Precious Kashmir

Carry online interaction with students during vacations: Govt to Teachers

Jammu & Kashmir

04/12/2021

Carry online interaction with students during vacations: Govt to Teachers

Srinagar: Government on Friday ordered that there will be online interaction of teaching faculty with students through “whatsapp group or Google-meet etc” at least once in a week during the ensuing winter vacations in Kashmir Valley and winter zone of Jammu division.

According to a formal order issued Principal Secretary School Education Department, Bishwajit Kumar Singh, the winter vacations will be for February 26.

For classes upto 8th standard, the vacations would be observed with effect from 6th December to February 26. For 9th standard onwards, the vacation would be observed with effect from 13th December to February 26.

Both government and private schools have been asked to complete ongoing online exams before closing the institutions for the vacation.

“There will be online interaction of teaching faculty with students through ‘whatsapp group/ google-meet etc at least once in a week,” the order reads.

Teacher shall remain available for any query and doubt of any student on phone or whatsapp etc, it said.

“The teachers will ensure completion of all ongoing exams of regular academic session 2020-21 for different classes,” it said, adding, “Any default on part of HOs in observance of calendar shall attract strict action under rules.” (GNS)

Will involve PRIs for monitoring of primary schools: SED

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

04/12/2021

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: The School Education Department has said that it will involve Panchayat’s for the improvisation of different interventions in education and monitoring of primary schools will be done by Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs).

A top official at Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in an official communiqué to Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and District Institute of Education and Trainings (DIETs) to involve the Panchayat’s in the monitoring of primary schools.

The official communiqué reads that in a review meeting of centrally sponsored scheme Samagra Shiksha in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Secretary in the month of November passed instructions for the improvisation of different interventions in education and monitoring of primary schools by Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs).

“In this context, the CEOs, and DIETs are advised to instruct Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) to inform the PRIs of their zone to take up the monitoring of primary schools and winter camps for which a ‘Monthly School Evaluation Tool’ has been formulated by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) to be considered for the monitoring purpose,” it reads

The official said that the PRIs have been asked to submit the monthly reports of school performance to concerned Zonal Education officers for the redressal of discrepancies thereof.

“Besides, the PRIs may be given the soft copy of learning outcome-document of NCERT wherein the class and age appropriate competencies and skills of children are recorded which will help the PRIs to assess the learning levels of students,” reads the communiqué.

It also reads that the monthly school evaluation tool may be discussed with PRIs in the meetings and the service of DIET faculty, Zonal Resource Groups (ZRGs) and Education Reform Committees can be utilized for the purpose. (KNO)

Army man found dead at BB cant

City

Precious Kashmir

04/12/2021

Srinagar: An army man was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside Badami Bagh cantonment army camp here, officials said on Friday evening.

They said that one Anuj Singh son of Prem Chand resident of Bihar was found dead at a store room inside the army camp.

The deceased belonged to Kilo force, they further said. A police official confirmed it and said that inquest proceedings have been launched. (GNS)

Notorious drug peddler among 2 held: Police

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

04/12/2021

Srinagar: Police have arrested two drug peddlers, one of them “notorious” in Kulgam and Pulwama districts of south Kashmir on Friday.

In a statement, police said, huge quantity of contraband substance was also recovered from their possession.

“Acting on specific information regarding drug peddling in Qazigund area, a police party raided a residential house located at Nussu Badragund. During the raid, police party recovered huge quantity of Fukki, weighing about 100Kgs from the possession of a notorious drug peddler,” police said. The accused identified as Mohammad Amir Ganie son of Mohammad Ahsan Ganie of Nussu Badragund Qazigund has been arrested and shifted to Police Station where he remains in custody, a police spokesperson said.

Meanwhile during routine checking at a check point established at Eidgah crossing Pulwama, a police party intercepted a suspicious person identified as Imran Rashid son of Abdul Rashid Bhat of Sonsamil, the spokesperson said.

