Precious Kashmir

Leopard kills Hangul in Tral

Front

17/03/2022

Srinagar: A hangul (Kashmir stag) has been killed by a leopard in Tral forests during the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday, officials said.

An official said that the corpse of a female hangul was found on Wednesday morning in Shikargah area of Tral.

He said that the corpse of hangul is in their custody now and further decisions will be taken accordingly by the higher ups.

He added that the killing of hangul has made it clear that there is presence of endangered Kashmir Stag in Shikargah forests.

DG IMPARD inaugurates online ‘Orientation Programme on CSSs for PRIs, field functionaries’

City

Precious Kashmir

17/03/2022

DG IMPARD inaugurates online ‘Orientation Programme on CSSs for PRIs, field functionaries’

SRINAGAR: Director General, J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD), Saurabh Bhagat, today inaugurated online “One day Orientation Programme on Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) for Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Field Functionaries of Jammu and Ganderbal districts.

The programme was organized by J&K IMPARD in collaboration with Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

In his inaugural address, Director General emphasized the need for capacity building of all the functionaries of PRIs so that they are able to deliver services to common people effectively in their Panchayat areas. He asked the participants to take this orientation programme as an opportunity to further enhance their efficiency and working capacity so as to live upto the expectations of their people.

Head of Centre for Rural Development and PRIs, Professor Reva Sharma, during her welcome address, threw light on various aspects of MG NREGA in the UT of J&K.

Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development Department, Mandeep Kaur, while addressing the participants, underlined the importance of active people participation for effective implementation of all vital schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(PMAY), MG NREGA, Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Skill Development for Rural Youth and Self-Employment and related programmes.

“Public participation can be ensured through massive awareness among the common masses about all the development and welfare schemes of the government”, she maintained.

She said that the PRIs have a prime duty to give wide publicity to all the schemes through campaigns in their respective areas. They must spread awareness about various Centre Government initiatives like Apki Zamin Apki Nigrani; Yogyata se Rozgar Mahotsav; Janata ki Scheme Janata ki Nigrani; Har Gaon Swachh Gaon; Har Gaon Haryali and One Person One Golden Card.

Mandeep Kaur directed for establishment of a garbage shed in every panchayat by 15th August for disposal of garbage.

She informed that all the Panchayats would soon be provided internet connectivity to enable the Panchayat members keep pace with present technological innovations to further streamline their working. She also revealed that all the information regarding Panchayats would be uploaded by the Panchayat Secretary on the Panchayat Portal that has been set up for the purpose.

Mandeep Kaur said that rules have been framed and uploaded on the Portal laying down financial powers and responsibilities of District Development Councilors (DDCs), Block Development Councilors (BDCs) and Sarpanchs. She said that all the stakeholders can submit their suggestions within 15 days.

Other dignitaries who spoke during the programme included Prerna Puri, Secretary IT Department; Professor Anita Brandan, Former Head SIRD Rajasthan and Mohammad Mumtaz Ali, Director Rural Development, Jammu.

Spring arrives, flower sapling sales bloom in Kashmir

City

Jahangeer Ganaie

17/03/2022

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: With the onset of spring in Kashmir, sale of flower saplings has increased as people are increasingly picking up gardening and decorating lawns with multiple varieties of plants.

From the beginning of this month, people have been thronging nurseries and shops to buy flower saplings and seasonal plants. Eventually, it has boosted sales of vendors’ selling multiple varieties of plants and saplings.

Vendors said that people are mainly buying flower seedlings such as Pansy, Flocks, Enterum, Gayana. Besides, vegetable saplings are in high demand.

Mohammad Akbar, a flower vendor from south Kashmir said that the demand for flower saplings has gone up with the improvement in weather in the last two weeks.

“We pray the weather remains sunny in the coming days so that we continue with our business,” he said. His worry is that inclement weather might spoil their sales as it affects sowing.

Mohammad Yousuf, a nursery owner said that besides catering to local demand, many nurseries in Kashmir are now exporting flowers and saplings to other states.

