Real-time integrated management web, mobile apps

Precious Kashmir News

JAMMU, APRIL 17: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, today e-launched Srinagar COVID-19 Call Centre (Emergency Response and Management Centre) and Web & Mobile Applications for Real-Time Integrated COVID-19 Management System.

BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education; Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department & Information Department; Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar (through Video Conferencing) were present on the occasion.

The call centre and the real-time integrated management system has been established by the Srinagar district administration for comprehensive and seamless management of the COVID-19 situation in the district. The real-time management system includes Quarantine Management System; JKCoVID Symptom Tracker Mobile App; Geo-fencing / Tracking of Quarantined Persons App and House to House Health Survey.

The Lt Governor interacted with the Call Centre executives and had a firsthand appraisal of the working module of the Emergency Response and Management Centre including Redressal Mechanism, Emergency Response, Integrated Helplines, Essential Services, Healthcare and Counseling and all COVID-Response matters, besides Inter-Sectoral COVID Control Coordination like Surveillance, Sampling, Quarantine, Patient Care & Counseling, Hospital Management,  Integrated COVID Response and Red Zone Management.

The Lt Governor asked the concerned to ensure thorough implementation of all aspects of the Apps and Call Centre for comprehensive management of the COVID-19 situation and easy-to-avail access of people to the redressal system.

The newly launched Call Centre and Mobile Applications added to the several initiatives of J&K Government to reach out to the people with an assistance mechanism to mitigate their grievances and further strengthening the management, containment and prevention efforts of the Government to combat coronavirus in J&K.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar informed that the Real-time Integrated COVID-19 Management System has been developed to monitor all the operations of quarantine & isolation centres from District Control Room, thus enabling the officers to take quick decisions based on real-time data received from these centres. This application manages all information about Quarantined persons admitted and keeps track of various activities regarding their travel, contact history, health check-up, test status, sanitation, other facilities, completion of quarantine period, shifting & monitoring during Home Quarantine period etc.

He said the aim of this initiative is to provide one-stop solution to matters surrounding COVID-19 situation in the district. Various helplines made available earlier have now been replaced with this single-stop mechanism, he added. Besides management of the situation and active management of containment efforts, the call centre will also provide one-stop solution to all grievances and needs of the people of the district, who can now call on 6006333308 for all such matters.

The Lt Governor was further informed that JKCoVID Symptom Tracker Mobile App has been designed on the basis of questionnaires devised by Medical experts dealing with CoVID-19 pandemic. This mobile app will reduce the load on medical teams and therefore they can concentrate on COVID symptomatic / positive cases efficiently. Geo-fencing / GPS Tracking of persons under quarantine (Mobile App) would Track persons who are under quarantine and advised isolation. The purpose of this App is to monitor and keep check of persons’ activities during the quarantine / isolation period in order to effectively contain the spread of the viral infection in the community.

Srinagar, Apr 17: In view of the extension of the lockdown upto May 3 and a spike in novel coronavirus cases, the J&K government on Friday deferred “formal” reopening of Darbar move offices in Srinagar till mid-June.

Modifying its April 10 order, the government ordered that the formal opening of the Durbar at Srinagar will take place on June 15.

“All officers’ assigned specific COVID-19 control tasks shall continue to function from their present location till further orders, so as to ensure that COVID-19 control efforts are not hampered on account of physical dislocation of officers/offices,” reads the fresh order. As per an order issued here, it would be further reviewed on June 15.

The Civil Secretariat at Srinagar shall start partial functioning on 04.05.2020 with the staff and officers on ‘as is where is’ basis i.e. those who have already been or likely to get relocated before that date.

“All Administrative Secretaries shall furnish list of officers/staff who shall work from Srinagar and Jammu respectively to the General Administration Department by 21.04.2020,” reads the order, a copy of which lies with GNS.

