Precious Kashmir News
Baramulla, Oct 14: Adabi Markaz Kamraz J&K in collaboration with several social and cultural organisations today organised a day-long function here at Sopore to observe the 3rd death anniversary of the renowned educationist Atiqa Bano. On the occasion, an array of cultural activities meant to pay tribute and highlight her contributions, were carried out.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr G N Itoo was the Chief Guest whereas Secretary Cultural Academy, Director Archives, Archaeology and Museums Muneer-ul-Islam was the Guest of Honour at the event.
On the occasion, a special Mehfil-e-Musharia was organized wherein various poets presented their literary works to pay homage to Atiqa Bano.
Deputy Commissioner, in his address highlighted her contribution especially towards the education field and said that such personalities are an asset for the society who always work for the betterment of people.
He appreciated the organisers for conducting the programme and said that such occasions remind us of the exemplary services of famous personalities who worked tirelessly for the welfare of the society.
Moreover, DC said that the administration is committed to preserve and promote our rich art and heritage besides highlighting the significance of our composite culture.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore Parveez Sajad, Former Director General Doordarshan Dr Rafiq Masoodi, President Adabi Markaz Kamraz Farooq Rafiabaadi, prominent academicians and other concerned were present on the occasion.
AMK observes 3rd death anniversary of educationist Atiqa Bano
Shops, other establishments demolished for widening of Shopian-Bijbehara road
Precious Kashmir News
Shopian, Oct 14: Demolition of seventeen shops and two residential houses was carried out in Shopian Town here for widening of Shopian-Bijbehara road.
The demolition was awaited for a decade as these structures posed a serious threat for smooth movement of traffic besides continuing to be a critical bottleneck in managing the traffic in Shopian town.
The widening of the road was taken in the year 2012 but unfortunately couldn’t not be materialized as the shopkeepers demanded proper rehabilitation. During the last one year the acquisition and rehabilitation was taken on fast track basis under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Mohammad Yasin Choudhary.
The widening of the vital Shopian-Bijbehara road has been approved by the Government of India and the project was sanctioned an amount of Rs 48.93 crore for the up-gradation and widening purposes.
The road is the vital link to around two dozen villages that connects them to south Kashmir’s largest town Anantnag.
The widening of the road would pave way for development in the area as it would serve as a main link between the people of Shopian with the National Highway and will in turn boost the economy in the area.
This road would benefit half of the population of the district and would ease the sufferings of people during winters.
‘Over 28000 applied for PMSSS from JK in 2020’
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 14: A webinar was organized by Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura, near Chandigarh on “Empowering Youth: Empowering Jammu and Kashmir” in which Dr M.P Poonia, Vice Chairman, AICTE was the Chief Guest. On the occasion, Aryans students made video presentations of their various projects including Shikara App, Ramadan App, Solar Boat, E- Munshi App and Life saving gloves. Over 5000 Kashmiri Youth and Youth from other states participated in the webinar.
Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, DC, Srinagar; Nisar Ahmad Wani (KAS), Director Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir; Er Mehmood Ahmad Khan, Secretary State Board of Technical Education J&K and G.N. Var, President Pvt. School Association, J&K were the Guest of Honour. Dr Anshu Kataria, Chairman Aryans Group presided over the webinar.
Poonia while addressing Kashmiri Youth said that AICTE has received around 28,000 applications (14000 from Jammu and 14000 from Kashmir) from all around Kashmir under Prime Minister Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS). While addressing innovations done by Aryans Kashmiri Students, he further added that students must apply for grant of these projects and they can get funding upto 10 Lac. He also asked students to apply for visit Abroad grants in which they can also get upto 10 Lac funding.
While talking on Kashmiri issue he said that Kashmir problem can be solved with “Shaastra” (education) not “Shastar” (weapon). He also said that AICTE will be funding three hostels for the students in Kashmir. He accepted the invitation of Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar and promised to visit Srinagar for launching of Aryans Innovations before 30th October.
Dr. Kataria said that there is a very popular proverb that “If there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here”. Kashmir is heaven on earth and we are happy that Aryans is the only campus in the country in which Kashmiri students are studying in majority. There are a total 3500 students studying in Aryans in which 2000 students are from J&K. More than that, not only in innovations but also in the merit list of IKG-PTU, MRS-PTU, Punjabi University etc. in the last 13 years, these students have brought laurels and pride to the institute.
Advisor Bhatnagar to meet people at Srinagar on Friday
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 14: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar will meet people at Lieutenant Governor’s Grievance Cell Church Lane here on October 16 (Friday) from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Public delegations and individuals who want to bring their issues and concerns into the notice of administration for redressal can meet the Advisor Bhatnagar at the said venue.
All such people who will be visiting the venue are requested to follow all health guidelines and protocols in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
Mehbooba’s Release And Political Moves
Mehbooba Mufti, the president of Peoples Democratic Party, has been finally released after 14 months in captivity.
