By: Owais Gul

Srinagar: In a bid to help the downtrodden section of the society, the two friends from Srinagar have come up with a low cost ventilator amid the ongoing second wave of Covid, which led to shortage of oxygen for a longer period as well.

Jahangir Hameed Lone of Buchpora and Sajid Noor Qamarwari, both aged 21, who have affiliations with Department of Electronics and Instrumentation, Kashmir University and Affiliation with Institute of Technology Kashmir University, Zakura Campus, have made a model of ventilator out of scrap material.

“Soon after the Covid second wave led to the shortage of oxygen in Jammu and Kashmir, we tried to share our bit in the situation and thus made a ventilator within two months. The process of manufacturing got delayed as we didn’t get the material on time,” Jahangir said.

He added that the cost of the ventilator will be just Rs 10,000 in the market, which is too low as compared to the existing ventilators, adding that the innovation is different because they have developed it using a different approach and embedded it with the internet of things.

“The system is capable of ventilating patient at a time with the air flow and pressure flow as well the body temperature, heart rate (PPM), humidity. As far as the overall cost of the system is concerned, its cost will be around 10-15 thousand rupees maximum. Our technology is local, cost effective, easy to fabricate and more importantly power efficient. A ventilator device for a single patient currently available in the market costs around Rs 10 to 12 lakh. We have made our innovation cost effective so that even an individual can purchase it at his/her disposal,” he said.

“We know that in Jammu and Kashmir, there are only 100 to 140 ventilators currently in use. This number is very low as far as the intensity of the disease is concerned. This was the motivation behind our effort to come up with such an innovation,” the duo said.

They added the system is designed in such a way that 10-12 inspirations can be made in one minute with the inhalation to exhalation ratio (I/E) as 1:2. “The I/E ratio is programmable and can be programmed using an open-source hardware prototyping platform called as Arduino. We designed this prototype with the intention that it can be used to mitigate the current crisis of covid-19 disease. The device consists of an Ambu Bag which is continuously pushed back and forth with the help of a powerful DC Motor to generate enough air pressure for the patient.”

“The significant part of this innovation is the continuous patient surveillance over cloud. All the important health parameters of the COVID-19 patients are captured using various sensors like ECG, Temperature and humidity. The sensor data is duly processed in accordance with the medical standards and transmitted over a secure internet of things cloud. This sensor data is remotely available to the doctors in both numerical and graphical forms. Thus, without being in actual contact with the COVID-19 infected patients, the doctors can continuously monitor the patients while sitting in his/her room or at home. This system also has an interactive user interface which makes it quite easy to understand the patient’s medical data,” they said. (KNO)

Srinagar: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammed Aijaz Asad Wednesday said that strict adherence to the Covid-19 SOPs and Vaccination of vulnerable and targeted population is imperative to minimize the infection of Corona virus.

DC said this during a media brief here on Wednesday. He said the district Administration is working very hard in fighting Covid-19 pandemic and people of the district have extended their cooperation due to which visible decline has been witnessed during past few days.

He said though we have seen a visible decline in Covid positive cases but we have to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour with more responsibility to make entry into Green Zone. DC Said any laxity on Covid SOPs can prove harmful.  He urged the left out population of Srinagar to get vaccinated as soon as possible to break the chain of corona virus.

With regard to opening of markets, the DC said that with decline in Covid positivity rate guidelines have been issued as per the directions of the State Executive Council and people particularly all business establishments/operators must follow the same to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection.

Talking about the ongoing vaccination process, the DC said as many as 2.60 lakh targeted population has been vaccinated so far and concerted efforts are being made to speed up the inoculation drive across the district.

He urged the people to come forward and get vaccinated which is safest way to get protection and help break the chain of corona virus spread. The DC further said that the Srinagar administration has issued roaster for opening of shops on rational basis to avoid large crowds in the market.

He also urged general public to adopt social distancing, wearing proper mask, and maintaining hand hygiene to keep them, their family and whole Srinagar City safe from Covid-19 infection.

The readers can also reach on the official Twitter account of DC Srinagar: @srinagaramin and official Twitter account of DDPR Srinagar: @ddprsrinagar.

