3rd phase of vaccination to cover 15 lakh beneficiaries

Jammu:  Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam Monday chaired a meeting of the UT Steering Committee on COVID-19 to review the progress of vaccination drives that were rolled out in January 2021.

Administrative Secretaries of departments of Health & Medical Education, Revenue, Housing & Urban Development, Information, Transport, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) and Deputy Commissioners of all districts were present at the meeting.

The Chief Secretary asked all the DCs to closely monitor the trajectory of COVID infections to prevent a surge in cases and assiduously expedite vaccination of priority groups in accordance with the schedule of vaccination drives.

It was informed that in the initial phases of COVID-19 vaccination, 70% of health workers and 57% of front line workers totalling 3,81,200 people have been vaccinated in Jammu and Kashmir with no reported case of any  serious adversity. The next phase of vaccination for the 3rd  prioritized group began today to cover approximately 15 lakh people above the age of 60 years, and persons with co-morbidities in the age group of 45-59 years.

It was further informed that the vaccine will be administered across 2034 COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs) including 34 private centres. DCs were asked to supervise and monitor vaccination drives across the CVCs under their jurisdiction, besides ensuring that prices of vaccines at private establishments do not cross the prescribed limit of Rs. 250 per dose. The vaccines will be administered free of cost at all government CVCs.

Moreover, at the vaccination centres, arrangements have been made for the advance booking of appointments through a slot system on a day-to-day basis. The slots will be proportioned to accommodate reserved appointments of COWIN registered beneficiaries, 2nd dose beneficiaries and open/walk-in beneficiaries. The district administrations were advised to promote awareness on registrations through the COWIN app, categories of prioritized beneficiaries, and COVID vaccination centres through various IEC activities.

DCs were asked to ardently promote COVID appropriate behaviour, improve the rate of testing to meet respective target quotas, and mobilize the targeted beneficiaries towards vaccination process through the frontline workers- ASHAs, AWWs, ANMs, etc.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded 63 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus and one death.

Of the 63 new cases, 9 were from Jammu division and 54 from Kashmir division. With the fresh cases, total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 126504.
Besides, one death due to Covid was reported from Kashmir today.
Moreover, 56 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including 18 from Jammu Division and 38 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), out of 126504 positive cases, 829 are Active Positive, 123717 have recovered and 1958 have died; 725 in Jammu division and 1233 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 5226361 test results available, 5099857 samples have been tested as negative till March 1.
Till date 1317942 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 33583 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 829 in isolation and 109000 in home surveillance.
Besides, 1172572 persons have completed their surveillance period.

New Delhi: India’s total COVID-19 count increased to 1,11,12,241, breaching the 11.11 million mark after 15,510 fresh cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

The death toll too has surged and mounted to 1,57,157 post 106 new fatalities since Sunday with the country’s total active cases resting at 1,64,511 and the number of people vaccinated has amounted to 1,43,01,266.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,07,86,457, which translates to a national COVID-19 recovery rate of 97.07 per cent, it stated. The case fatality rate has dropped to 1.41 per cent.

Srinagar:  After remaining closed for about a year due to Coronavirus pandemic, High and Higher Secondary schools reopened on Monday in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley amid strict COVID-19 guidelines put in place by the government.

The class work in these schools, particularly government institutes, resumed about a fortnight after degree colleges and universities reopened in Kashmir.

Students were being screened at the entrance of their respective schools and only youth wearing face masks were allowed into the premises. Most of the schools have made adequate arrangements for adherence of COVID-19 protocol, including availability of hand sanitizers at the entrances of the institutions.

The educations institutes witnessed partial attendance as most of the schools have applied an odd-even formula which entails having only 50 per cent of students on campus on any given day, as per the government guidelines. However, parents are still skeptical about the preparations made by the schools to keep the students safe from the infection. “School administrations have to rise to the occasion and make all possible arrangements to keep the children safe from COVID-19 by following all guidelines. They can’t pass on the buck to the parents, it is there responsibility,” Nazir Ahmad, a parent, told UNI.

All educational institutes, including schools, colleges and universities, operated barely for two weeks in the 2020 academic session before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a country-wide lockdown bring life to a grinding halt.

“We are very happy that our regular classes have started after over a year. We have lost a lot in terms of academics in 2019 due to unrest post abrogation of special status of J&K and then in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic,” Ashraf Ganai, a higher secondary school student, told UNI.

He said that he is very excited to meet his friends and teachers, whom he hadn’t seen for a very long time. “Besides education, we also missed on extra curricula activities, including sports, which is an important aspect of overall development of a student,” he said.

Ashraf hoped that the current academic session passes off without any problem so that students can work to fulfill their dreams. Similar, views were expressed by other students.

Class work in some higher secondary schools, including Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothibagh, didn’t resume in view of SSB examination centres in these educational institutes.

Officials said that the physical class work for students from Class 9th to Class 12th resume on Monday in Kashmir division. “Sanitisation of school premises and other precautionary measures have already been taken care of by the Education Department,” they added.

All the educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, in J&K were closed in March last year in view of COVID-19 outbreak.