The 61-year-old was the last of the three chief ministers to be released.
Two other former CMs — Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah — were released months earlier, in March.
All the three were booked under the Public Safety Act and were among thousands detained to prevent unrest over the effective nullification of Article 370 by centre on August 5.
Mehbooba’s continued incarceration even after Abudullahs were freed was inexplicable especially what makes her an exceptional suspect under the PSA. Her release also comes just as the deadline set by the Supreme Court to the government to explain her detention was set to expire. Mehobba’s release, on expected lines, is set to give impetus to the moves made by the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir recently to be mount pressure on New Delhi to undo the August 5 decisions. The BJP’s view on Kashmir is as old the party itself. But that by itself is no reason to avoid revisiting the issue and only time will tell if the political parties are able to mount pressure on the government to re-examine the decision. Most of the political parties will sit together one more time on October 15, except if barred, to mull over ways to stand up to their avowal known as Gupkar Declaration. The last time they sat together on August 22 and issued a joint statement that called for the rollback of the constitutional changes of last year even as they termed the decision “spitefully short sighted, measure to disempower, times of pain” and so on.
There seems to be understanding among them that the only way they could undone some of the administrative and legislative changes over the last year by forming a majority government. However, it could be in J&K as a state and not a Union territory. Even if they secure a landslide majority in a future election the parties will remain subservient to the lieutenant-governor.
Meanwhile, the constitutionality of the annulling of the special status and accompanying restrictions on the entire population remains unsettled before the Supreme Court, fourteen months on. It is the time that will define if the parties are able to force a shift in the government of India’s policy or their moves turns to be long-standing political plank.
Amid COVID-19, expensive flu vaccine out of reach for poor
Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 13: Amid the COVID-19 times the demand for flu vaccines in Kashmir has increased manifolds as the doctors and experts have advised people to get vaccinated. But the cost factor of the influenza vaccines is bothering everyone.
According to the details available with Precious Kashmir the quadrivalent influenza vaccine which doctors have advised costs anything between Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 per dose and many families are finding it hard to afford it. “I am aware of the fact that I have to get myself and other family members vaccinated. We are six in a family and we will have to approximately spend Rs 9000/ on these vaccines. Somehow I will have to arrange the money and get these vaccines done,” said Farooq Ahmed of Karan Nagar.
It may be recalled that last month president of Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan had urged health authorities in Kashmir to provide free flu vaccine to poor people.
“That would increase vaccine uptake and save lives,” Dr Nisar had said.
“Poor are not getting vaccinated against the flu and cost is the barrier. One flu vaccine costs Rs 1680. High cost of the vaccine keeps it out of reach for poor people,” he had said.
Irshad Ahmed, who owns a medical shop, at Rawalpora in city outskirts said, “Compared to last year this time people are coming forward in large numbers. Demand for the flu vaccine shots is high. Despite these vaccines being expensive people are buying it.”
Ahmed said, “During winters cold and cough are common problems in Kashmir but due to COVID-19 people are scared and they don’t want to take any chances.”
He said, “No one knows how the virus will behave during the winters and everyone is scared. People don’t want to take any chances.”
Ayaz Ahmed of Karan Nagar said that the variation in rates of the influenza vaccine has created confusion. “The government should come up with a notification and fix the price of these flu shots so that people are not taken for a ride,” Ahmed added.
A medical shop owner said that they are selling the vaccines at the MRP which is clearly mentioned on the boxes of these vaccines. “We can understand that everyone cannot afford it. The government should come up with a scheme for the poor people and the flu shots should be provided free to the ones who are unable to pay. This vaccine can act as a shield against the virus especially in winter season,” he said, adding, “I feel very sad when I see people not buying these vaccines due to its high cost. The government needs to intervene.”
Ladakh Standoff:India, China agree not to turn differences into disputes
New Delhi, Oct 13: Top military commanders of India and China have agreed to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas in eastern Ladakh and not ‘turn ‘differences into disputes’.
The commanders of the two Himalayan giants met for seventh round of meeting at Chushul on the Indian side in eastern Ladakh to discuss ways for complete disengagement and de-escalation from all the friction points along the Line of Actual Control.
According to a Joint Statement issued after the talks ‘Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through
military and diplomatic channels and arrive at a mutually acceptable solution for disengagement as early as possible.”
They also agreed to ‘earnestly implement the important understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, not
turn differences into disputes and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas,’ the Joint Statement said.
‘The two sides had a sincere, in-depth and constructive exchange of views on disengagement along the Line of Actual Control
in the Western Sector of India-China border areas. They were of the view that these discussions were positive, constructive and
had enhanced understanding of each other’s positions,” the joint statement added.
Mehbooba Mufti released after 14 months
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 13: PDP president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was released from detention on Tuesday nearly after 14 months.
“Ms. Mehbooba Mufti being released,” Rohit Kansal, government spokesman said in a tweet. Officials said that the government revoked her PSA detention order of February 5 which was extended by three months on 31-7-2020.
