By: Sheikh Danish

Srinagar: The government on Wednesday said that the decision with regard to the reopening of schools will be taken by the State Executive Committee (SEC) soon and that it will ensure rehabilitation of the acid attack survivor, who is recovering as per the doctors at Chennai hospital.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad while talking to the reporters said that the Covid cases have recorded significant decline fpr which the administration want to thank people for following the Covid Appropriate Behaviour and media as well for playing pivotal role.

“All the predictions with regard to the spurt in Covid cases were proven wrong by Srinagar residents as the daily cases have reached 100 cases now. We should further focus to bring the number of cases to zero,” he said.

He added that there is a need to adhere to the CAB in letter and spirit as Srinagar at present has nearly 6000 active cases.

Asked about the reopening of schools, he said that the SEC will make a decision in this regard very soon. However, he added that vaccination for children is pivotal for the reopening of schools and the process must be completed at earliest. “Schools will be reopened when the vaccination process is completed,” he added.

About the recent acid attack in Srinagar, DC said that the drive to put an end to such incidents has already been started since yesterday while market checking squads have been constituted to continue these drives.

“The government on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is bearing the expenses of the treatment of the victim. Besides, complete rehabilitation of victim will also be ensured,” he said.

He also added that the doctor’s report is indicating a positive response to the treatment and they pray for the speedy recovery of the victim.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal while talking to media persons said that the chargesheet in the acid attack case will be filed in next couple of days and the drives have been launched to ensure that such attacks don’t take place in the future.

About drug menace, SSP said that the police was working to put an end to the drug abuse and a special helpline has already been established. We will ensure that the directions with regard to the sale of acid by Supreme Court (SC) are implemented in spirit,” he added. (KNO)

Srinagar: Several delegations of people from different walks of life today called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, at Raj Bhavan here.

A delegation of Sikh community led by S. Rajinder Singh called on the Lt Governor and presented the demand of a job package for Kashmiri Sikhs on the pattern of non-migrant KPs. They also demanded the removal of encroachments around the land of Gurdwaras in the valley.

The Lt Governor while interacting with the members of the delegation assured them that their demands would be looked into earnestly for their redressal on merit.

Mahant Rohit Shastri, President of Shri Kailakh Jyotish Avim Vedic Sansthan Trust while calling on the Lt Governor projected various issues pertaining to the promotion and preservation of Sanskrit language in the UT.

He also put forth the demand to designate the Raipur Domana link road and Higher Secondary School Domana after the name of Lt Col Mahatam Singh, Maha Vir Chakra.

Sheikh Muzaffar, President, Jammu & Kashmir Nationalist People’s Front, met the Lt Governor and expressed his gratitude for the unprecedented reforms and initiatives brought in several sectors for increasing the pace of development in J&K.

Muzaffar also put forth the demands of a sports stadium in Achabal, Degree College at Achgoza, Pulwama, and a maternity hospital in Anantnag.

Later, writer and education consultant, Firdous Ahmad Bhat also met the Lt Governor and highlighted various issues related to the youth.

Discussing the demands and issues presented before him, the Lt Governor said that all the demands would be taken up with concerned quarters of UT administration for appropriate action on them based on merit.

The Lt Governor urged the President of JKNPF to continue his endeavours for the welfare of the people of UT.

New Delhi: India on Wednesday strongly objected to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is proposed in the illegally occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government also rejected the reference of Kashmir in the joint statement released by Pakistan and China.

“We have noted references to Jammu & Kashmir and the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the joint statement between China and Pakistan issued on February 6, 2022. We have always rejected such references and our position is well known to China and Pakistan. In this instance too, we reject reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. We expect the parties concerned not to interfere in matters that are internal affairs of India”, said MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

“As regard the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), we have consistently conveyed our concerns to China and Pakistan on the projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in India’s territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan. We resolutely oppose any attempts to change the status quo by other countries, as also by Pakistan, in the areas under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. We call upon the parties concerned to cease such activities,” he stated further.

“The Pakistan side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, including its concerns, position and pressing issues at the moment. The Chinese side reiterated that the Kashmir issue was a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. China opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation”, reads the joint statement between China and Pakistan. (IANS)

‘It is better than medical reimbursement’

Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Wednesday stressed on cent percent enrollment coverage of eligible population for Golden Card under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna scheme.

While reviewing the progress of AB PMJAY and AB PM-JAY SEHAT, Div Com directed all Deputy Commissioners to complete the registration of entire population by March 31, 2022.

He directed them to conduct registration camps and reach out to every household to achieve the target in stipulated time.

He also directed for major enrollment drives at Block Development Offices and Tehsil Offices to cover entire population in a fixed time.

To decentralize enrollment, Div Com further directed that gazetted officers  of RDD, Revenue, Medical Education  should be given  user IDs and  login passwords   to encourage registration of people.