Meets LG Sinha, discuss prevailing security scenario in J&K

Srinagar: General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Wednesday arrived Srinagar on a two-day visit to Kashmir to review the prevailing security situation in the Union Territory.

On arrival at Srinagar, the Army Chief, accompanied by Lt Gen YK Joshi, the Northern Army Commander and Lt Gen DP Pandey, Chinar Corps Commander visited units and formations in the hinterland where he was briefed by the local Commanders on the existing security situation and the measures being taken to identify and target the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) network involved in radicalisation and recruitment of youth into militant ranks.

Efforts to prevent local recruitment and facilitate surrender of local militants were also discussed, a statement said.

Interacting with troops, the COAS expressed his appreciation to the Army men and commanders who are relentlessly battling the dual challenges of Pakistan backed militancy and the global pandemic.

He further reinforced the need to be prepared to meet emerging security challenges effectively. Later, the COAS was briefed by the Chinar Corps Commander on the overall situation pertaining to the Line of Control and the hinterland.

The Army Chief complimented the excellent synergy exhibited by all sections of the Civil administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces and other security agencies in projecting a ‘Whole of Government’ approach that has resulted in improvement in the security situation conducive for fostering a new era of development in the UT.

In the evening, the COAS called on the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan and discussed the emerging challenges and road map for long term peace in J&K.

The LG appreciated the role played by the Indian Army in restoring and preserving peace in the UT and providing aid to the civil authorities against the COVID 19 pandemic.

General MM Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff met Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha here at the Raj Bhavan. The Army Chief was accompanied by Lt Gen YK Joshi, Northern Army Commander and Lt Gen DP Pandey, General Officer Commanding (GoC) 15 Corps.

The Lt Governor and the Army Chief discussed about recent internal security developments and the prevailing security scenario in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Discussions were also held on several internal and external security-related issues and their effective management.

The Lt Governor stressed on the high importance of maintaining close synergy between the Army and other Security Forces to meet the security challenges.

The Lt Governor lauded the Army’s role in ensuring a safe and secure environment for the people of J&K, besides extending necessary support and complementing Government’s efforts in controlling the spread of Corona virus.

Slain went to Tral without PSOs: Police

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Tral: Unknown gunmen on Wednesday evening shot dead a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader while another associate of the party was wounded in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said.

An official said that suspected militants shot at a BJP leader in Tral, adding that he was shifted to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. He identified the BJP leader as Rakesh Pandit.

The official said that he was shot at house of neighbor Mushtaq Ahmad where his daughter identified as Asifa Mushtaq has also sustained injuries during the attack, saying that she has been shifted to Sub District Hospital Tral where she is undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, the officials said that the area has been cordoned off to nab the attackers.

Moreover, Jammu and Kashmir police stated that the slain BJP leader and Municipal Committee Tral Chairman Rakesh Pandita was provided two PSOs and a secured hotel accommodation in Srinagar but he went to Tral without PSOs.

Police tweeted that: “Militants shot dead one councillor namely Rakesh Pandita in #Tral. Despite provided 02 PSOs & secured hotel accommodation in Srinagar, the said councillor went to Tral without PSOs. Area cordoned off & search is going on.” (KNO)

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of BJP leader in Tral area of Pulwama district.

“Saddened to hear about the terror attack on the  Councillor Shri Rakesh Pandita at Tral, Pulwama. I strongly condemn the attack. My condolences to bereaved family in this time of grief,” he said, adding, “militants will never succeed in their nefarious designs, and those responsible for such heinous acts shall be brought to justice.” (GNS)

Rs 33 Cr released for payment of salaries of 630 teachers: Dir School Education

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: Days after committing suicide, the government has finally released the salary of deceased Kulgam youth’s father, who shot a video before taking an extreme step, claiming that his father has not been paid from last 24 months, thus adding to the miseries of the family.

Official sources said that Director School Education Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain Mir today released Rs 33 crores to chief education officers of Kashmir for payment of withheld salary of 630 teachers, including the father of a boy from Kulgam who committed suicide.

In the meantime, an order was issued by the Chief Accounts Officer of the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK).

