Precious Kashmir

Hr Edu deptt, IIT to launch J&K wide start up competition: Kansal

Front

26/01/2022

Jammu: 14 business plans have been shortlisted in a pitch deck competition conducted by IIT Jammu. These would be evaluated to yield the final list of projects. Besides, the entire process would be enlarged and a J&K wide start up contest would be organized jointly by the Higher Education Department and the IIT Jammu.

This was revealed at a meeting held at IIT in order to shortlist the best business plans which were received in the first round of the pitch deck competition organized by IIT Jammu.

The Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Rohit Kansal, while complimenting the efforts of the institute in organizing the competition also assured that the Higher Education department would support and facilitate a larger, J&K wide version of the event which would be organized shortly by the IIT. The Director IIT, Dr Manoj Singh Gaur assured that the IIT would support budding entrepreneurs as well various degree colleges of J&K on a hub and spoke model.

Earlier, the faculty and students of the IIT gave a presentation on the in-house Learning Management System (LMS) developed by the students of this Institute. The model, developed as a start up by the students has unique and desirable features such as student feedback, customised assignments submission facility, attendance checking, assessment, administrative monitoring and automatic grading available in it.

The presenters also divulged that the platform has different interfaces for students and teachers modelled as per the requirements of each. It was revealed that quiz sessions and automatic marking of the same could also be accomplished using this system besides being safe, trustworthy and effective tool with features appreciated by both the students and teachers as well. It was also said that the platform could well be useful even after the start of offline classes for better management and monitoring purpose.

The Principal Secretary exhorted the Degree Colleges to expeditiously introduce appropriate systems in their colleges, more so in the light of the prevailing COVID situation when most classes were being held online. It may be mentioned that currently, only a few colleges are making use of the LMS as an effective tool. While the Islamia College, Srinagar which is an autonomous institute has an effective automated system, many other colleges are working towards developing similar LMS and ERP solutions for better monitoring, accountability and improving the quality of performance.

The meeting was attended by Director of the IIT, DrManoj Singh Gaur, Sanjay Dahiya, Registrar, IIT Jammu; Prof Yasmeen Ashai, Director Colleges; Principals of various degree colleges besides faculty and students of the IIT.

Wan to stop cycle of violence in Kashmir: GoC DP Pandey

Front

Tasaduq Hussain

26/01/2022

By: Tasaduq Hussain

Srinagar: Stating that the efforts have always been to curb and stop the cycle of violence in the valley, Army’s Chinar Corps commander Tuesday said that the attempts are already on to ensure the society is educated while security forces are swiftly eliminating the militants in Kashmir.

Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps commander Lt. General Devendra Pratap Pandey made these remarks Tuesday on the sidelines of an MoU signing event with Indrani Balan Foundation for financial sustainability of AGS’s in Kashmir.

He said that his focus has been to curb the cycle of violence in Kashmir valley.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Pandey said that a series of efforts including making of short movies to educate people of Kashmir are on to ensure that youth don’t pick up arms and rather prefer to become professional, do good for the society and county apart from being a good citizen.

“We are releasing short movies to educate the Kashmiri society and aware them of what is going wrong in grooming their children,” the GoC said.

Pandey said that, “my focus has been basically to ensure that the cycle of violence is curbed.”

“But at the same time we are eliminating militants or giving them chance to surrender,” he said.

The Corps commander said that the more important pillar was to educate the society of the scourge of militancy in which our young men don’t pick up weapons and join the militancy ranks thereafter being killed and not being called good citizens of the society.

Talking about the released short movie, the GoC said that it has been highlighted that no son wants his son to get killed and become a militant. “Every mother wants her children to grow up and be a good professional. A good citizen of the country. Do good for society,” the Corps commander said.

About the singing of the MoU, the GoC said that the investment will enable us to run our Army Goodwill schools in the Kashmir valley much better in terms of faculty and teaching. (KNO)

Div Com Kashmir reviews implementation of food quality control measures

City

Precious Kashmir

26/01/2022

Div Com Kashmir reviews implementation of food quality control measures

Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the progress made regarding ensuring quality of food items in the market including meat, milk and other eatables for public consumption.

The meeting was attended by DC Pulwama, DC Bandipora & ADCs of other districts, Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, HoDs of testing labs of Universities, Deputy Controller LMD, Assistant Director, Food & Drug Organization, Assistant Director FCS&CA and other officers.

On the occasion, Div Com directed Food Safety Department officials to complete the process of linkage of mobile testing labs through GPS. He also directed them make the service functional within a weak and enhance testing capacity of mobile labs.

