Precious Kashmir

‘SKIMS on forefront in fight against Covid-19’

City

13/08/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 13: The SKIMS administration Thursday rejected a news story that was carried by a section of media saying SKIMS is on fore front in the fight against this Covid-19 and is constantly upgrading the required facilities/ infrastructure within available resources.

“The SKIMS created 50 bedded Infectious Disease Block in a shortest span of time having been commissioned by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor. At the outset the bed strength for the management COVID-19 was 10 that has been enhanced to 260 beds at the moment,” a spokesman of SKIMS said in a statement.

It said the SKIMS administration is taking due care of its frontline warriors and providing all possible help and support to them. “Being conscious about the risks, they face in the line of duty, SKIMS dedicated a portion of building for its staff, moderately sick or severely sick staff members were managed in IDB block i.e. First floor of IDB block has been exclusively reserved for SKIMS Staff including Faculty and Administrative Quarantine facilities within or outside SKIMS for Staff Members working in COVID areas of Patient Care.”

The spokesman said SKIMS is the only Institute in North India that dedicated its services with a Plasma Bank for the Plasma Pheresis and Convalescent Plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients and lend its services to all other hospitals around with remarkable success while our dedicated staff members fight the pandemic with the most modern Gadgets and Medicine, the Statistics submitted to the Government on daily basis are the testimony to the excellent care being delivered at SKIMS, besides being the number one Institution in terms of testing capacities having conducted more than two lac tests so for that in itself is a remarkable achievement.

The spokesman said barring a few, most of the staff members tested positive at SKIMS for Covid-19 have contracted the infection from outside the Institute since they did not come in the frontline force managing COVID-19 patients in the designated areas of care for such patients.

“Blaming SKIMS administration can only serve the vested interests of a handful people who are busy as usual in connivance with some pseudo journalists for spoiling the image of this national asset only for their own end even though they got infected from their private clinics or other areas while attending some get together parties outside SKIMS,” the spokesman said.

Residents of Uri village decry lack of basic facilities

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

13/08/2020

Peerzada Waseem

Baramulla, Aug 13: The residents of Sultan Daki village in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district here have expressed resentment against the administration for failing to provide adequate facilities to them.

The village, which is close to the Line of Control in Uri, is craving for drinking water supply and electricity, the residents said.

Jelal Ahmad, a local resident said that although the department has allotted tender to a contractor for ensuring drinking water supply, but for unknown reasons, the contractor has not completed his work since long, thus forcing the residents here to consume filthy and muddy water.

Another resident of the village told KNO that the residents are facing hardships in absence of proper electricity. “There is a shortage of electric poles as well as transformers, thus simultaneously affecting the residents badly,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials in the Jal Shakti department told KNO that last year’s flood washed away the pipelines in the village. He said the work was started but got halted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) PDD told KNO that he will look into the matter and will redress the grievances of locals shortly. (KNO)

2 LeT hideouts busted in Awantipora: Police

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

13/08/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 13: Police Thursday claimed that two hideouts of Lashkar-e-Toiba were busted in the forest area of Badroo and Barsoo in Awantipora of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district and recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosive besides edible items, officials said.

A police spokesman said that based on the credible input about presence of Lashkar militants in the forest, the J&K Police along with Army’s 50RR and 130 BN CRPF launched a search in the area during the intervening night of August 12 and 13.

“During the early morning search, two hideouts of Lashkar militants were busted and destroyed,” the police spokesman said. He said that incriminating material and huge cache of explosive material and ammunition have been recovered from these hideouts.

The police spokesman said that the arms, ammunition and explosives recovered from the two hideouts include 1,918 rounds of AK 47, two grenades, one UBGL thrower, four UBGL grenades, half a bag of ammonium nitrate like substance, five gelatin sticks, crude pipe bomb and three code sheets. “The other materials recovered include Rs 5,400, food items , utensils, gas stoves, gas cylinder and edibles,” the police spokesman added.

He said that a case has been registered under Explosive Substance Act and 7/25 Arms Act at Awantipora police station, Pulwama.

