Want JK to be a bridge of peace between the two neighbours: Mehbooba

KL New Network

Srinagar

Ms Mehbooba Mufti

Peoples Democratic Party President and chief minister, MS Mehbooba Mufti Thursday asserted that the fundamental objective of the party has been to work for making Jammu & Kashmir a bridge of peace between India and Pakistan and build trust between the State and the Centre. She asked the party cadre to work for achieving the said objectives with all seriousness.

Addressing the General Council meeting of the party in Jammu, Mehbooba Mufti said people of Jammu & Kashmir have seen worst of times and PDP ever since its inception has been striving for creating a congenial atmosphere to ensure a durable peace, stability and development in the State besides ensuring dignity and honour of its people.

The chief minister said the people of the State have been the biggest beneficiaries of peace process between the two countries and unfortunately worst victims of hostility between the two countries.

Terming dialogue as the only way forward for minimising hostilities, the Chief Minister said we have to go back to the vision and roadmap of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed which underscores the need for dialogue and discourse for taking Jammu & Kashmir out of the present situation and building a permanent bond of amity between the two neighbouring countries.

Mehbooba Mufti said PDP has committed itself to the vision of Mufti Mohammad Syeed and the agenda of peace and dignity set by him for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She said the party will continue to carry forward his mission for dignified place to the people of J&K living in all its region and ensuring peace, justice, development and reconciliation.

The Party President said PDP reiterates its resolve to once again create an atmosphere congenial to the revival of political process to take Jammu & Kashmir out of the present turmoil. She hoped that from the events of the recent past the state will re-emerge with its trademark resilience and will soon be firmly back on the track of economic reconstruction and strengthening of democratic institutions, which the party has always deemed essential for the solution of state’s problems.

Mehbooba Mufti said her party condemns and rejects use of violence in any form as a means of achieving any goals. She said the recent unfortunate happenings have not only resulted in the loss of many precious lives and destruction of property but have also given set back to the process of reconciliation and dialogue.

The chief minister said the party, however, values maintenance of communal harmony throughout the state even in moments of provocation and termed it as a land mark addition to the state’s history  of tolerance and mutual respect.

Ms Mehbooba expressed deep concern at the violence along the LoC and the International Border which has resulted in tremendous loss to life and property and caused dislocation to large section of the population living in border areas and called for de-escalation on both sides to give peace a chance. She hoped the national leadership, especially the Prime Minister will continue to spearhead the movement for peace and reconciliation started by him in spite of the unfortunate disruptions in the follow up and attempts to derail it.

The PDP President reiterated her commitment to creation of an atmosphere which will help reconciliation and engagement of all the stake holders of the State and cooperation of all the well-wishers of the state including political parties, community leaders, intellectuals and the youth in the larger interests of the State and the region.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/2gLVpiP
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Technological interventions must for enhancing transparency: KU VC

KL New Network

Srinagar

Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi on Thursday said “technological interventions” are important to enhance transparency and accountability and also bring about greater efficiency in the system of governance at the varsity.

Presiding over the inaugural function of a workshop on ‘4th amendment in UGC regulations on appointment/promotion of teachers’, Prof Andrabi said his endeavour hasn’t been to make big building structures “but make things simple and transparent so that the society stops asking us questions and that we address our stakeholders’ concerns beforehand.”

The workshop was organised by University’s Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance (DIQA).

Thanking teachers for their efforts in having e-tutorials uploaded for PG and UG students in the backdrop of recent circumstances in Kashmir, Prof Andrabi said technological interventions were not only “important for enhancing transparency and accountability in our systems in place, but also to bring about greater efficiency in functioning of the university.”

He said the University is mulling to have a “better way of teacher assessment in place which shall be based on a broader 10-point scale.” “We are holding a meeting of all concerned in this regard and later put the proposed mechanism for feedback from different stakeholders,” he said.

He said the University has been prompt enough to have an online application form, in tune with 4th amendment in UGC regulations, in place.

“We are also putting in place an online Travel Desk, online system of purchases, a paperless system for varied transactions while taking several other transparency measures as part of University’s commitment to gradually have a fool-proof system of governance,” he said, complimenting the DIQA team for working hard on its academic assignments.

Dean Academic Affairs, Prof Mohammad Ashraf Wani, Chief Coordinator DIQA Dr Manzoor Ahmad, Deputy Director DIQA, Showket Shafi also spoke on the occasion. Dr Manzoor outlined the need to have a framework about UGC regulations for the benefit of the teaching community “without making any compromises with the set benchmarks.”

The workshop was, apart from teachers, attended by several KU officers and officials, apart from a team from Directorate of IT&SS.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/2gYsNWL
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Lady injured in a road accident, 2 shops damaged in fire

KL News Network

Srinagar

A lady was injured in a road accident in Srinagar, Police said.

A Honda City vehicle bearing registration number DL3CY/2273 and an Auto bearing registration number JK01S/0619 collided near Lankar Galli Umer Colony in the jurisdiction of Police Station Lalbazaar, Srinagar. In this accident one pedestrian Mymoona Begum resident of Umer Colony Lalbazaar got injured. The injured was shifted to SKIMS Soura for treatment. Srinagar police has registered a case in this regard.

