Precious Kashmir

Rural CCCs will play a key role in breaking transmission chain, says ASHA worker

Jammu & Kashmir

07/06/2021

UDHAMPUR: Working at Rural Isolation centre has added another dimension to her realm of work. ASHA Worker, Dolly Devi presents a great inspirational example of covid warriors engaged in running and doing good work in the newly created Panchayat level covid care centres.

She works in a Covid Care Centre of Block Tikri. She opines that the Covid Care Centres established at Panchayat level was an apt decision of the government. “These centres are going to play a key role in breaking the chain of transmission,” she said knowing well that isolation, testing and vaccination are of foremost importance to defeat Corona virus. The Covid positive patients are being looked after in these Centres, which also have provision of testing and vaccination, while ASHAs Anganwari Workers, Panches and Sarpanches are working in tandem to fight against Covid 19, she added.

She said that the main objective of establishing the centres is to provide basic minimum covid patient care and isolation facilities at Panchayat level to facilitate those households who do not have the option for isolation of Covid positive patients.

MPHW Anu Devi serving at a Covid Care Centres in block Tikri, said that many frontline workers like herself including NGOs and AWWs have joined hands in the fight against the virus and assisting district administration in its endeavour to fight against Covid 19.

Sarpanch Shamsher Singh of Panchayat Rehmal 2 and Sarpanch, Panchayat Lower Rehmbal said that they have established 10 bedded Covid Care Centre in their Panchayat. They assured their help to every Covid patient in their Panchayat and said that they are with the Government in the fight against Covid-19.

Budgam: 4-year-old girl wounded by dogs, succumbs

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Precious Kashmir

07/06/2021

Srinagar: A 4-year-old girl, who was critically wounded when she was attacked by a group of dogs in central Kashmir district of Budgam last month, succumbed in a hospital in Srinagar, official sources said on Sunday.

They said the minor, identified as Mariya Aijaz, was attacked and wounded by a group of dogs on May 14 in her native village in Meeripora, Beerwah in Budgam. “The minor was rushed to a local hospital from where she was referred to GB Panth children hospital in Srinagar in a critical condition,” they said.

However, they said the girl after battling for her life for over a fortnight succumbed on Saturday evening. “After completing all the legal and medical formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to her relatives for last rites,” they added.

The death of the minor girl comes days after the mauled body of a 4-year-old girl, who was attacked and taken away by a leopard on Thursday, was on Friday morning recovered from a nursery in Budgam. Following the incident, many measures were taken by the administration to avert any further such unfortunate incidents in future.

Man injured in Kupwara accident, succumbs

City

United News Of India

07/06/2021

Srinagar: A man, who was critically injured in a road accident in north Kashmir district of Kupwara on Saturday, succumbed in a hospital in Srinagar on Sunday.

Official sources said that a man, identified as Mohammad Sultan Sheikh, was injured after he was hit by a speeding vehicle in Chotipora, Handwara in Kupwara on Saturday evening. “The injured was rushed to a local hospital from where he was referred to SHMS hospital in Srinagar,” they said.

However, they said after battling for his life for several hours, the man succumbed at SHMS hospital on Sunday. “After completing all the legal and medical formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to his relatives for last rites,” they said.

They said police has registered a case and initiated investigation into the incident.

Substandard pesticides threat to apple industry: Kisan Tehreek

City

United News Of India

07/06/2021

Srinagar: Expressing serious concern over the damages caused to various apple orchards in twin south Kashmir districts of Kulgam and Shopian after spraying substandard pesticides, the Jammu Kashmir Kisan Tehreek demanded inquiry into the allegations by growers and orchardists so that responsible are identified and booked.

“No efforts have been made by the administration to check the quality of pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers before it is sold in the market. Orchardists often lose fruits after spraying spurious pesticide in orchards but the government has never taken any step to stop it,” Kisan Tehreek General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik said.

Malik said that lackadaisical response of the concerned agencies to check this menace has compelled the peasant community to protest. “For past few years these substandard fertilizers and pesticides have been openly sold in the market and authorities are watching all this as mute spectators,” he alleged.

The Kisan Tehreek General Secretary urges the administration to establish testing laboratories at District levels to check this menace.

Kejriwal appeals to PM to lift blockade on doorstep delivery of ration scheme

National

United News Of India

07/06/2021

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift the blockade on the doorstep delivery of ration scheme initiated by the Delhi government, saying the scheme was in the interest of the nation.

