Precious Kashmir

‘Dissenter’ Azad to head Congress task force on Covid

National

12/05/2021

New Delhi: Congress has set up a task force on Covid and one of the party’s top dissenting voices, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has been appointed as its Chairman.

Others on the 13-member committee include Ambika Soni, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mukul Wasnik, Pawan Kumar Bansal, K.C. Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala, and Jairam Ramesh.

The inclusion of Azad comes as a surprise as he raised the issue of elections in the party and demanded more visible leadership.

The task force will oversee relief operations run by the party as control rooms have been set at the central and state level, along with efforts by Youth Congress workers.

In its meeting on Monday, the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution, reading: “The Congress Party commits to fighting the Covid-19 pandemic with its entire might and will support every people-friendly initiative of the government in fighting the pandemic.”

“The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is nothing short of a grave calamity and a direct consequence of the Modi government’s indifference, insensitivity and incompetence. It is the direct result of the Central government’s willful disregard of scientific advice, its premature declaration of victory over the pandemic (that turned out to be just the first wave), and its unwillingness and inability to plan in advance in spite of warnings sounded not only by public health experts but also by the Standing Committee of Parliament concerned,” it said.

Govt finalises modalities for active involvement of PRIs, youth in Covid containment efforts

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

12/05/2021

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Government has called for active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Youth in COVID-19 mitigation efforts with special focus on vaccination of vulnerable population, information dissemination and promoting Covid appropriate behaviour apart from building capacities in rural areas of Jammu region.

Secretary Tribal Affairs and incharge Covid-19 mitigation efforts in Jammu province, Dr Shahid Choudhary held detailed deliberations with district teams for public involvement on various aspects of Covid containment.

Shahid while emphasising the need for active role to be played by PRIs asked facilitating the participation of Panchayats, Block Development Councils and members of District Development Councils in containment efforts viz a viz communication about Covid appropriate behaviour in public, promoting vaccination in rural areas particularly in 45+ age group and vulnerable groups and timely testing.

He also called for formulation of youth groups to carry forward the information and for constructive public engagement.

It was reiterated that Government has initiated massive efforts for increasing bed capacity and installation of oxygen generation plants for uninterrupted high-flow oxygen apart from strengthening the Human Resource and equipment in hospitals in all the districts which is required to be coupled with massive efforts in public for augmenting containment efforts and ensuring timely treatment of affected population.

ACDs and DPOs gave an overview of efforts initiated and requirement of material and financial support for strengthening a stronger containment network at Panchayat level.

OSD Mission Youth has been deputed as Nodal Officer to work with ACDs and DPOs for formulation of rapid response team at Panchayat level to augment the efforts of the health department.

Mission Youth J&K has initiated the process to select volunteers at Panchayat level / Block Level and train them for community engagement , public awareness, promotion of vaccination and timely testing , facilitating PRIs , augmenting the efforts of healthcare workers and other initiatives.

Kashmir cyber police recovers Rs 13L lost in multiple cyber frauds

City

Precious Kashmir

12/05/2021

Srinagar: Kashmir cyber police said on Tuesday that it has successfully recovered Rs 13 lakh which were collected in multiple cyber frauds by scamsters.

A police spokesman said that in one incident, one complainant was duped of Rs 2 lakh through UPI scam.

“The complainant had dialed a fake Air Asia Airlines Call Centre number that he found on Google search. He wanted to seek a refund for the cancellation of his ticket. As he was struggling to find a customer care number, he googled it and dialed a number from the search results.

“He immediately received back call and was told that the refund amount could be transferred immediately via Google Pay and he would have to download a mobile application called Team Viewer Quick Support on his cell phone.

“The Victim followed the steps dictated to him by the fraudster and downloaded the app (Team Viewer Quick Support) on his cell phone. The fraudster also directed him to open his banking app.

“The fraudster took control of his cell phone through Team Viewer Quick Support app and withdrew an amount of Rs 2 lakh from his bank account.

“The Victim after realizing that he had been trapped in a cyber fraud immediately contacted Cyber Police Station, Kashmir Zone, Srinagar and narrated the whole story.

“Cyber Police Kashmir acted swiftly and with strenuous efforts were able to save Rs. 2 lakhs of the victim.

