New Delhi: The India story has one clear message to the world: that democracy can deliver, that it has delivered and will continue to deliver, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday and added that India would be happy to share its expertise in holding free and fair elections and in enhancing transparency in governance with other countries.

Addressing the Summit for Democracy being hosted by US President Joe Biden, PM Modi also called for jointly shaping global norms for emerging technologies like social media and cryptocurrencies so that they are used to empower democracy and not undermine it.

PM Modi said he was proud to represent the world’s largest democracy at the Summit.

“The democratic spirit is integral to our civilization ethos,” he said, and cited ancient Indian civilisations, such as Lichhavi and Shakya, that flourished in India 2,500 years back.

He said that in the 10th century the same democratic spirit was seen in the ‘Uttaramerur’ inscription (in Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu) that codified the principles of democratic participation.

PM Modi said that this very democratic spirit and ethos had made ancient India one of the most prosperous and that centuries of colonial rule “could not suppress the democratic spirit of the Indian people”.

The same spirit found full expression with India’s independence, and led to an unparalleled story in democratic nation-building over the last 75 years, he added.

“It is a story of unprecedented socio-economic inclusion in all spheres. It is a story of constant improvements in health, education, and human well-being at an un-imaginable scale. The India story has one clear message to the world. That democracy can deliver, that democracy has delivered, and that democracy will continue to deliver.”

He said that the structural features like multi-party elections, independent judiciary, and free media – are important instruments of democracy.

“However, the basic strength of democracy is the spirit and ethos that lie within our citizens and our societies. Democracy is not only of the people, by the people, for the people but also with the people, within the people,” PM Modi added.

He said that different parts of the world follow different paths of democratic development and “there is much we can learn from each other”.

“We all need to constantly improve our democratic practices and systems. And, we all need to continuously enhance inclusion, transparency, human dignity, responsive grievance redressal and decentralization of power.”

PM Modi said that the Democratic Summit “provides a timely platform for furthering cooperation among democracies” and that India would be happy to share its expertise in holding free and fair elections, and in enhancing transparency in all areas of governance through innovative digital solutions.

“We must also jointly shape global norms for emerging technologies like social media and crypto-currencies, so that they are used to empower democracy, not to undermine it.”

“By working together, democracies can meet the aspirations of our citizens and celebrate the democratic spirit of humanity. India stands ready to join fellow democracies in this noble endeavor,” PM Modi said. (UNI)

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday asserted that rights and duties are two sides of the same coin, and added that equality is the ‘very soul’ of human rights.

“The preamble of our constitution stresses upon justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The four words beautifully sum up the whole range of human rights. In India, as Mahatma Gandhi often reiterated, rights and duties are two sides of the same coin. Equality is the very soul of human rights, while non-discrimination is the first condition for absolute respect for human dignity,” Kovind said, while addressing the ‘Human Rights Day’ celebrations, organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), at Vigyan Bhawan here.

Observing that the world is beset with countless “prejudices”, the President said, ” They, unfortunately, hinder the full realisation of individuals’ potential, and thus are not in the interest of society as a whole. Human Rights Day is the ideal occasion for us to ponder collectively and find ways to overcome such prejudices that only hinder the progress of humanity.”

Mentioning the Covid pandemic, the President said, “Humanity is grappling with the worst pandemic in history. The pandemic is not yet over, and the virus seems to be one step ahead of humankind. It has disproportionately devastating impact on the vulnerable sections of society.

In this context, India, despite the obvious challenges, has been able to save millions of lives by adopting a policy of free and universal availability of vaccine. ”

He praised doctors, scientists and all other ‘corona warriors’ for their heroic efforts to uphold people’s right to life and right to health.

The NHRC has worked with other stakeholders including civil society, media and individual activists to strengthen human rights, he added.

On the occasion, the President said the world should also debate and discuss the ‘Right to a Healthy Environment and Climate Justice’ and added that degradation of nature is leading to irreversible changes in climate and we are witnessing its harmful impact.

“The world is waking up to the harsh reality, but it is yet to build the resolve to make decisive change. We owe it to our children that we save mother nature from the worst effects of industrialisation. The time is running out. India has taken initiatives at home as well as at the recently held ‘Global Climate Conference’, which would go a long way in restoring the health of the planet,” he said.

NHRC chairperson Justice Arun Mishra and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948. (UNI)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Government has canceled the registration of reputed M/S Shahjee & Co on a complaint of a tourist who leveled serious charges of malpractice after purchasing carpets from the company in Srinagar.

