Srinagar: A two-day condolence ceremony is being organized at Sherwani Community Hall, Baramulla to pay homage to India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat.

According to a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Lt Gen DP Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps along with GOC Dagger Division, Maj Gen Ajay Chandpuria and prominent personals from civil and district administration paid homage.

A candle light tribute is also planned at Sherwani Hall, Baramulla in the evening today from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Srinagar: The residents from Macchal sector have expressed anguish over the sad and untimely demise of India’s first CDS Gen Bipin Rawat. Around 150 residents of Machhal village carried out a candle light march on Thursday in his memory.

They also paid homage to Madhulika Rawat and 11 other Army personnel who were also martyred in the tragic MI -17 V5 crash at Coonor, TamilNadu on 08 Dec.

Incidentally, General Bipin Rawat and Brigadier LS Lidder who also got killed in the helicopter accident had visited the Macchal Sector on 27 Jul this year.

The congregation kept two minutes silence for the departed souls and prayed to the Almighty to grant them eternal peace. “General Rawat will always be remembered by the Kashmir is for his untiring efforts to ensure security and to bring in peace and stability in J&K.”

Srinagar: Government on Thursday constituted a Committee for deciding mechanism of outsourcing of the identified assets of the Tourism Department, in a phased manner.

The committee is headed by Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Finance Department and members include Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Health & Medical Education Department, Principal Secretary Government, PW (R&B) Department and Administrative Secretaries of Planning, Development & Monitoring Department, Tourism Department and ,Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department besides Advisor/PPP expert to be nominated by the NITI Aayog.

The committee, as per an order, has been tasked to select the properties from the identified list to be outsourced, to identify the model for each property or group of assets for outsourcing as well as fix and approve the time minimum bid amount for each property to be outsourced.

Besides, the panel has been asked to fix and approve the time period for outsourcing of the selected properties as well as approve the RFP/bid document to be prepared by the Consultancy firm (PPP/Legal expert) for outsourcing.

Lastly, the panel has been asked to deliberate and make decision on any other issue related to the outsourcing of the properties. (GNS)

Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir on Thursday chaired a meeting regarding fixation of rates for hotels, ponys, cabs, sledges etc at Sonnmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam tourist destinations.

The meeting was attended by DC’s of  Baramulla and  Anantnag;  ADC, Ganderbal; Managing Director, JKTDC; Director Tourism; Chief Executive Officers of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonnmarg Development Authorities and Regional Transport Officer, Kashmir.

On the occasion, Div Com directed Deputy Commissioners to constitute committees and make proposals for fixation of rates for hotels, ponys, vehicles, sledges etc which should be notified within a week’s time.

He also directed Director Tourism that rates which will be finally approved and fixed should be strictly implemented from 1st January, 2022 so that tourists do not have to face inconvenience or exploitation by anyone. Besides, he directed Director Tourism that rates shall be fixed quarter wise for year with maximum and minimum slabs.

Div Com said the rates will be fixed for three year period with a fixed percentage of annual increase as per the market.

He further added that the rates for hotels should be fixed according to the categorization of hotels so that the tourists will not be forced to bargain.

More, he also directed for creation of single window clearance for camping and trekking with do’s and don’ts. In this regard, he directed officers to conduct the mapping of camping sites and trekking routes besides directed for displaying the rates on hoardings at camping sites, parking places, police stations and at other particular places for hotels, camping ponys, cabs etc.

Meanwhile, Div also directed ADC Ganderbal to conduct the review of the facilities including water, electricity, etc at Sonnmarg as the tourist destination is going to be functional this winter season. He was also directed to submit the status report of facilities to the chair.

Srinagar: In a bid to further strengthen healthcare profile of Jammu and Kashmir, the State Health Agency (SHA) has empanelled 12 new private hospitals in the Union Territory in a short span of past three months.

This addition of healthcare institutes in J&K is a step forward towards further expanding and building a strong network of hospitals and service capabilities in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The SHA is devotedly working hard towards streamlining medicare in the UT to ensure cashless service delivery to the beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana- SEHAT. The scheme provides health insurance cover of Rs.5 lakh per family per year to all the residents of the UT including serving and retired employees.

The new empanelled private hospitals included Khanams Hospital Srinagar, Kashmir Athrout Srinagar, Safa Marwa Medical Centre Srinagar, Tehqeeq Diagnostic and Dialysis Centre Srinagar, My Healthcare Anantnag, Hakeem Sonaullah Hospital Sopore Baramulla, Guru Hospital Sopore, Baramulla, Raksha Kidney Centre Jammu, Yudvir Nursing Home Jammu, Ankur Maitrika Jammu, Baba Nanak Medicity Jammu and New Life Hospital Samba.