“These scams happen when the victim opens online banking app or UPI app on his phone to do a transaction, without knowing that someone is watching through Team Viewer Quick Support.

“It is a legitimate app which is a remote desktop software tool, which provides a third party access.

“In OTP frauds multiple complaints were received regarding Vishing (OTP) scams wherein the complainants got fraud phone calls from fraudsters claiming to be officers from the Bank.

“These fraudsters convinced the complainants and informed them that their debit cards (ATM card) have been blocked and are due for renewal. In order to renew the ATM cards the complainants were asked to share the card details along with 06 digits OTP received on their cell phones.

“The victims having no knowledge about these scams shared their card details along with OTP due to which an amount of Rs 11 Lakhs were deducted from their bank accounts.

“The complainants contacted the Cyber Police Kashmir immediately and with strenuous efforts Cyber Police Kashmir was able to block an amount of Rs 11 Lakh and refunded back into the complainant’s accounts.

“Amidst Covid-19 pandemic when the public is dependent on cyber platforms, the vulnerability of getting trapped into cyber scams/frauds gets increased. The public should refrain from downloading any remote taking apps like Team viewer quick support, Anydesk App etc or dialing fake helpline or customer care numbers found on Google search engine.

“If you or your family member gets Corona positive, you may receive a fraud call from cyber criminal that Covid-19 help will be provided, moreover fraudsters may also ask for an advance payment and promise to provide an oxygen cylinder via home delivery, vaccines etc. don’t fall prey to these fraudsters”, the spokesman said.

2021 Men’s World Boxing C’ship to be held from Oct 26 in Belgrade

Sports

United News Of India

12/05/2021

Lausanne: The 2021 Men’s World Boxing Championships will be held from October 26 to November 6 in Belgrade, Serbia, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced on Tuesday.

The event was to be held in India originally but the country lost the hosting rights after failing to pay the host fee last year. AIBA then awarded the championship to Serbia.

The delivery of the event will be overseen by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, who is the Head of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

After the confirmation of the dates, AIBA President Umar Kremlev expressed his desire for boxing to continue developing despite the challenging situation with COVID-19.

‘We should be united like never before during these challenging times and give our athletes an opportunity to perform at the highest level. The AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships will show our determination to provide a platform for boxers all around the world to achieve their full potential,’ said AIBA President Kremlev.

“We have full confidence that the tournament will be conducted safely, given our successful implementation of COVID-19 counter measures throughout this year,” he added.

The previous edition of the championship was hosted by Ekaterinburg, Russia in 2019.

Tarigami demands release of political prisoners

City

United News Of India

12/05/2021

Srinagar: CPI(M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami on Tuesday said Kashmiri political prisoners lodged in various jails within and outside J&K must be released as unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases across the country has put their lives in congested jails at risk.

“The Supreme Court recently directed the high-powered committees to consider release of fresh prisoners by adopting the guidelines of the National Legal Services Authority on the issue to decongest jails,” Tarigami.

He said hundreds of Kashmiri prisoners, including some teenagers, are languishing in jails within and outside J&K for years now.

“Some of them are behind the bars for years together and their cases need to be reviewed in the light of Supreme Court directions,” he said.

The CPI(M) leader said health conditions of some Kashmiri prisoners, lodged in Tihar and other jails outside the Valley, have deteriorated in recent times and if they are not released it could prove fatal for them due to rising Covid-19 cases. “Some of them are in old age and suffer from multiple ailments,” he said.

“There are also prisoners who have minor offenses against them and whose detention order has been quashed multiple times by the courts. The Government has failed to prove charges against several people arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and other such laws. They should be released,” he said.

“Releasing prisoners before Eid could be a good gesture by the government,” he added.

672 people fined, 156 arrested for violating Covid curfew: Police

City

Precious Kashmir

12/05/2021

Srinagar: As many as 672 people were fined while 156 others were arrested during the last 24 hours in Kashmir valley for violating COVID curfew and other guidelines imposed by the administration to curtail the spread of the virus.

A police spokesperson said that since the outbreak of second wave of Coronavirus, police have enhanced its efforts to sensitise the masses about controlling the highly contagious infection. ”Slew of measures, including restrictions under section 144 CrPC, have been put into place to contain the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

He said in view of the record surge in daily cases across the Kashmir Valley, Police also enhanced the efforts to implement the Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions strictly throughout the valley.

