Precious Kashmir

B2V3 aimed to encourage participatory development in Panchayats: Advisor Bhatnagar

Jammu & Kashmir

06/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News
Kathua, Oct 5: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar Monday said that the 3rd edition of Back to Village programme (B2V3) was aimed to encourage participatory development in panchayats by listening to grievances and plan development as per the aspirations of the rural populace.
The Advisor said this while addressing a large gathering of people during a B2V3 function at Panchayat Kattal Brahamana in Hiranagar today.
Bhatnagar maintained that the Back to Village programme is devised to enable, strengthen and empower PRIs and foster the pace of development at grassroots level.
He said the administration has directed DCs and SSPs to convene public hearing every Wednesday at the door steps of the people to achieve speedy redressal of issues raised by them.
He asked the people to come forward and avail benefits of welfare schemes of the government to improve their socioeconomic condition.
The Advisor impressed upon the PRI members to plan out the development works of their respective panchayats in order to fulfil the aspirations of people regarding development from all levels.
Referring Covid-19 pandemic as one of the reason of slowdown in taking up of some development work, the Advisor said with the opening up of lockdown restrictions the speed of work has been increased considerably and in coming days the pace of all developmental works will be increased.
Responding to the demand of making easy mechanism for issuing border resident certificate, the Advisor directed DC Kathua to look into the matter and devise suitable mechanism for the same at the earliest.
On the occasion, several delegations met the Advisor and raised issues included water scarcity, road connectivity, low voltage and other developmental issues with the Advisor.
The Advisor gave patient hearing to the demands and issues raised by the public.

Tourism Casual labourers demand release of pending wages

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

06/10/2020

Retired JKTDC employees seek release of retirement benefits

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Oct 5: The causal labourers of Tourism Department Monday staged a protest here at Press Enclave Srinagar demanding the release of their pending wages and regularization.

The protesting Casual Labourers said that they have not been paid since July 2014 despite serving the department like permanent employees.

President, Kashmir Tourism Department Casual Labours Union Qaisar Bhat said they are facing a financial crisis on a daily basis as their wages are pending in the department since 2014.

“All our requests have gone to deaf ears. Even Director Tourism ignored us and showed least interest in releasing our wages,” he said.

The casual Labours said that the government should implement the Minimum Wages Act policy across Jammu and Kashmir and all the Casual Labours will get benefit through this policy. The protestors said that an order directing the release of wages was issued on October 24, 2018, and another order was again released on January 1, 2019, but no action was taken.

They sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Meanwhile, several former employees of J&K Tourism Development Corporation Monday appealed authorities to release their pending retirement benefits as said employees are facing manifold hardships while feeding their families in pandemic situation.

Former employees who were superannuated in January 2020 said they are yet to get the benefits of retirement like leave salary, DA arrears and 6th/7th pay commission arrears despite get retired from eight months back. They alleged that despite repeated communications and representations to concern authorities, nothing was done so far.

“We have retired from active service since January 2020 but unfortunately till date the management of JKTDC has released only our gratuity,” a group of retired employees said.

They said rest of retirement benefits including leave salary, DA arrears and 6th/7th pay commission arrears are still pending for release.

They appealed the government to intervene into the matter and ensure their pending retirement benefits to be released without any further delay.

Director Tourism Nisar Ahmad Wani said the department is currently witnessing financial crunch due to unavoidable circumstances.

He said department being a corporation, can’t get funds without “fund generation”. “Once tourism activities across will resume, the pending dues of the retiree employee would be released”. (KNT + KNS)

CUK’s IT Deptt starts training workshop on IoT, machine learning

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

06/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News
Ganderbal, Oct 5: Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir Monday e-inaugurated one week training workshop on “Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning” organised by the Department of Information Technology, School of Engineering and Technology, in collaboration with National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Chandigarh. He also launched the IT Department’s placement drive on the occasion.
Addressing the participants, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj-ud-Din Mir, said the “Digitization and internet technologies have already become an integral part of human lives including academics even before the Covid-19 outbreak and the pandemic has further established the fact that internet and associated technologies have a major stake and role in the future.” He asked the Departments of IT, Media Studies and Law to join hands and provide solutions to the issues confronted by the masses, through technological intervention.
Mir encouraged the students to take part in trainings and workshops that will help them to develop employable skills that are in demand.
Regarding the placement drive, he said, “The placement cell constituted for the purpose will help our students to launch their careers in the direction they intend to.”

