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Jammu: The Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam today chaired a marathon meeting with Deputy Commissioners of all the districts along with their CMOs to kick off preparatory planning for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination for hassle-free and time-bound delivery of the vaccine across the Union Territory.

Administrative Secretaries of departments of Health & Medical Education, Housing & Urban Development, Information, Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) and Deputy Commissioners of all the districts along with concerned Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) were present at the meeting.

The meeting was informed that the COVID-19 vaccines are currently in the third phase of clinical trials and will be available for usage soon. It was also conveyed that to effectively deliver the vaccines at the grass-root level, all districts must undertake detailed micro-planning with regard to vaccination sites, cold chain storage points, and logistics requirements.

MD, NHM informed that currently, the database of prioritized groups of beneficiaries is being compiled with regard to healthcare workers both in government and private establishments, and frontline workers including armed forces, home guards, police, volunteers, municipal workers; who will be administered the vaccine in its initial stages.

The next group that could be taken up for vaccination would comprise persons above the age of 50 years, and persons with co-morbidities followed by the remaining population. For this, a detailed survey would be needed for which the data from Swastha Nidhi survey is being retrieved which will then be augmented with the required additional data.

Further, it was informed that to carry out a dedicated COVID-19 vaccination drive, around 4,500 vaccinators are being identified across the UT with a capacity of administering 100 vaccines per site per day- cumulating to an impressive capacity to deliver 4.5 lakh vaccines a day.

Regarding the human resource requirement at each vaccination site, the Chief Secretary asked the Health department and district administrations to depute 2 trained vaccinators, 1 data operator, 1 record keeper, and 3 volunteers per site to ensure a well-coordinated and accessible vaccination drive.

Further, Chief Secretary directed DCs to ensure submission of micro plans for vaccination sites, cold chain storage points, and logistics requirements by 7th December, 2020. He said that the information regarding the number of vaccination sites, beneficiaries per site/vaccines required, the requirement of ancillary equipment such as vaccination boxes, syringes, ice packs, hub cutters, bio-waste disposable bags; must be worked out well in advance and be readily available with the health department.

Chief Secretary impressed upon the concerned that special efforts should be undertaken to ensure maintenance of the cold chain throughout the distribution channels. DCs were asked to calculate the requirement of Ice Lined Refrigerators (ILRs), deep freezers, large and small cold carrier boxes, and ice packs based on the number of storage points and vaccination sites identified for the purpose. “The efficiency of the vaccination drive will depend upon the accuracy of the micro-planning at district and block levels”, the Chief Secretary said.

The H&ME Department was asked to ensure that the existing arrangements for COVID-19 testing and routine immunization drives for children and pregnant women are not adversely affected by the COVID-19 related vaccination drive. The Department was advised to engage additional vaccinators among MBBS/BDS doctors/interns, staff nurses, auxiliary nursing midwives, pharmacists, and retired persons, besides training potential vaccinators.

Chief Secretary called for greater coordination between the frontline workers of various departments including health, social welfare, school education, rural development, and housing and urban development for conducting a successful vaccination drive.

Chief Secretary also emphasized the need for evolving a multi-sectoral response to the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine by involving NGOs, NCC, and other volunteers, besides maintaining open and transparent communication through a proactive IEC strategy to curb misinformation and rumors. (PTK)

Srinagar: Kashmir Trade Alliance(KTA) said that Interpreting power cut schedule of the department is an injustice to the Kashmiri people. KTA president Ajaz Shahdhar alleged that the entire valley including the city has been plunged into complete darkness by the PDD department.

“The unavailability of electricity has taken a serious turn in the entire valley and has forced consumers to pay their electricity bills without electricity, as well as disconnected them.”He said.

Shahdhar said that The PDD department has intensified the process of plunging the entire valley into complete darkness, while the department is not sticking to its own schedule regarding power cuts.

Ajaz Shahhdar said that due to the epidemic of coronavirus, thousands of patients are being provided oxygen at home at present but due to non-availability of electricity, these patients and their families are facing severe difficulties as due to unavailability of electricity these machines have also been shut down.

He said that the examinations of the students are also going on at present and their studies are being severely disrupted due to lack of electricity. KTA President said that due to non-availability of electricity consumers, especially traders, industrialists and factory owners have been facing a lot of difficulties.

“Every year during the winters, the power outage is now the fate of the people of the valley.”He said

President Kashmir Trade Alliance(KTA) said that small manufacturers are weeping over the unavailability of electricity. Shahdhar said that big claims are made every year to increase power generation, to build new power projects, the mouth of the state exchequer is opened for construction of power projects but the same story repeats in the month of October.

