Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday said that till 2018 only 9500 girl children got the benefit of the Ladli Beti scheme while in the last three years, more than 1 lakh girl children had been linked with this programme, and Rs 150 crore transferred directly into their bank accounts.

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that inaugurating the free artificial limbs and calipers distribution camp at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J) to mark the birth centenary celebrations of late Dr Uttam Chand Shastri, the LG said that earlier financial assistance for the marriage of poor girls was provided to 100 to 200 beneficiaries but the government had covered 9309 such beneficiaries within a year with the overall financial assistance of Rs 37.15 crore.

He said that there had been an increase of 206 percent in scholarship to the children of poor families as compared to 2018-19.

“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the J&K government is making dedicated efforts to bridge the gap between the aspirations of the citizens and the administrative delivery for the development of an inclusive society in J&K,” the LG said. “The government is committed to reaching out to all those seeking assistance.”

He said bringing specially-abled people into the mainstream was the government’s top priority.

“Aids and assistive devices for the empowerment of Divyangjan (specially-abled) and bringing them in the mainstream of the society has always been one of the topmost priorities of the government. Such initiatives are fitting tribute to the ideals and values that our society stands for,” the LG said.

He said that the Divyangjan in J&K had been brought under the ambit of the pension scheme.

“There was no integrated system for physically and mentally-challenged people,” the LG said. “For the first time, J&K has been linked with the National Trust Portal so that they are given all the facilities and rights granted to them by the Centre.”

He said that selfless efforts to help others in need were the true service of mankind.

“It is our primary responsibility to mobilise resources for the Divyangjan, create infrastructure and facilities to make them equal partners in the nation’s development journey,” the LG said. “Enlightened citizens of the society and voluntary organisations should come forward and complement the government’s efforts to provide succour to the sufferings of the people and contribute to the accessible India campaign.”

He said that last year, the government decided to distribute a total of 4000 motorised tricycles to provide universal access, accessibility, and dignified life to the specially-abled across J&K.

“A total of 1000 motorised tricycles were distributed in the first phase in July this year and this has brought a paradigm shift in the lives of those 1000 beneficiaries,” the LG said.

“Social Welfare Department is implementing a comprehensive plan to reach out to the beneficiaries and a special enrolment campaign was launched. With the dedicated efforts, the number of beneficiaries receiving the pension benefits has doubled,” he said. “Our objective is to achieve 100 percent saturation of schemes for Divyangjan, women, and senior citizens in the current financial year.”

The LG said that the Central Government Act for the Welfare of the Senior Citizen which was not applicable in J&K before August 2019 had been implemented.

“Elderline helpline is meeting their needs and geriatric wards have also been started for the care of the elderly in all the district hospitals,” he said.

The LG said that the ancient texts were a beacon of light for humanity.

“The source of our prosperous present and future is deeply-rooted in Sanskrit scriptures. I convey my best wishes to Chudamani Sanskrit Sansthan for social service and promotion of Sanskrit,” he said.

The LG felicitated Dr Sanjay Sharma of GMC Jammu and Dr Vikas Padha of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Speciality Hospital for their exemplary service and endeavour towards the noble cause of serving the people.

He appreciated Chudamani Sanskrit Sansthan, Basohli, Shri Kailakh Jyotish Avim Vedic Sansthan Trust, Mahavir Seva Sadan, and Abha Bagrodia Charitable Trust, Kolkata; SKUAST-J and Central Sanskrit University, Ranbir Campus, Jammu for the remarkable, self-less, and noble initiative.

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshajanad Dev Tirtji Maharaj appreciated the development works carried out by the J&K administration, especially for the promotion of Sanskrit.

He lauded the government’s arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra.

“Not only the government, but everyone should come forward to serve mankind,” he said.

VC SKUAST-Jammu Prof J P Sharma in his address highlighted the initiatives taken by the university while discharging social responsibility.

Former minister Sham Lal Sharma while complementing the organisers of the camp said that this message should be conveyed to every nook and corner of J&K so that a maximum number of needy persons can be helped.

Chairman, Mahavir Seva Sadan and Abha Bagrodia Trust Kolkata Vinod Bagrodia expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders for organising the free artificial limbs and calipers distribution camp.

He said that a total of 130 beneficiaries received artificial limbs and calipers in the camp.

Mayor JMC Chander Mohan Gupta, VC SMVDU Prof Ravinder Kumar Sinha, ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, DIG Vivek Gupta, Director SSF and Head Trustee Chudamani Sanskrit Sansthan Shakti Pathak, Director, Central Sanskrit University Jammu Madan Mohan Jha, Director Agriculture, Jammu K K Sharma, Trustee Chudamani Sanskrit Sansthan Jitendra Dev Sharma, President Shri Kailakh Jyotish Avim Vedic Sansthan Trust Mahant Rohit Shastri, and President Traders Federation Ware House Nehru Market, Jammu, Deepak Gupta were also present on the occasion.

Doda:

Assistant Commissioner Development Doda, Phulail Singh (JKAS) on 16 sep held the meeting of all BDOs and Engineering staff here in his office chamber to review the performance under various RDD schemes and Area Development Plan.

While reviewing the progress of Amrit Sarovars ongoing in the district and Completion of pending works approved under MGNREGA the ACD Doda directed to complete all the works under above mentioned sectors in time, besides sets deadline for completion of Amritsarovars , saturation of Soakage and Compost pits under MGNREGA and PMAY houses by 2nd of October.

Regarding expenditure against the works approved under Area Development Plan the ACD Doda directed to ensure complete expenditure by 15th of November, besides directed the BDOs to conduct performance appraisal of all the supporting staff of MGNREGA on priority so that the non performing staff shall be disengaged.