KU holds national webinar

City

Precious Kashmir

06/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Oct 5: A one-day National Webinar on ‘Emerging respiratory viruses- COVID-19 and Influenza’ was organized by the Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir (KU), in collaboration with Academy of EcoScience on Monday.

The webinar was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Talat Ahmad.

While addressing the participants, Talat underscored the importance of such webinars amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

He valuated the role of scientists in these pandemic times and stressed on to follow COVID-19 SOPs while meeting the research and academic standards.

Talat further deliberated upon the role of webinars in present COVID-19 pandemic time for academic and research pursuits.

During the webinar, the keynote speakers highlighted the cause and consequences of respiratory diseases.

Prof. Rita Singh Convener, Division of Molecular Endocrinology and Reproduction Department of Zoology, University of Delhi deliberated on ‘How Corona Virus Hacks Human Physiology’. She enumerated the physiological mechanisms affected by corona virus.

Navin e-inaugurates maiden organic vegetable sale centre at Srinagar

City

Precious Kashmir

06/10/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Oct 5: Principal Secretary Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department Navin Kumar Choudhary Monday e-inaugurated first Organic Vegetable Sale Centre here at Agriculture Complex Lalmandi.

Speaking on the occasion, the Principal Secretary said organic farming is worldwide acknowledged as a crop production system which can sustain health of soil, ecosystem and people by combining tradition, innovation and improved farm technology.

Navin said the need of the hour is to broaden the base of such centres for bringing the right product at the right price for the consumers. He emphasized that organic cultivation is emerging as the most lucrative farm activity and needs to be promoted across Jammu and Kashmir.

“The demand for organic products is fast rising as the food quality and safety have gained much attention among general consumers due to health benefits and food safety requirements,” he added. He also recommended setting up such types of markets at district level so that the farmers get better returns and consumers can enjoy fresh and quality vegetables at their doorsteps. These centres will also prove as game changers for providing employment opportunities to the young entrepreneurs, he added.

Navin congratulated the Department of Agriculture Kashmir for providing a space to the organic vegetable growers to sell their produce directly to the consumers.

While elaborating the organic sector success in the valley, Director Agriculture Altaf Aijaz Andrabi said that organic vegetables are becoming an integral part of regular food consumption here, for which the department is taking various initiatives. Providing space to the growers and further expansion of these markets to district level is one such handholding step, he added.

Andrabi said that 5 PGS registered vegetable clusters of District Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama, Bandipora and Ganderbal have been linked up with the centre at Lalmandi to provide fresh and quality vegetables to the consumers.

Unlock 5: Protect the vulnerable

Edit

Precious Kashmir

06/10/2020

Jammu and Kashmir is all set to have fresh guidelines as part of the 5^th phase of unlock later this week.

The administration in all probability would allow further expansion of public activity mainly in education, and businesses.

The announcement comes at a time when novel coronavirus transmission is steady in most parts of J&K. In twin capital cities, Jammu and Srinagar, the numbers are rising with the former having nearly 16000 and the latter 15000. As one would expect, these capital cities are witnessing larger activities in terms of businesses and commuting. The numbers have been comparatively lesser in rural areas recently and the harvesting season has proved somewhat blessing in disguise as families are confining to a particular area and remain together. The crop season nears an end and cases may see surge in the cases again.

In other words, there is a possibility of surge in rural areas as the movement of people and interaction will resume.

The Community spread is bound to become more complicated since the government blames careless attitudes for continued transmission.

Also, more activities are sure to resume soon given the fact that the government of India has left the decision of reopening schools and coaching centres after October 15 for students who wish to optionally attend. Schooling for secondary class students with the prior consent of parents has not fructified. Recently, new research evidence based on data from two states pointed out to a higher prevalence of infection among children who were contacts of virus cases in the same age group. The risk surrounding enclosed spaces and transmission from asymptomatic individuals is real and it should never be ignored. Rather there is a need to be alert and take corrective measures.

One cannot delay the movement of people is essential for economic reasons. The use of public transport has become unavoidable. However, the administration needs to take some action against recalcitrant people who do not wear masks, even on buses and crowd commercial locations.

There is a need for focusing on improving the understanding of the health impacts of the pandemic. As reflected in statements by the officials, there has been more emphasis on a large number of recoveries which invariably leads to encouraging people to lower their guard. There is a need to focus on preserving health needs until a medical breakthrough on covid-19 the vaccine is made. Vulnerable people need to be protected.

