Each Administrative Secy to visit allotted district; conduct of IEC activities stressed upon

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sep 8: Jammu and Kashmir Government today issued detailed guidelines for effective implementation of Jan Abhiyan starting across the UT from September 10, 2020 – twenty one days ahead of the Back to Village phase III programme.

As per an order issued by GAD, the twenty one day public campaign will broadly focus on three essential components viz delivery of essential services, development needs & grievance redressal.

“The B2V3 shall be preceded by a buildup of 21 day Jan Abhyan/ Awami Muhim, which includes implementation of its three essential components viz; Adhikar Abhiyan/ Muhim Barai-e-Haqooq, Unnat  Gram  Abhiyan/ Dehi  Taraqiyati   Muhim and the Jan Sunwai Abhiyan/Awami Sunwai Muhim” the order stated.

The Adhikar Abhiyan or the Muhim Barai-e-Haqooq provisions that the district administration shall identify the target population for every service, individual beneficiary schemes and various certificates in order to ensure that 100% of target population is covered.

Special camps shall be held for the purpose at District/Sub-division/Tehsil/Block/GP Levels. The services to be provided shall include (but not be limited to) issuance of Domicile, SC, ST, RBA, ALC, OBC certificates, Pensions, scholarships, Aadhar cards, KCC, Gold Cards, 3K health Scheme Cards, MGNREGA wage payments, PMAY sanctions and PMKISAN, Labour Cards, PM Matrutva Vandana Yojana, Ladli Beti, Construction Workers’ Welfare Board benefits etc; MVD services like driving license, registrations etc; Any other important public oriented  scheme  or services to be covered such as revenue documents which a Deputy Commissioner may consider doable.

For students, provision of SC/ST/Other Certificates and application for scholarships shall be 100 percent. No child should be left out.

Detailed report regarding the target population and the coverage with specific emphasis on achievements during JAN ABHIYAN/AWAMI MUHIM period shall be prepared and handed over to the visiting officer before B2V3.

Unnat  Gram  Abhiyan/Dehi  Taraqiyati   Muhim  aims for a mega push towards development activities by taking up of maximum possible MGNREGA works on ground, commencement of works already approved under the 14th FC plan, execution of District & UT plan works and also implementation of other Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

The main components would be 14th FC works and their payment; MGNREGA works and their payment; B2V works and their payment; CSS/ PMDP/ District Plan/ State Plan works and payments; PMAY payments and completion of houses Special thrust shall be laid on follow up of B2V1 and B2V2 for each panchayat which may include; Taking up, completion and payment of at least two priority works identified during the two earlier phases for which money shall be separately released to the districts; Closing all complaints/ problems/ administrative issues raised during the earlier phases satisfactorily; Ensuring long term activities are prioritised and accommodated under UT plan/ CSS by concerned administrative department; Preparation of an ATR regarding the B2V1 & B2V2 based on the above; Panchayat wise format for ATR mentioning Problems, Public Requirements and Complaints for earlier two phases.

Each Deputy Commissioner shall prepare a district level plan based on an activity or product such as dairy, horticulture, tourism, village industry, mining which will boost economic activity or income levels in the district. This shall be a private sector lead activity with very limited government intervention and little or no financial support by the government.

The Jan Sunwai Abhiyan or Awami Sunwai Muhim will focus  on to improve service delivery and redressal of public grievances by getting together all functionaries at pre-determined times and places and under the supervision of a senior officer.

The Deputy Commissioner and senior District Officers shall draw up tour rosters to ensure that each and every block is visited by Deputy Commissioner alongwith the District Superintendent of Police personally and at least one more senior officer (other than Nodal Officer) over the three week Jan Abhiyan/Awani Muhim Period.

Youm-e-BIock/ Block Diwas shall be held on the three Wednesdays i.e. 16th, 23rd & 30th of September, 2020, falling in the period of Jan Abhiyan/Awani Muhim.

The Youm-e-Block/ Block Diwas shall focus at on the spot redressal of grievances and providing of services. Concerned Block Level Officers/Officials of each Department shall be present at the designated location for the purpose.

Meanwhile, the order states that “All the Administrative Secretaries shall visit their allocated district atleast once during Jan Abhiyan/Awami Muhim and issue directions to the concerned field staff to participate actively in all its activities.

The Administrative Secretaries/HoDs shall not call field officers/officials from subordinate offices during the period of Jan Abhiyan/Awami Muhim and B2V3.