Taking strong note of a complaint from a tourist  Sumeet Agarwal who had visited Srinagar in the month of September 2021 and had purchased machine made carpets from the company leveled serious allegations of malpractice besides failure to provide any satisfactory reply.

The tourist had also leveled serious allegations of malpractice indulgence in misbranding of the machine made Carpets and passed on the same to him as genuine hand knotted Kashmir Carpets.

The complaint had mentioned that even those machine made carpets had reached him in a damaged condition after he placed his order with the concerned dealer.

The Department of Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir after issuing the show cause notice found the reply of the dealer unsatisfactory and devoid of any merit.

Keeping in view the serious allegations of malpractice leveled against  the dealer and his failure to provide any satisfactory reply with regard to sale of machine made carpet to the concerned tourist in place of hand knotted carpets, the Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir  in exercise of the powers has canceled the registration issued in favour of M/s Shahjee & Co, Bishember Nagar Srinagar and has asked the dealer to desist from carrying out the business of the notified handicraft items till further orders.

The matter was also brought to the notice of the Department of Commercial Taxes Srinagar. The Department has also taken action against the erring dealer for violation of relevant laws in the instant matter and has suspended his GSTIN/UIN number as the carpets were sold on a plain bill despite the dealer being registered with the Commercial Taxes Department. (UNI)

‘Samples sent for variant testing’

Jammu: The samples of three foreign travelers from Jammu has been sent for omicron variant testing after they were found COVID positive through RT-PCR on their return.

Health department official said that three Jammu residents with foreign travel history have been found positive for Covid-19 on Friday.

“The samples of all three have been sent for genome sequencing to find out whether they are Omicron victims or not,” they said.

They had returned from Ireland, France and Italy, they said.

Meanwhile, Principal Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu Dr Shashi Sudhan Sharma said that as of now no case of Omicron has been found in GMC Jammu, adding, “Three persons who have foreign travel history have been found COVID positive and the samples are sent to Delhi for genome sequencing and the reports are awaited.” (UNI)

New Delhi: A total of 25 cases of new Covid variant Omicron have been detected so far in India, across five states, a top Health Ministry official said on Friday,

Addressing a press conference to brief on Omicron emergence in India, Joint Secretary, Lav Agarwal said these 25 cases have been detected in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Delhi, and all the patients have mild symptoms.

Noting that only two countries had reported Omicron cases till November 24, he said that now 59 countries have reported total 2,936 Omicron cases. Besides this, there are 78,054 probable cases where genome sequencing is underway to identify the variant, said Agarwal.

Indian Council of Medical Research Director General Balram Bhargava said: “Regular meetings are being organised to keep a watch on global scenario and Covid scene in India with a focus on Omicron. District level restrictions to be implemented where positivity rate is over 5 per cent.”

About the Covid situation in the country, Agarwal said that the overall Covid positivity rate has been 0.73 per cent in the country with daily Covid caseload trajectory below 10,000 mark for 14 days now.

According to the ministry, two states – Kerala and Maharashtra – have highest number of active Covid cases. Kerala has over 43 per cent of active cases while Maharashtra accounts for over 10 per cent. In total, 19 districts in India have 5 to 10 per cent of positivity rate and 8 districts have over 10 per cent Covid positivity rate.

It also said that more than half of the adult population in the country is now fully vaccinated. Around 53.5 per cent of the adult population have been vaccinated with both vaccine doses. (IANS)

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: The surge in drug abuse among youngsters in Kashmir is a worrisome trend as cases are increasing at a rapid rate with female drug addicts coming to hospital for treatment.

Officials said that Kashmir is suffering a heroin epidemic as most of the drug addicts who are brought to hospital for treatment are heroin abusers.

Dr Yasir Hussain Rather, a psychiatrist at Institute of Mental Health and Mental Health (IMHANS) said that the drug addiction in Kashmir is increasing at an alarming rate as every day 10-15 new drug abusers, mostly heroin abusers, are being brought to the hospital.

He said that on an average hospital receives over 50 drug addiction cases every day which includes old cases which are coming for follow up treatment.

Rather said that the hospital received just around 100 drug addicts in 2012, “but we are now receiving 100 cases in two days and in the last two over 8000 drug addicts were received at the hospital.”