Div Com also enjoined Additional Deputy Commissioners of all districts to dispose of pending cases in a fast track manner.

He directed them to take two or three days in a week to complete the pendancy and impose deterrent fine on those found violating food safety measures.

He directed them to dispose of the cases pending for more than three months in free and fair manner and reduce over all number to thirty in small districts and fifty in larger districts.

He also directed concerned officers to utilize labs and man power of universities including SKUAST, KU and IUST in testing the samples collected for quality check of food.

Pole further directed Dir Sheep Husbandry and Dir Animal Husbandry to provide one Vetanary Assistant Surgeon by each department in every district to Food Safety Department to assist in inspection of meat sold by butchers.

Besides, he also directed Food Safety Department to disseminate the information through social media, print and electronic media regarding daily based activities carried by the department.

He also directed concerned officers to make slaughter houses functional with immediate effect.

J&K Govt launches ‘Srinagar City Heritage Tour Bus Service’

City

Precious Kashmir

26/01/2022

Srinagar: Aimed at commemorating the National Tourism Day celebration, the Tourism Department of Kashmir today launched ‘Srinagar City Heritage Tour Bus Service’ for tourists to showcase the heritage sites, cuisines and handicrafts of the city to enhance experience of visitors thronging the region from across the world.

Secretary Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez, in presence of Director Tourism G N Itoo, today flagged of the bus service which will take tourists to prominent sites of Srinagar city including Burzhama, Hariparbat, Chatipadshahi, Jamia Masjid, Hazratbal, Buddhist Site Harwan, Pari Mahal and other places.

The objective of the heritage tour is to boost heritage tourism potential of the city in addition to promotion of natural tourism.

Besides, Tourism Department simultaneously launched cross country tours at Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Aru valley, Doodpathri, Baderwah and other famous tourist destinations.

Secretary, while elaborating on this unique initiative of the government, said that the motive of launching heritage tour bus service is to enhance the experience of tourists about heritage potential of city by providing them best facilities. He said it is an appropriate day to launch bus service to heritage sites while referring to the celebration of National Tourism Day.

He said that the government is working under a well planned strategy to ensure that all tourist destinations and resorts remain open during winters while taking good care of safety and comfort of the tourists which is always of paramount importance for the administration.

He informed that the Tourism Department is mulling to start night skiing and night Shikara events amid strict observance of Covid protocols. He said all the stakeholders associated with travel and tour industry have been fully vaccinated to contain spread of corona virus.

Director Tourism informed that in view of National Tourism Day the department is organizing several snow events at Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Doodpathri and other places besides organizing heritage fame tour in Srinagar.

He said that on the first day of launch of the facility a team from Maharashtra will tour several places of great heritage importance like archeological sites, shrines, mosque, temples besides cuisines and handicrafts.

PTTI Vijaypur observes National Voters Day

City

Precious Kashmir

26/01/2022

Vijaypur: Police Technical Training Institute (PTTI) Vijaypur Tuesday organized a pledge taking ceremony in the Institute to observe National Voters Day.

On this occasion, all GOs/Police personnel/ trainees of the Institute took Pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections.

While speaking on the occasion, Khalil Ahmed Poswal, SSP Principal PTTI Vijaypur reiterated that the theme for this year celebration of National Voters Day is “Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative”.

Principal instructed the staff and trainees to encourage, facilitate and maximize enrolment, especially for the new voters.

Among others, Sajjad Ahmad Khan, Dy.SP (Indoor/PIO), Satish Kumar, Dy.SP (Admn/Outdoor), Inspr. Anil Sagar (RI/CDI), Inspr. Neeraj Kumar, Inspr. Sunil Kumar, Inspr. Anil Kumar, Inspr. Rakesh Bamba, Inspr. Manoj Kumar, Inspr. Rattan Singh, Inspr. Vivek Kalsotra, Narinder Kumar (DI) were present on the occasion.

However, in view of COVID-19 pandemic, all precautionary measures were taken properly.

JK Election deptt observes National Voters’ Day

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

26/01/2022

JK Election deptt observes National Voters’ Day

CS administers pledge to officers

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Election Department Tuesday celebrated 12th National Voters’ Day on the theme “Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative”.

In this regard, the department organized a grand UT level event at Nirvachan Bhawan Jammu in which Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, administered the NVD Pledge to all Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers besides other officers and officials of J&K through virtual mode in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and other officers/officials across the UTs of J&K and Ladakh attended the function through virtual mode.

A message of Chief Election Commissioner of India, Sushil Chandra, was also telecast during the function.

