By: Sajidah Yousuf

Srinagar: In the last week of May and first week of June, south Kashmir’s Pulwama district has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities among all districts, reveals official figures.

It was learnt that the district Pulwama has recorded highest Case Fatality Rate of 1.27 percent followed by district Baramulla with 1.23 percent.

The figures revealed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir P.K. Pole in a meeting held earlier this month also states that the district Srinagar has the highest number of cases per million population (42,785) followed by district Ganderbal with 24,805 number of cases.

In the meeting Pole also expressed his satisfaction over the status of COVID-19 testing and complemented all the officers of the respective districts for complying with the minimum target of 1500 tests per million populations per day.

Pole in a meeting held in the first week of the June directed the concerned officers to enhance the RTPCR testing of symptomatic cases if initial report of Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) comes negative in these suspected cases so that Covid-19 patients are diagnosed, isolated and treated in time and that will reduce the risk transmission of infection and Case Fatality Rate (CFR) are further reduced.

Revealing the breakup wise Covid-19 performance of the districts, the figures reveal that Anantnag has done minimum number of tests of at least 28,868,1 per million population followed by district Kupwara with 29,652,3. (KNO)

By: Ahmad Shabir

Anantnag: Authorities have finally started the process to identify the land for the construction of Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) at the famous tourist destination, Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The development took place days after this news paper reported the failure of authorities to construct the TRC at the tourist spot after the old one was destroyed in a blaze seven years ago.

In the report titled ‘Seven years on, PDA fails to allow construction of TRC at Pahalgam’, this news paper had reported that the absence of modern TRC for last several years is forcing the tourist authorities to operate from more than a km down Pahalgam market.

The tourist officials quoted in the report had admitted that the tourists were facing inconvenience in the absence of TRC.

Sources said that Lieutenant Governor led administration following the report carried by Precious Kashmir, directed the tourism officials to identify the land for the construction of the TRC at famous tourist destination.

Director Tourism, an official said, has now initiated the process for the identification of the land for TRC.

Since the PDA is reluctant to grant permission for reconstruction of the facility at the old spot citing that a multi-storey building will deface the beauty of the place, tourism department, an official said, has now submitted a proposal for construction of the facility at Nunwan where TRC is running from a small hut for last several years.

“Tourism department has around 12 to 13 Kanals of land near Nunwan and a proposal for construction of TRC at the spot has been submitted. It is an ideal place for construction of the facility and PDA too has no objection to it. Top authorities seem to have taken the issue of non-availability of TRC very seriously now and directions for the construction of the same have been issued. I think Pahalgam will soon have TRC on modern lines,” a tourist official told Precious Kashmir.

Chief Executive Officer, PDA, Mushtaq Simnani, said that there is proposal for construction of TRC at Nunwan but that has to be passed by building operations controlling authority (BOCA).

Guwahati: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that India is the “priest” of world peace, but it has the full ability and strength to give a befitting reply to all acts of aggression.

Virtually dedicating the 20 km Kimin-Potin double-lane road in Arunachal Pradesh and 11 other strategic road projects constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the northeastern state and other places to the nation, Singh said any kind of disturbance to peace and tranquility in the border areas is bound to have adverse implications.

“India is a peace loving nation,” he said.

The 12 strategic roads would not only give a boost to connectivity, but also facilitate faster movement of troops along the international borders, the Defence Minister said.

“The capacity of the BRO in the construction of world-class roads despite challenges in tough and hilly terrains demonstrates the mantra of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,” he said.

Praising the BRO for its contribution to the development of roads and other infrastructure in the remote border areas of the country, Singh virtually dedicated the 12 new roads to the nation.

He reiterated the resolve of the government to connect all regions of the country with the overall national mainstream to provide an equal opportunity for development and growth.

The Defence Minister said that these road projects are part of the ‘Act East Policy’ of the government wherein special emphasis is being laid on the overall development of the border areas.

Reiterating the resolve of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the northeast region, Singh said the region is not only the gateway to the overall development of the country, but also to the nation’s relations with other East Asian countries.

He paid tribute to the soldiers who showed exemplary courage during the Galwan Valley incident last year, making supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.