Full dress rehearsal held at SK stadium Srinagar

City

Precious Kashmir

13/08/2020

Div Com hoists tri-colour, takes salute at march past

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 13: In connection with the celebrations of Independence Day- 2020, a full dress rehearsal was held Thursday at S.K Stadium in Srinagar where Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole hoisted the national flag and took salute at the March past. He also inspected the parade on the occasion.

The contingents of BSF, CRPF, SSB, JKAP, IRP, lady contingent, SDRF, F&ES and FPF participated in the March past.

Organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, (JKAACL), a variety of cultural programmes were presented by both male and female artists on the occasion.

Artists enthralled guests and audience with their colourful performances they presented in different languages.

Various senior civil administration and police officers were present on the occasion.

The full dress rehearsals for I-Day functions was also held in other districts of the Valley.

Police solve theft case in Srinagar, accused arrested

City

Precious Kashmir

13/08/2020

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 13: Police in Srinagar solved a theft case by arresting an accused person involved in the crime and recovered 08 stolen bikes.

Police Station Sadder received a complaint from Riyaz Ahmad Malik resident of Gulshan Nagar Chanapora that his bike bearing registration No.JK01K-3589 has been stolen by some unknown persons.

Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law was registered in Police Station Sadder and investigation was set into motion.

During the course of investigation, officers taking assistance of modern techniques learnt about the involvement of one accused person identified as Fahad Nazir Bhat resident of Watalkadal Safakadal Srinagar and subsequently arrested him. During questioning, officers learnt about his involvement in the commission of crime and on his disclosure recovered the stolen bike. During further questioning, 07 more bikes were recovered on his disclosure. He has been shifted to Police Station Sadder where he remains in custody.

Serological Survey

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Precious Kashmir

13/08/2020

While covid-19 shows no signs of relenting, the recovery rate has improved in Jammu and Kashmir from 61 as on ending July to 69 percent now even as the fatality rate remains below 2 percent.
In other words, the SARS-CoV-2 is not as lethal as it was originally feared. However, the virus is more infectious and continues to spread with renewed vigor. In J&K, the case tally has already crossed the grim milestone of 26000 while deaths reached around 500-mark.
Chairing a meeting to take stock of the efforts toward mitigating covid-19 pandemic and review the related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies, the Chief Secretary of J&K on August 11 ordered the health department to conduct serological surveys to ascertain the spread of infection in both the Valley and Jammu.
The decision is welcome as the survey helps assess the prevalence of a disease in a population. The direction needed to be implemented without delay as the serological survey, which includes the IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test, estimates the proportion of the population exposed to the infection.
The survey helped New Delhi and Mumbai to achieve what seemed to be improbable at the start. In fact, Mumbai government was praised by the World Health Organization for the efforts taken by it to contain the virus spread in Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums.
The survey was used by the scientists to estimate the spread of pestilence in Mumbai as well as New Delhi. The findings of Mumbai led to the conclusion that almost 57% of those tested in slums had been exposed to the covid-19 and had developed antibodies against it as compared to only 16% of those tested in residential societies.
Results from New Delhi’s seroprevalence study found that nearly a quarter of the 21,000-odd samples tested had been exposed to the covid-19 and some of the densest districts had over 20% prevalence.
Indian Council of Medical Research’s survey had shown that the number of those infected by covid-19 were many multiples of those that were being reflected in official confirmed-case statistics. While the vaccine is still at some distance away, many people continue to be vulnerable. The serology surveys would help record the progress of the virus and would show if a significant proportion of the population was still vulnerable in contracting the virus.

