New Delhi, Oct 25: The Central Government employees can submit multiple bills of goods and services purchased in their own name to avail the benefit of the LTC (Leave Travel Concession) cash voucher scheme, according to the Finance Ministry.
The Expenditure Department, under the Ministry, has issued a set of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on LTC cash voucher scheme, clarifying that an employee can also avail the scheme utilising the applicable LTC fare without leave encashment.
The Government on October 12 announced the LTC cash voucher scheme under which Central Government employees can purchase any goods or services with GST rate of 12 per cent or above to avail the benefit.
Till now, employees got LTC benefits only on travels made, or had to forgo the amount.
The Ministry said employees can avail the scheme utilising the applicable LTC fare without leave encashment.
“The expenditure should be in accordance with the ratio as prescribed for LTC fare,” it said.
To a query on whether the scheme would be applicable if a particular LTC which is meant to be used for the scheme has been partially availed by either self or members of the family, the FAQ said, “This scheme is applicable to the LTC fare left unutilised during the block year (2018-21).”
On whether an employee with four family members eligible for LTC can avail the scheme for less than four members, the Ministry said an employee can avail the scheme in partial, that is for the LTC part of the eligible family.
“Since this is an optional scheme, if the LTC fare of any member of the family has not been utilised for this purpose, those members can avail LTC subject to extent instructions under LTC rules.”
The FAQ further clarified that multiple bills would be accepted, but purchases should happen within the current financial year ending March.
“The purchase should carry a GST of 12 per cent and above and payment should have been made through digital mode,” it added.
It said reimbursement would be based on production of invoice with details of GST.
“As far as possible, the claim should be made and settled well before March 1, 2021 to avoid any last minute rush and resultant lapse”.
Besides, the invoice which is being submitted for reimbursement under the scheme should be in the name of the employee availing the scheme.
Govt employees can submit multiple bills to avail LTC cash voucher scheme benefit
50-year old ‘Bandipora Master Plan’ to get artistic make over
Precious Kashmir News
Bandipora, Oct 25: After successful culmination of governments ambitious ‘’My Town My Pride” programme, the District Administration is all set to give a new artistic makeover to the Bandipora town by reviewing the Master Plan formulated five decades ago in early 60’s.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad said that during the “MTMP” programme, several demands came to fore including the restoration and expansion of the master plan formulated for Bandipora after the town was gutted in a massive ablaze in 1962.
He said the administration is steadfast in providing basic amenities to the inhabitants of town along with sustainable development of town area with emphasis on facilities like proper drainage and sewerage system, planned construction, alternate roads, fire gaps between shops and houses across the town.
As a follow up of the MTMP programme, the DC on Saturday conducted an extensive tour of the town along with Joint Director Planning, Chairman Municipal Council Bandipora and a team of town planners and architects to assess the ground situation and get feedback of the people.
On the occasion, Owais said that emphasis also needs to be given to beautification of town area along with enforcing proper waste disposal system that will perhaps make the town ecologically sustainable.
He said that proposal for construction of walk way from Sonerwani Bridge to Kaloosa Bridge is under consideration and will become one of the major attractions of the town besides, several other projects are also in pipeline for the augmentation of drainage system of the town that is the long pending demand of the people and was flagged as a prime demand of the people during MTMP.
Owais further said that it is need of the hour to designate proper parking facilities for market area so as to reduce congestion. He also inspected several proposed sites for development of parking facility in the vicinity of market area.
The DC said that another priority of the administration will remain repair of footpaths and walkways and making them accessible to all by construction of ramps as recommended by relevant authorities.
He said the Municipal Council has been strictly implementing the ban on the use of single use polythene in Bandipora market and several market checking teams have been deployed in all towns of the district which besides routine market checking have also seized huge quantities of single use plastics and imposed relevant fines on defaulters.
Scrap dealer’s son clears medical entrance test in 9th attempt
Kota, Oct 25: Unlike other aspirants, cracking an all-India entrance exam for a medical college was not just a dream for 26-year-old Arvind Kumar but a way to give a befitting reply to people at whose hands his family faced humiliation for years.
A resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, Arvind says he decided to become a doctor as his scrap dealer father, Bhikhari, was subjected to constant humiliation by villagers because of his work and name, which in English means a “beggar”.
However, the success did not come easy. He first appeared in 2011 for the All-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), now replaced by the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
Arvind says the success came only in his ninth attempt this year, in which he secured all-India Rank 11603. He bagged Rank 4,392 in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Arvind says at any moment, he did not feel disheartened.
