SRINAGAR, August 22: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, today approved the adoption of Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme, 2022.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K and Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor attended the meeting.
The decision is aimed at promoting equity, inclusion and accountability in providing compassionate appointment by introducing a criteria-based assessment for establishing compassion in the bereaved family based on best practices evolved out of experiential learning over the years.
The new scheme will grant appointment or monetary compensation on compassionate grounds to a dependent family member of a Government servant, who may die in harness or as a result of militancy-related action or due to enemy action on the Line of Control/International Border within Jammu and Kashmir and is not involved in militancy-related activities or retires on invalid pension, thereby, leaving his family in penury and without any means of livelihood. The scheme will extend relief to the family of the Government servant and save them from financial destitution.
To bring greater transparency and equity, besides ensuring adequate safeguards against the misuse of the rehabilitation assistance framework, the new scheme has incorporated provisions for receiving online applications in a centralized manner in GAD on a designated portal; constituting a screening committee in GAD to make appraisal and recommendations; making the Administrative Secretary in the GAD the only competent authority for approving the case of compassionate appointment/monetary compensations (in cases where relaxations are not required); proposing a 5% cap for cases to be considered in relaxation of rules; making relaxation criteria more transparent/objective; and keeping applicants eligible for consideration upto 5 years from the date of submission of applications.
Further, under the new scheme, the number of vacancies and the merit list of the eligible candidates will be prepared annually and eligible candidates will be considered purely on the basis of merit obtained with regard to a point-based merit system on quarterly basis. Both the list of vacancies merit list of candidates will be put out in the public domain to make the process fully transparent and accountable.
The appointment on compassionate grounds will be made for the Multi Tasking Staff or equivalent or lowest non-Gazetted cadre posts in the Department. However, if an applicant is a Graduate or has higher qualification, there are provisions to allow discretion for considering appointment in the non-gazetted cadre.
However, the compassionate appointment cases still pending disposal in GAD under the existing SRO 43 for various reasons including relaxation of rules and identification of post in other department; will be dealt with in accordance with with SRO 43 of 1994, as amended from time to time.
Furthermore, the new scheme also provides for extending support to the dependants under various self employment/Government sponsored employment generating schemes for obtaining credit as per the laid down norms for setting up a manufacturing unit or a trading venture. The new scheme will put an end to the uncertainty that plagued the erstwhile Compassionate Appointment Rules due to which cases lingered on for years together. The new scheme is expected to provide immediate succour to NOKs of employees who die in harness.
AC approves adoption of revised Compassionate appointment Rules (SRO-43)
Two killed, 5 injured as speeding car hits them in Jammu
Jammu, Aug 22: Two women were killed and five other persons injured on Monday when a speeding SUV hit them in Jammu and Kashmir’s Jammu city.
Police sources said a speeding SUV crushed two women to death and injured five persons outside the Jammu railway station this morning.
Police have shifted the injured to hospital and registered a case in the incident.
Other details are awaited. (Agencies)
Ease of doing drug business, Rahul asks in attack on PM over Gujarat ‘drug hauls’
NEW DELHI, Aug 22: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over multiple drug hauls from Gujarat and asked for how long he would be silent on the matter.
His attack came days after the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai Police busted a mephedrone manufacturing unit in Gujarat and seized drugs worth Rs 1,026 crore.
” ‘Ease of doing drug business’ in Gujarat? Mr Prime Minister, answer these questions. Drugs worth thousands of crores are reaching Gujarat. Who is spreading this poison in the holy land of Gandhi-Patel,” the former Congress chief said in a tweet in Hindi.
Posing a series of questions, he asked why the port owner had not been questioned so far despite drugs being recovered time and again.
“Why are NCB and other Government agencies still not able to nab ‘Narcos’ running drug cartels in Gujarat?” Gandhi said. “Narcos” is the title of a Netflix series on drug cartels in Colombia.
Who are the people sitting in the Government of the Centre and in Gujarat who are giving protection to mafia ‘friends’, the Congress leader went on to ask.
“Mr Prime Minister, for how long will you be silent, the answers will have to be given,” he said. (Agencies)
Crime Branch produces charge sheet against Kupwara man in admission fraud case
Srinagar, August 20: The Economic Offence Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has produced Challan against a Kupwara man for allegedly duping a family on the pretext of providing admission to their wards in PG courses outside the J&K.
