“The Governor has no work to do. A person who is the Governor of Kashmir usually drinks wine and plays golf. Governors of other states stay away from getting involved in any tussle,” he said in Baghpat.
Baghpat, UP: Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday said the governors in the country “do not have much work to do”. In Jammu and Kashmir, the governor “drinks wine and plays golf.”
Mr Malik, former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, made the remarks at an event in Uttar Pradesh.
ANI UP
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#WATCH Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik in Baghpat: Governor ka koi kaam nahi hota. Kashmir me jo Governor hota hai aksar wo daru peeta hai aur golf khelta hai. Baki jagah jo Governor hote hain wo aaram se rehte hain, kisi jhagde me padte nahi hain.
“The Governor has no work to do. A person who is the Governor of Kashmir usually drinks wine and plays golf. Governors of other states stay away from getting involved in any tussle,” he said in Baghpat.
‘Those refusing to follow coronavirus prevention, treatment orders will be penalised’
JAMMU – The Jammu and Kashmir administration has declared the coronavirus infection an epidemic and said any person who refuses to follow orders on prevention or treatment of the disease would be dealt under the law.
This was declared in a four-page notification issued by the Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo, following an order of Lt Governor Girish Chander Murmu.
So far, three patients have tested positive for coronavirus in the Union Territory, where normal life virtually came to a standstill with the government imposing prohibitory orders banning assembly of more than four persons in almost all districts to counter the disease’s threat.
The government has already closed down all educational institutions, multiplexes, cinema halls, shopping malls, food courts, parks and gardens, clubs and road side eateries till March 31.
Announcing the regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the notification said the Jammu and Kashmir Epidemic Diseases (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020, would come into force with immediate effect and will have jurisdiction over the entire Union Territory.
“Surveillance personnel have been empowered to enter any such premises after giving reasonable opportunity to the owner or occupier for the purpose of surveillance of instances of fever or cough or respiratory difficulty, enquire into or undertake physical examination as they think fit, the notification read.
“Such persons shall be bound to cooperate and render all possible assistance to facilitate such surveillance, inspection, enquiry and examinations, it read.
Surveillance personnel, who will be designated by districts magistrates, have been empowered to direct, arrange or put suspected persons under home quarantine or escort them to an institutional quarantine facility or isolation facility, the notification read.
However, it said if the owner or occupier(s) of any premises or any individual suspected or confirmed with COVID-19, refuses to take measures for prevention or treatment including home quarantine, institutional quarantine or isolation, or refuses to cooperate” with surveillance personnel and authorities, they will invite the “provisions of Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) , it read.
The magistrates can also pass any other coercive action as they deem necessary and expedient for enforcing the cooperation and assistance.
However, in the case of a minor, such order will be directed to the guardian or any other adult member of the family, the notification read.
“Anyone who contravene any of the provisions of these regulations or disobeys an order and obstructs performance of functions, duties and responsibilities entrusted upon any authority under these regulations, shall be deemed to have committed an offence under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860), it read
Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti continue to be in detention since August 5 when the central government announced the abrogation of Article 370.
A total of 450 people, including stone pelters, miscreants, over ground workers (OGWs) and separatists of Jammu and Kashmir are presently under preventive detention in various jails, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said regular review is being undertaken on case to case basis and accordingly, extension in detention or revocation is made based on reports of field agencies and ground situation.
The government of Jammu and Kashmir has reported that in order to prevent commission of offences involving breach of peace and tranquility, activities prejudicial to the security of the state and maintenance of public order, nearly 450 people including stone pelters, miscreants, over ground workers (OGWs), separatists, etc., are presently under preventive detention and are lodged in various jails and subsidiary jails, he said in a written reply to a question.
Even though DMK member A Ganeshamurthi asked the government to reply on the total number of political leaders who are under house arrest along with the reasons for their arrest, the union minister did not give any details.
Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti continue to be in detention since August 5 when the central government announced the abrogation of Article 370.
Another former chief minister Farooq Abdullah was released last week after seven months in detention.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Srinagar, Mar 17: The government on Tuesday appointed Pandurang Kondbarao Pole, Secretary to the Government, Department of Food, Civil, Supplies and Consumer Affairs, as Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. A 2001-batch IAS officer will replace Baseer Ahmad Khan who has been appointed as 4th advisor to lieutenant governor irish Chandra Murmu. Beside appointment of the Pole as Divisional commissioner, the government has ordered transfer of five other top officers. According to an order issued here, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, IAS(JK:1993), Principal Secretary to the Government, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department, holding additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Transport Department, has transferred and posted as Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education Departrnent. He has been asked to continue to hold the charge of Administrative Secretary, Transport Department, in addition to his own duties, till further orders. Navin Kumar Choudhary, IAS(JK:1994), Principal Secretary to the Government, Education Department, holding additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Technical Education Department, has been transferred and posted as Principal Secretary to the Government, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department. He has also been asked to hold the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, upon the retirement on superannuation of Manzoor Ahmad Lone, IAS on 31.03.2020. “He shall also continue to hold the charge of Administrative Secretary, Technical Education Department, in addition to his own till further orders,” reads the order issued by General Administrative Department. Shailendra Kumar, IAS(JK:1995), Chief Electoral Officer, J&K and Principal Secretary to the Government, Election Department, has transferred and posted as Principal Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department. The officer has been also asked to be Officer on Special Duty in the Public Works (R&B) Department. “He shall hold the additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, upon the retirement on superannuation of Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Shah, IAS on 30.4.2020.” Simrandeep Singh, IAS(JK:2008), Administrative Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, has been asked to hold the charge of Administrative Secretary, Department of Food, Civil, Supplies and Consumer Affairs, in addition to his own duties, till further orders. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, IAS(JK:2012), Additional Secretary to the Government, Finance Department, holding additional charge of CEO, Mission Youth, has been asked to also hold the additional charge of Chief Executive Oficer, J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency, till further orders, relieving Principal Secretary to the Government, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department of the additional charge of the post. Babila Rakwal, KAS, Director, Handlooms, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Vice-Chairman, Jammu Development Authority, relieving Ms. Avny Lavasa, IAS, Commissioner, lammu Municipal Corporation of the additional charge of the post. “She shall also hold the charge of Additional Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Region Development Authority, Jammu, in addition to her own duties, till further orders,” reads the order. Mussarat-ul-Islam, Director, Handicrafts, J&K, has been asked to hold the charge of the post of Director, Handlooms, J&K, in addition to his own duties, till further orders.
Televised coaching classes to be financed by Administration: DC Srinagar
Srinagar, Mar 17: At a time when Coronavirus is creating ripples and panic among people, authorities have decided to take foolproof measures in containing this lethal infection and for this purpose District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) have issued certain guidelines and orders.
District Development Commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdary told Kashmir News Trust that scores of decisions rather measures have been taken to check Coronavirus infection.
He said certain directions have been given to certain departments and agencies. Chowdary said that the public transport shall, for now, remain under constant vigil by Traffic Police and Transport Department. “Any vehicle found overloaded shall be seized and not released till further orders.”
He said Srinagar Municipal Corporation has already started the process of sanitization and fumigation of bus stops, fruit markets and other important places.
“Department of Legal Metrology, Drug Controller Organization with active support of Executive Magistrates and Police, shall continue to conduct daily checks in markets and ensure that there is no violation of Essential Commodities Act 1955.”
“Commissioner SMC has been asked to depute 5 Nodal Officers for Zones of Srinagar, anchoring coordination from all departments and sister agencies for ensuring that all public places including bus stops, fruit markets etc are sanitized with notified disinfectants.”
