New Delhi, Apr 22: Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising his leadership in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, government sources said on Wednesday.

“We commend your leadership and the proactive measures you and your government have taken to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 infection rate in India, such as adopting a national lockdown, expanding focused testing to identify hot spots for isolation, quarantining, and care, and significantly increasing health expenditures to strengthen the health system response and promote R&D and digital innovation,” the Microsoft co-founder said in a letter, according to government sources.

“I’m glad your government is fully utilising its exceptional digital capabilities in its COVID-19 response and has launched the Aarogya Setu digital app for coronavirus tracking, contact tracing, and to connect people to health services,” it added.

“Grateful to see that you’re seeking to balance public health imperatives with the need to ensure adequate social protection for all Indians,” the letter said.

Coronavirus cases crossed the 20,000-mark in India on Wednesday, including 652 deaths, but the government has said the speed of transmission is slowing thanks to the nationwide lockdown that began on March 25 and in place until at least May 3.

The “doubling rate” – the number of days it takes infections to multiply by two – had increased to 7.5 days, up from 3.4 days before the lockdown, the Health Ministry said on Monday.

Bill Gates and wife Melinda Gates, who head one of the world’s largest philanthropic foundations that has made healthcare a key focus of its work over the years, has been among the most active participants in the global response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Last week, Melinda Gates announced an extra $150 million of funding from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation above the $100 million pledged earlier to help speed the development of treatments, vaccines and public health measures to tackle the outbreak.

The move came after US President Donald Trump announced he was blocking funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as he scrambled to pin blame for his botched-up response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Gates Foundation is the second largest donor to the WHO behind the United States. Melinda Gates said pulling funding from the WHO is a dangerous and nonsensical move when the world is facing the current health crisis.

In India, the non-profit has worked extensively with central and state governments in programmes to eradicate polio and others in health, sanitation, farming, and financial services for the poor.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 22: The J&K Government has become the first in the country to extend financial relief to financially distressed, young advocates whose livelihoods have been severely hit due to ongoing coronavirus lockdown imposed since March 24, and later extended till May 3.

Providing the minimum financial assistance to young advocates and advocates in distress, the Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu handed over a cheque of Rs One crore to Jawad Ahmad, Registrar General, J&K High Court, in the presence of Abhinav Sharma, President J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu.

Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor was also present on the occasion.

This step of the Government is in continuation of the relief measures announced for various sections of the society including registered Building Construction Workers, MGNREGA Job Card holders, and beneficiaries of various Pensionary Schemes etc.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 22: The Advisor to Lt Governor, K.K. Sharma today said that the students and the teaching faculty of the Jammu and Kashmir should take the requisite benefit from the National Digital Library of India (NDLI), which is repository of books and other educational  content available on the digital format.

The Advisor was interacting with the Principal Investigator of National Digital Library and Former Director IIT Khargpur, Dr  Partha Chakarbarthi and other officers through video conferencing.

While referring to the present situation arisen due to the Global Pandemic, the Advisor said that since the academic content is being provided to the students on- line thereby the NDLI would serve a great deal by virtue of which both the students, the teachers and academicians would get access to repository of books, papers on varied subjects  by click of a button.

The Advisor also said that the teaching faculty can also contribute by up loading their papers, content and video lectures on the domain of the NDLI for the benefit of student community across the country. He said that the on line imparting of education has become a game changer in the present context.

Dr Partha informed the Advisor that the National Digital Library or NDLI hosted at https://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in/ has now put up a special button called ‘Corona Outbreak: Study from Home” that contains collected materials from School, College (covering Engineering, Science, Management, Humanities, Law, etc) in terms of e-books, video lectures and courses, audio books, lecture materials, thesis, reports, journal papers, etc.

He also appealed  to widely circulate this information among the students of Jammu  and Kashmir to utilize the same. While much content is available even without login, if possible, they may register to the NDLI site and access the digital library, he maintained

“Also faculty members who are developing new original content may also like to upload their materials. It will be widely disseminated to all students in the country and also give the J&K teachers an opportunity to contribute to the learning of students of our nation”, Dr Partha added.

