Lt Governor releases Central University of Kashmir’s Target 100 Days for launching of Academic and Reforms with Specific Focus on Infrastructure Development

Srinagar : Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha released the brochure of Central University of Kashmir – Target 100 Days for launching of Academic and Administrative Reforms with Specific Focus on Infrastructure Development, today.

The Central University of Kashmir will adopt best practices from other leading institutions in the world and country keeping in view the emerging trends and present needs, and launch innovative reforms within the framework as envisaged under National Education Policy-2020.

The action plan to be prepared by various engagement groups outlines the main goals for implementation of academic and administrative reforms for improving quality and excellence of higher education at the University. Further, the primary emphasis will be on infrastructure creation through a well-designed master plan using green technologies with a provision for future expansion of academic and research activities. They also proposed three iconic buildings consisting of Skill Development Centre, Knowledge Resources Centre and Student Activities Centre and opening access to these facilities for students of other institutions, besides students of Central University of Kashmir.

Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir; Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor, senior officials and students were present.

CS stresses on offering online appointments in J&K Hospitals

Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today stressed on extending the facility of online appointments with doctors in the health institutions of J&K. He impressed on the health officers to work for making this service available to public within a month’s time.

Dr Mehta was speaking in the 12th Governing Body meeting of National Health Mission (NHM) attended by Principal Secretary, Jal Shakti; Commissioner Secretary, RDD; Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare; Secretary, Health; MD, NHM; Principal, GMC Srinagar/Jammu; Director, MCH&I; Director Health, Kashmir/Jammu; Director, Ayush besides others.

Dr Mehta maintained that the prior online appointments to patients are given in many premier hospitals in the country and the Department needs to bring their own system in sync with that to make the process of visiting a Hospital easier. He told them to adopt the simplest and efficient system available.

Chief Secretary also enjoined upon the officers to digitize the patient history and other legacy data so that the same is accessible round the clock. He said that the convergence of data from Health Care Institutions, Anganwadi centres and Educational Institutions could make a database inclusive of all health details from birth till date for each person. He urged them to make it an objective to ensure 100% digitization of health records of all the individuals here in the UT.

On the occasion both the Secretary Health, Bhupinder Kumar and MD, NHM, Ayushi Sudan gave a detailed overview of the functioning of the Department especially the National Health Mission (NHM), J&K. It was given out that sufficient number of Critical Care Ambulances have been deployed across the health facilities of J&K and integrated with 108 call centre for providing 24×7 hassle-free services to people.

Moreover it was given out that the utilization of funds from the last 5 years from 2018-19 has seen progressive growth with each passing year. It was revealed that out of Rs 671.75 Cr amount of funds available in the year 2018-19, the percentage of utilization was 72%. The same increased to Rs 900.64 Cr in 2022-23 with percentage of utilization taking a quantum leap to reach 98.68% for the previous financial year.

The Governing Body discussed the proposals of the NHM to ratify State Programme Implementation Programme (SPIP) to the tune of Rs 1441.60 Cr for FY 2023-24, procurement of Covid essential Diagnostic & Drugs, Implementation of IT interventions like HMIS (e-SAHAJ) from District Hospitals and CHCs to Tertiary Care Hospitals. It also discussed maternity leave in favour of contractual female employees as per the existing labour laws and other HR related issues for making the functioning of the mission smooth and efficient.

Members of Joint Committee on the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 meet Lt Governor

Joint Committee of Parliament on Forests (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023, under the Chairmanship of Rajendra Agrawal, Member of Parliament met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, at Raj Bhawan today.

The meeting discussed conservation and protection of forests, digitization of forest records and public services and ensuring rapid growth and prosperity in Jammu Kashmir.

The Committee is on a study visit to Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir to receive the inputs and suggestions from members of government organizations on the proposed Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023.

C.P. Goyal, Director General Forests; Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Forests; and Roshan Jaggi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests J&K were also present during the meeting.

Div Com inspects status of work on Package I & III of Jammu-Akhnoor Road project

Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar on Friday conducted an extensive tour of Akhnoor and inspected the progress of work on Package I and III of Jammu-Akhnoor Road widening Project.

The Div Com took a round of the entire stretch and inspected the work progress on both the packages at several sites including Bhagwati Nagar, Muthi, Domana, Kangrail, Akhnoor and other locations.

He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa; Executive Director NHICDL,Col sandeep Sudhera; General Manager (P), NHIDCL, Col. S P S Samgwan; Chief Engineer, JPDCL, Site Engineer NHIDCL, Akash Saluja; concerned Tehsildars, besides the site Engineers of NHIDCL and other concerned officers.

The Executive Director NHIDCL apprised the Div Com about the current status of work on the prestigious road project, besides progress achieved so far and the future work plan.

