Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: Thirty persons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir in last 24 hours, officials sources said on Friday. With these cases, the Jammu and Kashmir’s overall tally has surpassed 1000-mark.

Dr G N Yatoo, Nodal Officer coronavirus control measures at SKIMS Soura told GNS that eight samples which were processed at hospital’s viral diagnostic lab returned positive of the virus.

They include six from Baramulla and one each from Pulwama and Bandipora districts, he said.
Nodal officer Dr Salim told GNS that out of 655 samples processed at CD Hospital Srinagar’s Microbiology Lab, 12 came out to be positive for virus. They are mostly travelers, sources said.

Late last night, ten people from Srinagar, Kupwara and Udhampur districts had tested positive for the virus. (GNS)

The money will also be used for reforms in social security net, making it more integrated, portable and focussed on urban poor.

The Government of India is getting another $1 billion loan from the World Bank to support its COVID-19 relief measures and financial assistance for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. The money will also be used for reforms in social security net, making it more integrated, portable and focussed on the urban poor.

The loan was approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on Thursday, an official statement said.

Last loan

Last month, the bank approved a $1 billion loan to support the health sector.

The new support will be funded in two phases. An allocation of $750 million — more than ₹5,600 crore — will be made immediately to help fund the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, which the Centre announced in March to scale up cash transfers and free food grain distribution to vulnerable communities, pensioners and poor workers, and provide insurance support to health workers.

The second phase will provide $250 million — almost ₹1,900 crore — post July, which will fund additional cash and in-kind benefits based on local needs through the State governments and portable social protection delivery systems.

World Bank’s India director Junaid Ahmad said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has also put the spotlight on some of the gaps in the existing social protection systems. This programme will support the Government of India’s efforts towards a more consolidated delivery platform – accessible to both rural and urban populations across state boundaries.”

The loan would help India move from more than 460 fragmented social protection schemes to an integrated system, which would be faster, more flexible and also acknowledge the diversity of needs across states, said the bank. Geographic portability would be introduced to ensure that social protection benefits could be accessed from anywhere in the country, providing relief to inter-State migrant workers. There would also be a shift from the current rural focus of social protection schemes to include the needs of the urban poor as well.

Mr. Ahmad said, “The platform draws on the country’s existing architecture of safety nets – the PDS, the digital and banking infrastructure, and Aadhaar – while positioning the overall social protection system for the needs of a 21st century India. Importantly, such a system will need to leverage India’s federalism enabling and supporting the States to respond quickly and effectively in their context.”

With inputs from The Hindu

Srinagar: Cyber Police Kashmir appealed people that stringent action under law will be taken against those impersonating fake names or pictures on social media.

Superintendent of Police (SP), In-charge Cyber Police Kashmir Tahir Ashraf while talking to KNS appealed people to desist from duping people while impersonating fake names or pictures on social media as elements behind it would not be spared unpunished. “Those using fake IDs and images to dupe community members are resorting to felonious offense and elements involved in the act would not be spared with impunity”, SP Tahir Ashraf said.

He said since Covid-19 lockdown enforced across, there is a lot of pressure on Cyber Police as people in general has used social media to get things online, money transaction, bookings, orders etc which is being monitored keenly. “Since Covid-19 lockdown, people used to get everything through online and it has obviously put lot of burden on the shoulders of Cyber Police personnel. To avert any untoward incident and maintenance of law, we are monitoring cyber traffic regularly”, SP said.

SP added that Cyber Police received several complaints regarding money swindling since lockdown was implemented but after intervention we have reverted around 27 lac rupees from fraudulent ones. He also said that whenever Cyber Police received complaints regarding fake IDs, we didn’t hesitate in taking action against such elements.

SP appealed people to desist from using fake IDs as it will invite stringent action under law. “Whenever we received any complaint in this regard we lodged FIRs and actions against the elements involved”, he said. (KNS)

Jammu: The deceased S. Surjeet Singh, age 70 years R/o Digiana, Jammu who was brought dead to the GMCH Emergency on 12-05-2020 at 07:20 pm, was immediately examined by doctor on duty and was found dead. Since, his attendants suspected his death due to COVID-19, on their insistence his dead body was shifted to Mini Mortuary, GMC Jammu, the area which is specially designated for Covid-19 suspect/ COVID positive dead bodies following all Standard precautions. His Naso Pharyngeal Swab was taken in the Mortuary for COVID19 and sent for testing on priority basis. His COVID test was reported Positive on 13-05-2020 at around 01:40 pm and after this, all the concerned agencies (CMO Jammu, Epidemiologist Jammu, SHO Bakshi Nagar) for tracing and testing of contacts and disposal of dead body were informed immediately.

