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  • Cow dung ‘chip’ reduces radiation from mobiles: Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog chief

    Srinagar: Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) Chairman Vallabhbhai Kathiria unveiled a ‘chip’ made of cow dung and claimed that it reduces radiation from mobile handsets and it will be a safeguard against diseases.

    Speaking at the launch of a nationwide campaign ‘Kamdhenu Deepawali Abhiyan’, which is aimed at promoting cow dung products, Kathiria said: “Cow dung will protect everyone, it is anti-radiation… It is scientifically proven…This is a radiation chip that can be used in mobile phones to reduce radiation. It will be safeguarded against diseases.”

    The ‘chip’, named Gausatva Kavach, is manufactured by Rajkot-based Shrijee Gaushala. Set up in 2019, the RKA aimed at conservation, protection and development of cows and their progeny.

    The Aayog, which comes under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has started a nation-wide campaign to encourage the use of cow dung-based products during festivals.

    Kathiria further appealed to people to avoid using China-made diyas this Diwali, stating that the campaign launched by the RKA will also boost the ‘Make in India’ concept of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ‘swadeshi movement’. (PTK)

  • Protest against Farooq Abdullah’s remarks on special status of J&K in Jammu

    Srinagar: A local political outfit, The Dogra Front protest against national conference leader and member of parliament Farooq Abdullah’s remarks on the issue of restoring of special status of Jammu and Kashmir article 370 and 35a which gave special right to people of Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Dogra Front workers, raising slogans against Farooq Abdullah during the protest, members also demanded the termination of Farooq Abdullah Lok Sabha membership.

    The protesters appealed to Lok Sabha Speaker to take cognizance of Farooq Abdullah’s “anti-national” remarks on Article 370 and take action against him.

    However Hindu Sena has put up posters outside the Chinese embassy in New Delhi stating that it is time to take him to China. The poster has a picture of the former CM of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah with “ADOPT” written on it. The Hindu Sena has themselves shared the images while condemning the comment made by Abdullah.

    Earlier Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) National Spokesperson Sambit Patra accused Farooq Abdullah of making “seditious and anti-national” statements on the issue of restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Sambit Patra said, “Questioning the sovereignty of the country, questioning the independence of the country. Does it suit an MP? Aren’t these anti-national things?”

    Patra said, “Earlier, Farooq Abdullah said that if you go to Jammu and Kashmir and ask people if they are Indians, then people will say that we are not Indians. In the same statement, he also said that it would be good if we could join China.”

    “According to him, the reason for China’s aggression is the abrogation of Article 370,” opined Patra.

    He added that Abdullah is the same person who had said if Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India. (PTK)

  • Former DGP SP Vaid, wife, son tests COVID-19 positive

    Srinagar: Former Director General of Police (DGP) of J&K Shesh Paul Ved, his wife and son on Tuesday tested Covid-19 positive and appealed all those who came in his contact from last two weeks to get tested.

    Taking to micro-blogging site twitter, Vaid said “Today morning me along with my wife and son have tested positive for #COVID19. I express my heartfelt gratitude to all who have blessed me and my family by wishing me well. All who have been in direct contact with me in last 2 weeks please get yourself tested and quarantined”.

    Notably the graph of virus has witnessed decline in past few days while recovery rate of the infected patients have also shown good results. (KNS)

  • AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

    “Unless we are making progress in our nursing every year, every month, every week, take my word for it we are going back.” Florence Nightingale Nurses are considered the backbone of the health care system.

    They are the linchpin component across a wide continuum of care. In India, nurses make two third of health workforce. Despite being a vital link between the health sector and patient, yet the condition of nurses in India is very poor.

    The nursing profession lacks strategic representation at the key decision making forums at both state and national levels. This apathy in the nursing profession is the major contributing factor to all the root problems and challenges faced by nurses. Nursing profession is being plagued with various problems some of these problems faced by nurses in India particularly in our UT J&K are shortage of staff, non-nursing roles, insufficient wages, fraudulent approval of nursing colleges, workplace mental violence, lack of recognition, workplace health hazards, lack of security, unclear promotion criteria, no proper in-service education system, lack of autonomy in work, nurse-patient ratio, bullying etc.