The Defence Minister also touched upon some of the major reforms undertaken by the government, including the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff, measures to boost self-reliance in defence manufacturing and corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

“These reforms are proving to be a game-changer in the military preparedness in the rapidly changing times,” he said.

Singh underlined the constant efforts of the government to make India self-reliant in defence manufacturing under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission envisioned by the Prime Minister.

“We are actively working towards making India a defence manufacturing hub. Self-reliance in defence production will reduce our dependence on imports, increase exports and strengthen our economy,” he stated.

Speaking on the occasion, the Director General of BRO, Lt General Rajeev Chaudhry, highlighted the efforts of the BRO in the overall development of Arunachal Pradesh and thanked the state for assisting the organisation in ensuring infrastructure development in a smooth manner.

Out of the 12 road projects dedicated to the nation, one each has been constructed in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, and the remaining in Arunachal Pradesh.

The roads have been constructed under ‘Arunank’, ‘Vartak’, ‘Brahmank’, ‘Udayak’, ‘Himank’ and ‘Sampark’ projects of the BRO.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and senior BRO and Army officials attended the inaugural event held in Assam’s Lakhimpur.

Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region, Jitendra Singh, was among the dignitaries who attended the event virtually.

New Delhi: Amidst border standoff with China, the Indian Army holds a commanders’ conference led by General Manoj Mukund Naravane from Thursday to review the operational situation at the border with China and Pakistan. Indian Army Commanders’ Conference is an apex level biannual event, which formulates important policy decisions through collegiate deliberations.

The conference is attended by senior officers of the Army including the vice chief of the army staff, all commanders, principal staff officers (PSOs) of the Army Headquarters and other senior officers.

In the two-day conference, the Army top brass will discuss the current position of Chinese People’s Liberation Army positions in disputed areas at Gogra, Hot Springs, Demchok and Depsang at Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

China has enhanced troops, artillery and armour deployment in three sectors of Line of Actual Control — western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal) sectors.

A year after the Galwan valley clash in Eastern Ladakh, China is still sitting at the Line of Actual Control and India has geared up for a long grind. Indian and Chinese military delegates had 11 rounds of talks to resolve border disputes at friction points.

During the commanders’ conference meeting, Army top brass discuss how to be better prepared to face Chinese belligerence in Ladakh over the last year as a final resolution seems far off. India has enhanced military infrastructure, increased troop deployment to 50,000 to 60,000, and constructed better roads connectivity for quick mobilisation.

Last month, General Naravane said that the troops are on high alert at Line of Actual Control and are keeping watch on Chinese People’s Liberation Army activities.

The Indian Army chief stated that India wants the status quo ante of April 2020 to be restored. He also stated that India has made it clear to China that de-escalation will only be considered once disengagement is completed to the mutual satisfaction of both the sides.

He had said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong River.

General Naravane said that India is currently concentrating on resolving outstanding problems at other friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang at Line of Actual Control.

The army chief also stated that trust levels between two countries are low but pointed out that the trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process.

At Galwan valley, the clash took place on June 15 last year sparking a war like situation. Later by the end of August last year there was a further build up across and Pangong Lake at 14,000 ft turning it into a battle zone as India occupied key mountain tops at the Kailash Range overlooking the southern bank of the lake.

Promotes 2 others to super time scale

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday ordered transfer of 26 JKAS officers in the interest of administration with immediate effect. It also promoted two officers to the Super Time Scale of JKAS.

According to an order issued here, Rukhsana Gani (JKAS) Inspector General of Registration, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Chairperson, J&K Special Tribunal, relieving Sarita Chauhan (IAS) of the additional charge of relieving the post.

Rehana Batul (JKAS) under orders of transfer as Commissioner, Survey and Land Records, J&K, with additional charge of the post of Secretary in the Revenue Department, has been transferred and posted as Secretary to the Government, Public Grievances, relieving Simrandeep Singh (IAS), of the additional charge of the post.

Amit Sharma (JKAS) Special Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, has been transferred and posted as Chief Executive Officer, JaKeGA, relieving Simrandeep Singh (IAS) of the additional charge of the post.

Nazim Zai Khan (JKAS) Director, Industries and Commerce, Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Secretary in the Skill Development Department.

