Author: snskashmir

Youth of J&K possess immense talent; UT administration is putting in all-out efforts to provide them with rightful opportunities: LG

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MAR 23 :

Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today urged the community elders and religious heads to spread the message of Peace and Harmony among the new generation.

The Lt Governor was speaking during the “Confluence of Religious Leaders in Kashmir” Conference which was held here at SKICC.

The day-long Conference witnessed huge participation of around 550 religious heads including Moulvis & Muftis, as many as 200 women and 200 youth.

Prominent religious leaders including Sheikh Muzaffar, Mufti Nisar Ahmad, Maulana Muzzafar, Mr. Tariq Ahmad ,Mufti Aslam Sahib, Khalida Parveen, Rakesh Kaulji, Maulana Mufti , Sakhi Rathore, Maulvi Javaid, Maulvi Shabir, Moulana Ab Majeed Parray, Mufti Ghulam Mustafa, Mufti Mudasir Mohammad were present on the occasion.

Terming the Conference as a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt Governor appreciated the efforts being made to discuss the role of religious leaders and women in creating violence-free society, Counter-Radicalization and modernization of Madrassa education.

Jammu & Kashmir has remained home to diverse religious and cultural influences which deeply enriched its pluralistic ethos. No development and progress is possible without sustained peace, communal harmony and brotherhood, said the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor emphasized the need for restoration of the pristine glory of J&K as an abode of peace, amity, communal harmony and brotherhood and urged the people to come forward in achieving this goal.

“Violence has no place in any civilized society and peaceful co-existence is the best means to resolve problems”, he added.

While addressing the issue of counter radicalization, the Lt Governor urged community elders, religious heads and torch bearers to spread the message of love, peace and tolerance among the youth.

Radicalization should not be associated with a specific religion. There is a need for Islamic Scholars to formulate a policy and a process by which a helpless person, who is exposed to a violent ideology, is prevented from getting radicalized, said the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor also highlighted the significant role of family, community influencers, religious and spiritual heads in the counter-radicalization process to thwart any attempt being made from across the border to incite communal hatred in the society.

He further urged the religious heads and women to play an active role in prevention of drug addiction.

On social media based propaganda, the Lt Governor called upon all the stakeholders to make collaborative efforts to check the violent ideology and propaganda being spread on social media by certain groups in radicalizing our young population.

Although, the level of radicalization is comparatively much lesser in Jammu Kashmir, it is very important to focus on counter-radicalization for ensuring social harmony and national security, added the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor further underlined the important role of mainstream media to counter such elements and extremist ideologies.

These efforts are not written ideologies or some philosophies but it is about humanness and helping the personality of an individual to grow in the right direction, the Lt Governor maintained.

Many people distorted the message of Islam and apart from Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, there are many clerics and khatibs who raised voice against deliberate distortion and misinterpretation of the selected portion of Islamic texts. There is a need to check propagation and wrong interpretation of texts from holy books, besides realizing our responsibilities to show the right way and direction to the one who is treading a wrong path, said the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor termed Jammu and Kashmir as an ocean of spirituality. Here the values of humanity and tolerance emanating from the united culture of Shavisim, Buddhism and Sufism have always flourished over the centuries, he added.

He made special mention of Sufi saint Farid and Adi Shankaracharya and asked the people to spread their message of humanity and love.

If you see any religion of the world, it teaches us only two paths – the paths of meditation and love. The problem arises when the original values of the religion are ignored and the spirit of love, kindness, compassion, renunciation which develops the ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava’ and communal harmony is harmed. It is our responsibility to correct the wrong rhetoric and misinterpretation to preserve the feeling of love and harmony, said the Lt Governor.

Many cases have come up in which even a very educated person gets radicalized. We need to counter radicalization through Sufi tradition, religious heads and Mothers and sisters without any particular sect, added the Lt Governor.

Speaking on the immense talent and potential possessed by the youth of J&K, the Lt Governor said that under the guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the UT administration is putting in all out efforts to provide them with rightful opportunities.