“On his personal search, 10 bottles of codeine phosphate was recovered from his possession. He has been arrested and shifted to Police Station where he remains in custody.”

Accordingly, he said, cases under relevant sections of law have been registered in respective police stations and investigations have been taken up.

SKM’s crucial Saturday meet to decide agitation’s future course

National

Indo Asian News Service

04/12/2021

SKM’s crucial Saturday meet to decide agitation’s future course

New Delhi: Days after the Parliament repealed the three contentious farm laws, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will be holding a crucial meeting on Saturday to discuss whether to end the over-an-year- old agitation, among other issues.

Reiterating their demands from before the government announced to repeal the laws, the SKM – a consortium of 40-odd farmers’ agitation – has been demanding legal backing for, among others, Minimum Support Price (MSP), withdrawal of cases against the farmers’ families since last year, and compensation to the farmers’ families that died in the last one year during agitation.

The meeting will be held at the Singhu Border camp site, which acted as the headquarters for the SKM.

Soon after the Prime Minister’s announcement on November 19 about repeal of farm laws, the SKM had written a formal letter to him putting forth their demands in no uncertain means.

“With no formal assurance from Government of India as yet, the farmers struggle for their still-pending demands continues. SKM has not received any reply from the government in response to the letter to the Prime Minister, where SKM had raised six key demands as a pre-condition for withdrawal of the farm movement,” a statement from the SKM said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the permanent morchas in dozens of places continue at Delhi borders and elsewhere, “reflecting the discipline and determination that protesting farmers have”, the SKM release said.

Agarwal’s ton pushes India ahead after Ajaz Patel’s four-for

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

04/12/2021

Agarwal’s ton pushes India ahead after Ajaz Patel’s four-for

Mumbai: Mayank Agarwal struck a fantastic unbeaten century and helped India reach a strong position at 221/4 in 70 overs against New Zealand at stumps after surviving a three-wicket burst in 10 balls by Ajaz Patel on a truncated first day of the second and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium, here on Friday.

Agarwal’s fourth Test hundred, came off 196 deliveries and was studded with 13 fours and three sixes as he propelled India after New Zealand had come back strongly just before tea, keeping one end up even as wickets tumbled at the other. The opener batted with a lot of confidence, did not play any false shot and was batting on 120 (226 balls, 14×4, 4 x 6) at stumps, with Wriddhiman Saha keeping him company with 25 (55 balls, 3×4, 1×6).

The Indians had a mighty scare just before tea as Patel struck three quick blows, sending back Shubman Gill on the third ball of the 28th over, Cheteshwar Pujara on the second ball of the 30th over and Virat Kohli on the last ball of the same over.

Agarwal, who suffered a concussion when he was hit by Mohd Siraj in nets in August this year, along with Iyer stemmed the rot and kept the scoreboard moving, punishing the loose balls and playing the good ones with caution. Agarwal, who has scored two double centuries so far, was involved in three half-century partnerships — 80 runs for the first wicket with Shubman Gill (44), 80 with Shreyas Iyer (18) for the fourth wicket and an unbeaten 61-run stand with Wriddhiman Saha (25 not out).

Patel came back to claim Iyer in the final session of the day, revving the ball and extracting good turn and bounce on a track that had a lot to offer bowlers that slowed it down, ending the day with 4/73 off 29 overs, bowling 24 off them unchanged from the Tata End.

Earlier, it looked like India was running away with the Test with Agarwal and Gill in full flow after play started at 12 noon — the delay caused by some wet patches on the ground because of the heavy rains on Wednesday before Patel halted their progress with three quick wickets.

Agarwal and Gill raised 80 runs for the first wicket, negotiating the pacers rather easily as none of the New Zealand bowlers could trouble them initially. Gill was more aggressive of the two as he struck Kylie Jamieson for three fours in the second over of the match. Agarwal started cautiously but later flexed his arms, lofting Patel for the first six of the match. He ended up hitting three more sixes, using his feet to the spinners and lifting them cleanly.

