Precious Kashmir

Admin modifies Muharram arrangement order

Jammu & Kashmir

03/08/2021

Concerned DCs to take call after assessing COVID, L&O situation

Srinagar: The administration on Monday modified the earlier directions issued regarding the Muharram processions / gatherings stating that appropriate decisions for suitable action will be taken by the District Magistrates’ in consultation with police, health and other stakeholders.

In a fresh directions issued by the Divisional Administration Kashmir, which reads that the a meeting regarding the commencement of Muharram was held on 14-07-2021 with regard to arrangements to be put in place by various departments—water supply, power facility ,health, sanitation etc.

“According to the earlier review meeting held earlier on 14-07-2021, which also added that the meeting was held almost three weeks prior to commencement of Muharram. The Religious functions are being held by the Shia Community for two to three weeks during the Muharram. Directions were passed in the said meeting, which contained in the minutes that all religious processions / gatherings will be held as per the Covid -19 SOPs / guidelines issued by the Government from time to time. The Covid-19 situation is changing and the number of positive cases are still reported from all districts in Kashmir,” the order reads.

It further states that as such, the earlier directions issued vide above referred minutes with regard to conducting processions / gatherings and management of law and Order etc are modified and appropriate decisions for suitable action will be taken by the Districts Magistrate concerned in consultation with police, health and other stakeholders so as to comply with the Covid norms and maintain the smooth law and order.

An official said that as per the already Covid -19 Guidelines issued by the State Executive Committee (SEC), there is a cap on the gatherings given the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the valley.

“Since the Programs of Muharram processions fall on different dates, and at different places in the valley, in view of that the concerned DCs will take the appropriate calls”, he said. (KNO)

Unemployed dental surgeons protest, demand jobs

City

Jahangeer Ganaie

03/08/2021

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: The unemployed dental surgeons on Monday staged protest in Srinagar and demanded creation of posts.

Dental surgeons have been protesting in Jammu and other parts of the UT for the last one month demanding creation of posts after completing their education.

The dental surgeons under the banner of Dental Surgeon Association of J&K stage protested outside dental college Srinagar and demanded intervention of LG in this regard.

“Since 2008, no recruitment for dental surgeons has been held despite the fact that there are hundreds of vacancies in the department, ” Zameer Ahmad, a dental surgeon degree holder, said.

He said that they are going through trauma as despite having spent lakhs of rupees and pursuing degrees for years together, over 7000 dental surgeons are jobless and there is not a single word from the government.

“Mere an excuse of shortage of funds, the department has failed to advertise dental surgeon posts for the last 13 years. Thousands of youth have completed their degrees but have to beg literally to the government to create posts,” he said.

Dental surgeons said in earlier recruitments, only Ayush degree holders (BUMS, BHMS) were selected after giving them dental training of six months which is also “sheer injustice” with them.

They said that the government must create posts at PHCs, NTPHCs, CHCs and sub- centres so that the deserving people will get the job.

Pertinently LG Governor Manoj Sinha recently said that the government is going to provide financial assistance to 400 dental surgeons and 800 paramedics to facilitate them in starting their own clinics.

However, dental surgeons said that they want jobs, not financial assistance.

“We want justice. We want jobs, not any kind of financial assistance. Setting up a dental clinic is not an option, this is highly unacceptable and we want recruitment, said Sabita Sambyal, another dental surgeon degree holder.

“Financial assistance is unacceptable. After 13 years, the government still has no job policy for us”, said Javaid Ahmad, another dental surgeon degree holder.

Dental surgeons requested the government to look into the matter at an earliest and create posts for them. (KNO)

Dilapidated lanes irk Sheesh Bagh residents

City

Precious Kashmir

03/08/2021

By: Mubashir Aalam Wani

Srinagar: The residents of Sheesh Bagh area of Illahi Bagh Srinagar here have accused the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) of ignoring their plights and demanded immediate redressal of their grievances.

Locals said the lanes in their area are in dilapidated conditions and are giving tough times to the residents.

“The lanes in our locality have developed potholes and have not been macadamized from the last seven years. Whenever it rains, the muddy water adds to the miseries of the commuters as well as the pedestrians,” they said.

“According to officials from SMC, the estimation for the renovation of the lane has already been finalized, but the work has not been started yet, thus leaving the local residents to lurch at large.

The locals appealed the concerned authorities to look into the matter and ensure that the lanes are macadamized at an earliest. (KNO)

Man found dead in Bla, family stages protest

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

03/08/2021

Baramulla: The body of a 38-year-old man was found under mysterious circumstances in Khawaja Bagh area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday.

Officials said that the body of the man, identified as Bilal Ahmad Pandit, was retrieved from river Jhelum in Khawaja Bagh locality in the afternoon.

They said that the body has been taken to a hospital for post-mortem to ascertain the actual cause of death.

