Target of Rs 20,000 crore of benefits fixed, Secretaries asked to monitor regularly

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 6: The Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam, in a marathon meeting today, reviewed the steps taken and progress being made under various verticals of Atmanirbar Bharat Abhiyan, by the eight Task Forces created for the purpose.

The Task Force on Investment, Industrial Revival and Growth informed that the District Mineral Officers have been directed to use District Mineral Fund for supplementing the medical testing and screening, whereas, the MSMEs are being pursued to get registered on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Treds portal. Further, under ‘vocal for local global outreach program’, products like JK handicrafts/handlooms, silk, Pashmina, Basohli paintings, carpets, etc. have been identified to be promoted through design interventions, raw material support, common facility centres and marketing support.

Chief Secretary directed the Task Force to fix monitorable targets and fast track the disbursement of financial assistance under existing Credit Linked Guarantee Scheme and collateral/ guarantee free loans for business including MSMEs.

The Task Force on Bank, Finance, Credit Revival and Growth informed that interest subvention and prompt repayment incentives on crop loans as well as that of dairy cooperatives have been extended, whereas, the special credit facility for street vendors with an initial working capital of upto Rs. 10,000 has been launched. Chief Secretary asked the Task Force to identify certain Public Sector Enterprises which can be privatized.

The Task Force on Reforms for Growth informed that ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme has been rolled out and its nation-wide portability with be ensured in near future. Regarding ‘Ease of doing Business’ reforms, it was mentioned that 14 out of 18 parameters have been achieved and work on remaining is under progress.

The Task Force on Improving Health Systems informed that ‘e-Sanjeevani tele-consultation’ services will be introduced in 7 hubs & 300 spokes. In terms of capacity building of healthcare personnel, 34,083 workers were trained on DIKSHA platform for effective COVID response. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to open 1,068 health and wellness centres to provide Primary Health Care at grassroots level, besides, laboratory networks are being strengthened in 2 provincial and 13 district level hospitals. Additionally, for ‘infectious disease blocks’ are also being established at 2 GMCs, 5 Associate Hospitals and 13 District Hospitals.

Chief Secretary asked the Task Force on Welfare of the Poor including Migrants and Destitutes to take up construction of units for affordable rental complex for urban poor under PMAY. It was mentioned that distribution of rice and pulses to 71.4 lakh souls and 16.4 lakh souls, respectively, under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and disbursement of ex-gratia of Rs. 1000 each to 1.45 lakh  poor senior citizens, widows and Divyangs, under PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana, have been achieved. Moreover, Rs. 63.60 crores has been disbursed to 1.56 lakh registered BOC workers in 3 instalments of Rs. 1000 each, whereas, Rs. 4.53 crore was disbursed to 3,022 Self Help Groups under JK Rural Livelihood Mission.

The Task Force on Enhancing Technology and Quality of Education informed that for increasing use of ‘e-Paathshala’, it is being targeted to provide 6 lakh tablets for students from class 6th to 12th and 1.25 lakh tablets for teachers. Under ‘PM e-Vidya programme’ radio sets are being targeted to be provided in every Panchayat, whereas, under ‘Manodarpan’ district counselling resource centres will be established in each district.

The Task Force on Farmers and Fishermen Welfare informed that 100% saturation has been achieved in issuance of Kisan Credit Cards, and efforts are afoot to get the local fruits and vegetables included under ‘TOTAL Operation Green’ for extending the assistance of 50% subsidy on storage and transportation of agro products to the stakeholders.

Administrative Secretaries of departments of Finance, Health & Medical Education, Housing & Urban Development, School Education, Agriculture Production & Farmers’ Welfare, Power Development, Industries & Commerce, Labour & Employment and Planning Development & Monitoring participated in the meeting.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Aug 6: The landholders of Jammu and Kashmir would soon get digital land titling as the government is close to finalize Request For Proposal (RFP) for digitization of the land records under Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme  (DILRMP)

An ambitious Project to provide digital land titling guarantee to the land holders of Jammu and Kashmir has been launched by the UT government by floating Request For Proposal (RFP) in Public Domain under Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme  (DILRMP).

The Project includes Data Entry/Re-Entry/Conversion of all textual Records, Digitization (Vectorisation) of Cadastral Maps, (Mussavis), Survey/re-survey with the usage of CORS Net based methodology for updation of Land Records, integration with Record of Rights (RoR), together with Training and Capacity Building of the Revenue staff.

For ensuring that the Project is completed in a time bound manner, proposals for outsourcing the entire work to competent and experienced IT and GIS companies have been invited.

