Precious Kashmir News
Baramulla, Nov 29: A 43-year-old woman and her two minor daughters died due to asphyxiation in this north Kashmir district, official sources said on Sunday morning.

They said that due to sub zero temperature, a family had used wooden bukhari for heating purpose in their house at village Lari Boniyar in Baramulla during the night intervening. However, panic gripped the village this morning when there was no movement in the house, they said adding later main door was opened and 43-year-old Shameema Begum and her two minor daughters Nighat Bano (13) and Tabasum (9) were found motionless. All the three were taken to a hospital where they were declared brought dead.
Police have registered a case and initiated investigation, they said adding besides senior district civil officials, a team of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) have been rushed to the village. Bodies have been taken to Primary Health Centre (PHC) Boniyar for autopsy, they added.
Earlier, it was reported that they died due to explosion of a gas cylinder.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Nov 29: Shortly after the recent signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU’s) between Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and Mission Youth, J&K, a meeting was today co-chaired on Sunday by Chairman, BSE Institute Ambarish Datta and CEO, Mission Youth and Mission Director, J&K Skill Development Mission Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah to discuss the implementation of various skill development trainings to be undertaken under Banking Financial Services Insurance (BFSI) sector in J&K for the youth of J&K. Pertinent to mention that after signing of the MoU’s , the  Lieutenant Governor J&K had passed directions for prompt implementation of the initiative for providing gainful employment opportunities to the youth of J&K.

Representatives of BSE Institute and senior officials of  J&K Mission Youth and J&K Skill Development Mission attended the meeting in which threadbare discussions were held on strategies for mobilisation and selection of the candidates who will undergo the BFSI trainings and later facilitated for jobs in the BFSI market.

While highlighting the significance of this initiative, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah said, “It is a game changing project; this training course shall equip candidates with skills which are relevant as well as in demand in the BFSI sector.”

“This is a first in many ways, where the oldest stock exchange in Asia has come forward to provide an opportunity to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. We will ensure that this program is gender inclusive and the selected candidates are provided this wonderful opportunity to train and generate employment for themselves and others in the financial sector,” said Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah.

CEO, BSE Institute  Ambarish Dutta highlighted that the programme aims at imparting training to unemployed youth through BSE institute as per their aptitude and thereafter facilitating them in securing jobs in the ever expanding BFSI (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance) sector.

It was given out the candidates will undergo financial awareness programs and training , besides skill courses in Banking & Financial Markets and specialised programs in mutual funds that would enable them to enrol in the BSE Star Mutual Fund platform.

The CEO also divulged that J&K has 88 BFSI companies including banks, insurance, NBFCs and Micro Finance companies having about 1600 branches here. It was given out that these companies had an apprenticeship potential for more than 3000 youth and can also provide self employment opportunities to unlimited number of candidates.

While giving details about the eligibility and outcome of the program it was given out that the applicants will be mobilised by J&K Skill Mission & Mission Youth J&K after which they will will undergo aptitude test / Interview. The final selected candidates will undergo the training.

CEO, BSE Institute said, “BFSI sector is a potential sector for providing employment opportunities to the youth and in this regard, our Institute is at the forefront to handhold and train the youth.”

During the meeting, It was also decided that within next two weeks, candidates will be mobilised and selected for their participation in the program. In the first phase of trainings, a pilot program will be organised of 2 batches of 30 students each on courses such as Mutual Fund Executive, Insurance and Banking.

It is pertinent to mention that the BSE and Mission Youth JK had signed four memorandums of understanding with the Jammu and Kashmir government to spread financial awareness, support economic development and encourage sustainable livelihood of the youth in the Union territory.

Pertinent to mention that memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed by the representatives of the BSE and CEO, Mission Youth Dr, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor  Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan, Jammu.

Srinagar, Nov 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education has prematurely retired its first employee under new rules.
According to an order the Board of School Education prematurely retired it’s one of the employee who has already completed 27 years of service on October-14-2020.
The order issued by BOSE chairman Veena Pandita reads, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 226 (2) of the Jammu and Kashmir civil service regulation, the chairman of BOSE hereby gives a notice to one of the employees’ orderly that he having already completed 27 years’ service on October-14-2020 shall retire from service with immediate effect forenoon of December-01.”
Pandita said that the retired employee is allowed three months’ pay and allowances in lieu of three months’ notice.