“In exercise of powers conferred under section 19(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, the Government hereby revokes the detention order bearing No. DMS / PSA / 147 / 2020 dated 05-02-2020 issued by District Magistrate. Srinagar which was last extended for a period of three months vide Government Order No. Home / PB-V / 1449 of 2020 dated 31-07-2020 of Ms. Mehbooba Mufti D/o Late Mufti Mohammad Sayed R/o Bijbehara A/P Nowgam, Srinagar, with immediate effect,” reads a government order.
Mehbooba was among hundreds of people detained in 2019 to prevent protests against the Government of India’s move to divest J&K of its special status through the nullification of the Constitution’s Article 370 and to divide state into two Union territories.
Mehbooba was presently under detention at her official residence at Fairview Bungalow, which had been declared a subsidiary jail.
COVID-19 kills 8 more in J&K, 677 test positive
Fatality count reaches 1343, cases at 84708
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Oct 13: Jammu and Kashmir reported eight more COVID-19 deaths in last 24 hours, while 677 tested positive for the virus across the Union Territory, officials said on Tuesday.
They said the fatality count in J&K has mounted to 1343, while as 84708 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 in the UT till date.
Giving the details of the causalities, officials said, five people died in Kashmir today, while 3 succumbed in Jammu.
Two of the victims were from Srinagar and include a 72-year-old man from Bemina who died two days after being admitted to CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of the COVID-19 patients in the Valley.
Also, a 77-year-old man from Natipora Srinagar died at SMHS hospital in wee hours, two weeks after he was admitted with bilateral community acquired pneumonia, they said.
Regarding other victims, they said two each belonged to Baramulla and Jammu and one each to Budgam and Rajouri.
With these deaths, the fatality count has reached 906 in Valley and 437 in Jammu.
Srinagar district with 321 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (227), Baramulla (132), Budgam (90), Pulwama (75), Kupwara (71), Anantnag (70), Kulgam (43), Bandipora(42), Rajouri (44), Doda (40), Shopian (32), Ganderbal (30), Kathua (29), Samba (24), Udhampur (23), Poonch (22), Ramban (11), Kishtwar(11) and Reasi (6).
J&K reports 677 new cases
Meanwhile, forty travelers were among 677 new COVID-19 cases that were reported in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, taking the total count to 84708.
Among the new cases, 313 were reported from Jammu Division and 364 from Kashmir, officials said.
Giving the district wise details, they said, Srinagar reported 145 cases, Budgam 35, Baramulla 53, Pulwama 43, Kupwara 18, Anantnag 14, Bandipora 24, Ganderbal 22, Kulgam 9, Shopian 1, Jammu 121,
Rajouri 41, Udhampur 16, Doda 23, Kathua 7, Poonch 12, Samba 21, Kishtwar 40, Ramban 9 and Reasi 23.
Moreover, they said, 796 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals–398 from Jammu Division and 398 from Kashmir.
Meanwhile, according to the bulletin, of the total 84708 positive cases in J&K 9241 have been reported as travelers while 75467 as others.
There are 1306 COVID dedicated beds, 1170 Isolation beds with 1005 vacant beds and 136 ICU beds where 67 beds are vacant in Jammu division while there are 2358 COVID dedicated beds, 2214 Isolation beds where 1720 beds are vacant and 144 ICU beds where 125 are vacant beds in Kashmir division, it said.
“There are a total of 3664 COVID dedicated beds, 3384 Isolation beds with 2725 beds vacant and 280 ICU beds with 192 vacant beds in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.’
The Central Government, it said, is continuously monitoring the evolving situation of Covid-19 in J&K and is providing all necessary support towards effective containment of the spread of Covid-19 and better clinical management of positive cases. (GNS)
COVID-19: India’s records 55,342 new cases, tally at 71,75,881
New Delhi, Oct 13: India’s COVID-19 tally reached 71,75,881 on Tuesday after recording a fresh spike of 55,342 cases during the past 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry update said here.
After a couple of months, the spike has come down under 60,000 with regard to the cases daily rise in cases.
Also, the country registered 77,760 cured cases in the same duration which has pushed the total recoveries till date to 62,27,295.
Meanwhile, there were 706 deaths due to the highly contagious virus since yesterday, pushing the death toll to 1,09,856 so far.
Active case-load on the country has further decreased by 23,124 since Monday and currently India is home to 8,38,729 active cases of the Novel Coronavirus.
In terms of percentage, the active cases are 11.69 per cent. Recovery rate stands at 86.78 per cent, while the death rate is at 1.53 per cent.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), as many as 10,73,014 samples were tested in the past 24 hours, taking the total cumulative samples tested since the beginning of the pandemic till Monday to 8,89,45,107.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra continues to remain the worst affected state with maximum case count as well as in terms of maximum active cases.
Globally, the United States continues to remain the most-infected, followed by India and Brazil.
