SRINAGAR: A 50-year-old man was mauled to death by a bear when he was grazing his cattle in Soafshali forest area of Kokarnag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag on Friday morning.
Quoting officials the news agency KNO reported that the man who was grazing cattle in Soafshali forests was attacked by the bear.
“Soon after bear attack him, he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival,” they said.
They identified the deceased as Abdul Rasheed Bhat (50) son of Mohammad Sultan Bhat, a resident of Soafshali, Kokernag.
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New Delhi: India logged 26,727 new COVID-19 cases and 277 fatalities in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry on Friday (October 1).
While the coronavirus caseload has reached 3,37,66,707, the death toll in the country mounted to 4,48,339. The total recoveries stand at 3,30,43,144, as per Health Ministry’s data.
Out of the total daily cases, Kerala reported 15,914 fresh cases and 122 deaths in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the active cases declined to 2,75,224, the lowest in 196 days.
The weekly positivity rate is at 1.70 per cent, less than 3 per cent for the last 98 days, while the daily positivity rate stands at 1.76 per cent, less than 3 per cent for the last 32 days.
“The active cases comprise 0.82 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.86 per cent, the highest since March 2020,” the ministry said.
As per data on Thursday, India reported 23,529 new COVID-19 cases and 311 deaths.
India’s COVID-19 tally crossed the grim of two crore-mark on May 4 and three crore on June 23.
According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 57,04,77,338 samples were tested for COVID-19 up to 30th September 2021. Of these, 15,20,899 samples were tested on Thursday.
The total vaccination figure reached 89,02,08,007, out of which 64,40,451 doses were administered in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Friday.
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SRINAGAR: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), G Kishan Reddy today reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of India towards the promotion Jammu and Kashmir Tourism and rich cultural heritage worldwide.
The Minister stated this while holding an interactive session with tour operators and various stakeholders associated with the tourism sector of Jammu and Kashmir along with the Department of Tourism at SKICC here.
Earlier today morning, Reddy arrived here as part of GoI’s public outreach programme to J&K. On his arrival, the Minister visited the Tourist Facilitation Centre and J&K Tourism Information Centre.
During his interaction with different tourism players from Kashmir, Reddy discussed various avenues pertinent to tourism in the region of J&K and highlighted the importance of promotion and campaigning of J&K as a tourism destination in India and across the globe, and said that the Central Government will do everything in their domain to brand the region as an international tourist destination.
During the session, different stakeholders including tourist trade and travel, houseboat association, shikarawalas, hoteliers among others put forth their demands and issues before the Minister.
Among other issues, the tourism stakeholders sought direct flights from different cities of the country including Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai to Srinagar. They also demanded insurance cover in case of losses, development of new and virgin tourist destinations, better mobile connectivity at tourism places, renovation of old hotels at tourism destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg among others.
The Minister gave a patient hearing to the tourism stakeholders and assured them that all their genuine issues would be taken up at the Central Government level for early resolution.
While speaking on the occasion, Mr Reddy said that the Central Government is doing every bit to bring J&K back on the tourism map and make it the number one tourist destination among travelers, tourists, visitors once again.
He informed the meeting that the Government of India along with UT government is putting in serious efforts to bring Mughal Gardens of J&K on UNESCO Heritage map so that these places would get international recognition to help in increasing tourist footfall from other countries.
He said that J&K being a tourism state remains top priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who always pushes his Cabinet for the development of J&K.
Earlier, the Minister presided over a meeting with the Department of Tourism J&K, J&K Academy of Arts, Culture & Languages, Department of Archives, Archeology & Museums, Archeological Survey of India, heads of different development authorities and other concerned.
The Minister reviewed the progress of tourism development projects supported by the Union Government for the UT.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan; Additional Director General at Ministry of Tourism, GoI, Rupinder Brar; Secretary Tourism & Culture, Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary Director, Archives, Archaeology, and Museums, Rahul Pandey; Director Tourism Kashmir, Dr GN Itoo, officers from ASI, and other concerned.
On the occasion, Secretary Tourism & Culture gave a detailed presentation and presented an overview of the Tourism scenario in the UT.
The Minister was informed about the different activities and projects being carried out in the region and the initiative taken with respect to the promotion of J&K tourism.
It was told that in the past three years many tourism festivals and events besides 2nd Edition of Khelo India Games were held at Gulmarg and wide promotion campaign is also being carried out in different parts of the country.
A detailed presentation was also given over the celebrations of 75 years of independence and in this regard, an Iconic Week celebration is being organized in both the divisions of J&K where myriad activities would be held to showcase J&K’s rich culture, heritage, food, music etc.
On the occasion, the Minister also e-inaugurated various developmental tourism projects which include 10 bedroom tourist complex at Verinag, Apple resort at Ladoora Rafiabad, wayside amenities at Awantipora among others.
Also, Conservation Architect & Historic Building consultant, Abha Narain Lambah gave a detailed presentation over the preparation of nomination dossier for listing of Mughal Gardens of Kashmir on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
While appreciating the J&K tourism for their work done during Covid-19 pandemic, the Minister said that the UT has done a lot better than other States and UTs during the pandemic. He said J&K is progressing and moving in the right direction and Union Government is supporting the UT in every respect to take the region on uniform prosperity with rest of India.
Later, the Minster had an interaction with students of various Govt-run- Schools at Royal Springs Golf Course, who were trained in golf by The Golf Club of Kashmir.
He said Kashmir is a favorite golfing spot for tourists and the golfers from around the world and the local youth should get maximum benefit from the beautiful golfing destinations.
He also urged the students to focus in one sport and be expert and excel and bring glory to their areas, state and country alike in the sports arena.
On the occasion, the Minister also distributed certificates among the students who completed their training courses.
Meanwhile, the Minister also flagged off Dachigam Foothills Mountain Biking Expedition from the gate of Harwan Garden.
Later, the Minister also interacted with the members of District Development Council, Block Development Council and Panchayat Raj Institutions of District Srinagar who also put forth their issues and grievances before the Minister.
The elected representatives demanded to announce a Development Authority for Harwan Block of Srinagar which houses world-famed Mughal Gardens, degree College, a hospital in the area, playground, and other tourism related facilities.
The members said that the area has a huge tourism potential as the area possesses traditional trekking routes to central and southern parts of Kashmir which can give a fillip to tourism and subsequently generate employment in the area.
While addressing the members, the Minister said J&K has a three-tier Panchayati Raj System in place due to the honest efforts of PM Modi who wants to empower the grassroot democracy in the country.
He said that J&K is one of the shining example in whole of India where the three-tier Panchayati Raj system is working successfully and people themselves are identifying, executing and monitoring works at level, block and district level.
Praising the ‘Back to Village’ programme in J&K, Mr Reddy said that earlier people used to visit different offices and run pillar-to-post to get their grievances addressed but now the whole administration is at their doorsteps to get their issues resolved promptly.
He added that J&K is now reaping benefits like the rest of India with all the centrally sponsored schemes and other initiatives and is playing an important part in the overall development and progress of the whole country.
Later in the evening, the Minister also visited Nishat and Chashma Shahi Mughal Gardens.
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SRINAGAR: A court in Kulgam has awarded a lifer to a murderer. Since the accused has been in jail for 12 years already, this period of detention will be set off from the imprisonment awarded to the convict, the judgement by Tahir Khurshid Raina, the Principal Sessions Judge Kulgam has ruled.
The tragedy that struck Mirhama village of Kulgam in June 2010 has interesting details.