District Development Commissioner Srinagar said that the team of Health Department deputed at Airport has been further strengthened in terms of manpower and logistics for effective screening of travelers in coordination with the Director Airport and Commandant CISF shall also obtain services from SMC for sanitization measures.
He said in order to keep those in isolation whose samples are taken for testing; separate wards have been created in hospitals as well. “Essential Services Departments have put in place the mechanism for 24×7 responses to public needs and issues. Any lapse in this regard will invite suspension of concerned authorities.”
Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdary said that to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, the trade and business organizations shall initiate steps required to avoid over-crowding at such locations.
He said that police have been asked to initiate steps to put in place required measures for avoiding public gathering except bus stop and railway stations.
He added that an amount of Rs one crore has been release to GMC, SMC, SKIMS, CMO and other for such measures as may be required for an effective response to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus. He said that all schools, colleges, universities, caocing centres and other educational institutions, government and private shall continue to remain closed till further orders. The Heads of Departments and Institutions shall devise and submit proposal for televised coaching classes by March 20 this month which shall be supported and financed by District Administration Srinagar. (KNT)
India on Tuesday reported its third coronavirus fatality with a 64-year-old man dying in Mumbai, Health Ministry officials said as the number of positive cases rose to 125.
The patient, whose wife is stable, is the first COVID-19 death in Maharashtra, the officials said.
Earlier, a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi in Karnataka with a travel history to Saudi Arabia and a 68-year-old woman in Delhi died after they tested positive for the infection.
The 125positive cases include 22 foreign nationals.
According to ministry data, 13 people have been discharged so far, including the three Kerala patients who were discharged last month following their recovery.
The Mumbai patient was admitted to the city’s Kasturba Hospital and was suffering from multiple health issues apart from being infected by the novel coronavirus, said BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Moqierish Tak, Co-Founder of India Assist Insights Pvt Ltd hailing from south Kashmir’s Anatnag district is achieving new heights in country’s corporate sector. In an interview with Greater Kashmir, she discussed her innovative ideas and success story.
Moqierish Tak, CO-Founder, India Assist
Q… How did you step into this field and are you a first generation entrepreneur?
Moqierish: Although I am not a first generation entrepreneur, I am one of those 1% that didn’t choose entrepreneurship, but entrepreneurship chose me. My mother is a self-created and established woman, but I was bestowed with an idea and a journey that gave me an opportunity to impact people’s lives. India Assist is a product that has the potential to make a huge impact, this alone was reason enough for me to leave my previous career and embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. Now that I have begun this journey, I do not see myself being anything else but an entrepreneur. Regardless of how difficult the journey is, I would choose entrepreneurship over a corporate career every time.
Q…What is the nature of your business and how did it come into existence?
Moqierish: India Assist is a start-up revolutionizing the way people travel, specifically working on improving travel experience of foreigners visiting India. It is an on-call solution providing ‘Assistance & Distress Management’ service to the foreign tourists. Our core product offering is the assistance and distress management service via a subscription-based phone app. We provide help to travelers in India which includes verified information and personalized assistance through our on-ground team in medical emergencies, theft, loss, altercation and transit.
The model of our product is on-ground assistance and human interface and we offer assistance by allocating personnel to the tourist at their live location. We are also constantly working with our teams to ensure they are compassionate and their moto is to “Help First” and ensure the subscriber is put at ease and comforted. The idea was conceived by the founder of India Assist Harish Khatri when he identified a serious gap in the current travel and tourism landscape, that of security and active assistance. Together we founded India Assist to bridge the gap created by lack of a centralized system that could provide foreigners in India with a platform that provides verified information and trusted assistance.
Q… Tell us about your early days and what inspired you to start a venture?