Addressing a digital press conference here, Mr Kejriwal questioned the Prime Minister and the Central government on the reasons behind rejecting the doorstep delivery of the ration scheme initiated by the Delhi government.

‘Delhi’s Doorstep Delivery of Ration Scheme was about to begin next week and all arrangements had been made to do so. However, just two days before this revolutionary scheme was to be launched, it was nipped in the bud,’ he said.

Mr Kejriwal said, ‘If Pizza can be home delivered, burgers can be home delivered, smartphones and clothes can also be home-delivered, then why should ration not be delivered to the houses of the poor?’

‘For the last 75 years, the poor of this country have been victimised by the ration mafia, they have been made to stand in long queues,’ Mr Kejriwal said.

The Delhi Chief Minister said, “It is said that the connections of this ration mafia are very high. In the 75 years till date, no government has dared to end this mafia. For the first time, a government has come to Delhi which has shown this courage. If this house-to-house ration system was implemented, then the ration mafia would have ended. But look how powerful this ration mafia turned out to be. This plan was to be implemented in Delhi from next week and a week ago, they got it rejected.”

Mr Kejriwal urged the Centre not to stop the doorstep delivery of ration scheme.

Vindicating the Delhi government’s stance, Mr Kejriwal added that it has sought the Central Government’s approval five times and had accepted all the suggestions of the Centre and removed the words ‘Mukhya Mantri’ from the scheme, but even then the Centre is raising objections.

Mr Kejriwal added that the Central government has said that the scheme is being stopped due to a court case involving ration shopkeepers in the High Court, but neither has the HC stayed the scheme, nor has the Centre had put forward any objection in court.

He further said the doorstep delivery of ration scheme should be implemented across the country during the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

‘I think in Delhi and even elsewhere this scheme of door-to-door delivery of ration should be implemented, it will also help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. These shops are super spreaders. The overcrowding at ration shops will be avoided,’ he said.

Scientific Approach

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Oped

Precious Kashmir

05/06/2021

The governments of various states and UTs across India, including Jammu and Kashmir, continue to implement defensive strategies against the novel coronavirus. Among others, it includes diagnostic procedures, as well as plans that limit the spread of the pathogen.

The containment strategies were actually designed to prevent community transmission and have met with variable success across several nations.

Countries like South Korea is said to have successful limited transmission by containment measures due to coordinated governmental response encompassing testing on a massive scale, and prompt contact tracing and quarantine of the infected patients.

Several countries like US, China, Italy and Spain moved from containment to mitigation, relying on non-pharmaceutical interventions such as hand hygiene, travel restrictions, school closures, and social distancing and thereafter mass vaccinations. India did it in first wave but for some reasons, ostensibly to protect livelihood, missed some of the measures in second wave. The social distancing has proven effective in pandemics to reduce and delay peak attack rates and mortality.

Experience of the various nations hitherto proves that in order to contain the spread of the pestilence, there must be combined efforts with equivalent scientific based management.

In this context and rightly so, the Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, has called for scientific and evidence-based management of covid-19 even as he has set June 15 deadline for bringing down the positivity rate in all district including those where there is high mortality rate.

The statement comes as certain districts have high mortality rates and the same continues to be a matter of major concern to the administration.

The Chief Secretary, during a review meeting, asked all the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that any reason, be it late reporting or delayed admission to a hospital or treatment, should be identified and addressed immediately.

The district administrations have been rightly asked to work on a localized strategy for Covid mitigation keeping in view the analysis based on the five parameters already detailed out by the government. They have been also asked to concentrate not only at the district level but also to have the situation closely monitored at the sub-district level. This approach is prudent and all the concerned authorities need to render full cooperation for its success which would help restore normalcy. Of late, daily average trends including virus cases, positivity rate, active cases, and deaths have shown a down trend and measures taken so far should be continued without any complacency.

COVID-19 fallout: No tourists in peak season, Pahalgam deserted

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

05/06/2021

COVID-19 fallout: No tourists in peak season, Pahalgam deserted

By: Afaq Bhat

Pahalgam: Eerie calm is prevailing in this famous health resort in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district as the COVID-19 is threatening to ruin yet another tourist season.

Markets in Pahalgam that used to be full during this time of the year are deserted and most hotels and huts are vacant. “Before the second wave of COVID-19 arrived in April, we had advance bookings till October but after the virus raised its ugly head again all the bookings were canceled, “said, an hotelier.

