Today 28.12.2022 the committee meeting of Social Justice standing Committee of Jammu Municipal Corporation was held under the Chairmanship of Chairman Ajay Gupta, including the members of the Social Justice Standing Committee Councilor Smt. Tripta Devi, Councilor Sh. Jeet Kumar, Councilor Sh. Kuldeep Singh Councilor Sh. Sham Lal, Councilor Sh. Subhash Sharma along with the officers from various departments Seema Parihar Deputy Dir (FCS &CA), Alka Misra (A D City Circle 1), Ravi Gupta, JKHB, Monika Khajuria JKHB Pawan mattoo Labour Department and officials of Madam Manisha, Assistant Commissioner Revenue JMC were also present.
In the meeting a threadbare discussion was held on the action taken on the issues raised in the previous meeting. The representative of the departments discussed about the solutions to the problems being faced by the general public. They also informed the councilors about different schemes and benefits that the weaker section can avail through their respective departments. After that the councilors had one on one discussion with the representatives of different departments who introduced what schemes are available with the respective department. The chairman emphasis on spreading the aware about the schemes to general public so that the beneficiaries can avail the benefits of the schemes implemented by the govt.
The Chairman also proposed to expedite the process of new ration card to provide benefits to as many families as possible. He also appealed to the councilors to provide list of beneficiaries before 30th of this month in their respective ward to provide benefits that under PMAY Scheme. He said that the Social Justice Standing Committee with the help of its members have been working hard on ground level with people in providing them the help they need and insuring that they are getting the benefits of various schemes of the Government. He also added that they are well bound that these schemes launched by our PM Narendra Modi will reach the deserving beneficiaries and will help them in uplifting their status in the society. He said that the issue regarding PHH ration card and reopening of stopped ration cards will be taken up with the higher authorities and will be resolved soon.
At the end of the meeting Chairman of Social Justice Committee and Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) thanked the officials of different departments and committee members for making this meeting a success and hoped that they will work together in uplifting and betterment of the weaker sections of the society.
Sh. Ajay Gupta, Chaired meeting of Social Justice Committee at Conference Hall, Jammu Municipal Corporation
Home Minister Amit Shah reviews security situation, development programmes in J&K
NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday reviewed the security situation and development issues in Jammu and Kashmir, where four heavily-armed terrorists who had come from Pakistan were killed early this morning, officials said.
In the pre-scheduled meeting, the home minister reviewed the prevailing security situation in the Union Territory and steps taken to deal with the Pakistan-backed terrorists and maintain peace.
The development programmes being carried out in the UT were also discussed threadbare at the meeting, an official said.
The meeting was attended by Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, senior officials of the ministry, paramilitary forces, the Jammu and Kashmir administration and police.
There have been sporadic incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir in recent months that include attacks on innocent civilians and security personnel, and infiltration bids from across the border, officials said.
The four heavily-armed terrorists, who were killed in a ”chance encounter” in Jammu early Wednesday, came from Pakistan, police said.
Early this month, there were reports that members of the Kashmiri Pandit community working in the Valley were in a state of panic after a terrorist group released a ”hit list” of 56 employees from among them.
A blog linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, published the list of 56 Kashmiri Pandit employees who were recruited under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package (PMRP), and warned of mounting attacks on them.
In the aftermath of targeted killings by terrorists, several Kashmiri Pandits employed in the Valley under the PMRP have shifted to Jammu and are on a protest for over 200 days demanding relocation of the rest of them.
The government had informed Parliament that as many as 118 civilians, including five Kashmiri Pandits and 16 other Hindus and Sikhs, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 till July 2022.
The killings of Kashmiri Pandits had triggered protests by members of the community and they demanded enhanced security and the transfer of government employees to safer locations.
In May, four Hindu pilgrims were killed and at least 20 injured when their bus caught fire near Katra in Jammu. Police suspect a sticky bomb might have been used to trigger the fire.
Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated on August 5, 2019 and the state was divided into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
In a separate meeting, the home minister also reviewed the development initiatives being carried out in Ladakh. (Agencies)
Spread of militancy to Jammu region government’s biggest failure: Mehbooba Mufti
SRINAGAR: The government has totally failed to control militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and the terrorism now spreading to the Jammu region is its “biggest failure”, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Wednesday.
She said the encounter in Jammu’s Sidhra area in the morning, where four terrorists were killed, belied the government claims of uprooting militancy in J and K.
“The government claims that it has uprooted militancy from J-K. But, today, there is militancy even in Jammu which is its biggest failure,” Mehbooba told reporters here.
She said it was disappointing that the militancy has spread to the Jammu region now.
“They (government) have totally failed to control militancy,” she added.
The PDP chief also claimed that the government might make excuses like Covid or militancy to stop the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra in the Union Territory.
The former chief minister said democracy has been “suspended” in J-K.
“The fundamental rights of people like the right to express yourself (has been suspended). If anyone talks, he is arrested, be it a journalist or a common man. Politicians are pressured through the ED or other agencies and they are facing difficulties in playing their role,” she said.
On the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Mehbooba said it was compulsory and “our duty” to stand with someone who is out there to “save” democracy and secularism.
“A person is standing and raising his voice against the communal forces who are trying to divide the country, destroy secularism, and destroy the democratic setup,” she said.
J-K has the utmost belief in secularism and democracy because when in 1947 Hindus and Muslims were getting killed in India and Pakistan, Kashmir was the only place where Pandits, Sikhs, Dogras were protected by the Kashmiris, she said.
“That is when (M K) Gandhiji said he can see a ray of hope from Kashmir. When there are attempts to destroy secularism in the country, the people of J-K face its maximum brunt. We acceded to India even as we were the single Muslim-majority state, because it was a secular and democratic country for which Gandhi ji sacrificed his life,” Mehbooba said.
“So, it is our duty that if a person has come out to save the country’s democracy and secularism, its Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, then standing with him is compulsory,” she said.
On being asked that on one hand, her party was demanding restoration of Article 370, which was abrogated by the Centre on August 5, 2019, but on the other, she was supporting the yatra of the Congress party which “supported” the government’s move, Mehbooba said the two issues were separate.
“Joining yatra is for saving democracy and secularism in the country. Our fight is separate and we will continue to fight that,” she added.
The PDP chief also condemned the ban on girl education imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
“Seeking education is in our Islam and if there is anyone who tries to use the name of Islam to work against the religion, then we condemn it,” she said.
While welcoming the statement of J-K LG Manoj Sinha that killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley should not be communalised, Mehbooba said he should give that lesson to the BJP.
“It is better late than never, because it is the BJP government which communalises the unfortunate killings of Kashmiri Pandits. They made a film (Kashmir Files) on it and then showed it everywhere.
“They are trying to create hatred between Kashmiri Muslim and Kashmiri Pandit communities. It is good that he (Sinha) said it, but, I think, he should give this lesson to the BJP,” the PDP chief said.
She alleged that J-K has been turned into an open-air prison where “no one is allowed to say or express anything”.
“Jails are filled with the people from J-K. Our youth are beaten in the colleges outside. The BJP has ruined the atmosphere in the country,” she alleged.
Cold wave tightens grip in Kashmir snowfall likely at isolated places tomorrow
Srinagar, Dec 28 : Cold wave conditions intensified in Kashmir as the mercury fell across the Valley and settled several notches below the freezing point, even as there is a possibility of intermittent light to moderate snowfall at scattered places over two days from Thursday, officials said.
The intense cold led to water supply lines freezing in several areas. The interiors of Dal Lake and several other water bodies in the Kashmir Valley also froze, the officials said on Wednesday.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius — down from minus 4.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, the officials said.
Pahalgam, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 7.4 degrees Celsius, down from minus 6.7 degrees Celsius.
