Convenes special meeting on preparedness for its containment, stresses on widespread campaigning of SOPs

Srinagar: In view of the spread of new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, in different countries of the world, Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Tuesday chaired a special meeting of officers to formulate the strategy for containment measures in Kashmir division.

The meeting was attended by MD, NHM; DC Budgam; ADC Srinagar; Director Health Services Kashmir, Director Airports, Principal, GMC Srinagar, CMO Srinagar, CMO Budgam, Incharge DCCRK,  SSO/ Epidemiologist Kashmir and other public health specialists of DCCRK.

In view of government advisory, the meeting decided that mandatory RTPCR test of all international passengers should be conducted at Srinagar Airport irrespective of travelers previous negative report or fully vaccination status.

Besides, it was further decided that if RTPCR report turns negative, the passenger shall be kept under home quarantine for 1st week and again retested on 8th day of home Quarantine or whenever traveler develops symptoms of ILI during the course of Quarantine; if the report of RTPCR comes negative he/she will self monitor for one more week at strict home Quarantine.

However, if first test of an international traveler comes out positive then the person will be shifted to DRDO hospital Khunmoh and the testing sample shall be sent for whole genome sequencing to know whether they are infected by new Covid-19 variant of Omicron or any other strain.

At the outset, MD NHM Kashmir Yaseen Chowdary gave a Power Point Presentation where he shared the information about the presence of new Covid variant in some countries and travel related cases in other nations.

It was informed that B.1.1.529 new variant is possibly 500% competitively more infectious and has rapidly spread in South Africa, Some European Countries, and Some Asian countries also. Besides, it was also informed that WHO guidance note mentions that current RTPCR test continues to be effective in detecting the new variant.

The DCCR Kashmir also gave the plan for strengthening surveillance of international passengers, enhanced testing, monitoring of hot spots, ensuring augmentation of health infrastructure, prompt dispatch of genome sequencing and other actions.

Div Com stressed on widespread campaigning of Do’s and Don’ts, IEC for Confidence Building and Fear Mitigation especially IEC materials with messaging and information in local language for ASHAs, ANMs and other stakeholders.

He also directed to strengthen the call centre for monitoring of suspected cases under home quarantine, besides once again starting Capacity Building of clinicians and paramedical health workers, Refresher Trainings on PSAs, ventilator experts, clinical management, Operationalise the real-time dashboards for tracking available health infrastructure and oxygen status and other important information in view of the threat of this new variant.

New Delhi: A discussion on the Covid-19 situation would be held in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said.

The discussions will include the situation regarding the new Covid variant that has been reported. The debate would be held under Rule 193 which is for discussion on a matter of urgent public importance.

The threat of another surge of COVID-19 led by Omicron is looming large over some countries where cases of the new variant have been detected.

Panic around the new variant is continuing to mount as the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the variant poses a very high global risk on the basis of early studies. The global health agency has also warned that the variant could lead to surges in cases having severe consequences.

Earlier in the day, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that so far, no cases of Omicron has been reported in India. He also assured that the diagnostic and health infrastructure of the country is equipped enough to tackle any emergency situation.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has updated international travel guidelines in light of multiple countries reporting cases of Omicron. The Centre has said that all travellers coming from countries categorised as ‘at risk’ would have to undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport regardless of their vaccination status. This test would be conducted in addition to India’s requirement of an RT-PCR test within 72 hours before travelling.

Apart from this, airports would also need to conduct random COVID-19 tests on 5 per cent of the travellers coming from countries that have not been classified as ‘at risk’. (UNI)

Kishtwar: The district administration Kishtwar Tuesday ordered an inquiry against the Chief Education Officer ‘for issuing transfer orders of teachers on the day of his retirement.’

Acting on the complaint of general public against Chief Education Officer Kishtwar regarding issuance of transfer order of teachers on the day of his retirement and subsequent directions by Principal Secretary to School Education Department, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kishtwar, Ashok Sharma ordered the inquiry against the Chief Education Officer Kishtwar and put him under suspension till further orders.

As per the order issued by the DC, Additional Deputy Commissioner has been asked to conduct the inquiry into the matter and submit the report in fifteen days.

The transfer orders issued by the outgoing CEO Kishtwar have also been kept in abeyance till further orders.

Jammu: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Health and Medical Education, Vivek Bharadwaj, Tuesday unveiled the online module for Grant of Retail, Wholesale and Manufacturing Drug License with formal launch of its URL https://statedrugs.gov.in in the public domain.

Additional Chief Secretary said that with the launch of this digital system Jammu and Kashmir has become the first UT in the country to adopt this module for all types of regulatory clearances in an endeavor to secure ease of doing business.

The National Drug Authority of the Country viz Central  Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), New Delhi, in collaboration with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Noida, has designed and developed a PAN India Portal under the banner “Online National Drug Licensing System (ONDLS)” for all States and UTs which shall extend to all regulatory clearances  related to Manufacturing, Blood Centers, Retail Sale  and Wholesale under the provisions of Chapter IV of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

All the stakeholders seeking regulatory clearances under the provisions of Chapter IV of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 there under are now impressed upon to logon to the URL https://statedrugs.gov.in for submission of applications through the said online module w.e.f 30th November, 2021.