Chennai, Nov 29: A Chennai-based man has demanded compensation of Rs 5 crore from Pune-based drugmaker Serum Institute of India (SII) as his health allegedly worsened after volunteering to take part in the clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine.
The vaccine ‘Covishield’ is being developed by UK’s Oxford University and US pharma giant AstraZeneca. SII is a manufacturing partner for the vaccine.
The Chennai resident, who is married and has two kids, volunteered for the third phase of the human trial for the vaccine at Chennai’s Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER).
He urged the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country’s top body for overseeing medical research, to not approve the vaccine.
SII did not immediately respond to Business Standard’s request for comment.
In early September, India’s central drug regulator had issued a show-cause notice to SII for not informing about its vaccine partner AstraZeneca pausing the clinical trials of the vaccine in other countries and also for not submitting casualty analysis of the “reported serious adverse events”.
The show-cause notice was issued following reports that human trials of the most promising Covid-19 vaccine candidate, being developed by the University of Oxford, have been put on hold after a UK participant had an adverse reaction to it.
Advocates Row & Reddy and R Rajaram, who sent a legal notice on behalf of the 40-year-old individual have confirmed the development.
The notice, a copy of which is available with Business Standard, was sent to the CEO of Serum Institute of India (SSI), the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI), AstraZeneca’s CEO, and the vice-chancellor of SRIHER.
He was informed that he was participating in a randomised controlled study to determine the safety and immunogenicity of the Covid-19 vaccine ‘Covishield’ in the health of Indian adults. The sponsors were SII and the ICMR.
Quoting the ‘participant information sheet’, the notice said the vaccine had previously been tested in about 500 adults of 18-55 years of age in the UK and was found to be safe and was found to induce an immune response.
“….he was therefore led to believe that taking the Covishield test vaccine was safe and the risks associated with taking the said vaccine would hardly lead to any serious side effect, leave alone the severe adverse effect he has had to painfully endure,” the notice said.
Currently, three large clinical trials in thousands of healthy adults are underway for this vaccine in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa.
The notice claimed that the side effects or after effects described in the participant information sheet were a far cry from those experienced by the man.
The Covishield vaccine was administered to him on October 1. Ten days later he experienced severe headaches and vomiting, the notice said. He was later admitted to SRIHER.
According to the hospital’s discharge summary, he was brought in “in an altered mental state” and was “disoriented”.
He was finally discharged from the hospital on October 26.
The volunteer’s wife claims that the situation did not improve much and he continued to be in an agitated mood, frustrated, unable to work, and was consulted with a psychiatrist. He took all tests and the results were negative.
The notice claims that the discharge summary of the hospital stated he had suffered “acute encephalopathy”.
It was also alleged in the notice that even after a month of the severe adverse reactions to the vaccine, neither have the regulator (Drugs Controller General of India/ Data and Safety Monitoring Committee), the sponsors of the trial (ICMR and SII) or the collaborators of the sponsors (Astra Zneca and OXford University) got in touch with him to find out about the severe adverse effect after vaccination and investigate the severe reaction the test vaccine has had on him.
Covishield is yet to undergo testing for its safety and its ability to work in India.

New Delhi, Nov 29: North India is likely to expect a harsher winter and the possibility of cold waves occurring could be more this season, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said on Sunday. The IMD, in its winter forecast for December to February, said below normal minimum temperatures are likely over north and central India.

“The winter is likely to be harsher in north India this season. The probability of occurrence of cold waves is more,” Mohapatra said.

He added that the night temperatures in north India are likely to be below normal, while the day temperatures are expected to be above normal. The west coast and south India are likely to witness above normal minimum temperatures.

“During the upcoming winter season (December to February), below normal minimum temperatures are likely over most subdivisions of north, northwest, central and few subdivisions over east India,” the IMD said in its winter forecast.

Scores of people die every year due to cold waves that sweep across the north Indian plains.

In a webinar last month, Mohapatra had hinted that winter could be more severe this season due to the prevailing La Nina, a phenomenon associated with the cooling of Pacific waters and an antithesis to El Nino.

“Currently, Sea Surface Temperatures are below normal over central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and moderate La Niña conditions are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

“The latest forecast indicates that the moderate La Niña conditions are likely to continue at least till the end of winter season,” the IMD said.