Justice
A son, Mohammad Altaf Paddar had a dispute with his father, Ali Mohammad, apparently the outcome of his second marriage. They were living separately with the son in Mirhama and the father – with his second wife – in Qazigund. The two had a dispute over the proceeds sale of poplar timber as well.
Son was tired of his father’s behaviour. He axed some poplars of his father and raised some money and literally gave supari of his father to a person, named Shahijahan Paddar. The total amount that changed hands for the murder was Rs 50,000, according to the details mentioned in the 135-page judgement.
Then, there was a twist. Almost 10 days after paying for his father’s head in anticipation, the son and father had a patch-up. Now, the son started seeking his money back. Shahjahan refused to pay – because he, according to one prosecution witness had lost the money in gambling – and instead abducted him and killed him brutally. Altaf Paddar’s hugely disfigured body was recovered from an apple orchard that two natives of Pombay own. It was identified as that of Altaf and, according to police, the accused admitted to the guilt. They recovered some phones, the axe, stones and other things used in the commissioning of the crime. The accused had disfigured the head, face, mouth and burnt the identity card of the deceased in order to destroy the evidence.
Altaf’s widow deposed before the court saying that the eyes and brain of her husband had been thrown out and all the head bones were broken with an axe hitting the forehead. The doctor who oversaw the autopsy has deposed before the court saying that cause of death was “serious brain damage causing cardiorespiratory arrest”.
Initially, after the dead body was recovered, the murder looked like a blind one. The residents actually came out in protest asking police to arrest everybody who is linked to the killing. This led to the arrest of Ali Mohammad Padder, the deceased’s father also. However, police set all of them after they were convinced of their non-involvement.
Ali Padder, the father of the slain, told the court that the accused had chased him for three days but could not get a chance to harm him. Ali lives in Qazigund with his second wife after divorcing the first one. On the fourth day, he visited Mirhama where the local residents told him to given his son some land so that he can construct a house. A day later, he was killed by Shahjahan. One witness has mentioned that Ali Padder had worked with the STF.
The judgement has briefly summarised the case like this: “..the deceased was having a grudge against his father for not acknowledging his due share in the property and also not coming to his help as his father who has solemnized a second marriage and was living with his second wife. Finally, he engaged the accused as a contract killer of his father and paid him Rs.50,000/- as a consideration amount for the said contract to be materialized. However, few days before the date fixed for the same, the deceased had entered into a compromise with the father and the relationship resumed between the two. Now the deceased son took a U-turn about his plan of killing his father through a contract killer. He demanded his money back from the accused on account of his reconciliation with the father. The accused did not agree for return and made a plan to kill the deceased. He on 25th of April, 2010, went to the residence of the deceased at Mirhama in the evening, took him along to get his dispute settled with his father. However, on the intervening night of
25th/26th of April, 2010, he killed the deceased and executed his plan successfully. And in the morning the dead body of the deceased was found.”
The accused was formally arrested on April 30, 2010.
“Accused stand charged and tried for commission of offences under section 364, 302 and 201 RPC. Section 364 RPC relates to “kidnapping or abduction of any person in order that such person may be murdered or may be disposed of as to be put in danger of being murdered…….” Section 302 RPC talks of commission of murder and Section 201 relates to disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screan offender,” the judgement reads. “Of all the evidence on record, it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that accused by playing a deceit with the deceased, took him along in evening from his residence and later at a distant place killed him by an Axe, the weapon of offence being carried by him. When he found him dead, searched his clothes and found mobile and identity card. The said identity card he burnt and also disfigured the face so as to hid the identity of the deceased. All these incriminating facts when clubbed together match with the ingredients of all the three offences for which accused stand charged and tried.”
The quantum of punishment was delivered later as the accused was put on virtual mode from Central Jail Srinagar. “I am of the considered view that in the facts and circumstances of this case as revealed in the preceding paras, the life imprisonment is the appropriate punishment to be awarded to the convict for commission of murder of the deceased with fine @ Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only),” the judge ruled. “For the commission of offence under section 364 RPC, I award him ten years imprisonment with fine @ Rs.5,000/- (Five Thousand Only) likewise for the commission of offence under section 201 RPC, I award him three years imprisonment and fine @ Rs.5000/- (Rupees Five Thousand Only).. All the sentences to run concurrently. The period of detention already undergone by the convict has to be set off to the total imprisonment awarded to him. In case of non-payment of fine, he will further undergo imprisonment of 6 months that too will run concurrently.”
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SRINAGAR: Commemorating World Heart Day 2021, the Gauri Healthy Heart Project (GHHP), Jammu and Kashmir, the initiative of the Gauri Kaul Foundation, released its annual report in the function organized in Srinagar.
With the ‘Mission of No Heart Attacks by 2025’, GHHP is an ambitious project run under the guidance of eminent cardiologist and Founder Director, Gauri Kaul Foundation, Prof Upendra Kaul.
The main objective of the project is to create awareness and educate people about the prevention of heart problems, and optimize the treatment of the patients with cost-effective and evidence-based cardioprotective management.
A year ago on September 29, 2020, GHHP was inaugurated at SDH Kupwara by Atal Duloo, the then Financial Commissioner H&ME.
Since then several free heart camps have been conducted in the remote areas across the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides numerous CMEs, other academic programs have also been conducted.
In his address Duloo, the chief guest on the occasion spoke at length about the project. Congratulating Dr U Kaul, and his team for the endeavour, he detailed about the various components of early detection, consultation and providing the much needed services to reach remote geographic areas and the needy people.”
In his address, Prof U Kaul said, “The increase in sudden deaths due to heart attacks in Jammu and Kashmir was a matter of concern. It prompted me and my team to come up with this project one year ago.
Named after my beloved mother Gauri Kaul, the project primarily aims at educating people about prevention from heart diseases and optimizing their treatment according to novel evidence-based medicine.
During this one year, we conducted several free heart camps wherein we counselled and treated thousands of patients.
Besides free investigations and on spot cardiac biomarker tests, free medicines were also distributed among the patients. We experienced different things in different areas that have been detailed in the annual report. In addition to the free heart camps, we observed that tele-health has a huge role to play during the ongoing pandemic. And going with the goal of World Heart Day-2021, harnessing the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases globally, we have already set up two tele-cardiology units, one in a remote area of Machil and one in Jagti Township, Jammu. These tele-cardiology units would directly connect patients in remote areas with doctors in cardiac hospitals”.
Speaking about the future course of action, Prof Kaul added, “Our mission is to reduce the number of deaths due to heart attacks by 2025. In this regard, we will continue to go to different areas ofJ&K, create awareness and impart education to people about modifiable risk factors that would help them in preventing heart attacks. We will also optimize the treatment of patients who already are taking medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes and other heart problems with newer medicines that have preventive properties for the heart. We are hopeful that we will replicate the tele-cardiology model at other remote areas. I believe that everyone has the right to good health and as such we will try to cater the population living in far-flung areas under our project.”
Prof Kaul added that cardiac bio-markers is a non-invasive and quick blood investigation to detect and diagnose heart problems instantly. In addition to the routine ECG that we do in all patients in the camps, we will use biomarkers to detect cardiac diseases.
“Covid-19 affects most organ systems and so does it with the heart. We will also focus on post covid complications of the heart. During the last one year, we have got tremendous support from the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, IMHANS, Kashmir, JLNM Hospital and other governmental and non-governmental organizations. While continuing our collaboration with them, we will closely work with them especially for the health of the youth and elderly population of Jammu and Kashmir. We are soon coming up with Gauri Kaul Research Institute which will be an academic and research wing of the Gauri Kaul Foundation,” he said.