All the Deputy Commissioners/HoDs and other Officers shall conduct extensive field tours during the Jan Abhiyan/Awami Muhim phase and ensure that the services listed above as part of the three components are provided to public. They shall ensure that necessary steps for their implementation are taken well before the formal commencement of the B2V3.

All complaints received and administrative issues raised during B2V1 and B2V2 and those received during Youm-e- Block/Block Diwas shall be resolved, to the extent possible if they include issues like- shortage of staff in schools, offices, health institutions; Absence of staff; Lack of transportation; Complaints against a particular employee.

The complaints will also be entered in the new Public Grievance System being launched on 10.09.2020.

The Deputy Commissioners shall nominate a senior district officer as nodal Officer incharge of each location for the celebration of Youm-e-Block/Block Diwas Celebrations. The Nodal Officers shall ensure availability of all officers and monitor disposal of all grievances and demands. The locations of the Youm-e-Block/Block Diwas Celebrations shall be notified and widely publicized.

The Concerned Officers of all the Departments shall remain available at Block headquarters or a place designated for the purpose by the Deputy Commissioner for on spot redressal of the public grievances. The field staff shall spent atleast a night in the field in connection with the Youm-e-Block/Block Diwas.

The Deputy Commissioners shall devise mechanisms for disposal/redressal of grievances in consultation with the District Level Officers of the Departments and communicate the same to Nodal Officers/Coordinators in advance.

The Nodal Officer shall submit a Gram Panchayat wise status report of action taken in respect of grievances and demands putforth by the general public during the Jan Abhiyan/Awami Muhim. The Deputy Commissioner shall further ensure that the report is made available to the visiting officer as part of his set of document for B2V3.

The visiting officers of the B2V2 shall informally visit the Panchayats allocated to them and shall take stock of the developmental scenario alongwith the status of disposal of grievances registered during B2V2 and record their observations.

The Deputy Commissioner shall ensure that feedback is taken from the visiting officers on their informal visit to the allocated Panchayats, meetings with the Secretary Incharge (Prabhari) are arranged alongwith training for visiting officers at district level.

The Deputy Commissioners shall ensure IEC activities highlighting the importance of the Jan Abhiyan/Awami Muhim as a build up to the B2V3 are undertaken through print, electronic and social media.

The Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police concerned shall attend to pubic grievances every Tuesday & Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. during the Jan Abhiyan/Awami Muhim.

The Deputy Commissioners shall attend to Public Grievances on a five day a week schedule from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (except Wednesdays earmarked for Youm-e-BIock/ Block Divas celebrations).

All the District Officers shall remain available in their offices to assist the Deputy Commissioners in disposing these grievances.

No leaves except on the grounds of medical exigencies shall be sanctioned during the period of Jan Abhiyan/Awami Muhim.

Srinagar, Sep 8: Traffic was resumed on Tuesday on the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, after remaining suspended on Monday due to landslides and shooting stones.
However, only tranded vehicles were allowed to move towards Kashmir, a traffic police official told UNI today.
Meanwhile, the historic 86-km-long Mughal road and the national highway, the only road linking Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir, were through for vehicles carrying essentials and fresh fruit.
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway was suspended again on Monday afternoon due to fresh landslides and landslides.
However, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has pressed into service machines and men to clear the landslides to put through the traffic, he added.
He said vehicles which had left different parts of the Jammu, mostly trucks loaded with essentials and oil and gas tankers, were stopped at different places. The road was put through and all Kashmir bound vehicles were allowed to move this morning, he said adding no vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction.
Only one-way traffic will continue to ply on the highway due to continued threat of landslides and shooting on the highway, he added.
He said only vehicles carrying fresh vegetable are allowed to ply on Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir to Poonch and Rajouri in Poonch. No passenger vehicle will be allowed to ply on the road which is seen as alternative to Sriangar-Jammu highway.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Sep 8: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, today met this year’s Civil Services Qualifiers here at the Raj Bhavan and congratulated them for their entry into the prestigious services.

Majid Iqbal Khan from Nowgam, Anantnag, while Abhishek Augustsya; Devahuti; Sunny Gupta and Shubham Kundal hailing from Jammu met the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor observed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, are extremely talented and have excelled in every field. All they need is to realize their true potential.

The Government is committed to provide all the handholding to them by facilitating and nurturing their capabilities, he added.

The young inspirational figures like you are the pioneers of change and a guiding light for many. Your achievement would motivate many from the UT to take the country’s prestigious Civil Service examination in future, the Lt Governor maintained.

He advised the young entrants to discharge their duties with utmost dedication, commitment, integrity and sincerity. He further advised them to remain sensitive to the issues of the people and inculcate team spirit and cohesiveness in the public delivery system and work for the advancement of public welfare on all fronts.