The IMD started issuing winter forecasts from 2016. This is probably the first time that the country’s weather agency has said the winter will be severe. The previous year’s forecast had predicted warmer winters.

Mohapatra said parts of north India have recorded breaking low temperatures in October.

The IMD has four meteorological divisions – northwest India, south peninsula, east and northeast India and central India.

The northwest division comprises states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Central India covers a vast stretch with states like Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha while the southern peninsula division encompasses all the southern states and Union Territory of Puducherry.

The east and northeast India division comprises Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and all the northeastern states.

“Most of the subdivisions of northeast India, few subdivisions of west coast and south peninsular India are likely to experience above normal minimum temperatures.

“The probability forecast for maximum temperature indicates that above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most subdivisions of northwest, north, east and northeast India and a few subdivisions of central and peninsular India. Most of the subdivisions of south peninsular India are likely to experience below normal maximum temperatures,” the IMD added.

Srinagar, Nov 29: Day chill revisited on Sunday due to icy winds coupled with partly cloudy sky resulting in drop in the maximum temperature in the Kashmir valley, where isolated rain and snow over higher reaches is predicted during the next 24 hours.
A Met department spokesman said here this evening that there could be isolated rain and snow over higher reaches of Kashmir valley and Ladakh region during the next 24 hours. Weather will remain dry in Jammu region, he said.
However, during the subsequent two days weather will remain dry in the region.
As the sun was playing hide and seek , coupled with icy winds today, the mercury witnessed drop resulting in cold against yesterday when the maximum temperature was above normal.
In summer capital, Srinagar, the maximum temperature witnessed two degree drop and settled at 11.4 degree, 0.7 degree below normal while it was 13.5 degree, 1.4 notch above normal. The minimum temperature recorded surge and settled at minus 1.4 degree which was still 0.5 degree below normal. However, it was minus 2.2 degree, 1.3 degree below normal on Saturday in Srinagar, where the sky would be clear to partly cloudy with fog in the morning during the next 24 hours when the maximum and minimum temperature would be around 14 and minus 3 degree respectively.
Spokesman said maximum temperature of world famous ski resort of Gulmarg was not available while the minimum temperature was minus 3.2 degree which was slightly below normal.
Interestingly famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, the maximum temperature witnessed surge. Against yesterdays 8 degree maximum temperature it was 9.9 degree which was slightly above normal.There was also improvement in the minimum temperature as against yesterdays minus 5.2 degree it was minus 2.3 degree,1.1 degree above normal.
Leh in Ladakh was coldest after minimum temperature recorded drop and settled at minus 11.1 degree against yesterdays minus 9.6 degree. Border town of Kargil was second coldest at minus 9.2 degree minimum temperature while Skardu and Gilgit in PaK recorded minus 3.7 degree and minus 2 degree respectively.

