DSEK directs CEOs to get ready for examinations

Riyaz Bhat

Srinagar, Aug 28:  The School Education department has directed the concerned officers to gear-up for the Term-II examinations of the elementary and high school students.

Top officials of the department said the Term-II examinations of these classes will be conducted like Term-I examinations were held.

It has been learnt that the directives were issued by Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Mohammad Younis Malik in a recent review meeting regarding the ongoing works in the department and the academic scenario during COVID-19 pandemic.

In the meeting, Malik has stated that the board examinations for classes 10th, 11th and 12th are tentatively scheduled to be in the month of November—directing the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to submit the details of the accommodation.

“All CEOs will have to submit the details of accommodation in various schools for which the format has already been circulated among them,” he said.

Malik in a meeting while responding to the queries regarding examination of classes 1 to 9 explained the modus operandi and asked the officers to get ready for the examination of T2 as was done in case of T1.

Last month, a number of elementary students couldn’t appear in the assessment exams due to lackadaisical approach of the School Education Department.

The Google classroom forum link created by the officials to hold online T-1 exams was not also fully functional for all the students even the website link created for students crashed several times due to heavy flow of the participants. (KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 28 : A court in Jammu has reprimanded police for trying to falsely implicate a Junior Pharmacist into militancy related case and has directed the superintendent of Central Jail, Jammu to release the accused from custody.
The accused is a Junior Pharmacist from Marwah area of Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir and has been identified as Zahoor Ahmed who was arrested by police under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in January this year after police station Dachhan accused him of supporting Hizbul Mujahideen and Jehangir Saroori, Kashmir’s oldest surviving militant. Saroori, a resident of Kishtwar, has been evading arrest since 1990.
While granting bail, Sunit Gupta, Special Judge Jammu, under Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act), noted the court could not find a single witness or statement which can be held against Zahoor Ahmed for his alleged links to militancy.
Police had alleged that Zahoor was an over ground worker, not only providing information to militants but also supplying medicines to the longest surviving militant of Kishtwar Jehangir Saroori and three others on the directions of one Akther Hussain, resident of Kishtwar.
The court observed Zahoor Ahmed cannot be said to be involved in aiding, harbouring or being part of the militant organization. “Even if he was intending to deliver some medicine even to the militant, he cannot be said to have been involved in any of the offences under UA(P) Act as such rigorous provisions of section 43-D() UA(P) Act would not apply in the case.”
Special Judge Gupta said that the court could not find a single witness whose statements were recorded under section 161 or 164 CrPC who have uttered even a single word against the accused Zahoor Ahmed.
The Court observed that the Investigating Officer of the case had managed to annex a photostat copy of a statement of one witness namely Akhter Hussain which was recorded under section 164 CrPc in some other case and attached with this case.
“With the strength of the said copy of the statement, the Investigating Officer had made a successful attempt to falsely implicate the accused Zahoor Ahmed and even as per the statement; the accused is not genuinely found to be involved in any such activity which may be said to be an offence under UA(P) Act,” the court observed.
Judge Sunit Gupta while reprimanding the police investigation officer said he did not find any evidence against the accused.
The court directed the superintendent of Central Jail, Jammu to release the accused from custody. (KNT)