He said, “For more than the past two years, we have suffered immensely as the COVID-19 has broken our back. We were hoping that this year we will witness a bumper tourism season but the COVID second wave and prediction about the third possible wave of the virus have once again left us in lurch.”

Pahalgam also is the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra. The pilgrimage was cancelled last year and this year also the government seems indecisive about conducting the pilgrimage. “Before Yatra many tourists used to arrive here but this year it seems that we may witness a repeat of 2020. Tourism season is not picking up and there doesn’t seem to be any possibility of things becoming better in the coming days. The pandemic has to end before the semblance of normalcy is restored,” said an owner of a restaurant.

He said, “Hotels and restaurants used to provide jobs to hundreds of people but for the past 2-years these employment opportunities have dried up. No jobs can be created till the business improves and tourists return. We are witnessing terrible times.”

A businessman said, “We had taken huge loans from banks and other financial institutions to set up hotels and restaurants in Pahalgam. We have not been able to pay the installments regularly. Interest on our loan amounts has accumulated during all these years. The government needs to at least announce interest waiver on the loans that we had taken to build the infrastructure.”

He said, “We are still waiting for the special package that was announced for the tourism stakeholders. There needs to be a bailout plan to pull us out of the trouble and mess we are in.”

“The entire economy of Pahalgam is dependent on the tourist inflow. If the third wave of COVID-19 arrives, possibilities about economic activities getting revived in this South Kashmir resort look bleak. We have no other option other than to wait and watch,” the businessman added.

Corona pandemic century’s biggest challenge: PM Modi

Front

United News Of India

05/06/2021

Corona pandemic century’s biggest challenge: PM Modi

Says Indian scientists working at par with other countries

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the basic nature of science is to create new strength by finding solutions and possibilities during the crisis.

Chairing a meeting of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Society today through video conference, he noted that the Corona pandemic has emerged as the biggest challenge for this century.

“But whenever there was a big humanitarian crisis in the past, science has prepared the way for a better future. He added that the basic nature of science is to create new strength by finding solutions and possibilities during crises”, he said.

Lauding the scientists for the scale and speed at which the vaccines were made within a year, to save humanity from the pandemic, PM Modi further said this was the first time such a big thing has happened in history and added that in the previous century, inventions were made in other countries while India had to wait for many years.

“But today the scientists in our country are working at the same speed and at par with other countries. He appreciated the scientists for making India self-reliant on COVID-19 vaccines, testing kits, necessary equipment and new effective medicines in the fight against Corona. He said that bringing science and technology at par with developed countries is better for the industry and the market”, he remarked.

He also said that India wants to be self-reliant and empowered in every sector, from biotechnology to battery technologies, from Agriculture to Astronomy, from Disaster Management to Defense Technology, from Vaccines to Virtual Reality and today India has been showing the way to the world in the field of sustainable development and clean energy.

“Today, from software to satellites, India is accelerating the development of other countries, playing the role of a major engine in the development of the world. Therefore, India’s goals should be in line with the needs of this decade as well as for the next decade”, Modi said.

Exhorting the scientists and institutions to make preparations with a scientific approach on climate change, he asked them to take lead in every sector from carbon capture to energy storage and green hydrogen technologies.

The Prime Minister also urged CSIR to take society and industry along and appreciated the CSIR for starting to take suggestions from people following his advice.

He praised CSIR for its role in the Aroma mission launched in 2016. He added that today thousands of farmers of the country are changing their fortunes through floriculture. He lauded CSIR for helping in cultivation of asafoetida within the country for which India was dependent on imports. (UNI)

Weekend curfew begins in J&K

Front

Precious Kashmir

05/06/2021

Srinagar: The weakened corona curfew started from 8 p.m. till 7 a.m. Monday in Jammu and Kashmir even as prayers were not held in most of the major shrines and mosques including historic Jamia Masjid and revered shrine of Hazratbal.

A police spokesman said that during the last 24 hours, 192 persons were arrested, 91 FIRs lodged and rs 4,35,050 realized from 3814 people throughout the Kashmir valley for violating the various guidelines, rules and SOPs regarding Covid-19.

“The special drive against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines/rules continued throughout all the districts of Kashmir Valley to ensure that people adhere to SOPs/guidelines envisaged by government to curb COVID-19 pandemic,” the spokesman said, adding, “Community members are once again requested to cooperate with the Police in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs/ guidelines/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.”