Anti Corruption Bureau acts swiftly, exposes scams, nails big fishes

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

13/08/2020

Anti Corruption Bureau acts swiftly, exposes scams, nails big fishes

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 12: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) unearthing many scams during the past few months has exposed the entire system.
Many big guns have fallen in the ACB net and it appears that investigations are on to nail others also. “Recent statement of the Chief Secretary B V R Subhramanyam that J&K was a broken State and the entire system was in a mess had rattled the politicians,” an analyst told Precious Kashmir.
He said, “The corruption has always been prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir and no one can deny this fact. But not many people were booked during the erstwhile political regimes.”
It may be recalled that many commissions to probe the complaints about corruption were formed during the political dispensations but all these bodies proved to be toothless tigers.
“The State Vigilance Organization (SVO) which has been rechristened as Anti Corruption Bureau, despite having sufficient evidence was unable to nail the big fishes in the old system due to the political pressure. Since the day J&K has been turned into Union Territory (UT) the ACB has started acting swiftly. Big shots, who used believe that they are above the law and can get away with anything are facing the heat as the noose has been tightened around them,” said an observer.
Referring to the recent statement of the J&K Chief Secretary, the observer said, “The CS has hinted that J&K will continue to remain a Union Territory till the system is set right and restoration of statehood in the near future seems impossible. It’s evident that New Delhi wants to clear the mess.”
He said, “The corrupt being nailed has sent a clear message down the line that no one will be spared. The ACB has even produced challans in old cases which were shelved due to the political pressure or other reasons.”
Another analyst said, “The work culture in government offices is changing fast. All the officials from top to bottom are aware of the fact that they are being watched. The ACB during the past few months has acted quickly on the complaints which were registered with it.”
He said, “Had the politicians not interfered with the working of anti-graft agencies in the erstwhile State, corruption would not have been so rampant. Big scams being unearthed have left people dazed. A common man is asking a simple question why no action was taken against the corrupt elements, who pushed J&K to the brink.”

61 Srinagar schools have single teacher or no teacher, reveals UDISE report

Anchor stories

Gul Owais

13/08/2020

61 Srinagar schools have single teacher or no teacher, reveals UDISE report

Gul Owais

Srinagar, Aug 12: The report by the UDISE has painted a grim picture of the education sector in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir as 61 primary and upper primary schools in the district are either having a single teacher or no teacher at all.

According to the details available with ‘The Precious Kashmir’, the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE Plus) report furnished on 31st January this year reads that 29 primary schools in the district are having only teachers while 27 such schools are functioning without any teacher.

The data further reveals that one primary with upper primary school in Srinagar is functional with having a single teacher only while four such schools in the district have no teachers.

The department as per the figures available has clearly thrown the guidelines to winds, which state that a minimum of two teachers should be posted at primary schools and the number of teachers be increased in case the enrolment is high in the school.

According to the data, the figure mentioned in the document contains the data of certified schools only.

As per the data, there are 1000 certified schools upto higher secondary levels in Srinagar district and are having the total strength of 12, 755 teachers.

Meanwhile, a prominent educationist of J&K Prof Bashir Ahmad Dar said this is the very frustrating situation. “When there is no teacher in the school then it means the educational institute doesn’t exist anymore,” he said, adding that the institute can’t be called school when there is no teacher.

However, he said the figure regarding the number of students in the schools needs to be checked also, adding that under Sarwa Shikhsha Abhiyaan, it was decided to ensure minimum two teachers in primary schools and also the teachers will be posted accordingly if the number of students enrolled will be high.

Meanwhile, Director Education Kashmir, Muhammad Younis Malik couldn’t be contacted for the comments as he didn’t receive the repeated phone calls from this reporter.

We need to introspect what J&K got in 70 years: LG Sinha

Front

Precious Kashmir

13/08/2020

We need to introspect what J&K got in 70 years: LG Sinha

Launches Coffee Table Books, felicitates COVID warriors; National Level Awardee sarpanchs, ULB representatives

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 12: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today launched the Coffee Table Books of UT, Districts and Departments highlighting the major developmental interventions being made in J&K in the past one year, during an event ‘Synergy – progress through people’ held here at SKICC.

During his address, the Lt Governor observed that the month of August has a great significance in the history of India. We must introspect what J&K has got in the past 70 years. A new beginning of change has been witnessed by J&K and the UT Government is trying to push the agenda of development and progress forward. J&K’s development and the welfare of its people is the top most priority of the Central and the UT Government.

The Lt Governor said that the last two years have seen a massive developmental push with unprecedented acceleration of developmental works and projects in J&K and the impact has been visible on the ground.