A CB spokesman said that the challan was produced against accused Wiqar Manzoor Wani S/o Manzoor Ahmad Wani R/o Lidderwan Trehgam Kupwara in Case FIR No. 54 of 2018 U/S 420 RPC of Police Station Economic Offences Wing before the Court of Judge Small Causes Srinagar.
“The case has been registered upon receipt of a written complaint, wherein it was alleged that Wiqar Manzoor Wani son of Manzoor Ahmad Wani Resident of Liderwan, Trehgam Kupwara was running a consultancy under the Name & Style of M/S HIIT at Parraypora Srinagar,” statement reads.
The complainant’s daughter had completed MBBS degree and approached the said consultancy for arranging admission of his daughter in P.G. Course outside the State, it added.
The non-complainant Wiqar Manzoor Wani promised admission to complainant’s daughter for which complainant paid an amount of Rs. 10 lacs to him, but neither admission was arranged nor the money so paid returned, it added.
During the course of probe it came to fore that the complainant had paid an amount of Rs.10 lacs to Wiqar Manzoor Wani son of Manzoor Ahmad Wani Resident of Lidderwan Trehgam Kupwara for providing admission to his daughter, but the accused failed to arrange the admission in P.G. Course outside the State, it further added.
Subsequently, a Preliminary Verification was conducted which culminated in the registration of Case FIR No. 54 of 2018 U/S 420 RPC.
“During the course of investigation the Crime Branch Kashmir received another complaint against the said accused person with the allegation that Wiqar Manzoor Wani has grabbed an amount of Rs.09.00 lacs on the pretext of providing admission to complainant son (Complainant No. 02) outside the state.
Accordingly the said complaint was clubbed with the instant case and has been made part of the instant case. The investigation conducted has proved the allegations and accordingly charge sheet has been produced in the court of law against the accused person,.” Statement reads. (KNS)
Rusted grenade defused in J&K’s Samba
Jammu, Aug 22: A rusted grenade was defused by a bomb disposal squad in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.
The grenade was found lying in a dried up stream by some farmers working in their fields nearby at Swankha village in Vijaypur, they said.
They informed police and the explosive device was subsequently defused by the experts without causing any damage, officials said. (Agencies)
BJP to chalk out strategy against NC-led all party meet over inclusion of non-locals in voter list
JAMMU, Aug 22: The BJP has convened a meeting of its leaders here on Monday to chalk out a “counter-strategy” against the meeting called by the National Conference over the issue of “inclusion of non-local voters” in the revised electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir.
J-K BJP president Ravinder Raina has called the meeting of senior leaders at the party headquarters, a party spokesperson said.
He said the meeting is being held to chalk out a “counter-strategy” against the “all- party” meeting called by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar over the issue of inclusion of non-local voters in the revised electoral rolls in the Union Territory.
The NC president had called the meeting after remarks related to the addition of voters in the revised rolls by the UT’s Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar raised hackles of the regional parties.
The government on Saturday had issued a clarification, saying the reports of a likely addition of over 25 lakh voters after the summary revision of electoral rolls is a “misrepresentation of facts by vested interests”.
The Kashmiri migrants “will continue to be given the option of voting at their place of enrolment or through postal ballot or through specially set up polling stations at Jammu, Udhampur, Delhi, etc,” it said.
Kumar had recently announced that the Union territory was likely to get around 25 lakh additional voters, including outsiders, after the special summary revision of electoral rolls being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370.
The BJP had defended the Chief Electoral Officer and said his remarks are “legally and constitutionally” correct .
BJP’s chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said under the law, anyone who is a citizen of India and not barred by any law can choose to be a voter in any area, State or Union Territory where he or she may ordinarily reside .
“The same being made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir only. Post Art 370 there has to be one India one law,” he said, accusing the opposition of trying to project the “wrong picture”.
“They are trying somehow to create exceptions in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory which is not permissible. People of Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the decision (of August 5, 2019) without exception or reservation and political parties have to realise it and live with it,” Sethi said referring to the abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir. (Agencies)
Make J&K free of fear, corruption & drugs; job-oriented: LG
Srinagar, Aug 21: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha in the 17th edition of the ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ programme today said, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav provides the perfect opportunity to make four big resolutions- Make J&K fear-free, corruption-free, drug-free and job-oriented.
