NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said more than 1,500 private hospitals have been empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the last one year. The scheme is reviewed every month and out-of-pocket expenditure of patients under the scheme has come down, Mandaviya said, replying to a question in Lok Sabha.
Under the scheme launched in 2018, the government provides health security cover to 10 crore families or 50 crore people of India.
Today, 4.5 crore needy people have been empanelled under the scheme, the minister said.
He said seven-eight lakh beneficiary cards are printed daily and the ministry was working to ensure that 50 crore cards are made available in the next four-six months.
“Poor and needy people are covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and they can avail Rs 5 lakh health security cover. Any hospital can empanel under the scheme … In the last one year, more than 1,500 private hospitals have been empanelled under the scheme,” Mandaviya said during the Question Hour.
The minister said 22,000 hospitals, both public and private, have been empanelled under the scheme so far. (Agencies)
Over 1,500 private hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat in last one year: Mandaviya
Manzoor Ahmad Bhat posted as Executive Director J&K EDI
Jammu, Dec 16: The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered some transfers and postings in the administration, officials said.
While J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute(JKEDI) got a new Executive Director, Survey and Land Records got its Regional Director.
“In the interest of administration, the following transfers and postings are hereby ordered with immediate effect: Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, JKAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department (GAD), is posted as Executive Director, J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute,” said an order issued by GAD on Thursday.
“Anju Gupta, JKAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, is posted as Regional Director, Survey and Land Records (ex-officio
Settlement Officer), Jammu, against an available vacancy, ” it said
CUET 2023 to be held from May 21 to 31, NEET-UG May 7: NTA
NEW DELHI, Dec 16: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Friday announced dates for Common University Entrance Test (CUET) 2023. As per the agency, the exams will be conducted from May 21 to 31, 2023.
NTA had conducted the debut edition of CUET for approximately 14,90,293 candidates this year. The candidates applied for 54,555 unique combinations of subjects across 90 universities.
CUET-UG began in July and was marred by glitches prompting the NTA to cancel the exam at multiple centres. While several students were informed about the cancellation a night before the exam, many of them were turned away from centres.
With 14.9 lakh registrations, CUET, the common gateway for undergraduate admissions in all central universities, is now the second biggest entrance exam in the country, surpassing JEE-Main’s average registration of 9 lakh.
NEET-UG is the biggest entrance test in India with an average of 18 lakh registrations. While JEE-Mains is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted twice a year, NEET is conducted in pen and paper mode. (Agencies)
Two Civilians Killed as Army Sentry Opens Fire in J&K’s Rajouri
Jammu, Dec 16: Two civilians were killed and one person was injured when an Army sentry allegedly opened fire on them in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday morning, officials said.
The victims, who were reportedly working as porters with the Army, were approaching the alpha gate of an Army camp in the district around 6.15 am when they were fired upon, they said.
The officials said Shalinder Kumar and Kamal Kishore, both residents of Rajouri, died in the firing, while another person was injured.
The cause of the firing is not yet known, they said, adding that the situation in the area is tense and some agitated people pelted stones at the camp.
Reinforcements have been rushed in and further details are awaited, the officials said. (AGENCIES)
Srinagar records season’s coldest night; Pahalgam freezes at minus 5.3°C
Srinagar, Dec 16: Sub-zero temperatures continued unabated in Kashmir Valley with Srinagar recording season’s coldest night at minus 3.6°C on Friday.
There is no respite in sight also as Chillai-e-Kalan— the 40-day long chilliest part of the winter season—is all set to start from December 21 amid forecast of dry weather at least till December 25.
Quoting a meteorological department official, GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against the previous night’s minus 3.2°C. While the mercury was around 2.6°C below normal during this time of the year, the official said, it was coldest this season sofar.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against minus 3.6°C on the previous night. The temperature 2.3°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
He said that Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.3°C against minus 5.6°C on previous night and it was 1.9°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.1°C against minus 1.3°C as on the previous night and it was 1.°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 2.5°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.7°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 3.6°C against minus 3.2°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.9°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 9.3°C against 7.1°C on the previous night. It was 2.6°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 5.6°C (above normal by 3.9°C), Batote 6.0°C (2.3°C above normal), Katra 7.0°C (0.8°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 2.1°C (1.7°C above normal).
Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 11.0°C and Kargil minus 12.3°C, the official said. The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather till December 25.
ISI-run drug racket busted, Poonch schoolgirl detained
Jammu, December 15
The police have detained a juvenile schoolgirl, believed to be a part of a drug racket being run by Pakistan’s ISI, in Poonch. As much as 400-gm narcotic powder has been seized from her. The girl, said to be a Class X student, was detained on Wednesday after intelligence agencies zeroed in on her after receiving specific inputs. The girl is a resident of Mendhar sector along the Line of Control (LoC).
According to information, a Pakistani handler, Aashiq, had been visiting her house to deliver the drugs. She had also kept more drugs in a ditch near her house.
She is being further questioned to know more about the peddlers and their customers in the area, said police sources who believe it to be a tip of the iceberg. The police are also trying to know if the racket is linked to some narco-terror module.
A number of Indian habitations are located ahead of the India-Pakistan LoC fence, also known as the anti-infiltration obstacle system, in Jammu and Kashmir and intelligence agencies have reported that Pakistanis living on the other side “frequently” visit several houses here to push drugs and weapons and to gather inputs about Indian security forces deployed to guard the front, prone to infiltration by terrorists. Officials said the detection of the case indicated Pakistan spy agency ISI’s evil designs to push drugs through the LoC to harm youth.
Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, who was in Poonch on Wednesday, had said Pakistan and terror groups had been supplying drugs with criminal intention to harm the younger generation and to generate funds for terror activities. He stressed for stringent action against the elements found involved in drug trade as the menace not only harmed the individuals but society as a whole. The DGP also warned of stringent action if any officer was found involved in the drug trade.
The DGP emphasized for strengthening of checkpoints on the Mughal road and also on the national highway to keep a check on transportation of drugs, weapons and other criminal activities.
India announces candidature for UNSC membership for 2028-29 term
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday announced the candidature of India for non-permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term.
“I am glad to inform you. We have declared our candidature for our next tenure at Security Council for 2028-29. And we look forward to being back”, announces EAM Jaishankar. During a media stakeout at the UN, minister Jaishankar noted that December is the last month of India’s current membership at the security council.
“And during this eighth inning of ours, we have attempted to bring many themes of contemporary relevance like maritime security, technology in UN peacekeeping, reforms of the UN, and counterterrorism to the center of the agenda and of the debate in the UN,” he said.
The external affairs minister said India has also sought to be the voice of Global South on many issues of concern. “We have not only tried to articulate their interest and anxieties but also tried to see whether we can serve as a bridge in the council,” he added.
India assumed the monthly rotating Presidency of the UNSC in December. This is the second time India got the Presidency after holding the top spot in August last year, during which the government focused on maritime security, UN peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.
India has presided over the Security Council during its two-year tenure as an elected member. UNSC rules of procedure say that the Council presidency rotates between each of the 15 members of the UNSC in alphabetical order.
During India’s December Presidency of the UN Security Council, two high-level signature events took place on December 14-15. The meetings were held on ‘Reformed Multilateralism and Counter-Terrorism’ and chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The high-level open debate on the theme – “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism” was held on December 14.
The open debate encouraged the UN members to take the conversation forward on reforms in the current multilateral architecture with the UN at its centre to make it “more representative and fit for purpose.”
On December 15, a high-level briefing on the theme – “Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Global Approach to Counter Terrorism – Challenges and Way Forward” sought to build a consensus on the principles of a global counter-terror architecture.
The high-level briefing aimed to enhance the Delhi Declaration adopted during the special meeting of the counter-terrorism committee held in October in India
Firing By Unidentified Terrorists In J&K Result In Fatal Casualties Of Two: Indian Army
Rajouri, Dec 16: Two individuals lost their lives after unidentified terrorists opened fire on Friday morning near Military Hospital in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri.
The Indian Army has informed that the police, security forces and civil administration officials are currently at the site.
“In an early morning firing incident by unidentified terrorists at Rajouri near Military Hospital, there has been fatal casualty of two individuals. The Police, security forces and civil administration officials are on the site,” White Knight Corps tweeted. (Agencies)
New Land Policy to start dark chapter for Jammu and Kashmir: Sajad Lone
SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone Thursday said the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s new land policy is ”not without motive” as it is an attempt at ”othering” Kashmiris.