Highlighting the reformative measures being taken in the education sector by the government, the Lt Governor said that from this session, education will be imparted in all 5 official languages. Translation of local folklores and those of other states for cultural exchange and understanding is being done to promote the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”.

The stories of courage and sacrifice of our role models like Brigadier Rajinder Singh, Maqbool Sherwani and Women Self Defense Corps,would be told in schools, he added.

Speaking on tremendous work being done for modernization of education, the Lt Governor observed that Vocational courses have been started in all schools from class 9th in accordance with the suggestions of the new National Education Policy. Apart from this, vocational training is being provided to 44,351 children in 715 schools under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, he added.

Underscoring the initiatives taken for strengthening the skill development and entrepreneurship ecosystem in J&K, the Lt Governor said that in the last two years, revolutionary measures have been taken to channelize the young energies into the right direction.

The Government has signed an MoU with the Bombay Stock Exchange to provide banking, finance and stock market training to the youth through the Mission Youth program. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, two CIIIT centers have been set up in Baramulla and Jammu in collaboration with Tata Technologies. Under the Himayat program, young boys and girls are being provided employment.

During the last 6 months, 17,800 young boys and girls from all panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir have become entrepreneurs and are also providing employment to other people of the villages.

An unprecedented Rs 28,400 crore New Industrial development scheme was announced that will provide employment avenues and opportunities to around 5 lakh youth.

Moreover, the work done during the last 18 months in the field of Skill development and Medical Education, was not done in the last 70 years, he added.

In the next two years, we aim to ensure that no house is deprived of electricity, water and access to roads, the Lt Governor maintained.

“I am confident that the Young Generation will contribute significantly in making Jammu and Kashmir the most developed region in the country”, concluded the Lt Governor.

Speaking on the occasion, Moulana Muzaffar also stressed on the need to put a special focus on misrepresentation of Islamic teachings further adding that the certain elements within the community are distorting the Islam’s message for peace, love and harmony.

Prominent among others present on the occasion were Sh. Baseer Ahmed Khan, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Pandurang K. Pole, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir ,Mohammad Aijaz, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and Rahul Pandey, Director, Information and Public Relations.(KNT)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 23:

In a shocking incident that has come to fore not a single preventive measure has been taken by the authorities at Commercial taxes office located in Rambagh area of Kashmir capital Srinagar, even after 18 of its employees have returned positive for Covid-19 in the month of march so far.

Sources told News agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that at least eighteen employees including top ten officers and eight lower wing officials have turned positive for the virus in march so far with the administration endangering lives as the office continues to remain open for the general public without any sanitization or preventive measures being taken.

Sources said that a day after a review meeting which was held in the said office through video conferencing with the Commissioner, two officers tested positive for the pathogen.

“As per the protocol laid down by the government and as a preventive measure the said building was supposed to be sanitized and the attendees of the meeting should have undergone tests but no measures were taken thus endangering lives of others”, sources said.

Sources further said, ten officials returned positive for the virus three days after another review meeting was held through VC with the Financial Commissioner Finance.

The aforesaid office is turning out to be a silent hotspot for Covid-19, with employees fearing mass spread and the office is still functioning normally.

As per sources hundreds of people are visiting the said office for tax related queries and it is feared that the office might become a hotbed for Covid-19. (KDC)

States/ UTs mandated to strictly enforce Test-Track-Treat protocol, Containment measures,COVID-Appropriate behavior and SOPs on various activities

SNS KASHMIR

NEW DELHI MARCH 23 :

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an Order todaywithGuidelinesfor effective control of COVID-19, which will be effective from April 1, 2021, andremain in force uptoApril 30, 2021.
The main focus of the Guidelines is to consolidate the substantial gains achieved in containing the spread of COVID-19, which was visible in the sustained decline in the number of active cases, continuously for about 5 months.
Keeping in view a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, which is being witnessed in some parts of the country, the guidelines mandate the State/ UT Governments to strictly enforce the Test- Track-Treat protocol in all parts of the country; ensure observance of COVID appropriate behaviour by everyone; and, to scale up the vaccination drive, to cover all the target groups.

