Reviews functioning of Tribal Affairs deptt

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Monday chaired a meeting to review the functioning of the Tribal Affairs Department.

The Administrative Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Director Tribal Affairs Department, and concerned officers of the Department participated in the meeting.

The Chief Secretary was apprised about the outcome of the first-ever survey of the transhumant population in Jammu and Kashmir which has captured various socio-economic indicators of this segment of population.

It was informed that the Tribal Affairs Department has taken various flagship initiatives during 2021-22 for the welfare of the beneficiaries with a focus on implementation of Forest Rights Act, tribal tourist villages scheme, cluster tribal model villages, tribal health plans, and transit facilities.

The Chief Secretary was apprised about the deficient mobile/internet connectivity and limited availability of health facilities at higher pastures and dhoks. The Chief Secretary directed the Department to ensure mobile and internet coverage of all tribal habitations, besides, establishment of teleconsultation medical facilities specifically in dhoks; within 6 months. It was further directed that the local youth is provided with adequate first-aid training to tackle emergency situations, besides ensuring primary health care facilities at base camps, in consultation with the National Health Mission.

Under the Integrated Village Development Scheme, the Tribal Affairs Department is undertaking various projects to improve the parameters of health and nutrition, drinking water and sanitation, education, livelihood, electricity supply, road connectivity, and mobile and internet connectivity; in the tribal habitations.

Dr. Mehta emphasized on holistic development of the community and directed initiation of slew of measures to be accomplished in a time-bound manner. It was decided that intensive efforts will be undertaken for saturation of aadhaar cards, golden health cards, bank accounts, besides ensuring vaccinations of livestock.

The Department was also given the target of doubling income of the tribal population by focusing on integrated development of wool, milk, and forest-based industries. The Department was further asked to complete the pending FRA cases within three months and ensure the formulation of TSP by all departments within one week.

The Chief Secretary was also apprised about the pilot project to assist the bi-annual tribal transhumance in Jammu and Kashmir by providing dedicated vehicular transportation facilities. The Chief Secretary directed broadening the scope of the project by facilitating the migration preferably through national highway in vehicular mode.

The Department was also asked to establish a tribal helpline number and ensure completion of all 08 transit accommodations by July 2022 with 02 to be completed by the end this financial year.

Moreover, Dr. Mehta impressed upon the Department to prioritize skilling of tribal youth through the network of youth clubs and asked Mission Youth to exclusively provide gainful employment opportunities to the eligible youth from tribal areas for which Rs. 10 crores will be specifically earmarked. The Department was also asked to promote tourism in tribal areas by roping in various stakeholders.

To promote education among the targeted population, the Department is establishing Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Anantnag, Kulgam, Gurez, Kotranka, Rajouri and Mendhar which will commence operations from April 2022.

On the occasion, the Chief Secretary also launched the departmental scholarship portal for streamlining the disbursement of scholarships to tribal students. With the launch of the portal, Rs. 12 crore were disbursed to the eligible beneficiaries though DBT by the Chief Secretary. The Department is providing scholarships to more than 2.02 lakh students from the tribal community.

2 detained under PIT NDPS Act

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to have arrested 10 drug peddlers across Kashmir valley and recovered psychotropic, contraband substances from their possession.

Besides two notorious drug peddlers have been detained under preventive detention under PIT NDPS Act in Kulgam, a police spokesman said.

In Sopore, a police party of Police Post Watergam under the supervision of SDPO Rafiabad and SHO PS Dangiwacha at a checkpoint established at Ladoora crossing intercepted and arrested a suspicious person identified as Mehraj ud Din Bhat son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat resident of Ladoora Rafiabad. During checking, officers were able to recover 169 banned capsules from his possession.

In Awantipora, officers from Police Post Reshipora at a checking point established at Kawani Crossing intercepted and arrested a suspicious person identified as Gulzar Ahmad Ganie son of Gh Mohd Ganie resident of Bra Bandina. On checking, officers were able to recover 3Kgs of grinded cannabis (concealed in a nylon bag) from his possession.

In Handwara, officers from Police Post Chogal at a checking point established at Chogal intercepted and arrested a suspicious person identified as Farooq Ahmad Teli son of Gh Qadir resident of Maidan Chogal. On checking, officers were able to recover 205 grams of charas from his possession. He has been arrested and shifted to police station where he remains in custody. In another action, officers at a checking point established at Watayeen on Sopore-Kupwara highway intercepted and arrested a suspicious person identified as Fayaz Ahmad Mir son of Gh Rasool resident of Drugmulla Kupwara. During checking officers were able to recover 2Kgs of charas from his possession.

Similarly, Police in Baramulla at various checkpoints established across the district under the supervision of senior officers have arrested 05 drug peddlers. They have been identified as Rafiq Ahmad Mir resident of Chekthanpora Chanpora Tangmarg, Humayun Tariq & Abid Hamid both residents of Nowshera Baramulla, Javid Ahmad Ganie resident of Bachi Trikanjan Boniyar & Arshid Ahmad Mugal resident of Salamabad Uri. Among the arrested drug peddlers, two each have been arrested in the jurisdiction of PS Bonyar & PS Uri while another has been arrested in the jurisdiction of PS Tangmarg. Contraband substances including 113 grams of charas & 85 grams of Herion have been recovered from their possession.

In Kulgam, on a specific input, a Police Party from Police Station Qazigund conducted a raid at specific location (residential house) in village Sesman Danjan, Qazigund. During checking, officers were able to recover 25Kgs of Poppy straw from the residential house and arrested the accused person identified as Nisar Ahmad Dar son of Ab Rehman Dar resident of Sesman Damjan Qazigund.

All the accused have been shifted to respective PS where they remain in custody. Accordingly, cases under relevant sections of law stands registered at respective police stations and investigation have been taken up.

Besides, Police in its recent action against drug dealings in Kulgam, booked 02 notorious drug peddlers under preventive detention under PIT NDPS Act through the orders issued by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir. They have been identified as Ali Mohammad Mir son of Late Ghulam Hassan Mir resident of Mir Mohalla DH Pora and Azaz Ahmed Wani son of Abdul Rehman Wani resident of Wanigund Khudwani. They have been detained under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act for their repeatedly involvement in Drug peddling and have been lodged in Central Jail Kot Bhalwal Jammu.

Meanwhile, police appealed people to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood. “Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt with as per law. Our consistent actions against drug peddlers should reassure the community members that we are making efforts to keep our society free from the scourge of drug menace,” police said.

Srinagar: At least two residential houses and a shop were damaged in separate fire incidents in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district.

Reports said that a residential house in Dachigam belonging to one Mohammad Sultan Wadoo son of Habibullah Wadoo caught fire this afternoon. The residential house suffered substantial damage in the incident, destroying property worth lakhs of rupees. The fire was contained after hectic efforts by the Fire and Emergency Department.

Part of a residential house was also damaged in a fire incident at Noorbagh in Palpora area.

Earlier in the day, a shop caught fire in Habba Kadal due to short circuit. The Fire and Emergency Service Department personnel reached the spot and doused the raging fire in a highly congested locality.

The locals in the area have hailed the efforts of Fire and Emergency Service Department personnel in containing the fire. (GNS)