Moqierish: I studied in Delhi throughout my schooling and undergraduate years. After graduating from Sanskriti School with Commerce background, I studied BA Mathematics Hons from Miranda House, Delhi University where alongside I pursued my passion in sports. My passion however took over my life decisions. During my first job at the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, I decided to pursue my further studies in sports. Thereafter, I graduated in MSc International Sports Management from Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK to initiate a full-fledged career in big ticket sports events. My love for sports made me realise that I would do anything to follow my passion and in doing so love every minute of hard work and energy put into building something I wanted. This was the epicentre of my inspiration. Once I got associated with India Assist it changed my outlook towards life. It was easy to leave behind my established career to start something new that I believed in.
Q…What are your thoughts about women empowerment especially vis-a-vis Kashmir?
Moqierish: I always believed that Kashmiri women are a force to reckon with. I have grown up watching and looking up to such remarkable women who have made their mark, with their undeniable resilience and strength, not just in society but in the world. In today’s day and age, we are seeing women stand up and move to the frontlines in business, politics, as well as all spectrums of public space. This is especially true in Kashmir, where strength is born with the women’s movement and consciousness. Women’s empowerment is valuable to me because not only does it allow women to take up space that is constantly denied to them, but also because it gives rise to love and solidarity amongst women.
Q…Entrepreneurs in Kashmir continue to strive despite hurdles. What’s your mantra to success which you would like to share with them?
Moqierish: My success mantra has always been ‘to dream it and do it’. Great leaders are innovative. They look at things differently, and they teach us to look at things differently. They are also energetic, they can see the whole picture, they have great foresight, and they understand people and business. They are people with ethics, integrity, and honesty—and they’re decision-makers. One should learn how and when to say no and delegate. Enjoy what you are doing, and make sure you are having fun. And don’t be afraid to bring new ideas forward.
Q… Kashmir is also a tourist hub and considering nature of your venture would your company ever be keen to have a presence here?
Moqierish: Absolutely. We aim to cover all corners and parts of India. Kashmir has so much to offer in terms of tourism, and a product like ours once implemented with proper care and precision would help increase the tourist inflow into the Valley and boost the tourism based economy.
Q….What are your key hobbies apart from work?
Moqierish: I play basketball and other outdoor sports during the week. I enjoy an active personal, work and social lifestyle and intermediately take opportunities to roll back from technology and rejuvenate and work on myself. Reading during off time is a great way for me to keep the mind active. There is no better feeling than the one of constant growth.
Q…What are your future business plans and how big do you see yourself making it in India’s corporate sector as a woman entrepreneur in next 5 years?
Moqierish: Our near future business plans entail creating an eco-system for foreigners arriving in India and becoming a most reliable information and assistance platform for them while they travel within the country. They should be able to enjoy the better side of India and just in case they get into any distress, we are there to help them and make their trip stress-free.
At micro level we want the states to adopt this model (UP Assist, Rajasthan Assist etc) and at a macro level we want to venture into other countries as well.
In the next 5 years I see India Assist groomed and built into the next unicorn start-up from India, making path breaking advancements in the service industry through technology enabled solutions. Alongside, India Assist, I hope that I would have built myself and gathered enough knowledge and experience and still have courage to keep innovating and challenging myself.
Q…Be a job creator and not a seeker.. How much do you believe in this?
Moqierish: A job seeker means working for others dreams, being satisfied with what is given, following process instead of thoughts, not challenging self-capabilities enough and being taken care of rather taking care for others. But when you become job creator, you define many things. You create job opportunities for others. You bring innovation and try to make that innovation relevant to people and create an impact on community development. You bring economic integration of outsiders and create global environment and in a way enhance the standard of living for society at large.
Job creator also promotes research and development which help mankind to be prepared for future challenges.
The Interview was First Published on Greater Kashmir ‘Largest Circulated Daily of Jammu & Kashmir’
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Urges GoI to restore high speed internet for confined students, businessmen
SRINAGAR, March 17: Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday urged the union home minister to restore high speed mobile internet, one of the prerequisites, in taking up preventing measures against the spread of Coronavirus-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari observed that restoration of 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir would enable people especially the students to remain engaged inside their homes, thereby effectively containing the global pandemic COVID-19.
