New Delhi: India reported 228 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 4,46,79,547.
The country also recorded three deaths on Thursday, bringing the total number of Covid-related fatalities to 5,30,710.
The active cases declined to 2,503, according to Union health ministry.
The daily positivity has been recorded at 0.10 per cent while the weekly positivity has been pegged at 0.12 per cent, the ministry said.
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Friday banned People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Jaish-e-Mohammed, under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The ban comes in the backdrop of the outfit carrying out terror activities in Kashmir. The move came a day after home ministry banned The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, for carrying out terror activities in Kashmir.The notification said PAFF is a proxy outfit of Maulana Masood Azhar-led Jaish-e-Mohammed and that it is involved in terror acts.
“…The ‘People’s Anti-Fascist -Front (PAFF)’ emerged in the year 2019 as a proxy outfit of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a proscribed terrorist organization listed at serial number 6 of the First Schedule under the UAPA. It regularly issues threats to Indian security forces, political leaders, and civilians working in Jammu-Kashmir from other states and is involved, along with other organizations, in conspiring pro-actively physically and in social media to undertake violent terrorist acts and Jammu-Kashmir and other major cities in India,” the MHA notification said.
The government on Friday also declared Arbaz Ahmad Mir, an LeT operative who currently is based in Pakistan, as an ‘individual terrorist’ under the fourth schedule of UAPA. He was declared an individual terrorist after Mir was the main accused in the targeted killing of Rajni Bala, a school teacher in Kulgam in May last year.
SRINAGAR Jan 6: In a major development, a prominent Congress leader Dr
Asif Khanday along with hundreds of workers on Friday joined Ghulam Nabi
Azad led Democratic Azad Party. On the occasion, Mr Azad said that joining
of Mr Khanday will infuse the new blood in the party and would galvanise its
cadre. “Together we shall take this march of development forward,” Said Mr.
Azad, adding that if his party is elected to power after elections, the remaining
developmental projects of Ramban district will be completed in triple shifts.
“When I was the chief minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, I ensured
this Ramban district particularly Banihal get all the required developmental
projects. We speeded up the works of execution after sanctioning hospitals,
schools, roads, colleges and other infrastructural projects. I assure you once we
are back in power after elections this district will become the centre of economic
activities,” he said. Mr Azad said his party is aiming to promote the youth on
Jammu Kashmir’s political landscape and with the joining of influential and
educated youth, DAP is becoming the major political force of UT.
He said DAP is the party of youth and encourages fresh blood into its fold since
the youth is the future of country.
Mr Azad, however, was excited to see the response of the people in Banihal
who urged him to hold the mega political rally in the district. Azad assured them
soon he will come to Ramban district to hold the political rally.
Azad, however, wished a good luck to some political leaders who re-joined
Congress.
He said those who claim to be the top leaders have actually no constituency to
contest elections after fresh delimitation.
He said they were taken into party fold since he respected them. “But they
couldn’t digest my respect and I can wish them goodluck,”. Among others
present on the occasion were Vice Chairman G.M.Saroori, Treasurer Taj
Mohiuddin, Chief Spokesperson Salman Nizami, Secretary Arun Raju, Mohd
Amin Bhatt, Bilal Peer, Ab Gani Khan, Sujada Bashir, Mushtaq Khanday,
Amir Rasool, Khalid Tufail, Shafiq Shabnam, Firdous Nabi, Farooq Wani,
Mohd Iqbal Naik, Gh Nabi Sohil, Gh Nabi Naik, Ab Gani Wani, Asghar Rasool,
Shariq Mir, Azhar Ahmed.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted that the BJP government in the state freed Manipur from bandhs and terrorism and brought it on the path of development.
Addressing a public rally at Moirang in Bishnupur district after virtually inaugurating 12 projects worth Rs 300 crore and laying the foundation stone of nine projects worth Rs 1,007 crore, Shah said the BJP government defeated insurgency and lifted Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA from six districts of the state.