“There is a heroin epidemic as 95 percent cases are of drug abusers. The cases of death due to drug overdose are also because of overdose of heroin,” he said.

He said that due to needle sharing while injecting heroin, around 70 percent drug abusers received at the hospital are suffering from hepatitis C and there remains chances of HIV AIDS as well.

“We are witnessing drug abusers suffering from severe hepatitis C which affects their liver and adding to their health burden as the medicines to treat hepatitis C are very expensive,” he said.

He said that heroin addiction is a chronic disease and if they treat 50 patients, over 30 patients relapse and using heroin for a period of five year will definitely lead to destruction, devastation and untimely death.

“Now even female drug addicts are being received at the hospital, though their number is low yet but now the trend has also started,” Rather said.

“There is no recreational alternative available for the children in Kashmir as drug addiction isn’t a choice but in absence of any sports and recreational alternative, children are becoming addicts as we are witnessing mostly 15-30 year age group involved in it,” he said.

Rather said there is need to develop a healthy behaviour by promoting sports and recreational culture besides that parents must supervise their children as well as lack of supervision, communication, parental discord often leads to depression and later turns to become a drug addict. (KNO)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Friday constituted Jammu and Kashmir Adoption Resource Agency to deal with adoption and related matters.

“Sanction in terms of Section 67 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 read with Rule 33(1) of the Adoption Regulations, 2017, is hereby accorded to constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir Adoption Resource Agency,” reads a government order.

Headed by Secretary Social Welfare Department, the seven-member committee comprises Mission Director, ICPS, J&K; one member of the State Legal services Authority (to be nominated by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs); Chairperson of a Child Welfare (to be nominated by the Social Welfare Department on| the recommendation of Mission Director, ICPS); Representative of Specialized Adoption nominated by the Social Welfare Department recommendation of Director, ICPS) and Member for Civil Society involved in Child Welfare and Protection for at least 10 years (to be nominated by the Social Welfare Department).

The terms of reference of the Jammu and Kashmir Adoption Resource Agency is to deal with adoption and related matters in the Jammu & Kashmir under the guidance of the Central Adoption Resource Agency constituted in terms of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

It has been also tasked to function as the executive arm of the Jammu and Kashmir Government for promotion, facilitation, monitoring and regulation of the adoption programme in the Jammu and Kashmir.

It has been also asked “to perform such functions as are prescribed under Adoption Regulations, 2017 issued by the Ministry of Child Development, GOI in terms of Notification No. G.S.R 3 (E) dated 4 January, 2017.”

Lasy, the agency has been asked to carry out such other functions as may be assigned by the Central Adoption Resource Authority from time to time. (GNS)

Jammu: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar Friday said that education is much beyond the four walls of classrooms and comprises of plethora of other extracurricular activities exercised in the field.

These remarks were made the Advisor during the valedictory function of J&K UT level Kala Utsav 2021 Programme organised by Directorate of Samagra Shiksha to felicitate the winners of Utsav at Teachers Bhawan here.

Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Deep Raj; Director School Education, Jammu, Dr Ravi Shankar Sharma, officers and officials of Education department and large number of students were present during the occasion.

While appreciating the students for their powerful performances, Advisor Bhatnagar said that the New Education Policy has a lot of scope for extracurricular activities of music and art. He maintained that all the 9 categories of art and music depicted during this utsav are highly fruitful in building strong character of the performers.

He reiterated that in future much resources would be dedicated for promotion of such art forms. He exhilarated that in order to perform at such stages, the students would have made hard efforts to reach here and ‘everybody here is a winner whether he/she takes the trophy or not’.

The Advisor encouraged all the students to make these art forms their passion and explore these with all dedication. He emphasised that there is no limit in the quest one should possess in exercising the art. He mentioned that on watching today’s performances he believes that the UT would fetch first place in the National competition.

During his address, the Advisor appreciated the students for their performances which were full of energy and enthusiasm. He commended both the participants and teachers for their extraneous efforts despite being going through covid pandemic from last two years.

The Advisor also exhorted upon the participants to be proactive in adopting the tenants of Swachh Bharat and Fit India campaigns. He asked them to inculcate the culture of sports to remain physically fit and healthy. He also advised them to defeat the 3rd wave of Covid-19 disease by strictly observing the Covid appropriate behaviour and protocols.

The Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, Deep Raj while welcoming the participants said that he feels immense happiness in hosting such a prestigious competition. He congratulated every student, teacher and administrators including the Chief Education Officer, Jammu for giving their best in making the programme successful.