It is pertinent to mention that NDLI has around 45 Million titles of different books on varied topics and subjects and is easily accessible on the net at https://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in/.

Visits Ganderbal, commends collective efforts of all departments in fight against virus

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Apr 22: Continuing with his visits to review preparations and measures taken in view of COVID-19, the Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh visited central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Wednesday, a police spokesman said.

The DGP  was accompanied by the IGP Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar. He also visited PTS Manigam to inspect the facilities and arrangements at the quarantine center and also inspected some naka points in the district.

The DGP chaired a meeting at the District Police Headquarters Ganderbal to take the stock of the situation regarding the preparation and measures taken for the containment of Corona Virus and also reviewed security situation of the district.

The meeting was attended by IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, DC Ganderbal Shafqat Iqbal, SSP Ganderbal Khalil Poswal, COs of CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP and other jurisdictional gazetted officers.

During the meeting, the DGP commended the collective efforts of the civil administration, health department, J&K Police and other security forces for working 24×7 tirelessly to contain the spread of Corona Virus disease in the district. He said commitment and spirit shown by the Police and security forces on the ground in assisting the civil administration and health department besides helping the needy people in these hard times of Pandemic is praiseworthy.

The DGP said that the Home Minister of India few days ago has conveyed his deep appreciation for effective lockdown and excellent services rendered by all ranks of J&K Police and other SF units working here. The DGP impressed upon the officers to continue work with full enthusiasm and commitment to ensure implementation of government orders strictly to be followed.

The DGP emphasized upon the officers to strengthen the relation with the general public at the grass root level and to make them aware of the dangerous consequences of not adhering to the health protocols in view of COVID-19. He said people’s cooperation is must in containing the spread of deadly disease.

Reviewing the security scenario, he directed the officers to be extra vigilant on the counter militancy front as anti-national elements are hell bent to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the Jammu and Kashmir even in these times of worldwide crises.  Referring to the recent encounters, he said that Police, Army and CAPF are countering the security threats posed by militants. He appreciated the police and security forces successful operational measures in the past sometime in dealing with enemies of peace and perpetrators of violence.

In the afternoon the DGP visited Police Training School Manigam to inspect the facilities and 100 bedded quarantine center established there. He was briefed by the Principal PTS Manigam Suhail Munawar Mir about the preparedness and measures taken for the smooth functioning of the quarantine centre.

Tasaduq Hussain

Baramulla, Apr 22: The authorities in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have asked the patients treated by a doctor, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, to the hospital.

Officials told KNO that the circular asking the patients to report them was issued after a doctor who attended the patients tested positive.

An order copy issued by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Associated hospital Baramulla, reads,  “It’s for the information of those patients who visited district Hospital Baramulla between, 13-04-2020 from 10:00 am  to 14-04-2020 upto 4:00 PM and have been examined by the doctor who was tested positive for COVID-19 may report directly to this hospital or call on helpline No. 7006231150 for medical advice”.

“It is pertinent to mention that all the patients are being contacted after taking their records from MRD department. Any patient with contact history with the said doctor shall invite punitive action in case of concealing his information”, reads the order .

Pertinently, a doctor posted at Government district hospital/GMC Baramulla who was among the frontline health workers rendering services in designated isolation ward tested positive for novel coronavirus becoming the maiden doctor in entire Kashmir valley to have tested positive as on date.

Conducting burial in presence of magistrate: IGP

Umer Rashid

Srinagar, Apr 22: Four militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces at Melhora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Reports said that a joint team of army’s 55 RR, police and CRPF laid a siege at Melhora village late Tuesday evening.

A police officer said the operation was launched following inputs about the presence of some militants.

The exchange of fire took place in the area soon after the joint team fired some warning shots towards the suspected spot, he said.

He said the militants tried to break the cordon amid the exchange of fire; however, the joint team engaged them in the gunfight. “The intermittent exchange of fire continued during the night but the fierce exchange of fire took place today morning,” he said.

During the course of gunfight, all four militants were killed, the officer said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar confirmed the killing of four militants.

“We have taken DNA samples of all four unidentified killed militants. We are conducting burial in presence of the magistrate,” he said.

