Precious Kashmir

JK Govt winds up Vigilance Commission

Front

30/04/2020

Srinagar, Apr 30: The Government on Thursday issued a formal order announcing the winding up of Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Commission that was constituted under the J&K State Vigilance Commission Act 2011.

The General Administration Department issued a formal order for winding up of the Commission on Thursday evening.

In an order issued by General Administration Department, it has been mentioned that the Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Commission is winded up pursuant to the repeal of Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act, 2011 in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of state laws) order, 2020.

The GAD further ordered that the staff of JKs Vigilance Commission drawn from various departments shall report to their concerned Administrative department.

The staff drawn from various corporations, PSUs, organizations and posted in Vigilance Commission have also been asked to report to the department and organisation concerned.

Furthermore, a committee comprising of Financial Advisor / CAO and under-secretary posted in commission shall handover the record, electronic equipment, books and other miscellaneous items to Director Anti-Corruption Bureau of Jammu and Kashmir for safe custody afterwards.

It has also been ordered that building of commission shall be handed over to Director Estates along with the furniture items and Genset facility.

The above mentioned committed shall also handover the vehicles of commission to Director JK Motor Garages. (KNO)

Govt issues SOP for regulating movement of stranded migrant workers, students

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Precious Kashmir

30/04/2020

Govt issues SOP for regulating movement of stranded migrant workers, students

Srinagar, Apr 30: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Thursday issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for regulating the movement of stranded migrant workers, students and others from outside the Union Territory.

According to the government order: “All inward and outward movement will be undertaken only with the prior permission of the Nodal Officer of J&K or those designated by him. Any person arriving at borders without permission of the Nodal Officer will be put under administrative quarantine for 21 days at Lakhanpur,” reads the order.

The order states that those persons coming from red zone and hotspot areas will be medically screened and put under administrative quarantine for 21 days.

It also states that those coming from non-red zones will also be medically screened and put under strict home quarantine for a period of 21 days.

The order states that all incoming persons either through regulated movement or otherwise will be tested for Covid-19 virus and health department will make necessary arrangements for lifting of samples at Lakhanpur and various districts to meet the requirements and to do pool testing of these samples.

“Based on the results of these tests, a decision on shifting persons from administrative quarantine to home quarantine will be taken by concerned DCs / Div Coms in consultation with concerned CMOs/DHSs,” reads the order

Lockdown not for abusing her

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Precious Kashmir

30/04/2020

While the humankind is fighting against the coronavirus disease and has so far, rightly, restricted movement of the people, the pandemic has had very adverse social and economic consequences for women and girls.
As the lockdown continues, societies as a whole are having reduced access to resources. There is an increase in stress due to the loss of jobs and strained finances. Lack of income, unemployment, insecurity about the future, or the fate of children creates tensions amongst the adults, leading to abuse of all kinds.
The lockdown has led to the creation of a situation of confinement of families in closed spaces and unfortunately, it has also led to abuses on various counts. Ironically it also kept women away from people and official machinery they could approach for help.
As per the report by the social welfare department, 81 cases of domestic violence stand registered in the J&K while 16 cases of rape, 64 cases of molestation and one case of eve-teasing have been reported during the lockdown.
Based on the high court’s direction, the government created some superficial mechanism of hearing them. As per official showing, a total of 1314 calls were received from the affected persons on the emergency number of 181 from 24 March to 24. 65 of these calls were re related to violence against women while the remaining 956 calls were reported by migrant labourers.
The court had also directed designation of informal safe spaces for women for reporting domestic violence and abuse without alerting the concerned perpetrators as is the case in some foreign countries. It had even cited the example of grocery stores and pharmacies in foreign countries being notified as such safe spaces for the reason that every family is accessing grocery stores and pharmacies even in the lockdown period.
However, as per the rationale of the Social Welfare Department, only Anganwadi Workers have been notified for the reason that women and complainants would not be comfortable in expressing their personal issues with the male members of society.
The SWD’s rationale belies logic and it may not be correct that the women as a rule would be uncomfortable in making a complaint against the violence to male members of the society only. It is essential for the government to consider ease of access of the women in distress as a basis for notifying the authority. There is a need to have wide-ranging facilities available for anybody to report in distress and there should be such a mechanism that her call is effectively answered and action is taken sans delay.

Market checking conducted in Sumbal Bandipora.