Chief Executive Officer, AB-PMJAY, Yasin M Choudhary, while giving details in this regard said that Governing Council of SHA J&K recently approved the migration on Health Benefit Package (HBP 2.2) issued by National Health Authority wherein rates of various packages have been enhanced. This will suffice the long pending demand of private hospitals for enhancing the package rates and will boost the sustainability of private sector.

Ranked 3^rd in monthly income

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Thursday chaired a meeting to review the achievements of the Agriculture, Production & Farmers Welfare Department under various centrally sponsored schemes.

Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Department, Vice-Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology along with concerned HoDs participated in the meeting.

It was informed that among all State/UTs, Jammu and Kashmir is the 3rd rank holder in monthly income to agriculture households and 5th best performing UT in Agriculture & Allied Sector.

The Horticulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir employs 27 % of the population and contributes to 8% to the State GDP, besides enormously contributing to carbon sequestration through 7.6 crore trees.

To make fruit growers of J&K the market leader in the country, the Department is implementing the 3-pronged strategy of enhancing yield, storage capacity, and marketing. The Department is encouraging a shift to high-density plantation with a potential of yielding an annual harvest of 50 MT of apple and 5 MT each of Almond and Walnut. Additionally, large-scale production of high-density plantation rootstock is also being promoted through local private entrepreneurs to reduce input costs.

It was informed that to promote horticulture in the Kandi belt of Jammu region, the department has undertaken plantation of Aloe vera and Lemon Grass on a trial basis which is showing promising results. The department has also developed a State of the Art Nursery at Chakrohi to raise high density saplings to meet the root stock requirements.

To further boost farmers’ income, a 25% upfront subsidy on air transportation of identified perishables is being provided by the Department under Parvaaz Scheme and efforts are afoot to integrate the agricultural market with the e-Nam within the next 2 months.

The Chief Secretary directed the expeditious establishment of controlled atmosphere storage facilities in Jammu and Kashmir to provide appropriate storage of agricultural and horticultural produce with minimal wastage. It was directed that 80,000 MT of capacity be established by March 2022 and an additional 1 lakh MT per year for the next 3 years to take the cumulative capacity to 5 lakh MT.

Under the National Mission on Sustained Agriculture (NMSA), 66,000 soil samples were tested and 56,426 soil health cards (SHCs) were distributed. To facilitate sustainable and organic agriculture 7 village-level soil testing laboratories in addition to several mobile testing labs were also established. The Chief Secretary directed the Agriculture Department to ensure universal distribution of soil health cards to all farmers by end of next financial year. He also asked to saturate Kisan Credit Cards within a month.

The Department was further asked to modernize sowing and harvesting activities through technological interventions and promote vermicomposting techniques, besides ensuring the roll-out of Fasal Bima Yojna by end of the financial year.

Emphasizing the need to develop a niche for J&K’s organic products, the Chief Secretary directed the establishment of organic testing and certification institutions for ascertaining the quality of agro-products.

Dr. Mehta asked the Department to raise awareness on the high-density plantation and assist farmers in making informed decisions regarding sustainable plantation, use of organic fertilizers, proper rainwater harvesting in convergence with Rural Development Depatment and Jal Shakti Department besides encouraging community harvesting machinery.

Towards doubling the farmer’s income, the Department was directed to pursue crop diversification and ensure double-cropping throughout Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Secretary also asked the SKAUST-J to operationalize a Kisan Call Centre and Krishi Vigyan Centre as a one-stop centre for farmers to seek guidance and assistance on various Government sponsored schemes and interventions.

Further 1,352 Ha of additional area was also brought under orchards and 7 Ha area under protective cultivation.

The Agriculture Department is further implementing a 4-pronged strategy to double the farmers’ income under the 4 pillars of technology, cash flow, irrigation, and marketing. Accordingly, the Department has extended financial assistance to 11.7 lakh farmers through the Kissan Credit Card and disbursed incentives worth Rs. 1,706 crore to more than a million beneficiaries under the PM-KISAN scheme.

The Department expanded the irrigation cover by 2,000 Ha in the previous year and aims to achieve 4,000 Ha during the current financial year. Moreover, to provide harvest support to the farmers, a paddy/maize thresher is being provided to every panchayat.

Under the National Mission for Agriculture Extension and Technology, focused intervention is being ensured for farm mechanization, seed replacement, and capacity building through sub-missions on agriculture mechanization (SMAM); seed and planting material (SMSP); and agricultural extension (SMAE).