He wished them high success in their future endeavours.

New Delhi, Sep 8: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has allowed schools to reopen for resuming the face-to face method of learning from September 21. The ministry has issued a set of guidelines for holding these classes. It is meant to serve as a guide to schools on the safety measures they need to take during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

These Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) follow the centre’s guidelines to allow schools to reopen in areas outside containment zones.

The ministry in the guidelines added: This SOP outlines various generic precautionary measures to be adopted in addition to specific measures to be taken when schools are permitting students (for 9th to 12th class)… All States/UTs are expected to comply with the COVID-19 related guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.”

The Ministry of Health took to Twitter to announce this development. It said: “Health Ministry issues SOP for partial reopening of Schools for students of 9th-12th classes on a voluntary basis, for taking guidance from their teachers in the context of COVID19.”

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued social distancing guidelines including the use of face masks, maintaining six feet distance between students, following respiratory etiquettes, installation of Aarogya Setu application “wherever feasible” and prohibition of spitting.

However, the guidelines also mentioned that online and distance learning shall continue to be in operation and is encouraged. The educational institutes across the country have shifted to online mode to continue the teaching-learning process during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Services to continue in Ganderbal, Udhampur
Srinagar, Sep 8: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday ordered continuous suspension of high speed mobile data services in the Union Territory except Ganderbal and Udhampur districts till September 30, 2020.
An order, issued by the Principal Secretary to the government, Shaleen Kabra under number Home- 99 (TSTS) of 2020, dated 08-09-2020 stated: “In pursuance of the recommendations made by the Special Committee in its meeting dated 10.08.2020 for considering calibrated casing of restrictions in limited and comparatively less sensitive geographical areas, read with the reports of the law enforcement agencies, vide Government Order No: Home- 91(TSTS) of 2020 dated 16.08.2020, the directions relating to high speed internet services in various districts were issued, which include the high speed mobile data services in the districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur shall be restored forthwith, on trial basis, while in rest of the districts, the internet speed shall continue to be restricted to 2G only: and While the post paid sim card holders shall continue to be provided access to the internet, these services shall not be made available on pre-paid cards unless verified as per the norms applicable for post-paid connections.”
In the order, the government further stated that fixed line internet connectivity, without any speed related restrictions, shall continue to be made available with Mac-binding.

The order added that the aforesaid directions were reviewed by the Review Committee on 21.08.2020 and 01.09.2020. The Committee, while taking note of the assessment made by the law enforcement agencies that no reports of misuse of high speed internet services in the Districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur had been reported, observed that the situation needed to be monitored closely and the law enforcement agencies have furnished credible inputs that the militant modules operating in various parts of the UT of J&K, with active support from across the border as well as separatists/anti-national elements from within, are making sustained efforts to provoke sentiments of the gullible youth and lure them into militant organizations to fill the vacuum created by the killing of many militants.
It added also, the agencies have reported infiltration attempts by militants, along the LoC and the IB, and apprehension of facilitation of these attempts if high speed mobile data services are restored. “They have also indicated potential of misuse of high speed data services in disturbing public order,” the order added.
“Now, therefore, considering the reports of the law enforcement agencies, inter-alia, bringing out the necessity of speed related restrictions on mobile data services, and upon assessment of the available alternatives, I. Principal Secretary to the Government Home Department, being satisfied that, it is absolutely necessary so to do in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State and for maintaining public order. in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of sections of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and sub-rule (1) of rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, hereby order that the directions indicated at para 1 above shall continue to remain in force till 30 September, 2020, unless modified earlier,” Kabra said.
“The Inspector Generals of Police, Kashmir Jammu, who are the authorized officers in their respective areas of jurisdiction shall ensure communication of these directions to the service providers forthwith and their implementation in letter and spirit,” the order added.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Sept 8: Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Tuesday, e-inaugurated (Lokaarpan) three projects recently completed at Central University of Jammu.
The projects inaugurated are Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Hostel, Pandit Premnath Dogra Guest House and Brigadier Rajendra Singh Road.
In his presidential address, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ appreciated the leadership of Central University of Jammu, for naming these projects after Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Pandit Premnath Dogra and Brigadier Rajendra Singh. The Minister hoped that the Central University of Jammu will touch new heights under the leadership of Vice Chancellor, Prof Ashok Aima. He also appreciated the institutional building efforts and initiatives of Prof. Ashok Aima for academic visibility of the University at national and international levels. He impressed upon him to continue his support, guidance and mentoring of Central University of Jammu in its journey to become a Centre of Excellence.
Special Guest, Union Minister of State for Education, Sanjay Dhotre, said that under leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has excelled in every sector and our country is achieving new milestones with each passing day. “Certainly we will be world power one day and to achieve this goal the government is leaving no stone unturned to further strengthen education system of the country”, he added.
Guest of Honour, Union Minister of State PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who played a major role in sanctioning of new departments for the University, expressed his satisfaction on the achievements made by the University.
The Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jammu Prof. Ashok Aima, in his address, gave a brief description about major achievements of the university during his tenure since April 2015. “The University has been successful in attaining an all India character by admitting students and research scholars across diverse regions of the country, thereby offering a testimony to the nationalistic bonding and the academic spectrum of the Central University of Jammu”, he said, adding that the progressive developmental trend is quite visible in infrastructural and support facilities including Digital India initiative.
Earlier, the programme begun with Vedic Mańgalācaran by Manish Kumar and a brief introduction was given by Prof. Rasal Singh, Dean Students’ Welfare. Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Assistant DSW, Central University of Jammu elaborated the Rationale of the nomenclature. Dr. Ravi Kumar, Registrar presented vote of thanks and the dais was coordinated Dr. Bachha Babu, Proctor of the university. The event was attended by Deans, Heads, Teaching and Non-Teaching staff of the university.

