Congratulates people for their resolve to unitedly tackle public health emergency

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday achieved the landmark of administering over 2 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses in the ongoing Covid vaccination campaign across the country.

On the occasion, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has complimented the efforts of healthcare and frontline workers who battled the odds of tough geographical terrain, weather vagaries, and a host of other impediments to achieve this momentous task.

“Congratulations to the people of UT for their cooperation and resolve to unitedly tackle the public health emergency,” he added.

J&K has been a front runner among the States/UTs in vaccinating the eligible population with the Covid vaccine.

The J&K administration achieved the completion of 1 Crore doses of Covid vaccination as early on 18th September 2021. Subsequently, 100% coverage of 1st dose in 18 and above age group was achieved on 14th October 2021. It was on 12th January 2022, the administration achieved 100% 2nd dose coverage of 18 and above age group.

The Lt Governor has been personally monitoring the public health response to Covid pandemic, including the achievement of vaccination, on a weekly basis.

Pertinently, it was under his guidance that the UT government had launched a 10-point campaign in November 2021 to raise awareness and highlight the flagship and other government schemes being implemented at the grassroots level to empower the common man.

Among that 10-point campaign, the ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ Campaign laid renewed focus on coverage of all unvaccinated cases across the UT by ensuring Door-to–Door vaccination which substantially boosted vaccination numbers in the region.

As on date, besides achieving 100% double dose coverage of the citizens in the 18 years & above group, the UT administration has achieved 57% coverage of 1st dose in the 15-17 age group, besides administering 1,02,020 precaution doses. (KNO)

‘All unconnected villages to be digitally connected by Mar under NBM’

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Wednesday chaired the meeting of the UT Broadband Committee to review the implementation of National Broadband Mission in Jammu & Kashmir.

Administrative Secretaries of the Forest and Information Technology Department, along with officers from LSA, Department of Telecom, GoI, and BSNL participated in the meeting.

The meeting was informed that the National Broadband Mission (NBM) is fast tracking the growth of digital communication infrastructure to bridge the digital divide and facilitate digital empowerment and inclusion, while focussing on affordable and universal access of broadband.

It was further informed that the Mission aims to connect all villages to the broadband network by 2022, with only 100 such villages left in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Secretary asked the Department of Telecommunications to reconcile the data on unconnected villages with the concerned Deputy Commissioners and by referring to the village maps already uploaded on land records portal of the Union territory Government to ensure that all unconnected villages are brought on the digital network by the end of this financial year.

Moreover, to facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services, a Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) agreement has been signed to provide mobile coverage in 88 uncovered villages in the Union Territory.

Dr. Mehta directed early resolution of all pending issues for expeditious coverage of these far-flung areas and asked the Power Development Department to provide reliable electricity supply to the concerned IT installations.

The Chief Secretary directed the district administrations to review the district-level progress achieved under the National Broadband Mission and resolving the pending RoW issues/cases on regular basis.

Jammu: The Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) on Wednesday signed the contract agreement with Shree Balaji Engicons Limited for the development of right and left banks of River Tawi on the lines of Gujarat’s Sabarmati RiverFront.

The agreement was signed and exchanged between the Chief Executive officer (CEO), JSCL, Avny Lavasa and Director, Shree Balaji Engicons Limited Vinay Agrawal.

Lavasa said the project will add aesthetic value to River Tawi by developing natural purification capability, besides sustainable development of environment and urban infrastructure.

She further asked the project executing agency to expedite the work and complete the construction work in the stipulated time frame.

Director, Shree Balaji Engicons Limited, Vinay Agrawal said that they will commence work at the earliest.

He also assured the CEO, JSCL for completion of the ambitious project in the stipulated time frame

Under the project, a 3.5 KM (both side) long river front is proposed to be completed in 2 phases. The first phase starts from 4th bridge to Tawi Bridge and phase 2 from Tawi Bridge to Gujjar Nagar Bridge.

The pathways would be constructed on both the sides (banks) of the river to provide easy access to the public.

