New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind completed four years in office on Sunday.

An e-book — ‘President Kovid at Four’ — has been released on the occasion highlighting his work in office.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a tweet, “President Ram Nath Kovind completes four years in office today. Here are some highlights of the fourth year of presidency in a flip through e-book.”

Kovind was sworn in as the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017.

The e-book said, “As the custodian of the Constitution, the President administered oath of office and secrecy to the members of the council of ministers and the chief justice of India, and gave assent to 43 Bills of the Union government and 20 Bills of the state governments.”

The President also appointed 94 judges to the Supreme Court and the high courts, Governors of 12 states, Controller and Auditor General of India, Chief Information Commissioner, three Chief Election Commissioners, UPSC Chairman and Vigilance Commissioner.

Lauding the efforts of Corona warriors, the e-book says, “For the at home reception on Independence Day at the Rashtrapati Bhavan last year, President Kovind invited some frontline Corona warriors working in Delhi as special guests and lauded their courage and dedication in saving countless lives across the country.”

The e-book also says that President Kovind celebrated Raksha Bandhan with nurses from the Trained Nurses’ Association of India, Military Nursing Service and the President’s Estate Clinic.

According to the book, as the commander of the armed forces, the President visited the National War Memorial and paid tributes to the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice to defend the nation, inaugurated the General Thimayya Museum at Madikeri in Kaodagu, Karnataka, and witnessed Joint Services Operational demonstrations by the Andaman and Nicobar Command at Swaraj Dweep.

The President visited 13 states and two Union Territories in the fourth year of his Presidency, including visits to Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat twice.

Srinagar: The government on Sunday lifted weekend covid-19 curfew in all districts in Jammu and Kashmir. However, night curfew shall continue in all the districts, according to a government order by issued Chief Secretary (Chairperson, State Executive Committee) Arun Kumar Mehta after reviewing meeting with the additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education; Principal Secretary to Government, Home; Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other officers of Jammu and Kashmir.

“It was observed that as compared to the previous weeks, significant improvement has been made by all the districts in respect of the above parameters. However, there is a need to continue with some of the existing COVID containment measures in all the districts in view of the uneven trend in the daily COVID cases,” the order reads, adding, “the guidelines / instructions on COVID containment in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir already notified vide Government Orders 35 and 36 – JK (DMRRR) of 2021 dated 29-05-2Q21 read with Government Orders 51 – JK (DMRRR) of 2021 dated 18-07-2021 shall continue to remain in force till further orders. However, there shall be no weekend Curfew in any district.”

The State Executive Committee also permitted the public and private educational institutions to seek personal attendance of limited vaccinated staff for administrative purposes.

Also, the maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor/ outdoor gathering shall be restricted to 25.

“Night Curfew shall continue to remain in force in all districts from 8 pm to 7 am.”

All Deputy Commissioners have been asked to focus on the positivity rates of the Medical-Blocks under their jurisdictions. “Intensified measures, related to Covid management and restriction of activities, will have to be taken by the DCs in these Blocks. There shall be renewed focus on Panchavat level mapping of cases and micro-containment zones shall be constituted wherever unusual spike of cases is noticed,” the order said, adding, “DCs shall keep active track of the positivity rates in the Blocks and consider implementing stricter control measures in closed clustered spaces like Public/ Private Offices, Community halls, Malls, Bazaars etc., in case weekly positivity rate goes beyond 4 percent in these Blocks.

The three – “T” protocol of testing, tracking and treating, besides vaccination, needs to strengthened in these Blocks, the order said. “The proportion of RT-PCR tests in the total mix should be scaled up, on best effort basis, to 70 % or more, excluding travelers.”

“Positive cases so detected as a result of intensive testing need to be isolated/quarantined at the earliest and their contacts should also be traced at the earliest, and similarly isolated / quarantined and tested, if needed.”