The attacking Gill was the first to go, caught by Ross Taylor off Patel, failing to capitalise on the good start as he was foxed by the flight and turn extracted by the left-armer and hit straight into the hands of Ross Taylor in slips. He had survived a chance on the previous ball when keeper Tom Blundell missed an easy stumping .

Cheteshwar Pujara lasted just five deliveries and was out, playing an uncharacteristic poor shot, soon after surviving a loud lbw shout, caught by Blundell off Patel.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s return to the India Test team lasted only four deliveries but resulted in a big debate as he got out for a duck. Given lbw by umpire Anil Chaudhary off Patel, Kohli reviewed the decision but the TV umpire could not conclusively decide whether the ball hit the bat first or the pad.

The India captain gesticulated rather animatedly, had a chat with umpire Nitin Menon and hit the advertising board with his bat as he walked off the ground. India slumped from 80 for no loss to 80/3 in the space of 16 deliveries, 10 of them bowled by Patel.

Patel, who was born in Mumbai and migrated to New Zealand with his family in 1996 when he was eight, extracted both bounce and turn from the wicket. He bowled a tight line, gave the ball a nice loop and though the Indian batsmen lofted him on a few occasions over the fielders, he kept doing his stuff without losing his nerves.

Earlier, India made three chances in their squad as vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja were all ruled out due to niggles. Kohli, Mohammed Siraj and Jayant yadav came in their place.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson too had to pull out of the match due to an elbow injury and Daryl Mitchell came in for him.

Tourism Footfall

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Oped

Precious Kashmir

04/12/2021

As per the government Ministry of Tourism engaged National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to conduct study on “India and the CoronaVirus Pandemic: Economic Losses for Households Engaged in Tourism and Policies for Recovery”. As per the results of the study, the tourism industry faced significant impact due to COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. The tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir faced additional losses before the covid-19 reared its ugly head. As per officials, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has relaxed the restriction for all foreign nationals intended to visit India for Tourism purposes subject to the Covid related guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW). In J&K’s context, there has been greater tourism footfall especially in winters. Around 1.27 lakh tourist arrivals have been recorded in the Valley in November, highest number of sightseers for the month in the last 7 years, as per the officials.

According to figures shared by officials, tourist arrivals into Kashmir in November 2021 were way higher than the 6,327 arrivals recorded in 2020 and 12,086 in 2019. The figure this November was even higher than the figure for the same month prior to abrogation of Article 370, with 33,720 tourist arrivals having been recorded in the Valley in 2018, 1.12 lakh in 2017, 23,569 in 2016 and 64,778 in 2015.

The tourism department has taken several measures to ensure that the fear of the Covid-19 contagion doesn’t scare away the visitors. As per government data, so far over 80 percent of the Valley’s tourism service providers have been vaccinated and are safe to welcome travellers from far and wide. Over the last several months, the Government has also been in the process of identifying new tourist destinations to accommodate more tourists and offer them more places to visit.

The administration has now been doing its best to push tourism recovery. In J&K budget 2021-2022, Rs 1,000 crore shall be taken up for development of tourism infrastructure. Officials said the budget

for tourism and culture was Rs 283 crore in 2020-2021 it is Rs 780 crore this financial year. Various plans have been formulated recently. The plan needed to be formulated at an earliest and stakeholders should be involved in preparations for a better outcome. There is also a need to develop various tourist circuits while putting special focus on winter tourism, adventure tourism, trekking activities, pilgrimage sites, water sports and other popular ventures.

Smart City: Srinagar key roads to get major facelift

Anchor stories

Precious Kashmir

03/12/2021

Smart City: Srinagar key roads to get major facelift

By: Sameer Lone

Srinagar: The important and vital roads of Srinagar city are set to get a major facelift under the Smart City Project.