JKAP president said that since all the educational institutes are closed in Jammu and Kashmir the students have been left with no option but to remain idle in their homes which has a telling impact on their future.
He said that as COVID-19 spreads at an alarming rate, the public health officials have called for minimal public gatherings—which is pushing many activities online. “The issue is particularly severe for schools, where the risk of spreading the disease is high. As many J&K schools have shifted to online lesson plans, home restricted students are running into the limitations of mobile internet services, which leave most of them unable to connect to their new online classrooms or download lesson plans,” Bukhari remarked.
He said that since all schools, colleges and universities are closed as a result of novel coronavirus outbreak, millions of students are missing classes, creating an ‘unparalleled’ education disruption in the region. “Earlier our students missed classes due to disruptions created by August 5, 2019 decisions and now the novel corona virus outbreak has posed a serious challenge to our children to cope up with their counterparts in the country who enjoy all other educational facilities including high speed mobile internet,” Bukhari said, while demanding immediate restoration of 4G mobile internet services in J&K.
Similarly, the JKAP president opined that the business community and a large section of the people who are working in the private sector are unable to do their businesses or duties as usual.
Bukhari expressed hope that the restoration of high speed mobile internet will go a long way in easing out the situation not only for the home confined youth in their pursuit of career advancement as also in their academic odyssey but for the business community and vast majority working in the private sector.
“The tourism trade has also received a big hit in absence of high speed mobile internet services while businesses including tour and travel operators, chartered accounts, call centres, fresh start-ups and entrepreneurs have also suffered hugely,” he said, while urging the union home minister to order restoration of 4G mobile internet services in light of the recent Honb’le Supreme Court ruling.
Dubai: Prayers at mosques and all other places of worship in the UAE have been suspended as of 9pm on Monday as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
The National Emergency of Crisis and Disasters Management Authority and the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf temporarily suspended prayers at mosques and places of worship in the country as of 9pm Monday for four weeks as a precautionary measure amid global COVID-19 outbreak.
The decision to suspend prayers in mosques, chapels, places of worship and their facilities will be reviewed after four weeks from now.
The decision is part of the precautionary and preventive measures taken by the UAE against coronavirus, COVID- 19, and based on the instructions of the Ministry of Health Prevention and the Fatwa of the Emirates Fatwa Council in coordination with the federal and local religious and health authorities.
The UAE’s concerned authorities called on citizens, residents and visitors to comply with this announcement, which is in the interest of the people.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Agra mayor Navin Jain had asked for closure of the monuments, in a letter to the union tourism minister, a fortnight ago.
The annual three day Urs of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the iconic Taj Mahal, will not be held, as scheduled from March 21, as the historic monuments including the Taj in the city have been shut down till March 31, in the wake of COVID-19.
This will be the first time in the history of the Taj, that the annual Urs will not be held.
During the three day Urs, entry remains free and a series of functions are organised. Work on the 365 metre long chadar, to be offered, had begun.
A member of the organising committee said, the convention would indeed be disrupted, but the safety of the country was more important.
The whole area around the Taj Mahal wears a deserted look. The Taj is visited by around 30,000 people daily. For the past one month there had been a steep decline.
Agra mayor Navin Jain had asked for closure of the monuments, in a letter to the union tourism minister, a fortnight ago.
The Agra Development Authority used to earn around Rs 14 crore daily from ticket sales.
On Tuesday, a pall of gloom descended on the tourism sector, as guides, photographers, taxi drivers, hoteliers were left with no work.
The once crowded parking areas were vehicle free. The eleven five star hotels and around 25 three star hotels, plus countless guest houses, dharamshalas and smaller hotels are waiting for customers. How long this wait will be, uncertainty continues.
Only during the 1971 war with Pakistan, the Taj Mahal was closed for more than a week. During the flood in 1978, it was again closed for a couple of days.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