The government also ordered that quick isolation and treatment of COVID-19 patients shall be ensured in treatment facilities/hospitals/homes. (GNS)

Srinagar: The markets in the summer capital, Srinagar, remained closed for the second successive day on Sunday in view of 60-hour-long weekend curfew imposed to check the spread of COVID-19.

Public and private vehicles, exempted from weekend lockdown, were plying on the city routes though in less numbers. However, a good number of children thronged some gardens in the city.

Meanwhile, roads leading to Raj Bhawan, where President Ram Nath Kovind is staying — Boulevard road along world famous Dal Lake and high profile Gupkar road — have been closed for general public from Sunday to July 27. Similarly, famous Mughal gardens, Pari Mahal and other gardens along the Boulevard road are off the limits for general public. President Kovind arrived in the summer capital, Srinagar, on Sunday on a four-day visit to the Union Territories (UTs) of J&K and Ladakh.

All gates of the historic Jamia Masjid and Jamia market remained closed. No prayers, including Friday and Eid, were held in the Jamia masjid due to COVID-19.

Similarly, the main markets in the down town, including Nowhatta, Gojwara and Nallahmar also remained closed. However, some shops in the interior areas were functioning.

The business activities in historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Budshah Chowk, Mahraj Bazar and Gonikhan also remained affected for the second successive day on Sunday.

However, in the uptown and outskirts shops and business establishments were open.

Last week, there was no weekend lockdown to allow people to do Eid-ul-Adha shopping. The famous Sunday market was also functioning on July 18. (UNI)

Interacts with youngsters from different States/UT; says youth aspire to be integral part of building New J&K, New India

SRINAGA: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today attended the Valedictory session at the 3-day long Young Thinkers Meet-2021 at SKICC here.

The Lt Governor interacted with the Youth who came from different States/UT, and shared the progressive and reformative measures taken by the J&K Government for the rapid development of UT.

Addressing the young participants, the Lt Governor highlighted the important role of the youth in the development process.

Young progressive minds are the Leaders of Tomorrow. The young population aspires to be an integral part of the process of building New J&K, New India, observed the Lt Governor.

“I invite youth from other States/UTs to visit J&K and be a witness to groundbreaking inclusive development” said the Lt Governor.

Answering the queries of the young participants about the recent developments taking place in the UT, the Lt Governor remarked that the “Regressive laws and rules have been replaced by the progressive reforms. Zero tolerance against Corruption, Responsiveness, Transparency, Accountability, people-centric policies are now integral parts of governance”.

Speaking on the interventions made by the government to bring reforms in all major sectors in the UT, the Lt Governor stated that unprecedented progress has been achieved at the grass root level.

He also reiterated the Government’s determination and commitment to facilitate socio-economic development and take industrialization to the block level.

Recounting the major breakthroughs made in the governance front, the Lt Governor said that with initiatives like e-Office, empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions, 100% saturation of all welfare schemes, extending handholding to youth, strengthening health & educational infrastructure, bringing transparency in the execution of works, and completing the projects hanging in for long in record time, the UT Government has paved a solid foundation for the rapid growth of J&K.

We have set a target of completing 30,000 projects, besides providing financial assistance to 50,000 youth this year, he added.

In his address, the Lieutenant Governor paid homage to the gallantry of the martyrs and heroes of Kargil war on the eve of “Kargil Vijay Diwas”.

“I salute the valour and courage of the brave hearts of Indian Army who defeated the nefarious design of the enemy and liberated the Indian Territory from the infiltrators. My humble tributes to our immortal heroes who fought till their last breath to protect the sovereignty and integrity of our great nation”, said the Lt Governor.

Shaurya Doval, Member, Board of Governors, India Foundation, in his welcome address highlighted the aims and objectives of the India Foundation for increasing awareness and advocating views on issues of both national and international importance.

Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation delivered the Vote of Thanks.

Ram Madhav, Member, Board of Governors, India Foundation, members of Board of Trustees and other office bearers of the Foundation were present on the occasion.

Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor SMC, and Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor were also present on the occasion.