In J&K, an empowered Agency viz; Jammu and Kashmir Land Record Management Agency (JaKLaRMA) headed by Financial Commissioner, Revenue, J&K as its Chief Executive Officer, JaKLaRMA convened series of hectic meetings with the Union Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources, Government of India and Government of Union Territory approved the work of digitization of Land Records for the entire UT of J&K.

The Agency formulated a Request For Proposal for inviting IT and GIS  Solution provider for outsourcing the activities involved in the Implementation of Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme  (DILRMP) in the UT of J&K. The RFP after approval of the Technical Committee of the JaKLaRMA was floated in public domain for inviting online proposals through JK tenders e-Portal. The RFP was also uploaded on Official Website and published in the local and National Dailies. The last date for submission of proposals was fixed on 27.06.2020.

In response to RFP, three proposals were received online up to the Proposal Due Date and time from M/s  RAMTeCH Software Solution Pvt. Ltd. Rudrabhishek Enterprise Pvt. Limited (REPL) and Geovista Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

All the three Proposals received were downloaded from JKtenders e-Portal www.jktender.gov.in on 04.08.2020 in the presence of Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Financial Commissioner, Revenue/CEO, JaKLaRMA, J&K by the Technical Committee of the JaKLaRMA headed by Commissioner Survey and Land Records, J&K at (11:00 IST) after following all the conditions circulated by CVC Government of India. The representatives of the aforesaid bidders were also present while downloading the proposals.

The Evaluation Committee met on 04.08.2020 at 11:00 IST under the Chairmanship of Commissioner S&LR, J&K (Ex-Officio Additional CEO, JaKLaRMA) and opened the pre-qualification bids  in presence of Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Financial Commissioner, Revenue/CEO, JaKLaRMA, J&K, Members of the Committee and representatives of all the three bidders. The bids were checked by the Evaluation Committee as per the format for pre-qualification bid and found in order as per the terms and condition of the RFP and declared qualified for Technical Evaluation.

The Evaluation Committee again met on 05.08.2020 at 12:00 IST under the Chairmanship of Commissioner S&LR, J&K (Ex-Officio Additional CEO, JaKLaRMA) opened technical proposals and downloaded online documents of the three bidders and evaluated them. The proposals were evaluated by the Committee on the basis of technical parameters laid down in the RFP in presence of the representatives of the aforesaid bidders. The Evaluation Committee after evaluation of the proposals declared all the aforementioned three bidders technically qualified. Thereafter, a Technical Presentation on technical parameters in term of RFP was made by the representatives of the aforesaid bidders. After over viewing the presentations of three bidders and the Technical Documents on the basis of the RFP, Technical Committee decided to open the Financial Bid on 06.08.2020 at 12:10 pm.

The Committee again met on 06.08.2020 at 11:00 IST to open and evaluate the Financial Bids of the technically qualified bidders. The Financial Bids were opened at 12:10 pm in the presence of Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Financial Commissioner, Revenue/CEO, JaKLaRMA, J&K and the representatives of the aforesaid technically qualified bidders. The online Evaluation of the bids was made and a comparative statement was drawn which depicted M/s Geovista Info technologies Pvt. Ltd. emerged to be (L1), Rudrabhishek Enterprises  Limited (L2) & M/s RAMTeCH Software Solutions Pvt. LTd  (L3). The contract shall be awarded to the qualified bidders after completion of all the codal formalities within shortest possible time.

The Members of the Technical Committee present were Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari , Commissioner S&LR, J&K (Chairman), Rishpal Singh, Additional Commissioner (C) (Member Secretary)Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, Regional Director S&LR, Jammu (Member), Mohd Qasim Wani, Regional Director S&LR, Srinagar (Member), Ashok Kumar, FA/CAO, Revenue Department , J&K (Member), Dr. Humayun Rashid, Scientist (F) Remote Sensing Department (Member online), Imran Sofi, Project Manager IT Department (Member online), Tarsem lal Sharma, Former Director Survey of India (Co-opted Members),Tarsem Chand, Consutlant, JaKLaRMA to assist Evaluation Committee, besides representatives of the Bidders were also present included Krishan Mohan, Geovista Infotechnologies, Pvt. Ltd., Vikram Jasrotia, Kuldeep Singh, Surindra Nath Das , Rudrabhishek Enterprises  Limited (REPL), Dr. Harish Sharma , REPL, Dr. R.K Singh Rana, RAMTeCH Software Solution Pvt. Ltd., Gyamendra Kumar, RAMTeCH Software Solution Pvt. Ltd., Dhananjay Kumar,  RAMTeCH Software Solution Pvt. Ltd.