New Delhi:  The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday said no decision has been taken on preparing a National Register of Indian Citizens at the national-level yet.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said, “Till now, the Government has not taken any decision to prepare National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) at the National-level.”

He said in Assam, on the direction of the Supreme Court, the hard copies of the supplementary list of inclusions and online family-wise list of exclusions in NRC have been published on August 31, 2019.

On the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Minister said it has already been notified on December 12, 2019.

In reply to another question on number of Indians who have given up Indian citizenship, Rai said as per Ministry of External Affairs data, a total number of 1,33,83,718 Indian nationals are living in foreign countries.

In 2017, 1,33,049 Indians gave up their citizenship, in 2018, the number was 1,34,561, and it grew further in 2019, reaching 1,44,017 for the year.

However, a drop was registered in the pandemic year, 2020, and only 85,248 took the citizenship of another country. In 2021, by September 30, 1,11,287 Indians have given up their citizenship in India and taken up the citizenship of another country. (UNI)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Union Territory’s Budgam district have recovered an ancient sculpture of Goddess Durga from Khag area, the police said on Tuesday.

“A team of officials from the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums were called for examination of the recovered sculpture at district police office, Budgam,” the police said.

“During examination, it was revealed that the recovered sculpture of Goddess Durga dates back roughly to 7th AD (about 1,300 years old).”

The sculpture is carved in a black stone with Goddess Durga seated on lion throne. However, some part of the left side arm is missing. Moreover, the sculpture is having the influence of Gandhara School of Art.

The recovered sculpture was handed over formally to Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh, Deputy Director Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and his team by Tahir Saleem Khan, SSP Budgam.

This is the second sculpture of Goddess Durga recovered in Kashmir in 2021.

In August, Jammu and Kashmir police recovered a 1,200 year-old sculpture of Goddess Durga. The sculpture was retrieved from Jehlum river at Pandthrethan area of Srinagar by labourers while extracting sand.

The recovered sculpture of Goddess Durga is carved in a black stone with Goddess Durga seated on lion throne along four attendants.

Srinagar: Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF), Kashmir Frontier, Raja Babu Singh appealed to the youth of Kashmir to “come and join the nation building for a brighter future.”

“India is calling you (youth), come and join in nation building, it is your country”, Singh told the reporters on sidelines of the Brass & Jazz Band occasion held in view of the 57th raising Day of the force at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of famous Dal Lake in Srinagar on Tuesday.

“If any person or “Beti” from Kashmir qualifies in Indian Administrative Service (IAS) the people in my ancestral home in Uttar Pradesh proudly celebrate their success,” he added.

He said, people love Kashmir as it is “heaven on earth”.

The IG BSF said this year a record number of tourists thronged Kashmir which is worth celebrating.

“I invite people of the country and tourists from all over the world to visit Kashmir and cherish its beauty, it is safe as we (BSF) is here”, Singh said. “Kashmir valley is safe and Srinagar is safe for the tourists and travelers all across the world”, he added.

He said BSF has served in Kashmir valley in the 1990s and did commendable work here to contain the militancy.

He said, on Indo Pak border or Indo Bangla border BSF has given sufficient contribution in national building. “Not only in guarding the borders the force has contained militancy in north east, Punjab and Kashmir also”, he added.

The BSF, which is responsible for guarding the vast stretches of international borders of the country, is celebrating 57th raising Day

To celebrate the occasion, today the Brass & Jazz of BSF Kashmir Frontier organised a big symphony martial music show at SKICC to spread the message of unity and solidarity among the people of Kashmir valley.

The world famous Dal Lake reverberated with drum beats and trumpets as the band played patriotic songs and music. Visitors and spectators enjoyed it to the fullest, a BSF spokesman said.

The audience also liked the BSF theme song “Hum Seema Ke Prahari Hain” played by Brass and Jazz Band in wonderful tuning with heart touching lyrics.

Besides the BSF Officials, the show was enjoyed by the school children alongwith their staff. (UNI)

New Delhi: Admiral R Hari Kumar took charge as the 25th Chief of the Naval Staff on Tuesday, succeeding Admiral Karambir Singh, who retires today after a service of over forty one years in the Indian Navy.

Admiral R Hari Kumar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1983.

In his career spanning over 38 years, he has commanded Coast Guard Ship C-01, IN Ships Nishank, Kora, Ranvir and the Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat.

A Gunnery specialist, he has held several key appointments, including Fleet Operations Officer and Fleet Gunnery Officer of Western Fleet, Executive Officer (EXO) of INS Vipul, Gunnery Officer (GO) of INS Ranjit, commissioning GO of INS Kuthar and commissioning crew of INS Ranvir.

His shore appointments include Command Gunnery Officer at Headquarters Western Naval Command, Naval Advisor to Government of Seychelles, UN Mission in Somalia (UNOSOM II) at Mogadishu and Training Commander, INS Dronacharya.

As a Flag Officer, he has served as Commandant of the Naval War College at Goa, Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF), Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, Controller Personnel Services and Chief of Personnel (COP) at Naval Headquarters. He has also served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) at the critical junction during the creation of the institution of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

He was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command at Mumbai, prior taking over helm as Chief of the Naval Staff on 30 November 2021.

Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh meanwhile took over as the Flag Officer Commanding–inChief (FOC-in-C), Western Naval Command (WNC) from Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar. (UNI)