“This research initiative would help us in understanding the causative factors and the pattern of cardiac involvement in youth and other patients more clearly and academically. Also, besides taking care of heart of elderly patients, we are focusing on providing holistic treatment to them under our Gauri Old Age Mission”.
While speaking on the occasion, the guest of honour, Ajaz Asad DC Srinagar, said, “Gauri Healthy Heart Project is the leaf in the right direction. Our wishes are with all such efforts.”
Noted satirist and poet Zareef Ahmad Zareef, the special guest said in his speech, “Mother is a shadow that provides and protects the child. It stays forever. A mother whose son is Dr U Kaul is as blessed for the offspring as she is for the community.”
Priyadarshani said, “As the academic head for the project, we have been working to link the healthcare services and the various stakeholders in the country. GHHP should be replicated in every District of the country.”
Other prominent personalities present on the occasion were Prof Khurshid Iqbal, Eminent Cardiologist, Prof Muhammad Maqbool, HOD IMHANS Srinagar, Dr Aijaz Mansoor Sr Consultant Cardiology, Dr Iqbal Salati, renowned surgeon, Dr Basanti Ganjoo, Sr Gynaecologist, Dr Akhter Ganai, Secretary Academics, DHS Kashmir, Dr Nasir Shams, Faculty NBEMS, JLNM Hospital, Mushtaq Ahmed Chaya, Er Manzoor Nawchoo, Abdul Majid Kaboo, prominent businessman and Abdul Salam Dar, Rtd SP. Besides prominent media and well known journalists.
In his vote of thanks, CEO GHHP Ajaz Rashid thanked all the stake holders who have contributed to make the project successful. He particularly thanked media partner Greater Kashmir, NGO partner Ummeed foundation and academic partner Batra Hospital and academic research centre New Delhi.
Dr Zubair Saleem, Geriatric Consultant moderated the proceedings.
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SRINAGAR: The Government on Thursday informed that 110 new positive cases of novel Corona virus (COVID-19), 26 from Jammu division and 84 from Kashmir division, have been reported today, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 329430.
Moreover, 153 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including 26 from Jammu Division and 127 from Kashmir Division.
The Bulletin informs that no new case of Mucormycosis has been reported today.
On COVID vaccination, the bulletin informs that 1,48,425 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered in the last 24 hours bringing the cumulative number of doses administered across J&K to 114,31,276. It adds that 84.97 percent of the population above the age of 18 years has been vaccinated across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 329430 positive cases, 1345 are Active Positive (299 in Jammu Division and 1046 in Kashmir Division), 323663 have recovered and 4422 have died; 2173 in Jammu division and 2249 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 14854376 test results available, 329430 samples have tested positive and 14472524 samples have been tested as negative till date. Besides, 52,532 COVID tests have been conducted in last 24 hours.
Till date 3548032 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 7449 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 1345 in isolation and 463243 in home surveillance. Besides, 3071573 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup for positive cases reported today, the Bulletin said that Srinagar reported 45 cases, Baramulla reported 15 cases, Budgam reported 07 cases, Pulwama reported no case, Ganderbal reported 04 cases, Kupwara reported 02 cases, Anantnag reported 05 cases, Bandipora reported 05 cases, Kulgam reported 01 case and Shopian reported no fresh case for today.
The bulletin further informs the general public that they can contact helpline numbers 0191-2520982/2674444/2674115/2674908/2549676 in Jammu Division and 0194-2440283/2430581/2452052/2457313/2457312 in Kashmir Division for any kind of guidance and assistance.
In case of emergency, people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 by calling toll free number 108 while as pregnant women and sick infants can avail free services by dialing toll free number 102, the bulletin reads.
It also informs that the public can reach national helpline by dialing 1075.
Further the bulletin also informs the public that for any kind of COVID-19 query, logon to https://ift.tt/2XYaXJZ
The readers can also reach us on the official Twitter account of DIPR-J&K @diprjk; website: http://www.jkdirinf.in; Webportal: jkinfonews.com and Facebook: @JKInformationOfficial.
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SRINAGAR: The Indian Air Force, which controls the Jammu airport, has issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM), which will lead to the removal of 30 per cent load penalty on the airport.
This means that now airlines can fly full load which will lead to lower fares and longer destinations by the aircraft.
The NOTAM involves coordination with the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airport Authority of India. The trigger for the change was the UT government of Jammu and Kashmir. Three factors are behind the move, including a new governance mindset from the lackadaisical to moving the needle.
In addition, market forces have influenced the move as this will improve traveller perception about the safety of Jammu and Kashmir.
The third advantage is the extension and strengthening of the Jammu runway, which will improve traffic and connectivity for the region.
A NOTAM is a notice issued to airmen containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to the personnel concerned with flight operations.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia had announced last week that two new airport terminals will be established in Jammu and Kashmir soon.
Giving details, Scindia had announced an airport terminal at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore to be established on 25,000 sq mt of land in Kashmir, while another terminal costing Rs 650 crore will come up in Jammu on 22,000 sq mt of land.
Scindia had said that special focus is being given on the development of both air and road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, with the construction of a major road network, including highways, ring road, tunnels and other projects, across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Principal Secretary Aviation J&K Govt – RP Thakur (IRTS) said that with the lid restrictions getting reduced now , larger flights are expected to and fro J&K.
Thakur said that VAT has been reduced from 26% to 1% adding fares have been subsequently reduced. From October 1 onwards the last night flight will leave at 8:30 pm, he said.
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SRINAGAR: The counter insurgent forces on Thursday launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Chadoora town of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said.
Quoting officials the news agency KNO reported that a joint team of Army’s 53RR and SOG cordoned off Chadoora town from Hospital side.
They said that all the entry and exit points towards the area have been sealed, while the searches were going on.
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SRINAGAR: In order to address the grievances related to Migrant properties filed by the Kashmiri migrants in different categories, the District Administration Srinagar has resolved as many as 660 complaints till date since the launch of dedicated Online Grievance Portal for migrants.
Giving details about the grievances addressed in the district so far, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad said that till date 660 grievances have been received by the District Administration, out of which 390 grievances alleging alienation by fraud or distress sale were resolved.
Similarly, 129 grievances alleging encroachments on migrant properties were also verified and resolved. Out of grievances of encroachment, the necessary demarcation of 20 cases has been done and necessary eviction notices have also been issued, though 12 of them are sub-judice before the High Court.
The DC further said that 16 cases of tampering of revenue records were also verified and replied back to the complainants. Cognizance has been taken and action being initiated against officials involved in tampering of Revenue records. While 18 cases of trespassing were also verified, out of which few were found lacking the exact details of the properties and the same have been sought for final resolution” he added.
He also said that some trespassing cases involved pending rentals with security forces and lack of compensation by the R&B (PWD) Department. In three cases of illegal trespassing the necessary follow up action has already been initiated, the DC further added.
The DC said that the district administration has taken prompt and timely steps to address the issues of migrants besides complaints filed by them through online(portal) or offline mode.
He said that the officers of Revenue and other concerned departments have been given clear directions to address the grievances concerning the land and property of the migrants on priority with zeal and commitment.
The DC said a robust mechanism has been put in place for redressal of such complaints as per law and in a time bound manner.
Meanwhile, a senior officer of District administration said that the DC has been taking regular review meetings on the subject and is personally monitoring the progress made on the redressal of migrants’ issues on a daily basis.
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SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday cautioned the JK Government against participating in All India Quota for admission to PG courses and proposed 50 percent (MD/MS/Diploma/PG DNB) in AIQ under NEET, saying the measure will expose JK students to a greater disadvantage as compared to their counterparts from other States because of being socially and educationally backward.