Meanwhile, family members of the deceased held a protest demonstration, alleging that Bilal was murdered and thrown into river Jhelum during night hours.

They demanded justice and action against “culprits” involved in the crime.

Meanwhile, an official said that Baramulla police have taken cognisance of the matter and have registered a case in this regard.

He said that further investigation has also been taken up. (KNO)

J&K Police Medals presented to awardees

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

03/08/2021

Srinagar: Director Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), J&K, Anand Jain presented the J&K Police Medals for Gallantry and J&K Police Medal for Meritorious Services to serving and retired Jammu and Kashmir Police officers and officials.

According to a statement, the awards were presented at Investiture Ceremony held at ACB Headquarters, Srinagar.

In today’s Investiture Ceremony, three officers namely Ali Mohammad Bhat (DIG Retd), Muhammad Shafiq Najar, Dy.SP and Shakeel Ahmad Bhat, Inspector of JKP, were honoured for their outstanding contribution in counter-insurgency operations & meritorious services.

The Director Anti Corruption Bureau congratulated the recipients for their courage and determination to deliver on all fronts of policing.

Olympics hockey: India only country with teams in men’s, women’s semis

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

03/08/2021

Tokyo: Defending champions Great Britain, who scored a 2-0 shoot-out victory against Spain in the quarterfinals on Monday, have set up a semifinal clash against the Netherlands. It would be a repeat of the 2016 Olympics final in which the British emerged winners to bag their first gold in women’s hockey at the Olympics.

World, European, and Pro League champions the Netherlands outplayed New Zealand 3-0 in the quarterfinals on Monday, thus getting a chance to avenge their 3-0 shootout defeat to Great Britain in the 2016 final.

In the other semifinal on Wednesday, India will meet two-time silver-medallist Argentina, who defeated Germany 3-0 in the first match on Monday.

With the women’s semifinalists decided on Monday, India have emerged as the only country to make it to the last-four stage in both men’s and women’s sections.

Besides India, Australia, Belgium, and Germany have reached the semis in the men’s section. Great Britain, Netherlands and Argentina alongside India make the semis lineup in the women’s section.

The Indian women defeated Australia 1-0 on Monday while the men overcame Great Britain 3-1 on Sunday. Thus both have a chance of winning their respective matches and making it to the final.

Incidentally, no country has won the men’s and women’s titles in the same Olympic Games.

Since women’s hockey made its debut in the 1980 Games in Moscow, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, and Great Britain have won both the men’s and women’s titles but not in the same edition of the Games.

Belgium, the reigning world champions will be looking to win their maiden Olympic gold after finishing with silver in the 2016 edition after losing to Argentina in the final.

MHA restricts Delhi govt’s proposal to increase MLAs’ salary, other wages

National

Indo Asian News Service

03/08/2021

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs has restricted Delhi governments proposal to increase the salary of the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of Delhi, sources told IANS.

Proposal for an increase in salary and allowances of Delhi MLAs was pending with the MHA for the last 5 years. Sources privy with the development said that the MHA has “restricted the proposal.”

The six-member committee of AAP MLAs, which was formed by the Delhi Assembly to take up the issue of the proposed hike in salary of ministers and legislators with the Centre, had sent the proposal last time in March this year.

The Committee had pass the Bill in 2015 with proposal to increase MLA’s salary and wages from the current Rs 12,000 to Rs 50,000 and their overall monthly pay from Rs 88,000 at present to Rs 2.1 lakh.

The committee had then contented that the salary of Delhi MLAs’ hasn’t increased since 2011.

It said that Delhi MLAs are amongst the lowest salary receiving MLAs in the country in comparison to other states and Union Territories (UTs).

The Committee had then claimed that MLAs of Uttarakhand get around Rs 1.98 lakh monthly in the name of salary and other service, in Himachal Pradesh Rs 1.90 lakh, in Haryana Rs 1.55 lakh and in Bihar Rs 1.3lakh.

The Rajasthan government pays around Rs 1.42 lakh to its MLAs and Telangana around Rs 2.5 lakh per month.

Many states provide many other services to their MLAs, which the Delhi government doesn’t provide like house rent allowance, office rent and staff expenses, allowance for buying office equipments, vehicle for usage, driver allowance, etc.

Sources in Delhi government said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will discuss the matter during the cabinet meeting proposed for Tuesday.

Parliamentary panels make beeline to Kashmir

Front

Ibni Maqbool

02/08/2021

Parliamentary panels make beeline to Kashmir

Committees on MHA, Commerce, Urban Development to visit after conclusion of monsoon session

Ibni Maqbool

Srinagar: The parliamentary panels are making a beeline to Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory. After visits of four such committees in the past seven months, three more panels will arrive in the region just after the conclusion of the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament.

Documents accessed by The Precious Kashmir that three panels of the Parliament will visit the UT in the second fortnight of August.

