‘Notices issued to more newspapers in Jammu, Kashmir divisions’
Jehangir Sofi
Srinagar, Jan 15: The department of information and public relations, Jammu and Kashmir Friday dis-empaneled around 10 newspapers in Kashmir for not following the proper “rules and regulations” of newspaper publication.
Joint Director Information while talking to KNO that there were many complaints received by the Directorate of Information against some newspapers published both in Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
He said that the complaints were regarding the content being carried, publication issues, advertisement policies and media policy. which these newspapers were not following and more importantly the availability of newspapers.

“Some of the newspapers had made the mockery of publication, in this regard an empanelment committee met last month, where these issues were discussed,” he said.

He informed that in Kashmir division there are around 18 Newspapers which came under the scrutiny and out of which 10 newspapers, who had stopped the publications have been suspended and dis-empanelled by the Information Department.

“Eight newspapers have been sent notices, but before the suspension they will be given the chance to be heard and then after that the due course of action will follow,” he added.
He also said that in Jammu there are more than 30 newspapers, some of them have been suspended and dis-empanelled and some have been issued the notices.
On being asked about the reports of dis-empanelment of Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma, Joint Director Information said that the Empanelment Committee which met last month discussed those newspapers only which were not following the standards of publication and other policies and action has been taken against those only.
He said regarding Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma, “We have no instructions as of now.”

Irfan Ahmad
Srinagar, Jan 15: Tightening noose around government teachers who indulge in private practice, authorities have directed private coaching centers in Srinagar not to allow any government teaching staffer as a faculty and warned of strict action in any case otherwise.
As per an order issued by Chief Education Officer Srinagar, no teacher shall engage himself or herself in private tuition or private teaching activity.
“The directions conveyed by Director School Education, Kashmir that all the Government teaching personnel are hereby directed not to engage in private tuition or private teaching activity, failing which action, as warranted under rules, shall be initiated against the erring teaching personnel,” the order reads.
It says that all the heads of private coaching centers are hereby put under strict instructions not to allow any government teaching personnel as faculty at the coaching center, failing which the registration of the coaching center shall be withdrawn or suspended with immediate effect and disciplinary action under the provisions of law shall be initiated against the management.
“All the DDOs are directed to submit certificate to the office of the Chief Education Officer Srinagar that none of the teaching faculty under their control is involved in private tuition or private teaching activity. The DDOs are advised to seek a similar undertaking from the concerned teaching faculty,” it reads.
Over the years, authorities have imposed ban on private tuitions by teachers serving in state government run schools, saying it amounts to “moral turpitude and is a serious violation of service conduct rules’’.
As per government services Act, government employees can’t indulge in private businesses like teaching in tuition centres or private clinic. However, there was hardly any implementation on the ground. Now it will be interesting if the authorities will be able to enforce the ban.
There are also reports from colleges and other universities, where their faculty members are involved in private practice which is a brazen violation of the rules.
“All these professors, assistant professors, get a monthly salary in the range between Rs 70,000 and 1,50,000. Few of them earn over a crore annually by teaching in coaching centres,” a senior faculty member of the Kashmir University said. “If they are so much interesting in teaching in coaching centres then why don’t they resign from government job and allow unemployed educated youth to work on those posts? They most of the times skip their duties thus affecting the academic curriculum in higher educational institutions,” the faculty member said. (KINS)

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Jan 15:  Following the registration of seven world-famous handicrafts of Jammu & Kashmir under Geographical Indication of Goods (GI) Act, the Government is now actively pursuing GI registration of five more crafts for quality assurance so that their marketing in the national and international market receives considerable fillip.

This information was given out in a meeting and video conference chaired by the Commissioner/ Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, today.

The meeting was attended by Director Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, Mussarat Islam, Director, Handicrafts & Handloom, Jammu, Vikas Gupta and Director IICT, Zubair Ahmad.

The crafts shortlisted for GI registration include Basohli Pashmina & Painting, Tweed fabric, Loi blankets from Kishtwar and Chikri craft from Rajouri district. While Craft Development Institute is the Nodal Agency for GI registration of Loi blankets & Tweed, NABARD shall facilitate GI registration of Basohli Painting & Pashmina and Chikri crafts.

With the objective to restore handicrafts glory of Jammu & Kashmir and ensure substantial remuneration for artisans and weavers, the Commissioner/ Secretary informed the meeting that GI registration followed by certification and labelling shall enable quality assurance of these products and the right to use the indication to prevent its misuse by a third party or unauthorized user whose product does not conform to the applicable standards. GI label, he added, shall also be used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or reputation that are due to that origin.

While emphasising upon bringing more and more indigenous crafts within the ambit of GI tagging, Dwivedi directed all the concerned officers to take necessary steps to expedite completion of requisite formalities so that the crafts exclusive to Jammu and Kashmir are empaneled with GI Registry.

According to Industries & Commerce Department; Pashmina & Kani shawls, Carpet, Wood Carving, Sozni & Crewel embroidery and Khatamband have already been GI registered for which the proprietary rights lie with Tahafuz & Meeras Societies. The famous Kashmir Saffron was also recently GI registered which shall go a long way in protecting its counter branding by other countries.