Tag: India

India’s Cabinet Secretary reviews arrangements for COVID vaccine roll-out
Asia, USA, World

India’s Cabinet Secretary reviews arrangements for COVID vaccine roll-out

In a high-level meeting, Cabinet Secretary of India, Rajiv Gauba asked all the states and union territories to prepare and maintain a database of the prioritized group of people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during the initial stages.Chief Secretary of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, BVR Subrahmanyam, and Director General of J&K Police, Dilbag Singh along with Chief Secretaries of all the states/UTs participated in the meeting.While reviewing the public health response to COVID-19, the Cabinet Secretary said that at present, three companies are frontrunners in developing COVID-19 vaccines in India, which are currently in the third phase of clinical trials and will be shortly available for usage.He asked the States/UTs to “develop respective databases to prioritize various g...
J&K: GRA Insurance policy for 3.5 lakh Govt employees renewed
Asia

J&K: GRA Insurance policy for 3.5 lakh Govt employees renewed

The Finance Department under the Jammu and Kashmir administration has renewed Group Personal Accidental (GRA) Insurance Policy for 3.5 lakhs gazetted and non-gazetted Government employees of J&K including consolidated, contractual, adhoc and daily wagers.Meanwhile, sanction has also been accorded to the advance withdrawal of an amount of Rs 12.10 crores (Rs 345.74 per employee) under various heads for subsequent release of the amount to M/s Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. as per premium for group personal accidental insurance policy for 3.50 lakhs employees in J&K Government for a period of one year, from the date of payment of premium.
J&K: Revenue dept asks presiding officers to fix all cases within 15 days
Asia

J&K: Revenue dept asks presiding officers to fix all cases within 15 days

The Revenue Department of the Jammu and Kashmir government has issued directions to review all administrative actions which have been held-up due to court orders from the last six months in J&K.It asked presiding officers in revenue courts to fix all the cases within the next 15 days.“The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Kashmir, Commissioner Survey and Land Records, J&K, All Deputy Commissioners, all additional deputy commissioners, all assistant commissioners (revenue), all regional director survey and land records/Tehsildars are impressed upon to review all administrative actions/procedures held upon on account of interim court orders and in case, the court orders are more than six months old, treat them orders as expired and proceed accordingly,” read the circular issued by the ...
J&K Admin Council clears 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project
Asia, USA

J&K Admin Council clears 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project

In a significant decision, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Administrative Council has approved the proposal for the development of an 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project in a joint venture of the JK Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).“The Rs 5300 crore project would be executed by a new Joint Venture Company - Jammu Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited to be formed between the JK Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC),” an official statement said.“The equity contribution of JKPDC in the company pegged at Rs 776.44 crore will be provided as a grant from the government of India”, it said.The statement further said that all the clearances for the project are already in place, he...
’36 Sarpanchs, 768 Panchs elected unopposed’: J&K State Election Commissioner
Asia

’36 Sarpanchs, 768 Panchs elected unopposed’: J&K State Election Commissioner

Jammu and Kashmir’s State Election Commissioner, KK Sharma has said that 36 Sarpanchs and 768 Panchs have been elected unopposed, mostly in Kashmir Valley.“368 Panch constituencies will go for by-elections tomorrow in J&K in which a total of 852 candidates are in the fray including 635 males and 217 females,” he said.None of the candidates in DDC has won unopposed, he said, when asked during a press conference in Jammu.Regarding Sarpanch by-polls being held in the first phase (November 28), he said: “279 candidates are contesting for 94 Sarpanch constituencies. Out of 279, there are 203 male and female 76.”He said that 57 lakh voters will participate in Panchayat elections in eight phases whereas 7 lakh voters will participate in the first phase of elections and around 2001 polling sta...
J&K: Snowfall unlocks Kashmir tourism
Asia, World

J&K: Snowfall unlocks Kashmir tourism

After witnessing a slump for more than seven months due to outbreak of Covid-19 in Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, there is a ray of hope for the valley’s ailing tourism sector as the fresh snowfall in higher reaches is attracting tourists once again.Gulmarg in Baramulla district, which recorded almost two feet of snowfall, has come to life as tourists have started thronging this popular ski-resort. On November 15, as many as 574 tourists arrived at the Srinagar International Airport from different cities, mostly Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai to spend their ongoing Diwali vacations here, officials said.As per J&K Tourism department officials, November 15’s tourist arrivals are the “highest single-day visitor arrivals to the Valley registered during the last seven ...
J&K launches relief drive for 1.45 lakh workers to tide over COVID crisis
Asia

J&K launches relief drive for 1.45 lakh workers to tide over COVID crisis

The Jammu and Kashmir government has registered 2.4 lakh building and other construction workers so that they can be provided social benefits amid the covid-19 pandemic.According to government sources, on the direction of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Rs 70 crore was disbursed among the registered workers as welfare measures in October this year.Besides, rules have been formulated and processes have been sped up under his direction and marriage assistance scheme has also been approved for the registered labourers.“The registered workers shall be eligible for marriage assistance of Rs 25,000 for his or her marriage and the marriage of his/her dependent daughter,” sources said.Around 1.45 lakh workers will be eligible to receive the benefits. The transport workers who have migrated to the...
India, Nepal discuss boundary issue as Indian foreign secretary meets top leadership
Asia

India, Nepal discuss boundary issue as Indian foreign secretary meets top leadership

As Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla met Nepal’s top leadership on Thursday, both the countries discussed ways to handle the boundary issue, which had recently worsened bilateral ties, and bolster cooperation in key areas such as connectivity and infrastructure.On the first day of his two-day visit to Nepal, Shringla met Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali and foreign secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal.Ties between the two nations took a hit when Nepal issued a new political map in May that laid claim to the Kalapani region, which is controlled by India, after New Delhi opened a new road to the strategic Lipulekh region. India rejected the map but said it was open to discussing the matter through appropriate mechanisms.Sources familiar with developments sai...
Covid-19 lockdown: 221 people stranded in Pakistan return to India
Asia

Covid-19 lockdown: 221 people stranded in Pakistan return to India

A total of 221 people, who were stranded in Pakistan for almost eight months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown returned to India on Monday."Out of the total passengers, 135 are NORI (No Obligation to Return to India) visa holders, 11 are Pakistan nationals and 75 Indians. These people were stranded due to the lockdown," an officer at the Attari border said.He added that a medical team from a local hospital would conduct COVID-19 test of all the people arriving in India.A returnee, who had gone to Pakistan to attend the last rights of her mother, said that she was unable to return home because of the lockdown."I had gone to Pakistan because my mother had passed away, but due to the lockdown, we could not return home. With great difficulty, after eight months, I have come back home," H...
Pi Jam launches programme to bring affordable digital education in J&K
Asia

Pi Jam launches programme to bring affordable digital education in J&K

The Pi Jam Foundation, a not-for-profit, award winning organization that aims to integrate affordable technology with education for school students, celebrated the launch of its program in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.Pi Jam has been tirelessly working in the field of digital education and literacy, even in remote areas and low-income schools to make the present generation future-ready and technologically competent.In Kashmir particularly, the role of organizations like Pi Jam becomes even more important as it lags behind other states of India in the fields of computer education and digital skills.The launch event was attended by more than 300 participants across Zoom and FB Live, with the diverse audience including academicians, lawyers, student scholars, IT professiona...