Pahalgam’s Degradation

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Precious Kashmir

04/10/2020

Rivers, forests, minerals and such other resources constitute a nation’s natural wealth, the Supreme Court said nearly four decades ago. Importantly also, the top court said that these resources are not to be frittered away and exhausted by any one generation. Every generation owes a duty to all succeeding generations to develop and conserve the natural resources of the nation in the best possible way. Truly, it is in the interest of mankind. The natural resources are ‘public goods’. The regulation of rights and obligations of the State vis-à-vis private parties, seeking to acquire the resources demand the procedure adopted to be just and transparent. Kashmir valley possesses these resources in abundance and those violating laws and norms need to be taken to task including for any environmental degradation. However, what is on display is the utter disregard for norms and regulations. Recently Jammu and Kashmir high court was informed by PDA that 75 parties are in occupation of 75 plots comprising of 79 kanals 8 marls 7 Sirsai and 4 sft in Pahalgam, the ecologically fragile place which is important to Kashmir on various counts including tourism. Out of this land, 63 kanals 18 marlas 1 Sirsai and 5 sft has been leased out by the Government and rest, 15 kanals, 10 marlas and 6 Sirsai are encroached upon by different persons. Astonishingly, the Pahalgam Development Authority went on to say that it has no record of any grant of any lease. No action has been even taken against the encroachers.

Rightly, the top court of J&K and Ladakh observed that the PDA’s report “discloses terrible state of affairs.” These leaseholders who “don’t pay a penny to the government even as they use the property for commercial purpose” are also blamed for carrying constructions in violation of permission or illegally. It is astonishing that in a highly sensitive tourist place vulnerable to ecological fragility like Pahalgam that the official machinery from time and again allowed these violations. There is ever-increasing insensitivities towards respecting nature and its innumerable forms of benevolence. If places like Pahalgam are destined to be victims of such an attitude, it is without doubt the worst thing to happen. The government machinery is obliged under terms of services to protect the fragile place. Ironically, the machinery even does not respect the court orders. It is high time for the Lieutenant Governor led administration to stem the rot and take tough action against those responsible for the degradation of the environment as well as allowing the public property to be used in the manner it has been officially admitted.

To say goodbye to Congress or not?

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

04/10/2020

Azad’s loyalists turn silent in J&K, former CM indecisive

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 4: Eerie silence has gripped Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee after the non-inclusion of senior party leader and former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad from the list of national office bearers of the party.
According to the media reports speculations are rife that Azad may quit the Congress Party. While speaking against Farmers’ Bill moved in the Upper House of the Parliament, Azad had stunned everyone by stating that “this may be his last speech in the Rajya Sabha.”
It may be recalled that Azad was dropped from the list of the national office bearers of the party last month after he signed a letter which was endorsed by twenty others seeking change in Congress leadership. The letter sent by the senior Congress leaders had stirred the hornet’s nest following which Azad had offered to tender his resignation during the Congress Working Committee meet held in New Delhi.
Media reports claim that after taking the Congress top brass head on Azad is unlikely to get a seat in the Upper House. After Azad’s statement, rumours started making rounds that senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge can be made the leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha instead of Azad.
According to the sources since the day Azad has been dropped his loyalists in Jammu and Kashmir have turned silent. “Many of them have suggested Azad to return to J&K politics and float his own party but till date the former J&K chief minister has not opened his cards.”
Sources said, “His loyalists are of the opinion that Azad shouldn’t waste his time in national politics as the grand old party of India is at crossroads and its revival in coming years looks difficult.”
They said, “Had J&K not been turned into a union territory Azad would have said goodbye to the Congress Party soon after he was dropped. After August 5, 2019, the political parties in J&K are struggling to make their presence felt. Leaders of the regional parties are making attempts to reappear on the scene but things are not working out.”
Sources said, “Azad is aware about all these developments and knows that road ahead for politicians in Jammu and Kashmir is not going to be that easy. Floating a new political party till the J&K’s statehood is restored is not a good idea. But if Congress decides not to give another term to Azad in Rajya Sabha then he will be left with no other option other than taking a call about his future.”

KU refuses to consider LLB as graduation degree

Anchor stories

Gul Owais

04/10/2020

KU refuses to consider LLB as graduation degree

Will move to court to challenge varsity’s reply: Candidates

Gul Owais

Srinagar: University of Kashmir refusing to consider LLB as a graduation degree has left the candidates high and dry and they have decided to challenge the varsity’s stand in the court.

According to the candidates, the varsity in a written reply to the question posed by one of the candidates has refused to consider the LLB as a graduation degree.

