Jammu, November 30:
Leaders of Aam Aadmi Party campaign in favor of Meenakshi Sharma, the candidate from Ward No. 203 of Laxmi Nagar in the upcoming MCD elections in Delhi. On this occasion, Dr. Rajendra Thapa, Organization Minister of Doctors Wing of Aam Aadmi Party said that this time Arvind Kejriwal’s party is going to show the way out to BJP in Delhi’s MCD elections also. Despite occupying the MCD for almost 15 years, the BJP has not done anything there, due to which there is anger among the people. People now want to bring Arvind Kejriwal in the MCD elections after the Delhi assembly. Dr. Thapa said that the way Arvind Kejriwal has brought revolutionary changes in Delhi after assuming power, similar changes will now be brought in MCD as well. There is only Aam Aadmi Party wave in Delhi and the people there are going to hand over the command of MCD to Arvind Kejriwal this time. Vikrant Sharma and Charanjeet Kaur were also present.
Dr Rajendra Thapa campaigned in favor of AAP candidate in Delhi
Drugs worth Rs 9 Cr consumed in Kashmir every month, Kulgam tops list: Survey
SRINAGAR: A survey conducted by the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) Kashmir has found that heroin abuse worth Rs 9 Cr is being consumed in the valley a month, while Kulgam district tops the list.
As per the survey Kulgam district spends Rs 1,01,660 on heroin monthly which is the highest in the whole Kashmir division. It states that Rs 89,134 is being spent on heroin in Anantnag, Rs 100,202 in Bandipora, Rs 71,020 in Baramulla (lowest in Kashmir), Rs 88,995 in Budgam, Rs 79,694 in Ganderbal, Rs 87,392 in Kupwara, Rs 88,529 in Srinagar, Rs 100,165 in Shopian and Rs 81, 726 in Pulwama.
Special cells for women to be increased in J&K, Ladakh: NCW chief
SRINAGAR, Nov 30: National Commission for Women (NCW), Chairperson, Rekha Sharma, chaired the second Monitoring Committee Meeting of 12 pilot Special Cells for Women at the Institute of Hotel Management Raj Bagh, Srinagar, informed officials.
At the outset, Chairperson was given a brief about the work progress of 12 pilot Special Cells for Women in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from April 2022 to October 2022. The meeting held detailed discussions on the special cells and suggestions for a way forward from respective members of the Monitoring Committee for the effective functioning of the Special Cells for women.
“It was given out in the meeting that 256 outreach activities about women’s safety and empowerment had been conducted by Special Cells for Women during that period. It was also revealed that 1307 total interventions have been carried out by Special Cells and 2755 meetings have been conducted in 575 cases of women who registered at Special Cells for Women which include individual/group/family meetings and home visits. The Monitoring Committee has been constituted under the “Violence Free Home – A Woman’s Right” project,” read an official statement.
Addressing the meeting, Chairperson NCW said that in the near future we will increase the number of Special Cells in order to expand our reach, adding that we need to strengthen the visibility through active engagement in communities on gender-based violence.
She stressed on the need for increasing awareness programmes in coordination with police and other allied departments for the effective functioning of the Special Cells.
She also enquired about the number of complaints received by women’s cells in different districts and said that all help should be provided to women who are facing violence in any form.
Joint Secretary, NCW stressed on the need for dissemination of information about the Special Cells and mobilise Self Help Groups and said that there is a need to work in a coordinated manner.
Special Coordinator, NCW, GoI Neha Mahajan presented a vote of thanks on the occasion.
The meeting was attended by Joint Secretary NCW, A Asholi Chalai, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda; DIG Central Kashmir Range, Sujit Kumar Singh; DIG UT of Ladakh, S. Junaid Mehmood, Special Coordinator, NCW, GoI Neha Mahajan, Director Mission Shakti Harvinder Kaur, HoD Department of the Social Work University of Kashmir, Assistant Professor Central University Jammu, Dr Vinay Kumar, Coordinator JK Special Cell for Women Saima Shah and other officers. (Agencies)
International Border in Jammu frontier incident-free, safe: BSF IG
Jammu, Nov 30: The International Border in the Jammu frontier is incident free and safe despite infiltration attempts from across the border, a senior Border Security Force (BSF) official said on Wednesday.
