Precious Kashmir

Laigaroo holds meeting at Habba Kadal

City

22/11/2021

Deliberates upon several issues

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party’s constituency incharge Habba Kadal, Arif Laigaroo on Sunday held a meeting with the people of area in Habba kadal and deliberated upon several issues.

During the meeting various issues to strengthen the party were discussed and prevailing circumstances were Center of the meeting.

Laigaroo during the meeting said that election was not a priority and sense of security to masses was need of the hour.

He urged the authorities to shun subjugation and start a meaningful dialogue so lives in future are saved.

The PDP asked the people to strengthen the party and have organised campaign against social evils that included drug abuse in society.

Laigaroo urged them to keep tab on youth in their respective area and work for betterment of society. He expressed anguish over prevailing circumstances in Kashmir and prayed for return of long lasting peace.

Those who participated in meeting are Mohd Muneeb Bhat, Younis Ahmed Sajjad Ahmed Aijaz Ahmed and several others.

Enrolment drive in full swing in Zone Villgam Kupwara

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

22/11/2021

Enrolment drive in full swing in Zone Villgam Kupwara

By: Javaid Bhat

Srinagar: School Education Department has launched a mission mode campaign of Enrolment Drive to enroll more and more children into government schools.

In this context from each education zone upto UT level, events are being organized for mass involvement of society. Besides stakeholders, common people and PRI’s participate in these programs.

Zone villgam Kupwara too is not far from this mass campaigning .School heads have roped for enrolment drive. Teachers from each locality go door to door to lure parents to get their wards admitted in Government Schools.

Middle School Sharkoot has organized a mega event of Enrolment Drive/mela to queue up the program. This School displays a unique picturesque, locating at the base of lush green forest and has a vast playground with adequate infrastructure. A computer lab to facilitate the students with new trends of technology is also placed at the disposal of students.

Recently Zonal Education Reform committee Kickstarted their compaign from this school where a good number of teaches participated.

Member Secretary Zonal Reform Committee, Javid Iqbal Sheikh said that the new enrolment data is being collected from each school on daily basis which displays higher trend with each passing day.

Till date more than 350 new students were enrolled in various schools of the zone, he added.

Headmaster Middle School Sharkoot Ab Jabar Najar said “Though our school has a nice infrastructure and we are receiving a good response from parents but the only problem with the school is that it has least strength of sanctioned posts and the deployed staff goes changing after the expiry of each academic session. This routine of shifting staff tells upon the performance of the school. Similarly other schools of zone are also busy in campaigning and propagating this new norm.

Though Enrolment drive is at Full swing but a command and overwhelming demand from both parents and teachers is that Govt should introduce syllabus at par to private schools, especially at primary level, to have more and more positive results.

J&K Yateem Foundation inaugurates Tehsil office at Baderwah

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

22/11/2021

J&K Yateem Foundation inaugurates Tehsil office at Baderwah

By: Arshad Dijoo
Srinagar: J&K Yateem Foundation inaugurated it’s tehsil office at Baderwah in the Chenab valley subdivision. The centre is aimed to provide timely relief and rehabilitation to the destitute and needy in the hilly tehsil of district Doda.
An inaugural function in this regard was attended by the officials, volunteers and civil society members at circular road Qila Baderwah.
Nowdeep Wazir Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Baderwah Development Authority praised the initiatives being taken by the JKYF to help poor and destitute in the society.
“Efforts of the volunteers of JKYF is praiseworthy and worth emulation for all of us where they spare their quality time for such noble causes,” he said.
He impressed upon the people to help JKYF in its endeavor to help the needy sections of the society.
Earlier in his inaugural address senior JKYF volunteer and ex-chairman Mohammed Rafiq Lone emphasised that being an orphan is the basic criterion to seek help from JKYF and no matter what may have been cause of death of the parent.
“We must all come forward and help the destitute in our society” Lone said while praising the JKYF volunteers of Jammu division for their commitment and zeal.
Javaid Ahmed Qazi tehsil representative Baderwah briefed the participants about the activities undertaken by the tehsil unit of JKYF.
On the occasion four widows belonging to different communities were handed over sewing machines for ekeing out a living for themselves.
At the end Showkat Hayat Malik district representative Doda presented vote of thanks.

DIG SKR reviews security situation in South Kashmir

City

Precious Kashmir

22/11/2021

Says synergy among forces key to thwart nefarious designs

Srinagar: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police SKR Anantnag Abdul Jabbar on Sunday reviewed security situation in South Kashmir.

He visited district Pulwama and chaired a review meeting pertaining to security scenario, anti-militancy operations, law and order, anti-drug mafia drive and other issues related to day-to-day policing at DPL Pulwama, a police spokesman said.