450 hotels, guest houses haven’t received any guests since COVID-19 outbreak: KHAROF
Gul Owais

Srinagar, Aug 6: Since July 13, when Jammu and Kashmir administration opened up the Union Territory for tourism, nearly 200 tourists have arrived in Kashmir.
Director Tourism, Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani told Precious Kashmir  that over 200 tourists from visited the Valley during the past more than 20 days.
“Today five tourists from outside J&K arrived in Kashmir,” Wani said, adding that everyday five to ten tourists have been arriving in the Valley.
The J&K Government on July 13 had reopened the Union Territory for the tourists. The tourists were asked to undergo mandatory COVID-19 tests and follow other Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in letter and spirit.
Wani said that the arrival of over 200 tourists from outside J&K so far is not although cheerful for the tourism sector, but the process to woo the visitors is going on with full zeal. “The department has also started organizing webinars and other related programmes to encourage the tourists to visit Kashmir,” he added.
Pertinently, the tourism sector has been witnessing huge losses since August 3 last year, when the government issued an advisory, asking tourists present in the Valley to pack their bags and leave Kashmir immediately ahead of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.
The restrictions and unrest which followed hit the tourism sector hard and no activity was witnessed during the following months. The government withdrew the “travel advisory” to Kashmir three months after the revocation of Article 370 and opened up the Valley for tourism again.  Situation couldn’t sustain for a long as the outbreak of deadly COVID-19 led to the cancellation of bookings thus resulting in the huge losses to tourism players in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Director Tourism said that the situation due to the COVID-19 is preventing tourists from visiting Kashmir. “Out of ten districts in Kashmir, nine have been declared as red zones. It is obvious that the people are taking precautions and are not visiting any place due to the ongoing pandemic. But efforts are on to woo the tourists,” he added.
“COVID-19 pandemic has to end for tourism industry to get revived,” the Director Tourism added.

Abdul Wahid Malik, president of Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) said that around 450 hotels and guest houses registered with their association haven’t received any tourists since the COVID-19 outbreak.

He added that their hotels are deserted and no tourist is present there. “We have been informed that the tourists from outside J&K are arriving in Kashmir. But, our hotels are still waiting for the guests,” he added.

Srinagar, Aug 6: As many as 504 separatist leaders, who had been detained following the abrogation of Article 370 provisions a year ago, were released after they signed bond of “good behaviour”, Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Dilbag Singh said on Thursday.

Singh also said out of the 350 separatist leaders and stone pelters who had been sent to jails in other states, only 50-60 continued to remain behind bars and the rest were released.

“A total of 504 separatist leaders belonging to Hurriyat Conference and Jamaat-e-Islami (JK) and others have been released so far after they signed good behaviour bond,” he told a wire agency here.

Those who sign “good behaviour bond” are bound to maintain peace and not indulge in any violent or separatist activities after being released from jails or home detention.

The Director General of Police (DGP) said after the abrogation of Article 370 provisions on August 5, 2019, a total of 5,500 youths were detained by security forces and all of them were let off after three-four days following counseling and taking assurance from their parents that they would not indulge in any violent acts like stone pelting in future.

However, he said, cases were against 1,200 other youths for indulging in violent acts.

Singh said about 144 boys, who were under 18 years old, were also detained last year for indulging in violence and currently just 17 of them are in remand homes set up under the Juvenile Justice Act.

He said at least 16 youths, who joined the ranks of the militants, have returned after persuasion of police and family members and no action has been taken against them as they were not involved in any violence so far.

Referring to those who were sent to jails outside Jammu and Kashmir, the police chief said about 300 were released as their custody period under the Public Safety Act (PSA) was over and it was felt that their further detention was not required.

“We will review the cases of other 50-60 people when their prison terms come to an end,” he said.

Talking about the future strategy to deal with militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said there was a need to enhance technical surveillance along the border with Pakistan so that militants could not enter India and efforts should be made for de-radicalisation of the youth.

In addition, there should be programme for skill development for the youth and all development aspirations gaps should be filled, he said.

New Delhi, Aug 6: Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted raids at multiple locations in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged bank fraud against Hilal Rather, son of former Jammu and Kashmir minister Abdul Rahim Rather.
According to officials the probe agency raids were conducted at 16 locations in Kashmir, Jammu, Delhi and Ludhiana and collected more evidences in connection with the case.

ED has registered a money laundering case against Hilal Rather and others, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Income Tax Department investigation against Hilal Rather in connection with a Rs 177-crore alleged bank fraud scam.

The CBI has said in the complaint registered against Hilal Rather that he allegedly

entered into a criminal conspiracy with the then officials of the J&K Bank to get loans of over Rs 177 crore violating the Bank rules and guidelines.

Hilal’s father Abdul Rahim Rather is a National Conference leader and was former Finance Minister in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Aug 6:  Anti Corruption Bureau, J&K has filed chargesheet against former PDP MLA Abdul Rahim Rather and ex-Superintending Engineer Rural Engineer Wing Kashmir in case FIR no. 26/2011 of Police Station Vigilance Organization, Kashmir (now Police Station, Anti Corruption Bureau, Srinagar), in the court of Special Judge, Anti Corruption, Anantnag.

