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  • COVID-19: Three lakh people associated with Kashmir handicrafts struggle to feed their families

    Srinagar: At least 3 lakh people associated with handicrafts in Kashmir are struggling to feed their families due to subsequent lockdowns since August 5 last year.

    Kashmir remained shut for months after abrogation of Article 370 in August last year and now COVID-19 has complicated the problem.

    Amid this, at least 3 lakh people associated with handicrafts including carpets, papier-machie, shawls, wood carving are finding it difficult to feed their families. Kashmir’s handicrafts are famous across the world due to quality and are man-made.

    Ghulam Mohammad, 45, a resident of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district has been selling vegetables on a footpath for the last two months.

    “All the money I had saved which I earned through carpet weaving has been exhausted. It is over a year now, we are making no earnings,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS). Before August 5 last year, he would earn Rs 600 per day. He had two more people who were assisting him in carpet weaving.

    There are so many artisans who have taken up odd jobs to manage the expenses of their families during the lockdown.

    “We were making earnings even during the worst times. But this time, our business is shut as we are not able to export carpets in international markets,” said Bashir Ahmad, a carpet dealer.

    Gulf and European countries form a major customer base for Kashmiri carpet dealers.
    They have suffered huge losses as they could not export the goods.

    Mohammad Subhan, a papier-machie artist from Srinagar has been sitting idle since the COVID-19 began in March.

    “We have been badly hit first by lockdown post abrogation of Article 370 and now COVID-19 pandemic. There is no availability of raw material,” he added.

    The Kashmiri craft of papier-machie mainly uses wood, leftover wood pulp and paper waste.

    Every year Subhan would participate in various artisan fairs across India like in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Gujarat.

    However, this year, these fairs were not organized due to COVID-19.

    President Kashmir Artisans Rehabilitation Forum Parvez Ahmad Bhat said 3 lakh people associated with handicrafts are in bad condition.

    “People associated with handicrafts have taken a loan of Rs 300 crore and the government should waive off that so their business could survive,” he told news agency KINS.

    He said presently there is no business in the handicrafts sector.

    “We are neither able to export goods in the international market nor there is any domestic market. All the orders made earlier this year have been cancelled,” Bhat said.

    President Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), Sheikh Ashiq said the Kashmir economy has suffered losses over Rs 40,000 crore for the last one year.

    “Every sector be it tourism, handicrafts, transport, traders, IT has been badly hit for the last one year. Five lakh people have become jobless in the last one year,” Ashiq said.
    KCCI is an umbrella body of business organizations in Kashmir.

    “Our handicrafts sector which is Rs 2000 crore annual economy is in shambles. More than 3 lakh people are dependent upon the handicrafts sector and they are struggling to feed their families,” he said.

    KCCI has also raised the issue with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and sought special packages in every sector which suffered heavy losses for the last one year.
    An official from the Department of Handicrafts said the coronavirus pandemic has impacted all forms of trade globally. (KINS)

  • AMU to start admission process from October 23

    PTI

    Aligarh: Aligarh Muslim University will begin its admission process from October 23, according to an official notification issued on Friday.

    The entrance tests for admission to various university courses were postponed earlier due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    According to Controller of Examinations Mujibullah Zubairi, wearing masks will be mandatory and social distancing will be observed by increasing the number of test centres.

    The candidates found suffering from fever will be allocated special isolation rooms at the examination centres, he added.

    The university will hold examinations in phases. In the first phase from October 23 to November 10, it will hold admission tests for several courses, including BA, BSc, BCom, BEd and MBA.

    As per the revised schedule, the entrance for admission to Class 6 at schools affiliated to the university will be held on October 23. This will be followed by a test for admission to Class 9 on October 27, a spokesman of the university said. Admission tests for senior secondary schools will be held on November 1.

    According to AMU spokesperson Shafay Kidwai, the schedule for remaining courses will be announced later. He said no date has been finalised for the completion of the examination process as of now.

  • Bipin Rawat appears before parliamentary panel on defence

    PTI

    New Delhi: Amid a prolonged standoff between India and China along the LAC in Ladakh, Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat on Friday appeared before a parliamentary panel on defence.

    While the official agenda for the meeting was listed as ”provision and monitoring of the quality of ration and livery items to the Defence forces, especially in border areas”, some members have said they will raise the issue of the Ladakh situation.

    The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence is chaired by BJP leader Jual  Oram. Members who attended the meeting on Friday included Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

    This is probably the first time Rahul Gandhi is attending this committee”s meeting since being nominated to the panel last year after Lok Sabha elections.

