Mentally unsound youth goes missing in Kupwara, family issues appeal
Srinagar, Sep 17: The family of a 20-year-old mentally unsound youth from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Sunday expressed apprehension about his wellbeing and issued a passionate appeal to public to inform them about his whereabouts.
The family of the youth, Javed iqbal Kumar son of Abdul Rashid Kumar of Muqam-i-shahwai Tehsil Drugmulla District Kupwara told news agency GNS that he went missing from home on Thursday morning.
“The youth is mentally as well as physically unsound. If anyone finds him or have any information may kindly inform on phone number 9906792845 on humanitarian grounds,” they said.
Chief Minister’s Public Outreach
Taking governance to peoples’ doorstep, Mehbooba conducts public redressal camp at Pulwama
More than 100 deputations meet CM; Mehbooba directs on spot action in many cases
PULWAMA, SEPTEMBER 17 : In a major public outreach initiative, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti conducted an open public grievances redressal camp here today.
During the grievance redressal camp, the Chief Minister heard people in a face to face interaction and in many cases issued on spot directions for the immediate settlement of their problems. She got an on spot appraisal of the development activities in Pulwama and Shopian districts and people brought their issues into her notice.
The Chief Minister heard and interacted with more than 100 deputations during a freewheeling interface till late in the evening. The deputations had come from different areas of these two districts which raised issues of road connectivity, drinking water facilities, rationalization of territorial distribution of villages, augmentation of health and educational infrastructure, development of tourism and completion of ongoing schemes.
Many deputations from Tral area who met the Chief Minister thanked her for giving developmental activities in the area a push. Besides they also thanked her for carving out the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner to monitor the development pace of Tral town.
These deputations also sought pacing up of restoration works at the Khanqah I Faiz Panah, completion of Tral-Nawdal, Tral-Dadsara and Wahab sahib roads besides augmentation of Arihal receiving station and other health and educational facilities. They also sought declaring Arihal village a backward area.
Several other deputations from various areas of Pulwama district demanded macdamization of Gangoo-Hanjikhilo road and construction of Gangoo bridge; filling up of vacancies in health centres; upgradation of Nyna hospital; improvement of Chakoora-Nellora and Chakoora-Malangpora roads; augmentation of power distribution in Grawa Batne village; availability of doctors and paramedics at the health centres of Rajpora; removal of encroachments from the Khuls of Kakapora; declaring Chandgam as a backward area; construction of bridge at Draj in Lajoora village; addressing the drinking water shortage in the villages of Dongripora and Reshipora; developing park at Nikus; upgradation of schools in Tahab village and other issues.
A deputation of members of Civil Society of Pulwama sought improvement in the facilities at the District Hospital, posting of lady police at the Railway stations for instilling confidence among female passengers, construction of a community hall and garbage disposal in the town.
The deputations from Shopian sought early start of work on the Bijbehara-Shopian road; setting up of a PHE sub division at Wachi; developing playfield at Zainapora; fencing and uninterrupted power supply to local Ziyarat; augmentation of facilities at the health centres at Nadigam, Zawoora Karewa, Kapran and Gatipora; improvement of Kellar-Dunaroo, Shopian-Kellar, Panzgam-Reshipora roads besides development of tourism facilities in the town.
The Chief Minister listened to the grievances of the people patiently and in many cases issued on spot directions of their redressal. She directed the administration to look into the problems flagged by people today sympathetically for a time bound redressal.
Minister of State for Forests, Mir Zahoor Ahmad; MLA, Pulwama, Muhammad Khalil Band; MLA, Wachi, Aijaz Ahmad Mir; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan; Deputy Commissioner, G M Dar and several heads of Departments were present during the public redressal camp.
Mehbooba outlines developmental roadmap for Pulwama
Says resources no constraint, peace a prerequisite
PULWAMA, SEPTEMBER 17 : During her day-long interaction with scores of delegations here today, the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti outlined a comprehensive roadmap for the holistic development of Pulwama town and other areas of the district.
Mehbooba said the thrust of the existing and new developmental initiatives sketched out for the district includes augmentation of connectivity, administrative infrastructure, healthcare facilities, educational infrastructure, power, irrigation and horticulture.
She said in addition to around 30 road and bridge projects costing Rs 190 crore under execution in the district, some new roads are proposed to be taken up to improve connectivity in and around the district and decongest the town.
The Chief Minister said that the new road projects include extension of the present Ring Road to connect with Pulwama-Newa-Srinagar Road as part of Highway-444. “This will help in diverting all the traffic from Shopian and Mughal Road and other areas to Srinagar without passing through the Main Town,” she said and added that upgradation of Pulwama-Srinagar road via Newa, which is of late witnessing huge traffic rush, is also proposed to be taken up soon.