Calls upon students to dedicate themselves towards building Aatma Nirbhar JK, advocates imparting moral education to students

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Monday emphasized on imparting Outcome-based Education in educational institutions to bridge the gap between available Human Capital and Industry requirements.

He Governor was speaking during the 1st Convocation of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora, held here at SKICC.

During the convocation, as many as 7000 meritorious students, including 163 Gold medalists were awarded degrees. In addition to this, 14 scholars were also awarded Doctorate and M.Phil Degrees.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the University, congratulated the graduating students and gold medalists for their academic performance, and faculty members for shaping the young minds. He also extended his best wishes to the proud parents and family members.

He said the government is according high priority to the Education sector.

He observed that the students of Jammu and Kashmir have high potential which is evident from the large number of students entering higher education institutions. He called upon the student community to dedicate themselves towards building AatmaNirbhar Jammu & Kashmir.

Sinha stressed on the need to encourage innovation at the University level through Outcome-based Education, so that the network of science and management firms, research institutes, technology firms, technical services would also be added to it in future.

Emphasizing on strengthening of College-Industry connect, covering the Skill Gap, enhancing Industry Exposure and project-based experience while studying, the Lt Governor underlined the importance of developing the capabilities and skills of the youth to prepare them for the modern global market trends.

“Competition can be fought only through innovation in every field. Education does not just mean information and learning. It is important for all of us to understand that education means invention. To become the most powerful country in the world, we have to engage the new generation into creative work,” the Lt Governor maintained.

Speaking on the importance of imparting moral values, he observed that along with science and technology, our traditional sacrament values also needed to be promoted in educational curriculum.

“New Education Policy stresses on making Education process holistic. Education is not about a race to come first but it is about achieving the highest peak of values in life,” added Sinha.

He asked the IUST to prioritize the setting of new standards in education and creating top class facilities for students. Research in the fields of Alternative sources of energy, new technologies in construction etc require the attention of the University, he added.

The Lt Governor urged the parents to develop a powerful personality in their children. He also urged the teachers to maintain harmony among the students and make the new generation aware of their duties along with Fundamental Rights. He also made special mention of the girl-students for outperforming the boys and bagging maximum gold medals.

Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Prof. D.P Singh also delivered the Convocation address on the occasion and congratulated the students of IUST who received their degrees today.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor, IUST Prof. Mushtaq A Siddiqi, presented a report, highlighting past achievements and future action plans of the University.

He gave a detailed overview of the placements and publications brought out by the University, research projects sanctioned to the faculty, various workshops and conferences that have been organized in the recent past.

Lays foundation for dev projects worth Rs 26.6 Cr under Srinagar Smart City

Srinagar: Giving a major push towards transforming Srinagar into more vibrant and modern City, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today inaugurated and laid foundation stones for scores of public utilities and developmental projects worth Rs 26.6 crore being carried out under prestigious Srinagar Smart City Project.

He also announced that Srinagar would get metro soon.

To upgrade the fire services apparatus of the Srinagar city, Lt Governor inaugurated the strengthening of Fire safety and Emergency Response System costing Rs 6.5 crore including two new fire stations, three fire tenders of 7500 Ltr capacity each, 5 Response Vehicles, Training centre, upgradation of Fire & Emergency Headquarter, installation of 140 fire hydrants, 5 fire fighting boats for Dal lake and safety suits for 150 fire service personnel.

The occasion also witnessed the inauguration of Rs 4 crore worth project for LED Lighting system of three bridges – Abdullah bridge, Foot bridge and Budshah bridge on Jhelum river including illumination of bridges and bund, development of Pathways, Kiosks and painting of House Boats.

Meanwhile, Lt Governor laid foundation of various City beautification projects worth Rs 10 crore which include beautification of Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh Flyover, LED lighting at different places, parking space for 320 vehicles, 3D painting, One public park and 10 open gymnasia, besides greening and beautification of road medians.

He also laid foundation for Rs 4 crore worth Smart Vendor Hawker Zone project at Jehangir Chowk to provide space to 250 Vendors. The project will have Solar lighting system, multiple categories of Kiosks, Restaurant, Vending machines, Water ATMs and adequate parking space, thus decongesting the roads and enabling smooth traffic movement in the city.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole; IGP, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar; Chief Conservator Forest, Farooq Geelani; Chief Executive Officer, Srinagar Smart City and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, other senior officers of Police and Civil Administration accompanied the Lt Governor.

Sinha told reporters on sidelines of the inaugural function that twin smart cities including Jammu and Srinagar will see many projects including car parking and others.

He said metro will come in Srinagar very soon, saying that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has sanctioned it and the same has been sent for the approval of central government.

Sinha also stated that the government has come up with a parking slot for 315 vehicles here and the space will be increased for more vehicles in coming days.

“In Smart City, there are many projects, which would come up very soon,” he said, adding that Administrative Council has sanctioned the project of metro in Srinagar and has sent for approval to central government. “I hope the cabinet in centre would approve the project at earliest”. (Additional inputs from KNO)