    Pawar had told reporters earlier in the day that he will ask for a presentation for the members of the panel on the situation at LAC in Ladakh.

    The Indian Army and the Chinese People”s Liberation Army (PLA) have been locked in a tense standoff in multiple areas along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since early May. Shots were fired across the LAC on Monday for the first time in 45 years with the two sides accusing each other of firing in the air.

    However, the two countries reached an agreement during talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday evening for a five-point roadmap including quick disengagement of troops and avoiding any action that could escalate tensions for resolving the four-month-long face-off, while noting that the current situation at their border is not in the interest of either side.

    Government sources said the Indian side strongly raised the deployment of a large number of troops and military equipment by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and conveyed its concern. The Chinese side could not provide a credible explanation for the troops” buildup, the sources had said earlier on Friday.

  • Pak targets forward areas in Poonch

    PTI

    Jammu: The Pakistan Army on Friday opened heavy fire and shelled mortars at forward areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said.

    This is the third consecutive day that Pakistani troops have targeted areas along the LoC.

    “At about 0830 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms & shelling with mortars along LoC in Mankote sector in district Poonch,” a defence spokesman said.

    The Indian Army retaliates befittingly, he added.

    On Thursday, the Pakistan Amy had opened fire with small arms and shelled mortars along the LoC.

    On Wednesday, they had targeted Malti and Degwar sectors along the LoC in Poonch with mortar bombs.

    On September 2, a JCO was killed in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army along the LoC in Keri sector of Rajouri.


  • China approves clinical trails of nasal spray COVID19 vaccine

    PTI

    New Delhi: As the race to develop the first effective vaccine against Covid-19 intensifies, China on Thursday gave a go-ahead for clinical trials of a nasal spray vaccine against the deadly viral infection.

    As per reports in the Chinese official media, the phase 1 clinical trials of this nasal spray vaccine is likely to start in November. Authorities are recuruiting 100 volunteers for this.

    Reporting the development, Chinese state-run Global Times said this is the only vaccine of its type to be approved by China’s National Medic

    The vaccine is a collaborative mission between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

    It involves researchers from the University of Hong Kong, Xiamen University, and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy.

    Microbiologist from the University of Hong Kong, Yuen Kwok-yung, said the vaccine stimulates the natural infection pathway of respiratory viruses to activate the immune response.

    “The nasal spray vaccination could generate double protection for vaccine recipients – influenza and the novel coronavirus – if it also contains influenza viruses including H1N1, H3N2 and B,” Yuen said, adding that it would take at least another year to finish the three clinical trials.

    According to a report in CGTN, the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases has been working on this vaccine with Xiamen University and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy.

    In a statement, the Hong Kong University said its vaccine strategy has been selected as one of the five vaccine technologies by the Ministry of Science and Technology for further evaluation.

    The nasal spray vaccine uses live attenuated influenza vaccine; the other four technical routes China is using to develop the coronavirus vaccines are inactivated vaccines, adenoviral vector-based vaccines, and DNA and mRNA vaccines. The inactivated vaccine is estimated to be the earliest to be in the market.
    However, it is not yet clear whether immunity generated from nasal spray vaccinations will last longer than for injected vaccines, the Global Times report said.

    So far, China has approved clinical trials for three Covid-19 vaccine candidates. It has also authorised emergency usage of Covid-19 vaccines developed by some select domestic companies.

    “We’ve drawn up a series of plan packages, including medical consent forms, side-effects monitoring plans, rescuing plans, compensation plans, to make sure the emergency use is well regulated and monitored,” Zheng Zhongwei, head of China’s coronavirus vaccine development task force told the official media in Beijing last month.

    An emergency use authorisation, which is based on Chinese vaccine management law, allows unapproved vaccine candidates to be used among people who are at high risk of contracting the infection in a limited period.

    The novel coronavirus, which originated from China’s Wuhan city in December last year, has claimed 904,485 lives and infected 2,79,02,002 globally. The US is the worst affected country with 190,887 deaths and 6,363,729 infections and India has the second highest number of cases.

  • Revised SOP issued for conducting exams amid COVID-19

    PTI

    New Delhi: The government has issued a revised SOP for conducting examinations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, removing the provision that allowed symptomatic candidates who insist on taking an exam to do so in isolation.

