SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved a mega Rs 39-crore project with an avowed objective of exploring the huge floriculture potential keeping in view the varied agro-climate and ecological conditions in the Union Territory for giving boost to flower production.
“The project is expected to provide direct employment to 2000 besides creation of 330 new enterprises”, Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department said.
He said Jammu and Kashmir has long been known for its rich and diverse agri-ecozones, making it an ideal location for growth of a thriving floriculture industry. Abundantly endowed with natural wealth and scenic splendor, the UT is completely conducive for cultivation of a wide range of flowers. The aesthetic value of flowers, their increasing use in the social events and potential of generating more money are attracting prospective entrepreneurs towards floriculture industry.
Splendid gardens and parks in J&K are being enjoyed by the tourists from across the globe.
However, despite this potential, the sector has not been able to make a significant contribution to the horticulture economy in the region so far. The main reasons for this are the small number of growers and enterprises, lack of aggregation platforms and weak post-harvest and branding efforts. And, to fill up these gaps the J&K government recently approved this ambitious project to boost commercial floriculture in the region.
aromatic flower and bulb/seed production. It also aims to produce over 27 crore ornamental nursery plants and 4000 L of aromatic oils worth Rs 4.8 crore annually (from 5th year) and undertake skilling of 4000 growers in cluster mode. The total outlay of the project is Rs. 39.03 crore.
Overall, the new project represents a major step forward for the floriculture industry in J&K. With a focus on cluster-based area expansion, technology upgrades, post-harvest and marketing efforts, the project has the potential to help establish a sustainable and profitable floriculture industry in the region. It is hoped that this project will help to create new opportunities for growers and entrepreneurs, and will contribute to the overall economic development of J&K.
“Promotion of Commercial Floriculture in UT of J&K” is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of Agriculture and allied sectors in UT of J&K. The prestigious committee is being headed by Dr Mangala Rai, Former DG ICAR and has other luminaries in the field of Agriculture, Planning, Statistics & Administration like Ashok Dalwai, CEO NRAA, Dr. P. K Joshi, Secretary, NAAS, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner MOA & FW, Dr. H. S Gupta, Former Director, IARI, Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department apart from the Vice Chancellors of the twin Agriculture Universities of the UT.
Anantnag: 74th Republic Day was celebrated with traditional fervor and enthusiasm in Achabal.
BDC Chairperson Firdousa Akhter, as a chief guest unfurled the national flag and takes salute.
On the occasion, various contingents from civil and police administration, including, SPDO Achabal, Mohd Rakeeb,BDC Vice President Mohd Maqbool Ganaie,BDO Achabal Hakeem Sajad Ahmad,ZEO Ghulam Hassan,SHO Achabal Sarfaraz Ahmad,BMO Achabal Akhtar Hussain,NT Achabal Manzoor Ahmad, PRI’s, Sarpanchs, Ward members, and Media persons were also present at the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest BDC Firdousa in her address extended his Republic Day greetings to the people.
Addressing the gathering, the DDC Chairperson said that the nation is paying rich tributes to the leaders, freedom fighters and martyrs who made countless sacrifices for the freedom of the country. Glorifying their contributions, he said that it is the result of their supreme efforts that we are living in a free country.
Chairperson also deliberated on the ongoing development scenario of the Achabal Area and said that the area is touching new heights with active participation of people in government initiatives.
On this Occasion BDC Vice President Mohammad Maqbol Ganie also Highlighted the efforts besides achievements made by the district under various priority areas including education, healthcare, languishing, back to village, district capex, agriculture and allied sectors, women and youth empowerment, MGNREGA, JJM, water and electricity supply to Anganwadi Centers and schools, rural development, macadamization and road connectivity, Social Welfare, Nasha Mukt Bharat, Industries, self employment and creation of durable and sustainable assets.
The ceremony concluded with prize distribution for Employees from various departments,Media Persons were also felicitated for exemplary public service.