The focus of the J&K Government in the last 2 years has been to give people a voice by strengthening grassroots democracy and empowering institutions of local self-government through participatory governance, he added.

“Let us all come together to fulfil the Gandhiji’s dream of rural empowerment and reach out to the masses with the common objective i.e equitable development”, the Lt Governor said.

Stressing on Zero Tolerance for Corruption, he emphasized on optimal utilization of public money on the welfare of the people only.

Quoting that change begins with self, the Lt Governor maintained that we need to change ourselves so that others emulate us. He exhorted the officers to implement the best administrative practices to restore faith of the general public in accountable governance.

He said that the people of J&K have high expectations from the Government and the present generation is looking at us with hope. He called for committed efforts from all the stakeholders to meet the expectations of the people of J&K. The UT of J&K has no parallel in terms of resources and natural beauty, and all we need is to put in coordinated efforts to reach the new heights of development, he added.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor also paid tributes to the Martyrs who sacrificed their lives while upholding the democratic values.

Speaking on security related issues of elected representatives, the Lt Governor assured that their security and safety is the responsibility of the Government and it will be taken care of.

Giving due recognition to the significant role being played by the frontline Warriors in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the Lt Governor felicitated 20 COVID Warriors. Meanwhile, Six National Level Awardee Sarpanches and a couple of ULB Representatives were also felicitated by the Lt Governor for best practices and outstanding work in their respective Panchayats and Municipalities.

The role of Panchayats and ULBs in communication, social awareness, supporting the health system and in public functions like sanitation is praiseworthy, the Lt Governor said.

He urged the people to take precautionary measures and follow all the COVID-19 related SOP’s issued by the Government to prevent the transmission of the deadly disease.

While speaking on the occasion, Advisor to the Lt Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan highlighted the major developmental activities being undertaken by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj over a period of one year on various fronts for the welfare of the people living in rural areas, besides various initiatives taken by the department to strengthen PRIs.

Sarpanches & ULB Representatives also spoke on the occasion and gave a brief about their working and liaisioning with the Government departments, besides monitoring their functions. They termed the Back to Village programme a historic initiative by the Government and also provided feedback about works being executed under B2V.

On the occasion, a short film highlighting the major developmental works being executed on the ground, was also exhibited, besides Panchayat & Rural Development theme song was played to mark the day.

Welcome address was delivered by Secretary to the Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Sheetal Nanda.

Advisors to the Lieutenant Governor Kewal Kumar Sharma, Farooq Khan, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Baseer Ahmad Khan; BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance department; Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education; Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, besides Administrative Secretaries of various departments along with Deputy Commissioners and senior officers were present on the occasion.

Hizb commander, soldier killed in Pulwama gunfight

Front

United News Of India

13/08/2020

Srinagar, Aug 12: A top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and a soldier were killed and another soldier sustained injuries in a gunfight which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on the wee hours on Wednesday, official sources.

Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said it was major success as HM commander Azad Lalhari, a resident of Lalhara Kakpora in Pulwama was involved in several militancy related incidents in south Kashmir.

A defence ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that on a tip off about the presence of militants at Kamrazipora in Pulwama troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint CASO late Tuesday evening.

However, when all the exit points were sealed and house-to-house searches launched, militants hiding there opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons in which a soldier was injured. The injured soldier was shifted to hospital where he died.

Additional security forces were deployed in the nearby areas to foil any attempt by militants to escape under the cover of darkness.

With the first light this morning when security forces launched an all out offensive, militants again opened fire, they said adding in the return fire an unidentified militant was killed. His body was recovered from nearby orchards and one Ak rifle, grenades, pouch and other war like stores were recovered.

Colonel Kalia said a soldier also laid down his life in the line of duty. Another soldier was injured who has been admitted to 92 Base hospital.

DGP Singh said Lalhari was involved in the killing of police Head Constable (HC) Anoop Singh 22 May 22, 2020 at Prichu Pulwahma when he fired at a Naka party,

He said six FIRs were registered against him for militancy related killings. He said earlier Lalhari was detained under Public Safety Act ( PSA) as Over Ground Worker (OGW) and later became active militant. A charge sheet had been filed against him in two cases earlier in a court.

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