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

30/04/2020

Fine of Rs 5800 recovered during the drive

Precious Kashmir News

Bandipora, 29 April, : At least six shopkeepers were found guilty of violating consumer laws in Sonawari of Bandipora district on Wednesday, during a market check and a fine of Rs 5800 was recovered from them.
As directed by the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora with a view to keep the prices of essential commodities under control and to protect people from unfair trade practices, the Department of Legal Metrology Bandipora along with revenue department conducted market inspection at Sumbal Sonawari area of Bandipora district.
During inspection 06 cases were registered against vegetable and fruit sellers and a fine of Rs 5800 released under violation of Legal Metrology Law from the erring traders.The action was hailed by the locals, who requested the administration to continue the drive in future also, so that the prices of the essential commodities remain stable in the town. (

Amid Lockdown, J&K

Jammu & Kashmir

Nasir Azam

30/04/2020

Records 16 cases of rape, 64 incidents of molestation

HC directs Govt to inform it about steps for addressing violence against senior citizens, children and disabled

Nasir Azam

Srinagar, Apr 29: The Jammu & Kashmir Government has informed the High Court that 16 cases of rape and 64 incidents of molestation were reported during the lockdown period in the Union Territory.
Submitted by the Social Welfare department,16 cases of rape, 64 cases of molestation and one case of eve teasing have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir during the lockdown period.
As many as 1314 calls have been received from the affected persons on the emergency number 181 from 24th March, 2020 to 24th April, 2020, out of which 65 are related to violence against women, the government submitted.The remaining 956 calls were reported by migrant labourers, who were in distress on account of the lockdown, it further said.As per the government, Rs 10 lakh for each district of UT of J&K has been sanctioned out of SDRF fund for COVID-19 containment for victims of domestic violence for providing temporary accommodation, food clothing, medical care etc.
“Additionally, the department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR) Government of J&K has issued directions to all the Deputy Commissioner for designating 10 beds in each District Quarantine Centre exclusively and accessible for victims of domestic violence in the J&K,” the High Court order reveals.The High Court has directed the government to consider notifying appropriate spaces so that women in difficulty have easy access to them. “Women in distress would not have easy access to the Anganwadi Workers. Ease of access has to be a primary concern for notifying an authority, especially in the urban areas.
It may not be correct that women as a rule would be uncomfortable in making a complaint against the violence to male members of the society. It is essential for the Social Welfare Department to consider ease of access of the women in distress, as a basis for notifying the authority,” a bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajnesh Oswal observed.“So far as designation of informal safe spaces for women for reporting domestic violence/abuse without alerting the perpetrators is concerned, the Social Welfare Department has informed that it has notified Anganwadi Workers for the reason that women/complainants would not be comfortable in expressing their personal issues with the male members of the society.

Number of Red zone villages from 7 to 16 in Pulwama; dozens declared buffer zones

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

30/04/2020

Precious Kashmir News

PULWAMA, APRIL 29: As two new positive cases of COVID-19 surfaced in the district , the District Authorities in pulwama today declared Rohmoo, Gusso and Frasipora villages of Tehsil Rajpora and Reshipora ,Chirat, Monviji, Banderpora Chirat, Wandakpora, Kakapora Town of Tehsil Kakapora Red zones including Mirgund, Zaigam, Mitirigam, Chewa Kalan ,Wahibugh, Tujan and Thokerpora as buffer Zones in Tehsil Rajpora while Galbugh, Lelhar, Hajibal, Ratnipora of Tehsil Kakapora and Goripora from Awantipora Tehsil as buffer zones. These precautionary measures were taken as two persons from Rahmoo and Reshipora villages were detected positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, a portion of IGC Lassipora falling within a radius of 300 Meters from Al Noor CA store situated in Tehsil Litter has also been declared Red zone while Lassipora, Armpora, Tantraypora, Petipora and remaining portion of the IGC Lassipora Estate were declared Buffer zones for containing the spread of Covid-19 Infection in the area.Invoking prohibitory orders under Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, Section 144 of the CrPC and Disaster Management Act, 2005, District Authorities said that there would be no inward and outward movement of any person from the villages declared as Red zone and the people shall stay indoors to ensure complete lockdown. Authorities also warned of stern action against violators as per provision of relevant Acts.
The order was issued in view of the COVID-19 two positive cases from Rahmoo and Reshipora , who have visited few places prior to moving to their native villages ,due to which several pockets in the district have become vulnerable as far as transmission of the COVID-19 virus is concerned.
Authorities added that door to door survey has been started by village surveillance and containment committees and all the contacts are being traced and quarantined accordingly.The Authorities said that it becomes imperative to take stringent precautionary measures including declaring village as Red zone and surrounding villages as a buffer zone to break transmission of the disease in the area.