In a joint statement Party Members of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah, Muhammad Akbar Lone and Hassnain Masoodi taking note of the perceived hardship to the JK students due to the pooling of 15% of its MBBS seats in AIQ (All India Quota) and 50% seat sharing for PG Medical courses after NEET. The MPs noted with great concern that the decisions to participate in the AIQ will impact aspirants in JK more gravely as compared to its consequences for other States. “The proposition exposes JK aspirants to greater disadvantage as compared to their counterparts from other States. J&K is socially and educationally backward. A large number of students do not have access to schools equipped with modern tools of education. This apart, more than 90 percent of the students pass Higher Secondary Examinations through State Board of School Education. There are only a few thousand students who pass the eligibility examination through CBSE. NEET, as stated, is CBSE syllabus based and the bulk of aspirants from the State therefore do not stand a chance to get selected for MBBS and BDS graduate and postgraduate courses,” the MPs stated.
The MPs underscored that a more serious reason to oppose NEET is on account of it being incongruous with JK constitution, as the decisions of August 5, 2019, are still impending required constitutional validation from the constitutional bench. “Any such decision will undermine the constitutional propriety and anticipate the outcome of the final verdict of the constitutional bench,” they added.
The MPs held that the importance of J&K People as a stakeholder in taking such decisions through popularly elected governments cannot be undermined or replaced by an un-elected incumbent administration at the helm of affairs in JK. “Earlier J&K has been retaining all its seats for local students and opting out of AIQ. But the incumbent un-elected administration has chosen to open up the for the students from outside. This we believe will further choke the already scant avenues for JK youth. It will prove detrimental to the interests of our youth and jeopardize their future. The decision will also have a cascading effect in terms of depleting employment avenues of our educated and skilled youth in JK and furthermore lead to brain drain. Opting for AIQ, it goes without saying, will escalate the brimming alienation in JK youth, who are already facing onslaught on their job avenues,’ they rued.
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SRINAGAR: Crime Branch, Kashmir Thursday produced a charge-sheet against fraudster for impersonating as Minister(s)/Bureaucrat(s) by using Spoof Call Application and would to extract money from various government servants thereof.
A statement of Crime Branch, Kashmir issued here said that it produced Chargesheet of Case FIR No: 46 of 2018 U/S 419, 420, RPC 66-D IT Act of P/S CBK, against one notorious fraudster namely Firdous Ahmad S/o Ab. Rehman Ahangar a resident of Nund Resh Colony Bemina Srinagar in the Court of 13th Finance Srinagar. The accused was impersonating as Minister(s)/Bureaucrat(s) by using Spoof Call Application and would to extract money from various government servants thereof.
It said the Crime Branch Kashmir received communication that Cell No: 7880919630 is being used by some cheat/fraudster, impersonating as Minister (s) /Bureaucrat (s), demanding money from engineers of PWD, PMGSY and Tehsildar Uri.
“Subsequent to the information, a verification under number Misc 26/2018 was initiated in Crime Branch Kashmir, Srinagar which lead to the registration of case FIR No. 46/2018 U/S 419, 420 RPC 66-D IT Act of P/S CBK,” the statement said.
“During the course of the investigation, it came to fore that the cell No: 7880919630 was being used by Firdous Ahmad S/o Ab. Rehman Ahangar R/o Nund Resh Colony Bemina Srinagar, to contact Superintending Engineer PMGSY Srinagar, Executive Engineer R&B Division Kupwara, Tehsildar Uri and Chief Education Officer Ganderbal respectively. The said suspect introduced himself as MOS for R&B and Revenue department, and stated to them that they might transferred, unless they pay money to him,” it said.
“The investigation thus conducted has established that the said accused Firdous Ahmad, has used cell No: 7880919630, by using a spoof call application, which displayed the cell number of concerned ministers on the cell phone of the receiver of such calls/SMS’s, and impersonated himself as Minister of concerned departments in order to cheat them and extract money from them against their transfer or post them as per their choice,” it added.
“During the course of investigation, offences U/S 511-420, 419, 468, 201 RPC, 66-D IT Act were established and the Final Report (charge sheet) of the instant case was produced before the court of 13th Finance, Srinagar on September 29, 2021 against the said accused,” reads the statement.
“Pertinent to mention that the said accused person is also involved Case FIR No: 17/2012 U/S 420, 468, 471, 120-B RPC P/S CBK, which stands charge-sheeted on 21.02.2013 before the court of law,” it reads.
“Moreover, Case FIR No: 63/2016, U/S 420, 66 IT Act & FIR No: 37/2017 U/S 419, 120-B RPC P/S Crime Branch Kashmir are also registered against the said accused person for cheating and the investigation of these cases is going on,” a statement issued by Crime branch Kashmir reads.
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SRINAGAR: The government has decided to withheld salaries of all the un-vaccinated employees while their list has been sought for further action.
According to an order issued by the Deputy Secretary to the Government, Malik Suhail the instructions have been issued to all the Administrative Secretaries for ensuring vaccination of all employees working in their Departments in Civil Secretariat, J&K.
“Further, a list of those employees along with name and designation who were yet to be vaccinated have been sought,” the order reads.
“In this context, the undersigned is directed to request Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary)/Principal Secretary to the Government/Commissioner/Secretary to the Government/Secretary to the Government, not to draw the salary of un-vaccinated employees working in his/her department besides sharing their details with the General Administration Department for further action,” the order said.
“The matter may be treated as most urgent,” the order said.(KNO)
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A social entrepreneur has created a facility on Sindh foothills with a focus on reviving the traditional culture and lifestyle in twentieth-century Kashmir. Apart from taking students for ‘living in past’ for a change and educating them about sustainable transformation, Fayaz Ahmad Dar hopes that copying the model can help individuals live a tension-free, self-sufficient life and revive the forgotten culture, reportsKhalid Bashir Gura
Fayaz Ahmad Dar, the promoter of Sagg Eco Village, stands next to its board at the entrance in Lar belt of Ganderbal. KL Image By Syed Ahmad Rufai
In the lap of mountains, treading a green alley as one unlatches the wooden door of Sagg Eco Village, at Lar (Ganderbal), one instantly zooms past into Kashmir’s recent cultural past. From the orchestra of cicadas to birds chirping, one is filled with serenity as fresh wafts of cold breeze provide relief from the scorching summer sun. At dusk, as the crescent moon reclines on mountains, the city from far twinkles and the unpolluted dark blue sky is filled with galaxies of stars. As invisible insects buzz in the abundant sea of flora, the night is filled with serene silence and cold.
Spread over 11 Kanals of land, Sagg founder, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, 45, believes he is reclaiming pristine past and healing polluted present with universal core values.
“Sagg (Kashmiri word for nurture) is an eco-cultural, recreational, educational farm with camping facility besides hosting and facilitating individual and group recreational stays, events and retreats, social gatherings, treks, walks, bike rides, and eco-therapy sessions,” said Dar who leads a team of ten members. “When someone enters Sagg they are coming home as it is a place where one is reconnected with oneself, reflect, rejuvenates, detoxifies.” De-stressing is natural as visitors are far away from the din and fast-paced life.
Night sky view from Sagg Eco village as the main wooden hut in bathed in lights. KL Image: Syed Ahmad Rufai
“We prepare and sell healthy foods based on natural ingredients and traditional recipes, and handcrafted lifestyle products based on eco-friendly processes,” said Dar, who coaches individuals, groups, and organizations to achieve the desired transformation for personal development, professional enhancement and social wellbeing. “We explore the connections between beliefs, behaviours and values to understand their impact on the quality of our life and the ways we can transform them.”
