As another year draws to an end, one the problems which plagued Jammu and Kashmir happen to be drug abuse. It remains threatening as it was in the recent past. Its steely talons are indiscriminate and spare none—children, parents, the poor, and the rich. There are no quick-fix solutions. If successive governments failed to achieve desired results, people, too, do not have much to show by way of their involvement or interest in dealing with the menace. Public pressure rides on the back of community participation and it is what drives change, and has been missing.
Studies conducted globally have found that some of the reported overdoses were the result of people trying to self-treat their addiction drugs including opioids.
The erstwhile government implemented a Drug de-addiction policy. It was said to be broader, encompassing means to effectively challenge various inter-linked aspects. The government carried many awareness programmes but the zeal with which it was started has faded. At almost all levels, the policy failed to meet the ends for which it was formulated and serious efforts, both at official and the societal levels are all but lacking.
There is a need to understand the problem in-depth and proper data to know the enormity becomes very essential. Those who seek help for getting them out from the clutches of addiction seem to be few and the overall problem appears to be colossal. There is a need for focused attention on how to rescue those who could be and also importantly how to wage a decisive war against the menace, targeting its roots.
Youngsters linked to the drug trade are more victims than offenders, a Supreme Court judge famously said and also lay bare not just the callousness towards children that is, regrettably a feature of the society, but also an awareness of the deep corruption that undermines the purpose of any institution for the vulnerable.
Lieutenant Governor of J&K earlier at the beginning of the year said that the Government was fully committed to strengthening action-framework and taking a firm stance against drug abuse, besides providing “practical solutions like evidence-based prevention, treatment, and care to emerge as a winner in achieving the goal of a drug-free-society.”
A collaborative effort on the part of every stakeholder is imperative to check the menace and every individual, and various social organizations need to join hands together, raise awareness regarding the threat possessed by illicit drugs to one and all.
Drug Abuse: Remains Grave Problem
Launch massive anti-encroachment drive in all Tehsils: DC Sgr to officials
Srinagar: To review the functioning of Revenue Department and to ensure efficient and prompt public service delivery in the district, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad Thursday chaired a meeting of the Revenue Department in the Meeting Hall of the DC Office Complex, here.
The meeting held threadbare deliberations on various Revenue related matters including removal of encroachments on Kahcharai and State Land, writing of Jamabandies, recovery fee, progress under DILRMP/SVAMITVA/ULPIN preparation of digitization, redressal of grievances, evacuee properties details, digitization of Geo-tagging of Waqaf Board and Waqaf Council.
On the occasion, the DC was given a detailed account of the different Revenue related matters of the district. He was informed that total 2000 kanals of state land has been retrieved so far and the eviction process is going on to retrieve the rest of state land from illegal possession.
Similarly, 2150 kanals of Kahcharai land has been retrieved during various anti-encroachment drives conducted by different Revenue teams.
While reviewing the progress of Jamabandies, the DC was informed that the Jamabandies of all 137 villages of Srinagar district have been updated by the concerned Tehsildars and submitted to the Regional Director Survey Land Records for digitization, out of 137 Girdawaries 87 have been prepared while remaining 50 Girdawaries are yet to be written.
With regard to progress achieved under Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP), the meeting was informed that 2878648 Revenue documents have been scanned out of which 2294892 have been approved, similarly 1605 Masavies have also been scanned and approved while 610 Masavies have also been digitized so far.
The DC was also given the latest update about the status of redressal of online/offline Grievances particularly about Migrant properties.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC said updation of Revenue record is a core work of Revenue department and is also a basic requirement of every household for which coordinated team work is key to achieve set targets in a time bound manner.
He said performance of Revenue Officers will be strictly monitored on the parameters of updataion of Revenue records and purification of records preceding digitisation.
He asked the Tehsildars to further improve public service delivery system at their respective Tehsil Offices and monitor each chunk of land in their respective Tehsils. He also asked them to activate their field staff to keep proper check and vigil on any kind of encroachments in respective jurisdiction.
The DC further directed them to launch a massive anti-encroachment drives in all Tehsils of the district to retrieve all State/ Kahcharai land from the land grabbers.
He asked all the Tehsildars to ensure quality disposal of all online/offline Grievances particularly about Migrant properties in a time bound manner.
He also asked the concerned authorities to immediately submit a DPR regarding fencing for retrieved land to ensure it is not encroached again. He also directed to place signages on retrieved land displaying details including quantum of land.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Syed Hanief Balkhi; SDM West, Akshay Labroo; SDM East, Owais Mushtaq; Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Raies Ahmad; all Tehsildars and other concerned were present in the meeting.
