‘DIPR has pivotal role to highlight benefits of Back to Village-3 initiative’

Srinagar, Sep 7: Director Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar today chaired a preparatory meeting with DIPR officers to discuss the arrangements for the conduct of the 3rd phase of Back to Village (B2V-3) programme.
The meeting was attended by Joint Director Information (Headquarters), Deputy Director Information (AV), Administrative Officer, Information Officers, Media Coordinator and other officers.
As the Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced the ambitious B2V-3 programme scheduled to be held from October 2 to 12, 2020, Dr Sehrish outlined the aim of the flagship programme with respect to the first two phases and the importance of the 3rd phase.
Dr Sehrish reaffirmed that DIPR has a pivotal role to highlight the Back to Village-3 and sensitize the people about the benefits of the unique initiative while enjoining upon the officers to sensitize their respective staff to make the programme a grand success.
On the occasion, Joint Director (Hqtr) and Deputy Director (AV) were directed to keep liaison and close coordination with the Rural Development Department regarding publicity and advertisement material.
The Deputy Director (AV) was further asked to formulate a strategy regarding audio-video spots/jingles to be telecasted and broadcasted across the length and breadth of J&K.
Also, she directed the Public Relations section of the directorate to keep liasioning with the offices of the Lieutenant Governor, Advisors to LG and other senior officers and relevant departments in order to remain updated about the latest information regarding the Phase-III of B2V programme.
During the meeting, it was also decided that the Cultural Officers of both the divisions (Kashmir/Jammu) shall organize the Nukad Natak at block/ district/Divisional/UT levels by strictly adhering SoPs and guidelines regarding COVID-19.
The meeting also decided that Doordarshan should be coordinated for arranging a programme on B2V-3.

‘Cruise missile can defeat any Chinese defensive system’
New Delhi, Sep 7: The first successful test of a Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle or HSTDV –which can be  used for futuristic missile system and aircraft — was conducted today off the coast of Odisha. So far, Russia, China and the US have been developing hypersonic test vehicles. A hypersonic cruise missile, once developed, can defeat any Chinese defensive system, scientists said.

Defence research organisation DRDO, which conducted today’s test, called it a “historic mission”, which was “a giant leap in indigenous defence technologies and significant milestone” towards a Self-Reliant and Empowered India.

Calling it a “major technological breakthrough,” DRDO chief Dr Satheesh Reddy said: “This testing paves the way for many more critical technologies, materials, and hypersonic vehicles’ development. This puts India in a select club of nations which have demonstrated this technology”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated DRDO on the achievement.

Congratulating the scientists, Defence minister Rajnath Singh tweeted a video of the launch. Hypersonic technology deals with movement at least five times the speed of sound, termed Mach 1.

Hypersonic speed is generally accepted to be Mach 5, or 3,836.35 miles per hour in conditions of 20 degrees Celsius at sea level. The conditions are important since the speed of sound can vary according to temperature and height.
The Indian hypersonic test vehicle flies six times the speed of sound, the DRDO said.

The vehicle, launched off the Wheeler Island on Odisha coast, flew at 2 km per second for more than 20 seconds, which the scientists said was “text-book”.

In a media statement, the DRDO said, “With this successful demonstration, many critical technologies such as aerodynamic configuration for Hypersonic manoeuvers, use of scramjet propulsion for ignition and sustained combustion at hypersonic flow, thermo-structural characterisation of high temperature materials, separation mechanism at hypersonic velocities etc” will be possible. the highly complex technology serve as the “building block for NextGen Hypersonic vehicles in partnership with industry”, the DRDO said.

New Delhi, Sep 7: China on Monday said that it did not have any details about any message by the Indian Army to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) about five missing youths who had been abducted by PLA from Arunachal Pradesh on September 4.
‘We have no details to release yet about question on Indian army sending a message to PLA about five missing Indians in the region: Chinese FM spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in Beijing.
Five youth were abducted by the PLA from the Upper Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh on the Sino-India border on Friday. The youth had gone there for hunting.
Arunachal Pradesh police have launched a probe.
Two others, who were in the group, managed to escape and informed police.