Srinagar, Nov 29: Accusing Bharatiya Janata Party (PDP) of muzzling dissent and created an atmosphere where there is no place for democracy, former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that the saffron party wants to ban her party.
Mehbooba alleged that ever since the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) decided to participate in the District Development Council (DDC) election, the degree of oppression has increased in J&K. “After we decided to participate in the DDC elections, the degree of oppression has increased in J&K. Candidates of PAGD are confined and are not allowed to go out for campaigning. How will the candidates campaign if they are not allowed to move out?” Mehbooba told reporters during a press conference.
“BJP wants to develop its ecosystem here where there is no place for real democracy in India. They want install their puppets in J&K and that is the reason they didn’t want us to participate in the elections. If we would not have participated, they would have dubbed as anti-national… now that we are participating they are creating hurdles for us,”
“BJP ministers, who visit J&K, talk about Article 370 nine out of ten times. If they are confident that the Article 370 has ended and can’t be brought back, they why do they get rattled when I talk about it? Why am I being told directly and indirectly not to talk about it?” she said.
“I have been told that since my release, people have started to raise the issue again… I provoke them to raise the issue of Article 370… so they want to get to me and ban my party. This is happening because I raise my voice,” she added.
Answering a question about high voting percentage in DDC polls, Mehbooba said election is not a solution to Kashmir issue as long as there are nine lakh soldiers in J&K
“In the past, the polling percentage has been higher than DDC polls, but it is not a solution to the Kashmir problem. Kashmir problem is still there as long as there are 9 lakh soldiers in J&K,” she said.
“Which state of India has so many soldiers that too in civilian areas? Which state of India has so many check points?” she asked.
The former chief minister said that Kashmir issue is going to be there as long as there is no resolution through a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and with Pakistan.
Mehbooba said the Roshni Act was a scheme but has been dubbed as a scam.
“The Roshni scheme was a law passed during the time of the National Conference and implemented during the time of Ghulam Nabi Azad. It was a law, it was made by our assembly If anyone legalised their land in that law, how is it a scam? If they think rich people have taken a lot of land, go after that. Why are they going after poor people who have 2 marla or 5 marla land,” she said.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Nov 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Police and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Institute Limited Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) wherein BSE Institute Limited will be providing skill development training courses to wards of Police martyrs and the wards of serving police personnel.
The MoU was signed in presence of Director General of Police Dilbag Singh,Chairperson PWWA Rubinder Kaur,senior Police officers and PWWA members in a function held at Police GOs mess Gulshan Ground.
The function was attended by ADGsP A.K Choudhary, Deepak Kumar, A.G Mir, T.Namgyal, IGsP Mukesh Singh, M.K Sinha, Garib Dass, Alok Kumar, Ambarish Datta, MD & CEO, BSE Institute Ltd, Rahul Ranadive, Vice President, BSE Institute Ltd, Soumya Ranjan, Head, BFSI Sector Skill Council of India, Ganesh Ram, Head, BSE Star Mutual Fund platform ,AIGs PHQ, Rayees Bhat, Manoj Kumar Pandith and other officers.
DGP while speaking on the occasion said it all started when BSE Institute Limited had come for a UT level function to promote youth employability.
He said during the interaction they came to know that BIL is working into the skill development of youth in various parts of the country. “BSE Institute Ltd is very keen do training programmes for the wards of deceased and the wards of serving police personnel. It it is great feeling to know that they are into doing separate skill development programmes for Jammu and Kashmir Police Pariwar. “
He said it will also be their objective to be part of a large scale outreach programmes of Jammu and Kashmir Police and added that it would serve as a tool in integrating the society.
The MoU was signed by AIG welfare Manoj Kumar Pandith on behalf of J&K Police and Ambrish Dutta on behalf of BIL.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 28: Ashok Leyland, the flagship Company of the Hinduja Group and India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, on the occasion of Sambhav 2020, has announced its partnership with Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer thus committed to work with J&K Government to work towards achieving the vision set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of AtmaNirbhar Bharat, under the guidance of the Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha. The objective of this partnership would be to enhance the welfare of the people of the state.
The partnership aims to create an entrepreneur in every youth of Jammu & Kashmir by offering the Small Commercial Vehicle – DOST STRONG. This will enable socio economic development driven by livelihood generation solutions for unemployed youth of J&K between age of 22 to 35 years and making every youth Atmanirbhar for Atmasamman in the true sense.
The Ashok Leyland will enable setting up of a Regional Automotive Centre of Excellence housed in the Government ITIs, Driver Training Institute in Srinagar, and Model Schools.
These Model schools will be the Center of Excellence for other Government schools providing a holistic learning experience based on the ‘Road to School’ model which Ashok Leyland has been able to successfully implement in other states.
Commenting on the association, Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, “We are delighted to partner with and appreciate the faith extended by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir in us to help enhance the welfare of the people in this state and to make their youth Aatmanirbhar, in the truest sense. As India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, Ashok Leyland has always believed in India and the Indian youth to achieve whatever they set their minds on, given their propensity to innovate and accomplish.”
Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Ashok Leyland, said, “This is indeed a privilege for Ashok Leyland to contribute to the welfare of the Jammu & Kashmir’s youth through our various initiatives. As a company, we live by our brand philosophy, ‘Aapki Jeet. Hamari Jeet’ and this implies that we believe in the holistic development of the youth of our country. Education and technology are necessary pillars of the fabric of the economy and society and once combined together, one can dream and achieve anything.”
These initiatives will be executed over a period of duration under the CSR initiatives of the Hinduja Group of companies comprising Ashok Leyland, IndusInd Bank Ltd, NXTDIGITAL and other Group companies.