Category: Union Territory

PTI

New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a programme to provide free ration for over 80 crore people, mostly poor, by five more months till November end

In a televised address to the nation, the prime minister said over Rs 90,000 crore will be spent on the programme’s extension, and if the last three months expenditure on account of the free ration scheme is added then the total budget will be about Rs 1.5 lakh crore

The scheme was rolled out for three months from April soon after the nationwide lockdown was announced to combat the COVID-19

Modi noted that July marks the beginning of the festive season when people’s needs as well as expenditure increase

“Keeping all these things in mind, it has been decided to extend Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana up to Diwali and Chhath Puja till the November end,” Modi said on the eve of the start of ‘Unlock-2’ for a graded exit from the national lockdown that was imposed on March 25. ‘Unlock-1’ ends on Tuesday

The prime minister said in his 16-minute address that the central government is also working on the “one nation, one ration card” initiative which, he added, will benefit people living outside their home for employment and other needs the most. This is Modi’s sixth address to the nation after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic

Underscoring the enormity of the free ration scheme, Modi said it covers two and half times the population of the United States, 12 times the population of the United Kingdom and double the population of the European Union

Each member of a family covered under the scheme will get five kilogram wheat or rice, and every family will get one kilogram whole gram per month as well

Highlighting his government’s pro-poor measures during the lockdown, he said it had announced Rs 1.75 lakh crore package for the poor earlier, with Rs 31,000 crore transferred to 20 crore poor families under direct benefit transfer and Rs 18,000 crore given to nine crore farmers

The Union government, he added, is also spending Rs 50,000 crore for providing employment to people in rural India

With economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic hitting employment across the country and millions of migrant labourers having returned to their native states, the extension of the free ration scheme is expected to provide succour to the poor

It is also expected to help the ruling BJP-led NDA in the poll-bound Bihar, which is home to a huge number of migrants and beneficiaries of the scheme

Modi also credited farmers and honest taxpayers for the government’s success in providing free ration to the needy and poor

While farmers produced enough grains, contribution from honest taxpayers has helped the poor coping with such a big crisis successfully, he said

“On behalf of all the poor of the country, I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the taxpayers and farmers, and also salute them. In the coming days, we will further strengthen our efforts and continuously work to empower the poor, downtrodden and deprived sections of society. While taking all the precautions, we will further expand the economic activities,” Modi said

The nation’s top priority during the lockdown was to ensure that no one remains hungry, and the Central government, state governments and civil society, all did their best, he added

The prime minister said his government will continue to work ceaselessly for ‘aatamnirbhar Bharat’

“We all will be vocal for Local. With this pledge and commitment, the 130 crore people of this country will have to work together and move forward together.”

Speaking on the coronavirus situation, he said India is comparatively in a better position compared to many countries of the world, as timely imposition of lockdown and other decisions have saved lakhs of lives

But, he also expressed concern that since ‘Unlock-1’ began there is an increasing “negligence” in personal and social behaviour

“Earlier, we were very careful with respect to wearing of masks, social distancing and washing of hands for 20 seconds. But today, when we need to be more careful, increasing negligence is a cause of worry,” he said.

Srinagar: As deaths due to Covid-19 infection crossed 100 mark today in Jammu and Kashmir, the data reveals most of the deceased were declared Covid-19 positive posthumously. This trend has shaken the confidence of people among health professionals as people are wondering why almost every deceased especially in Valley turns Covid-19 positive. These include the young people and even those who sustained injuries in road accidents.

In Handwara, a young boy was allegedly attacked with axe, received head injuries, died at SMHS Hospital, but declared Covid-19 positive after the death. The news came as a shock to the family who said that the cause of death may give relief to those responsible for the death of the boy.

Another glaring example is the death of a 24 year old youth from South Kashmir’s Shopian district who suffered injuries in a fatal road accident and died in the hospital but doctors declared him Covid-19 positive.

As reported earlier on 27 June three persons including father-son duo from South Kashmir’s Shopian district were critically injured after their car collided with a Tipper on Srinagar-Jammu highway near Pampore. One among the three died on way to hospital while injured Abrar died today and was declared Covid-19 positive. Family alleged negligence saying no neuro-surgeon was available in the hospital to take care of Abrar. “Doctors closed the chapter and to evade questioning, they declared the young man Covid-19 positive,” said a relative of Abrar to news agency KNT.

The data reveals that most of the deaths occurred in SMHS Hospital. Though patients were non-Covid, when admitted in the hospital, but posthumously tested positive for Coronavirus infection. SMHS Hospital is a non-Covid hospital. “It is irony that non-covid patients are being declared Covid positive after their death in a non-Covid hospital,” said an attendant of a patient.