Addressing the participants, Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Hirdesh Kumar, said that the need of the hour is to educate the voters about the ethical and qualitative participation in electoral process as the theme for this year’s NVD, ‘Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative’, envisages focus on ECI’s commitment to facilitate the active participation of voters during the elections and to make the complete process hassle-free and a memorable experience for all categories of voters.

He further said that the main focus of ECI during the year 2022 is to encourage all kinds of electorates including person with disabilities, youth, women electors, and senior citizens besides ensuring that all are registered so that they can exercise their right to franchise in future elections.

Highlighting the importance of online facilities being provided by Election Commission of India like Voter Portal (www.nvsp.in), Voter Helpline Mobile App, he urged upon the masses to utilize these digital platforms fully by getting themselves easily registered at home avoiding any visit to ERO/AERO offices for the same.

Hirdesh Kumar mentioned about the recently concluded Special Summary Revision of Ladakh where more than twelve thousand new electors were added in the electoral roll including 595 PwDs. The health of Electoral Rolls for Ladakh UT has tremendously been improved after the culmination of Summary Revision with 0.60 EP ratio, EPIC percentage as 94.22 %, 100% PER and 987 gender ratio. As for the J&K UT, he intimated that more than 1.5 lakh new eligible voters were added during the continuous updation of Electoral Rolls since last Special Summary Revision w.r.t 01-01-2019 as qualifying date.

During the function, Chief Electoral Officer felicitated PwD Icon, Election Department of J&K, Chandeep Singh and other PwD participants. The inmates of Blind Home Roop Nagar, Nari Niketan Home, R.S Pura and Physically challenged Home Udheywala Jammu participated in the programme through virtual mode.

Vote of thanks was presented by Additional Secretary, CEO Office, J&K.

Pertinent to mention that Since 2011, National Voters’ Day has been celebrated on January 25th every year, all across the country to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January, 1950 and the main purpose of the NVD celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximise enrolment, especially for the new voters.

LG flags off 34 advanced life support Dial-108 ambulances by BVG India for J&K

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

26/01/2022

Srinagar: On the eve of Republic Day, BVG India Limited, a key player offering emergency response services, has added 34 more advanced life support ambulances to Jammu & Kashmir’s JKEMS 108/102 emergency medical services fleet. With this addition BVG is serving with 511-strong ambulance fleet for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories.

Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir flagged off these additional 34 ambulances. H. R. Gaikwad, CMD, BVG India, along with the BVG team expressed gratitude to Manoj Sinha for his kind gesture.

Jammu and Kashmir Emergency Medical Services 108/102 is a Public-Private Partnership venture between the Government of J&K and Ladakh and BVG India Ltd.

BVG India has been serving the National Health Mission, Jammu & Kashmir, and the ambitious initiative of JK Emergency Medical Services (JKEMS) has announced that its world-class emergency response services and JKEMS ambulance services have benefited over a crore of people in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh so far.

The popularly known 102-108 Ambulance services cover a population of more than 1.25 crore spread across 22 districts covering places such as Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Doda, Ganderbal, Leh, Jammu, Kargil, Kathua, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Shopian, Srinagar and Udhampur among others.

Choudhary Mohammed Yasin, IAS; Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K, acknowledged Bharat Vikas Group, India, Ltd JKEMS team for serving all Medical Emergencies and Covid patients health system preparedness and response to Covid-19 Pandemic in the UT of J&K.

Hanmantrao Ramdas Gaikwad, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), BVG India Ltd said that BVG’s pioneered initiatives such as ambulance equipped with defibrillators, ventilators, blood pressure monitoring equipment, pulse oximetry, and medical grade oxygen delivery systems with all life-saving medicines and first in India to provide doctors with ambulances had played key role in saving lives of crore people who were in need of critical medical assistance.”

Over 800 Medical Emergency professionals like Doctors Para Medicos and Filed Administrative Staff, Drivers are serving under Bharat Vikas Group (BVG India) for providing ambulatory services across of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

MoU signed for ‘financial sustainability’ of Army Goodwill Schools in Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir

Indo Asian News Service

26/01/2022

Srinagar: Army’s Chinar Corps has entered into an MoU with Indrani Balan Foundation (IBF) on Tuesday for “financial sustainability” of five schools run by it in Kashmir.

These include four Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) at Baraub, Dawar, Balapur and Behibagh in Kupwara, Shopian and Kulgam districts and the Army Goodwill Public School (AGPS) Pahalgam in Kashmir.

The event was presided over by Lt. Gen D.P. Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps along with Punit Balan and Jahanvi Dhariwal of Indrani Balan Foundation.