She said widening of existing alternate road from SP Office Pulwama to T-Point on Pulwama-Rajpora road, to divert the traffic to Rajpora, Drubgam, Shadimarg, Kellar via this road from New Bus Stand, has also been proposed. “This will help decongest the traffic passing through Main Town and DPR for Rs 2 crore already stands formulated in this regard,” she said and added that widening of road from Rohmu to Chadoora and from Inder to Pinglena is also proposed.
Regarding decongestion of Pulwama town, Mehbooba said additional Administrative-cum-Residential Complex will be constructed in District Industries Centre (DIC) complex opposite DC Office to house around 25 district offices which are presently scattered throughout the town and mostly housed in rented buildings.
She said a new Engineering Complex would be also constructed at the existing R&B Complex so that all the Engineering Departments including R&B, PHE, Electrical, Mechanical etc can operate from a single location.
Mehbooba said the Tehsil Offices will be shifted from Malikpora to Old Court Complex near DC Office and a Community Hall and Public Park will be constructed at the site of present Tehsil Office for the facility of the locals.
She said a separate Maternity Hospital and doctors’ residential quarters will be constructed in Old Hospital Complex presently housing CMO’s office. “Proposal has been also formulated for upgradation of District Hospital Pulwama and construction of Registration-cum-Reception Hall and Attendant Hall with Canteen will be taken up soon,” she said and added that a multi-storey Official Residences Complex will be constructed for officers on the 5 kanals of land presently under the official residences of ACR and Tehsildar Pulwama.
Mehbooba said out of around 1500 kanals of state land available at Chandgam Karewa, some portion will be utilized for construction of a Kendriya Vidyalya and a residential school for girls while a state-of-the-art sports facility would be developed on the remaining land.
Regarding AIIMS Awantipora, Mehbooba said since the actual commissioning of the Institute is likely to take some time, the Govt will push for setting up of make shift polyclinics for various specialities for which doctors would be brought on rotational basis from various premiere health institutions.
The Chief Minister said that a Juvenile Home will be constructed on the land available near Town Hall opposite SP Office Pulwama. The land is presently being used for dumping of garbage.
Regarding development of Mega Terminal Market for fruit at Aglar, the Chief Minister said that the fruit market will be spread over 260 kanals of land for which funds have been arranged under PMDP. She said additional 50 kanals of land are being acquired for further extension of Fruit Mandi at Prichoo, Pulwama. “Similarly, 15 kanals of land have been acquired for extension of Fruit Mandi at Pachhaar,” she said and added that a Pesticide and Soil Testing Laboratory is also proposed to be established in Pulwama.
Under irrigation sector, the Chief Minister said that a project will be formulated for mega irrigation scheme for a large area of Chandgam-Tahab-Koil Karewa which is a long pending demand of the people. She said the PHE Department has been asked to complete augmentation of Water Supply Schemes in Pulwama, Tral and Awantipora by ending this year.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the issue is not of availability of resources but the capacity to spend the money allocated to for developmental projects. “We shall have to develop adequate capacity at the administrative level to expedite execution of developmental works,” she said and added that peace and stability is important to ensure development at the grassroots level.
Mehbooba said Pulwama has suffered a lot economically and educationally due to disturbances and the time has come to rebuild the area with focussed attention.
District Development Commissioner Pulwama briefed the Chief Minister in detail about the progress of various projects in the district.
Minister of State for Forests, Mir Zahoor Ahmad, Legislators, Mohammad Khalil Bandh &Aijaz Ahmad Mir, Principal Secretary to CM, Rohit Kansal, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan, DC Pulwama, G M Dar, Secretary State Sports Council Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra and other senior officers were present during the public hearing.
DAK urges early use of antiviral drugs to prevent swine flu deaths
Srinagar, Sep 17 : At a time when swine flu has raised its ugly head once again in the state of Jammu and Kashmir with eight positive cases and two deaths in the Jammu region, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Sunday urged doctors to prescribe early antiviral drugs to swine flu patients that would provide life-saving benefits to them.
President DAK and flu expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that early antiviral treatment would prevent the risk of serious complications and reduce deaths.
“A large meta-analysis conducted across 38 countries and involving more than 29,000 patients showed that early treatment with antivirals reduced the risk of death by 60 percent,” he said.
Dr Nisar said that the doctors should prescribe antiviral medication as soon as possible and should not wait for the lab test results as delay could be fatal.
According to a panel report, 70 percent of swine flu deaths this year at Pune were due to delay in treatment.
Studies have shown that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within 48 hours of onset of the illness.
However, starting them later can still be helpful, he added.
Clinical and observational data show that early antiviral treatment shortens the duration of illness and makes flu milder.
Dr Nisar said that antiviral treatment is recommended for any patient with confirmed or suspected flu who is hospitalized or has severe illness or is at higher risk of flu-related complications.
He said that antivirals can also be considered on the basis of clinical judgment for those who do not have risk factors for severe illness.
