Precious Kashmir

New varieties help keep rice crop produce intact in Srinagar

City

04/11/2020

Owais Gul
Srinagar, Nov 4: In the past three decades, many hectares of agricultural land has been turned into residential colonies, but the agriculture department has claimed that there is less impact on the rice produce in Srinagar district due to squeezing of agrarian land.
Director Agriculture, Altaf Ahmad said that although the squeezing of agrarian land is impacting the produce, the produce has got doubled due to the new varieties introduced by them.
“The magnitude of the produce has gone up. But the land has been squeezed, which is a well-known fact,” he said, adding that there is an impact on the produce as if the land would have not been turned into residential colonies then people here would have been able to produce more crops.
He said the production of rice has gone up by 700 per cent compared to last few decades, which all is possible due to the new varieties introduced by the department, but the unfortunate part is the land available for the agricultural purpose is squeezing very rapidly.
“It is unfortunate that the people have been promoting the squeezing of agrarian land. We have not as a society looked into it. Our kids will curse us for promoting such kinds of activities. We are destroying our legacy. It is all a catastrophe,” he said, adding that the farmers can switch from one crop to another, but they should not be allowed to use this land for residential purposes.
He added that the department is conducting frequent awareness camps in this regard to make people aware about the consequences, but it is up to the revenue department to permit or not to permit anyone to use the land for residential purpose after proper evaluation. (KNO)

Centre forms committee to review guidelines on television ratings

National

Agencies

04/11/2020

New Delhi, Nov 4: The Centre on Wednesday constituted a committee to review the guidelines on television ratings in India.
The four-member committee will be headed by Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi S Vempati.
The panel has been asked to make recommendations for “a robust, transparent and accountable rating system” through changes, if any, in the existing guidelines.
“Based on the operation of the guidelines for a few years, there is a need to have a fresh look on the guidelines particularly keeping in view the recent recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), technological advancements/inventions to address the system and further strengthening of the procedures for a credible and transparent rating system, a committee is hereby constituted to study the different aspects of television rating system in India as they have evolved over a period of time,” the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a notification.
It said that the committee shall carry out an appraisal of the existing system, examine TRAI recommendations notified from time to time, overall industry scenario and addressing the needs of the stakeholders and make recommendations for a robust, transparent and accountable rating system through changes, if any, in the existing guidelines.
The Centre”s move comes following a row over an alleged TRP scam.
The Mumbai Police recently claimed to have busted the Television Rating Points (TRP) scam and arrested at least five people, including news channel employees, in this connection.
As the controversy surrounding the alleged scam grew, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), which provides TRP data, announced a temporary suspension of weekly ratings of news channels across languages.

KU launches PG programme in Anthropology

City

Precious Kashmir

04/11/2020

VC compliments IKS faculty, newly-admitted students
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 4: The University of Kashmir Wednesday formally started the postgraduate programme in Anthropology at its Institute of Kashmir Studies (IKS).
The Masters in Anthropology is among new courses introduced at the varsity to enable holistic study of social and cultural systems, with in-depth and interdisciplinary approaches to understand human society.
In their messages, KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad and Registrar Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir complimented the newly-admitted students in Anthropology and urged them to work hard to address the pressing societal concerns.
Prof Bashir A Khan, Dean School of Social Sciences, was the chief guest at the modest inaugural ceremony.
“Anthropology is concerned with the study of ‘who we were and what we are’,” he said, hoping that the students would study the “pressing” social and cultural concerns in detail.
Prof M Y Ganai, Director IKS, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his continuous support to the IKS and for encouraging the launch of new programmes in the University.
Speaking about the importance of the course, Prof Ganai said: “Anthropology extends our vision beyond familiar social contexts and experiences. It is essentially a comparative study of humans, their societies and their cultural worlds. Our students will develop a critical awareness of changing social values and practices in line with the New Education Policy (NEP) guidelines.”
The course, he said, will enable the students to prepare for various career options, especially civil services, academia and private sector jobs.
The inauguration was followed by an interaction session of the IKS faculty with the newly-admitted students of Anthropology.

Block Diwas observed in Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

04/11/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Nov 4: The Block Diwas/Youm e Block, a part of ambitious Jan Abhiyan programme was today observed across all the districts of Kashmir division, during which concerned District Development Commissioners (DDC’s) and other officers listened to public issues, grievances and demands.