According to official sources, under the Smart City Project the redevelopment plan is under process for the three major road links within the city which are IG road, Batamaloo to Qamarwari road & Batamaloo to Mominabad Road.

In this regard, a re-development plan meeting was undertaken by CEO Smart City Athar Amir Khan, who is also the Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation. The officers from R&B, SSCL, Planning, engineers from SMC and R&B have been directed to finalise the DPRs.

Official sources told Precious Kashmir that the LG had made clear directions to upgrade and beautify all the roads in Srinagar and take up the roads priority wise.

“It should look like a smart city. Does it look like one, if not, make it the best one,” this is the one liner from the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, an official quoted.

Official sources said that regarding the IG Road, the proposals envisage upgradation of footpaths, rationalisation and shifting of electric lines, beautification of central verge and overall beautification through wall paintings and placement of Art objects have been approved.

Similarly, the Batamaloo-Moominabad Road, is proposed to act as a North Axis for Srinagar with tourist spot Gulmarg and other important places.

“The proposal includes a pedestrian walkway, cycle track and 4 lanes for traffic movement along with Rotary at Batamaloo and a junction at Muminabad with Bye pass road.”

Similarly, the Batamaloo to Qamarwari road, which also connects the main Qamarwari Bus stand to the city center Lal Chowk, has been proposed to be integrated with the upcoming metro line. The road is also set for massive upgradation, coupled with pedestrian walkway, cycle track and beautification of its central verge.

Alleged trafficking of Covid orphans 2 arrested in Awantipora, NGO sealed: Police

Front

Precious Kashmir

03/12/2021

Alleged trafficking of Covid orphans 2 arrested in Awantipora, NGO sealed: Police

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday claimed to have arrested two persons in Awantipora for alleged trafficking of Covid orphans while the office of NGO was also sealed.

According to a statement, Police Station Pampore received a written application from Chairperson Child Welfare Committee (CWC) District Pulwama for registration of FIR in an alleged illegal adoption and sale of Covid orphans in Pampore area.

“Accordingly, a case under FIR number 153/2021 relevant sections of law was registered in Police Station Pampore and investigation was initiated.”

During the preliminary investigation, two accused persons identified as Muhammad Amin Rather, son of Ghulam Muhammad Rather of Bemina and Aijaz Ahmed Dar, son of Abdul Hameed Dar of Pampore were arrested in the instant case. During the investigation, it came to fore that the arrested duo are running a trust in Samboora, Pamore by the name of Global Welfare Charitable Trust which was established in the year 2020.”

The said trust has been sealed and essential documents/records were also seized, police said, adding that further investigation in the case is going on and more recoveries are also expected in the case.

Meanwhile, the office of the NGO involved in the act has also been sealed.

An official said that the office of Global Welfare Charitable Trust in Samboora area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

He said that a team of police and tehsil administration raided the office and seized some important documents and sealed its office as well.

It is worth to mention here that media reports suggest that Kashmiri children orphaned after Covid took away their parents are up for sale in Indian markets.

Report also claimed that the NGO operator was offering newborn Covid orphans, some even lifted from hospitals for adoption.

Following the reports, an FIR has been lodged at police station Pampore against the alleged culprits and further investigation is going on, officials said.

Meanwhile, a senior police official said that two persons were arrested by Awantipora Police for alleged trafficking of Covid Orphans.

“A story aired by media house India Today revealing the despicable act of offering Covid Orphans for adoption against monitory considerations had gone viral. Further, Police Station Pampore received a written application from Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) District Pulwama for registration of FIR in the instant case. Acting swiftly, Police Station Pampore registered a case FIR No 153 of 2021 Dated 01 December,2021 under relevant sections of law,” the official said, adding that “During preliminary investigation two accused were identified and arrested. The accused are Mohd Amin Rather s/o Gh Mohd Rather r/o Bemina, Aijaz Ahmed Dar s/o Ab Hameed Dar R/o Pampore”

The official said that the duo was running a trust in Samboora, Pampore by the name of Global Welfare Charitable Trust. “The office of the said Trust has been sealed. The background of the Trust is also being ascertained by the Police,” he said.