    According to the revised document by the Health ministry, in regular course, a symptomatic candidate should be referred to the nearest health centre and given an opportunity to undertake the examination through other means, or the university or educational institution shall arrange for taking the exam at a later date when the student is declared physically fit.

    “However, if a student is found to be symptomatic, the permission or denial thereof, in such cases shall be granted as per the policy already enunciated on the issue by the Examination Conducting Authorities,” the revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) said.

    The ministry had on September 2 issued guidelines as per which staff and examinees from containment zones shall not be permitted to be physically present at exam centres and there will be alternative arrangements for such students.

    Such students shall be given an opportunity to undertake the examination through other means, or universities and educational institutions shall arrange for taking the exam at a later date for them.

    According to the SOP, appropriate arrangements for personal protection gears like face covers or masks, and other logistics like hand sanitisers, soap, sodium hypochlorite solution etc. shall be made available by universities, educational institutions, examination conducting authorities or examination centres to the staff as well as students as per requirements.

    “Exam functionary and examinees may also submit self-declaration about health status at the time of entrance to the examination centre. Such self-declaration form may be circulated at the time of issue of admit tickets,” the guidelines said.

    If any examination functionary or examinee fails to meet the self-declaration criteria, they shall not be allowed entry, the SOP underlined.

    Also, only asymptomatic staff and students shall be allowed inside the examination hall, the SOP stated, adding wearing face cover or mask is mandatory.

    The face cover or mask has to be worn at all times inside the examination centre by all, it underlined.

    Authorities concerned should plan out the examination schedule in a staggered manner so as to avoid overcrowding at any examination centre on any day, the SOP stated.

    Examination centres in containment zones shall not be allowed to function, it said.

    For pen and paper-based tests, the SOP outlines that the invigilator will sanitise his or her hands prior to the distribution of question papers or answer sheets and the examinees will also sanitise their hands before receiving or handing back these materials.

    The collection and packing of the answer sheets at every stage will involve sanitisation of hands. The answer sheets will preferably be opened up after 72 hours have elapsed post collection of papers, the guidelines recommended.

    “Use of spit/saliva for counting and distributing sheets shall not be allowed,” the SOP stated.

    The examination centre should have a designated isolation room for isolating any person who is found symptomatic at the time of screening or during examination, till such time medical advice may be sought.

    A clear policy on allowing or disallowing symptomatic candidates to undertake examinations shall be delineated by the examination conducting authorities in advance, the SOP stated.

  • 2 JeM militants held, arms recovered

    PTI

    Srinagar: Security forces have arrested two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants from Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered arms, ammunition and cash from their possession, the Army said on Friday.

    “Based on a credible input, multiple joint check posts were established in Drugmulla area of Kupwara on Thursday,” an army official said.

    He said two JeM militants travelling in a car were arrested late in the evening and the security forces recovered an AK rifle with ammunition, two grenades, Rs 7 lakh in cash, and other war-like stores from them.

  • COVID-19 cases in India cross 45-lakh mark

    PTI

    New Delhi: India’s COVID-19 caseload sprinted past 45 lakh and the death toll climbed to 76,271 with a record 96,551 infections and 1,209 fatalities being reported in a day, while the recoveries crossed 35 lakh on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

    The total coronavirus cases mounted to 45,62,414, while the recoveries surged to 35,42,663, the data updated at 8 am showed.

    The COVID-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.67 per cent while the recovery rate was recorded at 77.65 per cent.

    There are 9,43,480 active cases of COVID-19 in the country which comprises 20.68 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

    India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and it went past 40 lakh on September 5.

    According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 5,40,97,975 samples have been tested up to September 10 with 11,63,542 samples being tested on Thursday.

  • India, China agree on 5-point plan for resolving border tension

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow.

    After a two and a half hour long meeting that went into the night in Moscow, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said they have agreed on a five point course of action to de-escalate the four month long standoff between troops at the Line of Actual Control.

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a meeting in Moscow. Credit: Indian EmbassyExternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a meeting in Moscow. Credit: Indian Embassy  

    “The two Foreign Ministers agreed that the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions,” a joint press statement issued after the meeting, the first face-to-face meeting between the two ministers since the LAC standoff began.

    The five point plan includes abiding by the consensus between PM Modi and President Xi to “not allow difference to become disputes”, quick disengagement to ease tensions, abiding by existing India-China border protocols and avoiding escalatory action, continuing dialogue between the Special Representatives NSA Ajit Doval and Mr. Wang as well as the other mechanisms, and finally, to work towards new Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

    According to sources, Mr. Jaishankar conveyed “strong concern” over the Chinese PLA troops mobilisation along with equipment along various points of the LAC.