SRINAGAR: Here is the complete text of the speech that Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha delivered on January 26, 2023 in Jammu after unfurling the national flag:
Republic Day Address by Hon’ble Lt Governor Shri Manoj Sinha ( English)
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#Manoj #Sinhas #Republic #Day #Speech( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )
Anantnag: On Thursday, the employees of PDD took lead, risked their lives in order to restore power supply in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district including the villages Palpora, Damhall, Ara-Koshipora, Hakura in no time. Pertinently, the employees have not been provided any safety gear by the department.
Meanwhile, the people of Palpora Ara Koshipora Damhal and Hakura, in Anantnag district hailed the efforts of PDD employees particularly casual labors who worked tirelessly during incessant snowfall and made it possible to restore the power supply in their respective areas.
The said employees of the PDD fall under the jurisdiction of Palpora, Ara-Koshipora, Damhal and Hakura and were led by JE Shiraz Ahmad.
The locals thanked the bravery and dedication of the linemen of PDD for serving people by risking their own lives and climbing electric poles during the heavy snowfall, fixing the electric lines only to make lives of common people comfortable.
Talking to our Correspondent Sheikh Nadeem, residents of the area said that the PDD employees including grid staff of the Department have done a commendable job despite heavy snowfall to restore power supply. The field employees of the PDD Dept ensured the restoration of electricity to all villages.
“We are thankful to the PDD department officials especially to the employees who are on toes to restore electricity within no time,” the residents said.
SRINAGAR: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a new dawn of development from the last three years.
Addressing a gathering on the eve of Republic Day at SK Stadium here, Advisor Bhatnagar highlighted the works and developmental projects carried out by the LG led administration.
As per the news agency KNO, he said that in the last three years, J&K is witnessing a new dawn from the last three years in terms of development, peace and progress.
He said that the incumbent administration is giving priority to the health sector and many initiatives have been taken to ensure better healthcare to the people.
“In this regard, the government has come up with two AIIMS Institutes in J&K at the cost of Rs 4000 crore. The AIIMS in Kashmir to be completed by 2025 while 15 medical colleges and other related institutions have also come up in the UT,” he said.
He added that in the field of medical education, 2100 seats have been increased.
Several schemes have been launched to benefit the farmers in the Union Territory, he said adding that under the different schemes, the farmers are being assisted.
He said 33000 farmers have provided Rs 56 crore under one of the schemes.
The development has taken pace and in the PM Gram Sadak Yojhna, J&K has been ranked 3rd from 21th rank this year.
The road length for macadamization has been increased from 2200 kilometers to 3500 kms while a record 8000 kms will be macadamized this year.
Several other initiatives have been taken up by the government, he said, adding that the international flights have started while Kashmir will be connected with Kanyakumari through rail by next year.
SRINAGAR: The Property Tax in the Urban Local Bodies of Jammu and Kashmir will be levied from April 1, 2023 as decision in this regard has been approved by the government.
However, what can be termed as some relief to the targeted tax payers, the Property Tax will be levied at half of the proposed formula for the same.
According to the reports appearing in th media the approval has been granted to the proposal with the direction that the proposed Property Tax, which will take effect on April 1, 2023, shall be levied at half of the proposed formula.
Government of jammu And Kashmir has issued notice regarding Filing of Annual Property Return by the J&K Government Employees through Online Property Returns System (PRS-Portal)
As per notice Vide No. 52-JK(GAD) of 2022 dated 22.12.2022, all the employees working under Jammu and Kashmir Government have been advised to file their property returns for the year 2022 on the PRS portal, which is accessible on https://prs.ik.gov.in from 1″ of January,2023 to 31 of January, 2023.
It is clarified that non submission of property returns shall invite action against such defaulting employees under relevant provisions of law and shall result in denial of vigilance clearance as well. Accordingly, all the employees who are yet to submit their annual
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Jammu and Kashmir has one of the highest unemployment ratios in India. To overcome joblessness, the government initiated job fairs and invited a lot of companies to hire the unemployed. In 23 fairs, 9743 unemployed youth offered their services to 205 participating companies but only 623 got jobs, reports Fahd Khan
Jobless: A huge crowd of boys and girl job-seekers in a job fair in Srinagar’s mini-indoor stadium in late 2022. KL Image: Hilal Shah
Amid an all-time high unemployment rate and joblessness, Jammu and Kashmir government’s much-hyped job fairs have provided jobs to around six per cent of the participants in 2022 in Kashmir. Lack of technical and communication skills was termed to be the key deficits preventing them from getting hired.