These resolutions entail the participation of the people to fulfill our resolve and build upon the achievements of the last 75 years, he added.
Observing that ‘janbhagidari’ is a strong foundation of effective and efficient administration Sinha urged the people to become a partner in the developmental journey.
“No strategy of rapid socio-economic transformation will work without active participation of people. The ‘Amrit Kaal Khand’ has infused a sense of self-confidence and we are determined to harness the tremendous capacities of human capital to build a strong and prosperous J&K”, he said, adding that continuous efforts are being made to fulfill the aspirations of the people, particularly the youth, who are the lifeblood of society and guardians of economic development and social progress.
“In a short span of three years, we have introduced reforms in every sector, which has opened up a plethora of opportunities for growth and development. The results are visible as J&K is now moving ahead to be one of the leading regions in sectors like IT, Industries, Tourism, Revenue, Women Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment”, the Lt Governor said.
He also expressed gratitude to all the citizens for their immense contribution and wholehearted participation in ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Utsav’.
The Lt Governor also shared inspiring stories of citizens who are making positive impact in the lives of others and playing the role of a change-maker for the society.
‘The story of Haji Mohd Shafi Sheikh is truly inspiring. A pioneer in introducing horticulture in Bhaderwah, he encouraged other farmers for converting their land into orchids, and now three villages have been transformed into exotic fruit hub of Jammu division”, he said.
Appreciating Syed Jalees Qadri, a young entrepreneur from Srinagar for his endeavor of replacing the use of plastic cups with ‘kulhad’ (earthen cups), the Lt Governor said, Jalees is on a mission to promote environmental sustainability and reviving traditional crafts. For environmental protection, it is necessary to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and bring about a change in our behavior. Now, environment-friendly ‘kulhad’, which has been a part of our tradition since ages, is slowly and steadily replacing plastic cups,’ he added.
Acknowledging the determined efforts of Srinagar’s Abdul Rahim Bhat to plant a million trees till 2030 in the Valley, Sinha said that his story is an inspiring tale of common man’s social responsibility. He has planted two lakh trees in the Kashmir valley without help of any organisation. His spirit to give back to the society is commendable.
“Our natural resources are limited, and their conservation & protection is essential for our existence. We must take inspiration from Abdul Rahim Bhat and discharge our responsibility towards protecting natural resources from destruction while walking on the path of development”, he added.
Highlighting the role of Self Help Groups as a facilitator of development, the Lt Governor mentioned about Anita Devi, a resident of Reasi district, who is spearheading a Self Help Group of 1300 women, and has transformed several villages of her area.
She is a living example of ‘Nari Shakti’ who has converted the challenges of remote hilly areas into opportunities, he said.
He also acknowledged the notable work of Kulgam’s Shahina Akhtar for providing free coaching to the women of her area so that they can become self-dependent.
Referring to a suggestion received from Doda’s Reva Raina related to capacity building and credit facilities for women entrepreneurs, the Lt Governor listed various programs of the Government to connect women folks with entrepreneurial endeavors and assured her that all the necessary steps will be taken by the administration.
“We have adopted the MTC model- Market Network, Training and Continuous Support, to create a strong eco-system of Women Entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir with personalized support. Financial assistance of Rs 1840 crore was also given through various banks to the people to start their own employment in the financial year 2021-22. Under Tejaswini scheme, 2000 girls were made entrepreneurs in the last financial year, having been provided a financial assistance of Rs 102 crore. Skill development training has also been ensured by JKEDI to all the entrepreneurs”, Sinha said.
The Lt Governor instructed the JKTPO to integrate the suggestions received from Reva Raina during their upcoming programmes.
On the suggestion of Anita Goel from Inner Wheel Club Jammu on strengthening relationship between the civil society and administration he called upon civil society groups to participate in the process of social development and create awareness about public welfare programs run by the administration.
He thanked Poonam Shashtri from Jammu who suggested for conservation and preservation of heritage sites and assured her that the key ideas will be incorporated in the policies.
The Lt Governor exhorted the enlightened citizens to identify ancient heritage sites in their respective areas to intensify ‘Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan’ initiative. He also called upon all the public representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions to join this campaign.
He also mentioned some thoughtful observations shared by Uma Sharma from Jammu to promote ‘Literary festivals’, ‘Book Cafes’ and scaling up the pace of digitization of libraries.
