Transporters across the Kashmir division have called for a complete ‘chakka jam’ on Monday in protest against the proposed expansion of Smart City bus services to various districts, expressing concern over its impact on the local transport sector.

Representatives of the transport community said the move could jeopardize the livelihood of thousands of families dependent on private transport operations across the Valley.

Transporters’ representative Shabir Matta expressed strong resentment, stating that the decision threatens an already struggling sector. “Private operators are already grappling with multiple challenges, and the extension of Smart City buses to district routes has further deepened uncertainty,” he said.

The transport body maintained that while modernisation of public transport is important, it should not come at the cost of existing stakeholders. They urged the administration to review the decision and hold consultations with transporters to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution.

Announcing the protest, transporters said services will remain suspended across the Valley on Monday as part of the shutdown. They appealed to the public for cooperation while urging authorities to step in to prevent inconvenience to commuters.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Trade Alliance on Saturday urged the J&K government to urgently address the grievances of transporters ahead of the strike call.

In a statement, KTA President Aijaz Shahdhar appealed to the authorities to initiate dialogue with the protesting transporters and resolve the issues amicably to avoid disruption to trade and daily life.

“The government should listen to their issues and amicably resolve the matter,” Shahdhar said, stressing that prolonged uncertainty could adversely impact business activities across the Valley.

He warned that any strike by the transport sector would have a cascading effect on the supply chain, affecting movement of essential goods and inconveniencing the general public.

The KTA president further urged both the government and transporters to engage in constructive discussions and arrive at a mutually acceptable solution at the earliest.

New Delhi, Apr 18: Healthcare delivery in J&K needs a major overhaul in order to cater to changing healthcare needs of the population and in view of the deficiencies that lack definitive contours.

In an exclusive talk on the sidelines of five year commemoration of Gauri Kaul Foundation, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Retired IAS Officer and former Advisor to Governor, J&K, told Greater Kashmir a thorough assessment of J&K Health was mandatory in order to address pressing issues.

Ganai called for audit of healthcare infrastructure and human resource to improve facilities in outlay areas of J&K.

He said gap assessment of manpower in health facilities, measured against the population needs of the area, would help the incumbent Government get a realistic estimate of the deficiencies that need to be filled.

“There may be a lot of deficiencies, and not everything can be fixed at the same time. However, gap analysis would definitely help in a realistic and cascaded approach to addressing the issues of recruitment,” he said.

In addition, the equipment and infrastructure audit was also necessary and mandated to assess the deficiency as per the IPHS norms.

This approach will also elucidate where the problem lies and provide factual and data-powered budget demands from the health sector.

“This will make a lasting impact on the improvement of healthcare delivery in the outlying areas,” he said.

In the second stage, Government could address the burning issue of upgradation based on health facilities.

“Certain facilities could be augmented and some more areas could be covered, depending on the needs of the population, and subject to availability of resources,” he said.

Ganai said that Directorate of Health Services and Jammu have their facilities spanning in rural, semi-urban, sub-urban, rural and outlay areas.

“These Directorates,” he said, “Could be given the mandate of healthcare services only in rural and outlay areas.”

This, he said, would consolidate the towns and district headquarters to have their healthcare facilities catered by new medical colleges and medical education department, while cities like Jammu and Srinagar are already saturated with facilities.

“It is only the rural, peripheral areas and populations that are suffering due to shortage of human resource in health facilities, as many people, recruited for these facilities manage to get easier, central postings in Directorate,” he said.

He said the people who are appointed and recruited for rural service will have no other choice but to work in rural hospitals.

In 2014, new CD blocks were created, but these blocks are not coterminous with medical blocks.

“There is a haitus between CD blocks and health blocks. The medical block is serving a different set of villages, while the CD block is a different area. The medical blocks at the current time are much less than the number of CD blocks,” he said. “There would be better planning and allocation of resources at Panchayat level and district level if these blocks are coterminous.”

Referring to the private sector healthcare penetration in rural areas, he said, that private investment and facilities must be encouraged.

The public-private partnerships must be encouraged so that there are improved facilities for people across the geographies in J&K.

“However, there needs to be more vigil on the private sector to ensure ethical practices and standards,” he said.

Srinagar, Apr 18: In continuation of its efforts to address the rising incidence of breast cancer in the region, under the Moul Mouj Cancer Care Project, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies on Ageing (CISA), under the aegis of the Moul Mouj Foundation in collaboration with GK Labs, conducted a hands-on training workshop on early detection and screening of breast cancer at the Kashmir Clinics Conference Hall, Srinagar.

The workshop brought together paramedics, doctors, and frontline healthcare providers, who are being trained to identify early warning signs of breast cancer and guide patients towards timely screening and intervention. Participants received practical training in breast self-examination techniques, risk assessment, and identification of individuals requiring screening, including appropriate age groups.

Expert-led sessions focused on the critical role of early detection and regular screening in improving patient outcomes. Hands-on modules enabled participants to recognise high-risk cases and ensure timely referral for further diagnostic evaluation. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Zubair Saleem, Chairman CISA, expressed concern over the increasing burden of breast cancer in Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted the development of a simple screening questionnaire, designed by the organisation, which can be effectively used even by non-technical personnel to identify key “red flags” and facilitate early referral. Dr Saleem emphasised awareness of important warning signs such as breast or armpit lumps, changes in size or shape, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, and persistent pain, urging individuals not to ignore these symptoms and to seek timely medical consultation.

Key Public Advisory: Women aged 40 years and above, or earlier in high-risk cases, should undergo regular screening. Monthly self-breast examination is recommended. Any unusual change should prompt immediate medical consultation. Early diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes. The workshop reflects a sustained effort to strengthen cancer awareness and early detection practices in Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on empowering both healthcare providers and the community.