He said that the PDD department is becoming more and more a nightmare for the people of the valley, while the irony is that the power is now cut off for 15 minutes every hour, causing people to suffer from mental disorders (KNS).

Srinagar: Former Director of IB Dineshwar sharma who was currently holding the charge of LG lakshadweep died on Friday afternoon.

As per news agency Kashmir Dot Com-(KDC), Sharma was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Nov 25 and was then shifted to MGM Hospital, Chennai on Nov 27.

Sources told KDC that Interstitial lung is said to be the cause of death. He was also the Kashmir interlocutor and former IB chief. (KDC)

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir reported ten more deaths due to covid-19, taking the fatality count due to the virus to 1718, officials said on Thursday.

Officials told GNS that among the victims, five each belonged to Jammu division and Kashmir Valley.

The victims include a 52-year-old man from Rambagh srinagar, a 75-year-old from Khaniyar, a 68-year-old man from Baghat Barzulla, a 64-year-old man from Buchpora and a 55-year-old woman from Aragam Bandipora.

Among others the victims from Jammu include a 65-year-old man from Parda Akhnoor, a 75-year-old man from Nanak Nagar Jammu and a 50-year-old man from Sarwal Jammu.

With these deaths, the total fatality count in the Valley has reached 1115 and 603 in the Jammu region. Srinagar district with 423 deaths tops the list followed by Jammu (307), Baramulla (163), Budgam (101), Pulwama (86), Kupwara (84), Anantnag (79), Doda (56), Bandipora (52), Kulgam (51), Udhampur (51), Rajouri (50), Ganderbal (39), Shopian (37), Kathua (39), Samba (32), Poonch (22), Ramban (18), Kishtwar(18), and Reasi (9). (GNS)

Says investigations into Roshni Scheme to catch all big fish; restoration of high speed internet under consideration of Centre

Srinagar: Syed Zafar Islam, the national spokesman of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rajya Sabha Member Party, Thursday said that Centre was actively considering the resumption of 4-G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir and the high level probe into the Roshni Scam will catch all big fish who grabbed government land illegally.

Addressing a press conference here, after visiting Shopian district of South Kashmir and Nagrota area of Jammu, Islam said that development has always been a dream for J&K people as all the previous regimes plundered the resources of this beautiful place just to fill their own coffers.

“This is a beautiful place in the India and Prime Minister Narendera Modi is committed towards the development of people of J&K by all means. Development has been ignored by the previous regimes and the regional parties preferred to build their own assets rather than serving the common people,” Islam said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

On restoration of high speed internet in J&K, he said that Centre is actively considering it and “very soon” a decision will be taken on the restoration of the internet services.

He said that he met Gujjar, Bakerbal and other low strata income groups in Shopian, and Jammu, and all told him that previous governments’ did nothing for their uplifment. “Since this area was disturbed, regional parties misused the funds that were pumped in by the Centre for the developed and spent the same for their personal interests,” the BJP MP said.

He said that now J&K is an integral part of India, post Article 370, a new dawn of development is being seen in the UT and the both regions of J&K are heading towards development and prosperity. He said that Central government is working on a model to regularize hundreds of daily wagers engaged by the previous governments’ from time to time.

To a query about Roshini Scheme, he said that politicians used this scheme for their own benefit and grabbed government land across J&K. “High level investigations are on and all big fish will be caught soon.

We are committed to zero tolerance for corruption. One has to be answerable as to where did the huge amount of funds meant for development, go,” Islam said. “Fact is that Central funds meant for J&K’s development were used by the politicians for building their own assets while common people were left to suffer and development remained a dream.”

He said that PAGD alliance leaders are feeling unnerved as BJP fulfilled its commitment of completing the Panchayat Raj System in the J&K after over 70 years. “We have showed that democracy flows from the grassroots level,” he said—(KNO)

Social distancing went for a toss in markets & other public places

Srinagar: Though the authorities have announced that social distancing and wearing masks are mandatory in all public places, However, many across Srinagar and other districts are flouting social distancing norms and mask rules.

“This is pathetic to see such a large number of people shopping. Some are even not wearing masks. I came out to purchase medicines for my ailing father but no social distance norms are being followed,” Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Bemina told news agency KINS.

Customers in srinagar were seen moving from one shop to another without following the social distancing norms. Most of the shops were over-crowded.