The Block Diwas was observed to take appraisal of local issues from the general public for accurate and on ground assessment and redressal of the same thereby providing governance to the public at their door steps.

The DDC’s on the occasion highlighted the objectives of the Jan Abhiyan, Jan Sunwayi, Dehi Taraqiyaati and Poshan Abhiyan programmes informing the public that these grand public campaigns are aimed at reaching out to the people for redressal of their grievances and addressing developmental issues.

Budgam: DC Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza while addressing the public during the outreach program at Govt. BHSS, Block Khag said that the District Administration is committed to deliver services at the doorsteps of public and redressal of public grievances is the cornerstone of good governance.

He instructed the line Departments to examine the issues and demands put forth by the public in the program and submit action taken report within a week.

Ganderbal: The DC Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal listened to public issues at Block Headquarter here during Block Diwas program.

The DDC sought an action taken report on all the previous issues projected by the local people.

He directed the concerned officers and officials of different departments to play a proactive role in fulfilling developmental requirements of the public.

Kulgam: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Showkat Aijaz Bhat along with concerned officials remained available at Block D. H. Pora and listened to issues and grievances of people for timely redressal.

The DC also took stock of action taken of the grievances/demands recorded in previous blocks.

Central Teacher Eligibility Test to be held on Jan 31, 2021

National

Agencies

04/11/2020

New Delhi, Nov 4: The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now be held on January 31 next year, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said.

The exam was earlier scheduled to be held on July 5.

“The 14th edition of Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) which was scheduled to be held in July in 112 cities all over the country and postponed due to administrative reasons, the said examination will now be held on January 31,” Nishank said.

“To maintain social distance and other safety measures, the said examination will now be conducted in 135 cities,” he said.

According to officials at the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a large number of requests have been received from the candidates for change of option for their examination city as they have shifted due to COVID-19.

“Keeping in view the difficulty faced by candidates due to COVID-19, the CBSE has decided to give one time chance to the candidates for corrections in their option of city from which they want to appear in the CTET examination,” a senior board official said.

“Every effort will be made to accommodate the candidates in the cities opted by them but if the situation arises, they can be allotted any city other than the four cities opted by the candidates,” the official added.

Unscheduled power cuts in non-metered areas give tough time to residents

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

04/11/2020

Unscheduled power cuts in non-metered areas give tough time to residents

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 3: Frequent power cuts in non-metered areas across Kashmir are giving a tough time to consumers.
Residents of many areas in uptown and downtown where meters have not been installed while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “It appears that winter is going to be dark this year. For the past fortnight we have been facing unscheduled power cuts. When we approached the officials of the Power Department they told us that the power cuts will increase in the areas where meters have not been installed.”
They said, “The Power Department should come out with a clear curtailment schedule rather than snapping the electricity as per their whims and wishes.”
An official of the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited told this newspaper that “Only those areas are witnessing power cuts where there are no meters. In metered areas power curtailment is negligible. If people want electricity they should cooperate with the administration and allow it to install the meters.”
He said, “The plan to install smart meters has almost been finalized and the process will commence this month. If people want uninterrupted electricity they will have to pay for it. People need to understand that the electricity is fast turning into a service like other paid commodities.”
Farooq Ahmed, a resident of Mehjoor Nagar said, “The government should understand that people are finding it very hard to make their ends meet. If electricity becomes dearer it will put extra burden on a common man.”
He said, “Many areas like Mehjoor Nagar are non-metered that doesn’t mean that the denizens of these areas will be deprived of the electricity. Srinagar is not a metropolitan city and before taking difficult decisions the government should assess the per capita income of the people.”
Ahmed said, “Everyone is not rich in Kashmir. Many of us have to earn daily to feed our families. We cannot afford extra burden at this point of time.”
Residents of Old City said, “Power cuts are nothing new in winter. We face these every year but this time the situation has worsened much before the winter has arrived. We are used to these hardships. We won’t allow the Power Department to blackmail us on the pretext that no meters are installed in our areas. When metering was done we had opposed the move and we will continue to do the same as we have been witnessing tremendous losses during the past years.”