The valuable insights received from Kupwara’s Altaf Hussain Khan and Ganderbal’s Peerzada Vikar Shah pertaining to maintenance and promotion of gardens and landscaping in J&K, besides promotion and monetization of floriculture were also shared by the Lt Governor.
Apni Party holds a largely attended public rally at Bemina in Srinagar
Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said that “J&K people have realized the fact that violence is the biggest enemy to their social, political and economic interests.” He added that New Delhi does not necessarily need to have peace and tranquility in J&K, but the people of this region do because they have high stakes in a peaceful environment here.
Apni Party President was speaking at a largely attended public rally in the Bemina area of the Shalteng assembly constituency in Srinagar, wherein besides the common masses, hundreds of party workers and prominent party leaders were present.
According to a statement issued here, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari while addressing the gathering extended his gratitude to people for their enthusiastic participation in the rally.
He said, “Your enthusiastic presence in this rally indicates that you understand the fact that people inevitably need peace and tranquility in Kashmir for a better future.”
He added, “People have faith in Apni Party’s agenda, which is to ensure sustained peace, durable prosperity, and economic development in J&K. Our narrative promises a protected future for everyone, especially youth and womenfolk.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari reiterated his promise that Apni Party will continue its truthful politics and will never push people towards evil politics and unachievable goals.
He said, “Unlike the conventional political parties, Apni Party is determined to speak truth to the people even if that does not fetch much political decedents to us. We will not promise you moon and stars rather we will promise you only what we believe that we can fulfill.”
He added, “Apni Party tells our youth that the path of violence has given people of this land nothing except destruction and miseries over the years. Thus, we need to shun violence to pave a way for a peaceful environment which will eventually help us to attain everything that matters to people. Through peaceful means, we can also achieve political and economic empowerment for the people.”
Taking a dig at the traditional political parties, Apni Party President said, “The traditional political parties and their leaders have been misleading the common masses over the past more than 75 years. One of the tallest leaders would change his stance every now and then like one changes his or her clothes. First, he decided to go with India, then he started a so-called ‘plebiscite movement’ here, then he returned back to his earlier stance, and later he promised autonomy. In fact, all his U-turns were meant to keep a hold on power and create a political empire and legacy for his family and his future generations.”
“Then, we got another party here that tried to convince us that it will fight against the dynasty rule in J&K, but the leaders of this party ultimately formed its own family rule here by fooling people through deceitful slogans of self-rule, Pakistan, dual currency and so on.” He added.
Blaming the traditional political parties for the deaths and destruction in J&K, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “Their deceitful narratives and slogans pushed our youth to struggle for the unachievable goals, which eventually landed thousands of youngsters either in jails or in graveyards.”
Apni Party President further said that the traditional political parties are still trying to mislead the people by false promises and by building false narratives.
He said, “Now they are trying to fool people by saying that they will get article 370 back that was abrogated by the New Delhi on August 5, 2019. People must ask them how they are going to get it back and what would be their strategy to undo what was done on August 5.”
He added, “When an official uttered some misleading statement recently, these political parties tried to make a fuss about this statement for their political advantages. However, on Apni Party’s request, the GoI clarified that non-locals are not going to be enrolled in the voter list but only the J&K residents who have attained the age to vote will be incorporated into the list. This clarification has put an end to the fuss that the traditional parties had tried to create to sentimentalize common people for their own political gains.”
However, Syed Altaf Bukhari urged his party workers to keep an eye at electoral rolls to ensure nothing untoward happens. “You should watch the ongoing Special Summary Revision to make sure the process to smooth and transparent.” He said.
Reiterating his promise that if gets the public mandate in forthcoming assembly elections to form the government in J&K, Apni Party will ensure economic dividends to each and every household in J&K. He said, “We will provide up to 500 units of electricity free in winter months to the Valley consumers, and the same amount of free power to people in Jammu during summers, and 300 units of free electricity to the people in the Valley in summers and to Jammu people in winters. Also, we will enhance the present Rs 50,000 marriage assistance to the girls up to one lakh rupees, and the monthly widow and old age pension up to rupees five thousand from existing one thousand rupees.” “Also, we will give four free gas refills annually to every household in J&K.” He added.