“I tend to convert negativity into positivity and extract energy and motivation from it,” says Arvind.
He gives the credit of his success to his family, self-belief and r consistent hard work.
Arvind says his father, Bhikhari, had studied up to Class 5 while his mother Lalita Devi has never been to a school.
He grew up seeing his father facing humiliation just because of his unusual name. Leaving them behind, his father had to move to Jamshedpur’s Tatanagar for work around two decades ago.
After some years, for better education of his three children, Bhikhari shifted his family from their village to Kushinagar town, where Arvind completed Class 10 with a mere 48.6 per cent marks.
He showed slight improvement in Class 12, scoring 60 per cent marks.
It was here that Arvind made up his mind to become a doctor to fulfil his father’s wish.
Attempt after attempts continued for nine years without success.
“But improvement in marks at every attempt was a ray of hope that kept me concentrated at my goal,” he says, adding that the change in the exam structure to NEET did disturb his preparation a bit.
He moved to a Kota institute in 2018 for coaching fearing that he may miss achieving his goal due to the age bar for the exam.
His father said over the phone from Jamshedpur’s Tatanagar that he had to work 12 to 15 hours a day to meet expenses of his son’s stay in Kota.
“I worked for 12 to 15 hours daily to earn enough to meet educational expenses of my children and would visit the family, around 800-900 km away in Kushinagar, once in six months for a brief period,” Mr Bhikhari says.
“My son Arvind has proved his commitment to the goal. I am very proud of him,” he further says.
His brother Amit always motivated Arvind for improvement in marks at every attempt. It was Amit, who first suggested that he should move to Kota to take coaching there, the father says.
“I am happy and my family is proud of me that I am now going to be the first doctor in my village of around 1,500-1,600 people,” says Arvind.
He still says villagers are threatening to trap his family in a criminal case to spoil his chances of getting a government job.
But Arvind says he is now hopeful of securing admission to a medical college in Gorakhpur and wants to become an orthopaedic surgeon.
“Even a minor bone injury hurts a lot. Increasing road accidents trouble me a lot so I just wish to serve people as an orthopaedic surgeon,” he says.
Over 39,000 pilgrims pay obeisance at Vaishno Devi shrine during Navratras
Jammu, Oct 25: More than 39,000 pilgrims paid obeisance during nine days of Navratras at Vaishno Devi cave Shrine situated in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir, authorities said on Sunday.
The Shrine Board official that as many as 39,974 pilgrims from within the Jammu and Kashmir and different parts the country visited to the Bhawan between October 17 to October 25.
The official further said that out of the total number pilgrims who visited during this period, 15,764 were from Jammu and Kashmir and 24,210 were from other parts of the country.
Sharing details, the official added that on October 17, 4,546 pilgrims visited the cave shrine which included, 1,909 local residents, 2,637 outsiders; on October 18, 3,860 pilgrims including 1,063 local residents, 2,697 outsiders; on October 19, 3,082 pilgrims including 1,136 local residents, 1,946 outsiders; on October 20, 4,121 pilgrims including 1,670 local residents, 2,451 outsiders; on October 21, 4,068 pilgrims including 1,377 local residents, 2,691 outsiders; on October 22, 4,927 pilgrims including 1,973 local residents, 2,954 outsiders; on October 23, 6,613 pilgrims including 2,928 local residents, 3,685 outsiders; on October 24, 6,891 residents including 3,280 local residents, 3611 outsiders and on October 25 (till 1400 hours), 1,966 pilgrims including 428 local residents and 1,538 outsiders, visited to the Bhawan.
The Shrine Board had made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims visiting the Holy Cave Shrine during Navratras.
These arrangements included round the clock water and power supply all along the tracks leading to the Shrine, sanitation, medicare and availability of special “fast related” food at the catering outlets of the Shrine Board.
The Board has also increased the limit of pilgrims to 7,000 from October 15, which was earlier 5,000 pilgrims per day.
The services of ponies, pithoos and palkis was also allowed to operate on the track between Katra and Bhawan in a regulated manner by following all the safety norms and guidelines notified by the government in order to ensure the safety and health of the pilgrims, Shrine Board staff and the service providers.
The pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi was suspended on March 18 in view of the COVID pandemic and was later resumed on August 16.
Aripanthan-Khag road in shambles, locals aghast
Aijaz Nabi Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 25: The 12 km stretch road from Aripanthan to Khag in central Kashmir’s Budgam district is in shamble from past 4 years and authorities are unmoved.