A medico said that since SMHS Hospital is not a Covid-19 designated hospital like CD, JVC or SKIMS so may be the hospital administration is not taking utmost precautions.

Doctors Association Kashmir President Dr Nisar-ul-Hasan believes that every hospital in Valley is infected. He told Kashmir News Trust that there are great chances of gadgetry, beds, ICU’s are being infected with Covid-19 in every hospital. Chances are, even young men can catch infection when admitted in the hospital and I think same happens with those young people who die of road accidents or any other ailments and turn positive for Covid-19 infection just because hospitals carry this lethal infection.

“Hospitals have become active agents of this infection and we should take utmost precautions,” Dr Nisar said.

A medico on condition of anonymity demanded the constitution of ‘Empowered Death Audit Committee’ who could see the actual cause of death. He said that in many cases, Covid-19 may be one of the factors of the death, while the bigger cause may be something else. “It’s important to form this Committee before issuing Death Certificates,” he said. (KNT)

Srinagar: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Tuesday said the novel coronavirus is killing more men than women in Kashmir valley.

“More men are dying from Covid-19 than women,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Nearly 72 percent of those who died from Covid infection in the valley were men while women accounted for 28 percent of deaths,” he said

Dr Nisar said based on our analysis from the data of all 88 deaths in Kashmir Valley as of June 30, 63 (71.60 percent) were men and 25 (28.40 percent) were women.

“70 percent of men who died from the novel virus were above 60 years of age and the average age was 62,” he said.

Dr Nisar said 86 percent of male deaths had preexisting medical conditions with high blood pressure in 18 (28.57 percent) followed by diabetes in 10 (15. 87 percent), chronic lung disease in 8 (12.69 percent), cardiovascular disease in 6 (9.52 percent), cancer in 4 (6.34 percent) and chronic kidney disease in 4 (6.34 percent). Two had brain hemorrhage, one had chronic liver disease and one had hematological condition.

“9 (14.28 percent) had no underlying health issues and they were apparently healthy,” he added.

Dr Nisar said our data is in line with the global trend. “A similar gender gap in mortality has emerged from countries like Italy, Spain, China, South Korea, France and Germany,” he said.

“The pattern of greater male death rate was also seen in other two coronavirus outbreaks caused by MERS and SARS,” he added. Dr Nisar said the gender disparity in death could be biological or behavioral.

“Women have more robust immune system than men and are able to fend off infection. The female sex hormone appears to play a role in immunity, as does ‘X’ chromosome which contains immune-related genes. Women carry ‘2X’ chromosomes, men only one,” he said.

Dr Nisar said men smoke at higher rates than women that damages the lung defense and increases the risk of severe infection.

“Males are more likely to have medical conditions that can make Covid-19 infection more fatal in them,” he added.

“Being male is as much a risk factor for Covid as being old. People need to be aware that there is this pattern,” said Dr Nisar.

“The intruders group was challenged at Parkian Gali along the LoC but it fled away taking advantage of darkness”, the Army said.

The Army on Tuesday said it foiled an infiltration by at least 6 to 8 armed men from across the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday.

“The intruders group was challenged at Parkian Gali along the LoC but it fled away taking advantage of darkness”, the Army said.

Their suspicious movement was spotted on June 29-30 in two groups and “our own troops challenged the infiltrators with fire. The infiltrators ran away taking help of darkness”, the Army said.

With inputs from The Hindu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday reported four deaths due to covid-19, taking the number of people succumbing to the virus in J&K to 100.

Among the fresh fatalities, three were reported from Kashmir Valley while one was from Jammu division’s Kathua district.

Two of the deaths in Valley took place in CD hospital here—one of them a 23-year-old man from Shopian and another, a 65-year-old woman, from Bhagat Barzulla.

Talking to GNS, Medical Superintendent CD hospital, one of the exclusive facilities for the management of covid-19 patients said that the 23-year-old man was shifted from SHMS hospital yesterday.

“He was having head injury was in serious condition,” he said, adding, “The 65-year-old woman from Bhagat Barzulla was on ventilator. She was hypertensive, diabetic and had other ailments.”

Earlier, an 85-year-old woman from Basohli area of the Kathua district died at GMC Jammu.
The octogenarian was the first covid-19 victim in the district.

“She was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and was on oxygen since admission. She died at 7.30 a.m. today,” Dr. Nasib Chand Digra, Principal Dean Government Medical College Jammu, told GNS.

With history of travel, she was admitted to the JMC on June 25 and was on oxygen support since, a senior doctor of the hospital said.
Later in the day, a 55-year-old covid-19 positive patient from Baramulla district died at a hospital here.

A resident of Dewan Bagh Baramulla, the 55-year-old businessman was admitted to SKIMS Bemina on June 27, hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Shifa Deva told GNS. “He was suffering from pneumonia,” she said.