Besides Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, the prominent party leaders and senior workers who were present on occasion include the party’s Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir, Chairman of the Party’s Parliamentary Committee Mohammad Dilawar Mir, General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir, Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir, State Secretary Muntazir Mohidin, Chief Coordinator Abdul Majeed Padder, President of party’s Youth Wing and mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Junaid Azim Mattu, Party’s District President for Srinagar Noor Mohammad Sheikh, District President Anantnag Abdul Rahim Rather, Raja Manzoor, Provincial President of Party’s Women’s Wing Dilshad Shaheen, Senior leader Women’s Wing Iram Ji, Hajra Ji, Afroza ji, Noor Mohammad Bhat, Jeelani Kumar, Irfan Zargar, Mohsin Zafar, Aadil Ahmad, Tanbir Singh Sodhi, Shazad Ahmad (Corporator), Zahoor Ahmad, Jan Mohammad Matta, Advocate Mohsin, Ali Mohammad, Imtiyaz Ahmad, Mudasir Ahmad, Meraj ud Din, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, Nazir Ahmad, Farooq Ahmad, Irfan Ahmad, and others.
COVID-19: J&K logs 276 cases
Jammu: At least 276 COVID-19 cases were reported across Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, the government said.
An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that of these 235 cases were from the Kashmir division and 41 from the Jammu division, taking the total number of positive cases to 4,76,044.
Providing district-wise breakup for positive cases, the spokesman said that in the Kashmir division, Srinagar reported 100 cases, Baramulla 52, Budgam 25, Kupwara 24, Kulgam 11, Anantnag eight, Pulwama seven, Bandipora five, Shopian three while no case was reported from Ganderbal.
He said that in the Jammu division, the Jammu district reported 27 cases, Kathua five, Doda three, and Udhampur two while Rajouri, Samba, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban, and Reasi reported no fresh cases. The spokesman said that 589 COVID-19 infected persons also recovered and were discharged from various hospitals including 519 from the Kashmir division and 70 from the Jammu division.
He said of the total 4,76,044 positive cases reported in J&K so far, 2597 are active positive including
2149 from Kashmir division and 448 from Jammu division while 4,68,668 have recovered and 4779 died including 2432 in Kashmir division and 2347 in Jammu division.
The spokesman said that 11,161 doses of COVID vaccine were administered across J&K during the last 24 hours bringing the cumulative number of doses administered to 2,40,82,212.
He said that of the 2,63,66,174 test results available, 4,76,044 samples had tested positive and 2,58,90,130 samples tested negative.
The spokesman said that 9903 COVID tests were conducted during the last 24 hours.
He said that to date 66,99,293 persons were enlisted for observation which included 149 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by the government, 2597 in isolation, and 356 in home surveillance while 66,91,412 persons have completed their surveillance period.
Will go on hunger strike if electoral demography of J&K changed: Sajad Lone
Srinagar, Aug 22: Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Monday said they will sit on hunger strike before the Parliament and other constitutional bodies if there is an attempt by the government to change the electoral demography of Jammu & Kashmir.
“The law (Representation of The Peoples Act-1951) is not a threat to us but the intentions of the Government are a threat to us,” Lone said while addressing a presser, news agency KNO reported.
Lone said they neither accept the clarification issued by the Jammu & Kashmir nor they reject it.
“We will wait and watch and if there is an attempt to change the demography of J&K, we will go on hunger strike,” he said.
He said that he will not attend the all-party meeting called by Farooq Abdullah to discuss the issue of inclusion of non-locals into electoral rolls of J&K, saying they will support if anything concrete comes out of it.
“I don’t want to be a point scorer. If something concrete comes out of it, we will support it . They should also support our programme,” he said,
Senior PC leader and former Law Secretary Muhammad Ashraf Mir said that chief electoral officer’s assertions about inclusion of non-locals in electoral rolls of Jammu & Kashmir are not supported by law.
“The law is clear that the person must be a habitual resident of that place for a considerable time. The service voters (members of armed forces) can vote only for their native constituencies irrespective of their places of posting,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention that different political parties are meeting in Srinagar to discuss the issue of inclusion of non-locals in electoral rolls of J&K. The meeting is being attended by NC, PDP , Congress and other parties. Former deputy CM Muzaffar Hussain Baig had said that he will also attend APM if he is invited. But he has not been invited to attend the APM.