“Currently, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is the most important and effective antiviral drug for treatment and prevention of flu. It has been removed from schedule drugs and made freely available across stores. The drug can be safely given to pregnant women and infants aged 2 weeks and older,” said Dr Nisar.
As swine flu virus has undergone a change, it is likely to infect more people who have not developed immunity to it yet, he cautioned.
“31,787 cases of swine flu have been reported across the country so far this year with 1,586 deaths, which is almost six times more than deaths recorded last year,” he said.
Budding Kashmiri artist Aabha Hanjura performs on banks of Dal Lake
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 17 : Renowned Kashmiri singer and internet sensation Aabha Hanjura mesmerized the audience Saturday evening at SKICC lawns on the banks of Dal Lake.
The show ‘Saaz-e-Kashmir’ which witnessed the participation of large audience was hosted by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) and Tourism Department.
The show was attended by Minister for Public Works Department Naeem Akhtar, Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and other state functionaries.
Pertinently, Aabha Hanjura gave up her lucrative job to pursue a career in music. Aabha has been performing since 2011 and started her own music band, Sufistication, in 2012. Her latest track ‘Hukus Bukus’ is making quite the waves, with lakhs of views on YouTube.
The audience reciprocated Aabha Hanjura’s performance at SKICC lawns with huge applause.
Aabha said she is passionate about Kashmiri Music and wants to take it to international levels. "My love for Kashmir is a never ending affair. Kashmir has a beautiful culture. I want to bring that out in my music. I want to bring the sound of Kashmir out of Kashmir. In fact I want to take it out of India and put it on the world map. That’s my ultimate goal”, Aabha said at the event.
20000 graduate teachers to be registered with IGNOU for BEd: Altaf Bukhari
6000 undergraduate teachers to be registered with NIOS forDiploma in Elementary Education
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 17 : Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari chaired a meeting convened to discuss the enrollment of in-service graduate teachers of school education department in B.Ed (ODL) program.
On the occasion, the Education department entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with IGNOU and decided that around 20,000 in-service graduate teachers will be registered with IGNOU for B.Ed courses which will be completed by April 2019.
Similarly the government has also entered into an MOC with National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) for registering more than 6,000 in-service under graduate teachers for Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) course which will also be completed by April 2019.
The Minister directed Director School Education (Kashmir) to prepare the required details within a weeks’ time about the candidates who have to get registered for B.Ed course.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Higher Education, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Secretary School Education, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Chairperson BOSE, Director IGNOU, Directors of School Education (Kashmir), School Education (Jammu), Director Colleges Kashmir, Project Directors of SSA and RMSA and other concerned officials.
JK to exploit potential in honey production
New Bee hives, colonies to boost apiculture sector: Hanjura
KUPWARA, SEPTEMBER 17 : Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today said that government is working on a plan to encourage apiculture by establishing new beehives and bee colonies in various districts to tap into the honey production potential of the state.
The Minister was chairing a high level meeting with the Officers of Agriculture and its allied departments at Kupwara here, which was convened to review progress of centrally and state sponsored schemes.
Hanjura said that beekeeping has a lot of potential in the state and the department has taken various teps in this regard. He said that district Kupwara has been chosen for establishing new beehives and bee colonies as the area has lot of potential for beekeeping.
The Minister called on the department to achieve innovative methods for increase in agriculture production in the State. He directed officer to work in unison and ensure that benefits of Agriculture schemes reach to the farmers.
The Minister said that PMKSY, PMFBY, distribution of HYV seeds, mechanization through different farm machineries, adaptation of organic farming and motivation of farmers to adopt new technologies for cultivation of crops will soon bring dividends by promoting agriculture production in the State.
Hanjura directed the officers to inquire why KCC loan to small and vulnerable marginal farmers of the state and especially in Tangdar area have not been waived off.
The Minister was informed that department has distributed quality seeds of different crops including wheat, pulses, oilseeds, fodder, maize, paddy etc amongst the farmers as per their requirement in Kupwara district. In addition to it, the Minister was also informed that department has also provided different agriculture equipments to the farmers during the last two years.
MLA Kupwara, Bashir Ahmad Dar and other officials were also present on the occasion.
CMO Budgam warns of stern action against illegal clinics
11 illegal clinics sealed during fresh raids in the district
BUDGAM, SEPTEMBER 17 : Chief Medical Officer Budgam, Dr. Ghulam Mohammad Dar, has asked illegal clinical establishments set up at various medical blocks in the district to shut down, warning of stern action against violators.
The CMO has said that the clinics run by unregistered and untrained technicians is a serious issue and that all such clinics will have to be closed.
He said the district administration on the directions of the concerned Deputy Commissioner has constituted special flying squads to check the operations of illegal clinics in the district.
So far in the drive against illegal clinics in the district, 11 such clinics, including 7 dental clinics, 3 clinical laboratories and one x-ray clinic, have been sealed at several medical blocks across the district.
REPORTS FROM : GNS