Inaugurates second ‘Brainstorming Conference’ on implementation of NEP-2020 in J&K
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Sep 21: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated a Second Conference on the Implementation of National Education Policy (NEP-2020) at Zorawar Singh Auditorium of Jammu University here today. The conference was jointly organised by the Jammu University and the Department of Higher Education.
At the occasion, Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, through a video message, congratulated the Lt Governor for taking the lead and setting up task force in J&K for formulating an effective plan of action for implementation of National Education Policy. He also ensured full fledged support of the Government of India in making J&K a knowledge hub.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor said that Jammu & Kashmir is gifted with, not only scenic beauty, but with brilliant minds. ‘I have strong conviction that the New Education Policy will have far reaching effects in the Union Territory. Only education can help bring about a brighter future for J&K. It is my dream to make Jammu & Kashmir an oasis of talent having abundant wealth of knowledge, enterprise and skilled youth’, he said.
Assuring of the Government’s commitment towards Education sector, the Lt Governor remarked that Rs 300 crore have been released for creation of new as well as completion of under-construction colleges in J&K. Similarly, Rs 2392 crores have been released for school and higher education sector of the UT. Centre has released additional fund of Rs 500 crore for Health & Medical Education which will give boost to existing resources of the UT, informed the Lt Governor. In context of the ongoing Covid pandemic, the Lt Governor identified the immediate need to intensify research on Epidemiology, Virology and Infectious Diseases across universities to equip the nation to face similar unfortunate events in future.
Quoting famous American writer philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Lt Governor said, ‘The Secret of Education Lies In Respecting The Students’. As such there is a need to incorporate students’ feedback culture into our education system with emphasis on processing the feedback acquired for scientific assessment for the benefit of the system. Feedback of each individual student is crucial regardless of anything, he maintained.
Highlighting the key benefits of the New Education Policy, the Lt Governor said that the New Education Policy, aims to overhaul the entire pedagogy, in schools as well as institutions of higher education. He observed that the New Education Policy would ensure local empowerment while creating global talent.
Addressing the teachers’ fraternity, the Lt Governor called for orienting themselves to the changing dynamics of education ecosystem which, according to him, is imperative to give shape to NEP-2020 on ground.
‘The New Education Policy will not only enable us to harvest true potential of technology, but help us achieve equitable and inclusive education. It also focusses on faculty and institutional autonomy’, said the Lt Governor.

Addressing education institutions, the Lt Governor said that emphasis be laid on community development and tie up with corporates, philanthropists and top education experts from diverse fields, to ensure that students from disadvantaged and underprivileged backgrounds get equal opportunity through scholarships.
‘There is need to bring all education institutions in line with the New Education Policy. There is need to incorporate new skill sets, innovative activities, new research programmes, scholarships, e-learning modules and vocational training into updated syllabus’, said the Lt Governor.
The work on setting up incubation centres and technology centres in Jammu should be expedited while ensuring a greater industry-academic relationship. Innovation be promoted through competitions and similar activities, remarked the Lt Governor.
I am a firm believer in knowledge exchange which not only have its impact on local community but also influences the talent pool at the global scale.
Discussion is redundant unless we have sincere communication, said the Lt Governor. Similarly, he said, free exchange of ideas is crucial for thriving education institutions and breakthrough innovations.
Highlighting skill development, the Lt Governor remarked that Jammu has a rich heritage of art and craft including silverware, weaving, wood crafting and phulkari. According to the Lt Governor, the students be given internship in such skills and technology could be used to give branding and marketing to local artisans. He also called upon the students of Jammu to enthusiastically take up research according to their interests.
Appreciating the youth of J&K, the Lt Governor said that the nation requires talented individuals, who adopt to the changing global scenario and help make Jammu & Kashmir a fountainhead of knowledge, innovation, prosperity. I believe that the New Education Policy fulfills aspirations of J&K youth and helps create a Dynamic Knowledge Society in the region, he concluded.
Advisor to Lt Governor, KK Sharma, in his keynote address, said that motto of NEP 2020 is to run an integrated education system where students from one subject can learn the other subject so that the job security can be maintained. It is basically multi-disciplinary approach where the students coming from the rural area i.e. Socio-economically Disadvantaged Students will be benefitted.
Chairman, Draft Committee, NEP, Dr. K Kasturirangan, in his keynote address deliberated upon the elaborate process adopted for the formulation of the NEP 2020. The policy formation has adopted a rigorous process and has taken into consideration more than 2 lakh suggestions received from 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, more than 12,500 local bodies and about 675 districts, he informed.