“There was a situation of terror during the Congress rule in Manipur. Now, it is among the best governed small states,” he said.
Shah said the BJP-led government at the Centre has invested Rs 3.45 lakh crore in the Northeast in less than eight years and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited the region 51 times during this period.
Noting that the N Biren Singh government in the state is undertaking massive operations against drug trafficking and abuse, he said the BJP will make Manipur drug-free by next election.
Projects inaugurated by him include the Manipur Olympian Park at Sangaithel, a paid private ward at state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Moreh town water supply scheme, Nongpok Thong Bridge at the eastern side of Kangla Fort and cave tourism project at Kangkhui cave.
Foundation stones were laid for the construction of 40 police outposts, 34 of which will be along the India-Myanmar international border and six along National Highway 37.
Earlier in the day, he hoisted the tricolour at the Indian National Army (INA) headquarters at Moirang, inaugurated a medical college in Churachandpur and unveiled a 120-foot-high statue of a polo player in Imphal East district.
Srinagar, Jan 6: The Government on Friday ordered restructuring of Public Works (R&B) Department by way of re-organisation of cadre and rationalization of jurisdiction of its subordinate and field offices by making them co-terminus with territorial limits of divisions, districts and blocks of the Jammu and Kashmir.
Quoting a government order, GNS reported that the Development Commissioner Works (Ex- officio Secretary Tech. R&B Department) has been re-designated as Engineer-in-Chief (Secretary Technical R&B Department).
Mechanical Engineering Department Jammu and Kashmir has been renamed as Mechanical and Hospital Directorate J/K respectively.
“The post of Chief Engineer, DIQC shall be filled from Civil Wing of PW(R&B) henceforth instead of Hydraulic Wing.”
Also, one post each of Chief Engineer Mechanical Wing and Chief Engineer Mughal Road Project is transferred to Civil Wing.
The government also ordered conversion of three posts of Chief Engineers of SKUAST- Kashmir(01), SKUAST-Jammu(01) and SKIMS Soura(01) from deputation post to duty post by abolishing these posts from the concerned subsumed/merged engineering wings of departments.
Mechanical Engineers have been posted in Civil Wing of R&B, except in Jammu zone, for the purpose of snow clearance and other works, as under: Each Chief Engineer (Civil) R&B (Zonal Office) shall have one Executive Engineer Mechanical; Each Superintending Engineer (Civil) R&B (Circle Office) shall have one AEE (Mechanical); Each Executive Engineer (Civil) R&B (Division Office) shall have one AE (Mechanical) in their offices and Each Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil,) R&B (Sub Division Office) shall have one JE (Mechanical) in their offices.
The government also ordered conversion of eight (08) deputation posts of Superintending Engineers (Civil) to duty posts, by abolishing these posts from the concerned subsumed department(s) for their adjustment in new territorial jurisdictions which have been identified for these Superintending Engineers (Civil).
It also ordered conversion of deputation posts of Superintending Engineer (Meeh) (01), Executive Engineer (Meeh) (05), Assistant Executive Engineer (Meeh) (04), Assistant Engineer (Mech) (04) and Junior Engineer (Meeh) (14) from subsumed department into duty posts by abolishing such post(s) from the concerned subsumed/merged engineering wings of departments.
The government also ordered conversion of deputation posts of Executive Engineers (Civil) (36), Assistant Executive Engineers (56), Assistant Engineers (19) and Junior Engineer (82) and Draftsman (Civil) (48) into duty posts by abolishing these posts from the concerned subsumed/merged engineering wings of departments.
It also ordered formulation of new cadre strength as per revised structure for inclusion in respective Schedule-II of Gazetted/ Non-Gazetted Engineering Recruitment Rules by Issuance of corresponding notifications, thereby revising SRO-661 (Gazetted) and SRO-654 (Non-Gazetted) dated 25.10.2019 respectively.
“There would be no change in Recruitment Rules (Gazetted & Non- Gazetted) except Schedule-II of existing Recruitment Rules of engineering wings of departments including R&B Department.”