“During last 24 hours, police arrested 156 persons, lodged 86 FIRs and also realized fine to the tune of Rs 104,350 from 672 people for violating the guidelines/rules throughout Kashmir valley.

Besides, he said 44 vehicles were also seized in Budgam, Ganderbal and Shopian for violating guidelines/restrictions.

“Community members are once again requested to cooperate with the Police in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs/ guidelines/ protocols for the safety of the people. The special drive shall remain continue throughout the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures,” he added.

21 inmates test Covid positive; 219 under quarantine in JK

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

12/05/2021

Srinagar: As many as 21 inmates are COVID-19 positive while 219 are under quarantine in different jails in the Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said Tuesday evening.

He said a day prior to relinquishing charge, Director General of Police (Prison) V K Singh visited Central Jail Srinagar to resolve last minute issues including a parole case.

At present, 635 inmates are lodged in the Central Jail Srinagar which included 27 female inmates and there is no COVID positive case in the jail, he said.

He said as on date, 4572 inmates are lodged in the 13 jails of J&K. He said 23 inmates (21 from District Jail Kathua, 1 from Central Jail Jammu, Kot Bhalwal and 1 from District Jail Jammu) are COVID positive who are being provided necessary medical care is being provided.

He said 219 inmates are under quarantine across prisons of J&K as new prisoners undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing and quarantine for 14 days.

DG directed the staff for strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) issued to prevent spread of COVID-19 in jails.

Prepare Amid Lockdown

Edit
Oped

Precious Kashmir

11/05/2021

Given the unrelenting surge in covid-19 cases, lockdown seems inevitable and it is exactly what Jammu and Kashmir administration has been forced to do. The lockdown announced in the last week of April and extended later was to end on May 10. However, in the middle of a huge surge in covid-19 cases, the lockdown has been extended till May 17, beyond Eid-ul-Fitr falling either on Thursday or Friday subjected to the appearance of the Shawl moon. From 131421 cases on April 1 to 220546 on May 10, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a surge of 89125 cases in the little over five weeks alone. Nearly 800 people also succumbed to the virus during the time. Unlike last year, lockdown is considered by the people as a measure to arrest the spread of the contagion. The public acceptance is more given the fact that there is horror of sweeping infections amid realization that the threat to life from a mutating covid-19 has aggravated manifold not only in J&K but across India. Even though there are various surveys which suggest presence of SARS-CoV-2 in air, WHO underlines that the virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets and aerosols produced when people cough, sneeze, speak within one metre of each other and also in crowded, poorly ventilated settings. Put otherwise, covid-19 appropriate behavior such as wearing masks, maintaining required distance and frequent hand washing with soap can prevent the virus from spreading further.

On top of it, there is a need to augment vaccinations by the government in a bid to arrest the virus spread.

There is already tremendous pressure on the healthcare facilities and as some experts say, it is on the brink of breaking point. Doctors are finding it hard to cope with the patient rush. Now even critical patients do not easily find a hospital bed. Many government buildings stand converted into covid-19 management facilities but most of them, if not all, lack medic and paramedic support. In view of the Eid-ul-fitr, the government needs to avoid big gatherings at markets, prevent crowding at shops which are to be kept open for limited hours. Also, the administration must immediately use the extended lockdown window to manage existing patient rush to covid-19 facilities and augment critical supplies. There is also a need to increase testing to assess the true scale of the pandemic.

All efforts should be directed to the slow infection curve and it will give breathing space in coming weeks, especially when the government’s scientific advisor among others has termed the third as inevitable.

Regularisation policy for casual, seasonal workers put in “cold storage”

Anchor stories

Ibni Maqbool

11/05/2021

Regularisation policy for casual, seasonal workers put in “cold storage”

By: Ibni Maqbool

Srinagar: The much-talked about policy unveiled by the previous PDP-BJP government for regularization of casual, seasonal and other workers in Jammu and Kashmir has been put in cold storage since January 2019.

Documents accessed by The Precious Kashmir reveal that an empowered committee constituted by the J&K government for implementation of the policy has never met after January 2, 2019.

