition mandating that girls must have passed 8th standard to qualify for benefits under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme. Describing the condition as “unjust” and “exclusionary,” Karim urged the administration to reconsider and amend the guidelines to ensure no deserving candidate is left out due to circumstances beyond their control.

“This scheme was initiated to support underprivileged girls who face financial difficulties in getting married. Sadly, many girls in rural or economically backward areas have long been deprived of education due to poverty, lack of infrastructure, or adverse family conditions,” Karim remarked.

While acknowledging the importance of education for regional progress, Karim argued that tying a poverty-relief scheme to academic qualifications effectively penalizes those already facing hardship. He pointed out that the new eligibility condition, which came into effect on April 1, 2025, may disqualify nearly 30% of eligible applicants—primarily from remote and marginalized communities.

“This requirement undermines the very intent of the Marriage Assistance Scheme. It marginalizes the very people it was supposed to uplift. We must not let educational inequality, rooted in systemic poverty, become another barrier in these girls’ lives,” he said.

Mudasir Karim called on the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo to urgently revise the criteria and adopt a more inclusive and compassionate approach.

He also proposed alternatives like providing additional support or incentives for girls who continue their education—without depriving current beneficiaries in immediate need.

“The voices of the marginalized must be heard, and the government must act without delay. Our responsibility lies in empowering, not excluding, those already battling difficult odds,” Karim concluded.

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  • Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.