Sinha presented with book

SRINAGAR, MAY 23: A delegation of Deaf Cricket Association J&K led by Umar Ashraf Beigh called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Saturday.

A delegation of Save Youth Save Future Foundation, comprising District Head Shopian Rasik Ahmed Sheikh, District Head Anantnag Adv. Shahid-ul-Islam, and Zonal Coordinator South Kashmir Irshad Ahmad Bhat, called on Lieutenant Governor.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor was presented with a book authored by Dr Ashish Kaul. The title of the book is “Parmeshwari: Agitation of Kashmir”.

The book was presented by parents of the author Rattan Kaul and Pushpa Kaul.

Over 12,000 non-farm enterprises to be established over next 4 years: Aijaz

SRINAGAR, MAY 23: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, on Saturday chaired a meeting of the UT-Level Steering Committee (Non-Farm Livelihoods) under the Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission’s (JKRLM) Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), which accorded in-principle approval to six Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) worth ₹36 crore aimed at promoting rural entrepreneurship and sustainable non-farm livelihood opportunities across Jammu and Kashmir.

The approved DPRs pertain to six new SVEP blocks—Sogam-Wavoora, Pulwama-Litter, Chadoora-Surasyar, Khour-Paragwal, Pouni-Reasi and Bhadarwah-Bhalla—where over 12,000 enterprises are projected to be established over the next four years.

The meeting was attended by Mission Director, JKRLM, Dr. Shubhra Sharma; Chief Operating Officer, HIMAYAT, Rajneesh Gupta; besides representatives from the Forest, Ecology & Environment Department, Tribal Affairs Department, Social Welfare Department, Handicrafts & Handloom Department, Industries & Commerce Department, MSME, KVIC, NABARD, RSETIs, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) and other stakeholder institutions.

Officials informed the committee that Jammu & Kashmir has been implementing SVEP since 2015–16 with technical support from National Resource Organisation (NRO) partners, including EDII. The programme initially commenced in the pilot blocks of Lar in Ganderbal district and Basohli in Kathua district, where nearly 2,500 entrepreneurs were established during the first phase.

With the approval of the six new DPRs, SVEP coverage in Jammu & Kashmir will now expand from eight to 14 districts.

The Secretary stated that the newly approved DPRs focus on promoting innovative rural enterprises aligned with local resources and market demand. He highlighted sectors identified for intervention, including walnut oil and butter extraction, sheep wool processing, trout fish processing, village and border homestay eco-tourism, vermi-compost production, saffron value addition, herbal tea processing, amla-based products, and honey processing with value addition and packaging.

Emphasising the need for scientific identification of viable enterprises, Aijaz Asad stressed that enterprise selection should be guided by local demand patterns, consumption trends and rural spending behaviour.

He directed officials to prioritise economically sustainable enterprises supported by robust market linkages and value-addition opportunities to ensure long-term livelihood generation for rural youth and women.

The Secretary also underscored the importance of strengthening entrepreneurship training, capacity building and monitoring mechanisms for effective implementation of the approved projects. He stated that entrepreneurship development should be decentralised to the village level through community-based training modules and Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes.

Calling for stronger inter-departmental convergence, he directed stakeholders to ensure timely execution and rigorous monitoring so that maximum benefits reach aspiring rural entrepreneurs across Jammu and Kashmir.

Data presented during the meeting revealed that non-farm livelihood initiatives in Jammu & Kashmir have so far supported 26,551 enterprises, including 26,217 individual enterprises and 355 group enterprises under NRLM and SVEP.

SVEP is a sub-scheme under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, aimed at promoting non-farm entrepreneurship among Self-Help Group (SHG) members and their families in rural areas.

Convenes public outreach program at Kotli Balla

UDHAMPUR, MAY 23: Continuing his public outreach campaign across the Chenani-Ghordi constituency, Member Legislative Assembly Balwant Singh Mankotia convened a Public Darbar at Panchayat Kotli Balla near Laddan Morh. A large number of local people from the area gathered to highlight their grievances and developmental demands.

The programme was attended by officers from various government departments, Ex-PRI members, social activists and prominent citizens, who actively participated in the interaction.

Residents from Panchayat Pachote and nearby villages raised several issues pertaining to road connectivity, drinking water supply, electricity, healthcare services, educational infrastructure and other civic amenities.

Taking immediate cognizance of the demands and complaints projected by the people, MLA Mankotia instructed the concerned officers to take prompt action and ensure that genuine public issues are addressed on priority.