While giving details, he informed that land acquisition has been completed and work on raising piers for flyover under package 1 from 4th Tawi Bridge to Canal Head is in progress.

The Div Com directed NHIDCL to expedite the pace of work by increasing men and machinery for timely completion of the work of Package 1.

While inspecting work on Package 3 at different sites, the Div Com instructed GM NHIDCL to ensure that the adjoining road is connected with proper ramps.

The Div Com directed the GM NHIDCL to expedite the final works of package 3 and ensure its completion within the set timeline.

It was further informed that over 73 percent work has been completed under package 3 which is of 20.61 KM length from Ganesh Vihar to Khati Chowk and the work on bridges is in progress.

It was further informed that the land acquisition process has been completed and the land has been provided to executing agencies for smooth execution of the work.

The Div Com also inspected the site for the new bridge over Chenab and was informed that the work on the project has been started.

The NHIDCL was directed to be in regular touch with concerned officers of district administration for seeking logistic support and to share the requirement of construction material.

The Div Com asked the NHIDCL to set weekly, monthly targets and expedite the progress of work for timely completion of the 4 laning of Jammu-Akhnoor Road.

200 fishermen, 3 civilians repatriated to home country past protocol at Attari Wagah

Rashmi Talwar
Attari-Wagah, 2nd June, 2023 —–
Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, today tweeted in the afternoon about the repatriation of Indian fishermen-“Pakistan is releasing 200 Indian fishermen and 3 civilian prisoners. Earlier, 198 Indian fishermen were repatriated on 12 May 2023. This is in line with Pakistan’s policy of not politicizing humanitarian matters. Compassion should take precedence over politics”. Replying to this tweet one Faraz Khan responded . Faraz Ullah Khan-” It means 200 families will be celebrating today !!!”
An hour later three Indian civilians crossed over via the Wagah Attari Joint Check Post JCP to their homeland from the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar. They were handed over to the BSF and were detained for interrogation and immigration formalities. The three included one Bablu Ram Chander, an Indian who had unintentionally crossed the Indo-Pak border somewhere from the Kartarpur Sahib Sector in the year 2019. While the two Indian Sikhs Harjinder Singh and Balwinder Singh too had inadvertently crossed the border from another side of the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib Area belt falling in the Narowal province of Pakistan in the year 2020.
The three were lodged in the Kot Lakhpat Jail infamous for the incarceration of two former Prime ministers of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
Two hundred more Indian fishermen prisoners lodged in Landhi and Malir Jail, in Karachi, apprehended from maritime waters from a non-tangible waterline border between India and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean were looking forward to freedom in their home countries. The 200 Indian fishermen were brought amidst tight security, to Lahore via Allama Iqbal Express train from Karachi by the Edhi Foundation. The Edhi Welfare Trust arranged the safe transportation of Indian fishermen to Lahore The prisoners were taken in a fleet of tempo traveler mini buses to Wagah from Lahore station accompanied by security vehicles.
They were handed over by Pakistani Rangers personnel to the Border Security Force at the border’s Joint Check Post (JCP)
While crossing the border into India at about 9.30 pm, each of the prisoners was handed over an Indian flag by the BSF personnel.
All 203 of them were issued ‘Emergency Travel Certificates’ by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad before they crossed over to their homeland, officials informed. Indian fishermen had been nabbed by the Pak Navy in the maritime areas of the Indian Ocean. Fishermen from both countries often stray into each other’s territories without any intention of doing so.
The Pakistani fishermen’s repatriation is part of India-Pakistan’s Treaty of Understanding of prisoner repatriation of each other’s country after completion of jail terms due to border trespass.
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Homestay Business workshop to boost rural tourism in J&K

Aimed at empowering entrepreneurs from different parts of Jammu to enhance their skills and knowledge in running a successful homestay business, the LJK Economic Growth and Development Dialogue (LEAD), in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Tourism on Friday commenced a three-day Homestay Business Workshop here.

The workshop, hosted at the JKTDC Conference Hall, will conclude on Sunday. Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Jammu; Shri Vivekanand Rai, Director of Tourism Jammu, Sunaina Sharma Mehta, Joint Director, Tourism Jammu; Manish Ahluwalia, Director of LEAD; CA Sat Sharma, Board Member and Secretary LEAD, CA Rajeev Gupta, Board Member & Secretary LEAD were present at the inauguration ceremony.

MakeMyTrip conducted various training sessions to equip participants with the essential tools for establishing and operating homestay businesses effectively.

During the welcome address, Vivekanand Rai emphasized the potential of homestays and rural tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

He highlighted the importance of such enterprises in ensuring financial empowerment of women.

He highlighted the role of tourism in fostering cultural exchange and building bridges between communities in the modern-day context.

Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu, delivered the keynote

address.

He spoke on the need of integration of technology in tourism business and on the pivotal role of young entrepreneurs in driving the tourism industry in Jammu & Kashmir.

Prof. Anil Gupta from Jammu University, conducted a session on the potential of rural tourism in the region, emphasising the need for capacity building among youth to promote tourism and Homestay Business effectively.

LEAD, a platform dedicated to sustainable development in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, conceptualised the workshop. The group aims to foster constructive dialogue on growth and development in the region, providing strategies and solutions to promote industrial investment and overcome development challenges.

Director, LEAD expressed his satisfaction at the overwhelming response to the workshop, stating

that they initially planned to accommodate 50 participants but received over 100 requests for the event.

He stated that rural Homestays and communities are complementary to each others’ progress and the development of one accelerates the development of the other.

Rural Homestays in J&K will give a big push to rural tourism, benefit rural communities and promote sustainable tourism practices in J&K. It will provide an alternate source of income to the rural hosts also.

The event witnessed the participation of many young people from villages in and around places like, Bhaderwah, Paddar, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Patnitop, Sudhmahadev, Mantalai, Reasi and many more.

J&K Raj Bhawan Celebrates Telangana Statehood Day

Jammu Kashmir Raj Bhawan today celebrated Telangana Statehood Day. Students, eminent personalities originally from Telangana were special invitees to the cultural programme presided over by the Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha.

The cultural programme comprising songs and dance of Telangana was presented by students of NIT Srinagar and artistes from J&K Cultural Academy.

The Lt Governor conveyed his best wishes to the people of Telangana on the Statehood Day.

“I pay my homage to the great revolutionaries, freedom fighters, litterateurs and social reformers who continue to inspire our great nation,” said the Lt Governor.

“I pray for good health and well-being of the people of this blessed land, which has a glorious tradition of rich culture, music, literature, handicraft and a progressive spirit. Some of the inspiring chapters in India’s freedom struggle were written in Telangana,” the Lt Governor said.

Telangana’s farmers, soldiers, scientists, entrepreneurs, poets, artists have made invaluable contribution in nation building. From the literary creations of Malliya Rechana in the 11th century to the poetic imaginations of Atreya, Gurajada Apparao and Dasaradhi Krishnamacharyulu in the modern era, the Indian literature has been greatly enriched by them. Today, I pay my tributes to towering men, women of ideas and ideals from Telangana, who illumined the nation with their wisdom and intellectual brilliance, he added.

“The nation will forever be indebted to the bravery, courage and supreme sacrifice of the great personalities and freedom fighters like Ramji Gond, the head of the Gond tribal; Komaram Bheem of brave tribal community and the great freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju,” the Lt Governor said.

Bandipora Court rejects bail of cop in 2006 fake encounter case

Srinagar, The Court of Principal Sessions Judge in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday rejected bail application of Farooq Ahmad Guddu, an accused in the infamous fake encounter killing of a civilian in 2006.

The accused was serving as Assistant Sub Inspector with J&K Police when he was arrested in 2006.

Farooq Guddu had sought bail on medical grounds in an FIR registered in Police station Sumbal Bandipora in 2006 under sections 302 (murder), 364(abduction), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 201(causing disappearance of evidence) of the Ranbir Penal Code.

Besides ASI Guddu, the other accused in the case include former Senior SSP H R Parihar, his deputy Bahadur Ram and police driver Farooq Ahmed Padroo.

While rejecting the bail application the Principal Session Judge, Bandipora Amit Sharma held that “any concession of bail either on medical ground or on other ground at this stage of the trial ( may) definitely shake the spine of the common man in the present dispensation of Criminal justice system”

“Hence the medical bail application moved by the accused person is rejected”, the court said.

Earlier the accused had approached the High Court with a bail application which in turn had asked the petitioner to approach the trial court for the bail and also directed the trial court to decide the application on its own merits and in accordance with the law.

The counsel of the petitioner submitted in Bandipora Court that he is seeking temporary bail on medical grounds purely on this ground that the present accused person is involved in three FIR’s No. 52/2006 ( Police station Sumbal), 04/2007 ( Police station Zadibal Srinagar) and 06/2007 ( Police station Batamaloo Srinagar) and he is suffering from hypertension, generalized weakness with LBA and chronic dermatitis.

In all the three FIRs, offences punishable under section 302 and 120-B IPC amongst other offences was invoked against the petitioner and various other persons arrayed as accused in the cases.

The counsel of the petitioner submitted that the court of Principal Session Jammu has already granted bail to the accused in two other FIRs and he has been detained in the present FIR.

“Therefore the bail which was granted by the court of Principal Session Jammu for short term has not been exercised due to his detention in the present FIR,” the counsel of the petitioner said.