Srinagar, Sep 7: About 14.29 lakh Domicile certificates have been issued against 18.91 lakh applications in the Union Teeritory of Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said here on Monday night.

He said that 78,321 applications have been rejected for want of documents while 12,617 Domiciles Certificates has been issued to West Pakistan Refugee, 524 to Balmeki community and 10 to Gorkha’s community as on today.

He said the process of issuance of certificates is picking up rapidly and certificate issuance is being monitored regularly.

The Department is making all efforts to deliver the Domicile Certificates to applicants, both through online and offline mode. The Deputy Commissioners are ensuring that the Domicile Certificates are issued to the applicants by organising camps, through postal service and also on the spot, he added.

The Government had notified the Jammu & Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rule, 2020, in order to prescribe the Procedure for issuance of Domicile Certificate, which is the basic eligibility condition for appointment to any post under the Union Territory of J&K, following amendments in the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services ( Decentralization and Recruitment) Act, 2010.

The rules provide a simple and time-bound procedure for the issuance of the Domicile certificate, so that no one is put to any inconvenience. There are provisions for time-bound issuance for certificates, including an Appellant Authority, whose orders will be binding, as well as who has revisional powers.

The rules have provision that applications for grant Domicile Certificate can be submitted either physically or electronically. The Competent Authority can also issue domiciles certificate (s) electronically.

Permanent Residents of the erstwhile State of J&K in whose favour Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) has been issued by the competent authority before 31-10-2019 shall be eligible for receiving their Domicile Certificates on the basis of PRCs alone and no other additional document shall be required for such residents.

Similarly, for Kashmir migrants, a very simple procedure has been prescribed. They can get Domicile certificate on production of either a PRC or Certificate of registration of migrant.

Further for bonafide migrants and bonafide displaced persons, who have migrated but have not registered with the Relief Department, there is a special limited provision for registration.

In order to further simplify the process and ensure issuance of domicile in the bare minimum time, the Government had issued a notification SO 263 dated 25th of August, 2020, whereby the Competent Authority has been bound to issue the Domicile Certificate provided under clause 1(a) and clause 4(a) within a period of five working days from the date such application is received by it.

Srinagar, Sep 7: The government on Monday deferred elections to the post of Mayor Srinagar Muncipal Corporation by three months after an amendment was made to the rules today.
Then the government today inserted second proviso to sub-section (2) of section 36 of the Act amid a notification issued by District Magistrate Srinagar (Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority, Srinagar), prohibiting any inward/outward movement in Micro Containment Zones of Srinagar District.
The Commissioner SMC also informed that ninety six zones of the Srinagar District have been designated as micro containment zones for the management of COVID19, under the orders of the District Magistrate, and that a large number of Councilors reside/fall in these areas.
The Commissioner also informed that as a result of the prohibition of inward and outward movement of people in and from these areas, the conduct of election to the post of Mayor within the period prescribed by Section 36 of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, read with second proviso of sub-section(2) of Section 36, which expires on 15 September, 2020, was not possible, order said.
Now after the government inserted third proviso to sub-section (2) of section 36 of J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, notified vide SO 282 today : Provided also that the Government may, if the circumstances so warrant, on account of reasons of & ewe for security, public health including health pandemic, natural calamity such as floods, earthquake, snowstorm or an event of a similar or ony other reason which is a hindrance to the conduct of election of the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor, by reasons to be recorded in writing, extend the time limit of conducting the elections up to a maximum of six months from the date the office of the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor falls vacant,” order reads.
The order also further said that: “Now, therefore, in terms of the above proviso of Section 36 (2) of J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, in supersession of Government Order No. 158-JK(HUD) of 2020 dated 15.7.2010 and in view of the difficulty in the conduct of the election to the post of Mayor, SMC due to health pandemic-COVID-19 and management protocol related to it issued by District Magistrate, Srinagar (Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority Srinagar), the Government hereby extends the time limit for the conduct of said election to six months from the date the office of the Mayor fell vacant (June 16).” (KNS)

