Precious Kashmir | Daily Newspaper

Govt setting standards of excellence in school education: Com Secy School Edu

City

05/02/2020

SRINAGAR: Commissioner Secretary, School Education and Social Welfare, Hirdesh Kumar today said that Government is setting standards of excellence in school education across Jammu and Kashmir.

While convening public grievance camp at Srinagar today, Kumar said that Government was taking all possible measures to ensure that quality education is imparted to the students at the government-run schools.

“It is heartwarming to notice that examinations were held in cordial atmosphere across Jammu and Kashmir and timely results were also declared,” Kumar said. “Parents and civil society members should also come forward and help us maintain the quality in the School campuses,” he added.

He said that the best gift that one can give to their children is a gift of education. “Some of the best moments of childhood are spent on the school campus and we all must ensure that we provide all services to the students under one roof,” he said. He urged people to come forward and register their grievances during the camps convened by the Administrative Secretaries.

Kumar said that Government was taking all possible measures for setting benchmark of excellence in school education.

“With high expectations from parents and the teaching fraternity, schools today are going extra mile to strive for that coveted accreditation for providing quality education,” he said urging teaching fraternity to work for the betterment of the school education. He said that educational institutions are considered the cornerstone of knowledge and learning.

Kumar said that apart from maximizing academic potential, these award-winning institutions also inculcate values, help develop social skills, play a key role in character building, influence the emotional stability of students and shape their career paths going forward.

“All we need to focus is to make schools vibrant spaces for students,” he said.

Speaking to various deputations during the day-long public outreach programme, Kumar said that Government was aiming to address all the grievances of people and also providing them with better service delivery. During the camp various service-related matters were also taken up.

Several deputations from Kulgam, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Budgam and Srinagar districts apprised him about their issues and demands. The Commissioner Secretary gave patient hearing to the deputations and assured them that all their genuine issues would be looked into and addressed accordingly.

Later, the Commissioner Secretary chaired a meeting with the officials of the School Education Department and officials of the Department of Social Welfare to review the functioning of the respective departments.

Jammu: Maiden J&K Foresters’ Fitness cum Endurance Meet concludes

National

PK Web Desk

05/02/2020

JAMMU : First ever J&K Foresters’ Fitness cum Endurance meet concluded today, here at Forest Protection Force ground Sidhra.The three day meet witnessed participation of over 350 players from various Forest Circles of J&K.

The participants were drawn from Forest & allied departments like Territorial, Forest Protection Force, Wildlife, Pollution Control Board, Soil and Water Conservation, Social Forestry, Remote Sensing and State Forest Corporation.

Eight circle level teams participated in this first J&K Foresters’ Fitness cum Endurance Meet ever held in UT of J&K.

The UT level event involved 9 different competitions viz, cross country run, brisk walk, Cricket, Football, Volleyball, T.T, Cross Country, 4X100 Relay and Tug of War.

The meet concluded with presentation of medals to winners by PCCF J&K Dr. Mohit Gera, PCCF & Director, Soil & Water Conservation Department, J&K, P.K. Singh.

Over 140 medallions were given away for Winner and Runner up positions, while a trophy for best sportsperson of the event and an impressive Rolling trophy was given away to East Circle for being the overall winning team. The concluding ceremony was attended by senior most Forest officials, HoDs, CCFs, CFs, DFOs, besides officials from other departments and locals.

Dr. Gera, in his speech, said that besides highlighting the need of fitness, the message of camaraderie and team spirit are two elements that are the take away of this sporting meet. He appreciated all participants for showing great enthusiasm during the meet and expected the same zeal and enthusiasm from all officers/officials, while discharging their duties in the field.

“Besides showing the diversity of talent and culture, it also shows the diversity of roles assigned to our departments”, Dr. Gera said and congratulated all the participants, teams and the winners of the event.He emphasised that the idea of such fitness meet is not just to win medals but develop the mind set to serve the people with passion. He reiterated that foresters manage and guard 48% of geographical area of J&K and ‘to protect it and serve people better we need fit mind and body.’ He appreciated the organising committee led by Regional Director, Jammu Wildlife Protection Department, Dr. Kumar M. K, for excellent management.