The meeting was attended by DCs along with CMOs, Tehsildars;  MD, NHM, J&K, CEO Ayushman -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna; Principals of  GMCs of  Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag; Director Health Services Kashmir; C/O Divisional Covid Control Room Kashmir, Assistant Director Immunization.

Earlier, MD NHM briefed the meeting about the performance of district, work done in BIS under AB PMJAY and AB-PMJAY SEHAT till today, registration during last month, per day target,  action plan to achieve target by March 31.

Meanwhile, Div Com directed DCs and DDO to ensure registration of all employees for Golden Card under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY & AB-PMJAY SEHAT by the end of February, 2022.

On the occasion, he also appealed Govt employees to obtain Ayushman Bharat Golden Card in three weeks time and also assured them that it is better than Medical reimbursement.

New Delhi:  Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Kumar Mishra on Wednesday said that MHA has established Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to provide a framework and eco-system for LEAs to deal with the cyber crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.

‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. States/UTs are primarily responsible to maintain law and order, inter-alia including strategy to prevent cyber crimes, planning and setting up of task force, and capacity building/training of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of cyber crimes, he said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

The Central Government supplements the initiatives of the State Governments through various advisories and schemes for the capacity building of their LEAs. To  strengthen  the  mechanism  to  deal  with  cyber  crimes  in  a comprehensive  and  coordinated  manner,  the  Central  Government  has taken steps  for  spreading  awareness  about  cyber  crimes;  issuance  of  alerts/ advisories; capacity building/training of   law  enforcement personnel/ prosecutors/judicial officers; improving cyber forensic facilities; etc.

MHA has established Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to provide a framework and eco-system for LEAs to deal with the cyber crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.

The Government has launched the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in), to enable public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber crimes, with a special focus on cyber crimes against women and children. Cyber crime incidents reported on this portal are routed automatically to the respective State/UT law enforcement agency for further handling as per the provisions of the law.

A toll-free helpline number has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.

Jammu: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on Wednesday ordered resumption of physical hearing in courts from February 14 onwards.

Reviving the January 30 order, Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal permitted hearings through physical mode from February 14 with the restriction that in no court room more than ten advocates remain present at a time.

“The District and Subordinate Courts and Tribunals in UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh shall also start functioning through physical mode.”

“Entry of advocates into the court rooms before District and Subordinate Courts and Tribunals shall be restricted to five advocates only at a given time,” the order said.

The guidelines and protocols for prevention of Covid-19 contagion including wearing of masks, frequent use of hand sanitizer and maintaining safe distancing norms are mandatory for all the entrants into the Court premises.

“Only those advocates whose cases are listed in the courts and who are fully vaccinated shall be allowed entry in the Court room.

“Entry of litigants, clerks and agents of the Advocates into the court rooms shall remain prohibited for the time being.

“Entry of witness(s) and accused person(s) only shall be permitted in District and Subordinate Courts and Tribunals provided they are fully vaccinated and subject to strict compliance of SOPs pertaining to the containment of Covid-19 infection.

“Entry into the District and Subordinate Courts and Tribunals shall be permitted to only fully vaccinated persons from the outer gate of the Court Complex.”

“Judicial custody remands shall be given only through video conferencing as far as permissible. The modified guidelines will come into effect from 14 February, 2022,” the order further said. (IANS)

By: Tasaduq Hussain

Srinagar: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Wednesday said that 6000 transit accommodations at an estimated cost of Rs 920 crore will come up in Kashmir while the land has been restored to Kashmiri migrant applicants in the last five years.

The Ministry of Home Affairs was responding to the queries raised in the parliament including the number of properties that have been restored for the Kashmiri Pandits during the last five years and whether there is an agency that monitors and tracks the status of these properties and whether Government has taken ownership in the absence of the property holder.

Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Nityanand Rai responded to the queries in Rajya Sabha.

In a written reply to the parliament, the MoS informed the parliament that as per the information provided by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, the land of 610 applicants (migrants) has been restored in the last five years. “Under the J & K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection & Restraint on Distress Sales) Act, 1997, District Magistrates (DMs) of concerned Districts in Jammu & Kashmir are the legal custodians of the immoveable properties of Migrants,” the union minister said.

He said that the DMs are further empowered to take all steps for the preservation and protection of such properties.

The Government has taken several measures to rehabilitate the Kashmiri Migrants back into the valley, he added.

Regarding the measures, the MoS said that “3000 State Government jobs created for the Kashmiri Migrants under the Prime Minister’s Development Package-2015 (PMDP-2015) at an outlay of Rs. 1080 crores.

“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has appointed 1739 migrants and selected additional 1098 migrants under PMDP-2015,” the MoS said. “Construction of 6000 Transit Accommodation in Kashmir Valley at an estimated cost of Rs. 920 crore in order to provide accommodation to employed Kashmiri Migrants.”