Govt directs law enforcement agencies to prevent such incidents

Front

Precious Kashmir

03/12/2021

Investigation on, accused to be booked under stringent sections: CS told

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr.Arun Kumar Mehta today chaired a high level meeting to review the progress made in nabbing the culprits involved in the case involving alleged adoption and sale of Covid orphans in Pampore recently.

He also considered the administrative measures being taken by the Social Welfare Department and the law enforcement agencies to prevent occurrence of such incidents in future.

Administrative Secretary, Home, Special Director General, CID, Administrative Secretaries of Social Welfare and Law Departments, two Divisional commissioners and DIG, Central Kashmir Range and other senior officers attended the meeting.

While informing that two persons have been arrested, DIG, CKR, informed that the investigation under a DSP ranked officer is going on and it is expected that in about weeks time, the department will be able to get to the bottom of the case.

He further informed that the case is under review and given the gravity of the case, more stringent sections of the law will be imposed on the accused going forward before the case reaches the trial stage.

The Chief Secretary stated that the trafficking of children and women is an inhuman practice and is absolutely unacceptable. There should be zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and forced labour and added that the government will pull out all stops in ridding the UT of this menace.

He further stated that human trafficking almost always has a narco/drug dimension, which has been seen to have linkages with terrorism in the UT.

Expressing his concern at the incident, Dr Mehta directed that joint teams of social welfare education department, Magistrates from DC office and police be set up to verify the records of nari ashrams, bal ashrams, concerned NGOs and trust and orphanages and asked the social welfare department to coordinate the synergised departmental response in the matter.

Secretary, social welfare department informed that the matter has been taken up with IGP, Kashmir to ensure immediate legal action under the relvant laws.

It was further informed that child welfare committees have been asked to meet covid orphans identified by the department and submit a report to the department.

Dr Mehta directed social welfare department to conduct audit of the human resource and the accounts of these centres for the last 5 years.

He asked the social welfare department to obtain the report regarding the welfare of covid orphans from the field and share it with his office by Thursday evening.

The Chief Secretary asked Home department to ensure that every such centre was inspected by the nearest police station in the UT and a report shared by them with the Home department by evening.

Giving details of the NGOs dealing with child and women welfare in the UT, Director I&C, Jammu informed that there are around 6000 such NGOs registered in J&K.

It was further informed that post reorganisation of the J&K State into UTs of J&K and Ladakh, the department has begun the process of re-registering these societies under the central act.

So far less than 1000 societies have been re-registered and their details are also available on Darpan portal.

Dr Mehta also advised the I&C department to share the list of all NGOs operating in the space with SWD and police department.

He also directed that the SWD should get the verification of 6000 NGOs done in concert with district administration and PRIs within a month and shared the findings with the government.

The Chief Secretary asked the I&C department to put all those NGOs, which have not re-registered, on notice stating that if they do not re-register within 15 days, they will no longer be allowed to operate.

He also directed I&C department to share the details of those NGOs, which don’t re-register, with the district and divisional administration so that appropriate law enforcement action is initiated against them.

The Chief Secretary asked the SWD to take steps in consultation with health department to verify all the children hospitals/gynecological sections/ neonatal sections of the hospitals in the UT within next fifteen days.

Dr Mehta directed Law department to seek details of the trusts operating in the space for the last 10 years from the judiciary for purpose of their verification.

The Chief Secretary laid emphasis on tracking cases of child/women trafficking in the cyber domain and asked the Home department to ensure proper cyber surveillance though anti trafficking units of the police department in both the divisions.

Stating that begging and trafficking syndicates can’t be allowed to have a free run in J&K, he directed to maintain special watch on placement agencies, organisations scouting young girls and boys for talent hunt programmes, beauty pageants, escort services etc. so that incidents of child and women trafficking do not happen in future.

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