Lone’s remarks came in the wake of land lease holders in Jammu and Kashmir being asked to return the possession to the government.
”The new Land policy is not at par with the rest of the country. It may well start the dark chapter of now blatantly othering the Kashmiris. Lease rules across the world and in India r fairly simple and on similar lines. But these r different and not without motives,” Lone said in a tweet.
The National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also criticised the government’s move. (Agencies)
Electrocuted in 2018, Bandipora minor gets Rs 30.20 lakh compensation from J&K High Court
JAMMU: In a significant decision, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to pay Rs 30.2 lakhs as compensation to a 5-year-old boy disabled for life by 33,000 KV HT line laid by Department in Bandipora district of Kashmir Valley.
Overruling the government’s defence that the victim was electrocuted due to his own negligence while playing with some metallic object on his 3rd storied residential house, the court said that it was government’s responsibility to have not permitted the alleged construction of 3rd story of the house in close proximity of HT line in question.
“Where an enterprise is engaged in a hazardous and inherently dangerous activity and harm is caused on anyone on account of the accident in operation of the such activity, the enterprise is strictly and absolutely liable to compensate those who get affected by the accident and such liability is not subject to any of the exceptions to the principle of strict liability,” said Justice Javed Iqbal Wani.
The incident dates back to November 17, 2018, when the victim Aatif Ershad Kumar, then aged 5 years came in a direct contact with live 33000 KV HT line passing through adjacent to his residential house situated at Mantrigam Bandipora.
The residential house was constructed in the year 2008 and the 33000 KV HT line was laid by the government in the year 2012. The said HT line is stated to have been knowingly installed by the PDD adjacent to the residential house in question despite objections raised by the inhabitants of the village including Irshad Ahmad Kumar, father of the victim, also the petitioner in the case.
The victim suffered severe burnt injuries on account of electrocution and consequently admitted in SMHS hospital Srinagar, where he was operated number of times resulting into amputation of his right hand, thumb of the left hand, finger of right foot, besides burnt injuries to the whole body, and leading to 90% Permanent Disability.
The victim was also shifted to Delhi for further treatment where the authorities assessed the cost of providing an artificial limb at Rs. 13,36,633, even as the parents of the victim incurred an amount of Rs 2 lakhs for getting the victim treated at Delhi.
With the victim requiring a monthly treatment amounting to Rs. 30000-35000, the father of the victim approached the government official including Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, for providing assistance in this regard as also for grant of compensation which, however, is stated to have not been provided compelling him to approach the High Court for grant of reliefs, Rs 1.22 Crores along with bank interest.
During the course of hearing, the PDD said that the electrocution of the victim cannot be attributed to the department, as there is no negligence on its part.
The PDD said that that the HT line in question was laid in the year 2012 passing through the road side all along its feasibility routes, however, the father of victim petitioner constructed 3rd story of his residential house after laying of HT line, as such, there was no negligence on the part of the department.
The court said that this assertion of the PDD is not based on any proof or documentary evidence supporting the said assertion.
“The said assertion is stated to be based on the version of the locals whose particulars even have not been provided in the objections. Assuming for the sake of arguments the said assertion of the respondents (PDD) to be true and correct yet, it was incumbent and obligatory for the respondents under and in terms of the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Act, 2010 read with Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Rules 1978 to have not permitted the father of the victim petitioner to raise alleged construction of 3rd story of his residential house in close proximity of HT line in question,” said Justice Wani.
Deciding the amount for compensation, the Court computed the pain, suffering together with shock as an ingredient of pain and suffering on the strength of loss of amenities together with notional loss of income at Rs. 10,00,000.
Under the Pecuniary Heads, the court assessed the cost towards providing and fixing of artificial limb at Rs 13.50 lakhs, cost incurred for treatment at New Delhi including Transportation at Rs. 2.50 lakhs, and expenses to be incurred towards hiring of service of attendant keeping in view disability of 90% for minimum period of 07 years and Rs 5000 per month at Rs 4.20 lakhs.
“The respondents are commanded to pay an amount of Rs 30,20,000 along with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of filing of the petition till the date of actual deposit to the victim petitioner by depositing the same in a Fixed Deposit Account in the name of the victim (minor). The monthly interest earned during the period of minority of the victim petitioner will be withdrawn by the father of the victim and spend upon victim as monthly expenses including treatment,” the court ruled.