One dies as 139 test positive for Covid-19 in J&K
By: Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 139 fresh covid-19 cases while one person died due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Thursday.
37 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 102 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 341167.
One death was reported from Jammu division due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4526 persons—2198 in Jammu and 2328 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.
Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported 51 cases, Baramulla 15, Budgam 13, Pulwama 7, Kupwara 3, Anantnag 1, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 4, Kulgam 6, Shopian 0, Jammu 16, Udhampur 4, Rajouri 0, Doda 2, Kathua 3, Samba 1, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 8, Ramban 0 and Reasi 3.
A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic laboratory and female (17) (NA) from Maidan Chogal handwara, female (38) (NA) from Warpora zachaldara, female (32) (NA) from Chogal handwara, female (29) (NA) from Rangipath ashpora, male (59) (NA) from Qamarwari Sgr, female (45) (NA) from Hyderpora, male (15) (NA) from Hyderpora Sgr, female (40) (NA) from Rajpora pulwama, female (15) (NA) from Rakh litter, male (36) (NA) from Sanantnagar, female (44) (NA) from Gopalpora kulgam, female (34) (NA) from Samboora Pulwama.
Moreover, 120 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time, 19 from Jammu Division and 101 from Kashmir, they said.
So far 335347 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1294—382 in Jammu and 912 in Kashmir.
They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 50 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.
They also informed that 91585 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)
To prevent 3rd wave, Coaching centers to go for mass vaccination of students
Inoculation safe, protective mechanism to save precious lives: CMO Sgr
Srinagar: In order to prevent third wave of COVID from spreading and stop the new variant Omicron to enter Kashmir, coaching centers have decided to go for mass vaccination of students enrolled in various coaching institutes of Srinagar.
The decision was taken in a meeting jointly organised by coaching centers association and Private schools association JK under the chairmanship of Chief Medical Officer Srinagar Dr Jameel and was also attended by all the zonal medical officers of Srinagar district. On this occasion, representatives of all the reputed coaching centers of Srinagar district were present.
It was decided in the meeting that a mass vaccination drive will be launched in the first week of January in order to cover all the children falling in the age group of 15 to 18 years and achieve the target of 100 percent vaccination in the UT.
Chief Medical Officer Srinagar Dr Jameel urged the representatives of coaching centers to co-operate with the medical teams so that no child is left out.
CMO said that it is a joint responsibility of health department, Education department and coaching institutes to stop the pandemic from taking any ugly shape.
He said that third wave of COVID can be stopped from entering the UT only if we achieve the target of full vaccination. He said that it is now a proven fact that vaccination reduces chances of death in COVID patients and minimizes infection rate to a larger extent.
He requested the tuition centre owners and teachers to help in mass awareness regarding compulsory vaccination of children.
Representatives of private tuition centers and president private Schools association, G. N. Var assured the CMO of every support from the private sector in getting children vaccinated t an earliest.
Var said that students have suffered a lot during last two years being out of schools and now it is extremely essential that schools are re-opened after winter vacation in normal mode.
He said that we cannot afford a generational loss of academic excellence and vaccination can be beneficial for normal schooling after vacations.
Pertinent to mention that Government has started vaccination of children of age group 15 to 18 years in the UT and Srinagar district has decided to start the mass vaccination drive in near future. (GNS)
5 held for looting petrol pump employee in Jammu: Police
Jammu: Five men, including the kingpin of a gang of robbers, were arrested and Rs 2.31 lakh in cash looted from a petrol pump employee recovered by police in the border area of Jammu district, officials said on Thursday.
Giving details, Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chandan Kohli said the arrests were made in connection with an incident that took place in the Arnia area on Tuesday and the looted cash amounting to Rs 2.31 lakh was recovered within 48 hours by police.
He said eight men attacked the petrol pump employee, Kaku Ram, with sharp weapons and looted Rs 2.31 lakh from him. A case was lodged at the Arnia police station and a probe launched, the SSP said.
Three teams were formed under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP), Headquarters, Ramnish Gupta.
Acting on “reliable information”, police zeroed in on the accused and arrested five of them.
The arrested men have been identified as Gurnam Singh alias Goru, Subash Kumar alias Pampi, Amrik Singh alias Kaka, Jagandeep Singh alias Babbel and Rahul Kumar, police said.
Police have recovered the looted cash and have also seized three sharp weapons and two-wheelers used in the crime.
During interrogation, the accused told the police that they had carried out reconnaissance of the area.