COVID-19: Death toll crosses 1500 mark in J&K

Front

Nadeem Nadu

04/11/2020

COVID-19: Death toll crosses 1500 mark in J&K

12 more die, total case tally at 96188

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, Nov 3: The death toll due to COVID-19 crossed the grim milestone of 1500 in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday as 12 more persons succumbed to the pestilence in the last 24 hours, while 478 more people tested positive for the virus taking the case tally past 96000, officials said.
They said that among the victims, who died today, eight belonged to Kashmir and four to Jammu division.
Regarding those who succumbed to the virus in the Valley, they said, six were residents of Srinagar and one each from Anantnag and Kulgam.
The victims from Srinagar include a 45-year-old male from Makhdoom Sahib, a 63-year-old from Shaheedgunj, an 80-year-old woman from Lasjan, an 80-year-old man from Soura, a 50-year-old man from Rawalpora and a 72-year-old man from Mehjoor Nagar, they said.
The victim from Anantnag was a 47-year-old woman from Khanabal area who died at SKIMS Soura, eight days after being admitted to the tertiary care hospital.
Regarding the victims from Jammu, officials said one each belonged to the winter capital of J&K, Rajouri, Doda and Ramban.

With these deaths, the fatality count has reached 1505 in J&K—1001 in Kashmir and 504 in the Jammu region.
Srinagar district with 366 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (260), Baramulla (146), Budgam (94), Pulwama (83), Kupwara (73), Anantnag (75), Rajouri (48), Kulgam (48), Bandipora(47), Doda (47), Shopian (35), Ganderbal (34), Udhampur (32), Kathua (31), Samba (25), Poonch (23), Kishtwar(15), Ramban (15), and Reasi (8).
J&K Covid-19 tally crosses 96000 mark
Meanwhile, 478 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, taking the tally past 96000.
Among the cases, officials said that 195 were reported from Jammu division and 283 from Kashmir taking the total case count to 96188 in the Union Territory.