COVID-19 lockdown: Jammu may get some relief, Kashmir set to remain shut

Anchor stories
Front

Afaq Bhat

30/04/2020

COVID-19 lockdown: Jammu may get some relief, Kashmir set to remain shut

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Apr 29: With just few days left for the Lockdown-II to end, the Central and State Governments are busy formulating an exit plan in the areas which have not been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak but in the “Red Zones” lockdown is all set to continue.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “The lockdown seems to be all set to continue in Kashmir as positive cases have crossed 500 mark and seven persons have died till date due to this infection.”
He said, “Many people are of the opinion that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ordering a lockdown soon after the COVID-19 arrived in India has helped in saving lives. His critics in the beginning had termed the lockdown as a hasty decision but now they seem to have realized that it was a wise decision.”
The analyst said, “Jammu and Kashmir administration too played a proactive role to contain this virus from spreading in the Union Territory, especially in Kashmir, where the number could have been much higher due to people of Kashmiri being frequent travelers.”
It’s in place to mention here that administration in Kashmir took proactive measures to ensure that all the travelers are scanned and are put into quarantine. Contacts of people, who tested positive for COVID-19, were traced and isolated. Recently, spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir administration and Principal Secretary, Rohit Kansal, stated that testing capacity in Kashmir has increased to more than 1000 tests in a day.
An observer said, “Kashmir has been badly hit as the number of positive cases are increasing but the silver lining is that the people who were infected by this virus are getting cured also. Till date 176 patients have responded to the treatment and have recovered fully.”
He said, “Cases have been reported from central, north and south Kashmir. There are many Red Zones in Kashmir. The J&K Government did not implement the latest amended Lockdown guidelines in Kashmir.”
The MHA last week had issued a circular allowing the neighbourhood and standalone shops to open up but had stressed on social distancing. “Due to number of cases being high in the Valley the J&K administration didn’t give any relaxation in restrictions. At present entire Kashmir is under lockdown and it appears that it will get extended till the COVID-19 curve flattens,” the observer added.
He said, “Situation in Jammu region has stabilized to a great extent. There is a possibility about lockdown being lifted in Jammu after May 3 in a phased manner. But in Kashmir people will have to live with lockdown till the stability is achieved.”

COVID-19: 16 fresh cases in Kashmir, J&K tally mounts to 581

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Precious Kashmir

30/04/2020

COVID-19: 16 fresh cases in Kashmir, J&K tally mounts to 581

523 in Kashmir, 58 in Jammu; 192 recover
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 29: Sixteen more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Kashmir on Wednesday taking the total number of infected people across J&K to 581.

An official said that no new case was reported from Jammu. ”Anantnag continued to remain at the top with nine new COVID-19 cases, followed by Budgam with four cases,” he said, adding one case each was reported from Srinagar, Baramulla and Kulgam.
With this, he said the total number of infected persons has risen to 581. ”Out of 581 positive cases, 523 are in Kashmir and 58 are in Jammu,” he said.

He said 16 COVID-19 patients, including 11 from Kashmir and five from Jammu, were discharged on Wednesday after being treated successfully. ”As many as 192 positive patients were treated and discharged successfully so far,” he said, adding there are 381 active positive cases.

Meanwhile, eight people have so far lost their lives, the latest being an 80-year-old woman who died in a hospital in Srinagar on Tuesday due to the infection.

Despite no new case being reported from last couple of days from the district, Bandipora continues to remain the worst COVID-19 hit district in the Union Territory of J&K with 127 positive cases and one death. Of these, over 36 per cent of positive cases have been reported from Dangerpora in Bandipora, prompting authorities to put about 150 people in hospital and administrative quarantine. The rest of the people from Dangerpora have been put in home quarantine.

An alarming number of 168 people were tested positive for the infection last week. As many as 118 people, including 111 from Kashmir and seven from Jammu, were tested positive for COVID-19 between April 13 and April 19. Meanwhile, 138 people, mostly from Kashmir, were tested positive for COVID-19 in J&K between April 6 and April 12. Thirty-three new positive cases, including 28 from Kashmir and three from Jammu, were reported on April 4 and April 5, making it one of the highest jumps in the COVID-19 infected persons in J&K.

J&K recorded first death due to COVID-19 on March 25, when a 65-year-old man from Hyderpora died due to the infection at Chest Disease Hospital. Then, on March 29, a 50-year-old man, a resident of Tangmarg, passed away at CD hospital.

Earlier this month, a 54-year-old Bandipora resident, who was tested positive for the infection, died at SMHS hospital. Later on April 8, a 61-year-old woman from Udhampur died at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu. A 70-year-old patient died on April 17 due to Coronavirus in Kashmir valley. An elderly man, a resident of Baramulla, on April 18 died due to Coronavirus in Kashmir valley. A pregnant woman, who died at a hospital in Anantnag on Saturday, tested positive on Sunday.

