Anantnag: A teenage girl hanged herself to death in this south Kashmir Monday night, official source said on Tuesday.
They said a girl was found hanging in her home at Qazigund last night. However, other family members immediately rushed her to hospital where she was declared brought dead.
It was not immediately clear why she took this extreme step, they said adding police has registered a case and initiated proceedings.
Jammu: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan Tuesday chaired the 40th meeting of the Board of Directors of Jammu and Kashmir Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes and Backward Classes Development Corporation (JKSCSTBCDC) here.
Managing Director JKSCSTBCDC, Ramesh Chander, senior officers from Social Welfare, Finance, Planning and concerned department were present in the meeting where as Principal Secretary Social Welfare Department Bipul Pathak attended the meeting via video conferencing.
At the outset, Managing Director JKSCSTBCDC gave a detailed presentation about the functioning and achievements of the Corporation.
The Chair discussed the action taken report on the implementation of 39th BOD decisions besides minutes of previous BOD meeting were also confirmed in the meeting.
Besides, proposal for enhancement of subsidy component in favour of Backward Classes at par with SC & ST categories, purchase of land for the construction of the office building of the Corporation, purchase of new vehicles for the Corporation, filling up of the vacant posts, proposal for third party monitoring/evaluation study, publicity and perception management, performance under various schemes were also discussed in the Board meeting.
The Advisor took detailed review of the loans advanced, recovery position, overall strength of the staff of the Corporation and position of accounts.
The Managing Director JKSCSTBCDC apprised the meeting that the Corporation has provided loans to the people of the targeted groups, regarding which the Advisor emphasized upon the simplification of documents for seeking loan by the beneficiary under Direct Financing schemes.
The Advisor also stressed upon to organise awareness programmes to provide well needed publicity to the schemes of the corporation.
In order to deal with recovery issues of all the bad loan cases and wilful chronic defaulters, the Advisor approved one time settlement scheme for better recovery.
He was further informed that the Corporation has recovered loans to a tune of 92 this financial year per cent whereas total recovery till date since inception of the Corporation is about 84 per cent.
He directed the MD of the Corporation to submit the detailed lists of the beneficiaries assisted with details of activity and quantum of loans.
The Advisor also appreciated the efforts of the Corporation in providing loans to record number of persons since formation of the Union Territory. He directed the Corporation to frame a plan for wider publicity so that message would reach to the target group population.
Khan also reviewed the loan facilities for pursuing higher studies, and exhorted upon the officers to publicize the scheme so that more students can take advantage of the scheme at nominal rate of interest and pursue their studies in the country and abroad.
Srinagar: Asserting that a good follow up to the ceasefire initiative would be Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the SAARC meeting if held in Pakistan later this year, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti hoped that Indo-Pak talks reach political level for long lasting peace.
Mehbooba, who is the President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) like a ceasefire should lead to a political process that focuses on long lasting peace.
“A good follow up to the ceasefire initiative would be PM Modi attending the SAARC meeting if held in Pakistan later this year. CBMs like a ceasefire should lead to a political process that focuses on long lasting peace,” Mehbooba told reporters after addressing a rally in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.
She said that Kashmir issue has to be resolved for everlasting peace in the region. “Centre should hold talks with the people of J&K. New Delhi has already initiated talks with Pakistan in terms of ceasefire violation. It is a welcome step”.
“We should learn how to hold peaceful protests from the farmers, who have been demonstrating for their rights from last over two months,” she said.
The former chief minister said that there is no alternative to dialogue, adding that the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan have to come to a table and initiate meaningful talks.
Ramban: Deputy Commissioner, Mussarat Islam, Tuesday inspected the pace of work at the flyover site in Ramban Township being constructed as part of Highway-44 Four Laning project.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Harbans Lal; Executive Engineer PHE, Engineers of PWD, representatives of NHAI and GAMMON construction company also accompanied him .
The DC directed the officers of NHAI to implement all the directions and decisions of district administration for the convenience of the public and protection of residential houses and other prpoerty.
Later, the DC visited the site for driving trial of Motor Vehicle Department and took stock of various activities of the department.
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Polices Crime Branch on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against a man and his wife who allegedly duped a woman of Rs 18 lakh on the pretext of selling a piece of land to her here, an official said.