The Project Director also stated that the extracurricular activities are important part of life as they keep us stress-free and disciplined. He exhorted upon the students to take part in these activities in every form of art and exhibition. He lauded the efforts of Samagra Shiksha team for making all the arrangements for successful conduct of the Kala Utsav.

The Director, School Education Jammu said that schools are the stepping stones for students to showcase their talent on the platform offered to them in the shape of such events. He said that he finds himself fortunate enough to assist children to  exhibit their skill. He said that his office would make all kinds of efforts to give opportunities to students for regular display of their talent.

It was revealed during the event that a total of 14360 students from 3500 schools of Jammu division and 12227 students from 2849 schools of Kashmir division took part in this Kala Utsav.

The UT level competition was held between 8th to 10th of this month among the 36 shortlisted students in nine categories of art and music.

Those who were declared as winners include Saqib Aijaz (Vocal Music-Classical, Male), Bisma Sajad (Vocal Music-Classical, female), Mohsin Subhan (Vocal Music-traditional folk, male), Aniksha Balotra (Vocal Music-traditional folk, female), Rudra Sharma (Instrumental Music Classic, Male), Tejasvi Verma (Instrumental Music Classic, female), Sumit Kumar Instrumental Music Traditional, male), Harsimran Kour (Instrumental Music Traditional, female),  Mehran Rafi Shah (Dance Classic, Male), Ambreen Kour (Dance Classic, Female), Vishal Kumar (Dance Folk, Male), Harisha (Dance Folk, Female), Mohd Tawheed Dar (2D Visual Arts, Male), Shoba (2D Visual Art, Female), Deepak Kumar (3D Visual Art, Male), Nehail Qadri (3D Visual Art, Female), and Mumtaz Younis and Sabita in Indigenous Toys & Games in male and female category respectively.

Srinagar: In a first of its kind, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank has suspended its employee for what it termed as derogatory comments on the social media platform with regard to the accident.

J&K Bank in its order issued in this regard claimed that despite repeated circulars issued from time to time against misuse of social platforms by employees contrary to interests/rules of the Bank, in one such incident one of our employees has made derogatory comments/remarks on the social media platform on a tragic accident.

“The contents are purely defamatory and not in consonance with conduct rules governing the services of an employee and tantamount to misconduct,” it said, adding that pending disciplinary proceedings against the employee, who is presently posted at Central Processing Centre-CASA, she is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect. (KNO)

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 173 new covid-19 cases while as one person succumbed due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Friday.

44 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 129 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 338563.

There was one death reported from the Valley due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4490 persons—2189 in Jammu and 2301 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.

Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported 59 cases, Baramulla 17, Budgam 12, Pulwama 11, Kupwara 4, Anantnag 2, Bandipora 8, Ganderbal 13, Kulgam 3, Shopian 0, Jammu 25, Udhampur 1, Rajouri 1, Doda 5, Kathua 1, Samba 2, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 3, Ramban 0 and Reasi 6.

A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic laboratory and include female (27) (NA) from Ashpora, female (40) (NA) from Langate, male (39) (NA) from Chogal, female (18) (NA) from Bongam, female (32) (NA) from Bongam, male (31) (NA) from Ganipora, male (35) (NA) from GDC Langate, female (19) (NA) from GDC Langate, female (20) (NA) from Langate, female (33) (NA) from Wungam Langate, male (70) (NA) from Khancheck, male (28) from Hayatpora, male (35) from Walkul, female (18) from Natnussa Handwara, female (21) from Natnussa, female (21) from Dolipora vilgam, female (17) from Dolipora vilgam, male (59) from Dolipora vilgam, female (07) from Punzva vilgam, female (35) (NA) from Cheepora lolab, female (21) (NA) from Mawar, female (25) (NA) from Kalaroos Kupwara, female (45) (NA) from Sgr, male (11) (NA) from Rainawari, female (65) (NA) from Pulwama, male (23) (NA) from Alamgiri bazar, female (27) (NA) from Malbagh, female (28) (NA) from Brain nishat, female (35) (NA) from 90Ft soura, male (35) (NA) from Naseemabgh and female (50) (NA) from Awantabhawan soura.

Moreover, 250 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time, 112 from Jammu Division and 138 from Kashmir, they said.

So far 332455 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1618—422 in Jammu and 1196 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 58 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.

The officials also informed that 57092 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)