With this, 58 new people, including 57 from Kashmir and one from Jammu, tested for the virus in the first three days of this week in J&K.

Meanwhile, strict restrictions on movement and assembly of people to curtail the spread of Coronavirus continued even as most of the people preferred to stay indoors in view of sudden spike in fresh COVID-19 cases in Kashmir valley, where the lockdown entered 42nd day on Wednesday.

India records largest single-day spike; 1887 cases, 71 deaths

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United News Of India

30/04/2020

India records largest single-day spike; 1887 cases, 71 deaths

United News of India
New Delhi, Apr 29: With 1,887 fresh cases and 71 more deaths, India on Wednesday registered highest single-day spike in infections as well as in fatalities.

As per the latest data from Union Health Ministry, the total cases reached 31,787 while deaths crossed 1,000-mark and stood at 1,008.

Maharashtra reported 728 fresh cases and 31 more deaths in past 24 hours, making the state worst-affected with 9,318 cases and 400 deaths.

At distant second, Gujarat added 226 more cases and 19 deaths to its tally. The western-state now has 3,774 cases with 181 deaths.

The National Capital reported 206 fresh cases surfaced, taking the tally to 3,314 and making it third worst-infected. With no fresh death, fatalities remained unchanged at 54.

Govt facilitates 16598 persons since lockdown

Front

Precious Kashmir

30/04/2020

Govt facilitates 16598 persons since lockdown

8100 labourers evacuated, 186 students of Jammu, 134 of Kashmir moved back home from Kota, Rajasthan

Jammu, Apr 29: The government today informed that 16598 stranded labourers and passengers were facilitated from other parts of the country and inter-state movement of 33803 essential supplies carrying trucks was ensured since the lockdown was announced to curb the transmission of COVID-19 disease.

Out of the 16598 facilitated, there was regulated facilitation of around 8100 by today evening which comprises mostly from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan’s Kota.

The government also arranged the safe return of 376 students stranded in Kota, Rajasthan due to lockdown through 15 buses which includes 186 from Jammu, 134 from Kashmir and 56 from Ladakh.

Further, the government said that all the incoming passengers from 23rd March onwards were kept in administrative quarantine at Kathua and Samba districts.

“They are being sent for another 14 days home quarantine after their release from quarantine centres. The local administration keeps vigil on informal routes (river/nallahs) and the persons crossing such informal routes are caught and kept in administrative quarantine in Kathua,” the government said.

It said that 17770 passenger arrivals were registered at Lakhanpur crossing till April 29, 2020 of which 10625 were kept in administrative quarantine in Kathua-Samba. While as, so far, 8813 persons have been released after completing their quarantine period from Kathua and Samba.

The arrivals also include 3863 persons who were caught crossing through informal routes and were stopped at Lakhanpur. It also comprises 550 patients with an equal number of accompanying drivers and attendants, 20 Quarantined foreign returnees (As per MHA guidelines), 77 Essential services personal, 737 on exigent ground / medical emergency on passes and 221 officers and officials including Army, paramilitary forces.

Moreover, to facilitate hassle-free movement of trucks carrying essential goods to Jammu and Kashmir, the government immediately after announcement of lockdown set up a facilitation centre at Lakhanpur entry point.

The facilitation centre is laced with a 24×7 control room, medical screening teams and vehicle facilitation counters, disinfectant tunnels, foot operated dispensers with hand sanitizers, disinfectant spray for sanitizing drivers’ cabins, free face masks and fair price shop/tea shop for the drivers/cleaners.

Senior officers including Deputy Commissioner and SSP, Kathua working under the supervision of Commissioner-Secretary, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, A K Sahu(Nodal Officer for management of interstate movement) along with other supporting staff of Police, health and other organs of civil department besides Nodal Officers have been deployed at Lakhanpur to oversee the arrangements.

Since March 25, 2020 the centre has facilitated movement of 33803 incoming trucks carrying essentials like fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, LPG, petroleum and oil lubricants, cattle feed/fodder, ration/food grains, eggs, milk, fertilizer, medicine, raw material, poultry/sheep, construction material, agriculture equipment and other essential items.

Further, since 23rd April onwards, a detailed district wise list of drivers and cleaners/conductors who wish to stay back in J&K after deloading their essential goods is mailed to respective Deputy Commissioners for putting them in quarantine as per COVID-19 standard operating procedure.

A sample testing counter is planned to be established at Lakhanpur for collection of samples of drivers and cleaners/conductors originating from hotspot districts.

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