The tourist destination was the coldest recorded place in J-K and last night was the coldest night of the season so far there.
The minimum temperature in the skiing destination of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was minus 6 degrees Celsius.
In the frontier Kupwara district, the minimum temperature settled at minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, recorded 5 degrees Celsius, the officials said. Kokernag recorded a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.
Although there was brief snowfall in Pahalgam and adjoining areas in south Kashmir, the Valley is going through a dry spell with no major precipitation forecast till the end of December.
However, the Meteorological (MeT) Department office has said there is a possibility (with a 70 per cent chance) of intermittent light to moderate snowfall at scattered places from Thursday (evening) to Friday.
There is no forecast of any major snowfall till January 5, it added.
Kashmir is currently in the grip of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably, leading to the freezing of water bodies as well as water supply lines in several parts of the Valley.
The chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period. Most areas, especially in the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall.
‘Chillai-Kalan’ begins on December 21 and ends on January 30. The cold wave continues even after that with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) following it. PTI
Airtel 5G Plus service now available in Jammu and Srinagar
JAMMU: Bharti Airtel on Wednesday announced the launch of its cutting-edge 5G services in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Airtel 5G services are currently operational at Jammu’s Raghunath Bazar, Gandhi Nagar, Channi Himmat, Panjthirthi, Jammu Secretariat, Bahu Fort, Bahu Plaza, Jammu Railway Station, Government Medical College & Hospital and Canal Road.
In Srinagar, the services are available at Lal Chowk, Dal lake, Rajbagh, Kashmir University, Karan Nagar, Channpora, Srinagar Secretariat, Nishat Garden, Chashma Shahi, Old City and a few other select locations.
Airtel said it will augment its network making its services available in the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in due course of time.
‘Airtel customers can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds up to 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds. We are in the process of lighting up the Union territories of J&K and Ladakh which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to High-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more,’ Adarsh Verma, COO, Bharti Airtel, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, said in a statement.
Airtel 5G Plus services will be available to customers in a phased manner as the company continues to construct its network and complete the rollout.
The company says that it promises to offer massive speeds, the best voice experience, will work on all 5G smartphones and be kinder to the environment.
Last week, Airtel launched its 5G services in Pune. 5G services have also kicked off in Delhi, Mumbai, Gurugram, Shimla, Guwahati, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna, Siliguri, Nagpur and Varanasi.
There will be no need to change the SIM as the existing Airtel 4G SIM is 5G enabled.
Collapse of dogra empire to UT dis-appointing: Harsh Dev
Chenani, 28-12-2022: Former Minister and senior AAP leader, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that with J&K having been divested of its statehood status, the trade, tourism and economy of the erstwhile princely dogra state of the country had been adversely impacted. While the economy fast dissipated and the development scenario witnessed a downward slide, the ever growing unemployment seemed to be the only notable feature of the saffron rule. The past few years witnessed massive public uprisings against the anti Jammu and anti people policies of the ruling dispensation which continued to be suppressed through iron fist of police and civil administration. Taking repeated somersaults on almost all its professed promises, the narcissistically pleased and power intoxicated BJP continued to use the coercive apparatus of state to silence all those who dared raise their voice for justice and sought fulfilment of promises made by it during elections. Rather than honouring the commitments made by it during last polls, it was trying to crush the dissenting voices by causing dissensions in and breaking the opposition parties. Describing the BJP’s handling of dissent and disquiet as oppressively bizarre, undemocratic and morally sinister, Mr. Singh appealed to the people not to succumb before the machiavellian designs of the power hungry rulers. He assured that he would stand with his people through thick and thin and continue to expose and oppose the BJP for its political debauchery and subterfuge. He was addressing public meetings in Toldi Nala and Bali of Chenani constituency today.