“So far, the family of one of the slain militants came. If they identify, then 2-3 family members will be permitted to participate in burial,” the IGP said, adding that “those who claim later on, their DNA samples will be taken for further course of action”.

A case under FIR number 28/2020 under section 307, 7/27 IA Act and 16, 19, 23, 38 ULF Activities Act has been registered in connection with the encounter in police station Zainpora.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the slain militants were shifted from Shopian to PCR Kashmir where from the bodies will be taken to Sheeri Baramulla for burial, sources said. (GNS)

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Apr 22:: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), presided over the 38th Board Meeting held here today at the Raj Bhavan.

The Board expressed its apprehension and held that as on date, it may not be possible to organize the Yatra 2020. Due to the current COVID-2019 pandemic situation being dynamic, appropriate decision can be taken on organizing the Yatra on reviewing of the situation in coming future.

The meeting was attended by D.C. Raina; Prof. Anita Billawaria; Dr. Sudershan Kumar; Dr. C.M. Seth and Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri. Bipul Pathak, Chief Executive Officer; Anup Kumar Soni, Additional Chief Executive Officer; and other senior officers of the Shrine Board also attended the meeting. Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaja and Dr Devi Prasad Shetty attended the meeting through video conferencing.

New Delhi, Apr 22: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs 15,000 crore for “India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package” to mount an urgent response for containing the spread of the virus in India through development of dedicated treatment facilities and setting up laboratories among others.

The fund will be utilized in three phases.

Rs 7,774 crore, has been provisioned for COVID-19 Emergency Response and the rest for medium-term support, ranging from one to four years to be provided under mission-mode approach.

“The key objectives of the package include mounting emergency response to slow and limit coronavirus infection in India through development of diagnostics and COVID-dedicated treatment facilities, centralised procurement of essential medical equipment and drugs, strengthen and build resilient national and state health systems, setting up of laboratories and bolstering surveillance activities and pandemic research,” an official statement stated.

These interventions and initiatives would be implemented under the health ministry.

In the first phase, the health ministry with the support of all the other line ministries has already undertaken several activities.

An additional Rs 3,000 crore under the package has been released to states and Union Territories, for strengthening existing health facilities as COVID-19 dedicated hospitals, dedicated COVID-19 health centres and dedicated care centres for the disease.

Detailed guidelines, protocols and advisory for quarantine, isolation, testing, treatment, disease containment, decontamination, social distancing and surveillance have been issued. Hotspots have been identified and appropriate containment strategies are being implemented, the statement said.

“Diagnostic laboratories network has been expanded and our testing capacity is increasing every day. In fact, leveraging on the existing multi-disease testing platforms under National TB Elimination Programme, orders for procurement of 13 lakhs diagnostic kits have been placed to augment COVID-19 testing,” it said.

“All health workers, including community health volunteers (ASHAs) have been covered under the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Insurance Scheme for Health Workers lighting COVID-19″. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), N95 masks and ventilators, testing kits and drugs for treatment are being procured centrally,” it stated.

A major share of the fund will be used for mounting robust emergency response, strengthening national and state health systems followed by strengthening pandemic research and multi-sector national institutions and platforms for one-health, community engagement and risk communications and implementation, management, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation component, the statement said.

PM-Kisan Scheme
New Delhi, Apr 22: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to relax the mandatory requirement of Aadhaar seeding of data beneficiaries of Assam and Meghalaya and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for release of benefits to them under PM-Kisan Scheme upto March 31, 2021.

Addressing a press conference about the Cabinet decisions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the scheme aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions.

It has been assessed that it would take much more time for Assam and Meghalaya and the UTs of J&K and Ladakh to complete the work of Aadhaar seeding of data of beneficiaries and the beneficiaries of these States or UTs may not be able to avail the benefits of the Scheme with effect from April 1, 2020 onwards, if the relaxation from mandatory requirement of Aadhaar seeding of data is not extended.

The total number of beneficiary farmers in these States and UTs who have been paid at least one installment as on April 8, 2020 are 27,09,586 in Assam, 98,915 in Meghalaya and 10,01,668 beneficiaries in J&K, including Ladakh.

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24, 2019.

Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs 6,000 per year is released in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs 2,000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.