ANANTNAG:  Union Additional Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Rural Sanitation, Arun Baroka, accompanied by concerned officers today visited Anantnag and reviewed implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Phase-2 besides taking a brief appraisal of other schemes.

In this regard, Union Additional Secretary convened a meeting with District Development Council Chairman, Mohammad Yousuf Gorsi, District Development Commissioner, Dr. Piyush Singla, Director, Rural Sanitation, Tariq Ahmad Ganie, Block Development Council Chairpersons, Assistant Commissioner Development, Ideel Saleem, Block Development Officers and other concerned officers.

Additional Secretary took stock of various aspects of SBM and its allied components wherein he was briefed about its current status. He stressed for mobilizing all available resources effectively so that desired results are achieved. He emphasized on making efforts for plastic free rural India, grey water conservation besides proper rural sanitation and solid and liquid waste management.

Lauding the district for its commendable work in SBM Phase-1, Additional Secretary impressed upon the officers to focus on more areas during the 2nd Phase.

SRINAGAR:  Jammu and Kashmir Government today institutionalized Awards to recognize outstanding work done by Forest Personnel, Village Forest Committee(s), Educational Institutions and Gram Panchayats rendering Meritorious Service.

The awards would be given on the World Forestry Day (21 March) every year at UT level.

In this regard, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department issued an order stating that the objective of the award is to recognize outstanding work done by Forest Field Staff and to encourage and promote competence and dedication among forest personnel.

According to the order, while mentioning the eligibility of the Award,  20 Forest officials working as Forest Rangers, Foresters and Forest Guards in the Forest Department will be honoured with this award every year (2 Forest Rangers, 6 Foresters and 12 Forest Guards).

The award shall consist of a citation and a medallion along with a cash award of Rs 25,000 to be given to each recipient and will also be noted in the Annual Performance Report of the official.

While giving the selection criteria, the order stated that the awards will be given for meritorious service and achievement of the individual field personnel in the area of Forest Protection and anti-smuggling operations, afforestation and plantation work, working plan, training and demarcation works.

While innovative ideas and practices will be recognized, emphasis will be on the outcomes and contributions made by the individual in the course of discharge of his duties, it added.

Enumerating about the selection procedure, it said that the recommendations for the award will be made by a selection committee   comprising of the Additional PCCF (Central) as Chairperson while CCF Jammu, CCF Kashmir, CCF Planning & Project as members.

The department has also institutionalized an award for outstanding performance in Plantation/Afforestation.

Giving further details about the award, it said that the objective of the award is to encourage peoples’ participation in tree planting and afforestation through Village Forest Committees, Gram Panchayats and educational institutions.

Cash award of Rs 10,000 for the best educational institution at district level (one for each district) and cash award of Rs.20,000 for the best Gram Panchayat at district level (one for every district) will be given for outstanding performance in Plantation/Afforestation.

“These awards will be given each year in the District level function on the World Forestry Day on 21st March. The DFO stationed at District headquarters will act as nodal officer and organize the function at district headquarters,” it stated.

The plantation and afforestation activities should have been carried out continuously over a period of 3 years, including the year of the award (Financial Year) by any nominee or applicant, and the working of all these 3 years and the results achieved will be evaluated separately for each nominee in the process of selection.

For Institution

(1) Nominations can be made in School/College/Educational Institution by the Headmaster or the Principal of the School/College or by the Head of the Institution, directly to the Range Officer having jurisdiction.

(2)The Range Officer will evaluate the Institution’s work in relation to tree plantation over a period of at least 3 years ending 30 September of the year of nomination  based on the criteria prescribed and submit the  evaluation sheets to the concerned DFO by 31 October.

1. b) For Gram Panchayat:

(1)In case of Gram Panchayats, nomination may be made by the Sarpanch/Executive Officer of the Gram Panchayat directly to the Range Officer having jurisdiction.

(2)The Range Officer will evaluate the Gram Panchayat’s work in relation to tree plantation over a period of at least 3 years, ending 30 September of the year of nomination based on the criteria prescribed and submit the evaluation sheets to the concerned DFO by 31st October. Registered Non-Government Organizations or Voluntary Organizations may facilitate filing  nominations in respect of Gram Panchayats.

According to the scheme of awards so notified, the  applications/nominations in the prescribed form in case of both   Institutions and Gram Panchayats of all Divisions will be received by the concerned Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial) by 31st October.