Sagg also collaborates and works with individuals, groups and organizations on social entrepreneurship, participatory action research and developmental projects.
Evolution
Dar still remembers a haunting call from his father to go to school. “I was sowing rice sapling in the paddy field when my father called and compelled me to go to school. I loved to be in the mud. My heart sank as I hated monotonous classrooms, syllabus and being far away from family,” said Dar who has travelled to more than dozens of countries now.
The main cafeteria ‘Ground Zero’ at Sagg Eco village. KL Image: Syed Ahmad Rufai
Dar is now a social entrepreneur as he develops regenerative systems and coaches people and organizations for sustainable transformation. He is also trained and experienced in personality transformation, sustainable development, regenerative agriculture, business and human resources management, and conflict resolution. “For over 20 years I studied and worked in different cultural settings and varied fields – including educational, organizational and developmental practice, administration and research.”
After studying at Government Middle School, Wahidpora, Dar availed scholarship to study at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya School. After passing his matriculation, he pursued science. However, he had no great academic interests and putting himself in a rat race of being meritorious.
After passing his higher secondary, his academics took a back seat in his priorities as he prioritized working full time and studying part-time.
In August 1995, he went to Delhi to pursue higher studies and study foreign languages. Having exhausted his father’s money, he had to fend for himself. “My first job was cleaning the clinic and assisting the homoeopathic doctor. My monthly salary was Rs 320,” he said. He juggled with diverse jobs and somehow learned to operate a computer. He changed jobs and employers till he became an assistant to the joint secretary to Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
A Counsellor
Somehow, Dar completed his Bachelors in Commerce from Delhi University. In 2001, he joined United States – India Educational Foundation in Delhi where he mainly counselled aspirants about procedures for admission.
“I grew from an administrative assistant to the director and resigned as projects and administrative officer in 2009,” Dar said. Simultaneously, he worked on various projects involving children and underprivileged groups. Meanwhile, he completed the MBA evening program and by 2009 he owned a flat in Delhi.
Pyend at Sagg Eco village, where people sit and interact with each other. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
“Even though I gave my best, deep down I knew this is not forever and I always wanted to listen to my calling as I had realized my limitations,” Dar said as his heart yearned to come back to Kashmir.
In 2009 he began to prepare to come back. He had never been a full-time student at university or college; he decided to pursue a course that will help him come back. He chooses a programme in Conflict Transformation and Sustainability in the USA. After spending a year he fulfilled the yearning of his heart.
The Return
Back home, Dar said he carried the baggage of childhood traumas and in the healing process; he started working on pitfalls that others especially young may go through.
“I wanted to tell people what education and schooling is. Schooling is necessarily not an education. Education is life,” he said. He started engagement with youth in order to find the like-minded.
Children at Sagg Eco village play on a trampoline in the children’s area.KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
In Delhi, Dar had started an NGO Koshish (effort) with a focus on sustainable development. “In sustainable development, we underline living life or creating an institution or infrastructure that does not damage anything in social, economic, and ecological terms,” Dar said, insisting the human beings are not owners but custodians of resources for progeny. Koshish failed as he left for the US.
When he came back, he launched Mool, the root, Mool sustainability research and training centre, a charitable trust since 2012, working for sustainable socio-economic development through participatory capacity building, sustainable development, and rehabilitation in Kashmir. The ongoing work includes participatory research with youth (capacity building via participatory dialogue, fellowships, internships, volunteering opportunities), promoting sustainable practices in farming and development.
“One of our ongoing participatory research projects is the articulation of a common and shared value-based vision for our life and society,” Dar said. “It is this participatory work that paved the way for the idea of sagg to emerge. Sagg and Mool now nourish each other.”
In Mool, social sustainability entails participatory consultations and regular engagement with the community, including farmers and practitioners associated with indigenous methods, trades and skills, science and technology fraternity, and people in public service delivery to improve quality of individual and community experience of life – in areas of education, livelihood, healthcare and ecology, and explore a sustainable and integrated way of living. These interactions build shared networks and a culture of collective problem-solving.
Similarly, for economic sustainability, Mool collaborates with a sheep and vegetable farm to provide youth with the opportunity to learn skills and acquire the knowledge necessary to operate a successful small farm.
Mool also ensures ecological sustainability by using eco-friendly systemic practices. Optimum use of infrastructure, materials, and time are key values for Mool. Through these values, Mool uses and promotes zero waste systems, cost-effective earth-building designs for infrastructure, organic practices, and materials for farming such as zero pesticides and organic manure. Through the community wellbeing program, the attention of the community is drawn towards the need to create zero waste systems.
The Sagg Initiative
Dar’s interactions with youth resulted in developing land-linked initiatives to survive and sustain. “When Kashmir’s highway is closed there is a crisis as our dependence for materials especially food is aggravated,” Dar said. In order to diminish dependence Dar believes land-based initiatives are indispensable.
A mud house at Sagg Eco village. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
Dar launched Sagg eco-village in 2012 as an eco-cultural, recreational and educational farm and a camping facility. It develops and promotes regenerative lifestyles based on the integration of resources and needs.
“Sagg offers creative services, spaces, products and programmes promoting healthy and re-creative lifestyles, which include educational, work, and leadership capacity building and consulting programmes for individuals, groups, and organizations,” Dar said. “The idea is to integrate traditional with the modern.”
Education and Recreation
With the aim to develop critical thinking, reflection, leadership, planning, decision-making and entrepreneurship abilities in children and youth from 5-14 years age group,Sagg organizes collaborative, educational and recreational camps for school children and youth. “We primarily focus on fear-based decision making and understand the phenomenon. And also on self-expression like organizing theatre activities, paintings, art, drama,” Dar said. The students practically understand the science from germination of seeds to blooming of flowers. They also participate in various group activities in the field and nature, which help in their cognitive and holistic development rather than being bookish and lived on an ingrained fear mental framework.
“Children besides playing in the open do various activities like playing in the mud to learn farming, cook, indulge in artistic activities,” Dar said.
A wooden hut at Sagg Eco village with mountains and clouds in the backdrop. KL Image: Syed Ahmad Rufai
Besides personal, educational and professional counselling and coaching packages, the education menu has a lot to offer like, the eco-educational tours, seminars, career planning, goal-oriented capacity building programmes, coaching capsules with personalized feedback, mental health programmes, facilitated day workshops and seminars for youth, students, teachers, parents, farmers, professionals and entrepreneurs.
“We also focus on ecological entrepreneurship training in which we build a business that also seeks to undo the damage that the commercialization of our life has done to ecology and quality of our life,” Dar said as designing a business that serves the needs of people improve quality of life and ecology are all interconnected.
Sagg also organises recreational activities like eco-therapy sessions, mud therapy, art therapy, treks, and rides.
Products
In a life flooded with adulterated eatables and products which inevitably impact the health of individuals, Sagg produces organic foods, vegetables, fruits, poultry, and meat. The un-adulterated produce is processed in the kitchen. There are a number of products that Sagg sells, like Kashmiri wuer (a traditional mix of herbs and spices), wild honey, dried apples, lotus stem, pickles, and jams. Sagg also provides a wide variety of handcrafted lifestyle products based on eco-friendly processes.
Places
In the vast, hygienic, and ventilated kitchen organic food is processed and served. The smell of brewing Kahwa, herbal and salty tea lingers, alongside the aroma of traditional food being prepared from a wide variety of natural products.
Kothas
Unlike any palatial hotel stay, for any guests desiring a calm and cosy stay in a natural setting, Sagg’s two spacious cottages with thatched roofs, mud walls, beautifully adorned in Kashmiris indigenous architecture makes a big difference.