Reports said that shops in Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of this summer capital of J&K and elsewhere, including Nowhatta, remained closed on the orders of the administration. There was also a complete corona curfew in Baramulla on the orders of the local administration. Also, no Friday prayers were held in Jamia Masjid and Hazratbal Srinagar besides major shrines and mosques. However, prayers were held in local mosques with due adherence to social distancing measures, they said.

“There shall be a complete ‘Corona’ Curfew with no movement of people except for permissible activities only at the time of curfew except essential & emergency services/movement / work and essential supplies shall remain exempted subject to production of wedding cards / ID cards etc. and Wholesalers, Fruit & Sabzi mandies may also remain open as necessary in a regulated manner to ensure provision of essential supplies,” reads the order by Chief Secretary issued last week till further orders.

All Shopping Complexes, Bazaars, Saloons, Barber shops, Cinema Halls, Restaurants & Bars, Sport Complexes, Gyms, Spas, Swimming Pools, Parks, Zoos etc shall remain closed during the curfew, the order says.

“Restaurants in hotels can remain functional for in-house guests, to be served only in the rooms.”

There will be no hindrance to the smooth movement of goods and essential supplies, nomads migrating with herds, products like agricultural/ horticultural goods, on the National & State Highways.

There shall be no restriction on interstate and intra state movement of essential goods.

All Industrial and scientific establishments, both Public & Private are allowed to operate for production purposes or otherwise Internet services, IT, Telecom, IT enabled services sector, including e-Coerce are permitted.

“There shall be no restriction on the movement of Government Officials for attending office/ duties.”

All development/construction works shall be allowed to continue without any hindrance.

The authorities have already ordered continuation of the night curfew in all 20 districts in Jammu and Kashmir from 8:00 pm to 7:00 am next day. (GNS)

COVID-19: 34 die, 1,723 test positive in J&K

Front

Nadeem Nadu

05/06/2021

Srinagar, June 4: Jammu and Kashmir reported 1723 fresh covid-19 cases while 34 more people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hour, officials said on Friday.

They said 599 of these cases were confirmed in Jammu division and 1124 in Kashmir Valley, taking the total case tally to 297602.

Regarding the deaths, they said, 13 were reported from Jammu division and 21 from Kashmir Valley, taking the fatality count to 4026.

Providing district wise details, the officials said that Srinagar reported 303 cases, Baramulla 177, Budgam 128, Pulwama 138, Kupwara 111, Anantnag 72, Bandipora 48, Ganderbal 37, Kulgam 88, Shopian 22, Jammu 165, Udhampur 53, Rajouri 73, Doda 48, Kathua 22, Samba 25, Kishtwar 31, Poonch 95, Ramban 75and Reasi 12.

Moreover, they said, 2731 more COVID-19 patients have recovered, 1107 from Jammu Division and 1624 from Kashmir valley. There are now 29615 active positive cases, 10612 in Jammu and 19003 in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, officials said one new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) has been reported today, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 14 in J&K.

A number of fresh cases were confirmed at diagnostic laboratories of CD and GMC Anantnag.

