Srinagar, Jan 26 (GNS): The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole unfurled the National Flag and took the salute from CRPF contingent at the office premises today to celebrate 74th Republic Day, here.
The unfurling of tricolor was followed by the National Anthem.
Meanwhile, the Div Com extended Republic Day greetings to the officers of Divisional Administration and security who were present on the occasion.
Among others present on the occasion were Additional Commissioner Kashmir Qazi Sarwar, Additional Commissioner Kashmir Abid Hussain Kira, police officers and other officers and staff of Div Com office.(GNS)
Promotes 350 employees of Health Department to next Grade; terms it as gift on auspicious occasion
Srinagar, Jan 26 (GNS): The 74th Republic Day was today celebrated across all the hospitals in Kashmir with patriotic fervor with the main function held at Swastha Bhawan in Bemina, Srinagar.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Rather unfurled the National flag at the function that was attended by scores of health employees and officers of the department.
The Director extended his greetings to all and wished everyone a happy and prosperous Republic Day.
He stressed upon the employees to work with utmost zeal and dedication, for providing accessible and affordable health care services to the people, which is a dream of free India.
The Director also distributed promotion orders among 350 employees, which he termed as a gift to employees on this auspicious occasion. The employees hailed the move of the director and expressed gratitude for fulfilling their long pending demand.
Pertinently, these promotions were done after 15 years.(GNS)
SRINAGAR: A woman was killed when she was hit with a bullet fired accidentally by her husband from a rifle belonging to a VDC member in Surankote area of Poonch on Thursday. Whether it is a case of accidental killing or otherwise is being investigated, police said.
Quoting a police officer news agency GNS reported that an information was received through reliable sources that a 30-year-old woman identified as Rubina Kouser was killed due to bullet wounds at around 1:30 p.m. Immediately, he said, a police team rushed to the spot and arrested her husband Nassar Ahmad son of Nazir Hussain of Upper Murrah in Surankote. He said that a case has been registered and the weapon, a rifle of the VDC member, has been seized.
A police official said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was fired by Nassar Ahmad and further investigations are underway if the fire went off accidentally or by design.
Jammu, Jan 26 (GNS): A woman was killed when she was hit with a bullet fired accidentally by her husband from a rifle belonging to a VDC member in Surankote area of Poonch on Thursday. Whether it is a case of accidental killing or otherwise is being investigated, police said.
A police officer told GNS that an information was received through reliable sources that a 30-year-old woman identified as Rubina Kouser was killed due to bullet wounds at around 1:30 p.m. Immediately, he said, a police team rushed to the spot and arrested her husband Nassar Ahmad son of Nazir Hussain of Upper Murrah in Surankote. He said that a case has been registered and the weapon, a rifle of the VDC member, has been seized.
A police official told GNS preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was fired by Nassar Ahmad and further investigations are underway if the fire went off accidentally or by design. (GNS)
Jammu, Jan 26: A woman was killed when she was hit with a bullet fired accidentally by her husband from a rifle belonging to a VDC member in Surankote area of Poonch on Thursday. Whether it is a case of accidental killing or otherwise is being investigated, police said.
A police officer told GNS that an information was received through reliable sources that a 30-year-old woman identified as Rubina Kouser was killed due to bullet wounds at around 1:30 p.m. Immediately, he said, a police team rushed to the spot and arrested her husband Nassar Ahmad son of Nazir Hussain of Upper Murrah in Surankote. He said that a case has been registered and the weapon, a rifle of the VDC member, has been seized.
A police official told GNS preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was fired by Nassar Ahmad and further investigations are underway if the fire went off accidentally or by design. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 has presented a grim picture of the education system in Jammu and Kashmir ranging from a dip in enrolment numbers to poor infrastructure and lack of proper sanitation facilities.