Narinder Singh Ball (JKAS) Additional District Development Commissioner, Pulwama, has been transferred and posted as Secretary in the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment.

Majid Khal Ahmad Drabu (JKAS) Managing Director, J&K Cable Car Corporation, has been transferred and posted as Controller, Legal Metrology, J&K.

Mohammad Akbar Wani (JKAS) Controller, Legal Metrology, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, J&K Cable Car Corporation.

Rifat Arif (JKAS) Special Secretary to the Government, Department of Floriculture, Parks and Gardens, has been transferred and posted as Secretary in the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

Sheikh Arshad Ayub (JKAS) Special Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General of Registration, J&K.

Farooq Ahmad Shah (JKAS) awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Secretary in the Housing and Urban Development Department.

Kusum Badyal (JKAS) awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Industries and Commerce Department.

Mohammad Harun (JKAS) Managing Director, SIDCO, has been transferred and shall awalt further orders of posting in the General Administration Department.

Atul Sharma, Managing Director, SICOP, has been asked to hold the charge of the post of Managing Director, SIDCO, in addition to his own duties, till further orders, as per the order.

Sajad Hussain Ganai (JKAS) Director, Skil Development, J&K, has been transferred and shall await further orders of posting in the General Administration Department

Surat Singh (JKAS) awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Executive Director, J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute.

Sudershan Kumar (JKAS) awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Director, Skill Development, J&K.

Ashok Kumar Pandita (JKAS) Additional Secretary to the Government, Information Department, under orders of transfer as Additional District Development Commissioner, Ramban, shall continue at his present place of posting, the order said.

Choudhary Mohammad Rashid (JKAS) Additional District Development Commissioner, Poonch, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Department of Floriculture, Parks and Gardens.

Rajinder Kumar Sharma (JKAS) Additional Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, has been transferred and posted as Additional District Development Commissioner, Ramban.

Bharat Singh (JKAS) Deputy Excise Commissioner (Accounts), Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Additional Commissioner, State Taxes (Tax Planning, Policy and Advance Ruling), against an available vacancy.

Abdul Sattar (JKAS) Deputy Labour Commissioner (Central) has been transferred and posted as Additional District Development Commissioner, Poonch.

Abdul Aziz Sheikh (JKAS) Additional Deputy Commissioner, Shopian has been transferred and posted as Additional District Development Commissioner, Pulwama.

Amarjeet Singh (JKAS) awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department has been posted as Deputy Excise Commissioner (Accounts), Jammu.

Mushtaq Ahmad (JKAS) awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department has been posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Shopian.

Inam-ul Haq Sidiqui (JKAS) Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Gulmarg, has been transferred and posted as Joint Director, Information, Kashmir

Abdul Star (JKAS) Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Chenani, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Reasi.

Parvaiz Ahmad Naik (JKAS) Sub-Registrar, Chenani, has been transferred and posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Chenani. “He shall hold the charge of Sub Registrar, Chenani, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.”

Further, as per the order, two officers— Hashmat Ali Khan (JKAS) and Aijaz Ahmad Bhat (JKAS) have been promoted to the Super Time Scale of JKAS, in terms of Government Order No. 340-JK(GAD) of 2021 dated 16.04.2021. However, they shall continue at their present places of postings as Director General(s), the order added.

Srinagar,: The Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Thursday chaired a meeting of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and reviewed progress made under the scheme.

Administrative Secretaries of departments of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Planning, Development & Monitoring, besides Principal Chief Conservator of Forest along with concerned Heads of Departments participated in the meeting.

At the outset, the Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare gave a detailed presentation highlighting the proposals in the annual action plan of PMKSY for 2021-22.

The Committee approved Rs 437.46 crore annual action plan of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for the year 2021-22. The annual plan lays emphasis on various components under the scheme namely- Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), Har Khet Ko Paani (HKKP), Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) and Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).

In the current financial year, the Department has proposed bringing 15,446 Ha additional areas under irrigation through construction of irrigation pump sets, bore wells, community water harvesting tanks, and drip and sprinkler irrigation. It will benefit 16,000 farm families and will increase production by 30% by saving 70%-90% water available for irrigation.