The meeting was attended by SSP Pulwama Ghulam Jeelani Wani, ASP Pulwama, SDPO Litter, DySP DAR DPL Pulwama and other senior Police officers of the District.

During the meeting, various issues related to security scenario, status of crime and various aspects of policing besides, public oriented plans were discussed, a police spokesman said.

DIG SKR Anantnag appreciated the efforts of police in Pulwama for maintaining law and order in the district.

During the meeting, he also reviewed the overall security situation, counter insurgency operations and measures taken to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the district.

He laid stress on strengthening the police-public relations, service oriented policing which will help in gaining the confidence and trust of general public.

DIG emphasised upon the officers to adopt professional approach while dealing with counter insurgency operations, he said.

He also said that the synergy among the forces is the key to thwart any nefarious designs of the enemies of the nation.

Army imparts medical emergency training to villagers in Macchal sector

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

22/11/2021

Srinagar: Army has imparted training on how to save lives in all possible medical emergencies to villagers of Kamkari in Macchal sector of Kupwara in frontier Kashmir district, a Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Col Emron Musavi said here on Sunday.

He said, the two the two week long “Aarogya Sevak and Sevika” training concluded on Sunday at Kamkari Village near the Line of Control (LOC) in Macchal Sector of Kupwara District.

During the training local villagers were trained in all possible medical emergencies, use of medical equipment and use of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as a life saving mechanism.

Col Musavi said, this training is an endeavour on the part of the Indian Army to equip selected villagers with skills in providing first aid and basic medical treatment to the people in the village in case of any emergency.

He said, Kamkari village over the last couple of years has witnessed numerous medical projects undertaken by the Army unit including awareness camps, distribution of medical equipment to persons trained to handle medical emergencies, regular medical check up camps and regular visits by Indian Army doctors to all villages etc.

During the event the Medical Officer of the local army unit also briefed the children on the importance of first aid, precautions to be taken from common ailments and cold related injuries and also on the use of common medicines to treat it. The enthusiastic response of the children motivates the Indian Army to continuously come up with innovative projects for the benefit of the locals, Col Musavi added.

Nadda on two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh from Monday

National

Indo Asian News Service

22/11/2021

Nadda on two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh from Monday

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda will be on a two-day visit to poll-bound Uttar Pradesh from Monday.
During his stay, Nadda is expected to hold several organisational meetings including conferences of booth presidents of Kanpur and Gorakhpur region.
In a statement, the party’s national media in-charge and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni, said: “Nadda will on two days visit to Uttar Pradesh from Monday where he will hold several oraganisational meetings guide workers.”
Uttar Pradesh assembly poll is scheduled in February- March next year along with Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.
Nadda will reach Gorakhpur on Monday afternoon and after reaching there, he will offer prayer at the famous Gorakhnath Temple.
Later, in the first organisational meeting, Nadda will address the booth president meeting. In the evening, Nadda will hold an organisational meeting with Uttar Pradesh leaders at party state unit headquarters in Lucknow.
On Tuesday, Nadda will reach Kanpur and inaugurate the regional office of the party. He will also address booth president’s conference meet in Kanpur.
Sources said that during meetings Nadda will review progress of the different organisational work.
In September, as part of the strategy of micro-managing the polls, Nadda had virtually interacted with the party’s booth level workers of the state.
The BJP has divided Uttar Pradesh into six regions — Western Pradesh, Braj, Awadh, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Kashi. While Nadda will be interacting with booth presidents of Gorakhpur and Kanpur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold similar meetings with booth presidents of Braj and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a meeting with booth presidents of Kashi and Awadh.

3rd T20I: Rohit Sharma, bowlers lead India to 3-0 sweep against New Zealand

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

22/11/2021

3rd T20I: Rohit Sharma, bowlers lead India to 3-0 sweep against New Zealand

Kolkata: Rohit Sharma’s fantastic fifty and a clinical bowling performance led by Axar Patel (3/9), powered India to a convincing 73-run win over New Zealand in the third and final T20I, helping the hosts complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match series at the iconic Eden Gardens, here on Sunday.

This was India’s second-successive clean sweep victory against New Zealand in a T20I series, having registered a 5-0 win over the Kiwis at their own turf in January 2020. It was also the first series win for Sharma as full-time skipper and newly appointed head coach Rahul Dravid and they passed the test with flying colors.

A fifty by captain Sharma (56 off 31 balls) and some late charge by the lower-order guided India to a competitive 184-7 in 20 overs. Apart from Sharma, Ishan Kishan (29), Venkatesh Iyer (20) and Shreyas Iyer (25) also got good starts but they failed to capitalise.