Samir-ul-Wahid, an aggrieved candidate while talking to ‘Precious Kashmir’ said that as per the varsity, LLB is not a graduation degree. “Surprising, as it may be for most of the learned people, especially to the law students, one may ask what it is then if not a graduation degree and why not,” a candidate said.

He said in reply to his representation for considering LLB as his graduation degree instead of B.Sc for the post of Junior Assistant in Kashmir University, the varsity in a written letter has mentioned that “he is informed that basic eligibility for pursuing LLB is bachelor’s degree in any discipline and as such cannot be considered as a graduate degree itself.”

The candidate said he asked the varsity authorities to specify what value LLB degree holds then, but didn’t get any answer from the concerned. He said it is unfortunate that it took nearly one year of the varsity authorities to reply to his representation.

Samir-ul-Wahid added that he made the representation 11-12-2019 and received a reply on 2^nd September this year.

The candidate said he fails to understand why he is not eligible for NET exam on the basis of LLB. “I am unable to understand if anyone issues an advertisement for a job which requires PG minimum Qualification, where do I stand with LLB?”

Samir-ul-Wahid added that LLB cannot be lower than a graduation at least.

The candidate further said he has hired a counsel to challenge the varsity’s reply in the court. “I have decided to move to the court to challenge the reply given to my representation. I have hired a counsel and will fight for it,” he Samir-ul-Wahid.

COVID-19 kills 11 more, 878 test positive in J&K

Front

Nadeem Nadu

04/10/2020

COVID-19 kills 11 more, 878 test positive in J&K

Death toll mounts to 1245, total cases at 79106
Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, Oct 4: Jammu and Kashmir reported eleven more COVID-19 deaths in past 24-hours, while 878 more people tested positive for the deadly virus in the union territory on Sunday, officials said.
They said that the fatality count in J&K has mounted to 1245 and 79106 people have tested positive for the virus in UT till date.

Giving the details about the dead, the officials said that Five among those who died due to the virus today were from Kashmir, including 72-year-old former divisional forest officer who launched a political party after retirement and a 33-year-old woman from Chadoora Budgam.

The septuagenarian was a resident of Zakura Habak Srinagar and died at SKIMS Soura, ten days after he was admitted to the tertiary care hospital.

A senior doctor at the hospital told GNS that he was suffering from hypertension, type-2 diabetes mellitus and bilateral community acquired pneumonia (CAP). “He died due to cardiopulmonary arrest.”

Regarding the 33-year-old woman, official sources told GNS she died at CD hospital Srinagar where she was admitted on October 3.

Also a 62-year-old man from Rajbagh Srinagar who died at SKIMS Soura, a week after he was admitted there with COPD, RF with bilateral CAP, they said. A 55-year-old man from Reshipora Bandipora also died at a hospital here, eleven days after being admitted.

Meanwhile, the official sources said that six deaths were reported from Jammu region including three from the J&K’s winter capital and one each from Rajouri, Udhampur and Doda districts.

Among others, the victims include an 80-year-old man from Durgan Nagar, a 70-year-old from Subash Nagar Jammu and a 76-year-old man from Makhanpur Bishnah.

With these deaths, 1245 people have died due to virus and include 863 from Valley and 382 from Jammu.

J&K records 878 fresh cases, tally at 79106

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday recorded 878 new COVID-19 cases taking the total tally to 79106.

Official sources told GNS that among the cases, 456 were confirmed from Jammu Division and 422 from Kashmir.

Giving district-wise details, they said, Srinagar reported 156, Budgam 53, Baramulla 52, Pulwama 17, Kupwara 12, Anantnag 30, Bandipora 54, Ganderbal 33, Kulgam 6, Shopian 9, Jammu 252, Rajouri 35, Udhampur 27, Kathua 21, Doda 14, Samba 22, Poonch 17, Ramban 8, Reasi 11and Kishtwar 49.

A number of these cases were confirmed from SKIMS and CD diagnostic laboratories including 13 from CRPF, five from BSF, two from army’s BB Cantt here besides three minors.