Srinagar, Sept 8: Glaciers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are melting at a “significant” rate, according to a first-of-its-kind study that used satellite data to find that over 1,200 glaciers in the Himalayan region saw an annual reduction in mass of 35 centimetres (cm) on average between 2000 and 2012.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, was carried over the Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh region, including areas across the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC), and in all 12,243 glaciers were studied for thickness and mass changes.
“In general, it was observed that the glaciers in the Pir Panjal range are melting at the higher rate — more than one meter per year — while as the glaciers in the Karakoram range are melting relatively at a slower rate, around 10 cms per year,” noted Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, the corresponding author of the study.
“Some glaciers are even advancing or stable in the Karakoram range. In other mountain ranges like the Greater Himalayan range, Zanaskar range, Shamabari range, Leh ranges, the glaciers are undoubtedly melting but the rate of melting is variable,” Romshoo, Dean of Research at the University of Kashmir in Srinagar, said.
The research team, including Tariq Abdullah and Irfan Rashid, both from the Geoinformatics Department, University of Kashmir, used two satellite observations made in 2000 by NASA and in 2012 by German space agency DLR.
They employed this data to determine the glacier thickness changes over the entire Upper Indus Basin, comprising of over 12,000 glaciers.
“There is no such data (satellite observations) available in the world after 2012. This is a first of its kind study in the region and provides a very good idea about what is happening to the glaciers in the region,” Romshoo explained.
Till date, he said, only six to seven glaciers have been studied in the region for thickness and glacial mass changes using field observations.
The researchers noted that while glacier melting is a continuous process and the shrinkage in the area of the glaciers is being estimated routinely, thickness and mass changes are not possible always because of the lack of satellite data.
There are also limitations and challenges associated with field-based studies in the mountainous Himalaya, they said.
The team noted that during one decade of observation in this study, the region has lost about 70.32 gigatonnes of glacier mass, which is “quite significant.”
Romshoo noted that the continued melting of glaciers will have significant adverse impacts on every sector of the economy in the region and beyond, particularly in the downstream areas which are already water-scarce.
“It is pertinent to mention here that the waters emanating from this region are shared between the neighbouring countries in south Asia,” the professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, added.
The knowledge generated about the glacier thickness changes across different mountain ranges in the data-scarce Himalayan region is vital for determining the sustainability of water resources in the south Asian region, according to the researchers.
Melting of the glaciers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is going to impact the water, food and energy security with the consequent adverse effect on the dependent livelihoods, they noted.
The researchers explained that the main drivers of the glacial melt in the Himalayan region are increasing temperatures and decreasing snow precipitation, resulting from greenhouse gas emissions from industrialisation and increasing the use of fossil fuels the world over.
Romshoo noted that though there is “almost no industrialisation” in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Himalaya, the mountainous region is facing the brunt of climate change happening globally.
A study, published in the journal Climatic Change on July 29, found that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh may witness a temperature increase of up to 6.9 degrees Celsius by the end of the century due to climate change, warning that the glaciers in this Himalayan region could shrink by 85 per cent if the projections come true.
The latest study was conducted as part of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) research project “Centre of Excellence for glacial research in the western Himalaya.” (Agencies)