Addressing the huge gatherings, Mr. Harsh Dev lambasted the BJP for having done the greatest disservice to J&K and particularly the dogras by demoting it to the level of UT. It has humiliated the dogras by dismantling the oldest dogra state. The extension of several draconian laws after abrogation of Art 370 including opening of lands and jobs to outsiders had in particular, come as a rude shocker for the people of J&K. The unemployed youth of Jammu region have been the most disappointed lot with their share in services have been abysmally reduced. The Daily wagers, the contractuals, the underemployed have all felt cheated in the BJP regime.
Alleging that a deep rooted culture of corruption was prevalent in the UT, Mr. Singh called upon the vigilante organizations to keep a close watch over the functioning of various Deptts particularly PHE, Education, PWD, Power, CAPD and RDD. He said that the lackadaisical approach of the concerned authorities was responsible for the power and drinking water crisis in the majority of the rural areas. He called for early construction of works taken up under the languishing projects scheme. He sought early clearances of liabilities and other work done claims of contractors and mates pending for the last 2-3 years in PWD, PHE, PDD etc. He sought immediate release of compensation to the farmers whose lands and other structures were acquired for construction of PMGSY roads. He regretted that there were no takers for the sufferings of the people with corrupt officers enjoying full patronage of the political bosses.
HC imposes Rs 10,000 cost on MHA, Personnel min on CISF inspectors’ plea
NEW DELHI, Dec 28: The Delhi High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Union home and personnel ministries and others for their failure to file response to a petition filed by more than 500 CISF inspectors, who have not been promoted for 19 years as compared to the stipulated five.
A bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Neena Bansal Krishna issued an order on December 21, giving a “last opportunity to the respondents to file the written submissions within four weeks subject to costs of Rs 10,000 to be deposited with the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee.” The respondents in the case include the Union home ministry, under whose command the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) functions, the CISF director general, the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the personnel ministry.
More than 540 inspectors of the CISF filed a writ petition before the court early this year alleging “deprivation” in their career progression as they got only one promotion (from sub-inspector to inspector) in more than 34 years of service and they have no “future prospects” to look forward to for their next promotion to the officer rank of Assistant Commandant (AC).
The petition of the inspectors, recruited in the central force between 1987 and 2005, has provided figures and data to apprise the court about their grievance.
“As on date, the senior-most inspectors (executive) who joined the CISF in 1987 as direct sub-inspector have earned only one promotion (from SI to inspector) in 28 years and the reduction in promotion quota (from 50 per cent to 33 per cent) has further brought down their chances of promotion,” the petition stated.
They stated that while their contemporaries in other central forces (like CRPF and BSF) got due promotion to the officer rank of Assistant Commandant and even beyond, they are stuck at the sub-officer ranks of inspector despite serving for over 30 years.
The promotion ladder in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the sub-officer ranks move from SI to inspector followed by a promotion in the officer rank of Assistant Commandant.
The group of inspectors alleged in their petition to the court that no cadre review for promoting them has been undertaken in the CISF since 1990.
They claimed that the Union home ministry and the CISF DG also “misguided” a Parliamentary Committee, saying that inspectors were being promoted after five years.
“The same material fact is false and vexatious, having no credible relevancy because the cadre of inspector executive is not getting promotion to the next rank of AC even after completion of more than 19 years of service, however, counterparts of other CAPFs are getting promotion in time-bound manner…,” the petition accessed by PTI submitted.
The paramilitary force, in its reply before the court, had said promotions in this force cannot be compared with other CAPFs as the CISF is a “need-based force mainly deployed in PSU/other installations and the post of Assistant Commandant in CISF is created only as per needs of the client organisation”.
The petitioners rejected the statement made by their force, contending they were suffering as adequate number of Assistant Commandant posts were not created coupled with “adverse recruitment rules, non compliance of standard rules and concealment of facts from the Parliamentary committee that was sheer illegal, arbitrary and discriminatory.” They submitted that the sanctioned manpower in the CISF has increased from 95,863 in the year 1988-99 to 1,63,590 (2021) but “no career progression particularly to the extent of time-bound promotion was ever done to petitioners who are well equipped with more experience, skills, education, discipline and length of service and are badly affected by the illegal, arbitrary act of the respondents.” The inspectors have knocked at the court’s door seeking its direction to the respondents for giving them their due promotion to the rank of AC along with consequential benefits with a retrospective benefit (from when they were supposed to be promoted as per rules).