He said that the Floriculture department is helping farmers to introduce new techniques for developing hybrid crops—(KNO)

CRPF to hold day-parade in JK on March 19

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

17/03/2022

CRPF to hold day-parade in JK on March 19

By: Yogesh Sagotra

Jammu: For the first time, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is all set to hold a day parade of its men in Jammu on March 19, to mark the CRPF day.

On Wednesday, the Director General Parade of Central Reserve Police Force parade was organised at Jammu’s MA stadium with great pomp and show. The DG CRPF Kuldeep Singh took the salute of the parade.

An official said that CRPF is going to observe its CRPF Day outside Delhi and for the first time, Jammu and Kashmir has been selected for which a CRPF Day Parade will be organised on March 19 in Jammu.

In an official statement a CRPF spokesman said that it was going to celebrate their 83rd Anniversary Parade rechristened as CRPF Day-2022 at MA Stadium, Jammu on 19 March and force is commemorating this event first time in Jammu.

“In connection with main parade of CRPF Day on 19 March, a DG parade was held in Jammu on Wednesday which is also regarded as a final rehearsal of main parade,” the statement said, adding that ” CRPF is the largest Central armed police force in the world has indeed become the most dependable force of the nation owing to its versatility, professionalism, and the bravery of its intrepid and committed men.”

The DG CRPF while speaking to media, said that the Central Reserve Police Force as a vital force in Jammu and Kashmir during the abrogation of 370 in J&K, CRPF has played significant contribution by its professionalism, skills and capability to maintain peace and tranquillity in UT. He said that CRPF has successfully conducted a number of operations and neutralised hundreds of militants and thwarted many fidayeen attempts in Jammu and Kashmir.

Will look into the matter of showing Kashmir Files movie to men: The DG CRPF said that present situation in Jammu and Kashmir was good and is improving further with CRPF assisting the administration to maintain peace. “CRPF is a force working on a multi-dimensional front and is assisting administration in Jammu and Kashmir in whatever manner help of CRPF is asked for,” he said.

Asked regarding the recent encounter that took place in Hazratbal area of Srinagar, DG CRPF said that militants are not of any religion.

“I won’t comment on this question and such should be avoided. We all should know that militants do not belong to anyone or any religion,” he said. He, however, added that every anti-national element will be eliminated in whatever place it is hiding.

Regarding the recent killing of a CRPF man in Shopian in Kashmir, DG CRPF said that this is the first incident with CRPF this year but law has taken its course and forces have nabbed the killers of “our jawan, who will be punished as per law.”

Asked about Kashmir Files movie and any plan of CRPF to show this movie to forces across the country, he refused to comment on it till he himself watches the entire movie.

“I have watched a few clips of movie and it seems good but I cannot speak much till I see full movie,” he said adding any decision for showing movie to force men will be taken after he himself sees it in full—(KNO)

Hajj, Umrah body seeks direct flight from Srinagar to Jeddah

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

17/03/2022

‘It will bring down cost, will provide relief to pilgrims’

By: Mubashir Aalam Wani

Srinagar, Mar 16: Jammu and Kashmir Association of Hajj and Umrah Companies (JKAHUC) on Wednesday demanded direct flight from Srinagar to Jeddah for Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.

Addressing a presser here, JKAHUC president Pervez Ahmed said that there is a huge demand from pilgrims intending to perform Hajj or Umrah to have a direct flight from Srinagar Airport to Jeddah.

He said that though Umrah services have been resumed by Saudi Arabia but there are Covid regulations and SOPs to be followed by pilgrims. All these measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid have resulted in cost escalation.

Amid this, according to him, lack of direct flight connectivity from Srinagar Airport to Jeddah is causing trouble to pilgrims as well as making the pilgrimage expensive. Currently, pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir have to take an international flight for Saudi Arabia from New Delhi or Mumbai airports.

“Under these circumstances, the revival of the outbound pilgrim travel from J&K is a challenging task. But the members of JKAHUC are fully determined to put their best foot forward in this direction and bring pilgrim travel to its original glory,” added spokesperson. (KNO)

Bandipora: Municipal Councilor’s house damaged in mysterious fire

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

17/03/2022

Bandipora: A residential house belonging to a Municipal Councilor got partially damaged in a mysterious fire incident in Wangipora village of Sumbal in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Reports reaching GNS said that fire broke out in the residential house of Gulshana Begum, councilor of Ward number 1 Sumbal this evening.