The verification/scrutiny and selection of the best Gram Panchayat/Educational Institutions in the district within the jurisdiction of the Division will be carried out by the concerned Divisional Forest Officer on the basis of objective and uniform criteria for evaluation of the plantation/afforestation work.

On the basis of such evaluation, district-wise names of two candidates adjudged best from each category along with evaluation records will be sent by the DFO to the CCF by 30th November.

A Committee under the Chairmanship of the CCF and members comprising of the Conservators of Forests, concerned DFOs and the representatives of the concerned Deputy Commissioners will decide the district-wise award winners by the end of 31st January. The decision of the CCF will be final.

Another award to be given during the Wildlife Week (October) at UT Level Award for Wildlife Conservation.

The order said that in order to encourage vital contribution for the conservation of wildlife in the State and for the promotion of awareness of the issues involved in this regard, the “State Award for Wildlife Conservation” will be given every year at District level during the celebration of Wildlife Week.

The UT Level Award for Wildlife Conservation shall consist of a certificate with cash award of Rs 25,000 to be given in each District.

No Award, however, will be declared, if in any year, eligible candidates/institutions are not available.

Any individual or an institution operating in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and engaged in wildlife and biodiversity conservation, research and education is eligible for the award.

In order to come under the purview of consideration for the award, an individual/institution should have created an appreciable and measurable impact in any of the following areas:

1. a) Wildlife management and conservation including control of poaching, wildlife animal depredation and extension.
2. b) Biodiversity conservation.
3. c)  Eco-development planning and implementation.
4. Evaluation and Selection: Nominations shall be received at the office of the Wildlife Warden and shall be evaluated by the Evaluation Committee for submission to the UT Level Committee which shall make the final recommendations.

The Evaluation Committees shall consist of Regional Wildlife Warden as Chairman while as Deputy Commissioner (or his Representative) and Wildlife Wardens as Members

It added that the UT Level Selection Committee shall judge the nominations received as per given criteria and recommend the nominations for selection. The UT Level Committee shall be comprised of the Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, as Chairman while as Additional PCCF (Central) as member and CCF, Ecotourism as Convener.

The final decision on the nominations from the Evaluation Committee will be taken by the Selection Committee. The recipient of the UT Level award will be decided by the UT Government on the recommendation of the Selection Committee, the order said and added that if suitable candidates/institutions are not available in any category, no award may be declared for the specified category for the respective year.

SRINAGAR: Director General Institution of Management & Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD), Saurabh Bhagat inaugurated three training course at JK IMPARD, Srinagar campus today.

Director Trainings Kashmir, other faculty members and participants were present on the occasion of joint session. The Course Coordinators of their respective training course briefed Director General and participants about the need and importance of these training courses.

Dr K Islam gave the outline of his training course on Career Counselling while as Dr M Ashraf informed the participants about the critically important training course on orientation on Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and Dr Shafia Wani highlighted the importance of objectives of Swachh Baharat Mission in J&K.

While inaugurating the courses, DG IMPARD has emphasized on the critical importance of all the three scheduled training courses. He summed up the objectives and motive behind  organizing these courses.

While referring the recently concluded 2-day Regional Conference, he informed the officers that they will be exposed to the new paradigm shifts in governance and planning.

He also emphasised on new initiatives to be taken by J&K IMPA for building the capacity of new entrants to the civil administration and good governance.

The joint inaugural session was concluded with the vote of thanks to the chair and other participating faculty members and officers from various departments.

Srinagar: In order to ensure strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Jammu and Kashmir police on Monday claimed to have arrested four persons and fined a total of 4011 people across the Valley for violating the Covid guidelines in the last 24 hours.

A police spokesman said that over Rs five lakh have been realized from the norm violators.

“During the last 24 hours, Police have arrested four persons, lodged one FIR and also realized fine to the tune of Rs 5,13,370 from 4011 people throughout the Kashmir valley for violating the various guidelines, rules and SOPs regarding Covid-19,” a statement reads.

Besides, nine vehicles were also seized in Shopian for violating Covid norms, police said.

“The special drive against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines and rules continued throughout all the districts of Kashmir Valley to ensure that people adhere to SOPs and guidelines envisaged by the government to curb COVID-19 pandemic,” police said.

Meanwhile, police urged people to cooperate in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs, guidelines and protocols for their own safety and for the safety of others. “The special drive shall continue throughout the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures,” police said.