The Public Prosecutor Abdul Majid opposed the grant of bail on the grounds that the medical record in the file dated back to 2021 and there is no fresh record from any quarter whatsoever to suggest the accused person is having any serious ailment which needs specialized treatment.

The PP argued there is no medical exigency evident from the record of the case, therefore on this count alone application deserves dismissal.

The court observed that one of the co accused Farooq Ahmed Padroo also approached the court which was rejected

“The evidence which is on record of the file against the said co-accused person is also identical in nature for consideration against the petitioner, who has approached before this court for short term bail,” the court observed.

The court observed that it is undisputed that the chargesheet in the present case was actually presented in the year 2013 and immediately after the committal of this challan the charge against the accused persons were framed on September 13, 2013.

The court said the only point for consideration in the present bail application is revolving around this point that the present accused is involved in three FIRs, and the concession granted to him has not been availed only because of his detention in the present FIR.

While rejecting the bail application , the trial court observed that all the accused persons involved in the FIR are police officers and officials and under the garb of police uniform such a fake encounter was committed, shaking the basic faith and confidence of the common man in the working of police.

Court said the deceased, who was working as a street vendor in Srinagar was killed in this encounter and he was actually the resident of the village of the accused.

DC Jammu reviews functioning of Revenue Department

JAMMU : Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa today reviewed the functioning of Revenue Department and the revenue related matters/services, besides the status and progress of development projects and schemes being implemented in the district here at a meeting held in DC Office Complex.

ADC L&O, Harvinder Singh; ADC, ADM Sandeep Seointra; ACR, Piyush Dhotra SDMs, Tehsildars and other officers from Revenue department were present in the meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner took a detailed review of writing up and digitization of Jamabandis, implementation of SVAMITVA scheme, status of eviction of unauthorised occupants from state land, disposal of revenue court cases and uploading on RCCMS portal, issuance of online Fard Intlhab and other services, attestation of pending Mutations, acquisition of land and payment of compensation for Jammu-Akhnoor road, Ring Road, Akhnoor-Poonch road etc.

At the outset, the revenue officers informed the Chair regarding the hiccups being faced by the department in providing online services.

While reviewing the progress regarding writing of Jamabandis and its digitization, attestation of mutations and writing of Girdawaris, the DC directed the Tehsildars to complete the same as per targets. She said that the proof reading of Jamabandis followed by certification shall be completed at the earliest.

She set timelines for the concerned officers for speedy submission of details of mutations and updation of Jamabandis/Girdawari.

Regarding disbursement of e-rent, the Deputy Commissioner instructed the officers to disburse the rent to the beneficiaries without further delay.

The Deputy Commissioner also directed the Tehsildars for speedy disposal of court cases related to revenue and upload accordingly.

As wedding season picks up, Kashmiri Musical instrument “Tumbaknari” is in huge demand

Srinagar, With the marriage season gaining momentum, the demand for an age-old backed clay musical instrument called ‘Tumbaknari’ is on the climax keeping the potters busy day and night to meet the order.

The 28-year-old Mohammad Umar Kumar spending all his day making age-old backed clay musical instrument “Tumbaknari” on his electrical wheel at his Nishat unit in Srinagar to complete the order of one thousand pieces to be supplied to south Kashmir’s Kulgam district and Sopore township in north Kashmir and other districts of the valley.

A commerce graduate, Umar who hit the headlines couple of years ago across the globe by claiming that his hand-made glazed pots made of clay are hygienic as compared to the machine-made items from China and America.

His clay made traditional tea pot or “Samovar” was displayed during the recently conducted G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) where a craft centre was established for the delegates to go through.

Umar worked enthusiastically to meet the deadline of supplying the famous Kashmiri musical instrument “Tumbaknari” order to its customers presently.

The age-old musical instrument native to Jammu and Kashmir, the “Tumbaknari” is an earthen shape used for singing in every Kashmiri function especially during the weddings, with its roots believed to stretch far back into Iran or Central Asia.

“It takes three days to complete100 pieces of musical instruments fully,

Umar has big dreams for the pottery industry in the Kashmir Valley. He is making every effort to

give it a new lease of life and bring it at par with modern times so that Kashmiri hand-made pottery could find its customers all around.

He gets big orders from dealers almost all through the year who are selling them in the market after covering one side of the instrument with leather. A big “Tumbakhnari” costs Rs 250 and small Rs 150 in the market.

Umar said that a special kind of earth was brought from the Central Kashmir’s Budgam district for making the clay instrument. This kind of clay cannot be used in growing vegetables or making houses, he added.

However, he said the government now has banned excavating the clay from the area which could cause the shadow on this traditional business. He urged the government to allow excavating the earth so that this tradition could continue to earn livelihood.