Drone activity has also largely decreased in Jammu and the majority of weapons and other materials dropped from unmanned aerial vehicles have also been recovered, BSF Inspector General (Jammu Frontier) DK Boora said at a press conference here.
“The (International) border is incident free despite huge pressure on the forces and attempts from across the border to carry out infiltrations,” he said.
“The border is safe and secure. We have been able to keep it safe.
“All infiltration attempts have been foiled. Seven infiltration bids were foiled and all the guides and infiltrators eliminated,” he added.
Boora added that four AK assault rifles and seven pistols had been recovered. (Agencies)
China warns US not to interfere with its relationship with India: Report
Washington, Nov 30: A Pentagon report revealed that China has warned the US not to interfere with Beijing’s relationship with India.
Throughout the 2020-2021 standoff in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, Chinese officials sought to downplay the severity of the crisis, emphasizing Beijing’s intent to preserve border stability and prevent the standoff from harming other areas of its bilateral relationship with India, the report said.
It further said that China seeks to prevent border tensions from causing India to partner more closely with the US.
Throughout 2021, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sustained the deployment of forces and continued infrastructure buildup along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Negotiation made minimal progress as both sides resist losing perceived advantages on the border.
Beginning in May 2020, China and Indian forces faced off in clashes with rocks, batons, and clubs wrapped in barbed wire at multiple locations along the LAC. The resulting standoff triggered the buildup of forces on both sides of the disputed border, said the Pentagon report
Each country demanded the withdrawal of the other’s forces and a return to pre-standoff conditions, but neither China nor India agreed on those conditions.
China blamed the standoff on Indian infrastructure construction, which it perceived as encroaching on Chinese territory, while New Delhi accused Beijing of launching aggressive incursions into India’s territory.
The standoff was the deadliest clash between the two nations in the past 46 years.
DySP Crime Branch Varinder Singh suspended
Jammu: Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Home Department on Wednesday suspended Varinder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch, Jammu.
The suspension would come under effect from November, 11, 2022 , I,e the date of arrest of the officer in case No. FIR No. 15/2022, U/s 7 of Prevention of CorruptionAct, 1998, in P/s Anti Corruption Bureau, Jammu.
India extends Ambassador to U.S. Taranjit Sandhu’s tenure through January 2024
NEW DELHI, Nov 30: The Union Government extended the tenure of Ambassador to the U. S. Taranjit Singh Sandhu by a year until January 31, 2024.
Mr. Sandhu, a 1988 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, has been Ambassador to U. S. since February 2020, when he succeeded Harsh Vardhan Shringla. (Agencies)
CBI raids 13 locations in Jammu, Samba
Jammu: The CBI is conducting raids at 13 locations in Jammu and Samba districts including a JKAS officer’s residence in connection with paper leakage of Financial Accounts Assistants (FAA).
More details awaited…..
NEP will play a significant role in making India a Knowledge Superpower: J&K LG
Jammu, November 30:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched key initiatives of National Education Policy-2020 today at an event held at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar.
Highlighting the transformation taking place in the education sector under the leadership ofPrime Minister Narendra Modi, LG Sinha said: The future higher education & learning will be more dynamic, adaptable and personalized like a liquid learning model platform to seamlessly blend the ideas from different disciplines to prepare students for varied & comprehensive knowledge in rapidly shifting world.
National Education Policy will play a significant role in making India a Knowledge super power. Since, the government educational institutions are equipped with requisite tools and resources at par with private institutions, we need to assess our national and global ranking and take corrective measures, observed the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor also emphasized that Teachers-Students need to capitalize on the advances in Science & Humanities for reorganizing classrooms and working world experience with focus largely on research and values that provide with skills and knowledge relevant for today and tomorrow.