The posts merged from other departments into the PW(R&B) Department and officials who were appointed through the merged department, their service rules will remain the same through which they have been appointed initially and they shall be promoted/superannuated as per their recruitment rules and seniority of such employees shall be maintained separately by the PW (R&B) Department, the order said.
“All civil works of other departments (merged vide Government Order No.752-JK(GAD) of 2020 dated 10.08.2020) shall be executed by the newly created Divisions/ Sub Divisions as per their jurisdiction co-terminus with CD Blocks of RDD,” it said, adding, “All Works/ contracts under execution by a particular Division of PWD shall also be transferred to newly created Division/ Sub Division as per the jurisdiction.”
Existing contracts of other departments (merged vide Government Order No.752-JK(GAD) of 2020 dated 10.08.2020) shall be transferred to the new territorial Divisions/ Sub Divisions, it said. However resources shall be provided by the concerned department being project authority for completion of such projects, it said.
“The exercise of distribution of Assets (Roads, Bridges and Buildings), liability, and contracts shall start from the date of issuance of this order (today) and shall be completed by or before 28th
February, 2023,” it said, adding, “The jurisdiction of CD block shall be the guiding Principle during the course of this distribution.”
The process of hand over/takeover of assets along with furniture and fixtures and engineering staff of other merged departments shall be completed by 1st February 2023, it said. “In case these assets are not found suitable, such assets shall be handed over back to the respective department with a certificate by the concerned Chief Engineer PW(R&B) that such property is not suitable due to dilapidated condition or remote location.”
All existing offices/ Furniture and fixtures/ space of Engineers presently under use in other departments (merged vide Government Order No.752-JK(GAD) of 2020 dated 10.08.2020) shall be deemed to have been transferred to the PW(R&B) Department, so that public money is saved from new construction for housing new offices to the extent possible, it said.
“Existing Dak Bunglows, Inspection huts, Rest Houses of R&B Department shall be used to the extent possible for housing of newly created offices to save public money in construction/ hiring of accommodation for new offices for time being.”
The government further order that wherever there is no suitable office or space available at the newly designated jurisdiction, the process for identification and acquisition of suitable piece of land, free from all encumbrances is to be started within a month of issuance of this order. “In case suitable Government assets or buildings are not available, the concerned officer shall identify suitable Government or private land free from all encumbrances for such purposes.”
To include newly created divisions, the government said, necessary amendment shall be made on JKPWDOMS by 28th February, 2023 to include newly created divisions.
“PWD shall accordingly revise its budget proposal for salary/ revenue expenditure within 02 days of issuance of this order and forward the same to the Finance Department so that requisite budgetary provisions for FY 2023-24 are provisioned accordingly.”
The offices of Executive Engineers of merged departments have been asked to furnish details of their offices/ assets/ contracts to the PW(R&B) Department within three days.
“The location of offices of Executive Engineers/ Assistant Executive Engineers shall be located physically in their newly created jurisdictions (details in Annexure(s)) and will not be changed/modified without the approval of the Administrative Council.”
It also ordered creation of 782 posts in different categories by corresponding reduction of existing 1182 posts of different categories in the PW(R8B) Department.
All necessary preparations regarding establishment of offices, divisions of roads/assets and projects/contracts shall be completed by 28th February 2023, it said.
“The order shall come into force with immediate effect but shall be operational w.e.f 01.04.2023,” it added.
As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to boost career opportunities for India’s youth under the Skill India Mission, the government is organising the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) on Monday across 242 districts in 28 states and Union Territories.
Several local businesses and organisations have been invited to be a part of this apprenticeship mela to provide local youth with relevant opportunities to shape their careers through apprenticeship training, according to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
The event will witness the participation from many companies representing various sectors. The participating organisations will have the chance to meet potential apprentices on a single platform and choose applicants on the spot, providing them with an opportunity to strengthen their livelihood and learn new skills.