Meanwhile, two shops were damaged in two separate fire incidents in Kulgam and Srinagar.

Fire broke out in a bakery shop belonging to Abdul Rashid Sofi resident of Frisal in the jurisdiction of Police Station Kulgam, resulting in damage to the shop. Fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders.

In another incident, fire broke out in a boutique shop belonging to Parveena Sultan resident of Qamarwari in the jurisdiction of Police Post Qamarwari, Srinagar near Ibrahim Masjid, resulting in damage to the shop. Fire was brought under control by fire tenders.

However, no loss of life or injury was reported in these fire incidents.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/2gY9Y5R
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

1676 people screened for Diabetes at Ganderbal in November

KL News Network

Srinagar

The NCD Unit of District Ganderbal under the aegis of Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir screened 1676 people for Diabetes and Hypertension, a statement of the department informed.

The unit conducted various outreach camps in the month of November across Ganderbal under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS).

Besides, the statement said, screening counselling sessions along with free medicine/drugs was also provided to the patients.

“A total of 10 outreach camps were organized under the supervision of Chief Medical Officer Ganderbal, Medical Superintendent District Hospital Ganderbal and Block Medical Officers of Ganderbal. Medical Officers along with paramedical staff worked with dedication in making these camps a success.”

Around 1236 people were screened in these camps and 440 people were screened at NCD Clinic established at District Hospital Ganderbal.

The camps were held at health blocks of Kangan, Gund, Ganderbal, Lar, Czundina, Shuhama, Safapora, Wakura, Gutlibagh and Police Training School Manigam, Kangan.

Patients who have been detected as a case of Suspected Diabetes or Hypertension have been told to report to NCD Clinic, District Hospital Ganderbal for further evaluation and follow up.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/2goYmHV
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

DPS directs students to attend school for ‘mentoring, recreation’; Parents aghast

Tabish Rafiq Mir

Srinagar

The parents of the students of Delhi Public School Thursday held a protest demonstration against the school authorities for compelling their wards to attend the schools during strikes.

The protesting parents said that the DPS authorities on Wednesday November 30 sent an SMS to the parents intimating them to send their wards to school from Saturday, 3rd December even the the term 2nd exams have been conducted successfully.

Pertinently, the Delhi Public School has already given the question and answer papers for the second term examinations to the parents, for the exams to be conducted at their respective homes.

“During strikes it is impossible to send our ward to the school. The situation doesn’t permit us to do so,” the parents said, adding, “It is absolutely ridiculous on part of the DPS administration.”

The protesting parents claimed that no security against stone-pelting was ensured to the students travelling in the buses.

They said that their wards will not be secure since the buses are likely to come under stone pelting attacks.

“Who will ensure the safety of our wards since stone pelting incidents take place,” the aggrieved parents asked.

The parents said that they talked to the Chairman of the school, Vijay Dhar.

Quoting Dhar the parents said that he didn’t give any valid reason for calling the students to the school. “The students are being called to school to play.”

The angry parents said that Dhar disrespectfully talked to them and ordered us to stay with the school’s decision and that no changes are going to be made. “How can we send our children when we know they will be unsafe under present circumstances?”

Talking to Kashmir life over phone, the DPS administration claimed that there is no compulsion for the students to attend the classes, and that this call is purely optional.

An official of the school said, “The students are being called to attend the school for mentoring and recreation.”

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/2gOiJLH
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Rail services on Srinagar-Banihal track resume

Jibran Nazir

Srinagar

Photo by Shah Hilal

The rail services connecting Kashmir valley with Banihal resumed today on Thursday after remaining suspended for nearly 5 months.

The railway officials informed that the train service resumed from Budgam to Banihal today.

However, the rail services from Baramulla in north of Kashmir to Banihal will be restored within next 15 days, the officials informed.

The railway tracks in valley had been damaged during the uprising forcing authorities to stop the services.

“During the time of unrest Northern railways suffered losses of about rupees 4.5 Crores which includes property damage of 1.5 Crores,” Neeraj Sharma, PRO Northern Railways said.

The rail services were suspended a day after popular Hizb commander Burhan Wani was killed in Bemdoora as a precautionary measure.

“Owing to the law and order situation, the Northern railways suspended its operations to avoid any untoward incidents,” the official’s in Northern Railways informed.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/2gXP2w3
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj

Heavy snowfall on Lakakh-Kashmir highway; road closed

KL News Network

Srinagar

Zojila Pass in this file pic.

Heavy snowfall at many places on the 434-km-long highway, connecting Ladakh and Kashmir valley, has forced the closure of vehicular traffic for the second day Thursday.

Reports said that the traffic on the highway remained closed for the second day as more than a feet snowfall had accumulated between Sonmarg, Zojila and Meenamarg.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has already pressed into service its men and machine to clear the snow on the highway.

from Kashmir Life http://ift.tt/2fHB5Ss
via IFTTThttp://ift.tt/1iGhVXj