Chasing a challenging target, New Zealand were off to a terrible start as they lost three wickets inside the Power-play. After two expansive overs by pacers, Sharma introduced Axar Patel into the attack early and he delivered for his captain. Axar struck thrice to remove Daryl Mitchell (5), Mark Chapman (0), and Glenn Phillips (0) to dent New Zealand’s chase, leaving the visitors struggling at 37/3 in six overs.

Despite losing three partners in quick succession, Martin Guptill (51) kept on playing his shots. He along with Tim Seifert (17) kept the scoreboard ticking as the Kiwis managed to go past the 50-run mark in the 9th over.

Continuing his attacking batting, Guptill got to his 20th T20I half-century off 34 deliveries under pressure and kept New Zealand in this run-chase but he needed to carry on with a similar strike rate throughout the rest of the innings. Yuzvendra Chahal, who was taken to the cleaners by Guptill, came back to get the big wicket of the New Zealand opener after Sharma gave him the extra over despite being smashed.

Once Guptill got out, the Black Caps’ chase got derailed as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Tim Seifert (17) and Lockie Ferguson (14) tried hard with the bat for the Kiwis but it wasn’t enough to save them from a huge loss. In the end, New Zealand were bowled out for 111 in 17.2 overs, losing by 73 runs.

Overall, Sharma as a full-time skipper used his resources very well as Harshal Patel continued his good showing, picking up two wickets. Venkatesh Iyer also got to bowl for the first time in the series and picked up a wicket.

Earlier, batting first, opener Sharma and Ishan Kishan gave India a flying start. The duo looked in sublime touch and played some glorious hosts, taking India to 69/0 at the end of Power-play.

However, the Black Caps brought in spinners after the field restrictions were lifted and it did wonders for them. Bowling the 7th over, the Kiwis’ stand-in captain Santner dismissed Ishan Kishan (29) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in a gap of few deliveries to peg India back in the match.

With two wickets falling in quick succession, captain Sharma and Rishabh Pant had the responsibility to build a new partnership. But Pant (4), who had a shaky start in the middle, mistimed Santner’s delivery to get out, leaving India in trouble at 83/3 after nine overs.

From there, Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, who walked in at No 5, tried to bring India back into the game by rotating the strike regularly. During the process, the Indian captain hit his 26th T20I fifty in just 27 deliveries with a cracking four. India wanted their captain to carry on even after his fifty, but Ish Sodhi sent Sharma (56) back with a superb caught and bowled effort.

At 103-4 in 11.2 overs, India were in a spot of bother, and two Iyers (Venkatesh and Shreyas) out in the middle needed to steady the innings. They took their time to settle in and hit occasional boundaries and take India to 133/4 after 15 overs.

With five more overs to go, both Iyers decided to break the shackles but they failed to do so and were dismissed in consecutive deliveries. While Trent Boult got rid of Venkatesh (20) in the last ball of the 16th over, Adam Milne dismissed Shreyas Iyer (25) in the first delivery of the 17th over.

By losing crucial wickets, India lost the required momentum at the death overs and it was time for the two Patels (Harshal and Axar) to take the hosts to a competitive score. And, Harshal, who bats at the top score for Haryana, showed his batting skills and played a decent cameo of 18 runs before getting out to Lockie Ferguson in the 19th over.

In the end, Deepak Chahar (21) also hit two boundaries and a six in the last over of the innings to steer India to 184-7 at Eden Gardens.

UNESCO Study And Reopening Schools

Edit
Oped

Precious Kashmir

22/11/2021

A new study by UNESCO has pointed out that educational disruption due to prolonged closure of schools across the globe will not only have alarming effects on learning loss but also poses threat to gender equality and overall health of the pupils.

Drawing on evidence from about 90 countries and in-depth data collected in local communities, the report shows that gender norms and expectations can affect the ability to participate in and benefit from remote learning.

The report has importantly pointed out that the pandemic is a timely reminder that schools are sites not only for learning, but also lifelines for girls and boys, an essential space for their health, well-being and protection.

Earlier this month, the government of J&K informed the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh high court that it was proposing to shift from online to physical mode of education. There has been a long period of learning loss for the students of Jammu and Kashmir as compared to their counterparts in other parts of India or elsewhere. It has been a major setback in itself, affecting the physical and mental health of most students besides depriving them of vital skill development.

The covid-19 pandemic shuttered schools and forced students, who could, to study online at home. Some who could not afford smartphones missed it altogether even as the government resorted to radio or television programmes.

Nevertheless the school education department did well to keep the students engaged through virtual classes or at times, some teachers held classes under the open sky for the benefit of the students. However, as experts keep on repeating, it can never be a substitution for formal and structured schooling where students learn through teacher-student interactions.

Among the major concerns surrounding reopening of schools is possible transmission of the virus on campuses, with implications for vulnerable individuals in the students’ home. Here, the advocacy of the European Technical Advisory Group on schooling during Covid-19 — smaller class sizes, wider spaces between desks and staggered breaks at school — is worth considering.