Former Chairman, UGC, Prof. Ved Prakash, also delivered an expert lecture on NEP 2020. He urged upon all the higher education institutions to work together in order to transform the formulated NEP into reality. He appreciated the establishment of Task force for implementation of NEP 2020 by Universities of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar, welcomed the Chancellor and Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha on his maiden visit to University of Jammu. He underlined that University of Jammu will work in close collaboration with all the institutions of UT and provide mentorship holding to the affiliated colleges to ensure that the benefits of the policy reach grass root level.
Those present at the occasion also included Advisor to Lt Governor, KK Sharma; Vice Chancellor SMVDU, Prof (Dr) Ravindra Kumar Sinha; VC BGSBU, Prof Javed Musarrat; VC Central University of Jammu, Prof Ashok Aima; Principal Secretary School Education Department, Dr. Asgar Hasan Samoon and Director IIIM, Jammu, Dr D Reddy.
Senior officers of Higher Education Department and Principals of all Government Degree Colleges of J&K also participated in the event. Inaugural session was followed by four technical sessions and panel discussions wherein speakers from different institutions of Jammu province discussed their ideas on NEP 2020.

New Delhi, Sep 21: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said on Monday that after coming of the new National Education Policy 2020, he is confident that now the youth here will not take up arms or stones but tools in laboratory and build their future.
Dr Pokhriyal, who was addressing the conference on the implementation of the new education policy held at Jammu University, said we all know that the circumstances of Jammu and Kashmir are completely different.
There have been three civilisations, three different geographical conditions, three different cultures. Apart from this, Jammu and Kashmir has faced many challenges, but now we are moving fast on the path of development and progress under one banner. Whether the development of roads or the establishment of new institutions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal is to connect Jammu and Kashmir with the mainstream of development.

Describing the leadership role as important for the implementation of the NEP 2020, the Union Minister told the Vice Chancellors of all universities, academics that they were the leader of all the institutes as well as a teacher and guide.
“The teacher is the tool of this policy on which the implementation of the entire policy depends. While the student is the focal point, the teacher is the focal point.”
He said, “All of you need to make an action plan for this policy in all the areas falling within your
university, your institutes or jurisdiction, not only the action plan but how to implement that action plan by connecting it to a timeline. It needs to be worked on. We are committed to the autonomy (autonomy) of universities, institutions, their administration, their empowerment and decentralization. At the same time we are also striving to establish the quality, curriculum etc. of our educational institutions on a global platform and to adapt them to global standards.
The event was attended by Manoj Sinha, Deputy Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Principal Educationists, Vice Chancellors, Directors, Director Generals and Governments and Administrators of various universities and institutions of the Union Territory.

Jammu, Sep 21: Jammu and Kashmir Government and Army on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for development and operationalization of Airstrip in Kishtwar.
Brig Vikram Bhan, Commander, 9 Sector RR and S Katoch, Commissioner Civil Aviation signed the MoU in the presence of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Space, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (through video conferencing), here at the Raj Bhavan.
BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Nitishwar Kumar Principal Secretary to Lt Governor; Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; M Raju, Secretary to the Government, Civil Aviation Departments, Achal Sethi, Secretary to Government, Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Lt Gen. YK Joshi, GoC-in C Northern Command; Lt Gen. Harsha Gupta, GoC 16 Corps; Col. Rajneesh Giri, and Col. AK Panwar represented the Indian Army.
The Lt Governor observed that the Airstrip would provide a vital connectivity to the Kishtwar District to benefit both Defence personnel and Civilians, even during the severe winter conditions and for medical & other emergencies, besides giving a fillip to the socio-economic development of the region.
Pertinently, the issue of operationalizing the airstrip was pending since 2018.
As a result of commitment and perseverance of the government, the district, which lies at more than 210 km’s from the nearest airport in Jammu, has been provided with the golden opportunity to mitigate the sufferings of the people through the ambitious project, he added.
Highlighting the benefits of developing Airstrip at Kishtwar, the Lt Governor observed that the said project is aimed to benefit around 2,50,000 people of Kishtwar district.
The Lt Governor hoped that the project would deliver the desired results like increasing per capita earnings in district, owing to higher tourists influx which will facilitate better and quick transport facility through operationalization of airstrip; Better Health Indicator (HDI)-low mortality rates- the speedy and crucial transfer of patient to better equipped Jammu hospital will be possible and this will reduce the time taken to travel from 08 hours to less than 30 minutes; Better monitoring and administration of the district-the reduction in travelling time (for frequent meetings in Jammu) will leave officers of the district with more time to spare for the public and Integration of people with the main land, large parts of district remain out of bounds for the normal people, even the residents find it difficult to commute from such far flung areas.
The meeting was informed that in November, 2017, under UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aaam Nagrik) Phase-II Regional connectivity scheme launched by Government of India that aims to make unserved / underserved airports in small cities operational with regular flights and other subsidized airfares to encourage more people to fly, Kishtwar district of UT was included among 24 other districts.