Giving the details, they said, Srinagar reported 111 cases, Budgam 32, Baramulla 66, Pulwama 14, Kupwara 6, Anantnag 11, Bandipora 16, Ganderbal 21, Kulgam 3, Shopian 3, Jammu 106, Rajouri 10, Udhampur 13, Doda 7, Kathua 11, Poonch 6, Samba 8, Kishtwar 23, Ramban 3 and Reasi 8.
A number of these cases were confirmed from SKIMS and CD hospital’s diagnostic laboratories.
The SKIMS cases include male (50) from Katsoo Sallar Anantnag, female (16) from Parimpora, two males (40, 35) from Nowgam, male (52) and female (46) from Harwan, male (36) from Dalgate, male (38) from Hawal, male (35) from Buchpora, male (28) from Lal Bazar, male (57) from Soura, male (19) from Hawal, male (54) from Tawheed Abad, female (19) from Zakura, female (42) from 90feet Road, female (60) from Nigeen, male (37) from Sarai Bala, female (40) from Bemina, female (35) from Shalteng, two females (48, 27) and male (39) from Shivpora, male (29) from Kawadara, female (50) from Barzulla, female (37) and male (40) from Gulabagh, male (55) from Sector B Srinagar, male (80) from Lal Bazar, male (52) from from Buchpora, female (44) from 90 feet Road, male (78) from Kanitar, male (82) from Nigeen, male (76) from Nishat Srinagar, male (24) from Washbagh Pulwama, female (28) from Serch, male (47) from Hadoora Ganderbal, female (63) and male (35) from Mohanpora Ompora, two females (25, 45) from Hashroo Chadoora, two females (30, 16) from Kralpora Chattergam, male (60) from Hushroo Chadoora, male (48) from Yarikalan Chadoora, two males (42, 11) from Buchroo Chadoora, female (25) from Branwar Chadoora, male (58) from Gulberg Colony Hyderpora, female (50) from Naik Bagh Nowgam, female (29) from Govt Colony Baghi Mehtab, female (18) from Baghi Mehtab Govt Colony, female (40) from BK Pora, female (55) and male (56) from Rawalpora, male (50) and female (48) from Kanipora Khosabagh Umer Colony male (30) from Baghi Mehtab, male (45) from Gulshan Nagar, male (22) from Pamposh Colony Nowgam, female (60) from Chinar Colony Pohroo, female (38) from Cc Pora Beerwah, female (25) from Dasan Beerwah, male (42) and female (37) from Arizal Budgam, male (50) from Arigam Budgam, male (40) from Ladi Imaan Shopian, female (25) from Sopore Seer Baramulla besides 11 from BSF—males (50, 53, 30, 38, 53, 30, 41, 45, 50, 53, 66) from Ch BSF Humhama Srinagar.
The CD cases include five males (NA, 11, 60, 35, 35) and three females (30, 58, 32) from Ishber Nishat, female (NA) from Qazigund, male (50) from Nowpora Srinagar, female (90) from Sumbal Bandipora, two males (45, NA) and female (40) from Batamaloo Srinagar, female (42) from Srinagar, male (68) from Malora Srg, female (62) from Lal Bazar, male (34) from Bemina Srg, male (20) from Barbarshah Srg, male (35) from Chattabal Srg, male (NA) from Tankipora Srg, male (NA) from Baghi Mehtab Srg, female (50) from Batamaloo, female (70) from Chattabal, male (16) from Eidgah, female (28) from Rambagh, three females (45, 11, 24) from Haba Kadal, female (60) from Ali Kadal, female (58) from Umerhair, female (40) and male (24) from Balgarden, female (NA) from Qamarwari, male (35) from SP College, female (60) from HMT Srg, female (55) from Panthachowk, male (70) from Khanyar Srg, female (38) from Safakadal Srg, male (28) from Lalbazar, male (56) from Srinagar, male (28) from Budgam, female (45) from Srinagar, male (65) from NA, NA (16) from Bemina, male (45) from NA, female (68) from Lal Bazar, male (51) from Dudwan Kup, three females (18, 13, 09) from Bumhama Kup, two females (70, 30) from Trehgam, two males (04, 10) and female (08) from Drugmulla Kupwara, male (36) from Lountha, female (48) from Namlabal Pampore, male (42) from Frestbal Pampore, female (61) from Kadalbal Pampore, male (15) from Malangpora, female (90) from Kadalbal Pampore, female (05) from Rajbagh Srinagar, female (55) from Bemina Srg, male (52) from Handwara, female (50) from Gopalpora Budgam, female (50) from NA, female (70) from Wazirbagh Srg, female (35) from Zoora Srg, male (65) from Sopore, male (50) from Chattabal, female (54) from Eidgah, female (70) from Kulgam, female (46) from Shivpora, three males (19, 13, 54) and female (43) from Lal Bazar, two males (NA, 40) from Haba Kadal.
Moreover, they said, 578 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals— 275 from Jammu Division and 303 from Kashmir Valley.

COVId-19: India clocks less than 40000 new cases

Front

United News Of India

04/11/2020

COVId-19: India clocks less than 40000 new cases

New Delhi, Nov 3: India’s COVID-19 tally on Tuesday spiked to 82,67,623 after 38,310 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said in its update.
It was after a long while when the single day spike of fresh cases has been clocked under 40,000.
Fatalities due to the pandemic have now mounted to 1,23,097 in the country after 490 more lives were claimed by the highly contagious virus in the past one day, the government’s data update added.
Meanwhile, 58,323 discharged/cured cases were recorded since Monday, taking the total count of the COVID survivors till date to 76,03,121.
Active caseload on the country has further reduced by 20,503 in a day, and now the nation houses 5,41,405 active coronavirus cases.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 10,46,247 samples were tested for COVID-19 as on Monday, and till date, a total of 11,17,89,350 cumulative samples have been tested COVID since the beginning.
In percentage , the active cases now stand at 6.55 per cent, discharged cases 91.96 per cent and the fatalities due to COVID till date are 1.49 per cent.

J&K’s unemployment rate double than national average

Front

Precious Kashmir

04/11/2020

Sumaya Jan

Srinagar, Nov 3: In a major concern, the unemployment rate has reached to 25 percent in Jammu and Kashmir, which is double the national average.

Jammu and Kashmir has 65 percent population under the age of 35 years.
According to the official figures accessed by news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), 25 percent youth are unemployed in J&K, which is double the national average.

“We are facing many challenges. Unemployment is a major concern in J&K. For a single post, thousands of aspirants are applying,” an official told KINS.

To curb on unemployment, the official Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up 2025 its target to create employment opportunities and end unemployment in the new Union Territory.