The candidates who are Class 5 to Class 12 pass-outs and have skill training certificates, or ITI Diploma holders or graduates can apply for this apprenticeship mela. The candidates must carry three copies of their resume, three copies of all the mark sheets and certificates, photo ID (Aadhaar card/driving license etc) and three passport-size photographs to the respective venues.
Those, who have already enrolled have been requested to reach the venue with all the relevant documents. Through this fair, the candidates will also earn National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)-recognized certifications, improving their employability rate after the training sessions.
Expressing his views on the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela, Atul Kumar Tiwari, MSDE Secretary said that skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development for a country. ”It is established that countries with higher and better levels of skills are adjusting more effectively to the challenges and opportunities thrown at us by the new world of work.
Through our apprenticeship programmes we are aiming to build a resilient and capable workforce that has the potential to improve its own socio-economic status and propel India’s economic engine,” he added.
Cautioning the people against designs of communal divisive forces and making fervent appeal to maintain communal harmony at all costs, the National Democratic Party Indian (NDPI) Chief Rajesh Gupta today said that
NDPI is the only secular and unifying force in the J&K UT, which strengthened the secularism and it will continue to safeguard the secular fabric of the J&K UT.
Gupta was speaking in NDPI workers meeting here. Gupta said that the situation in J&K has turned grim with terrorists now carrying out targeted killings at their will in Jammu region as well. “After the killing spree in the
Valley wherein many lives perished under the targeted killing ploy of the terror outfits, the situation in Jammu province has become crucial and if the government will not take some instantly steps, it will become difficult for
the common man to live under such situation where fear neurosis is reign supreme,” he added. NDPI President urged Manoj Sinha LG J&K UT to encourage the security grid and muster the intelligence network to ensure that
such disastrous attacks should be stopped in the coming time.
NDPI leader also blamed the administration for disarming the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) especially in border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to put their lives at risk. He said had the VDCs not been disarmed in Upper Dhangri, precious lives of six innocent people would have not been lost.
Gupta further said, that NDPI will not compromise for the sake of power with any communal or divisive forces in the UT. History is testimony to the fact that from time to time certain secular forces compromised with the communal and divisive forces for the sake of power.
Cautioning the people against those opportunist political forces who exploit the religious and regional emotions of the people for the sake of vested political interests and do not hesitate to share power with ideologically opposite forces, Gupta said that the paramount duty and concern of the NDPI is to keep the age old traditions of harmony, brotherhood and defeat the forces of hatred and division, in any form.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the national conference of Chief Secretaries focused on achieving rapid and sustained economic growth in partnership with the states, in the national capital on Friday.
The three-day conference began yesterday. The idea behind this conference is that cooperative federalism, through Central Ministries and departments working together with States in seamless coordination, is an essential pillar for the development and progress of New India.
With this vision in mind, PM Modi conceptualised this conference, which was held for the first time in June 2022 in Dharamshala.
This year, the National Conference of Chief Secretaries is being held from January 5 and will conclude on January 7. More than 200 bureaucrats comprising representatives of the central government, chief secretaries and other senior officials of all States/Union Territories and domain experts, are participating in the conference, said the statement from Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
This is not an isolated example of when PM Modi has tried to leverage Cooperative Federalism to usher in efficiency and synergy in order to respond to many of India’s intractable challenges. In the last 8 years, PM Modi has worked to make the process of policy-making and implementation more collaborative and consultative, thus making India more federally governed.
The statement list numerous occasions where PM Modi has taken steps to strengthen the federal structure of India and improve centre-state relations.
The Aspirational Districts Program was launched by PM Modi in January 2018 with the objective of expediting the transformation of the most backward districts across the country through the convergence of government programmes and schemes.
The broad strategy of the Aspirational Districts Programme includes: Convergence – between Central and State Schemes; Collaboration – between Centre, State, District Administration, Development Partners and Citizens; and Competition – between Districts.