It is also emphasised that in order to ensure that the resumption of activities is successful and to fully overcome the pandemic, there is need to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy, and strictly observe the guidelines/ SOPs issued by MHA and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) and other Ministries/ Departments of the Central Government and State/ UT Governments.

Test- Track-Treat protocol

States and UTs, where the proportion of RT-PCR tests is less, should rapidly increase it, to reach the prescribed level of 70 percent or more.
The new positive cases, detected as a result of intensive testing, need to be isolated/ quarantined at the earliestand provided timely treatment.

Further as per the protocol, their contacts have to be traced at the earliest, and similarly isolated/ quarantined.

Based on the positive cases and tracking of their contacts, Containment Zones shall be carefully demarcated by the district authorities, at the micro level, taking into consideration the guidelines prescribed by the MoHFWin this regard.

The list of Containment Zones will be notified on the websites by the respective District Collectors and by the States/ UTs. This list will also be shared with MoHFW on a regular basis.
Within the demarcated Containment Zones, containment measures, as prescribed by MoHFW, shall be scrupulously followed, which include strict perimeter control, intensive house-to-house surveillance, contact tracing, ssurveillance for ILI/ SARI cases etc.

Local district, police and municipal authorities shall be responsible to ensure that the prescribed Containment measures are strictly followed and State/ UT Governments shall ensure the accountability of the officers concerned in this regard.
COVID appropriate behavior

State/ UT Governments shall take all necssary measures to promote COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in work places and in public, especially in crowded places.

For strict enforcement of wearing of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing, States and UTs may consider administrative actions, including imposition of appropriate fines.
National Directives for COVID-19 Management shall continue to be followed throughout the country, so as to enforce COVID-19 appropriate behavior.
Local restrictions

States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, at district/ sub-district and city/ ward level, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19.
No restriction on Inter-State and intra-State movement

There shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.

Strict adherence to the prescribed SOPs

All activities have been permitted outside Containment Zones and SOPs have been prescribed for various activities. These include: movement by passenger trains; air travel; metro trains; schools; higher educational institutions; hotels and restaurants; shopping malls, multiplexes and entertainment parks; yoga centres and gymnasiums; exhibitions, assemblies and congregations, etc.

The SOPs, as updated from time to time, shall be strictly enforced by the authorities concerned, who shall be responsible for their strict observance.
Vaccination

Government of India has launched the world’s largest vaccination drive against COVID-19.

While the vaccination drive is proceeding smoothly, the pace is uneven across different States and UTs; and, the slow pace of vaccination in some States/ UTs is a matter of concern.

Vaccination against COVID-19, in the present scenario, is critical to break the chain of transmission.
Therefore, all State/ UT Governments should rapidly step up the pace of vaccination, to cover all priority groups in an expeditious manner.

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 23 :

Fire erupted in ‘Pentagon’ building of railways in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday.

Official sources told GNS that soon after the fire was reported, fire tenders were rushed to douse off the flames.

When this report was filed, the efforts by the fire and emergency department were ongoing on bring the blaze under control in the single-storey building which is pentagonal in shape and hence the name. It houses the office of the railways and there is likelihood of the damage to the records, they said.

There were no immediate reports either about the reasons behind the fire, they added. (GNS)

SNS KASHMIR

SRINAGAR, MARCH 23:

The moderate Hurriyat Conference faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday said it was ready to extend full support to all initiatives between India and Pakistan that aim at bringing peace in the subcontinent.

In a statement issued here, the Hurriyat faction said the agreement between India and Pakistan to adhere to a ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) and the subsequent statements and actions by them indicate a positive shift in the relations between the two neighbours.

“The Hurriyat always was and is ready to extend full support to all initiatives between the two countries that aim at bringing peace and prosperity to all the people of the subcontinent and seek a fair and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute, it said.

The amalgam said it greatly welcomes the shift towards good neighbourly relations between the two countries.

“This is being observed with anticipation by the people of J-K who are deeply affected by the state of the relations between the two neighbours,” it said.