According to reports this project was under centrally sponsered scheme Central Road Funds with an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, and work on this was started in 2016.
The road is in a bad condition and is taking a heavy toll on the health of travellers.
A local namely Fayaz Ahmad said the road was to be widened 40 feet out of which 26 feet road was supposed to be macdamised.
“But nothing has been done related to macadamization. Now winter is approaching and macadamization period is almost over. This area (Khag) is a hilly area, where temperature drops from the beginning of the September,” he said.
Another local said the road is in such a worst condition as it takes hours for the locals to cover this 12 km stretch. “Nobody is bothered to pay heed towards our grievances’. This road turns muddy during rains”.
The locals urged the LG Manoj Sinha to intervene and make the road traffic worthy. (KNS)
Virtual Courts
Earlier this month, while taking into consideration the latest SOPs and guidelines issued by the Governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, related to covid-19 pandemic, the High Court ordered that apart from virtual hearing, the matters may also be taken up for physical hearings where the counsel for both the parties give their consent.
Also, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on personnel, public grievances, law, and justice, in its recent report, recommended holding virtual courts even after the pandemic ends.
The panel underlined that digital justice was cheaper and faster besides addresses locational and economic handicaps. It also ensures the safety of vulnerable witnesses providing testimony and expedites processes and procedures, the panel underscored.
The takeaway was that it “most affordable, citizen-friendly and offer greater access to justice”.
It is beyond doubt something to be tried and adopted sooner than later. However, the concerned stakeholders need to deeply analyze the issues related to digital technology as also fixing shortcomings, both in terms of legislation and existing structures.
The virtual courts, it is hoped, will reduce the pendency of cases by reducing the time taken on comparatively lesser financial issues like insurance, traffic claims and challans that clog the system for long now.
The major policy changes always have unintended consequences and as such these “game-changing” decisions demand careful thought on what types of cases and what parts of the judicial process are amenable to going online.
As has been administratively ordered by the high court, it should be a matter of choice if participants on either side want to use the virtual route. It is true that reducing pendency via virtual courts will diminish travel costs and allied problems associated with it but allied factors should not be ignored at the peril of justice. The virtual court hearings may be a help in recording evidence especially in the context of J&K where prosecution for one or the other security reasons fails to produce the accused or vulnerable witnesses.
Fundamentally is not the technology alone that improves the system. Basically people do.
While virtual mode has benefits, the crucial matters that need direct human interaction should never be replaced by online system.
The adoption of new and evolving technologies requires careful preparation. In context of J&K, issues on connectivity need to be addressed beforehand. The experience allowed by the covid-19 needs to be taken forward, both in terms of benefits as well as addressing the shortcomings.
‘Govt job no more a guarantee for secure future’
Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Government amending the civil service regulations are being seen as move to cut its employees to size.
On Thursday Finance Department issued a notification stating that in exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 of Indian Constitution, Lieutenant Governor has directed that Article 226(2) of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations may be substituted as follows: “226 (2): (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in these Regulations, Government may, if it is of the opinion that in the public interest to do so, require any Government servant other than one working on a post which is included in Schedule II of these Rules, to retire at any time after he has completed 22 years of qualifying service or on attaining 48 years of age, provided that the Appropriate Authority shall give a notice to Government servant at least 3 months before the date on which he is required to retire or 3 months of pay and allowance in lieu of such notice.”
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “The government jobs don’t guarantee secure future anymore. Now, the employees who have completed 22-years of service or have attained the age of 48-years can be shown the door after being served a 3-month notice. The government jobs in J&K after the recent amendment are no better than the private jobs. If someone is employed by a private company threat about him being fired at any point of time keeps on prevailing all the time.”
He said, “Since the day J&K has been turned into the Union Territory speculations have been rife that the government is mulling to get rid of the deadwood and non-performing employees. It seems that amending the service rules is a first step towards axing the government employees whose performance has been below par.”
An observer said, “Now, the government employees are in no position to take their jobs for granted. They will have to work hard to keep themselves in green zone. If they keep on doing what they used to do in the past they can end up in a big mess.”
He said, “The government has made it clear that it means business and the ones who don’t want to be a part of the enterprise can be thrown out after being served a simple notice.”
The government’s decision to tighten the noose around its employees has evoked a sharp reaction from the political parties. “Politicians raising hue and cry won’t help anyone’s cause as the decision seems to have been taken at the highest level,” the observer added.
Assembly Secretariat not to move with Darbar Move
Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar, Oct 22: In a first, the administration of Jammu & Kashmir has decided against moving Assembly Secretariat between the Union twin capitals of the Union Territory as part of the bi-annual Darbar Move practice.
