Jammu, Oct 15: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday in Srinagar to discuss several major proposals ahead of the upcoming Assembly session.

Sources said the cabinet is scheduled to meet today 4 PM at Civil Secretariate Srinagar.

The Cabinet is likely to propose an increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) of MLAs from ₹3 crore to ₹4 crore per annum, they said.

This proposal comes in response to the long-standing demand of legislators who had sought a revision of the CDF limit during the Budget Session held earlier this year.

The fund was last fixed at ₹3 crore in 2018 and remained unchanged even after the formation of the new government in 2024.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Finance and Planning, Development, and Monitoring portfolios, had assured lawmakers that their demand would be considered. The proposed hike is expected to strengthen grassroots-level development and empower MLAs to address local issues more effectively.

Another significant agenda item for the Cabinet is the relaxation of the qualification bar under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme. Currently, poor girls need to be at least “Middle Pass” to avail benefits. The Cabinet is likely to remove this qualification requirement to ensure that more deserving beneficiaries can access the scheme’s financial aid.

In addition, the Cabinet is expected to approve the e-auctioning of limestone mineral blocks across Jammu and Kashmir. It may also grant administrative approval for a ₹45.80 crore sewerage scheme in Gulmarg aimed at improving sanitation and tourism infrastructure in the popular hill resort, sources said.

The Cabinet will also take up several legislative proposals, including the Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Establishments Bill, 2025 and amendments to the J&K Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. These bills are expected to be introduced during the Assembly session beginning October 23 in Srinagar, they added.

Other key items on the Cabinet’s agenda include the reorganization of Town Planning Organizations in Jammu and Kashmir, the transfer of 391 kanals and 6 marlas of state land to the Forest Department for compensatory afforestation, and the upgradation of posts in the Department of Floriculture, Gardens, and Parks.

The Cabinet is also expected to approve the creation of a supernumerary post of Lecturer in the Surgery Department of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar and the continuation of Heritage Craft Courses in 15 Government ITIs and Polytechnic Colleges across the Union Territory.

All Cabinet decisions will subsequently be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor for formal approval, as mandated under the current administrative framework. (KNC)

Srinagar, Oct 14: In a historic first, the Kashmir Willow Manufacturers Association, led by GR-8 Sports, was invited by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) – a world-famous club that owns Lord’s Cricket Ground that is known as the ‘Home of Cricket’ – and supported by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the global governing body for cricket, to participate in an international conference at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, focused on the future of cricket bats and the sustainability of willow wood.

The global Cricket Bat Conference brought together leading cricket bat, ball, and equipment manufacturers, including Kookaburra,  Duke, SG India, CA Pakistan, Gray-Nicolls (GM), and JS Wright and Sons.

Representing India and the Kashmir willow industry, GR-8 Sports made a strong case for recognising Kashmiri willow as a sustainable, high-quality alternative to English willow – the traditional material used in cricket bats.

“It’s the first time in history that MCC and ICC recognised the Kashmir willow industry and took us into confidence,” said Fawzul Kabir, co-founder of Kabir Brothers – GR-8 Sports. “We were asked to contribute to discussions on how to protect both English and Kashmiri willow and ensure the game doesn’t lose its most essential tool, the bat.”

The conference addressed growing concerns about the future of bat-making as both English and Kashmiri willows face environmental threats, including deforestation, declining cultivation, and the effects of climate change.

“The question was: What happens to cricket when the willow disappears?” Kabir said. “Should we amend bat regulations, explore laminated substitutes, or double down on sustainable cultivation? These are decisions that will shape the game’s future.”

Kabir presented the case for Kashmir willow as a viable, eco-friendly, and affordable substitute for English willow, highlighting advances in manufacturing and treatment techniques that have reduced weight and enhanced fiber strength.

“For decades, English willow was considered superior for being lighter,” Kabir said. “But over the past few years, we’ve refined our processes using AI-based seasoning chambers that reduce moisture from 30 percent to 10 percent without harming fiber strength. Today, Kashmir willow bats can compete at any level of the game.”

Kabir credited Walter Lawrence and Macdowell, two British officers posted in Kashmir during the colonial era, for introducing willow plantations to the Valley more than a century ago.

“We owe gratitude to the British for planting the first willows in Kashmir,” he said. “They created an industry that now sustains thousands of families and continues to serve world cricket.”

The Kashmir willow industry today is valued at over Rs 700 crore, employing over 10,000 workers across 400 manufacturing units in south Kashmir.

Around 220 units are concentrated in Bijbehara, Sangam, and Halmulah in Anantnag district, while another 180 units operate in Awantipora, Pulwama’s Pujteng, Sethar Charsoo, and Jawbara villages.

The region collectively produces over 30 lakh bats annually, providing livelihoods to nearly 1.5 lakh people, including woodcutters, craftsmen, polishers, and exporters.

Kabir, said he planted 15,000 willow saplings in the past four years and urged governments and cricket boards to include willow in reforestation drives.

“The world talks about global warming and climate change,” he said. “Why not make a willow plantation part of that conversation? If we lose willow, cricket as we know it will change forever.”

He also revealed that modern Kashmiri bats are now made from the same female white willow species (Salix alba var. caerulea) used in England, cultivated under scientific supervision in collaboration with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) and the J&K Forest Department.

“Earlier, we used mixed willow varieties, which made the bats heavier,” Kabir said. “Now, through selective breeding and controlled processing, we’ve matched English willow even at the atomic and tissue level.”

The MCC and ICC delegates acknowledged the evolution of Kashmir’s bat industry and its growing global relevance.

“They recognised that Kashmiri willows can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with English willow – with certain refinements,” Kabir said. “They appreciated our work and assured full advocacy at MCC, ICC, and BCCI levels.”

GR-8 Sports, which has already supplied bats used in five ICC World Cups, was lauded for maintaining high quality and innovation.

According to Kabir, the ICC had earlier scanned GR-8 bats and rated them among the best-performing bats globally.

The Lord’s conference was attended by representatives from Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, South Africa, India, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, along with manufacturers, environmental scientists, and cricket board delegates.

The participants unanimously agreed on a global plan to conserve willow plantations and passed a resolution to involve the United Nations and climate-focused organisations in protecting the species crucial to cricket’s future.

“MCC and ICC assured unwavering support to our cause,” Kabir said. “They told us: ‘You have been the pioneers of advocating for Kashmiri willow. Take it forward, and we’ll stand by you.’”

The meeting ended with a joint pledge that summed up the mood at Lord’s: “Willow must be saved to preserve cricket’s legacy.”

Srinagar, Oct 14: Woodlands House School has been recognised among the Top 3 Schools in Srinagar in the prestigious Education World India School Rankings 2025, said a press release issued here.

As per the statement, this recognition is a testament to the school’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, holistic development, and value-based education

The management of Woodlands House School extended gratitude to its dedicated staff, teachers, students, and parents for their continued support, teamwork, and trust that have made this achievement possible. Over the years, Woodlands House School has continued to uphold its vision of nurturing young minds through a blend of academic rigor, sports, creativity, and character-building initiatives—preparing students to become responsible and confident individuals. This ranking reaffirms the school’s mission to deliver quality education and to remain at the forefront of academic and co-curricular excellence in Jammu & Kashmir, it added.