Lt Governor inaugurates Hostel Blocks of SMVDCoN; takes stock of patient care facilities at SMVD Narayana Superspeciality Hospital

National

Precious Kashmir

05/02/2020

Lt Governor inaugurates Hostel Blocks of SMVDCoN; takes stock of patient care facilities at SMVD Narayana Superspeciality Hospital

KAKRYAL : Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, who is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, today inaugurated two Under-Graduate Hostel Blocks of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi College of Nursing (SMVDCoN) at Kakryal. Constructed by the Shrine Board at a cost of Rs. 18.46 crores, these buildings would cater to the residential requirements of the students of the Nursing College.

The Lt Governor had a round of the hostel buildings and inspected the facilities being provided to the students. He directed the CEO, SMVDSB to ensure adequate provision for harnessing rain water and solar energy in the newly constructed Hostel buildings. He also asked the CEO for taking up plantation at the available space around the Hostel buildings to make the campus green besides ensuring that all the buildings of the Board are environment-friendly. He further directed for providing library facility in the Hostel for the convenience of the students of the Nursing College, besides setting up a crèche in the Nursing College-Hospital area.

The Lt Governor was informed that the 4-storey Hostel Blocks: Samvedna-I and Samvedna-II comprising of 96 residential rooms, having triple occupancy with allied facilities like common rooms, recreation halls, dining halls and kitchen have been constructed by the Shrine Board. The total covered area of both the hostel buildings is 86,209 sqft. and can accommodate 288 students. These hostel buildings have been constructed as a part of the Rs. 52.90 crores Phase-I of the Nursing College Project, out of which Rs. 24 crores have been spent so far. In Phase-I, the tendering of 1 BHK staff housing and 2 BHK faculty housing is under progress while the work on allied works like construction of road, STP, protection works etc. is in progress.

Later, the Lt Governor visited Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and inspected the functioning of various specialities and hi-end equipments including OPDs, Radiology, MRI and CT Scan, Pharma and Emergency facilities available in the Hospital.

While interacting with the doctors, patients and their attendants, the Lt Governor emphasised the need for providing highest standards of patient care at the hospital in sync with the emerging requirements.

The Lt Governor was accompanied by Dr. Ashok Bhan and Major General (Retd.) Shiv Kumar Sharma, Members , Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB); Sh. Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB; Ms. Indu Kanwal Chib, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi; Ms. Rashmi Wazir, SSP Reasi; Sh. Vivek Verma, Additional CEO, SMVDSB; Dr. Sunil Sharma, Deputy CEO, SMVDSB and Dr. Shailla Cannie Principal of the Nursing College.

Crime Branch J&K registers case against JKPCC

City

Precious Kashmir

05/02/2020

SRINAGAR : Crime Branch Kashmir registered a case against the officers and officials of JKPCC unit 10 and others who have caused a loss of about Rs 3 crores while executing works namely Panzgam-Manzgam Bridge, sub district Hospital Sogam and Bohipora Bridge in District Kupwara.

An enquiry by Crime Branch Kashmir subse

quent to a fact-finding committee report has revealed the commission of cognizable offences under sections 467, 468, 120-B IPC and 5(2) PC Act.Patently, the government of J&K had constituted a fact-finding committee to look into the irregularities in award of contracts in violation of prescribed SOP and procedures after the issuance of government order No. 308 of P/W dated 21-11-2015.

The Government order had made it necessary to invite competition through tendering process however during enquiry it surfaced that

33 works have been executed by JKPCC unit 10 on nomination basis after splitting them into 1400 component works. The nomination has been through favorite Piece Workers. Investigation has been taken up.

Garbage piles up at Super Specialty Hospital premises, raises stench

City

Precious Kashmir

05/02/2020

Garbage piles up at Super Specialty Hospital premises, raises stench

Srinagar : Unattended garbage in the premises of Super Specialty Hospital (SSH) here in summer capital Srinagar is causing immense problems to the visitors.