The charge sheet was filed against Rajan Bakshi and his wife Rupinder Kour Bakshi in the court of Electricity Magistrate here in a case registered against them in 2018, a spokesman of the Crime Branch said.
A complaint was lodged by Renu Bala, a resident of Roop Nagar locality of Jammu, alleging that the couple had dishonestly persuaded her to purchase the land and took away Rs 18 lakh from her.
She later came to know that the land agreed to be sold by the couple belongs to someone else and they had prepared false documents with the help of some revenue officials and cheated her, the spokesman said.
He said a preliminary verification substantiated the allegations against the couple, following which a case was registered under relevant sections of the law.
“During investigation, it was found that the land as per the revenue records is not in the name of the accused and the documents pertaining to agreement to sell, partnership deed and compromise deed have fraudulently been prepared to cheat the complainant,” the spokesman said.
“The accused (Rajan Bakshi) is a notorious criminal, involved in duping and defrauding people on one or the other pretext. The accused is involved in two other cases lodged in the past two years. There are also three complaints under probe with Crime Branch Jammu against the accused for his criminal conduct,” the spokesman said.
Srinagar: A four-week Faculty Induction Programme (FIP) for newly-recruited assistant professors started at the University of Kashmir on Tuesday.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad inaugurated the online programme, organised by the varsity’s Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) in line with the mandate and modules enlisted in ‘Guru Dakshta’, a faculty development programme launched by the UGC in 2019.
In his presidential address, Talat said the newly-recruited teachers must regularly keep updating their knowledge and continue to pursue research to stay relevant beyond their classrooms.
“You must continue to do research, publish papers in reputed journals and keep updating your knowledge,” he urged the participants.
Prof Talat said apart from holding FIPs regularly, it is important to consider giving some training to PhD scholars about the teaching-learning processes during their research to make them ready for academic institutions.
Talat congratulated the HRDC for organising the refresher and FIPs regularly. At least 30 teachers from universities and colleges from within and outside J&K UT are participating in the current FIP.
Srinagar: Indian Army has been providing free coaching for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to the students of Jammu and Kashmir under the Super 30 program. The program that commenced on March 15, 2018, aims to provide assistance to poor students from far-flung areas of the Union Territory.
Elaborating on the same, the managing Trustee of Super 30 Coaching Centre, Dr. Rohit Srivastava said, “Coaching is provided to poor students who want to crack medical and engineering exams but they do not have the financial facilities or the resources to do the same. The program is a 12-month course, under which there is coaching in subjects like physics, chemistry, zoology, botany for six hours daily.”
The program is managed by the National Integrity & Educational Development Organization, which looks into the teaching faculty while the Army oversees administration and logistics.
Arif Bhat, a student benefitting from the program said, “Here we are provided coaching for NEET and MBBS which is very beneficial as we are provided quality education by great faculty.”
“More such institutions should be there so that the poor students also get a chance to change their lives”, said another student, Sahil Ajaz.
Another student of the program, Jagbeer Singh said, “This is a one-year course for NEET coaching in which a total of 30 students are selected from Jammu and Kashmir. The selection process starts with a written examination of the syllabus and is followed by interviews on various subjects.”
“If we opt for private coaching for the examination, then we will have to pay around Rs 2-3 lakhs apart from the expenses like traveling and accommodation.”
Out of the first batch, 19 students were selected in MBBS and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) courses while the rest got selected in other subsidiary branches. In the second batch, out of 33 students six were selected in MBBS, seven in BDS, two in Bachelors of Veterinary Sciences (BVSc), five in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, and the rest in other medical colleges.
Jammu: In a countdown to the 75th year of India’s Independence, the Central Government will be launching ‘Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ this month from 12th March to 5th April, 2021.
The idea behind the Mahotsav that starts the celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence 75 weeks before 15th August, 2022 and extends upto Independence Day 2023 is to showcase accomplishments since 1947 so as to instill a sense of pride, and to create a vision for ‘India@2047’.
In this regard, Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, chaired a high-level meeting with the Chief Secretaries of States and Union territories.
Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam along with Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra, Secretary Culture, Sarmad Hafeez and Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages, Krittika Jyotsna participated in the meeting.