The concerned Administrative Secretaries, Head of Departments have been asked to assign work to Officers, staff stationed at Srinagar, and Jammu accordingly for obtaining maximum efficiency and minimum disruption.

“All Administrative Secretaries will put in place a robust online/electronic/ video conferencing/other communication mode at Jammu/Srinagar to ensure a virtual office at both the places,” the ordered added.

“The above arrangement shall be further reviewed on 15.06.2020, or earlier, when a clear picture on the extent and spread of COVID-19 emerges,” it added.  (GNS)

Schools to remain closed till May 3

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, Apr 17: All education institutions and training institutes in Jammu and Kashmir shall remain closed till May 3, the government ordered on Friday. However, the government has ordered the resumption of all the offices from April 20 as per the manner provided by it.

“All the offices dealing with essential supplies/services shall be fully functional….,” reads the order issued by the government, a copy of which lies with GNS

“All the Educational Institutions/Training Institutes shall remain closed till 3rd May 2020.”

In all other offices, officers of the level of Under Secretary and above have been asked to regularly attend offices from April 20. “33% of Non-Gazetted staff shall attend office as per roster to be devised by the respective Head of offices,” it added.

The staff, workers of Forest Department operating and maintaining zoo, nurseries, wildlife, fire-fighting in forests, watering plantations and patrolling have been asked to “work as usual.”

“The Head of offices shall take necessary steps for implementation of instructions with regard to social distancing, face masks and sanitizing the workplaces in their respective Offices, as per guidelines,” it said, adding, “Arrangements for issuance of passes shall be made by the General Administration Department for Civil Secretariat Employees and by the Deputy Commissioners in respect of officers/officials working in their respective jurisdictions.”(GNS)

Reviews operational preparedness along LoC in North Kashmir
United News of India
Srinagar, Apr 17: After reviewing operational preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir, Army chief General MM Naravane on Friday asked ‘all ranks to be prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from the adversary’.

An Army official told UNI that General Naravane to J&K, who arrived here on Thursday for a two-day tour, visited forward areas along the LoC in north Kashmir, where Pakistani troops have been regularly violating ceasefire.

The two-day visit of General Naravane to J&K holds significance as it comes days after three civilians were killed in Pakistani shelling in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara. Five heavily-armed militants and as many soldiers were killed when troops foiled an infiltration bid from across the LoC, where ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have increased significantly.

He said the Army Chief reviewed operational preparedness of units and formations along LoC in North Kashmir. General Naravane complimented troops for maintaining sharp vigil and robust counter insurgency grid.

He further reinforced the need to be prepared to meet emerging security challenges effectively at all times.

The COAS accompanied by the Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen YK Joshi and Chinar Corps Commander, Lt Gen BS Raju on Thursday visited the formations and units in the hinterland.

General Naravane extolled the close coordination among all government agencies towards maintaining vigil and peace in the valley and reaching out to the people wholeheartedly to combat the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic together.

Passes slew of directions to fight COVID-19
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Apr 17: The High Court of J&K today passed a slew of directions regarding the measures to be taken by the UT Government in the battle against the COVID-19 disease and other ancillary matters. While hearing the Public Interest Litigations PIL No. 4/2020 and PIL No. 5/2020 through video conferencing, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Justice Geeta Mittal and Justice Rajesh Oswal directed that the issue of insufficient testing be urgently examined by the Chief Secretary, UT of J&K as well as Secretary, Health and Medical Education.

It was mentioned by Advocate Ateeb Khateeb Kanth one of the advocates who have filed the PIL No. 4/2020 that as per the report filed by the Health Department, only 157 technicians are available for which reason insufficient sampling is being undertaken and that the Government has admitted that 50,000 travellers have travelled into J&K but only 4000 people have been tested for COVID-19.

Regarding the prisoners of J&K lodged in jails of J&K and other parts of India, the High Court directed the Government to file further report within ten days mentioning the steps taken after the filing of report of DG Prisons dated 8th of April, 2020.