The parliamentary panels on Home Affairs, Commerce and Housing & Urban Development have planned to visit J&K and Ladakh UTs between August 17 to 28.

During its visit from May 17 to 21 to UTs, the department-related parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), headed by Anand Sharma of Congress, will meet different stakeholders to examine “administration, development and people’s welfare” in J&K and Ladakh UTs.

During the study visit, the committee will have meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh UT, Chief Secretary of J&K UT and other stakeholders. It will also visit border observation posts (BOPs) of ITBP/BSF and CRPF camps at Srinagar/Leh.

The panel on urban development is scheduled to visit the UT between August 20 to 25.

According to itinerary, the committee members will visit Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Leh during their five-day visit to hold discussions with officials of the UTs on implementation of central schemes like Smart City Mission, AMRUT, SBM (U), PMAY (U) etc. It will also have filed visits to smart city, AMRUT, SBM (U) projects in Srinagar, Pahalgam and Leh.

The committee is also expected to discuss implementation of metro projects for Srinagar and Jammu cities with officials of J&K UT.

The parliamentary standing committee on commerce plans to visit J&K and Ladakh from August 24 to 28.

During its four-day visit, the panel plans to hold discussions with different stakeholders/ organisations to discuss “augmenting infrastructure facilities to boost exports”.

J&K is cultural gateway of northern India: LG

Front

Precious Kashmir

02/08/2021

Says UT symbol of national integration, unity in diversity

Srinagar: Stating that Jammu and Kashmir is the cultural gateway of northern India as the land is blessed with rich cultural heritage, literature and wisdom of Saints and Sufis, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid special emphasis on encouraging the youth to be a part of the intensive campaign to promote the cultural heritage of the Union Territory (UT).

An official on Sunday said that Sinha chaired the meeting of the Central Committee of Cultural Academy here at Raj Bhavan on Saturday during which 30 agenda points were taken up for discussion, including framing of Annual Activity Calendar; Promotion of various languages; accreditation and empanelment of artists; fine-tuning of skills of staff of JKAACL; Cultural Policy; Affiliation for continuing Calligraphy Course; Automation & Digitization of JKAACL Library; Setting up of Ethno-linguistic & Cultural Research Centre etc.

“J&K is the cultural gateway of northern India. The land is blessed with rich cultural heritage, literature and wisdom of Saints and Sufis. It is also a symbol of national integration, Unity in diversity, and its legacy of knowledge needs to be shared with the world,” the Lt Governor said.

The Lt Governor laid special emphasis on encouraging the youth to be a part of the intensive campaign to promote the cultural heritage of J&K. “Youth engagement in cultural activities would provide the much-needed platform and exposure to the young rising talent of the UT, and at the same time channelize the energy of youth towards productive and constructive activities,” the Lt Governor maintained.

He said teachings and writings of our Sufi Saints and literary legends need to be disseminated to the younger generation to revive and preserve J&K’s rich cultural heritage.

He further called for organizing regular cultural programmes across the UT by actively involving schools, colleges and universities, besides promoting the places of historic significance for the attraction of visiting tourists. “J&K has abundance of cultural wealth to offer to the world. J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has to play an important role in taking the diverse culture of the UT across the globe through innovative interventions in the respective field,” observed the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor asked the concerned officials to come up with a comprehensive Cultural Policy for propagating and promoting local languages and cultures with their ethnic relevance, besides providing sustainable livelihood opportunities to all the associated stakeholders.

He further instructed for increasing the presence of Cultural Academy at grassroot level and preparing Activity Calendar of the Cultural Academy so that the artists, all stakeholders, and the public would know what’s in the offing for them.

Reiterating the directions passed in previous meetings with Culture department, the Lt Governor directed the concerned functionaries to submit a detailed report on the plan of action for upcoming mega Sufi and other literary festivals in the UT. (UNI)

LG Pays tribute to Tilak on his 101th anniversary

Front

Precious Kashmir

02/08/2021

Says he played pivotal role in Indian freedom struggle

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday paid tributes to freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his 101th death anniversary and said that he was a social reformer and ardent nationalist who played a pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle.

Sinha said that Tilak’s courage and selfless sacrifice for the nation will always be recalled by the ages to come. “Remembering revolutionary freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak Ji on his Punyatithi. He was a social reformer & ardent nationalist who played a pivotal role in India’s Freedom. His courage & selfless sacrifice for the nation will always be recalled by the ages to come,” he wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

Tilak died on August 1, 1920 in Mumbai. His slogan ‘Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it’ caught the imagination of a country fighting to free itself from the colonial rule.

Tilak was a scholar, a writer, mathematician and a philosopher. He was given the title, ‘Lokmanya’, which means ‘beloved leader’ by his followers.

Tilak founded and edited two newspapers – Kesari in Marathi and The Mahratta in English. He used his pen as a weapon to criticise the colonial rulers.

He was imprisoned a number of times including a long stint at Mandalay in Myanmar.

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