“This is scary to walk through markets.” said Rafiya Bano, a resident of Khaniyar.

“People are thronging markets without following norms which is a matter of grave concern,” said a shopkeeper at Lalchowk.
He said it was important to underline the importance of strictly following the COVID protocols.

Some shopkeepers have arranged sanitisers so that customers would disinfect their hands before purchasing.

Hundreds of people could be seen on the streets without wearing masks or maintaining social distance.

This is despite authorities having announced that wearing masks was mandatory in all public places.

“I do wear a mask to protect myself but it won’t make any difference as less than 10 percent of people are wearing masks,” Imran Ahmad, a resident of Nishat said.

He said the government should take strict measures to ensure people wear masks. “If wearing a mask has been made mandatory then why are law enforcing agencies not implementing these guidelines. Why don’t they fine those who are not following COVID guidelines,” he asked.(KINS)

Srinagar: Corruption cases in Jammu and Kashmir have been rising for many years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the people of J&K has also talked about the continuous spread of corruption in the UT.

Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha in his rallies has also talked about corruption many times in his rallies. But now Manoj Sinha has cleared that corruption cases will be filed against all the people who will be found associated with any corruption case and strict action will be taken against them.

In recent days, many meetings between the Central Ministers and LG have taken place regarding the corruption cases, and both the Centre and the J&K government have taken mutual decisions. According to the report submitted by the intelligence agencies to the LG list of people who were associated with corruption cases has been prepared.

In the first list, action will be taken against 8 people, and in the second list action will be taken against 6 people and the process will continue.

Also, many transfers will take place in J&K. As per the reports for the first-time cases will be filed against many big political leaders, CID officials, and officials of J&K Police who misused their power and had used the State resources illegally.

Officials believe that many big faces will be seen with the corruption charges soon. (PTK)

Srinagar: J&K is likely to witness a two-day wet spell from December 7, while a light snowfall is expected in the higher reaches during the intervening night of December 4 and 5, the Meteorological Department said.

Director MeT, Sonam Lotus said that the plains are likely to receive a light spell of snowfall and rains, while the higher reaches of the Valley and Ladakh are expected to receive light to moderate snowfall between December 7 and 8.

He said the weather was expected to remain dry till December 6. However, during the intervening night of December 4 and 5, “weather will remain cloudy with light snowfall likely in the higher reaches of the Valley and Ladakh”.

Lotus said that “no significant change in the present temperature” was expected during the next few days. He said that fog during morning and evening may continue for the next few days. (PTK)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Tuesday said BJP by saying that those who are voting are against Articles 370,35-A reveals that It doesn’t want people to vote at first place because it knows Articles 370,35-A are articles of faith for the people of J&K.

In a statement, Party’s Additional Spokesperson Sarah Hayat Shah said the statements emanating from BJP reveal the tizzy the BJP was going through seeing the immense support people across J&K are giving to PAGD candidates.

“Owing to its frustration, which is quite understandable, the BJP is asking voters to stay inside. But the people in Jammu and Kashmir have made it a point to punish BJP for failing them and cutting down their rights,” she said.

Having a Muslim Majority state within the Union always happened to be an eye sore for BJP and RSS, she said adding, “BJP, RSS want to nurture an ecosystem in Kashmir where there is no place for democracy, whose frail saplings were protected by our party by shouldering the dead bodies of our numerous comrades since 1996.”

She said that people of J&K are voting to strengthen the efforts of Dr Sahib for the restoration of Articles 370, 35-A. “While as the BJP and its team -B in Kashmir is trying its level best to normalize the blunder committed on J&K by hook or crook, the unwarranted interference of administration in Mayoral elections to SMC was just a template of what BJP wants to do in DDC elections. Having contesting candidates confined to hotels, and giving selective security to candidates speaks volumes about the apparent mischief BJP is up to in the DDC elections,” she added.

She urged the voters to come in large numbers to booths to strengthen the efforts of Dr Sahib and the entire platform of PAGD. “In the ongoing DDC elections we are voting for securing our identity, and honor. By resorting to boycott, the people will give a free run to these stooges and minions of BJP to grab the sacred democratic spaces and further hurt the vital interests of the people of J&K in particular the Muslims.

Therefore people should vote and support PAGD, every vote to PAGD will strengthen the efforts of Dr Farooq led PAGD and its other constituents in their efforts for the restoration of what was spitefully snatched from us on 5th of August last year,” she said.