The observation of skill deficit raises doubts about the working of the skilling system, which is apparently a top governance priority.
Background
The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) had highlighted the skyrocketing of the unemployment crisis in the past few years. Till mid-January 2023, it stood at 14.8 per cent, which is the sixth highest in the country. Though the survey outcomes had its own factors including Covid19, it generated a lot of debate over the state of joblessness.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Department of District Employment and Counselling Centres in collaboration with some non-governmental organizations hosted a number of job fairs across Kashmir’s 10 districts. It brought potential human resources face-to-face with potential employers from the private sector.
Officials who arranged these events revealed a total of 9743 unemployed youth participated in 23 job fairs that were organized across 10 Kashmir districts in 2022. Of them, only 623 were provided with on-spot placements. Officials said a total of 205 local and national companies participated in these recruitment rallies.
Srinagar hosted two major events and 2900 youth participated along with 67 local and national companies. Eventually, 25 candidates got on-spot placements, officials said.
In the Pulwama district, one job fair was held that attracted the participation of 213 candidates. At the end of it, nobody got a job order.
In Budgam, two fairs were organised in which 381 youth participated, of whom only 20 got placements. A total of 13 local and national companies participated in the event.
In Ganderbal, only one event was organised in which nine youths out of 900 got on-spot placements. Eleven companies participated in the event.
Anantnag hosted two fairs in which 28 youths got placed among 1211 who participated.
In the adjoining Kulgam district, nine job fairs – the highest among all the districts – were conducted in only 474 got placements among the 3117 youth who had participated. A total of 31 local and national companies participated in the event.
In the Shopian district, two job fairs got 13 people recruited among the 450 youth who had participated.
In Baramulla and Bandipore districts, two job fairs each were organised in which 52 youth from the former district got placed out of 325 total participants while just two received placements in the latter district out of a total of 246 participants.
No job fairs, however, was organised in Kupwara.
As many as 211 youths were recommended for skilling and as many as 3928 on-spot registrations were made on the state employment portal.
Rozgar Mela’s
Apart from these Job Fairs that the Department of District Development and Counselling organised, many similar Job Fairs were organized by non-governmental organizations in view of the surge in the unemployment rate.
In one of such event that the Goodwill Non-governmental organization hosted at Indore Stadium Srinagar, more than 20 MNC’s including local companies participated.
Thousands of youths across Kashmir had thronged the venue to get themselves enrolled in the mega recruitment drives that were being organized both by the government and the NGOs. Some of the companies that participated in the event included SBI Life, HDFC, Jio Care, Tata Motors, Peaks Auto, Kashmir Motors, Himalayan Motors, Shuhul Motors, Ashoka Leyland, LIC, Wishfin, KY Motors, Exide NEO and Fair Deal Motors. Many people even got recruited by US-based companies and are working from home right now.
Problems
Government claims notwithstanding, all these job-linked events provided jobs to only six per cent of the total participants. Many youths who had participated in these fairs alleged that despite aspirants possessing higher qualifications and skills, they were not recruited as the companies didn’t have enough vacancies. As per the participating youth, the low salary was also one of the reasons for them not taking up jobs for which they had to move out of Jammu and Kashmir.
Skill proved to be a major setback for the participating youth not getting jobs in the mega recruitment drives. Many youths claimed that despite coming from far-flung areas with the hope of getting jobs, they were offered loans by participating insurance and banking companies.
In a video on social media, a girl who had participated in an event is heard saying: “With a master’s degree and four diplomas, I had very little hope of getting a job in this event. What more qualifications should I possess to get a job? Even we can’t start our own business as banks provide loans against property only or they charge huge interest rates. Even some companies seek experience for jobs. How come an unemployed youth is experienced when he is never provided with a job? Even we don’t have such an exposure here in Kashmir, where we are trained at the grassroots level to start our own businesses”.