A spokesman of ACB said the Bureau filed charges of criminal conspiracy, forging documents and using them to commit cheating/fraud and corruption against four persons: a) Abdul Rahim Rather (former PDP MLA) S/O Mohammad Ahsan Rather R/O Nagam, Kokernag presently R/O Gulshanabad, tehsil and District Anantnag; b) Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar (retired as Superintendent Engineer from Rural Engineering Wing Kashmir of PWD R&B J&K) S/O Late Mohammad Yousuf Zargar R/O Opposite Beeco Gallery, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar; c) Bashir Ahmad Bhat (Draftsman, JKPCC Unit 2nd Srinagar) S/O Ghulam Mohammad Bhat R/O Herpora, Rathsuna tehsil Tral and d) Mohammad Yousuf Dar (Senior Assistant, JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam) S/O Abdul Rehman Dar R/O Kavpora, Marhama tehsil Bijbehara.

He said the matter pertains to period of 2008-2010, during which J&K Projects Construction Corporation Limited was mandated with execution of the jobs of construction of several buildings for various government offices in district Kulgam, including one for Mini Secretariat cum D.C office Kulgam. Abdul Rahim Rather ,who owns many brick kilns, entered into a criminal conspiracy with Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar, the then Deputy General Manager JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the then Draftsman JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam and Mohammad Yousuf Dar, the then Camp Clerk JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam- with an object to secure for himself bulk orders for supply of bricks required for construction of buildings to house various government offices in district Kulgam, by corrupt and illegal means from JKPCC.

“To pursue object of the conspiracy, these four persons in connivance with each other, forged documents. They misused these forged documents to ensure exclusion of all other bidders from participation in fair competition and to keep bidders away from winning tenders for supply of bricks to JKPCC unit Kulgam. The said DGM, Ishfaq Ahmad intentionally gave limited publicity to notices inviting tenders for supply of bricks, by publishing NIT’s in a newspaper sparingly circulated in district Kulgam. All this was done to issue orders for supply of bricks to said Abdul Rahim Rather (beneficiary) at rates exorbitantly higher than even the highest selling rates inclusive of carriage charges of the bricks prevalent at that time in the area. Orders for supply of 918833 bricks @ Rs. 4.44 per brick were issued in favour of the blue eyed boy in contrast to the highest sale rate of Rs. 3.76 per brick inclusive of carriage charges prevalent at the time,” the spokesman said.

He said as a result, wrongful loss of Rs. 62,4,806 was caused to the public exchequer. The Vigilance Organisation (now Anti Corruption Bureau) had registered FIR no. 26/2011 under various sections of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Ranbir Penal Code. Evidence was collected and case of corruption and other crimes was established during investigation against the four accused persons. Accordingly, accused in the case, were produced in police custody before the court today for further judicial determination.

Precious Kashmir News

Kokernag, August 6: After the twin attacks on BJP Panch and Sarpanch in Kulgam, at least ten party members and an independent Sarpanch have resigned in south Kashmir.

After the killing of BJP sarpanch Sajjad Ahmad on today morning,  three BJP workers of Kulgam resigned.

They have been identified as Sabzar Ahmed Paddar, who was BJP Vice-President for Devsar, Nisar Ahmed Wani who was President Waripora Kund and worker Aashiq Hussain Pala.

Three more BJP workers resigned in Kokernag constituency of Anantnag district.

The trio have been identified as Shabir Ahmad Khan son of Ghulam Rasool Khan, Reyaz Ahmad Rather son of Abdul Aziz Rather and Abdul Khaliq Sheikh son of Mohammad Subhan Sheikh. They belong to Narupora Watnard Tehsil of Kokernag.

In a joint statement, the trio said, “We are resigning from the party and in future we have no concern with any political party. We all seek forgiveness from the people and  if we have committed any mistake or any other wrongful act in the past, we ask the people to kindly forgive us.”

In the late afternoon, four more BJP members from Kulgam resigned from the party.

Among the four include BJP’s District Secretary for Kulgam Nisar Ahmed Mir, District General Secretary Shahzad Ahmad Bhat, party workers Mohammad Ayoub Ganai and Gul Mohammad Ganai.

Besides, an independent Sarpanch, Mohammd Iqbal Dar of Chandien Kulgam also resigned from the post of Sarpanch as according to him it didn’t fetch him anything being a Sarpanch since more than a year now and he was more concerned about the safety of his family.

All the four BJP members and independent Sarpanch sought forgiveness from public for their past and claimed complete dissociation from the party or the posts they were holding. (CNS)