Unseasonal hailstorms have devastated crops across hundreds of kanals in Jammu's Udhampur district, leaving farmers like Guddo Devi and Bittu Ram in a state of distress. The hailstorms, which are not typical for June, have been attributed to increased frequency of western disturbances and local convection. The Meteorological Department of Jammu and Kashmir's director, Sonam Lotus, explained that these weather patterns are not unseasonal but have been more frequent this year. Yash Pal, the village head of Satyalta Panchayat, reported that 90% of the 10,000 kanals of agricultural land in his area has been damaged. While the local revenue official Abdul Majid has promised that assessments are underway and compensation is expected by September, farmers like Kewal Kumar have experienced significant crop losses and are skeptical about the sufficiency of the relief. The situation is exacerbated by the inability of farmers to earn from labor work due to the pandemic.

A study by the University of Jammu's Department of Geography assessed the vulnerability of 10 districts in Jammu province, Jammu and Kashmir, to climate variability using a Vulnerability Index (VI). The study, which analyzed three decades of weather data, found that mountainous and remote districts, particularly Ramban and Kishtwar, are highly vulnerable to climate change. The vulnerability affects local livelihoods, especially agriculture and livestock farming, due to irregular rainfall, crop production decreases, and shifts in cultivation timing. The study suggests that socio-economic infrastructure planning is crucial for mitigating climate-induced livelihood vulnerability. Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo from the University of Kashmir emphasized that local development has a negligible role in climate change in the Jammu hills, attributing the changes to global phenomena. He advocates for global and local interventions, including emission reductions and environmental protection measures.

The University of Jammu has come under scrutiny for caste-based discrimination after issuing convocation invitations that identified Dalit faculty members by their caste. The Wire accessed images of the invites, which showed the caste designation next to the names of Scheduled Caste community members. Approximately 30 faculty members received such invitations, with 12 confirming the caste mention. The incident has sparked outrage among the faculty, with Professor Virender Kundal expressing concern over the repeated humiliation and the potential normalization of such practices. The university's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ramji Dass Sharma, attributed the incident to human error and apologized, assuring it would not happen again. Registrar Meenakshi Kilam also apologized and stated that the invitation cards would be replaced. The convocation event is expected to be attended by prominent figures, including Union finance minister Arun Jaitley.

The University of Jammu has come under scrutiny for caste-based discrimination after issuing convocation invitations that identified Dalit faculty members by their caste. The Wire accessed images of the invites, which showed the caste designation next to the names of Scheduled Caste community members. Approximately 30 faculty members received such invitations, with 12 confirming the caste mention. The incident has sparked outrage among the faculty, with Professor Virender Kundal expressing concern over the repeated humiliation and the potential normalization of such practices. The university's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ramji Dass Sharma, attributed the incident to human error and apologized, assuring it would not happen again. Registrar Meenakshi Kilam also apologized and stated that the invitation cards would be replaced. The convocation event is expected to be attended by prominent figures, including Union finance minister Arun Jaitley.

In Jammu's Bishnah tehsil, a BJP Member of Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma, has been accused of using MPLAD funds to construct a community cremation shed exclusively for the upper caste in Jumian Brahamana village. This has sparked controversy among the local Dalit population. The new shed, which cost Rs 3 lakh, is situated very close to an existing one that serves all castes. The move has been criticized as reinforcing caste-based segregation, with local Brahmins pressuring for the separate facility. Despite opposition from some upper caste members and the block development officer, the MP has not addressed the issue directly. The article highlights the ongoing issues of caste discrimination and the use of public funds for controversial projects.

After a week of continuous rains, the village of Bassan in Reasi district, J&K, experienced unprecedented landslides starting July 29, destroying 43 houses, affecting 220 people, and causing extensive damage to land and property. The district administration provided immediate relief of Rs 5,000 per family and arranged for tents and water, with further compensation promised. However, residents expressed concerns over the sufficiency of funds and the challenges of living in tents, especially with the approaching winter.

A JKAS officer and volunteers have been recognized for their efforts in running 'Open Paathshaala,' an educational initiative for slum children in Kashmir. The program has received accolades for its contribution to the community.

In Bhaga village, Jammu and Kashmir, women have leveraged self-help groups (SHGs) to sustain their families during the pandemic. The SHGs, part of the Jammu and Kashmir State Rural Livelihood Mission, were initially slow to attract members but gained momentum in 2019 with the support of then deputy commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib. The pandemic brought opportunities such as mask-making, significantly increasing the women's income. The SHGs produce various goods, from traditional crafts to food items, and efforts are underway to market these products online and through local outlets. The success of these SHGs has been recognized under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

Rashpal Singh, a farmer from Kooh Village in Udhampur District, Jammu and Kashmir, significantly increased his income by switching from traditional wheat farming to organic strawberries with the help of the Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Department. The department provided a subsidy, and after planting 22,500 strawberry runners, Rashpal earned around Rs 40,000 in three months, a 40-fold increase from his previous wheat crop earnings. The success has encouraged him to expand his strawberry farming and potentially prevent his son from having to work as a laborer in Ladakh.

An FIR has been registered by Samba Police Station's SHO, Shiv Dev Singh, against an individual named Balram Saini. The FIR is based on Section 505 (1)(b) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to the circulation of statements, rumours, or reports that could incite fear, alarm, or disturb public tranquillity. This section also covers the potential inducement to commit offences against the state or public order.

The article is part of a series titled 'Elections on the Go', which documents the impact of policy decisions on everyday life in India. It focuses on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, a community displaced from the Kashmir Valley due to militancy. The author interviews several Kashmiri Pandits living in a government-established colony in Jammu, who express their skepticism and disappointment regarding government promises of rehabilitation. The article details the hardships faced by the community, including inadequate relief measures, cramped living conditions, and the psychological scars of past violence. It also compares the situation of Kashmiri Pandits with other refugee communities in the region, such as those from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and West Pakistan refugees, highlighting differences in government assistance and voting rights.