As per sources, the garbage lying inside the hospital premises has not been removed from here for a long time. The problem has been compounded by presence of a large number of dogs around this garbage pile—putting the lives of visitors at risk.

Some visitors even went on to complain that they fear to roam around freely, especially during late evenings due to the presence of these dogs around the hospital.

The SSH located at Shireen Bagh, opposite to Shri Mahraja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital runs under the administrative control of Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar is catering to hundreds of patients on a daily basis.

Unattended garbage which includes medical waste generated in this government hospital is piling up in a corner of the premises and is proving to be a health hazard.

The waste pile largely comprised food waste, polythene covers, slippers, blood-soaked bandages, syringes and empty medicine bottles. “We have been experiencing severe breathing problems since the last couple of days due to the stench from this,” said a few attendants.

The hospital is visited by hundreds of patients on daily basis; therefore, large biomedical waste gets generated. “Though it has separate bins to segregate wet and solid waste from biomedical waste,” an official at the hospital blamed visitors for not following instructions.

“All biomedical waste is collected by workers and sent outside; only the general waste is collected here. But if syringes and bottles were found in this pile we shall immediately look into it. Only visitors could have thrown it there,” the official inside the hospital added.Patients also complained that often crows and dogs flock around the garbage pile. “Crows and dogs pick up waste from the pile and drop it everywhere,” said an attendant Yawar Majeed of Pulwama. He accused the hospital authorities that they do not turn up regularly to clear the pile.Another attendant Bilal Ahmad said that stench coming out from the garbage, often spread around by birds, irks visitors to the hospital.

Short term course on Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence concludes at GCET Jammu

National

PK Web Desk

05/02/2020

JAMMU : Short term course on “Engineering Applications of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence” organized by GCET Jammu in collaboration with NITTTR Chandigarh concluded today.

The course was conducted by various eminent speakers drawn from the various technological arenas like IIT Jammu, SSIET Dera Bassi (Punjab), Jammu University, Pink Tech Design, New Delhi, Enovate Skill, Start-up NITTTR Chandigarh. Director NITTTR Chandigarh.Principal GCET Dr. Sameru Sharma facilitated this opportunity to the participants to update their knowledge. The course was focused on various current and upcoming applications of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.The course was coordinated by Dr. Balwinder Singh from NITTTR Chandigarh and Er. Sumeer Khajuria from GCET Jammu. Around 30 faculty from E&C, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering Department participated in the programme.

Administrative approval for works: Govt directs deptts to adhere to rules laid down in GFR

National

Precious Kashmir

05/02/2020

Srinagar : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday directed departments to adhere to rules while according administrative approval for development works.

the General Administration Department today came up with detailed instructions to be followed by executing agencies for according administrative approval to development initiatives.”

Attention of the all the administrative departments is invited to the detailed instructions laid down in the provisions of General Financial Rules, 2017, regarding procedures to be followed for according administrative approval,” reads the circular issued Financial Commissioner Revenue, Finance department, Arun Kumar Mehta.

According to the directive, no work shall be commenced and liability incurred in connection with it until administrative approval is obtained from administrative approval in each case in terms of Rule 136(1) of General Financial Rules, 2017.

As per sources the circular states that executing agencies shall take different aspects like whether work to be initiated is necessary, whether necessary funds are available in budget estimates.

The department have also been asked that unnecessary items of expenditure and scope of subsequent changes in the proposal shall be avoided. The other necessary guidelines for executing agencies is that per unit cost of construction is calculated taking into account rates adopted for similar earlier works as well as normative cost of construction and factor in maintenance and upkeep of the project.

The department have been directed to look into whether expected date of commencement and completion of works are clearly mentioned. They have also been directed that comprehensive proposal is considered for approval instead of a part, so that intended outcome is fully on completion of activities proposed.