One of his attendant reported to Hospital Administration around 06:30 pm and he was asked to contact and coordinate with local Police authority for shifting and cremation of dead body. At around 08:00 pm some more attendants came and asked for ambulance for shifting of dead body as they had planned cremation on the same day at Jogi Gate, Jammu and the ambulance (JKO2BS 9324, Driver Sh. Pawan Kumar, Mob No. 9419261815) was provided immediately. At around 08:30 pm, after providing all personnel protective gears to four attendants of the patient along with driver of the ambulance, the body was shifted to Cremation Ground at Jogi Gate.

However, since patient attendants were not allowed to cremate the body there due to objections raised by the local residents, the driver was forced to bring the dead body back to the hospital, where on the instructions of the Hospital Administration, the body was again kept in designated chamber in GMC Mortuary for COVID-19 patients.

On 14-05-2020 at 05:45 am, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Jammu informed Assistant Medical Superintendent, GMCH that the cremation of dead body shall be done at 06:30 am following this, an ambulance (JKO2BD 2065, Driver Mohd Akram, Mobile number (9697102524) was kept ready at the mortuary site at around 6.40 am for shifting of deceased.

Two attendants of the deceased arrived around 08:00 am but were not ready to assisting and shifting of the dead body initially but were convinced by the administration and members of their religious organisation for the same. Following this, three sanitary workers and two attendants in full personnel protective gears shifted the dead body from Mortuary to the Ambulance for formal cremation at Shastri Nagar Cremation ground with the coordination of the local/civil administration at 09:40 am.

Keeping in view, above mentioned fact the allegations labelled against the Government Medical College administration are false and baseless the Hospital authorities have fully supported for Cremation of the deceased with honour. (KNT)

Srinagar: School education department Thursday directed private schools not change fees quarterly stating that the decision about transport charges shall be taken separately.

The education department has also issued instructions to private schools for collection of tuition fees from students to ensure withdrawal of salary of staff. According to News Agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), School education department has directed the private schools to only charge tuition fees on monthly bases and not to hire fees.

The order issued by government reads that, “Only tuition fees shall be charged from students on monthly basis, instead of quarterly basis for the lockdown period”.  “No fee hike shall be made during academic session 2020-2021”, it reads

It reads that, “annual fee, if any, can be charged monthly on pro-rata basis, after schools re-open.”

“No school shall deny access to online education, material, classes to poor/deserving students unable to pay school pay due to prevailing situation”, the order reads.

The order further reads that “registration of private schools, which have expired during lock down period shall be deemed valued till lockdown period is over.”  “A view regarding transport charges shall be taken separately,” reads the order—(KNO)

Returnees barred from containment zones for 14 days

Local people held a demonstration in Ladakh’s Leh district on Thursday against the Union Territory administration’s new COVID-19 containment rules and the move to charge between ₹2,500 and ₹3,000 at non-administrative quarantine facilities from the students and pilgrims who had returned. Scores of protesters took to the streets in Leh’s Chuchot, a containment zone, and began a demonstration against the rules to counter the pandemic in the region.

The police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters.

Saira Bano, a Block Development Council chairperson, who was injured in the scuffle, demanded action against policemen who thrashed women protesters. “We have already conveyed [to the administration] that we are ready for surveillance of our kids and pilgrims, as per the WHO guidelines. The way rules are followed in other containment zones should apply in Leh as well,” said Ms. Bano.

According to Leh District Magistrate’s order, those arriving from outside Ladakh and have relatives in containment areas “will not be allowed to enter their villages under any circumstances… They shall be allowed to live with friends and relatives outside the containment zone for 14 days.”

Sayeeda Ladakhi, a councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Leh (LAHDC-L) from Chuchot, in a letter addressed to Commissioner Secretary, Health, Rigzin Samphel, demanded that the U.T. administration rescind the order. She said the ₹2500 to ₹3000 tariff fixed by the DM for non-administrative quarantine centres had caused resentment among the people. “Students, pilgrims and patients have already suffered in the past two months due to the lockdown. They are forced to live in hotels paying heavy daily tariff,” she said.

Tundup Nubu Cheetha, another resident, asked why LAHDC-L had failed to organise a quarantine facility for people free of cost.