Speaking on the occasion, the MLA said that the objective of holding Public Darbars at Panchayat level is to bridge the gap between the administration and the common people by providing governance and grievance redressal at the grassroots level.

He said such programmes are proving highly beneficial as people are able to directly interact with both elected representatives and officials without having to visit government offices repeatedly. He further added that similar outreach programmes will be organized in every Panchayat of the constituency in the coming days to ensure transparent and effective governance.

MLA Mankotia reiterated his commitment towards the overall development of the Chenani-Ghordi constituency and said continuous efforts are being made to strengthen infrastructure related to roads, healthcare, education, electricity, tourism and water supply in rural as well as urban areas.

The locals appreciated the initiative and expressed gratitude to MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia for personally listening to their grievances and taking immediate steps for their resolution.

By: Wani Arfat

Srinagar, May 22: Renowned urologist Dr. Syed Sajjad Nazir has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to remain informed about the healthcare facilities available under the Golden Card scheme, stating that both dialysis and kidney transplantation is covered under the government health insurance program.

In a statement, Dr. Sajjad expressed concern over the increasing trend of emotional fundraising campaigns seeking huge amounts of money for kidney transplants despite the availability of financial coverage under the scheme.

Referring to a recent appeal seeking nearly Rs 25 lakh for a young patient on hemodialysis, he said that up to Rs 5 lakh are already earmarked under the Golden Card scheme for patients requiring kidney transplantation.

“It is unfortunate that some people misuse their disease and emotionally influence the public for donations without informing them that dialysis and kidney transplantation are already covered,” he stated.

Dr. Sajjad emphasized that advanced urological facilities, including kidney transplantation and modern surgical interventions, are now available within Jammu and Kashmir, reducing the need for patients to travel outside the Union Territory for treatment. He added that many people are still unaware of these benefits and often donate emotionally without verifying the actual medical requirements.

The senior urologist further remarked that unnecessary fundraising not only misguides society but also diverts financial help from genuinely deserving individuals who may need support for other critical conditions not covered under government schemes.

He urged the public to verify medical appeals carefully and educate themselves about government healthcare initiatives before contributing financially. According to him, awareness regarding the Golden Card scheme can protect families from unnecessary financial stress and ensure that patients receive timely treatment without exploitation.

Dr. Sajjad also highlighted the importance of strengthening public health awareness and promoting trust in the medical infrastructure available in Kashmir. He noted that GMC Srinagar’s Urology Department has witnessed tremendous advancements in recent years, with modern procedures and trained specialists now serving patients locally.

His message has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many appreciating his efforts to spread awareness about healthcare rights and responsible public support.

Reviews Census-2027 preparations at JMC

JAMMU, MAY 23: A review meeting regarding the progress of Self Enumeration (SE) and preparations for the smooth conduct of Census-2027 was held Saturday in the conference hall of the Jammu Municipal Corporation under the chairmanship of Chief Principal Census Officer/Director Census Operations, J&K Amit Sharma.

The meeting was attended by Principal Census Officer-(JMC Commissioner) Dr. Devansh Yadav, besides all Census Charge Officers of the Jammu Municipal Corporation.

During the meeting, the Chief Principal Census Officer/Director Census Operations, J&K reviewed the overall progress achieved by JMC in connection with the preparations for Census-2027 within the JMC jurisdiction and its outgrowth areas.

Detailed discussions were held regarding the implementation of Self Enumeration (SE), mapping of House Listing Blocks and other preparatory activities being undertaken by the charge officers.

The Chief Principal Census Officer-Director Census Operations expressed satisfaction over the efforts and preparedness displayed by the officers and officials of JMC for the successful conduct of Census-2027. He appreciated the coordination among various departments and emphasized the importance of timely completion of all census-related activities.

He further directed the officers of JMC to intensify the Self Enumeration process through extensive public awareness campaigns and wide publicity so that the maximum number of citizens may register themselves through the SE platform. Stress was also laid on ensuring accuracy and transparency during the census exercise.

During the meeting, several technical issues related to House Listing Blocks and overlapping of maps for Census-2027 were also discussed and resolved on the spot in consultation with the technical team of the Census Department, Government of India.

The meeting concluded with an assurance from all concerned officers to work in close coordination for ensuring the successful and smooth conduct of Census-2027 in Jammu city and adjoining outgrowth areas.