The ACD directed the BDOs and Engineering staff to ensure regular monitoring of works so that all the targets shall be achieved in letter and spirit, besides directed to ensure quick redressal of public issues and to conduct field visits.All the Block Development Officers were directed to ensure usage of Area Officer Application for monitoring of works under MGNREGA and PMAY schemes.

Ex En REW Pankaj Sharma was also present in the meeting.

Srinagar, Sep 17: The Meteorological(MeT) department on Saturday forecast light rain in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.

Light rain is likely to occur at many places in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.

Meanwhile, Srinagar registered 16.2 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 9.1 and Gulmarg 8.5 degrees Celsius as the minimum this morning.

In Ladakh region, Drass town had 6, Kargil 11.8 and Leh 8.4.

Jammu had 20.4 degrees, Katra 19.2, Batote 16.7, Banihal 15 and Bhaderwah 16.8 as the minimum temperature.

Srinagar, Sept 16: The Anti-Corruption Bureau trapped and arrested a patwari in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district for demanding and accepting bribe from a complainant in lieu of revenue extracts.

An ACB spokesman said the bureau received a complaint, wherein the complainant alleged that Abdul Aziz Dar, Patwari of Halqa Mufalpora in district Kupwara is demanding bribe for providing revenue extracts, news agency KNO reported.

The complainant alleged that the accused Patwari was adopting delaying tactics and was not preparing revenue extracts which were required by the complainant for registration of sale deed for the land purchased by him recently.

“The complainant had also deposited necessary fee of Rs 420 in the form of GR in Tehsil office Kupwara on 14-02-2022. It was also alleged by the complainant that said patwari had already taken bribe of ₹10,000 from them and is demanding more for providing revenue extracts,” the ACB said.

It added that upon receiving the instant complaint prima facie offence U/S 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 was found made out and consequently case FIR No. 02/2022 was registered at P/S ACB Baramulla.

“Subsequently, a trap team was constituted. The trap team caught the patwari red handed while demanding and accepting bribe of ₹ 5000/- from the complainant. He was arrested and taken into custody by ACB Team,” it said.

It added that the bribe money was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses, while further investigations of the case is going on.

Srinagar: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo Friday chaired a meeting at the civil secretariat to devise a roadmap for implementing the A-Help Programme (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) in J&K.

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that the meeting was attended by the Secretary of Agriculture Production Department, Representative of Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Gol, Representative of Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, GoI, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir/Jammu, Special Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Managing Director JK Rural Livelihood Mission, Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir/Jammu, Director Finance Agriculture Production Department, Deputy Director Planning Agriculture Production Department, Technical Officer of Agriculture Production Department and other officers. Jammu-based officers attended the meeting through Video Conferencing.

While chairing the meeting, Atal Dullo highlighted that the dovetailing and synergizing efforts of the Department of Animal husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) & Department of Rural Development (DoRD) especially in the context of the common objective of helping the farmers will go a long way in helping the farmers double their income. He directed the concerned officers to work in a coordinated manner so that a well-defined road map is prepared for the successful implementation of A-Help in J&K.

Atal Dulloo said that the success of the A-HELP scheme will depend on how well the scheme is implemented and monitored and said, therefore, well-defined yet flexible and participatory institutional structures will be put in place at all levels.

A-HELP is being implemented across the country by using the existing cadre developed under DAY-NRLM for livestock (Pashusakhis) by providing further training and accreditation as A-HELP workers and will be inaugurated in J&K in October.

Jammu: Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta Friday chaired the 5th Governing Council Meeting of State Health Agency (SHA) and reviewed its performance regarding the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)/AB-PMJAY Sehat here in the UT.

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that the meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Commissioner Secretary, Labour and Employment; Secretary, Health; Secretary, IT; Principals of Medical Colleges, Srinagar/Jammu; Directors of Health Kashmir/Jammu, Nodal Officer, SHA; SGNO, SHA; and other officers of the concerned Departments.

Jammu-based officers participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

Mehta impressed upon the officers to ensure that each person is facilitated to obtain the available benefits. He asked them to work on registering each person under the scheme so that the end person receives free medical care as envisaged under the scheme.

The Chief Secretary also emphasized upon the health authorities to work towards creating the health history of the patients starting from those of students in our schools. He urged them to make it convenient for every person to register for the scheme at his doorsteps. He maintained that the scheme should be saturated fully in both urban and rural areas.

He exhorted upon them to conduct the Governing body meetings quarterly for timely confirmation of intervening decisions taken during this period. He made out that both audit and accounting of the scheme should be strengthened at every level for maintaining transparency in the effective implementation of this welfare scheme.

Mehta advised the health agency to study the claims of other states to make the scheme more sustainable and promising for the beneficiaries. He asked them to work out the best sustainable model in consultation with different stakeholders for extending the maximum benefit to the needy patients of J&K.

The ACS, Finance made out that the administration did its best to extend the health benefits uninterruptedly to the people. He reiterated that the administration endeavors to devise a policy that is in the best interest of the people.

In this meeting, the Council approved SHA for introducing ‘e-RUPI Concept’ as a pilot project in selected Tertiary Care hospitals in J&K. It was given out that the primary objective of using e-RUPI is reducing out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPE) borne by the beneficiaries on diagnostic tests not performed in these government-run health facilities.

The meeting was informed that among the 196149 received claims amounting to Rs 353.74 crore, 147180 claims amounting to Rs 236.84 crore had already been disbursed with 35536 claims under the process at various EHCPs.

It was further revealed that 25.74 lakh eligible beneficiary families have been insured for the current policy period. It was given out that a premium amount of Rs 1840 per family is paid by the government to provide free health care in 209 local hospitals (118 public plus 91 private) to our population across the 20 districts of J&K. Highest average claim size of Rs 18004 has been registered in this policy period from 15th of March to 31st August this year, as was informed in the meeting.