The official said that J&K government has sought support of the national-level investors and industry experts in creating robust infrastructure and employment avenues for the youth of J&K.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has also said government would take measures to end unemployment in J&K.

“I believe in concrete plans and immediate execution. My idea of Institutional Mechanism under Mission Youth is to ensure that we have a concrete framework and a definite time-line to execute it on the fertile ground that we have prepared,” he recently said.

The Lt Governor also beckoned the industrial leaders to partner J&K in formulating and implementing the programme successfully on ground as he assumed that best designs are not what looks good on paper but what works best when implemented on ground.

In the domestic Ease of Doing Business ranking and State Reform Action Plan he said, “We are moving up. By minimizing regulatory burdens, J&K have scored over states like Kerala and Odisha in September’s ranking by the central government.”

He has urged that ways and means should be searched for providing the sustained support to youth as the piecemeal approach has not done any good in the past. Our youth has struggled due to many reasons as lack of avenues regarding job prospects, skill up gradation, recreation abetted by poor educational standards, skill sets are taking toll on them, he added.

Union Minister reviews progress of Jal Jeevan Mission with CMs, LGs

Front

Precious Kashmir

04/11/2020

All efforts being made to implement mission on time in J&K: Advisor Bhatnagar
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 3: Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat today held a virtual conference with Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors and representatives of States and Union Territories to review the progress of implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission across the country.
This Conference was organised to discuss various issues i.e., planning, implementation and progress made so far as well as the way forward so that the remaining households in villages get tap water connections at earliest.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar along with Chief Engineer Jal Shakti (PHE) and other concerned officials participated in the meeting on behalf of J&K government.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti complemented States/ UTs for the exemplary work carried out by them during the lockdown period in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic to provide tap connections to rural households.
Gajendra Shekhawat expressed hope that all States/ UTs will make all out efforts to ensure ‘HarGhar Jal’ and discussed threadbare the planning, progress and roadmap to be followed by the States/UTs for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission with speed, scale and skill urged States/ UTs to speed up the implementation.
National Jal Jeevan Mission presented the progress in all States/ UTs and urged them to speed up the implementation to accomplish the goal of the Mission in a time-bound manner so that every rural household gets tap water connection in rural homes.
The Union Minister added that the mission was launched by Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi with the aim of ensuring ‘ease of living’ in the lives of people living in rural areas and improving their quality of lives especially the lives of women of every household who endure the most for getting water for homes from a distance. Providing good quality of water to Households will lead to improvement in the health indices. The Mission not only aims to provide safe water to all but also creates employment opportunity for local people in rural areas. Skilled manpower in every village i.e. plumbing, masonry, electrical, pump operator, etc. are required, for which training is being imparted.
The Minister also highlighted that under the vision and guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make provision for piped water supply in schools, Anganwadi centres and ashramshalas (residential schools in tribal areas), a ‘100-days’ campaign has been launched on 2nd October, 2020 to ensure safe water to children for better health and holistic development.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar presented the progress report of Jammu and Kashmir before the minister and assured him that efforts are being made to implement Jal Jeevan mission on time in J&K.
The Advisor informed the union minister that out of the total 18.17 lakh households, 7.35 lakh households have been provided FHTC’s and the rest of the target will be covered in three phases.

Giving details on the future course of action plan, Advisor Bhatnagar informed the minister that under phase I, four districts will be covered till March 2021, nine districts will be covered in phase II upto December 2021 while seven districts will be covered in phase III till December 2022.
The Advisor further informed the minister that the process of getting testing labs accredited from National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) has been expedited and within a short period of time the accreditation will be granted to the testing labs of Jammu and Kashmir besides the mechanism for mobile testing labs will also be put in place in due time.
Giving details on the 100 days campaign, Advisor Bhatnagar informed the minister that J&K Administration has covered maximum schools and Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) till now and the efforts to cover all schools and AWCs has been expedited and only 3318 schools out of 23113 and 6000 AWCs out of 28061 are left which will be covered till December 2020.
The Advisor also informed the minister that four habitations falling under quality affected area will be covered by December 2020.

The Union Minister complimented the J&K government for better progress in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission and asked them to focus on Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities, skilling of manpower and Water Quality Management system.

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