    This is by no means a comprehensive list. These problems arise due to issues at the organizational, state and national level. It’s we, the nurses who are dealing with the realities of these issues on a daily basis. So the nurses should be key players in creating and finding solutions to these issues and the solution is to delve deeper into the roots of the problems and explore possible solutions to curb them. If we take a keen look on these issues, first and foremost important problem to solve is related with Nursing Council of the UT which is run by non-nursing professionals, whose recruitment was a vague process.

    State Nursing Council is the main body in the state for the said profession, when its members know nothing about this profession what professional development or welfare activity would we expect from this regulatory body in our UT. In J&K, we have a good eligible nursing personnels who can run this council successfully. In order to make this council fruitful for the J&K, proper recruitment should be done for the council which would also fulfill the recommendations laid down by Indian Nursing Council (INC) for State Nursing Councils (SNCs).

    Second most important issue is insufficient wages, not even providing minimum pay scale which was approved by the Supreme Court. You see in J&K, both private hospitals and nursing colleges pay not more than Rs.10000 even to PG holders of nursing, thus violating the law of minimum pay scale. Even though every year these colleges are being inspected yet no action is taken against them for violating various laws.

    Law of minimum pay scale is the need of an hour which should be applied to nurses both in government and private sectors. One more main problem which actually is not a problem but a big form of corruption is related with recognition of Nursing Colleges in J&K. In our J &K, newly built nursing colleges are following a trend, whereby they on fang curriculum vitae of nursing personnels and make an agreement with them just for the day of inspection or some even recruit the staff and terminate them within a month or two after inspection.

    Here in J&K we can see that one nurse is linked to many nursing colleges. Even if the SNC inspection body does recognise this fraudulent action on the part of nursing colleges, they unmind it and provide an approval to the college. This not only makes the students to suffer but also increases the unemployment among nurses. So there should be proper verification of all the requirements of nursing colleges and just one inspection should not be the criteria for the approval of recognition.

    For me, shortage of nursing staff whether in hospitals or nursing colleges is an unacceptable matter in the place like J&K where you have a large number of unemployed nursing candidates. We see in hospitals and nursing colleges of J&K whether private or government, we have a great number of vacancies of nurses which are left unfilled or some posts have been occupied by non nursing professionals like you see principals of various private as well as government nursing colleges are doctors who are not eligible at all for the said post because their professional backgrounds are wholly and solely different from our nursing profession.

    These issues need to work out for mitigating unemployment pressure among nurses and for the improvement of the Quality Nursing Care by lightening the workload of already overburdened nurses in colleges and hospitals.

    Someone has rightly said that “you don’t build a house without its foundation, you don’t build a hospital without a nurse”, but it is very unfortunate to say that all the major nursing posts such as Nursing Director / Chief Nursing Officer, Deputy Nursing Director/ Deputy Nursing Officer, Matron, Nursing Supervisor and Deputy Nursing Supervisors etc are vacant or have been occupied either by doctors or under qualified staff which lacks efficacy in management thus making the ground level nursing workers to suffer from such a mismanagement.

    One more curse in nursing profession is the deputation of the staff where a single person occupies two posts at a same time thus rendering ineffective job roles at both places or keeping the one place totally devoid of the functions of the post occupied which is a menace to the profession.

    These deficits in the nursing profession disrupt the whole nursing care. Within a robust health care system access to the skilled motivated and supporting nursing care for all people and everywhere is of paramount importance. So it is important to recognise the problems faced by nurses and to solve them on timely basis.(KINS)

    Iqbal Majid Dar
    The author can be contacted on
    [email protected]

  • ‘Mischievous in character’: SC dismisses petition seeking ban on Halal slaughter

    Srinagar: Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea seeking ban on Halal form of slaughtering of animals which is adhered to by the Muslim community.

    A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul questioned the intention of the petitioner and also said that the court cannot interfere with the food habits of people.