“In Kotha, we integrate vernacular architecture with modern techniques to create a unique blend of eco-friendly dwelling experience with health benefits, modern comforts and traditional nomadic feel,” Dar said. Kotha is a traditional nomadic hut-like dwelling constructed mainly using stones, timber and mud. At Sagg, however, concrete and iron rings have been used to add strength to the structure. The walls are finished with mud plaster and the roof has wooden tiles, thatch or tin sheets.
As traditional architecture has been replaced with modern concrete and glass, the huts at Saggs like traditional old houses have natural insulation as it is warmer in winters and cooler in summers. The thick mud-plastered walls are also good sound absorbers. “The architecture of the house is integrated with our healthy living as it is mind and body-friendly – calms our senses and reduces chances of many diseases including respiratory problems, bone diseases, and allergies,” Dar explained. Also, in the construction of the houses, we generated livelihood for locals as we used local materials and labour. It will also help in culture revival and preservation.
Besides, traditional huts, there are many raised platforms of stone and earth called Pyend surrounded by wooden poles erected to hold the roof, which can be finished with wooden tiles, thatch or tin sheets. It offers a panoramic view of the backwoods and afar city and is an impressive place to relax, reflect and work.
Till recently, the human excreta was used as manure but has been abandoned. At Sagg, the methods to decompose have evolved into Souan eco-toilet, a natural, hygienic and cost-effective way of processing human waste. “It is modified for hygiene traditional toilet, which uses a drum to store the solid waste, and can also have a urine separation facility. It is an environment-friendly sustainable sanitation system which renders human waste as a resource for agricultural purposes,” Dar said.
However, it uses replaceable and recyclable drums to accumulate solid waste. It produces safe and natural manure for agriculture purposes thus ensures a healthy food system.
TamahEco Club
Tamah eco-club is a multi-faceted lifestyle offering that brings to you services, spaces, products, and programmes for an integrative and regenerative lifestyle and society. “Tamah seeks to fulfil all your individual, family and community needs for recreation, rejuvenation and reflection,” Dar said as Tamah also endeavours to run public awareness and engagement campaigns on safeguarding our ecology.
In the facilities Food Forests,Sagg is growing different species of food trees like canopies, fruits and nut trees, shrubs, herbaceous, berries, and climbers.
Vision
Having started the forest farm village academy in 2020 with a mission to help 100,000 people build ecological entrepreneurship ventures by 2030, Sagg envisions an ecologically sensitive and regenerative future that is socially integrative and equitable, and economically self-sustaining.
So far, more than 8500 youth have participated in capacity-building programmes. “It is an open-source ecological entrepreneurship venture. Aspirants can come and replicate the model,” Dar said, insisting he provides consultancy services to train and equips people to become ecological entrepreneurs.
Sagg is supported and sustained by the revenue it generates from its products and services. “I need more investments and I will be turning it into a private limited company to organize it better,” Dar said as he working for its growth. Sagg charges Rs 199 to Rs 499 per adult per with no charges for girls and only up to Rs 15 for boys.
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SRINAGAR: A ‘patwari’ (revenue official) in J&K’s Sopore town was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths on Wednesday while accepting a bribe, a statement said.
“A complaint was received through ACB helpline, alleging that patwari, Halqa Dooru (Sopore) was demanding illegal gratification for issuance of documents pertaining to the transfer of ancestral land,” reads the statement issued by ACB.
“The complainant alleged that patwari G. Mustafa Lone was approached by the complainant and his brothers and sisters umpteen times for documents pertaining to inheritance, but the patwari demanded Rs 15,000 for issuance of these documents,” an ACB statement said.
It said that after negotiating, the patwari settled for Rs 5,000 and on receipt of the complaint, a case was registered. A team was set up and laid a successful trap, catching Lone red-handed while demanding and accepting the money from the complainant.
The official was arrested and taken into the ACB’s custody, the statement said.
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SRINAGAR: India witnessed yet another surge in daily Covid cases on Thursday, pushing the daily tally over 20,000 cases after three days. According to Union Health Ministry’s report on Thursday Morning, as many as 23,529 new Covid-19 cases were registered in the last 24 hours.
India had reported less than 20,000 Covid-19 cases for the last three days. On Wednesday, 18,870 cases were registered, while on Tuesday and Monday, India registered 18,795 and 19,859 cases respectively.
In the same time span, India recorded 311 Covid related deaths against 378 fatalities reported on Wednesday. With this, the total Covid fatality in the country climbed to 4,48,062. The overall Covid fatality rate remained at 1.33 per cent for the last few weeks.
Out of total cases reported in the last 24 hours in the country, 12,161 have been registered in Kerala and 3,187 cases in Maharashtra. In the same time span, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have reported as many 1,624 and 1,084 cases respectively. Mizoram recorded 1,380 cases, while West Bengal and Karnataka reported 748 and 539 new cases respectively.
According to the Union Health Ministry’s data, the active cases in the country stand at 2,77,020, which is 0.82 per cent of the total positive cases so far in the country.
With the recovery of 28,718 Covid infected patients in the last 24 hours across the county, the cumulative recovery rose to 3,30,14,898, which is 97.85 per cent of the total cases reported since early last year.
The cumulative number of Covid vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 88.34 crore (88,34,70,578), out of which 65,34,306 were administered in the last 24 hours, according to the ministry’s report.
Overall, 56.89 (56,89,56,439) crore Covid samples were tested so far in the country, out of which 15,06,254 were tested on Wednesday.
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SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Students Association delegation called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan Srinagar and apprised him about various issues of students in the J&K Union territory and outside and other youth-related Programs, policies.
JK Students Association Delegation Calls On Lieutenant Governor
During the meeting delegation led by the National Spokesperson of Association Nasir Khuehami and the National General Secretary of Association Younus Rashid shared various issues faced by the students, tribal students in particular. The other main demands put forward by delegation include; skill-specific Institutes, Campus politics, recent recruitment drives in SSB, women’s degree college for Bandipora, tribal students, MBBS Quota issue of students, Special Nodal officer for students and various other issues and programs.
During the meeting, the Spokesman of the Association Nasir Khuehami said that University is the highest seat of learning and the active participation of students in framing various public policies forms it’s an integral part. He told Lieutenant Governor that Campus politics is what brands the idea of a person, the maturity comes after the discussion and debate.
He requested Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally look into the matter of campus politics, adding that above all the need to include youth of Kashmir into the national political landscape, make them come out of the corridors of hopelessness.
He informed Lieutenant Governor that Bandipora district having the majority of the tribal population deserves a Tribal Research Institute to support the research studies on tribal issues on regular basis. The other demands projected and highlighted by the Association include Modernization and argumentation of infrastructure of identified tribal areas by way of establishment of smart classes, computer land, auditorium, fencing, separate girls hostel and residential quarters in far-flung areas, Women’s degree for Bandipora, special Nodal for J&K Students and other youth-related Programs.
National General Secretary Younus Rashid also raised the issue of recent recruitment drives including panchayat account assistant (PAA) and class IV, their slow pace in finalising their process. The Governor informed that there is a process of document verification ongoing including the cross-check of the reservation for non-employing families. It took time and assured that incoming month of October, it will be all finalised and aspirants need not worry about anything. He also pointed out that the recruitment board has already clarified on higher qualifications in the case of Class IV and there is no point to say about it.
Responding to the requests of association on the Occasion, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha gave patient hearing to problems & assured that, all possible steps are being taken for them & would be looked into and addressed on merit. Assuring his full support in the educational upliftment of the student community, tribal in particular, the Lieutenant Governor said that concrete measures are being taken to shape up the future of the students living in remote and far-flung areas. He said that steps are also being taken to shape up the future of the students living in remote and far-flung areas.