The court is stipulated to hear the matter next on February 3. The CISF guards major civil airports of the country apart from the Delhi Metro, historical monuments like Taj Mahal and Red Fort, government ministries in Delhi and a number of sensitive installations in the aerospace and nuclear domain. (AGENCIES)
PM’s Mother, 99, Admitted In Ahmedabad, Hospital Says “Condition Stable”
Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi has been hospitalised after her health deteriorated last night.
Heeraben Modi, who turned 99 in June this year, has been admitted to a hospital in Ahmedabad. A statement from UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre has said that her condition is stable. The hospital has not shared any other piece of information.
The BJP’s Gujarat MLAs Darshanaben Vaghela and Kaushik Jain have reached the hospital.
The Prime Minister, who has often spoken of his bond with his mother, visited her recently when he was in Gujarat to campaign for the recently held Assembly polls. Visuals of the Prime Minister chatting and having tea with Heeraben Modi had then emerged on social media.
The Prime Minister had also visited her on her 99th birthday in June. To mark her centenary entry, the Prime Minister had also written an emotional blog titled ‘Mother’.
The news of Heeraben Modi’s hospitalisation comes shortly after the Prime Minister’s brother Prahlad Modi and other family members were injured in a car accident at Mysuru in Karnataka.
GAMC Akhnoor Organised Seminar on AnteNatal Care ( Garbhini Paricharya )
Under the able guidance of respected Principal cum Dean, Prof. (Dr.) Shashi Sudan Sharma , the Department of Prasuti tantra and stri roga, GAMC Akhnoor, organised a seminar on the topic, Spreading General awareness on Garbhini paricharya and The occasion was graced by Hon’ble DDC member Sh. Suresh Kumar, Principal GNM Nursing College Akhnoor and SDPO Akhnoor Sh. Mohan Lal. Associate professor Dr. Sheetal and Assistant professor Dr Swati Bala did presentations along with students, women from sanghani village, Asha worker. Dr Narendar Sharma, Nodal Officer, delivered the vote of thanks.
Situation peaceful in J-K does Rahul want to create disturbance asks Anurag Thakur
New Delhi, Dec 28 : Does Rahul Gandhi want to vitiate the atmosphere in Kashmir, Union minister Anurag Thakur asked on Wednesday about the Congress’ plans to unfurl the tricolour in the Valley and stressed that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved significantly under the Modi government.
An estimated 1.6 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir in one year, which is a record in itself, the minister told reporters.
“Now tourists can visit every corner of Jammu and Kashmir. This shows that the situation has improved in Jammu and Kashmir. There are no stone pelting incidents. Does Rahul Gandhi want to go there to spoil the atmosphere?”
“Today, anyone can unfurl the tricolour in any part of Jammu and Kashmir because the Narendra Modi government has ended Article 370 and Article 35A in J&K,” he added. Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started in Kanyakumari in September, is scheduled to end in Kashmir next month.
Thakur reminded him of the Ekta Yatra undertaken in 1992 by then BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi and Narendra Modi, who had unfurled the national tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar.
“There was a lot of opposition back then to the yatra. There were terrorist attacks, firing incidents. This was because there was a Congress government,” he said.
The BJP leader also recalled the Tiranga Yatra undertaken by him as president of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha in 2011.
“The then leaders of opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley — and myself were jailed as the Congress-National Conference government had opposed the Tiranga Yatra,” Thakur said.
“Things were difficult back then when Article 370 and 35A were still in force,” he said, adding that the situation in the Kashmir Valley had improved significantly under the Modi government. PTI