As per the ASER report, the enrolment numbers of children in the 6-14 age group has gone down from 58.3 per cent in 2018 to 55.5 per cent in 2022. This dip comes against the backdrop of the school education department claiming that they have been running campaigns across Jammu and Kashmir to increase enrolment. Also, at the national level, there has been an increase in the enlistment of students.
As per the report, 4.8 per cent of children in the 15-16 age group are not enrolled in schools in Jammu and Kashmir.
At the pre-primary level, the report states that in 2022, around 63.6 per cent of infants were registered at Anganwadi Centres. However, the enrolment improved from 31.8 per cent in 2018 to 39.4 per cent in 2022.
The report also highlighted the gender gap in grown-up children in terms of their enrolment in schools. As per the data, girls in the age group of 15-16 years usually drop out of school more than boys.
The report states that the percentage of students undertaking private tuition from up to middle school level has seen a rise from 8.8 per cent in 2018 to 13.8 per cent in 2022.
The ASER survey reveals a gap in learning outcomes among students of government and privately run schools.
“In UT, the private school children were making progress before 2022 and are still progressing. The Government school children were facing obstacles pre-pandemic but are on the move to progression,” the ASER reads.
The report states that the arithmetic level of students in government schools has seen progress over the years. Despite this, only one in four children of 8th standards in government schools can do division, compared to one in two in private schools.
The ASER report also points out that the unavailability of computers for children in schools has come down from 82.8 per cent in 2018 to 71.6 per cent in 2022.
The report revealed an increase in electricity connections in schools which rose from 31.2 per cent to 88.9 per cent in 2022.
The report underlined that the education department needs prompt help in achieving foundational skills in literacy and numeracy besides exerting pressure on grades.
“While many children have not been enrolled, the ones who have dropped, especially girls, need to be brought back,” ASER stated.
The report divulged that 30 per cent of schools in Jammu and Kashmir lack water facilities. In the matter of drinking water, the availability has increased by 15 per cent from 69.3 per cent in 2018.
Furthermore, the annual survey report revealed that around half of schools in Jammu and Kashmir have a paucity of girls’ toilets. It stated that 72.8 per cent of schools have toilets, which are being used by both girls and boys, which signifies that approximately 47 per cent of the girls have a shortage of toilets. However, it has also been seen that there is a 5 per cent increase in the facility since 2018.
The survey was conducted across 20 districts with around 10,924 households and 21,666 children in the age group of 4 to 16 years contacted. The ASER is an annual survey that delivers reliable estimation of children’s schooling status and household research all over India.
“We are trying to fill the learning gaps, and as of now, we are moving towards prosperity. With the adoption of the New Education Policy, this year has been regarded as a year of academic excellence and transformation,” Director School Education Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain said in response to the revelations made by ASER. “The National Achievement Survey has revealed that we have jumped from the 18th position to the 8th position, which is quite an accomplishment.”
He added: “This is a continuous process and we are trying and planning to improve the curriculum and infrastructural issues.”
SRINAGAR: The J&K Mechanical Engineering Graduates Association (JKMEGA) on Thursday congratulated the entire team of PW(R&B) Department for receiving Award for Meritorious Public Service on 74th Republic Day, 2023 from the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and especially to the Team Leader Shailender Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Govt, PWD J&K, under whose able administration, the department has unleashed its potential to the fullest in various fields.
In a statement JKMEGA said that be it online billing mode via JKPWDOMAS, Regularization at various levels in Engineering cadre, Restructuring of the system by bringing more transparency and accountability, Re-organization etc. It is a superlative demonstration of the leadership and dedication towards the service of society, public deliverance and for engineering cadre.
“We at JKMEGA take this opportunity to thank Shailender Kumar (Principal Secretary to Govt, PWD) and his entire team of HRM for initiating the process of eradicating the menace of adhocism in the department,” said the statement.