Srinagar, Sep 21: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday said there has been a significant decline in militant activities, stone pelting and civilian and security personnel deaths in militancy related activities.

According to Kashmir News Service, MP Anil Desia posed a query on which Minister of State (MoS) Home Affaris G Kishan Reddy said that number of such incidents has taken a hit after the abrogation of Article 370 by the Centre.

“After August 5, 2019, the number of militant incidents, stone-pelting cases registered, civilians and security force personnel killed in militant related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir have reduced significantly”, the reply read.

According to the data provided by the MoS, Home Affairs, from August 7, 2018, to August 4, 2019, the number of subversive incidents witnessed had been 443, as compared to just 206 post-August 5, 2019.

Similarly, the number of stone-pelting cases registered too fell from 703 in the earlier phase to 310. The toll of civilian life lost fell from 54 to 45 and the number of security personnel killed has also fallen from 125 to 49 in this time frame.

Pertinently Article 370 was revoked last year and the Government of India (GoI) also bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Sep 21: A very thin attendance of students marked the first day of the reopening of schools in Kashmir on Monday, for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unlock 4 guidelines allow schools to partially reopen from 21 September, stating that students from Classes 9 to 12 will be allowed to visit teachers for a limited time to seek guidance. Parent consent is mandatory, and the relaxation doesn’t apply to containment zones.
According to the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 8 September, only 50 per cent of teaching/non-teaching staff will be allowed on the premises, and attendance is not mandatory for students.
Schools reopening will also have to schedule activities and chart out a seating plan to ensure physical distancing of 6 feet, wherever feasible, among students and teachers.
Assemblies, sports and events that can lead to overcrowding have been strictly prohibited.
Though the authorities had made safety arrangements in the schools but It was found that the majority of students were not yet willing to attend the schools amid the air of the pandemic still around since the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread like wildfire across the country.
“We are waiting for the children to arrive, and we have followed all the advisories issued by the government for resuming the schools. All COVID-19 protocols have been adhered to and everyone is taking care to not slack off with masks and sanitizers,” Asifa, a teacher at the one of the Girls Higher Secondary School told news agency KINS.
Sources said that in some private institutions, arrangements were made as per the standard operating procedures of the Union Government but many government schools were opened without sanitisation as authorities had not made any arrangement to make buildings free from the virus.
Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary, School Education, had tweeted on Sunday: “Schools reopening not for regular classes but consultation by volunteer secondary students on consent of parents with 50% teachers on roster as per MHA lockdown 4 guidelines & Min of health & FW protocols conveyed by chief secretary & circulated to DCs/directors/CEOs.”

Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Sep 21: The unemployment is on a rise in Jammu & Kashmir as the number of jobless youth registered with the Labour & Employment department has swelled over 94000.
Official documents stated that 94,221 unemployed youth have registered themselves with the district employment and career counselling centers till March 2020 across J&K UT.
In January 2018, the number of educated unemployed youths registered with district employment and counselling centers was 87,650.
According to the data revealed by then Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, 41,981 were registered with the centers in Kashmir division and 45,669 in Jammu division.
According to the latest documents, 25257 such youth are postgraduates and 15066 graduates.
The documents further lay bare 20257, 765, and 14403 have respectively passed 12th, 11th and 10th classes. Of them, 4407 are middle pass and 755 illiterates, it states. Of them, 4043 are diploma holders,5650 degree holders, 151 draftsmen, 1654 skilled other than ITI and 1803 ITI trained.
It is worthwhile to mention here that J&K’s former Governor Satya Pal Malik had announced in August last year that 50000 jobs would be filled in next months. But not a single post was advertised by J&K’s Service Selection Board and
Public Service Commission for 9-10 months due to change in J&K’s legal and constitutional position.
As per the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) reply to a parliamentary panel on February 18, there are over 84,000 vacancies in J&K. Of which 22,078 vacancies pertain to Class IV employees, 54,375 to non-gazettted and 7,552 vacancies at gazetted level.