Further investigation in the case is going on and more arrests are likely to be made, police said. (KINS)
Delhi HC, district courts to work only through virtual mode Jan 3-15
New Delhi: In view of the sudden spurt and spike in Covid-19 cases in Delhi and issuance of yellow alert, the Delhi High Court and the district courts in the national capital will hold hearings only through the virtual mode from January 3 to 15, it was announced on Thursday.
As per the instructions of Delhi High Court’s Chief Justice D.N. Patel, the courts will take up the matters, as per the existing arrangement with regard to the listing of cases, through videoconferencing mode.
“I have also consulted with the esteemed members of the Administrative and General Supervision Committee of this Court. They all are also of the view that immediate steps are required to be taken to safeguard the health and well-being of all the stakeholders while also ensuring that the justice delivery system remains functional. The inputs have also been taken from the President of Delhi High Court Bar Association as well as from the Chairman of Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi and other senior office bearers. As expected, they, too, have assured fullest cooperation on behalf of the Members of the Bar,” the Chief Justice said.
The present grim scenario has left us with no other viable option, he added.
The video-conferencing links of the courts shall be made available on the website.
The Principal District and Sessions Judges, in consultation with the DG (Prisons), shall make necessary arrangements for extension of remand of undertrial prisoners.
Wherever required, such prisoners may be produced through video-conferencing, according to the office order released on Thursday.
The arrangement will continue till January 15 when it will be reviewed.
Welcoming the step, on behalf of North Delhi Lawyers Association(NDLA), advocate Vineet Jindal said: “I welcome this step but directions to pass adverse orders shall be there on non-attending of VC by either party to conduct effective hearings.”
All the stakeholders including court staff, required to come to the courts, shall get themselves fully vaccinated and shall strictly adhere to the norms of social distancing and Covid-19 protocols, guidelines, directions, etc. issued by the Centre, the Delhi government and the court from time to time, the order read.
Beijing 2022: Arif Khan becomes first Indian to qualify for two Winter Olympics events
New Delhi: India’s alpine skier Arif Mohammed Khan has become the first athlete from the country to qualify for two different events of the Winter Olympics, set to be held in Beijing from February 4-20, next year.
The 31-year-old Khan on Wednesday, secured a 2022 Winter Olympics quota spot in men’s giant slalom event. Last month, he earned a quota in the slalom event at a meet in Dubai.
Arif, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, secured his giant slalom cut during the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) meet held at Kolasin, Montenegro.
While Arif remains the only Indian to have made the cut for the 2022 Winter Games so far, his compatriot Aanchal Thakur, who recently won a bronze in the women’s giant slalom, remains in the hunt for qualification, an olympics.com report said.
To compete in giant slalom or slalom events at the 2022 Winter Games, the average of five best results in the event from July 1, 2019 to January 16, 2022 is considered. For alpine skiers who have competed in less than five events during this period, an extra 20 percent of the average points is added to the International Ski Federation (FIS) points list.
India had two representatives at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea as Jagdish Singh competed in the 15km freestyle event of cross-country skiing while Shiva Keshavan took part in luge.
The men’s giant slalom event will be held on February 13 while slalom will be held on February 16.
Notably, Slalom is an event that involves skiing between sets of poles spaced at a distance from each other. The distance is greater in giant slalom than in slalom.
Progress of works: Furnish detailed report at end of ongoing financial year: Govt to deptts, DCs
Releases remaining 25 % Capex funds
By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has directed all the departments and Deputy Commissioners to furnish a detailed report at the end of ongoing financial year about status of progress of completion of works.
In an order, the Finance department has directed the departments/district development commissioners to ensure completion of those works which are targeted to be completed in the current financial year. “The departments/DDCs shall furnish the detailed report to the Finance department at the close of financial year 2021-22 about status of progress of completion of works,” reads an order issued by the Finance department, a copy of which is in possession of The Precious Kashmir.
The Finance department has issued these directions while releasing remaining 25 percent funds under UT and district capex out of approved budget estimates of 2021-22, taking the cumulative releases to 100 percent.
According to the order, the Finance department has directed all the departments and district development commissioners to ensure that no liability shall be drawn and all works are physically on-going as on date.
“District statistical & evaluation officers (DSEOs) are advised to physically verify the projects within one month and furnish reports to the Finance Department. The works shall be completed within the timelines as per e-NIT/Work allotment orders,” the order further states.
The department has further directed them that e-tendering and all other required provisions of General Financial Rules -2017 are duly followed.
Manpower shortage hits functioning of YSS deptt badly
7 ZPEOs headless, clerical staff, zonal offices left at mercy of poor NYCs
By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: Of total 12 Physical Education Zones, atleast seven Zonal Physical Education Offices (ZPEOs) of Youth Sports and Services department in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district are presently headless, thus affecting the administrative affairs and sports activities in the zones.