    “The Chinese side has not provided a credible explanation for this deployment. The provocative behaviour of Chinese frontline troops at numerous incidents of friction along the LAC also showed disregard for bilateral agreements and protocols. The Indian side clearly conveyed that it expected full adherence to all agreements on management of border areas and would not countenance any attempt to change the status quo unilaterally,” the sources added.

    While the agreement to de-escalate was made by the leaders, both sides said they have left it to the border commanders on the ground to work out the modalities of positioning for the troops, while they would give the process diplomatic support. Given that border commanders have been in contact on disengagement procedures since June and have made little headway thus far, it is unclear from the statement how the process would now change and hasten disengagement. Neither side has made a mention of restoring the “status quo ante” to positions held by troops in April, before the PLA mobilisation.

    “The immediate task is to ensure a comprehensive disengagement of troops in all the friction areas. That is necessary to prevent any untoward incident in the future. The final disposition of the troop deployment to their permanent posts and the phasing of the process is to be worked out by the military commanders,” government sources said.

    Sources on the Chinese side said that Mr. Wang had stuck to China’s “stern position” in the border areas, “emphasising the imperative is to immediately stop provocations such as firing and other dangerous actions.” However, the wording of statements from Chinese officials was more conciliatory and less accusatory than in the past week.

    “Wang said China-India relations have once again come to a crossroads. But as long as the two sides keep moving the relationship in the right direction there will be no difficulty or challenge that can’t be overcome.”

    The meeting between the Foreign Ministers in Moscow, which was facilitated and encourage by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who hosted them at the SCO meeting, and then a Russia-India-China lunch which set the stage for the bilateral talks on Thursday. It is expected to be followed by talks of the Special Representatives and another meeting of the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India China border affairs (WMCC). In November, Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend the G-20 summit in Saudi Arabia, which will be the first time the two leaders, who have not spoken yet once during the standoff, could meet.

    With inputs from The Hindu

    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Ladakh | Officials confirm two incidents of firing

    Shots were first fired on August 30 as Indian troops prevented PLA efforts to change status quo.

    The south bank of the Pangong Tso (lake) where Indian and Chinese troops are currently engaged in a face-off, witnessed firing in the air not only on September 7 but also a week earlier, a senior government official told The Hindu.

    The official said the first incident when a few rounds were fired in the air was reported on August 30 from the same area. It was not clear how the firing began.

    An IAF helicopter flies over a mountain range in Leh on September 10, 2020.An IAF helicopter flies over a mountain range in Leh on September 10, 2020. | Photo Credit: AFP

    This is the first time since 1975 that shots were fired along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian Army said on Tuesday that it was the Chinese troops who fired a few rounds in the air on September 7.

    On August 31, the Army issued a statement, saying China had carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo in the south bank of the Pangong Tso and “Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity”.

    The official said the two instances of firing were worrying as no concrete solution on restoring the status quo had been achieved so far through military and diplomatic-level dialogue.

    “So far, the policy at the China border has only been reactionary. China takes some action and Indian troops react. It cannot be a long-term solution as winter is approaching and it will be difficult to maintain posts at such high altitudes,” said the official.

    Till now, no dispute has been reported in the south bank and for the past week, the Indian Army has dominated the ridges and hills here.

    The official asserted that the Army had not transgressed into Chinese territory and was occupying ridges and heights that fall in Indian territory.

    China has been amassing troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since April-May. Many areas in Depsang, Gogra-Hot Springs, Galwan and the north bank of Pangong Tso, within the LAC, have been out of bounds for patrolling by Indian troops since May.On June 15, as many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Galwan Valley.

    The official said the number of Indian troops in eastern Ladakh has been doubled in the past few days. “Both sides carry automatic weapons now but it is as per the agreed norms and within the prescribed limit. We have no clarity till when the tensions will persist,” said the official.

    As reported by The Hindu, a massive build-up had again begun in the Finger area of the north bank since Tuesday evening but no violent incident was reported.

    “The current position in south bank gives the Indian troops an advantage as they have a clear vision of the Chinese base at Moldo. They are exposed. The action at north bank seems to be a reaction to it. China is occupying ridges and heights in the Finger area of north bank, India has matched presence,” the official said.

    With inputs from The Hindu

    (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)