SKIMS cases include male (35) from Kokernag Anantnag, male (41) from Bemina, female (43) from Rangreth, female (15) from Cooperative Colony Peerbagh, male (40) from Armed Police Humhama, three females (55, 25, 22) from Nowgam, female (65) from Lal Bazar, female (55) from Habba Kadal, female (25) from Skims Soura, two males (85, 45) from Nowshera, male (53) from Lal Bazar, male (25) from Soura, male (25) from Hawal, female (27) from Hyderpora Gulbagh Colony, male (35) from Alochibagh, female (45) from Samerbugh, female (55) from Hyderpora, female (54) from Soura, male (40) from Soura, male (44) from Barzulla, female (56) from Elahibagh Srinagar, male (47) from Tral, male (40) from Bolriwan Pulwama, male (40) from Rawathpora Kupwara, female (65) from Nagbal, male (55) from Kangan Ganderbal, female (60) and male (65) from Nagam, female (55) from Malpora, male (40) from Charisharief, male (38) from Ramhama, male (38) from Housing Colony Ompora, male (55) from Gulshan Nagar, male (30) from Kralwari Chadoora, male (20) from Zuhama Chadoora, male (31) from Rapora Chadoora, male (29) from Bugam Chadoora, female (75) from Rangrate Rawalpora and male (60) from Mendhar Poonch.

The CRPF cases include five males (38, 29, 40, 28, 35) from 43 Bn Crpf Budgam, male (36) from 28 Bn Crpf Bemina Srg, male (27) from 175 Engr Ta Niyari Kupwara, male (37) from 3/9 Gr Niyari Kupwara, male (35) from 19 Garh Niyari Kupwara, two males (38, 28) from 28 Idsr Niyari Kupwara, male (46) from 53 Ibc Kalaroos Kupwara, male (37) from 7 Kumaon Kalaroos Kupwara. The BSF cases include five males (38, 56, 32, 28, 26) from Ch Bsf Humhama Srinagar.

The CD cases include two males (38, NA) from BB Cantt Srg, two males (74, 60) from Parraypora Srg, male (48) from Rawalpora Srg, female (52) from Hyderpora Srg, female (36) from Srinagar, female (55) from Athwajan, two males (01, 60) and female (60) from Lal Bazar, female (NA) and male (35) from Nowshera, male (50) from Srinagar, female (NA) from Jawahar Nagar, female (75) from Lolab, male (44) from Rajbagh, female (55) from Harwan, male (37) from Bagath Srg, male (40) and female (NA) from Shalimar, male (18) and female (70) from Alochibagh Srg, male (50) from Rajbagh, male (45) from Ahmadnagar, four males (52, 52, 55, 53) from Shivpora Srg, NA (32) from Nishat Srg, male (60) from Bemina Srg, female (10) from Shalimar Srg, female (22) and male (26) from Baghi Mehtab Srg, male (32) from Panthachowk, male (50) from Handwara, female (50) from Humhama, female (36) from Bemina Srg, male (20) from Rainawari Srg, female (42) from Nawakadal Srg, female (NA) from Batmaloo Srg, male (27) from Fateh Kadal Srg, female (55) and male (60) from Baghi Mehtab, male (65) from Baghi Mehtab Srg, female (NA) from Sonwar Srg, male (39) from NA, male (36) from Wazir Bagh Srg, female (60) from Rajbagh Srg, male (53) from Elahibagh Srg, female (40) from Bemina Srg, male (55) from Rainawari Srg, male (72) from Bemina Srg, female (55) from Khonmuh Srg, female (NA) and male (NA) from Bemina Srg, male (07) from Lal Bazar, male (44) from Bemina Srg, male (47) from Khan Khai Mohalla, female (35) from Fateh Kadal Srg, female (60) from Lal Bazar, female (70) from Rawalpora, female (30) from Pulwama, two males (NA, 45) from Hawal, male (44) from Dalgate, female (65) from Sumbal, male (70) from Wuyan Pampore, two males (95, 81) from Srinagar, female (45) from Khansahib Budgam, two females (10, 35) from Ompora Budgam, female (70) from Zakura, female (65) from Kanipora Srg, male (80) from Bhatpura Ganderbal, male (33) from Srinagar, male (27) from Hyderpora Srg, male (35) from Buchpora Srg, male (54) from Tral E Bala, female (15) from Shadimarg, male (40) from Rahmoo, male (64) from Wuyan, male (19) from Trichal, male (23) from Zasoow, female (42) from Murran, female (75) from Thab, female (45) from Qamarwari Srg, male (55) from Abi Guzar Srinagar, male (09) and three females (61, 41, 13) from Sheikhpora Budgam, male (70) from Latepura Pulwama, female (75) from Ranger Chadoora, male (77) from Srinagar, male (45) from Khanyar Srg, female (55) from HMT Srinagar.

Moreover, they said 1053 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals— 525 from Jammu Division and 528 from Kashmir Valley. (GNS)

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