Srinagar, Sep 7: Security forces on Monday evening suspended an operation after brief exchange of fire with militants in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
A joint team of Police, Army and CRPF had launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Kawoosa Khalisa area of the district amid inputs about the presence of the militants, official sources told GNS.
As the joint team encircled the suspected spot, they said, the hiding militants fired upon them. The fire was retaliated by the joint team, triggering off an encounter, they said. The gunfight was also confirmed by the police on its official twitter handle.
“Encounter has started at Kawoosa area of Budgam. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow,” the police tweeted.
Official sources told GNS that after initial firefight, there was lull which continued until this reported was filed.
“Perhaps there was a lone (militant) who managed to escape,” they said, adding, “The operation has not been called off but has been suspended due to darkness,” they added.

Jammu, Sep 7: “Monitoring of implementation of different schemes need to be monitored uniformly and effectively across all districts to ensure their timely completion” Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said this, here today, while chairing a meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Secretary Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction were present in the meeting whereas Principal Secretary, Revenue, Principal Secretary, PDD, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and all Deputy Commissioners attended the meeting through video conferencing.

Chief Secretary stressed that effective monitoring system is being put in place, through a series of scheme specific formats which would help the Deputy Commissioners monitor all important schemes at the district level. He added that the data would be further compiled at the higher level so that the performance with respect to each scheme could be monitored at a glance.

Regarding public grievance redressal, the Chief Secretary said that a monitoring cell would be setup in the Secretariat which will compile the reports from the districts, however all matters pertaining the districts shall be pushed through a specifically designed portal to the Deputy Commissioners who would receive, consolidate and redress the grievances in a systematic way.

Further, 21- day Jan Abhiyan will begin across the Union territory from 10th September, 2020 to energise government functioning after COVID induced slow down by infusing greater enthusiasm, responsiveness and accessibility to government machinery, the Chief Secretary added.

Jan Abhiyan will redress public grievances through weekly Block Divas, whereby officers of all departments will proactively visit every Block and ensure door-step delivery of all important documents and public services.

Srinagar, Sep 7: The Delimitation Commission, set up to redraw the constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir Union territory and other North-eastern states of India has completed the date collection work and now is busy with preparing a ‘comprehensive framework” of the delimitation exercise.
Official sources told news agency KINS that the Commission has held four formal meetings as yet.
“All Associate Members have already been nominated for each State/ Union Territory concerned. Data collection work has also been completed. Now the commission is busy with preparing a broad framework on carving out constituencies based on the 2011 Census,” the official said, wishing not to be named.
He said that after completing the broad framework the Delimitation Commission will visit the states including the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to meet locals. “Once the framework is drawn, it would also interact with associate members to seek their views and inputs,” said an official aware of the developments.
The delimitation panel will redraw the Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies of the four north-eastern states and work on increasing the assembly seats of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as per the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
On March 7, Government of India announced a delimitation commission for J&K, Assam, Aurunachal Pradesh and Manipur. From BJP MoS in Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendera Singh and MP Jugal Kishore were announced as members while as from NC Dr Farooq Abdullah, Muhammad Akbar Lone and Justice (Rtd) Hasnain Masoodi were also nominated as members.
However the National Conference has already decided to boycott the process.
Top BJP leaders that include party’s J&K Affairs Incharge and national vice president Avinash Rai Khanna and BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul has told KINS that they would like the delimitation commission to keep the population, topography, geography and area in mind while making recommendations. “Our motive is to end regional balance,” they had said.
A senior BJP leader said that for holding polls, delimitation of assembly seats was a must. “We are sure that a political process will be started soon after the delimitation exercise will be completed” he said, wishing not to be named.
It is to mention here that last month the new office premise for Delimitation Commission was inaugurated in News Delhi.
The office premises for Delimitation Commission was opened by Justice Ranjana Desai, Chairperson, Delimitation Commission in the presence of Sunil Arora, Chief Election Commissioner, Ashok Lavasa, Election Commissioner, and Sushil Chandra, Election Commissioner and Member, Delimitation Commission.