The firefighters and locals doused the flames and prevented the fire from spreading further, they said, adding that the residential house suffered partial damage.

Husband of the Councilor told GNS that goods & clothes worth thousands got damaged in the blaze.

Moreover, the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

Over 34,000 posts of ST, OBC vacant in Ministries, Departments: Govt

National

Indo Asian News Service

17/03/2022

Over 34,000 posts of ST, OBC vacant in Ministries, Departments: Govt

New Delhi: Over 34,000 posts for Schedule Tribes and Other Backward Class (OBC) are lying vacant in the various Ministries/Departments till December 31, 2020, the Parliament was told on Wednesday.

As on December 31, 2020, a total number of 14,459 posts for ST were vacant while 20,702 posts of OBCs were vacant in the various government ministries and departments. Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions Minister Jitendra Singh told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

He also said that the government monitors the progress in respect of filling of backlog reserved vacancies for SCs, STs and OBCs in ten Ministries/Departments, which contribute more than 90 per cent of total number of employees of the Central Government.

According to the data till December 31, 2020, the highest number of posts for STs -4,405 – were vacant in the Railways while the Ministry of Home Affairs has 5,479 posts of OBCs vacant.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affair has the lowest number – 43 – posts for STs vacant while 181 posts were vacant in OBC category.

Singh also said in his reply that occurrence and filling of vacancies by various recruiting agencies of Central government including Union Public Service Commission and Staff Selection Commission is a continuous process on the basis of requisitioning by the respective cadre controlling authorities while the data regarding vacancies filled by State recruiting agencies is maintained by the respective state governments.

Women’s World Cup: Unfortunately, we could not play full 50 overs, says Goswami

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

17/03/2022

Women’s World Cup: Unfortunately, we could not play full 50 overs, says Goswami

Mount Maunganui: Veteran India pacer Jhulan Goswami on Wednesday admitted that not batting for their full quota of 50 overs was one of the main reasons in the four-wicket loss to defending champions England at Bay Oval.

Pushed into batting first, India never got going and slumped to 134 all out. In reply, England chased down the total with 112 balls to spare and four wickets in hand.

“Our plan was to play 300 balls but unfortunately, we could not play full 50 overs. We had to suffer the consequences as our target was 240-250. At this ground on par, if we had got 240-250, we could have definitely restricted them.”

“But in cricket, some days are like this, you plan well but things don’t work your way. You have to understand that we are playing England, who have done well in the past few years. But unfortunately, today, we could not execute our plan properly,” said Goswami in the post-match virtual press conference.

India’s batting in the World Cup has been on an extreme up-and-down graph. When they batted their 50 overs, they won against Pakistan and West Indies despite suffering wobbles of 114 for six and 78 for three respectively. When they don’t bat their 50 overs, they tend to be on the losing side, just like the 62-run loss to New Zealand or Wednesday’s defeat to England.

But Goswami has backed her team to make a strong comeback against Australia at Auckland on Saturday. “This World Cup, every match is very much important and it is not easy, one can’t predict. Definitely, we will have to bounce back when you are playing against one of the best teams in the world. But we will have to recollect everything and have some few days. We will definitely sort it out whatever things are there and will try to go out there and play positive cricket.”

Goswami, who became the first bowler in women’s ODI cricket to take 250 scalps with the wicket of opener Tammy Beaumont, signed off by praising the young pacers Meghna Singh and Pooja Vastrakar for their figures of three for 26 and one for 22 respectively.

“Meghna and Pooja bowled really well. Whenever they got an opportunity, they tried to give a breakthrough. What was planned was there and we were able to execute it. That’s why we were able to take six (seven) wickets. Both of them bowled brilliantly today.”