Asks to devise effective treatment protocol for positive patients
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Sept 21: Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam Monday asked Principal Government Medical College Jammu to put in place an effective protocol for treatment of Covid-19 patients and ensure doctors attend them on a regular basis.
The CS was chairing a meeting to review the Covid management in Government Medical College Jammu and its Associated Hospitals.
The meeting was attended by Finance Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atul Dullo; Principal Secretary Agriculture, Naveen Chaudhary; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Sanjeev Verma; Principal GMC, Dr Nasib Chand Digra; Director NHM, Bhupendra Kumar; Commissioner JMC, Avny Lawasa and other concerned officers.
The Principal GMC apprised the CS about the overall functioning and strategy of GMC for treating Covid patients. It was informed that special arrangements have been put in place for the treatment of the Covid patients with adequate bed space and provision of ventilators. It was informed that a control room has been established in the GMC which is functional 24×7 to facilitate the Covid cases.
The Chief Secretary directed the Principal GMC to establish a holding area for testing and segregation of Covid and non Covid patients at entry points i.e emergency ward and OPD to prevent transmission of any kind.
He also directed Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation to start a drive in GMC to intensify cleaning and sanitation of the hospital building. He also directed the concerned authorities to stop parking in the hospital premises during the cleanliness drive to enable sanitization of each and every corner of the hospital.
Stressing on round the clock care of the Covid patients, he asked the hospital management to maintain the regular supply of oxygen to meet emergency cases.

SMC Acting Mayor visits Baba Demb fire victims, assures help

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Sept 21:  Property worth lakhs of rupees has been damaged in a fire incident in the down town Srinagar late Sunday night, a spokesman of the Fire and Emergency (F&E) department spokesman said.

He said fire broke out at Babdemb Khanyar in the down town late last night.

Fire tenders from different parts of the city were rushed to spot to control the leaping flames, which were visible from entire down town, he said.

He said two houses, a bandsaw machine and a shed were damaged in the fire, adding the loss could be worth Rs 60 lakhs.

The cause of fire was not known.

Meanwhile, police has registered a case and initiated proceedings.

Deputy Mayor, Srinagar Parveez Ahmad Qadri (Acting Mayor, Srinagar) along senior Officers of the Corporation, Tehsildar Khanyar Srinagar and concerned Ward Staff of SMC visited Baba Demb area of downtown to took stock of the damage caused due to an massive fire incident.

The Acting Mayor, Srinagar expressed his sympathy with the families of the fire victims and assured them that he will speak to the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar for providing of immediate necessary relief under norms to the affected families under SDRF.

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party today demanded immediate rehabilitation of the families affected by fire in the down town Srinagar.

AP district president Srinagar and former legislator Noor Mohammad Sheikh expressed deep shock and grief over a fire incident at Babadem Khanyar Srinagar.

He demanded immediate rehabilitation of the families that have got affected in the fire incident. He also urged the district administration to depute a revenue team to the spot in order to assess the losses at the earliest.

‘Democracies come together to share experiences of conducting elections during Covid 19’

Precious Kashmir News

New Delhi, Sept 21:  On completion of one year of Chairmanship of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), Election Commission of India Monday hosted an International Webinar on the Theme ‘‘Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Conducting  Elections during COVID-19 : Sharing Country Experiences’.

It was an occasion for democracies world over to come together to share experiences of conducting elections during Covid19.

It may be recalled that last year on September 3, 2019 India had taken over as Chair of A-WEB for 2019-2021 term during the 4th  General Assembly of A-WEB held at Bengaluru.

Inaugurating the Webinar, Chief Election Commissioner of India and Chairperson, A-WEB  Sunil Arora spoke of the “tough predicament” faced by Election Management Bodies across the world – whether and how to hold scheduled elections in a state of public health emergency.

He said the contextual framework of every country was different, the extent and trajectory of the disease varied and so did the capacity of each country to respond to the novel corona virus and its catastrophic impact. He mentioned countries such as South Korea, Australia, Malawi, Taiwan, Mongolia and many others who went ahead with scheduled elections even as they put in place the enormous arrangements required to ensure the health and safety of people while conducting election.

Arora mentioned that elections in India pose formidable challenges on account of large electorate, geographical and linguistic diversity and differing climatic conditions.

Explaining in detail the scale of the upcoming elections to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, he mentioned that the total number of electors is 72.9 million.

Explaining the impact of Covid-19 on the election, Arora highlighted how Covid19 exigencies and social distancing measures necessitated a revisit of ECI’s extant instructions.

“The maximum number of electors at a polling station was reduced from 1500 to 1000, and consequently, the number of polling stations jumped by 40 per cent, from 65,000 to 100,000. These changes have huge logistics and manpower implications. CEC mentioned that the Commission would take a decision within the next two to three days, on visiting Bihar,” he said.

Over 120 delegates from 45 countries across the world (viz.   Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of  Congo, Dominica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyz Republic,  Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tonga, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Zambia) and 4 international organizations (viz. International IDEA,  International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and European Centre for Elections)  participated in the Webinar today.