    “Court cannot determine who can be a vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Those who want to eat Halal meat can eat Halal meat. Those who want to eat Jhatka meat can eat Jhatka meat,” the bench which also comprised justice Dinesh Maheshwari said.

    The court was hearing a petition filed by an organisation, Akhand Bharat Morcha, challenging Section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

    The said section provides that killing of animals in a manner required by the religion of any community will not be an offence under the act.

    Various forms of killing of animals, like Halal in which jugular vein of the animal is severed leading to blood of animal draining out leading to death of animal and Jhatka where animal is killed instantaneously by a single strike of sword to sever the head, are protected by Section 28.

    While Halal is practiced by Muslims, Jhatka meat is consumed by Hindus.

    The petitioner argued that killing of animals by Halal method is extremely painful for the animal and such exemptions under Section 28 in a secular country should not be allowed.

    “Halal is extremely painful. Inhuman slaughter of animals in the name of Halal should not be permitted,” it was submitted.

    It was also pointed out that Jhatka does not cause suffering for animals since it dies instantaneously in such a method of slaughter while in Halal, the animal dies a painful death.

    The bench, however, declined to entertain the plea. “Your petition is mischievous in character,” the top court said.(KINS)

  • 180 militants killed this year: DGP

    Srinagar: Stating that in Barzulla, Srinagar encounter, a top Laskar- e-toiba commander from Pakistan and his local associate were killed, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Monday said in 75 anti-militancy operations this year, 180 militants were killed.

    He also added security forces won’t allow militants to establish base in Srinagar and said only one militant who is also involved in series of attacks is active in the city.

    Terming Rambagh encounter a “successful” one, DGP commended forces personnel for smooth conduct of operation. “Today’s operation was a successful one. All operations against militants conducted this year were clean and conducted in a professional manner”, Singh according to KINS said. However he maintained that in the recent Batamaloo encounter one woman got killed due to cross fire in a congested locality while all operations conducted so far were conducted in a clean manner and with professionalism.

    “The slain commander of LeT killed in Rambagh area this morning was involved in series of attacks on security forces including the recent attacks of Nowgam, Chadoora and Kandizal, Pampore”, DGP who was addressing a press conference in Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar told media personnel.

    Police Chief at the occasion said that on specific tip-off about the presence of militants, security forces this year carried out 75 anti-militancy operations in which 180 militants including foreigners were killed.

    In a query whether militants are trying to set their base again in Srinagar city, DGP said “Security forces are alert all the time. We will not allow militants to establish their base in Srinagar.

    Whenever any militant outfit tries to establish its base in Srinagar, we successfully corner the militant with the help of our intelligence and other sources”, he said and added “This year eight encounters took place in Srinagar city in which 18 militants including a top Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander were killed”.

    When asked about the figure of active militants in Srinagar city, DGP said at present only one militant is active in the city who too is involved in a couple of attacks on security forces and asserted that the said militant too will be brought to justice very soon.

    When asked how many security personnel were killed this year, he said Jammu and Kashmir Police has lost its 19 men while Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 21 and added Army has lost 15 soldiers among majority was killed at LoC.

    Replying to a query as to how many youth were brought back after joining militant ranks this year, DGP said 26 youth who had joined militancy were reunited with their families. “26 youth who had joined militant ranks were brought back with the help of their parents and efforts of police”, DGP said.

    When asked whether there is any rehabilitation policy for those shunning the path of militancy, DGP said there is no rehabilitation policy in place for those quitting militancy however he added that whenever there would be any such policy, that will be shared accordingly.

    Earlier on a specific input about the presence of militants in Rambagh area of Srinagar, a joint Cordon & Search Operation (CASO) was launched by Police and CRPF in the area, an official said.

    He said that during searches, the presence of militants got ascertained who were given the opportunity to surrender after evacuating civilians from the house however they fired indiscriminately upon the search party which retaliated, triggering an encounter.

    “During exchange of fire, two militants of LeT outfit were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter”, official said and identified the slain militants as Saif-ullah (a top Pakistani LeT commander) and Irshad Ahmad Dar alias Abu Usman of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. He added Irshad was active since May 2019 and involved in several attacks on Police and security forces.