This project also comprises bank protection of River Tawi with broad salient features of construction of diaphragm walls, lower promenade, retaining wall, embankment construction.

JSCL is focused on improving the quality of life of people by enabling local development and harnessing technology to create smart outcomes for citizens.

The main components of the Jammu Smart City Projects are City Beautification, Solid Waste Management, IT Enabled Infrastructure, Road & Parking Improvement, Disaster & Emergency Management and Civic infrastructure Development.

It is pertinent to mention here the JSCL has achieved a milestone after signing a contract for the development of Tawi riverfront, which has been an ambitious project for the city of temples. The work on the project will commence soon to enhance its overall look and open up new avenues for tourism and economic development.

Additional CEO, JSCL, Hitesh Gupta, Project Director, Sunil Thusu, Harviender General Manager, Ashish Anand General Manager, Finance and Deepika AGM, Urban were also present.

New Delhi: With an aim to ensure the sufficient number of the IAS officers for the Central deputation, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is planning to amend the existing service rules of IAS (cadre) Rules, 1954, officials said.

According to officials, the Ministry’s proposal will ensure a greater say of the Centre compared to the States and Union Territories or from the joint cadre.

The Central move came after it found that states have not released adequate numbers of IAS officers as part of the central deputation reserve despite several reminders by the Ministry of the Personnel.

The officials also said the Centre has proposed that each state government shall make available for deputation to the central government such a number of eligible officers of various levels, to the extent of the Central Deputation Reserve prescribed under existing regulations, adjusted proportionately by the number of officers available with the state government concerned against the total authorized strength of the state cadre at a given point of time.

In case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the central government and the state government or state governments concerned shall give effect to the decision of the central government ‘within a specified time’, as the existing rules did not mention any time limit for deciding on such disagreement.

The Ministry sent the proposal to seek changes in IAS (Cadre) Service Rule, 1954, to all the state government on December 20 last year and were asked to respond by January 5, 2022 with their comments.

The Centre had written to all Chief Secretaries of states and UTs in June last year, to nominate more officers for central deputation at the level of deputy secretary, director and joint secretary, citing their shortage to the Central Staffing Scheme on central deputation.

It was also requested that a larger number of officers may kindly be recommended for the appointment at Deputy Secretary /Director/Joint Secretary level under the Central Staffing Scheme so that the central deputation reserve/ deputation reserves are duly utilised for this purpose, the Ministry had said in letter written to state governments.

However, after the Centre’s move, sharp criticism erupted from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to roll back the proposal as this amendment, if implemented, will affect states’ administration. (IANS)

By: Faizan Wani

Srinagar: In a significant development, the Government of India has classified Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories as “hard areas” in joint AGMUT cadre.

In a communiqué, the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed all states and UTs- who are part of the AGMUT cadre- that J&K and Ladakh UTs have been categorized as hard areas in joint AGMUT cadre.

“Consequent upon merger of J&K cadre in AGMUT cadre, the matter has been examined and with the approval of the competent authority, it has been decided that Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh may be considered as hard areas in joint AGMUT cadre,” reads the letter.

As per guidelines governing transfer and postings of AGMUT cadre IAS, IPS and IFS officers, the states and UTs are classified into categories- regular areas and hard areas.

As per categorization done by MHA, Delhi, Chandigarh, Goa, Pudducherry, Darda Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu are regular areas while Arunchal Pradesh, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been classified as hard areas.

It is worthwhile to mention that J&K had its own separate cadre for IAS, IPS and IFS before abrogation of Article 370. In January 2020, the Centre promulgated an ordinance to merge the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cadre of All India Services officers such as the IAS, IPS and the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. (KNO)

Srinagar: Ahead of the Republic Day, security has been beefed up across Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, with the police and paramilitary forces checking vehicles and intensifying patrolling in sensitive areas.

In the city centre Lal Chowk, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stopped and checked vehicles and frisked the motorists. Mobile security checks came up across the city roads.