Police raids medical shop, recovers scheduled ‘H’ drugs

National

PK Web Desk

05/02/2020

Budgam : Police raided a medical shop in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district and recovered syrups and capsules in large number, usually used by drug addicts. Police sources told Kashmir News Trust that police station Budgam was receiving complaints that a medical shop owner is supplying syrups and capsules to drug addicts without any prescription.

A police party raided the shop and recovered around 250 bottles and 600 capsules of scheduled ‘H’ drug from the medical shop. Police said that the owner of the shop identified as Javaid Ahmed Rather so Abdul Majeed, a resident of Nasrullahpora Budgam was arrested and a case under relevant section registered against him.

Mehbooba offers prayers, reads books by Turkish-british author to beat boredom

City

PK Web Desk

05/02/2020

Don’t know whether my mother will fight for restoration of J&K’s special status: Iltija

Srinagar : The holy Quran and some known books like ‘Lost palace’ and ‘No god but god’ is what former chief minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti reads during her incarceration to beat the boredom, the family revealed.According to the sources , Iltija Mufti, daughter of Mehbooba Mufti said that her mother was busy in reading books including the holy Quran, offering prayers five times to beat the boredom at make-shift jail at Maulana Azad road here.

She along with dozens of other mainstream leaders including two other former chief ministers—Dr. Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah were put under incarceration on August 5, when the centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (Article 370) and bifurcated the erstwhile State into two Union Territories—J&K and Ladakh.

Mehbooba during her ongoing incarceration read many books including holy Quran, Lost palace by Catherine Bowness, No god but god by Reza Aslan and books of Elif Shafaq, a Turkish-british novelist, Iltija said, who met her mother ten days ago.She said only a few family members including mother, daughters and siblings are being allowed meet Mehbooba at present. “Although adequate facilities are being provided to my mother (Mehbooba Mufti) in jail, but after spending six months there without any trial, anyone who is under detention would certainly miss her home and family,” she said, adding that in view of presence of forces in Kashmir, there is as good as curfew here and during these circumstances it should not deter the government to release the incarcerated people.About her conversation during the meeting with Mehbooba Mufti, she said anyone who is under detention from last six months wonder what is happening outside. “The situation in Kashmir is well known to everyone. The internet is still not working properly.

Full Eco Potential Of JK Not Realised Due To Art 370: Govt

Front

Precious Kashmir

05/02/2020

Full Eco Potential Of JK Not Realised Due To Art 370: Govt

New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said the full economic potential of Jammu and Kashmir has not been realised due to Article 370 and the full rights of the people of the region enshrined in the Constitution were denied because of Article 35A.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said in Lok Sabha that based on the Parliament’s recommendation, a declaration was issued by the President on August 6, 2019 under Article 370 and the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh, addressing all such issues.

“Full economic potential of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh territories could not be realised for the last 70 years as the people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered from militant violence and separatism supported from across the border for the past many decades,” he said, replying to a written question.

Reddy said on account of Article 35A and certain other constitutional ambiguities, the people of this region were denied full rights enshrined in the Constitution and other benefits of various central laws that were being enjoyed by other citizens of the country.

“Due to these recent decisions, certain precautionary measures were taken initially which have been subsequently relaxed,” he said.

The minister said as reported by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, the agriculture operations are going on smoothly in the valley.

During 2019-20 (upto January, 2020), 18.34 lakh MTs of fresh fruit (apples) have been dispatched.

In the horticulture sector, under the Market Intervention Schemes (MIS) launched by the Government of India in September 2019, for the first time, 15769.38 MTs of apples valued at Rs.70.45 crores have been procured up to January 28, 2020, directly from the growers in Kashmir valley through National Agriculture Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).

This scheme has been extended up to March 31, 2020.

The sericulture sector recorded a production of 813 MTs of silk cocoon in 2019.

Reddy said during the first three quarters of 2019-20, handicrafts worth Rs 688.26 crore were exported.

Various tourism promotional campaigns have also been launched, he said.

The minister said the government of Jammu and Kashmir has informed that as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey, last conducted for 2017-18 by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of Government of India, the worker-population ratio for persons in the age group of 15 years and above for Jammu and Kashmir is 51 per cent.

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