The CD cases include female (25) from Mujgund, female (42) from Barzulla, male (35) from Tangpora, female (70) from Tangpora, female (42) from Tangpora, male (45) from Solina, male (28) from Chattabal, male (30) from Mehjoor Nagar, male (40) from Chitr shahi, female (29) from HMT, male (50) from Qamarwari, male (38) from Batamaloo, female (40) from Shaheed Gunj, male (28) from Shaheed Gunj, male (18) from Bemina, male (48) from Bemina, male (50) from Batamaloo, female (25) from Batamaloo, female (56) from Pamposh colony, male (65) from Lalbazar, female (45) from Soura, male (27) from Hawal, female (32) from Hawal, female (28) from Lalbazar, male (31) from Badamwari, female (36) from Sadribal, female (15) from Sopore, female (32) from Lalbazar, female (31) from Soura, male (35) from Soura, male (50) from Nowshera, female (58) from Awantabhawan, female (31) from Awantabhawan, male (40) from Hawal, female (33) from Zaldagar, female (43) from Bemina, male (46) from Habbakadal, female (35) from Zainakadal, male (50) from Nowpora, male (70) from Bagi mehtab, male (36) from Bhijbehara, female (25) from Chrarishareef, male (55) (NA) from Budgam, male (32) (NA) from Baramulla, male (55) (NA) from Budgam, female (80) (NA) from Pulwama, female (55) (NA) from Bandipora, male (52) (NA) from Tangdhar, male (30) from Konibal, male (37) from Kadlabal, male (48) from Androosa, male (20) from Khrew, male (08) from Pahoo, male (35) from Pahoo, female (41) from Lajura, female (16) from Lajura, male (56) from Lajura, female (27) from Lajura, male (23) (NA) from Dalgate, male (40) from Pulwama, female (29) from Chew kalan pulwama, male (50) from Newa pulwama, male (33) from Wahibugh pulwama, female (14) from Nowgam, female (60) from Chandgam pulwama, male (27) from Hari, male (35) from Nagwadi, male (62) from Mandura, male (23) from Bihar, male (15) (NA) from Murran, female (22) (NA) from Murran, female (12) (NA) from Murran, male (48) (NA) from Murran, male (50) (NA) from Drabgam, male (60) (NA) from Drabgam, male (29) (NA) from Sehpora, female (21) (NA) from Sehpora, male (22) (NA) from Drabgam, male (28) (NA) from Drabgam, female (23) (NA) from Sangrwani pulwama, male (55) (NA) from Sangrwani pulwama, male (65) (NA) from Sangrwani, male (26) (NA) from Banjren Sangrwani, female (17) (NA) from Sangrwani pulwama, female (55) (NA) from Bellow pulwama, male (25) (NA) from Bandipora, male (48) from Gowkadal Sgr, female (62) from Bemina, male (35) from Lawaypora, female (46) from Padshahi Bagh, male (20) from Padshahi Bagh, male (60) from Batamaloo, male (34) from Natipora, female (43) from Nowhatta, male (55) from Batamaloo, male (55) from Bemina, female (17) from Bemina, female (24) from HMT, female (35) from Chattabal, male (23) from Dalgate, female (45) from Dalgate, male (22) from HMT, female (22) from Jahangeer Chowk, female (34) from Karanagar, female (33) from Chattabal, male (12) from Danamazar, female (45) from Elahibagh, female (70) from Khaniyar, female (30) from Fatehkadal, male (29) from Chanpora Sgr, female (50) from Chanpora Sgr, male (60) from Chanpora Sgr, female (35) from Chanpora Sgr, female (60) from Ganderbal, female (35) from Ganderbal, male (40) from Khawaja bazar Sgr, male (38) (NA) from Khawaja bazar Sgr, male (35) from Habakadal Sgr, female (60) from Magarmalbagh, male (50) from Tangmarg, female (75) from Kralpora, male (35) from Sgr, male (62) from Kanimazar Sgr, male (14) from Natipora Sgr, male (76) from Panthachowk, male (35) from Zakura, male (65) from Harwan, female (08) from Nishat, female (55) from Nishat, female (80) from Rajouri kadal, male (45) from Rajouri kadal, male (54) from Rajouri kadal, female (50) from Lalbazar, male (55) from Batapora, female (21) from Nawakadal, female (60) from Khaniyar, female (32) from Gulabagh, male (55) from Kadikadal, male (26) from Khaniyar, female (50) from Khaniyar, female (60) from Rainawari and female (05) from Hawal.

The GMC cases include female (45) (NA) from Chattabal, female (25) (NA) from Kulgam, female (38) (NA) from Redwani, male (28) (NA) from Arwani, male (42) (NA) from Balsoo, male (28) (NA) from Tarigam, male (35) from Ahllan, male (23) from Panzgam, male (26) from Nagam, female (23) from Gohan, female (45) from Sunberdi, female (29) from Soyan, male (35) from Dandipora, female (34) from Bijbehara, male (20) from Jablipora Bhijbehara, male (42) from Bijbehara, male (30) from Shirpora, male (30) from Chee anantnag, male (40) from Janglat mundi, female (50) from Wanpoh, female (65) from Sarnal Bala, male (45) from Wanpoh, male (55) from Malpora, female (16) from Pushwara, female (26) from Gopalpora, male (30) from Mir bazar, male (30) from Qazigund, female (45) from Sagam, male (31) from Gopalpora, female (34) from Pahalgam, male (48) from Magraypora, female (23) from Ashmuqam, male (65) from Donipawa, male (34) from Nipora, male (24) from Haryana, male (34) from Haryana, female (24) from Bijbehara, male (31) from Sunberdi, male (34) from Magam, male (28) from Danwatpora, male (20) from Panzgam, male (25) from Bidder, female (28) from Khrety, male (45) from Shurath and male (29) from Kulgam. (GNS)

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