“Sanction is accorded to the release of funds to the tune of Rs thirty three crores under salary component of Samagra to the Chief Education Officers of Kashmir Division,” it reads.

It also states that the funds shall strictly be utilized for with-drawal of the pending salaries of un-transited RRET’s and Un-regularized RETs.

“Chief Education Officers (CEOs) or Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) shall strictly adhere to all the codal formalities, financial regulations and circular instructions issued from time to time in this regard,” it reads.

The order also reads that the Chief Education officers shall ensure that further disbursement of funds to the DDOs subsequently withdrawal of salaries immediately without any further delay.

“The respective DDOs shall obtain an undertaking duly attested from RRET’s to the effect that in case adverse report regarding character antecedents or genuineness of certificates is received they shall have to refund the salary drawn along with the interest,” it reads.

The government also said that the salary in favour of RRET’s having 10+2 as their qualification and those having overlapping degrees shall be paid with a grade pay of Rs 2400.

Earlier in the video shot by the boy before committing suicide, he was heard as saying that he was forced to take this extreme step due to financial crises of his family following non-payment of the salary of his father for last over two-and-a half years.

Pertinently all the teachers whose salary was withheld have blamed a former Director School Education Kashmir for withholding their wages. (KNO)

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: While his father was a government employee working in School Education Department, a 24-year-old Shoiab couldn’t pay the examination fee for his Masters Degree and thus ended his life after the government, apparently over his past links with separatism had withheld his salary since 2019.

However, the police had given a clean chit to Shoaib’s father since he was released in 1998.

Speaking to Shoaib’s father, Bashir Ahmad Mir about the reasons of his sons’ suicide, he said he was released from police custody in 1998 and after that he was recruited as Rehbar-e-Taleem teacher in the School Education Department.

He said that after his recruitment in the department, “Crime Investigation Department (CID) in its verification has said that the person (Mir) has been silent since his release in 1998 and is busy with his profession,” Mir added.

Mir said that in March 2019 his salary was withheld by the then director of school education Kashmir—giving a reason for cases pending in high court.

“However, I had got a clean chit from CID and Police verification,” Mir said.

He said that last week his son Shoiab Bashir, a 24 year old student, ended his life after he couldn’t pay the examination fee for his Master degree.

“My deceased son has asked his mother as to why all the troubles have landed in our family and why we are so poor that he can’t even pay the examination fees for his M.A examination form,” Mir said.

He said, “Shoiab was currently pursuing B.ed course of which result was declared yesterday in which he had secured 81 percent marks,”

Mir said that his son was very efficient and was not indulged in any sort of bad activities.

Hailing from Avil DH Pora of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Mir said that he is survived by two kids—a son and a daughter. “Shoiab was my second child.”

He said, “After five days my son ended his life for withholding my salary, the School Education Department released my salary and that too in favour of only sixth-pay-commission, while I am supposed to receive the amount as per the seventh-pay-commission of which I already had got orders.”

“If I am not getting my rightful salary as per the seventh pay commission, I will not accept it,” Mir said.

He also said, “The department has said that they have disbursed my salary but in a communiqué have written that I lack police verification.”

Meanwhile, another teacher Mohammad Amin Shah whose salary was also withheld till today for the same issues said that they were recruited under erstwhile centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and after five years they all were regularized.

“During the regime of ex-governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal regime in 2018, a made was committee wherein the government has said that they will pay the salary of Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers from the state budget as no funds were coming from central government,”

“We were categorized in Grade-II and III category of which order was also implemented in 2018,” Shah said.

Shah said that the police and CID verification has also given the nod that there was no crime charges against us.

“However in 2019, the then Director of School Education in March 2019 withheld our salaries— giving a reason for cases pending in high court. However our case was already solved,” he said.

Shah said, “HC has given direction to release our legitimate salary and teacher grade-II forthwith standing the pendency of FIR against them but despite all that our salaries were not released.”

“A total of 197 teachers were facing the problem out of which the salary was withheld of 146 teachers,” he said.

When contacted to incumbent Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Tassaduq Hussain Mir said, “Transaction is pending only because of lack of clear Police verification.” (KNO)