India and Pakistan had announced on February 25 that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors.PTI

SNS KASHMIR

KUPWARA, MARCH 23 :

A 20-year-old youth was killed after he was hit with a shooting stone when he was on his way to the forest in the Karnah sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that this afternoon a young boy identified as Amir Chaneza, son of Mohammad Shafi Chaneza died due to a shooting/rolling stone.

The official said that he was hit with shooting stone when he was on his way to the forest in Karnah sector.

“He was hit in the head with the stone that led to his on spot death”, the official said.

He also said that the deceased is a resident of Ebkote Murchana in Karnah, which is a remote area and witnesses regular rain, snow, and few of the areas in the entire sector are prone to landslide and shooting stones—(KNO)

BUDGAM, MAR 23 :

At least nine students were tested COVID-19 positive at Government Higher Secondary School in Hardapanzoo area of Khansahib in Budgam district, officials said on Tuesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that “Nine COVID-19 positive cases has been detected from this schools in mass/random sampling, testing for all the contacts will be undertaken in due course of time.”

He said that all the primary and secondary contacts of the affected students have been advised to self-isolate, quarantine themselves—(KNO)

SHOPIAN, MARCH 23 :

A day after the killing of 4 militants, some masked men tried to enforce shutdown in South Kashmir’s Shopian district, however, after police intervention, normal activities were resumed in the district.

Pertinently, four Lashkar-e-Taiba militants- Rayees Ahmad Bhat, Aamir Shafi Mir, Aaqib Ahmad Malik and Aftab Ahmad Wani all residents of Shopian were killed in an encounter at Manihal village of Shopian.

Local sources told news agency KNT that all the shops and business establishment opened up in the district on Tuesday. They said that some masked youth appeared in Batapora Chowk of Shopian market and attempted to enforce shutdown by way of stray pelting that disrupted the normal activities for a while.

Sources added that police swung into action and chased the masked youth after which normal activities resumed again. (KNT)

SNS KASHMIR

NEW DELHI: PTI

The Supreme Court Tuesday directed that no compound or penal interest shall be charged from borrowers for the six-month loan moratorium period, which was announced last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the amount already charged shall be refunded, credited or adjusted.

The apex court refused to interfere with the Centre’s and Reserve Bank of India (RBI’s) decision to not extend the loan moratorium beyond August 31 last year, saying it is a policy decision.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said the top court cannot do judicial review of the Centre’s financial policy decision unless it is malafide and arbitrary.

The apex court said it cannot interfere with the government’s decision to fix priorities for relief during the pandemic which has affected all across the country.

The bench said this in its verdict on a batch of pleas filed by various trade associations, including from real estate and power sectors, seeking extension of the loan moratorium period and other reliefs in view of the pandemic.PTI

SNS KASHMIR

NEW DELHI, MARCH 23:

Pakistan wants “good relations” with its neighbours and it is important that New Delhi and Islamabad work towards eliminating poverty and illiteracy, Pakistan High Commission charge d’affaires Aftab Hasan Khan said on Tuesday.

“Pakistan wants to have good relations with its neighbours. It’s important that instead of war we work towards eliminating poverty and illiteracy,” Khan said during an event on the occasion of Pakistan Day.

” It would only be possible if there is peace. For peace to prevail, issues must be resolved through dialogue,” he added.

The envoy’s remarks hold significance as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be attending the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference in Tajikistan capital Dushanbe later this month.

Today, India and Pakistan also began the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC).

The meeting is being held after a gap of more than two-and-a-half years. A delegation from Pakistan reached New Delhi on Monday to hold talks with India under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

India and Pakistan and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will also hold a joint anti-militancy exercise this year.

In a positive indication amid frosty ties, Indian and Pakistani armies announced last month that they had begun to strictly adhere to ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir from the midnight of February 24.

Moreover, in recent weeks, Pakistani leadership and the army have been urging for the normalisation of relations between the two countries.

Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa earlier said that a stable relationship between India and Pakistan is key to unlocking the potential of South and Central Asia by ensuring connectivity between East and West Asia.

India last month said that it desires “normal neighbourly” relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

India has told Pakistan that “talks and militancy” cannot go together and has asked Islamabad to take demonstrable steps against militancy groups responsible for launching various attacks on India. (ANI)