In order to supplement the successful implementation of NEP-2020 in a paperless mode, various digital initiatives have been launched such as, e-Samarth portal, feedback portal, Biometric attendance portal, Sparrow portal, and Annual Transfer Portal to bring transparency and accountability in the department.
The Lt Governor underlined that Inter-disciplinary curriculum and multi-disciplinary education are at the heart of National Education policy to train future innovators and leaders.
Environmental, scientific, technological transformation & globalisation has increased the pace of socio-economic changes. Problem-based learning will make the students familiar with real-world situations & develop thinking and creativity skills,” the Lt Governor said.
The recommendations implemented in UG Program of all the colleges from 2022-23 session will bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, provide resources and choice for research and flexibility in completing degree programme, the Lt Governor further added.
National Education Policy promotes collaborations between disciplines to foster innovation and creativity. In future sustainable technological advances will be driven by people having an interdisciplinary approach, he added.
The Lt Governor stressed on developing future-oriented skills among the youth, promoting research and strengthening the academia-industry relationship.
Degree Colleges shall be encouraged to start the skill development courses identified from the skill sector council under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). These courses shall be taught in partnership with industry where component of 12 credits taught by the College as professional knowledge and the component of 18 credits taken as professional training from industry. In the initial stage, 50 colleges have been identified to start the skill development courses, the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor asked the teachers and faculty members to promote the startup ecosystem in Higher Education. He further called upon students to nurture critical thinking.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor, highlighted the need for effective utilization of all the resources for preparing the youth to be future leaders.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary entrusted upon the Educational institutions to empower the students through education and providing them with skills training and advanced learning to adapt to the dynamic needs of the job market. He also called upon the universities to regularly engage in course content revision. J&K will be among the front runners in implementing NEP 2020, right from kindergarten to providing PhDs, he added.
Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department highlighted the steps taken by the Higher Education department towards implementation of NEP-2020. He also spoke on the key features of initiatives launched today.
The occasion also witnessed signing of MoUs between J&K’s Higher Education Department with SKUAST-Jammu, SKUAST Kashmir, Jammu University, Kashmir University for sharing of agro based skills, and research based knowledge, life skills courses and mentoring of colleges respectively, to better equip the students.
The Lt Governor launched a book on “Implementing National Education Policy”. Principals of different Colleges were felicitated by the Lt Governor for getting NAAC accreditation.
On the occasion, impressive cultural performances were showcased by local artists highlighting the rich culture and heritage of Jammu Kashmir.
Prof. Ravinder Kumar Sinha, VC, SMVDU; Prof. Nilofar Khan, VC, University of Kashmir; Dr J.P. Sharma, VC, SKUAST-J; Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, VC, SKUAST-K; Prof Bechan Lal, VC, Cluster University Jammu; Dr. YasmeenAshai, Director Colleges; Prof. Minu Mahajan, Principal PSPS Govt. PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar; HoDs, principals of various colleges and students in large numbers were present during the launching ceremony.
LG reviews winter preparedness of power supply in J&K
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday while reviewing functioning of the Power Development Department, ordered enhancing sustainability, resilience and efficiency of the power sector and steps to achieve targets to reduce transmission losses.
Issuing directions to the PDD officers present in the meeting, the Lt Governor said that monitoring mechanism of power projects should be strengthened to meet the energy goals and aspirations of the people and businesses.
We need to have multi-pronged strategy for energy security and decisions taken during winter preparedness meetings should be followed in letter and spirit, he further said.
The Lt Governor impressed on the Department to address the problems of common man with seriousness and commitment.
During the meeting, the Lt Governor sought the status of the steps taken to meet power demand; required energy and peak availability; demand-supply deficit, status of ongoing projects; implementation of the short-term, medium term and long-term action plans.
Earlier, H. Rajesh Prasad, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department gave a detailed presentation on the power scenario of Jammu Kashmir.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Dr RP Singh, Chairman JKPCL; Jagmohan Sharma, Chairman JPDCL; Shiv Anant Tayal, Managing Director, JPDCL; Chaudhary Mohammad Yasin, Managing Director, KPDCL, besides senior officers of Power Development Department and Power Distribution Corporations were present.