Many of these sports zones even don’t have clerical staff available, leaving them almost defunct.
Anantnag district has a total of 12 physical education zones. Out of them only five zones including Anantnag, Mattan, Qazigund, Dooru and Vailoo have ZPEOs while rest of the seven zones are without heads for years together.
These headless zones include Shangas, Srigufwara, Achabal, Verinag, Bidder, Aishmuqam and Bijbehara.
In the absence of zonal officers, the administrative affairs and sports activities being organised by the department, sources said are badly hit.
Though the District Youth Services and Sports officer Anantnag has assigned additional charges to the ZPEOs available with him but officials say it is not possible for them to run the four to five zones at a time.
“How can a person manage the affairs of four zones at a time? This is not humanly possible,” said an official in the department.
The ZPEOs were created in 2008 to ensure that the department carries out the activities for the promotion of sports in a smooth manner.
However, a source said that since the creation of these zones no measures have been taken to make them function properly.
Most of the zones in district Anantnag, ironically don’t have even clerical staff for processing of official documents.
“Out of 12 zones, only three have Junior Assistants while rest of the zones is virtually defunct. Though at some zonal offices authorities have deputed a physical education teacher to run the administrative affairs, the others have been left at the mercy of poor NYCs who attend to duties in shifts.”
The shortage of manpower at these zonal offices, sources said, is forcing the physical education teachers or ReKs to themselves submit the documents at the district youth services and sports office putting them at severe inconvenience.
“It is cruel joke that you handover the zonal office of the major department to an NYC who has no knowledge about computer. These poor NYCs are paid a meager amount of Rs 2500 a month and expecting them to run the affairs of the zonal office is highly ironical,” said an official of the department.
Precious Kashmir spoke to District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO), Anantnag, Mushtaq Ahmad, who expressed helplessness in making these zonal offices function smoothly.
“I have only five zonal officers available in the district against twelve zones. Now, I have assigned them additional charges to run other headless zones. We are running short of manpower. Even clerks are available at few zones only. It is upto the top authorities to fill the vacant posts of zonal officers and provide clerical staff and other man power for the smooth functioning of these zonal offices. I am helpless,” DYSSO told Precious Kashmir.
Director, YSS, Gazanfar Ali admitted that the functioning of the ZPEOs has been hit in the absence of officers.
“We are on the job of filling all these posts. In a couple of weeks, we are going to clear the promotion cases of atleast 87 physical education masters who will be posted as Zonal Physical Education Officers in all these headless zones. Their vigilance clearance was pending,” Director said.
Asked about clerical and other staff, who actually run the affairs of the offices, director said these offices don’t have sanctioned clerical posts.
“We are planning to depute permanent physical education teachers who know the office work to these offices who will be assisted by NYCs. But that will be done after the posting of ZPEOs,” Director said.
Omicron risk ‘very high’, could ravage health systems: WHO
Geneva: The overall risk associated with the Omicron variant remains ‘very high’ which could cause widespread disruption to health systems and other critical services, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.
In its weekly epidemiological update, the WHO said on Tuesday that “The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high”.
“Consistent evidence shows that the Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days,” read the update.
The warning comes as the new Omicron variant in the US has driven daily Covid-19 new cases to a record high of over 510,000.
It is the highest single-day increase of cases since the onset of the pandemic in the country, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.
The Omicron variant, first identified late November in southern Africa, has sent infections soaring to levels not seen since last winter, bringing the total number of US coronavirus cases to more than 52.9 million, with more than 819,000 deaths.
According to Catherine Smallwood, Covid Incident Manager with WHO Europe, Omicron’s growth “will still result in large numbers of hospitalisations, particularly amongst unvaccinated groups, and cause widespread disruption to health systems and other critical services”.
Major cities in the US, including New York, have scaled down or cancelled New Year’s Eve events for a second consecutive year.
The Omicron variant caused more than 50 per cent of infections in the Netherlands over the past week, replacing Delta as the dominant variant, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has announced.
Germany introduced tighter restrictions nationwide for vaccinated and recovered people in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
Covid-19 has continued to ravage Europe, causing fear, stress and even despair across the board.
In the last 24 hours, India registered 9,195 fresh Covid-19 cases, a significant spike from the previous day’s figure of 6,358, and 302 deaths, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, airlines continue to cut flights as rising numbers of staff are infected by the Omicron coronavirus variant and bad winter weather disrupts parts of the US.
As of Tuesday, 2,182 flights set to depart in the day have been cancelled, and the cancellations have amounted to about 13,000 since Friday morning, according to figures from the flight-tracking website FlightAware. (IANS)