District magistrate, Leh, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, was not available for his comment.

With inputs from The Hindu

Suggestions for Jammu and Kashmir Aggregator draft Rules 2020 invited

Srinagar: Transport Department J&K has called for objections/ suggestions regarding “Jammu and Kashmir Aggregator draft Rules 2020”.

Principal Secretary School Education and Transport Department Dr Asghar Hassan Samoon said that Uber, Ola cab type aggregator would operate in J&K once the policy is approved.

He said that any company registered under the companies act or a registered firm can apply for a licence to the Transport Commissioner to become an aggregator.

“The applicant shall be in operation for at least three years, have valid GST and PAN besides atleast 250 taxies/ autos, a developed MIS system, web- portals and mobile app for operation along with details of parking facility and 24*7 call center and a registered office in the area of operation,” reads the Jammu and Kashmir Aggregator draft Rules 2020″.

Dr Samoon said that licence granted under these rules shall be valid for a period of 5 years and is subject to renewal after showing satisfactory performance.

“The licensing authority will suspend cancel the licence if the licence fails to comply with any terms/conditions prescribed or any driver of the vehicle attatched with the licensee is guilty of any misbehaviors or misconduct with any passenger or a complaint against the licensee has been proved to be genuine,” draft rules read.

Dr Samoon added that fare charged by the cabs shall not be more than as notified by the Government.

“The licensee shall display the fare rate and provide a fare rate estimator on the website/ internet enabled app used by the licensee to connect the driver and the passenger. The app should have all the security features with up to date technology.” (KNS)

Out of 3619 tests from Srinagar 5 tested positive.

Srinagar Details:

1. Iddgah: 02
2. Lal Bazar: 01
3. Nawa Kadal: 01
4. Kanipora: 01

Further two cases reported from Shopian, three from Ramban and one each are from Pulwama and Udhampur.

It may be noted that today No sample tested Positive at CD Hospital, Srinagar, all 748 Samples tested at CD Hospital turned to be negative.

Cumulative Tally: 983

Fatalities: 11

Srinagar: There has been a huge hue and cry over the safety and return of Kashmiri students stuck in various Indian states and also in various countries but Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary decided to take the challenge head-on to ensure every single student reaches Srinagar safely. In his endeavor he has finally succeeded amid prayers and praises from the students who reached their homes safely amid challenging times of Covid-19.

Witnesses told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a large number of students evacuated from Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh expressed gratitude to Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary for arranging buses for them to move back home after a distressed 45-day long period of uncertainty and hopelessness as they were stuck in various parts of country and abroad.

The students belonging to various districts who reached TRC Srinagar last evening and today morning, including two groups of medical students and others from various institutions apart from some IT professionals. They said that DC Srinagar promptly took up the matter of arranging buses for them with the higher authorities and also for movement passes for which he deserves applauds and praises.

The distressed students told KNO that many of them would not have been able to reach homes given the non-availability of buses and extremely high rates of fare being charged.

“DC Srinagar arranged 11 buses from students from various areas of capital region and organised them into groups for movement. Permissions were granted by J&K Resident Commission through local District Magistrates,” said a visibility happy group of students while landing at TRC here.

Pertinently, each 45 seater bus carried 25-26 students in a group to maintain social distancing as per the policy of Delhi Government. More than 260 students arrived back in these buses. Some of them remained stuck between Kathua-Samba for a long time in view of heavy rush and screening of inbound passengers.

Arriving at TRC Srinagar they expressed gratitude to DC Srinagar for his personal efforts to make it happen which was otherwise getting tough in view of non-availability of buses and scattered students. They said that WhatsApp groups of students were made and DC was added in groups to facilitate . These students belonged to several districts including Srinagar, Bandipore, Anantnag, Budgam. Pulwama and Kulgam.

“Each bus costs Rs 1.30 lakh while as 11 buses organized so far,” official sources said. “The DC Srinagar is also in touch with students in some other cities like Jaipur and Meerut for evacuation.”

It is pertinent to mention that 500 students arrived from Bangladesh in 3 flights while as 4th flight on special request of J&K Govt stands scheduled for March 19. Officials said that bulk tickets were booked by DC office Srinagar to make it convenient for students in view of cumbersome booking process leading to failure of payment and other online payment issues and coordination.

“The students have been accommodated in several hotels of Srinagar while as DC Srinagar has overseen their arrival and arrangements,” they said—(KNO)