The empowered committee headed by administrative secretary, Finance department and comprising senior bureaucrats was set-up to recommend cases for regular engagement of casual, season and other workers after proper scrutiny of proposals received from the concerned administrative departments.

Since inception of the policy, only 578 casuals, season and other workers were regularised under the policy before it was put into cold storage.

The government’s indifference over the policy has dashed hopes of thousands of daily wagers who were craving for their regularization.

“We saw a ray of hope when the government unveiled the policy but we feel betrayed and cheated after the policy was put in cold storage,” said Nazir Ahmad, a daily-wager.

He said the government’s apathetic attitude over the regularisation policy is grave injustice with the families of thousands of daily wagers.

It is worthwhile to mention that the PDP-BJP government notified the policy for “regular engagement” of casual, seasonal and other workers in December 2017 .

Under the policy, the casual, seasonal and other workers were entitled to monthly remuneration ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 24,000, provided that their period of engagement is above 10 years and they possess minimum educational qualification of 8th standard or above.

The policy categorized the workers as skilled and non-skilled for remuneration and other benefits.

It was applicable to casual labourers, daily-rated workers, seasonal workers, ITI-trained workers and left-out adhoc/contractual/ consolidated workers who had failed to fulfill the eligibility criteria prescribed under the J&K civil services (special provision) Act, 2010.

Covid dedicated Trauma hospital Bijbehara without X-ray facility

Anchor stories

Ahmed Shabir

11/05/2021

Covid dedicated Trauma hospital Bijbehara without X-ray facility

Director Health shocked, says will make sure X-ray of Covid patients is conducted at very hospital

By: Ahmad Shabir

Anantnag, MAY 10: After the Covid-19 pandemic broke out last year, authorities in Anantnag district designated newly constructed Trauma hospital as covid hospital. The facility was later chosen for the treatment of Covid positive pregnant women after several videos of pregnant women from red zones being denied treatment at MCH, the lone maternity hospital Anantnag, created public outrage.

Later, when the MCH started admitting the patients again, authorities left the trauma hospital as it was.

Now when the second wave of Covid has badly hit India including J&K, authorities in an attempt to fight the pandemic again dedicated 123-bedded hospital for Covid care.

Since some beds had already been fixed at the facility last year, health department installed more beds at the facility. Administration immediately sanctioned 1000 lpm oxygen plant for the facility, which was made functional within a week’s time.

The upper floor of the hospital also works as facility for Covid positive pregnant women. About 50 beds for Covid patients, all connected with oxygen plant are available in the hospital and most of them remain occupied.

However, attendants of Covid patients admitted at the facilities complain about lack of other facilities needed by the patients.

Attendants of many patients told Precious Kashmir that the health authorities have failed to install an X-ray plant at the hospital as a result of which patients are taken to old SDH for getting the X ray done.

“Despite being such a big Covid hospital, there is no X ray facility available. Most of the patients have suffered major or mild damage to their lungs and are oxygen support. But the health officials every day take the patients along for X ray to Old Hospital with the result their oxygen supply gets interrupted,” a man from Khanabal area, who is attending his father at the Covid Hospital told Precious Kashmir.

On Monday, the officials at Trauma hospital, attendants said, bundled at least eight Covid patients in an ambulance and took them for X-ray to old SDH building.

“I was accompanying my wife to SDH after she was advised X ray by the doctor. But as I saw around eight Covid patients having been ferried from Trauma hospital entering X ray room, I was terrified,” said Adil Rashid, a local from Bijbehara.

Since the old SDH Bijbehara has been kept open for non-Covid patients, Adil said authorities by taking the Covid patients to the hospital are actually spreading the virus by mingling them with other patients.

When contacted, Chief medical officer (CMO), Dr Mukhtar said Covid patients are only taken for CT scan to GMC Anantnag.

However, when told what were covid patients, who were ferried from Trauma hospital, doing at SDH, CMO avoided the question and said he was busy with the condolence of his relative.

Director health services, Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, however, expressed shock over Covid patients being taken to other hospital for X-ray.

“I will talk to MS of the hospital and will make sure that X-ray of Covid cases is done at the very hospital. I will look into it seriously,” Director said.

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