IBF, a welfare foundation is active in variety of philanthropic work across India.

“The foundation under Punit Balan has vast experience of social work in fields of education, health and sports, which will contribute immensely in improving quality of education as well as self-sustainability of these schools in future,” the Army said.

“In addition, the Foundation had built a new infrastructure for Pariwar School Society for Specially-abled children of Baramulla. This year, the MoU focuses on the four Army Goodwill Schools (AGSs) and Army Goodwill Public School (AGPS) and will entail financial support of Rs. 3,28,00,000 per year for the next five years,” it added.

Earlier in 2021, the Chinar Corps had signed a similar MoU with IBF for financial sustainability of five AGSs of Uri, Wayne, Trehgam and Hajinan in Baramulla and Kupwara districts for five years.

Chinar Corps currently runs 28 Army Goodwill Schools in Kashmir, which educates more than 10,000 students each year. Over one lakh students have passed out from these esteemed institutions. (IANS)

One-way traffic from Jmu-Sgr today

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

26/01/2022

Srinagar: Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir valley with the outside world, shall remain open for one-way traffic on Wednesday, officials said.

“On 26-01-2022, subject to fair weather and better road conditions LMVs(passenger)/ private cars shall be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar (strictly one way) on Jammu-Srinagar highway,” a traffic department official said, adding, “TCU Jammu shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic.”

He said cut off timings for LMVs/private cars from Nagrota (Jammu) would be at 0800 hours to 1200 hours, and from Jakheni (Udhampur) at 0900 hours to 1300 hours “(subject to change depending on the road position then)”.

He said subject to fair weather and better road conditions, HMVs/load carriers shall be allowed from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar after assessing the traffic situation on the thoroughfare. He said TCU Udhampur shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the HMVs.

“Security Forces are advised/requested not to ply against advisory/ traffic plan in view of traffic congestion on Jammu-Srinagar highway. They may ply from Jammu towards Srinagar after confirming the status of highway.”

Meanwhile, Mughal Road, connecting Shopian with Poonch and Rajouri districts, remained closed for vehicular movement in view of snow accumulation at Peer Ki Gali.

Also, Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road remained shut for vehicular movement in view of snow accumulation on Zoji la axis and has been closed till further orders. Kishtwar-Sinthan road also remained closed in view of snow accumulation, the traffic department official said.

Safe return of missing Arunachal teen a priority: Rijiju

National

Indo Asian News Service

26/01/2022

Safe return of missing Arunachal teen a priority: Rijiju

Itanagar: Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday appealed to people to carefully make statement about missing Arunachal Pradesh teenager Miram Taron, who was reportedly kidnapped by Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) a week ago from the Indian territory.

The minister in a statement said : “We are constantly following the case from day one. I appeal to everyone to be cautious in making statements which are not based on facts because the safety and safe return of our Young Arunachal Pradesh youth is the priority.”

“Miram Taron (19) of Jido Village in Upper Siang district, was found missing on January 18 at Shiyung La in Bishing Area. Some people reported that Chinese PLA had taken him into their custody,” a statement released on his twitter handle said.

He said that since the individual was missing from an area close to LAC (Line of Actual Control), Indian Army immediately approached Chinese side on January 19, asking for assistance in tracing and return of the individual, in case he had strayed into the Chinese territory or PLA has taken him in their custody.

“Chinese side assured that they would search for the individual and return him as per established protocol. Later on January 20, the Chinese side intimated that they had found a boy on their side and requested for further details to establish the identity.”

“To assist the Chinese side in corroborating the identity, personal details and photo of the individual has been shared with the Chinese side by the Indian Army. Response from the Chinese side is awaited,” the statement reads.

The Arunachal Pradesh government had also sought the Defence Ministry’s intervention to ensure the safe return of the youth.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu earlier said that the Defence Ministry through diplomatic channels took up the matter with the Chinese authority.

“I am hopeful that the youth would be released and return to his village soon,” the Chief Minister had told the media in Itanagar.

The Chinese Army reportedly abducted Tarom from the Indian territory where China had constructed a 3-4 km road in 2018.

His friend, who managed to escape, reported the matter to the authorities and brought it to the notice of Tapir Gao, a BJP MP from the Arunachal East parliamentary constituency.

Gao had tweeted about the it last week.

In September 2020, the Chinese PLA had reportedly kidnapped five boys from Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district before releasing them after about a week.

The villagers in the region have to trek through the remote mountainous areas due to the lack of proper roads.

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,080-km border with China.

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