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a portal on 07.09.2021 to address the grievances of Kashmiri Migrants related to Immovable properties and community assets, the MoS informed.

He further informed that an amount of Rs. 753.89 crores has been released during the last five years in this regard. (KNO)

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: The recently declared Class 12^th Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) results unlike past two years is worst as the pass percentage has witnessed a dip in 2021 examinations, the data reveals.

This year Kashmir division witnessed an overall pass percentage of 74.92 percent.

It has been learnt that in the year 2008, the pass percentage of 12th standard was 53.50 percent in which 43,183 students appeared in the examination out of which 23,102 candidates qualified the examination.

Similarly, in the year 2009, the results of the class was declared on January 21 2010 in which 46,367 students had appeared for the examination out of which 25,546 candidates passed the examination and the overall results of the session was recorded with 55.10 percent.

In the year 2010, despite turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir, the results of the examinations were healthier than 2018.

The pass percentage of 12th standard examination in the year 2010 was 55.51 percent in which 52,125 students had appeared for the examination and 28,932 candidates among them qualified the examination.

Likewise, in the year 2011, at least 58.97 percent students qualified the examination wherein at least 49,956 appeared out of which 29,460 got qualified.

The data was released by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

It reveals that in the year 2012, at least 58.95 percent students qualified the examination in which at least 52,268 appeared out of which 30,814 qualified it.

The data states that in the year 2013, an overall pass percentage of 52.08 percent in 12th standard was recorded in the valley. In the examination, a total number of 51,391 students appeared out of which 26,763 qualified the exams.

From the year 2014, the results of 12th standard started improving further till the year 2017 but the results dipped again by around 10 percent as compared to last year.

In the year 2014, the Kashmir division recorded the result of 55.18 percent and in the examination, at least 52,751 students appeared out of which 29,109 passed the exams.

According to JKBOSE, in the 2015 session the pass percentage of 12th standard was 57.19 percent and 51,908 students appeared for the exams out of which 29,684 candidates qualified the exams.

In the year 2016, at least 75.47 percent of the result in 12th standard was recorded and 53,159 students had appeared for the exams out of which 40,119 students qualified the exams.

The results in the year 2017 again dipped from 75 percent to 61 percent as the year recorded pass percentage of 61.44 percent and in the exams 55,163 students had appeared out of which 33,893 qualified it.

Likewise, in the year 2018, a total of 51.77 percent students qualified the exams followed by 76.08 percent in 2019 and 80.46 percent in 2020.

However, this year the results further dipped by nearly six percent as the valley recorded a pass percentage of only 74.92 percent.

BOSE said that this year 72,180 students appeared for the exams out of which 54,075 qualified. (KNO)

By: Majid Jahangir

Srinagar: Mohammad Wani, a frail and elderly Kashmiri man, circles on his bullock-driven oil mill chanting Kashmiri hymns. He is arguably the last proponent of the traditional oil mills which have been phased out after the advent of power-run oil extracting machines.

In the 1970s, hundreds of oil mills operated in every nook and cranny of Kashmir. People would wait in queue to get their turn for extracting oil seeds. The residual extract was a nutritious feed for the cattle.

Wani, in his dimly-lit mill enclave at Namlabal quarter in the famed saffron town of Pampore, 12 km south of Srinagar, recalls that he has spent more than 60 years of his 77-year life on the oil-mill and vows to continue his ancestral profession till he breathes his last. All day he is busy extracting edible oil in the traditional way at Namlabal, putting in a lot of hard work.

His physical appearance and hands give an idea about the hard work he puts in. His dusk to dawn labour does not fetch him more than Rs 200 a day. Often he talks to his blindfolded ox, giving it directions, as it continue its unending rounds.

Wani too continues to remain on the move. “This traditional way of extracting edible oil will die soon. I am the only one to do this work now. If I leave it, no one will do this work,” he said.

Wani’s son works as labourer and he is not interested in the family work. “There were a lot of such mills here but everyone has left except me,” said Wani.” Some joined jobs and some are running shops.”

He said there are a lot of clientele who come to get the mustard oil but they have to wait. “I get customers from many areas and they have to wait before they get edible oil from this place,” he added.

It takes him no less than three hours to churn out four litres of mustard oil. (UNI)

Srinagar: The minaret of the Sufi saint’s shrine at Chrar-e-Sharief shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district was restored on Wednesday.

The minaret of Sufi saint, Sheikh Nurruddin Wali was tilted due to the earthquake that jolted the Valley on February 5.

The officials said that the work has been completed and the minaret has been restored to its original position.

The administration had immediately intervened in support of the Waqf Board and now the metal portion of the minaret has been restored to its original position, officials added.

Revered equally by both the local Muslims and Hindus, the saint is called ‘Nund Rishi’ by the Kashmiri Pandits.