“We humbly request that in the ongoing Re-organization of the R&B Department, due consideration be given to the demands put forth by the JKMEGA for proper utilization of Mechanical cadre and paving way for budding Mechanical Engineers to embrace the Government service providing mechanism. The Mechanical Engineering being the backbone of modern civilization and main component of establishment of incubation centers across different sectors has tremendous requirements in Health, Horticulture, Agriculture and its allied sectors, Ropeway Projects, Hydro Power Projects, Transportation, Material Testing, Electro-Mechanical Machinery and what not. We sincerely hope that the reorganization shall mark the beginning of new era of mechanization in service deliverables of the department and ensure fullest utilization of Mechanical Cadre in every sector,” said JKMEGA in a statement.
Jammu, Jan 26: The BSF and Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets and greetings at various outposts along the International Border in Jammu on the occasion of India’s 74th Republic Day on Thursday, officials said.
The Border Security Force offered sweets to Pakistan Rangers and they reciprocated, the officials said.
The exchange of sweets took place at border outposts in Akhnoor, Samba, Kathua, Arnia and R S Pura in a cordial manner, a Border Security Force official said.
Indian Army troops also exchanged sweets and greetings with their Pakistani counterparts at forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts, according to the officials.
Republic Day was celebrated at the frontier headquarters here.
BSF Inspector General D K Boora unfurled the tricolour on the occasion and conveyed his warm wishes to all ‘Seema Praharis’ serving at the International Border and the LoC and their families. He also recalled the supreme sacrifices of BSF troops.
The IG said the BSF has always faced all challenges firmly to ensure the safety of Indians and will always be committed to the security of the nation.–(PTI)
SRINAGAR: Body of teenage girl who had jumped into the river Jhelum in Khanpora area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on December 31, was retrieved after 26 days on Thursday.
Quoting an official the news agency KNO reported that the girl had jumped into river Jehlum near Khanpora bridge in Baramulla.
He said that following the incident, a massive search operation was launched, however, there was no trace of her.
The official said after 26 days her body was retrieved today near Veerwan area of the district.
He said after medico-legal formalities the body was handed over to legal heirs for last rites.
Srinagar: The government’s decision has been communicated to Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Dheeraj Gupta.
Quoting Administrative Council decision No. 13/1/2023, an official memo reads ” The administrative council approved the proposal with the direction that the proposed Property Tax, which will take effect on 1st April 2023, shall be levied at half of the proposed formula.”
Numerous political parties, including the BJP, have voiced their opposition to the imposition of property taxes.
However, according to official sources, the Central Government only releases sizeable subsidies to Urban Local Bodies if they implement the Property Tax. “The ULBs will benefit greatly from the release of these grants.”
They said that the plan to impose Property Tax in the Union Territory has been under consideration by the Housing and Urban Development Department for a long time now.
However, according to sources, the Department may initially only apply Property Tax to commercial buildings and exempt residential structures due to opposition to the plan from a number of political parties and groups, including the BJP.
“We have been told to complete the groundwork for the imposition of property tax in Srinagar,” said a senior SMC official.
Additionally, in the past, prior administrations tried multiple times to impose a property tax in Jammu and Kashmir but were forced to give in to political pressure as a result of hostility to the idea.
The J&K administration was given permission by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in October 2020 to impose property taxes in the Union Territory through Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Municipal Committees.
With the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020, the MHA amended the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000.
The statutes passed by the previous Legislature also included provisions for the imposition of property taxes in the former State of J&K.
The MHA had substituted Sections 72 to 80 and now Section 72 states in the previous Acts of 2000.
“Unless exempted under this Act or any other law for the time being in force, Property Tax shall be levied on all lands and buildings or vacant lands or both situated within the Municipal area.
The Property Tax shall be levied at such percentage not exceeding 15% of the taxable annual value of land and building or vacant land or both as the Government may, by notification, from time to time specify,” the order reads.
It said the Property Tax assessed and levied shall be subject to revision once in three years by enhancing the tax by such percentage not exceeding 10 percent of the tax as may be prescribed, commencing from the financial year from which the Property Tax is determined.