In Kashmir, the main Republic Day function will be held at Cricket Stadium at Sonwar in Srinagar.

A security officer said they have already started sanitizing the area around the stadium. “For the past few days, there have been many cordon and search operations around the stadium,” he said.

In the past few days, Srinagar witnessed two grenade attacks that left a policeman and a civilian wounded.

Last week, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar directed the officers to make all necessary arrangements in connection with the January 26 event.

Security measures have also been tightened in various districts in Kashmir. (UNI)

Srinagar: Militants on Wednesday attacked a paramilitary CRPF bunker near FM Gali KP road in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. However there was casualty in the incident, officials said.

A CRPF officer here said that 3-4 bullets were fired upon at the bunker but there was no injury or loss of life in the incident.

The militants fled from the spot and searches have been launched to ban them, the officer said. (GNS)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the first dose of vaccination of over 50 per cent of youngsters between the age group of 15 and 18 years.

In response to a tweet by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the Prime Minister tweeted, “Young and youthful India showing the way! This is encouraging news. Let us keep the momentum. It is important to vaccinate and observe all COVID-19 related protocols. Together, we will fight this pandemic.”

Over 50 per cent of adolescents of 15-18 age group have been vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Since the beginning of inoculation drive for this age bracket, a total of 3,81,26,520 teens have received their first dose as per the CoWIN portal.

Union Health Minister had called it “Big day for India’s fight against Covid-19” as India achieved the milestone of administering over 50 per cent adolescents of this age group with first dose of vaccines on Tuesday night.

“Big day for India’s fight against COVID-19! Over 50 per cent of our youngsters between 15-18 age group have received their 1st dose of COVID19 vaccine. Well done, my Young Friends! Your enthusiasm for vaccination is inspiring people all over India”, he had said in a tweet.

As Covid-19 cases began to surge in India, the nationwide drive to vaccinate teenagers in this age group of 15-18 years began on January 3. As of now only Bharat Biotech’s indigenously-made Covaxin is available for vaccinating this age bracket. (IANS)

By: Vishal Bharti

Jammu: To capture the happenings in more transparent manner especially during anti-militancy operations, ‘Khakhi’ of Jammu and Kashmir will soon don GPS fitted body cams.

“Previously, the traffic cops were equipped with the body cams but soon, the gadgets will appear on the uniform of ‘men in khakhi’ especially those who are dealing with law and order problem and are engaged in counter-insurgency operations,” a senior police official said.

He said the exercise to reform and modernize Jammu and Kashmir Police is already in place for the past couple of years in view of the challenges being faced by the cops, adding, “our men, who are fighting to defeat nefarious designs initiated by the Pakistan, will soon be equipped with state-of-the-art assault rifles and body cams.”

Notably, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have also recently been laced with hi-tech military-grade weapons.

“The decision to equip our cops was taken to prevent and rescue from allegations leveled on them by some so-called human rights activists and supporters of militants and separatists, raising fingers at the functioning of one of the professional forces in the country,” he said.

“J&K Police is shouldering Army and BSF and other para-military forces during counter-insurgency operations and to modernize them further, the uniforms will have body cams for more transparent working,” said the official.

The state-of-the-art body cams soon to be procured by the Jammu and Kashmir Police will have 10-megapixel cameras that will be capable of operating even in all weather conditions, he said.

“The cameras will be GPS fitted and nobody will be able to tamper the recordings, photographs and videos captured,” he said.

The auto-focussed lens in the body cam will be able to record the activity within a radius of about 15 meters even in the darkness, adding he said, “It will be equipped with night vision and infra LED lights to be fitted on helmets or on uniforms.”

Stating that body cams will soon be an integral part of ‘Khakhi’, the officer said the gadget will be fully capable of capturing all activities around 24×7 when the jawans are on job.

“Presently, only traffic cops in some states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Kerala are using these cameras but the Jammu and Kashmir Police will be the first to be equipped with body cams during operational activities and law and order matters,” he disclosed. (UNI)