It was informed that under Har Khet Ko Paani component of the scheme two priority projects in Tral and Rajpora will be completed this year besides taking up construction of field channels and on-farm development works for bridging the irrigation gap.

Srinagar: Two youth allegedly committed suicide by hanging themselves at separate places in the summer, capital, Srinagar, on Thursday.

Official sources said that panic gripped Nowgam when a 27-year-old youth (name withheld) was found hanging from the ceiling of his room at his residence in uptown Srinagar on Thursday. “Other family members rushed the youth to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead,” they said.

They said preliminary investigation indicate that the youth committed suicide. “It was not immediately clear why he took this extreme step,” they said, adding police has registered a case and initiated investigation to ascertain the circumstances which forced him to commit suicide.

In another incident, the family members of a 24-year-old youth (name withheld) knocked at the door of his room in their Batamaloo residence early on Thursday morning. However, they said the youth didn’t open the door. “The family members finally broke the door open and found the 24-year-old youth hanging from the ceiling,” they said.

They said the youth was immediately taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. “The reason behind the suicide was not immediately known,” they said, adding a case has been registered and investigation has been taken up to ascertain the circumstances which forced the youth to take this extreme step.

“After completing all the legal and medical formalities, the bodies of the youths were handed over to their respective families for last rites,” they added.

The number of suicides in Kashmir valley since the outbreak of second way of COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed a significant increase.

Experts claim that the jump in the number of suicides is related to deterioration of mental health of people due to COVID-19 pandemic. “There are various factors that affect the mental health of a person. During the current pandemic, people are stressed and have anxieties due to job loss, limited income, COVID related deaths and other factors. On top of this, due to restrictions, people were confined to their homes due to COVID curfew… all this has taken a heavy toll on the mental health of people,” they said. (UNI)

New Delhi: India on Thursday signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to co-create and implement solutions at scale to tackle the employment and skilling challenges for adolescents and youth in India.

A particular focus will be on the vulnerable population, including young people with special needs, migrant youth, victims of child labour, violence, child marriage and trafficking.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment (Independent Charge) Santosh Kumar Gangwar announced the collaboration soon after the SoI was signed between his ministry and the UNICEF.

The State of Intent to highlight the partnership was signed by Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary Ministry of Labour and Employment and Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF Representative in India and Co-Chair, YuWaah, in the presence of Dhuwarakha Sriram, Chief of Generation Unlimited, Youth Development and Partnerships, UNICEF India and Abhishek Gupta, Chief Operating Officer of YuWaah.

This effort will be spearheaded by YuWaah, UNICEF’s multi-stakeholder alliance in India, globally known as Generation Unlimited.

Launched in 2019, YuWaah aims to prepare India’s young people to transition from education and learning to productive work and active citizenship.

By 2030, YuWaah aims to build pathways for 100 million young people to aspirational socio-economic opportunities, facilitate 200 million young people to gain relevant skills for productive lives, partner with 300 million young people as active change-makers and create spaces for leadership development.

Towards achieving these goals, MoLE, UNICEF and YuWaah will create linkages between young people and aspirational economic opportunities, upskilling young people with 21st-century skills and supporting direct dialogue between youth and policy stakeholders.

To ensure that schemes and programmes are consistent with young people’s priorities and aspirations, YuWaah’s community participation online platform, U-Report, will act as a feedback mechanism. To strengthen the National Career Service (NCS), MoLE will also provide the necessary API integration to YuWaah for connecting with more job seekers.

Delighted to announce this partnership, Gangwar said, “We are committed to improve employment outcomes for all youth in India, including females and vulnerable ones too, through an enduring, long-term commitment for better opportunities.

“By leveraging the strengths of MoLE, YuWaah (UNICEF) and associated network members, we hope to enable abundant choices for our young generation to contribute and shape our country’s future.”

Labour Ministry Secretary Apurva Chandra, said, “To effectively harness capabilities of our youth, interventions must reflect labour market demand and the needs of employers, as a well as the aptitude and aspirations of youth.

“With this partnership between MoLE, YuWaah (UNICEF), we are committed to make an inclusive and participatory association by establishing a feedback mechanism between youth and policy stakeholders to ensure that schemes and programs are consistent with young people’s priorities and aspirations.”