In a communique to secretary, Legislative Assembly, the Jammu & Kashmir government has conveyed him that that there is no need to move Assembly secretariat to Jammu, because the Assembly is not presently in place.
“There is no requirement of moving the J&K Assembly secretariat to Jammu with the Annual Darbar Move, 2020 since no Assembly is presently in place in J&K,” reads the General Administration Department’s advice to Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
This is for the first time since creation of J&K Assembly that move of its employees has been abandoned.
In nineties, when Jammu & Kashmir was under direct Central rule for six long years, the assembly secretariat would move bi-annually between Srinagar and Jammu and vice-versa.
As part of practice started in 1872, the important government offices of Jammu & Kashmir function for six months in Srinagar and for same period in Jammu. From May to October, governmental offices are housed in the UT’s summer capital, Srinagar, and the other six months in its winter capital, Jammu.
As per order issued by the General Administration Department on October 6 this year, 48 offices will move in full to Jammu and 56 offices in camp.
It is worthwhile to mention here that J&K is without its Assembly for the past two years.
In the erstwhile state of J&K, then Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the assembly on November 21, 2018 after rival claims to form the government from former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone.
The House was dissolved more than five months after it was put under suspended animation following BJP’s withdrawal of support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government.
On August 5, the constitutional and legal changes effected by the BJP-led Centre government protected J&K Assembly but increased number of elected MLAs from 83 to 90.
But it abolished the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, which was part of the bi-cameral legislature of the erstwhile state.
Presently, delimitation exercise is underway to fix boundaries of assembly segments and reserve seats for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
COVID-19: 10 more die, 586 fresh cases in J&K
Death toll mounts to 1428, total cases at 90752
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Oct 23: Jammu and Kashmir reported 10 more COVID-19 deaths, while 586 fresh cases were reported during the past 24-hours, officials said on Friday.
They said that the fatality count in the Union Territory has mounted to 1428, while 90752 people have tested positive for the virus till date.
Officials said that among those who died due to COVID-19 today, six were from Kashmir and four belonged to Jammu.
Regarding those who died in the Valley include three residents from Srinagar, two from Anantnag and one from Baramulla.
Among others, the victims include a 60-year-old man from Old town Baramulla who died at SKIMS Soura; a 75-year-old from Noorbagh Srinagar who also died at the tertiary care hospital, sixteen days after he was admitted there; a 70-year-old man from HMT Narbal passed away at SMHS hospital where he was admitted with bilateral community acquired pneumonia on October 14 and a 54-year-old man from Maisuma Srinagar who passed away nearly a week after being admitted to CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the COVID-19 patients.
Regarding the victims from Jammu, they said, three belonged to the winter capital of the J&K and one to the Udhampur district.
Among others, the victims include a 60-year-old woman who has tested positive for the virus on Rapid Antigen Test and an 85-year-old man from Julaka Mohalla Jammu.
With these deaths, Kashmir’s fatality count has reached 955 and that of Jammu to 473.
J&K reports 586 more cases
Meanwhile, six minors and three doctors were among 586 new COVID-19 cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 90752.
Officials told GNS that 206 of the cases were reported from Jammu Division and 380 from Kashmir Valley.
Giving district wise breakup of the cases, they said, Srinagar reported 154, Budgam 41, Baramulla 40, Pulwama20, Kupwara 30, Anantnag 49, Bandipora 12, Ganderbal 22, Kulgam 11, Shopian one, Jammu 121, Rajouri 10, Udhampur 12, Doda 14, Kathua 8, Poonch 9, Samba 7, Kishtwar 12, Ramban 8 and Reasi 5.
A number of these cases were confirmed at SKIMS and CD hospital diagnostic laboratories and included eight security forces personnel.