    According to police officials, the dead bodies of killed militants shall be sent to Baramulla for burial after conducting required medico-legal formalities. (KINS)

  • Govt says, ‘India sustains trend of steadily declining active cases’

    Srinagar, Oct 12 (KINS): The government Monday said that India continues to report a trend of steadily decreasing active Covid- 19 cases.

    “Presently the active cases comprise merely 12.10% of the total positive cases of the country standing at 8,61,853. India is also reporting a high number of recoveries. The total recovered cases are close to 61.5 lakhs (61,49,535). The difference between active cases and recovered cases is consistently increasing and stands at 52,87,682 today,” the government informed as per the news agency KINS.

    “71,559 patients have recovered and discharged in the last 24 hours whereas the new confirmed cases are 66,732. The national Recovery Rate has progressed to 86.36%.
    77% of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 10 States/UTs.

    Maharashtra and Karnataka contribute more than 10,000 to the single day recovery.
    66,732 new confirmed cases were recorded in the last 24 hours” it said.

    “81% of these are from 10 States and UTs. Maharashtra is still reporting a very high number of new cases with more than 10,000 cases followed by Karnataka and Kerala with more than 9,000 cases each.

    816 case fatalities have been reported in the past 24 hours. Of these, nearly 85% are concentrated in ten States/UTs.

    More than 37% of new fatalities reported are from Maharashtra (309 deaths)” (KINS)

  • LG thanks PM, DM, BRO for constructing 10 new bridges in J&K

    Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the 10 new bridges in the Union Territory, saying that it will open new paths of development, peace and prosperity in the region.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier Monday inaugurated 44 bridges made by the BRO across seven states and UTs in an event through video conferencing.

    “The newly-inaugurated bridges will play a crucial role in strengthening the connectivity to far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir and enhancing the operational efficiency of our forces.

    I strongly believe that bridges are not only a critical component of a country’s infrastructure but they also connect people and have power to change the destiny of a society and economy of the region,” Sinha said during the meeting held via video conferencing.

    The Lt Governor expressed hope that there will be greater socio-economic development in Jammu and Kashmir in the year ahead and development would reach its every nook and corner. Singh said that the construction of these bridges will facilitate military and civil transport in the western, northern and northeast areas of the country.

    “Our armed forces personnel are deployed in large numbers in areas where transport is not available throughout the year,” he said.(KINS)

  • Rajnath Singh dedicates 44 bridges built by BRO across seven States and UTs

    Rajnath Singh Monday dedicated 44 major permanent bridges across seven states and Union territories.

    He also laid the Foundation Stone for Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. These bridges are of strategic importance and provide connectivity to remote areas.

    The 44 bridges are spread over seven states / union territories.

    According to news agency KINS the dedication ceremony was conducted through a Video Conference in the presence of Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff, Gen MM Naravane and Defence Secretary, Ajay Kumar at New Delhi. Union Minister, Kiren Rijiju, Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim & Uttarakhand, Lt Governor of J&K, with Members of Parliament, civil / military dignitaries along with members of the public at various sites in respective States/ Union Territories attended through a video link.

    In his address, Rajnath Singh congratulated DG and all ranks of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for their achievements and said that dedication of 44 bridges in one go in itself was a record.

    Rajnath Singh said in the challenging times of COVID-19 and despite the border tensions and disputes caused by Pakistan and China, the country was not only resolutely facing them but also bringing about historical changes in all sectors of development under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Lauding the BRO for its role in improving the border infrastructure, Rajnath Singh these bridges improved connectivity in the far flung areas of Western, Northern and North East sectors and fulfilled the aspirations of local people. They would also meet the transport and logistics requirements of the armed forces throughout the year, he added.

    Raksha Mantri said that roads and bridges are the lifeline of any nation and play a vital role in the socio-economic development of far flung regions. Reiterating the Central Government’s commitment to boost development activities in border areas, he said that progress of all projects is regularly being monitored and adequate funds are being provided for their timely execution.