Regarding the need for a legislative framework addressing issues of safety, care, health and violence against Healthcare Professionals and Clinical Establishments, Monica Kohli Amicus Curie specifically brought to the notice of the Court the incident of Budgam where doctors were held hostage by the public and incidents where doctors have been asked to vacate the hotel accommodation which they were occupying as well as reports of attack on ambulances.

The Court was informed that Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India had drafted a bill called Health Care Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill 2019 and sent it to Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. In order to study the objections of the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Bill, the High Court directed Mr Vishal Sharma ASGI to place the same before the Court by next date of hearing and also issued notice to other stakeholders like Indian Medical Association, Junior Resident Doctors Jammu and Doctors Association Kashmir and has asked them to submit their comments.

Regarding lack of efficient internet facility in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh, the Court directed the Secretary, Home Department of UTs of J&K and Ladakh to file the report by next date of hearing.

Regarding the impending Darbar Move, various departments including the High Court through its Registrar General have filed their reports as per the directions of the Court dated 10th of April, 2020. As per the reports, extracts of which have been reproduced in the order of the Court itself, expenditure running into several hundred crores of rupees is incurred on each bi-annual Darbar Move. The Court directed Monica Kohli Amicus Curie to examine the reports by next date of hearing which in this particular matter has been fixed on 22-04-2020.

Regarding the welfare of stranded migrant/contract labour, visitors, the Court directed the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar to submit reports with regard to the conditions of the above mentioned categories of persons and the measures which are being undertaken for ensuring needs of these persons. The Court also directed the Member Secretary, JKSLSA to collaborate with the concerned authorities to supplement the steps being undertaken with respect to these people. The Court also directed Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations to draw up a comprehensive plan to combat vector borne diseases in anticipation of the rising temperatures and the subsequent monsoon and also regarding the disposal of garbage and submit the plan to the Court by next date of hearing.

It is pertinent to mention here that the High Court has been monitoring the situation which has arisen out of the outbreak of Noval Corona Virus. The High Court has been hearing the PILs through video conferencing and has passed a number of directions in the past hearings which have had very positive effect on the working of the Government machinery. The general public has hailed the timely intervention of the High Court and the directions passed by it. Except for the issue pertaining to Darbar Move, the Court has listed the cases again on 27th of April, 2020.

Srinagar, Apr 17: Incessant rain lashed summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of the valley, where some upper reaches in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal received fresh light snow, resulting in dip in the day temperature.

However, the night temperature improved and settled above normal across the valley, where a weather warning has been issued following which isolated thundershowers with lightning, hail and gusty winds (30 to 40 km per hour) would occur during the next 48 hours.

A Met department spokesperson told UNI that light to moderate rain and thundershowers would occur at most places in the valley during the next 48 hours. “Light to moderate rain would occur on Sunday at many places,” he added.

Some upper reaches, including Zojila pass on Srinagar-Leh highway, witnessed fresh snowfall in the morning. The 434-km-long highway remained closed for the third successive day on Friday due to snowfall and landslides.

After witnessing an improvement of about 2 degree in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Friday morning in Srinagar. Against 7.8 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature in the city was 10 degree, which is 2 degree above normal. As the day progressed, incessant rain lashed Srinagar, resulting in dip in the day temperature.

He said light to moderate rain and thundershowers would occur during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 18 degree and 7 degree, respectively.

Moderate to heavy intermittent rain also lashed world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in North Kashmir, resulting in dip in the day temperature. However, the night temperature in the ski resort improved and settled at 0.4 degree, against minus 0.2 degree recorded on Thursday. The Mercury in Gulmarg, which remained deserted since lock down to curtail the spread of COVID-19 was announced, still remained about 2 degree below normal.

World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, also received intermittent rain since last night. Against 4 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature in Pahalgam was 7.2 degree, which is 4 degree above normal.

Other parts of the valley, including Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag, also received light to moderate rain.