Having had the vast experience of governing a state as CM of Gujarat, PM Modi knows that the key to development for states is the availability of sufficient resources. Taking a significant step in this direction, the government took the decision to increase states’ share in the divisible pool of taxes from 32% to 42%. This has provided states with more resources to design and implement programmes as per their requirement and need, said the statement.
PM Modi has initiated the unique concept of PRAGATI. This unique initiative brings the highest officials of the central government (Secretary), state government (Chief Secretary) and other officials on one table along with the PM, all working together proactively to improve the implementation timelines of various government programmes and schemes.
Additionally, in Good and Service Tax council is a joint forum where both centre and states are partners in decision-making on matters related to GST. The workings of the Council are an example of fiscal federalism with reliance on decision-making through consensus.
In the direction of “cooperative federalism”, Modi addressed the ‘Chintan Shivir’ of Home Ministers of States in October 2022, where the PM said, “Chintan Shivir is a prime example of cooperative federalism”.
Further, the Modi government is regularly holding meetings of the zonal councils for strengthening and promoting cooperative federalism in the country.
In September 2022, PM Modi inaugurated the National Conference of Environment Ministers in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat via video conferencing. The conference took forward the spirit of cooperative federalism, and created further synergy amongst the Central and State Governments in formulating better policies on environmental issues.
PM Modi inaugurated Centre-State Science Conclave’ in Ahmedabad in September 2022 via video conferencing. This was a first-of-its-kind Conclave aimed at strengthening Centre-State coordination and collaboration mechanisms to build a robust science, technology & innovation ecosystem across the country.
Under the leadership of PM Modi, India has got a unique opportunity to become President of the G20 group of countries and host its meetings across the year. These meetings will be held all across the country, to showcase different cultures, customs, and cuisines on the global stage. Understanding the importance of taking along all states in this endeavour, the PM chaired a meeting of the Governors and Chief Ministers of States and Lt Governors of Union Territories on 9th December, to discuss aspects relating to India’s G20 Presidency.
In order to ensure collective efforts are put in by Central Ministries and States towards the endeavour to clean River Ganga, Prime Minister conceptualised National Ganga Council. Recently, the PM chaired the second meeting of the Council on 30th December via video conferencing despite the passing away of his mother.
PM Modi had also addressed the ‘Chintan Shivir’ of Home Ministers of States in October 2022, where the PM said “Chintan Shivir is a prime example of cooperative federalism”
Jammu and Kashmir has started emerging as a part of a digital India with emphasis on open and accountable governance much to the benefit of the common people.
IT initiatives and other digital projects are optimizing public service delivery and adding transparency to the system.
According to Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, the contactless administration guarantees speed in addition to openness and accountability. He said technology is a remedy for all ills, and J&K intends to use IT/ITes for the population’s maximum empowerment in accordance with the LG administration’s objective.
Significantly, the Planning Department now offers 411 online services, in addition to 33 services that are part of the Rapid Assessment System (RAS).
Out of the 411 online services, 195 services had already been linked with the feedback system, and 103 more services would soon become RAS compliant
The primary goal of the government is to be online, so citizens may access various government services without having to physically visit government offices.
The Government wants to create a system that makes it possible for individuals to get high-quality services at anytime, anyplace.
As it continues along the route of giving its residents access to e-governance, J&K has been successful in offering approximately 450 services online, including all the key services that people typically use.
The Government is attempting to transform the UT into a place where people may get services without physically visiting any offices by carrying offices in their pocket.
According to statistics, J&K is ranked first among UTs for e-governance. Numerous programmes, including e-office, AwamkiAwaaz, MyGov, e-Unnat, Digilocker, and AapkiZameenAapkiNigrani, have transformed people’s lives by bringing openness and accountability to governance across J&K.
Ganderbal, Jan 06: The authorities on Friday decided to close the Zojilla Pass for the vehicular movement from tomorrow.
Chief Engineer BRO, Brig Saket Singh told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO)that the Zojilla pass for the first time has remained open till January 06.
However, he said in view of the forecast of inclement weather, it shall be officially closed for the vehicular movement from tomorrow.