Vaccinating youngsters

Edit
Oped

Precious Kashmir

17/03/2022

The government’s decision to expand Covid-19 vaccine programme to include youngsters in the age group of 12-14, and do away with the bar of having comorbidities for booster doses for elderly is welcome. The step is considered an important one towards protecting people from the impact of future waves of the coronavirus disease, and insulating them from newer variants of the virus that are bound to emerge. The government may also expand the eligibility for boosters progressively to those aged 45 and above as well as 18 years and above. As and when done, it would be in line with scientific evidence in favour of vaccinating the population.

The science on the benefits of a booster dose is lucid although there is no country-specific data that is available.

In Kashmir alone, 336758 children shall be covered across at 105 planned session sites, the government said.

Additional Commissioner said that the administration achieved a milestone to cover the entire population for Covid-19 vaccination above the age of 14 years with the active support of heath and other departments. He rightly said that children are also vulnerable to pandemic infection hence they also need to be inoculated.

While the government underlined that it will speed up vaccination drive in the particular age group, there is need to do more, especially to overcome hesitancy. Such a scenario demands more work to be done to ensure more and more children are covered. Parents who hesitate, as per some experts, are taking “an enormous risk and continuing to fuel the pandemic.” The government must persuade more and more children to take the jab.

There is also a need to prioritize administering booster doses in vulnerable populations, besides, expediting vaccination among eligible sub-adults.

The Omicron variant, which is ebbing now, is perceived as less dangerous than the delta variant responsible for the second wave but the people need to raise their guard and remain cautious and vigilant. It remains the social and moral responsibility of every citizen to be responsible for themselves and those around them. The vaccines have proved highly safe and effective at reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death, global data has shown. The administration must get its act together and take steps so that most of the eligible take the jab. It is also important to note vaccination will ensure minimal disruption of key activities, including business and education.

J&K Govt ensures transparency in implementation of projects: Centre in LS

Front

Indo Asian News Service

16/03/2022

J&K Govt ensures transparency in implementation of projects: Centre in LS

New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government has taken a slew of measures to ensure transparency and accountability in financial management and implementation of projects, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

He further said that the J&K government has made administrative approvals, technical sanction and e-tendering mandatory for transparent execution of works. It also makes the geo-tagged photographs of works mandatory for making payments at the treasury.

All works or projects being implemented in the UT are in public domain for public feedback and suggestions to improve expenditure outcomes and ensure involvement of people in development works, he added.

Financial reforms and interventions initiated recently have facilitated early completion of works, projects, Rai said in a written reply, adding that during 2018-19 and 2019-20, 9,229 and 12,637 projects/works were completed respectively.

“Similarly, during 2020-21, 21,943 works or projects were completed which shows significant increase as compared to the previous years. During the current financial year 2021-22, 22975 works have already been completed up to January, 2022.”

Further, J&K Integrated Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (JKIGRAMS) has been developed as an e-Governance initiative to provide a 24×7 platform to the Citizens for redressal of their grievances. The JKIGRAMS Portal has been integrated with the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).

Under ‘Mulaqaat Programme’, the citizens can interact directly with the Lieutenant Governor for seeking redressal of their grievances that have been filed on the JK grievance portal but have not been redressed.

Meanwhile, the office file work has been shifted from manual to e-office mode from April-2021 and all Heads of Departments have been brought on e-office portal while the “Annual Performance Reports’ of JK Administrative Services (JKAS) officers shifted to online mode on SPARROW Portal.

The minister also informed the Lower Houes that an ‘Online Departmental Vigilance Officers Portal’ has been developed as a communication channel between Anti-Corruption Bureau and Departmental Vigilance Officers posted in different departments and districts.

“The other measures include Electronic Vigilance Clearance System for furnishing vigilance clearances through electronic or online mode of all the government employees has been done, e-filing of property returns by employees (PRS-Portal) has been made mandatory, transaction of Business Rules of UT of J&K has been notified.”

As part of the Public Outreach Programme, administrative Secretaries have been allocated districts to monitor development schemes and a dedicated Helpdesk established in the General Administration Department to hear the issues of public importance through telephone, he added.

1...3,5003,5013,502...5,057 Page 3,501 of 5,057