In a related issue, the government has already issued guidelines, among others mandating maintaining of social distancing for students of 10th and 12th class for taking examinations in Jammu and Kashmir. The administration must resume physical classes before winter makes it impossible. A fortnight of schooling especially to first comers could prove fruitful and expose them to the school environment. For others it could reacquaint them with the atmosphere they have been missing for a very long period.

PM Modi announces repeal of Farm Laws

Front

United News Of India

20/11/2021

‘Govt had good intentions in bringing law’

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narnedra Modi took the nation by surprise on Friday as he announced that the three controversial farm laws would be repealed, evoking reactions from all quarters, with most welcoming the decision.

The farmer groups, which have been protesting against the law under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), took a cautious approach and said they would wait and watch till the process of repealing the laws is completed.

The Prime Minister announced that the legislation would be repealed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.

Several Opposition parties, which have been supporting the ryots’ protests, called it a victory for the farmers, while some also said the decision was motivated by upcoming polls in five states, which includes Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, where the agitations were going strong.

On the occasion of Gurupurab, Modi in an address to the nation, gave details of the steps taken by the Union government for the welfare of farmers, and said the new Farm Laws were among those steps, aimed at the welfare of farmers, particularly small farmers.

He also expressed regret that the government could not reach out to “a section of farmers,” who were agitating against the law for over a year now.

“Today, I have come to tell the whole country that we have decided to withdraw all three agricultural laws. In the Parliament session starting later this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal these three agricultural laws,” the Prime Minister announced.

The Prime Minister said the government had good intentions in bringing the law.

“…such a sacred thing, absolutely pure, a matter of farmers’ interest, we could not explain to some farmers despite our efforts. Agricultural economists, scientists, progressive farmers also tried their best to make them understand the importance of agricultural laws,” he said.

The SKM, meanwhile, said it would wait and watch for now and blamed the government for farmers’ deaths during the course of the agitation, and also mentioned the deaths at Lakhimpur Kheri.

“Samyukt Kisan Morcha welcomes this decision and will wait for the announcement to take effect through due parliamentary procedures. If this happens, it will be a historic victory of the one-year-long farmers’ struggle in India,” the SKM said.

The statement also reminded the Prime Minister that the agitation of farmers is not just for the repeal of three black laws, but also for a statutory guarantee of remunerative prices for all agricultural produce and for all farmers.

The Prime Minister’s announcement was immediately welcomed by former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, who recently launched his own party after parting ways with

Congress, and has said he would fight polls in Punjab along with BJP.

“Great News! Thankful to PM for accepting to the demands of every Punjabi and repealing the three black laws on pious occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti. I am sure the central government will continue to work in tandem for the development of Kisan,” Amarinder tweeted.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath thanked the Prime Minister and called it a ‘historic day’.

“Government’s attempt to establish a dialogue at all levels did not yield any result hence it was withdrawn,” he said.

Opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter shortly after PM’s 9 am announcement, and called it a victory of the ‘farmers’ satyagraha’.

“With their ‘satyagraha’, the ‘annadata’ of this country made the arrogant bow down.

Congratulations on this victory against injustice! Jai Hindi, Jai Hindi’s farmers,” Gandhi said in a tweet with the hashtag ‘Farmers’ Protest’.

He also posted his earlier tweets from January, where he said, “Mark my words, the government will have to take back the anti-farm laws.”

West Bengal Chief Minister and AITC supremo Mamata Banerjee congratulated the farmers and said, “This is your victory.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also hailed the farmers after the PM’s decision and said the coming generations will remember how the farmers of this country put their lives on the line to save their livelihood.

Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the whole credit for the repeal of laws goes to the farmers, and slammed the Prime Minister for still defending the “black laws”.

“Modi expresses no remorse over the deaths of our annadatas due to his year-long obduracy. Modi continues to justify these black laws even now! Refuses to learn from this historic, spirited, inspiring and brave struggle,” he said.

Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several Delhi borders since November 26, 2020, demanding a complete repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. (UNI

J&K LG lauds PM’s decision

Front

Precious Kashmir

20/11/2021

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to repeal the farm laws.

Sinha was delivering a speech in Jammu on the occasion of Prakash Parv.

In his address, Sinha said, “It is the beauty of democracy to respect people’s opinions. I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision. There were several discussions between the farmers and the Centre. However, they could not come to a concrete solution following which the laws have been repealed.”

“In my personal opinion, if one compares the statistical figures, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the agricultural produce have been significantly increased in this sector since 2014. Despite this, the impasse remained. I do not wish to further speak on the issue and welcome the decision,” Sinha said. (KINS)

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