With these deaths, 100 people so far have succumbed to the virus in J&K— 88 from the Valley and 12 from Jammu division.

Srinagar district with 23 deaths has the highest fatalities followed by Baramulla (16), Kulgam (13), Shopian (12), seven each from Jammu and Budgam and Anantnag and Kupwara (5), Pulwama (four) while one death each has been reported from Bandipora, Poonch, Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Kathua. (GNS)

Point at Chushul on the Indian side on Tuesday morning while the earlier round was held on the Chinese side at Moldo

Talks between Corps Commanders of India and China began at Chushul in Ladakh on Tuesday morning aimed at reducing tensions along the border as earlier efforts at de-escalation made no headway on the ground.

The talks between Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh, General Officer Commanding of the Leh-based 14 Corps and Maj. Gen. Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang Military District began at the Border Meeting Point at Chushul on the Indian side. The earlier round of talks were held on the Chinese side at Moldo opposite Chushul.

At the second round of talks on June 22, the two sides had come to a “mutual consensus” to disengage along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and defence sources had stated that modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and would be taken forward by both the sides. However, there has been no progress since, which officials described as a wait and watch situation.

A similar consensus agreed to between the Corps Commanders on June 6 was breached following the violent clash at Galwan valley which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel. India’s consistent demand has been restoration of status quo ante of pre-May 05 positions and deinduction of forces built up by China along the LAC. Satellite images and reports have since emerged showing further build-up of defensive positions by China at Galwan area, Pangong Tso and Depsang plains in the last few weeks.

With inputs from The Hindu

PTI

Pakistani troops opened unprovoked fire towards Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Naugam sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday in violation of a ceasefire agreement, an army official said.

“On 30 Jun 2020, in the morning hours, Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation (CFV) along the LoC in Naugam sector (in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district) by firing mortars and other weapons,” the official said.

He said befitting response is being given to the Pakistani aggression.

There were no reports of any casualties so far.

Srinagar: A 52-year-old man from Baramulla, who was tested positive for COVID-19, died at JVC hospital in Bemina on Tuesday, thus taking the overall death toll due to the virus to 98.

Dr Shifa Deva, Medical Superintendent at JVC Bemina told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a 52-year-old man was tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted at

JVC hospital on June 27 with bilateral Pneumonia and other ailments. “He was kept in ICU where he died on Tuesday due to Cardiac arrest,” she said.

Earlier, a woman from Kathua, 85, died due to COVID-19 this morning.

With two more deaths one each in Jammu and Kashmir division, the death toll due to COVID-19 has reached to 98 in J&K including 86 from Kashmir and 12 from Jammu division—(KNO)

Fresh satellite images show that China has expanded its heliport located 21.3 km north east from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Pangong Tso area

Latest images show that China has revamped another old helibase, located in Pishan County, Hotan in Xinjiang, 176 kilometres north of Galwan

New Delhi: At a time when escalated border tensions near Ladakh have led to build-up by defence forces of India and China, fresh satellite images show that China has expanded its heliport located 21.3 km north east from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Pangong Tso area. The images show that no new heliport has been constructed.

Latest satellite images accessed by TOI also show that China has revamped another old helibase and new infrastructure has been added. The helibase is located in Pishan County, Hotan in Xinjiang, 176 kilometres north of Galwan. The new images were taken on June 22 this year and compared with those taken in 2017.

Defence experts, however, said that India with two helipads closer to LAC has more advantage. The two Indian helipads built in 2017 are right next to Finger 4 where an ITBP camp is positioned. The twin helipads stand next to each other, three km west of foxhole point at the base of Finger 4.

Former 15 Corps commander Lt Gen Satish Dua (retd) told TOI that Indian Army would have an advantage over the People’s Liberation Army since its helipads were more strategically located.

“To fly a combat chopper in narrow valleys like these is not easy, but they will have to be used for reconnaissance, logistics supplies and casualty evacuation on the frontline which gives advantage to India as our helipads are closer to LAC,” said former 15 Corps commander Lt Gen Satish Dua (retd) while speaking on the use of helipads in such areas.

Another expert on condition of anonymity pointed out that even in Galwan — where the June 15 clash took place — India can make use of a 1.5 kilometre-wide stretch of land near Shyok river that allows for comfortable landing for large helicopters such as AH-64E Apache and Ch-47 F Chinooks.

“The People’s Liberation Army Air Force had flown Mi-17 choppers over Galwan between June 8 and June 20 from Hotan to a small helistrip in Hot Springs. But this small helistrip was 70 km away from the clash site. On the other hand, India has a helistrip right next to Shyok, 5 km from the site of that clash,” he added.

With inputs from TOI

ANI

As according to the reports, Pakistan violated ceasefire along Line of Control in Tangdhar Sector in Kupwara