He informed that he has been closely monitoring the situation and student issues and offered all possible support. Students will be provided best of the support in every regard, he assured delegation.
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SRINAGAR: The Press Council of India on Wednesday constituted a three-member fact-finding committee to look into complaints of harassment of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir.
The council took suo motu cognisance of a complaint raised by former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti in this regard and constituted a committee comprising Dainik Bhaskar editor Prakash Dubey, New Indian Express journalist Gurbir Singh and Jan Morcha editor Suman Gupta to look into the complaints.
The PCI said that the committee is required to make a thorough probe into the matter holding discussions with the concerned authorities and the affected journalists and collect such information as it deem fit to submit its report to the council at the earliest.
“The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are requested to extend full cooperation and assistance to this fact finding committee for the discharge of its function,” the PCI said.
Earlier this week, Mufti had written to the Press Council of India and Editors Guild of India on the “intimidation, snooping and harassment” of journalists in the Union Territory and urged the two bodies to send a fact-finding team to the region.
“I am sure you are aware that raids were conducted by police at homes of several journalists in Kashmir earlier this month. Electronic gadgets were illegally seized along with ATM cards and passports of their spouses. This comes on the heels of the harrowing experiences that the journalist community in J&K has been subjected to after the abrogation of Article 370,” Mufti had said, alleging that “unwarranted harassment of journalists” had become a “norm” in J&K.
“Twenty-three journalists have reportedly been put on Exit Control List. Besides, sizeable journalists are either threatened or charged with UAPA or sedition law, simply because their reportage on J&K does not cater to the PR stunts of ruling dispensation. Reporting truth to power is being criminalised with each passing day,” Mufti had written.
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SRINAGAR: The counter insurgent forces on Wednesday evening launched a cordon and search operation in Bus Stand and it’s adjoining areas in Sopore town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said.
Quoting official sources the news agency KNO reported that a joint team of Army’s 22 RR, CRPF, SOG Sopore and police laid the CASO at Bus Stand and it’s adjoining areas following the suspicious movement of militants in the area.
Meanwhile, SSP Sopore confirmed to KNO that the area has been cordoned off and door to door searches are being conducted.
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SRINAGAR: The Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta chaired the meeting of the UT Level Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Srinagar.
Administrative Secretaries of departments of Finance, Industries & Commerce, and Higher Education, besides, Director-General NIFT, MD SIDCO, and concerned officers participated in the meeting.
At the outset, a detailed presentation on the NIFT Srinagar campus and course curriculum was made by the Director NIFT Srinagar.
It was informed that the campus of NIFT Srinagar with state-of-art facilities including labs, resource center, design studio, incubator, amphitheatre, and hostels at Ompora Budgam will be completed by May, 2022. Currently, the Institute is running two courses from temporary accommodation at SIDCO Industrial Complex Rangreth.
The NIFT campus is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 325.36 crore on an expanse of 16.6 acres of land will be the biggest among the 17 such campuses in the country. Once completed, NIFT will resume functioning at full capacity with 7 dedicated departments and will enroll approximately 700 students, giving 35% reservation to the students having domicile in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
It was further informed that the construction works are nearing completion and the academic block, administrative block, auditorium, hostel building, incubation centre, and canteen block will be handed over in October 2021; whereas the rest of the infrastructure will be handed over by May 2022.
Emphasizing the need for better designs and proper branding for sustained growth of local products, the Chief Secretary asked the National Institute of Fashion Technology to take up purposeful engagement with the local artisans and self-help groups and train them in accordance with current market requirements in consultation with the Industries & Commerce Department.
Dr Mehta urged the National Institute to establish a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for taking up J&K-specific projects for the revival of J&K’s traditional products including Namdah, Pashmina, Papermachie, tila, silk, and woodcraft.
Director-General NIFT mentioned that NIFT will be forming a team of faculty and experts from other Campuses to work on design intervention in crafts of J&K. He maintained that NIFT will also work towards training the artisans, weavers, and self-help groups in line with the Chief Secretary’s advice.
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SRINAGAR: The Government on Wednesday informed that 100 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 24 from Jammu division and 76 from Kashmir division, have been reported today, thus taking the total number of positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir to 329320.
Moreover, 132 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including 13 from Jammu Division and 119 from Kashmir Division.
The Bulletin informs that no new case of Mucormycosis has been reported today.
On COVID vaccination, the bulletin informs that 1,30,113 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered in the last 24 hours bringing the cumulative number of doses administered to 112,95,971. It adds that 84.14 percent of the population above the age of 18 years has been vaccinated across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 329320 positive cases, 1388 are Active Positive; 299 in Jammu Division and 1089 in Kashmir Division, 323510 have recovered and 4422 have died; 2173 in Jammu division and 2249 in Kashmir division.
The Bulletin further said that out of 14801844 test results available, 329320 samples have tested positive and 14472524 samples have been tested as negative till today. Besides, 46,333 COVID tests have been conducted in the last 24 hours.
Till date 3539333 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 7104 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 1388 in isolation and 463090 in home surveillance. Besides, 3063329 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Providing district-wise breakup for positive cases reported today, the Bulletin said that Srinagar reported 49 cases, Baramulla reported 09 cases, Budgam reported 05 cases, Pulwama reported 02 cases, Ganderbal reported 01 case, Kupwara reported 04 cases, Anantnag reported 02 cases, Bandipora reported 03 cases and Kulgam reported 01 case while as Shopian reported no fresh case for today.
Similarly, Jammu reported 06 cases, Rajouri reported 02 cases, Ramban reported 02 cases, Kathua reported 08 cases, Doda reported 02 cases, Udhampur reported 01 case, Samba reported 01 case and Poonch reported 02 cases while Kishtwar and Reasi reported no fresh cases.
The bulletin further informs the general public that they can contact helpline numbers 0191-2520982/2674444/2674115/2674908/2549676 in Jammu Division and 0194-2440283/2430581/2452052/2457313/2457312 in Kashmir Division for any kind of guidance and assistance.
In case of emergency, people can avail free ambulance services 24×7 by calling toll free number 108 while pregnant women and sick infants can avail free services by dialing toll free number 102, the bulletin reads.
It also informs that the public can reach the national helpline by dialing 1075.
Further the bulletin also informs the public that for any kind of COVID-19 query, logon to https://ift.tt/2XYaXJZ
The readers can also reach us on the official Twitter account of DIPR-J&K @diprjk; website: http://www.jkdirinf.in; Webportal: jkinfonews.com and Facebook: @JKInformationOfficial.
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SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Wednesday paid glowing tributes to renowned Islamic scholar and Jammu and Kashmir’s renowned political personality Moulana Iftikhar Hussain Ansari sahib on his 7th death anniversary.
Lone in his tribute remembered Late Moulvi sahib as a noted religious scholar and political leader who had dedicated his life for the upliftment of the downtrodden sections of the society and instilling in them enough confidence to fight and struggle for their genuine rights. Lone said that Molvi sahib’s contribution in the welfare and prosperity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be fondly remembered for times to come.
“He was a man with genuine spirit of patriotism. Molvi sahib had a long relationship with my father and was in fact the founding member and first Vice President of the J&K Peoples Conference. He personally was very compassionate and was always there for me. I will always fondly recall long sessions with him and how he would guide me as fatherly figure. I will always remember him as a person who played an important role in my upbringing as a political leader and in facilitating me to evolve into a better human being,” Lone said in his tributary note.