Asks Deptt to introduce location specific innovations to bring more areas under irrigation
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 28: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam Friday chaired a meeting of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and reviewed progress made under the scheme.
Administrative Secretaries of Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Forest, Ecology and Environment and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj along with concerned Heads of Departments participated in the meeting.
The Chief Secretary said that the Department should converge efforts under various schemes and bridge the gaps through location specific innovative interventions to ensure extension of irrigation facilities to every farm.
The Committee approved Rs. 601.12 crore annual action plan of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for the year 2020-21. The annual plan lays emphasis on various components under the schemes Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), Har Khet Ko Paani (HKKP), Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) and Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).
It was informed that as a result of previous interventions, area irrigated by bore wells, community WHT and farm ponds has increased by 6798 Ha, whereas, area under micro-irrigation- drip, sprinkler and rain guns, has gone up by 6766 Ha. These measures have increased crop production by 30%, saved water by 70% and benefitted 7,000 agro-dependent families, besides, reducing water runoff and recharging ground water reservoirs.
In the current financial year, the Department has proposed bringing 12,000 Ha additional areas under irrigation and reducing the gap between ultimate irrigation potential and irrigation potential by converging 144 existing schemes.
The State Level Sanctioning Committee also approved top up subsidy amounting to Rs. 10.26 crore including 55% central assistance, as Micro Irrigation Fund from NABARD, which will provide financial assistance to farmers adopting micro irrigation techniques as a part of sustainable agricultural activities.
Earlier, while chairing a meeting of State Level Executive Committee of National Livestock Mission (NLM), Chief Secretary approved Rs. 32.24 crore action plan of centrally sponsored scheme for the year 2020-21. NLM is an umbrella scheme comprising sub-missions on livestock development, feed & fodder development and skill development, technology & extension.
The proposed action plan envisages development of poultry development projects and hatcheries, strengthening of sheep breeding farms, improving biosecurity, establishment of nucleus breeding stock of Gurezi sheep, establishing feed testing laboratory and creation of new water resources, among others.

Precious Kashmir News
New Delhi, Aug 28: Delhi police released the Kashmiri youth who was detained by CRPF outside Parliament and later handed over to Delhi Police.
Manzoor Ahmed Ahanger from Rathsuna village of Central Kashmir’s Budgam who had gone to Delhi for some business purpose was arrested after he was allegedly found roaming in suspicious condition.
Back in Budgam, his family vouched for his innocence and said that he had gone to Delhi for some business purpose.
Family sources said Manzoor has been released by Delhi Police.
Quoting Police, the family said that Manzoor was questioned and treated well by Delhi Police. “He is returning home,” they said. (KNT)

Tasaduq Rashid
Srinagar, Aug 28: Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) Dr Sameer Mattoo on Friday said any meddling with Covid-19 funds is “unacceptable” for the Department and clarified that whosoever would be found involved in swindling pandemic funds won’t be spared and will be taken to task sternly.
Mattoo said the government has taken strong note of the complaint and soon reality will be brought to fore.
He said the Department has already constituted a high-level committee headed by CMO Anantnag which is investigating all pros and cons of the matter.
However he asserted that those found involved in swindling Covid-19 funds won’t be spared and be dealt as per law.
“DHSK has constituted a committee headed by CMO Anantnag Dr Mukhtar Ahmad who is probing every aspect of the matter. Whosoever would be found guilty in the act, would be dealt sternly”, he said.
He further said DHSK is waiting for preliminary report and once it will come, department will go ahead with further action.
Meanwhile Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Mukhtar Ahmad also confirmed that investigation in the matter is underway and also maintained that the accused officials have been asked to deposit the money back to their original accounts.
“We have issued an order in this regard and accused officials have been directed to deposit the amount back into the account of Government”, CMO said. (KNS)

Aadil Dar
Tangmarg, Aug 28: The Muslim neighbourhood in North Kashmir’s Tangmarg helped perform the last rites of an elderly Kashmiri Pandit woman on Friday.
As soon as the news of the death of old Pandith woman namely Prabhawati Wife of Late Tara Chand Bhan, Muslim neighbours came together to help in performing her last rites.
Many people amid Covid-19 pandemic visited the home of the deceased to express condolences with the family.
Locals said that Prabhawatti died on Yesterday and today she was cremated with honour. Muslim neighbours performed her last rites as per Hindu religion. The deceased, a resident of Lalpora Kunzer Tangmarg.
Locals tolds media reporters said that we are living under one shelter weather Muslims, Sikhs, Pandits or other religious related persons are all equal here our message for those pandiths who stayed in outside the UT we well come to come valley without any fear (KNS)