    He said that the annual budget of BRO that varied from Rs 3,300 Crores to Rs 4,600 Crores in 2008-2016, saw a substantial rise and is pegged at over Rs 11,000 Crores in 2020-21. There was no reduction of this budget despite COVID-19.

    The Defence Minister also announced that the government has sanctioned high altitude clothing to BRO engineers and workers.

    Rajnath Singh also laid the Foundation Stone of the strategically important Nechiphu Tunnel on the road to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

    This 450 mtrs long, bi-lane tunnel would ensure all weather connectivity across Nechiphu Pass besides providing a safe and secure passage through accident prone areas.

    Briefing the dignitaries, Lt Gen Harpal Singh, DG BRO, said the 44 bridges of various spans ranging from 30 mtrs to 484 mtrs are located in J&K (10), Ladakh (08), Himachal Pradesh (02), Punjab (04), Uttarakhand (08), Arunachal Pradesh (08) and Sikkim (04). They are of strategic importance and have been designed to facilitate movement of heavy civil & military traffic in border areas.

    In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, these bridges will contribute towards the overall economic growth of remote border areas and will also assist in speedy deployment of Armed Forces in strategically important sectors.

    He said that in addition to expediting road construction, the BRO has laid special emphasis on construction of bridges by completing 28 major bridges last year while 102 major bridges are being completed this year. 54 of these bridges have already been completed. Over 60 Bailey Bridges have also been constructed by BRO to meet immediate requirements of armed forces and people living in remote areas.

    BRO has worked relentlessly even during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions continuing with works of strategic importance like Construction of Major Bridges & Roads, Atal Tunnel Rohtang, Sela Tunnel etc, and Snow Clearance for opening of Strategic Mountain Passes.

    In spite of unprecedented snowfall breaking a 60 years record, all strategic passes & roads were cleared for traffic about one month before their average yearly opening dates. This brought relief to people of border areas and ensured rapid & early movement of troops & logistics.(KINS)

  • Finance Minister announces major schemes to boost demand in country by Rs 73,000 Cr

    Srinagar: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced major schemes to boost demands in the country by nearly 73 thousand crore rupees.

    Addressing a media briefing in New Delhi, the minister laid out the details of the fiscally prudent proposals to stimulate demand in the economy.

    According to news agency KINS, Sitharaman informed that the new proposals aim at giving a thrust of around 36 thousand crore rupees to the consumer demands by the Leave Travel Concession LTC Voucher and Festival advance scheme.

    Additionally she said, 37 thousand crore rupees will be infused in the capital expenditure by the Centre and the State Governments.

    Briefing about the schemes, the Minister informed that in lieu of the LTC for the 2018-21 block term, payments will be made to the government employees for their 10 day Leave encashment and eligible travel fare.

    She informed, the employees opting for the scheme will have to submit GST invoices for purchase of goods or services amounting to three times the value of travel fare in addition to the value of LTC encashment amount.

    She said, the amount has to be spent for goods or services attracting GST of 12 per cent or more from a GST registered vendor.

    The Finance Minister informed that the new proposal is likely to cost nearly 5 thousand 675 crore rupees to the Central Government. She said, if the proposals are uniformly implemented by the State governments, an overall additional consumer demand to the tune of 28 thousand crore rupees will be generated.

    Under the special festival advance scheme, Nirmala Sitharaman said , an interest free advance of 10 thousand rupees will be made available to all government employees. She said, considering 50 per cent states as well adopt the scheme, it is likely to infuse nearly 8 thousand crore rupees in the demand sector.

    In her announcement towards special assistance for states for utilisation under capital expenditure, the Finance Minister informed that special interest free loans with a 50 year repayment term and amounting to 12 thousand crore rupees will be disbursed.

    Under the assistance scheme, 2 thousand 500 crore rupees will be given to the North Eastern States and Northern States Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

    Seven thousand 500 crore rupees will be given to other states in proportion to their share in Finance Commission devolution.

    The Minister also announced that an additional amount of 25 thousand crore rupees will be provided by the Centre through capital expenditure on roads, defence infrastructure, water supply, urban development and domestically produced capital equipment. (KINS)