Meanwhile other PC leaders including Abdul Gani Vakil, Imran Reza Ansari, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Fayaz Ahmed Mir, Nazir Ahmed Laway, Mansoor Soharvardi, Adv Bashir Ahmed Dar, Abid Hussain Ansari, Yasir Reshi, Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Mohammad Abbas Wani, Murtaza Khan, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Raja Aijaz Ali, Irfan Panditpori, Safina Baig, Sheikh Mohammad Imran, Adnan Ashraf Mir also paid tributes to Moulana Iftikhar Hussain Ansari sahib and paid for peace to the departed soul.
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SRINAGAR: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has cautioned against any move by the J&K UT government that can prove detrimental to rights of the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Post Graduate aspirants who are up in arms against joining 50 per cent All India Quota seats of all States.
Taking a strong exception to a notification issued by Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) Directorate General of Health Services Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India, in which it has asserted that J&K is likely to participate in All India Quota for admission to PG courses (MD/MS/Diploma/PG DNB) under NEET PG 2021, Bukhari advised the J&K government not to give its confirmation for any such participation.
“Participating in All India Quota would prove highly detrimental to the rights and interests of J&K Medical students and would jeopardize their legitimate rights,” Bukhari said, while expressing astonishment over this official assertion that has surfaced a day after the results of PG (Medical) Entrance (NEET) were announced.
“It is totally ironic that there was no such condition in the BOPEE brochure or MCC notification at the time of submission of applications by the PG aspirants. Now the results have been declared and making an arbitrary announcement on behalf of the J & K government is totally bizarre,” he remarked.
Referring to the implications of any such decision if taken by the J&K government, Bukhari said that 50% reservation in Government Medical College Srinagar and Jammu and 100% in SKIMS will decrease the number of local doctors considerably in these institutions which will drastically increase the unemployment among doctors in J&K.
“After doing their post graduation from J&K institutions these doctors will leave this place for better opportunities which will severely affect doctor patient ratio in J&K and will prove disastrous for our healthcare system,” Bukhari observed.
He said that MBBS students in J&K are one year behind their counterparts in other parts of the country and with this step they will be seriously affected by losing an additional whole lot of years in future. “We should understand that coaching for medical PG exams is mostly given in the form of offline tuitions or online video programmes by various coaching institutes across India. But most of the time our internet remains shut so our students are not able to attend the lectures or give mock tests. In such a situation, how can one expect that J&K PG aspirants with obsolete resources will be able to compete with the rest of the country?” Bukhari asked.
He urged the Lt. Governor led government in J&K to desist from making any such decision or otherwise the same will mar the future of PG aspirants of Jammu and Kashmir.
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As higher educational set-up is gradually limping back towards offline mode, Director Education, KashmirTasaduq Hussaintalks about the challenges in the last two years that the education department faced
KASHMIR LIFE (KL): Kashmir is witnessing a Covid19 surge again, though not alarming but if it picks pace, it could be dangerous. So what are the challenges you are facing?
TASADUQ HUSSAIN (TS): It has been two years since our children have been to school physically, barring 15 days in March. In every developed or developing country, education is a very important aspect and for that, we are taking many initiatives to stay in touch with the children. We started to conduct real-time classes using the Zoom app, but the main problem we faced was that children who had only one smartphone at home couldn’t keep up. For that, we set up a delayed mechanism system called LMS through which we could record classes and give the students as well as the teachers’ full freedom to access information through it.
The second issue was monitoring the children. We didn’t know if the child is actually there or just had joined the class and left. So we set up monitoring systems for both the teachers and the head of the institutions. Not only for the students, we set up this system to keep an eye on the teachers also. And it worked. We had set up this system at the zonal level and the district level as well. During that period of time, we got many complaints from teachers who weren’t joining the classes. But with this LMS system, it was a huge convenience for us as every evening we used to check if the education system was going smoothly and the delayed classes were also helping the children.
We have six lakh children who are studying in Government schools and almost 12 lakh children are studying in private schools across Kashmir. And with the help of LMS, we found out that 40 per cent of these children had no phones or internet to begin with. To tackle that, we started radio and teleclasses. We started recording lectures and uploading them every day for fifth to twelfth classes. We used to record four lectures daily. And with the grace of God, we have completed almost 90 per cent of the total syllabus.
But the main issue was practicals which we were not able to do online, especially for the children of tenth and twelfth. To tackle that, we started to hold offline classes with 50 per cent attendance. With that, we filled the educational gap which was between the teachers and students and gave the students an opportunity to get their education properly.
But I would like to say this on record that online classes are not as impactful as the physical mode of teaching.
Tassaduq Hussain Mir (KAS), Director Education, Kashmir
KL: As children started owning smartphones, instances of abuse of phones and eye diseases cropped up. Kashmir has vast areas of grounds and parks, have you ever considered giving children open-air classes?
TH: This is a real problem. We do see children misuse these devices. For that, we have urged the parents to keep an eye on them all the time while they are using certain gadgets. It is a responsibility they will have to take care of.
Secondly, a young girl tweeted about the eye problems she was facing while attending so many online classes. We kept 3-4 classes per day so that these children don’t strain their eyes staring all day at their devices.
When the numbers of Covid19 started getting lower, we did start a community and open-air classes and these are going really very well. We set up teams to reach the outskirts of Kashmir to teach the children in an open-air environment. Although rural areas are the best spots for community classes because of open spaces but it hasn’t been done yet in densely populated urban areas.
KL:What are your plans for holding the 10th and 12th board examinations?
TH: The education department and the Board of School Education held a meeting regarding this issue and we have decided to go for offline mode of examination with the reduction of 30 per cent syllabus in the month of November for which the Board authorities are making the preparations. If people follow the proper protocols for Covid19 and somehow it stays at a lower rate then Inshallah we will conduct these in offline mode following all SOPs.
KL:There is a lot of confusion about the new education policy in Kashmir. Can you kindly explain this policy?
TH: The new education policy called NEP2020 was released last year and it has come with a timeline up to 2030. The main purpose of this policy is to prepare children up to 3 years to get into the online mode of study.
Secondly, it has a continuous evaluation system.
Thirdly, we are focusing to make the whole education process joyful because, without it, there will be no point in generating interest in the younger generation.
With that, we have stressed self-assessments, teacher training, innovation and communication. It’s a good document overall and we hope to implement it in a timely manner.
KL: Will this new policy affect the traditional way of joining the schools at the right age?
TH: No, it’s a process. We are stressing how we will prepare these children in three classes, pre-nursery, LKG and UKG, and till a child reaches first class, he will be six years old so no change in the traditional way of learning.
KL:For adding three classes before the first primary, do you require a lot of infrastructure and human resources?
TH: We had no concept of pre-primary. So we have started creating resource persons online in early childhood care. This training is in the final stage. We will be starting it next year and admissions will be at the age of three. We have also created additional classrooms. Right now, we have 2000 classrooms already and we are creating 5000 more this year.
KL:Your department is quite a populous one. There could be a lot of issues involving human resources?
TH: Our people, despite being under pressure, are doing a great job. On one side they are dealing with constant inspections, secondly, with all the problems that came with the pandemic, they fought through it as well so they are doing an exceptional job.
The main concern for them was salary increase and promotions. We have solved the salary problem and with the help of our Principal Secretary, the promotions are being handed out as well to well-deserving candidates. About 1100 people have been promoted, so far.
About 50 per cent schools and educational institutions were headless and let me put this on record that our new Principal Secretary has been working really hard to clear promotions and incentivise the workers for all the good work.
(Sarmad Devprocessed the interview)
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