The Home Secretary asked the States/UTs to plan various commemoration activities for the event and underlined that every State and Union territory will launch a people-intensive citizen campaign with an emphasis on India’s glorious history and culture, technological development and digital intervention.
The celebrations will be launched by the Prime Minister on 12th March, 2021 that marks the anniversary of Dandi March. There shall be a curtain-raiser event in different locations over the country on the same day. The commemorations will include 75 events for 75 weeks with one prominent event every week. The events will be planned at 75 places/monuments of historical significance spread across the States and Union territories.
The Home Secretary asked the States/Union territories to intimate the programmes planned for 12th March and to draw a timeline for the weekly prominent and other small scale events for 75 weeks. It was emphasized that commemorations like anniversaries of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Sri Aurobindo, Subash Chander Bose, and events around inspiring leaders of freedom struggle may be taken up, besides local freedom fighters and unsung heroes may also be celebrated.
During the meeting, it was given out that the activities that range from cycle rallies, exhibitions, digital shows, yoga camps, essay competition involving children, local innovation challenge competitions, virtual events, social media campaigns etc. will ensure involvement of women SHGs, local industry, trade bodies, PRIs, civil society organizations and students. The entire event including various activities will be given wider publicity through social, electronic, and print media.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday received the first dose of coronavirus vaccine here at R R Hospital.
The Defence Minister received the vaccine jab on the second day of second phase of nationwide vaccination drive against the COVID-19.
In a tweet, the Defence Minister said, ‘The first dosage of COVID-19 vaccine was administered to me at RR Hospital today. India’s resolve for making the country COVID free has been strengthened by this inoculation drive. The Vaccine is completely safe and hassle free.’
‘I salute the efforts of India’s scientists and doctors who developed the Vaccine in a short span of time. I also thank the Doctors and paramedic staff at the RR Hospital for the vaccination. I urge everyone who is eligible to take the vaccine and make India COVID free,’ Mr Singh said in another tweet.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 and vaccination of the frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination has commenced on Monday for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
Gillsar, one of the neglected lakes, is on the brink of extinction, notwithstanding occasional calls by the administration about its restoration to past pristine glory. The water of Gillsar, named by king Zainulabidin for enormous lotus flowers, was used by local inhabitants for drinking and other domestic purposes some three decades ago. The lake is said to have been fed by a number of springs, many of them lost to encroachments in contemporary times. The water body is presently fed by a few springs called Mukhta Pokhar and Vichar Nag. They too are in pathetic conditions and feed the lake through a canal passing through Nowshera, Channa Mohalla and Renzoo Sathu. The feeding water accompanies effluents, surface drains, garbage and polythene. The water body is also connected to Khushal Sar, also a dying lake which unites it with a vast water body called Anchar lake.
Kashmir Valley has been bestowed by nature with best gifts. Human greed unfortunately ruined and destroyed a lot. The past of these lakes was all but glorious. Their present looks bleak as the encroachments have reduced them to small pools. Everything is not lost though. Experts have been underlining that nothing is impossible if the government shows will and spares the required resources for the revival of the lakes.
Last week, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir visited the area and interacted with the locals. The complaints galore and include releasing of untreated sewage into the water body, throwing of polythene and garbage into it. They also complained that illegal constructions and landfilling continues to deteriorate lakes.
The locals demanded immediate dredging of the lake to restore it to its original position as also stressed for the need to connect Gillsar with Nigeen Lake via Bota kadal so that its waters continue to flow through the year, “imperative for saving it from further deterioration and turning into cesspool.”
The Divisional Commissioner assured the locals that the government shall take all the steps to restore the pristine glory of this lake within the “shortest possible time”, according to a press statement released later.
He also directed the concerned officers to take immediate steps required for removing illegal encroachment and land filling besides stopping people from throwing garbage into the lakes. The announcement is welcome. However, at the same time the restoration needs resources along with a plan. The issue needs to be taken up with the centre for funding for any tangible action. It is hoped that the authorities will take up the matter with concerned authorities in the centre to ensure that these water bodies are saved from extinction.
Precious Kashmir was registered in 2014. Today Precious Kashmir can well and truly take pride in the legacy of its work, and in its contribution towards the building of a free and fair Press in J&K state.
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