The CD cases include male (30) from RR Panzgam, male (20) (NA) from Habbakadal sgr, male (75) (NA) from Zakura sgr, male (65) (NA) from Buchpora sgr, male (31) (NA) from Buchpora sgr, male (55) (NA) from Naidkha bandipora, male (47) (NA) from Rajbagh sgr, female (72) (NA) from Sgr, male (14) (NA) from Sgr, male (12) (NA) from Sgr, male (65) (NA) from Handwara, male (60) (NA) from Khansahib budgam, male (35) (NA) from Peerbagh sgr, male (50) (NA) from Karanagar, male (35) (NA) from Budgam, male (60) (NA) from Gulshan nagar, male (42) (NA) from Kursoo Rajbagh, male (44) (NA) from Bagi mehtab sgr, male (45) (NA) from Anantnag, male (45) (NA) from Awantipora, female (45) (NA) from Bemina, male (65) (NA) from Tangdhar, female (65) (NA) from Buchpora sgr, male (01) (NA) from Buchpora sgr, male (62) (NA) from Buchpora sgr, male (22) (NA) from Buchpora sgr, female (40) (NA) from Buchpora sgr, male (34) (NA) from Batamaloo sgr, male (38) (NA) from Ganderbal, female (65) (NA) from Hawal sgr, male (65) (NA) from Qamarwari sgr, female (63) (NA) from Sgr, male (30) (NA) from Sgr, male (80) (NA) from Chanpora Sgr, male (48) (NA) from Bandipora, female (52) (NA) from Kandi tangdhar, female (20) from Malangpora, female (38) from Kandizal, male (15) from Malangpora, female (35) (NA) from Nowgam, female (65) (NA) from Nowgam, male (75) from Pingleena.
The SKIMS Cases Include male (26) from Chakarpora Budgam, male (32) from 269 Eng Reg Budgam, male (42) from 269 Eng Reg Budgam, male (32) from 269 Eng Reg Budgam, male (38) from Eng Reg Budgam, male (29) from 269 Eng Reg Budgam, male (52) from Ompora Sgr, male (02) from Tangnar Budgam, male (45) from Beerwah Budgam, Female (05) from Najan Budgam, Female (32) from Najan Budgam, male (31) from Kanipora Budgam, Female (28) from Kanipora Budgam, male (50) from Kanipora Budgam, Female (48) from Kanipora Budgam, male (25) from Bagoora Budgam, male (42) from Nowgam Budgam, male (42) from Barzulla Budgam, Female (45) from Chadoora Budgam, male (35) from Sugam Budgam, male (14) from Chrari Shareef Budgam, Female (13) from Chrari Shareef Budgam, Female (27) from Kralpora Budgam, Female (27) from Chadoora Budgam, male (40) from Nowbugh Chadoora, male (42) from 43 Bn CRPF DPL Budgam, male (47) from 43 Bn CRPF dpl budgam, male (31) from 49 Bn CRPF Karanagar sgr, male (01) from Sgr, male (09) from Sgr, female (30) from Uri, female (16) from Ganderbal and female (44) from Sanatnagar Sgr.
Male (54) from Lalbazar Sgr, male (24) from Dooru Sopore, male (65) from Nowshera Sgr, male (42) from Malbagh Sgr, male (40) from Fatehkadal Sgr, male (50) from Nishat Sgr, Female (58) from Baghat Sgr, Female (50) from Sgr, male (50) from Lalbazar Sgr, Female (60) from Peerbagh Sgr, male (65) from Qamarwari Sgr, male (36) from Bemina Sgr, male (65) from Bemina Sgr, Female (67) from Lalbazar Sgr, Female (55) from Zoonimar Sgr, male (63) from Kangan Ganderbal, male (70) from Kangan, Female (49) from Kangan Ganderbal, Female (06) from Pattan Baramulla, male (55) from Banihal, Female (20) from Pooru Anantnag, male (51) from Gutlibagh Ganderbal, Female (50) from Nowgam Sgr, male (70) from Kishtawar, male (75) from Bandipora, male (23) from Sopore, male (50) from Soura Sgr.
Moreover, they said, 684 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals— 348 from Jammu Division and 336 from Kashmir. (GNS)
COVID-19: Trials of Russian vaccine begin in India
New Delhi, Oct 23: Russian Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 will be tested in India on 100 volunteers, the Indian Central Drugs Standard Control Organization’s Drug Controller General (DCGI) has said.
The organisation has granted permission for conducting the tests to pharmaceutical giant Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.
The date and timing of the testing will be determined by the company, the DCGI said.
The vaccine will be tested in the second phase of its clinical trials before moving on to phase 3.
Last week, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr Reddy’s said that they had received approval from the DCGI to conduct phase 2 and 3 of clinical trials of Sputnik V. The RDIF and Dr Reddy’s have entered into a partnership to supply the Indian company with 100 million doses of Sputnik V in September.
On Monday, the RDIF and another Indian pharmaceutical company, Mankind Pharma, signed an agreement for the marketing and distribution of Sputnik V.
Russia registered the world’s first coronavirus vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Institute together with RDIF, in August. The fund has been teaming up with partners to conduct Sputnik V clinical trials in Belarus, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates.