“Many of the jobs being provided in these events are routine basic jobs, “one insider said, talking in anonymity. “Jobs being offered are an insurance agent or marketing persons which one can easily get without participating in these events. There were many schemes like this earlier as well.”
The average salaries fixed during the job fairs were Rs 10000. Whether those who got jobs are satisfied and continuing it is the question to be asked.
Officials Speak
“Most of the companies recruit candidates based on their skills only but the majority of the people who had participated couldn’t meet the required criteria set by these companies,” a senior official in the Directorate of Employment said: “To keep up the pace in today’s world and to get hired by companies, one should possess both communication and technical skills which our youth mostly lack.”
The officer said they were shocked to see that in one of the recruitment drives at the University of Kashmir, only one could make it up to the interview. “The reason being the communication barrier,” an official at the District Employment and Counselling Centre said.
“We mostly deal with the sale and services of automobiles, most of the students were either overqualified or under-qualified for the Jobs we were providing,” one of the recruiting executives in a local automobile concern, who participated in these fairs, said. “For sales, we particularly needed people having good communication skills and those having experience in the service sector. We too aren’t a big company and have already been under a financial crunch since Covid19 and another crisis. Still, we hired around four to five students and they are currently working in our company under probation. Skill was the main reason that we couldn’t provide jobs to the people”.
Developments
It is pertinent to mention that the government has included numerous skill-based courses like IT, management, and tourism at the college level in the past few years, which seems to have a questionable outcome. The government is also imparting job-oriented skill-based courses through polytechnics, hotel management institutes and NIELIT.
“To impart skills to our youth many candidates who had participated in these job fairs were registered for the skill courses being organised by the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS),” an officer at the Directorate of Employment said.
There are many government schemes aimed at up-skilling youth. Himayat was a major flagship scheme under this category under which the youth were trained and later deployed in the market. NIELIT also provided many IT-related courses.
Another scheme was launched by the government in Public Private Partnership mode. It was aimed at improving the quality of the vocational training in the Country and making it demand-driven, so as to ensure better employability of the pass-outs. It covered 32 ITIs in Jammu and Kashmir. Other courses that were launched for the general public also included Sewing, Henna Art, cookery etc.
It seems as if the candidates are yet to be adequately trained or are lacking the actual skill that the employers require.
Srinagar, Jan 26: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a new dawn of development from the last three years.
Addressing a gathering on the eve of Republic Day at SK Stadium here, Advisor Bhatnagar highlighted the works and developmental projects carried out by the LG led administration.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), he said that in the last three years, J&K is witnessing a new dawn from the last three years in terms of development, peace and progress.
He said that the incumbent administration is giving priority to the health sector and many initiatives have been taken to ensure better healthcare to the people.
“In this regard, the government has come up with two AIIMS Institutes in J&K at the cost of Rs 4000 crore. The AIIMS in Kashmir to be completed by 2025 while 15 medical colleges and other related institutions have also come up in the UT,” he said.
He added that in the field of medical education, 2100 seats have been increased.
Several schemes have been launched to benefit the farmers in the Union Territory, he said adding that under the different schemes, the farmers are being assisted.
He said 33000 farmers have provided Rs 56 crore under one of the schemes.
The development has taken pace and in the PM Gram Sadak Yojhna, J&K has been ranked 3rd from 21th rank this year.
The road length for macadamization has been increased from 2200 kilometers to 3500 kms while a record 8000 kms will be macadamized this year.
Several other initiatives have been taken up by the government, he said, adding that the international flights have started while Kashmir will be connected with Kanyakumari through rail by next year—(KNO)
Jammu, Jan 26: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that security agencies have launched final assault on militancy and its eco-system to ensure everlasting peace in the Union Territory.
Addressing the Republic Day gathering at Moulana Azad Stadium Jammu, LG Sinha, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the morale of security forces is high in J&K and all efforts to destabilize the peace is being given a befitting reply. “Security agencies are busy in the last assault on the terror, its ecosystem and its supporters to ensure everlasting peace in the UT,” Sinha said.
The LG said that the administration and the Centre has taken a series of steps for the welfare of security agencies operating in J&K. He said that the administration received 8400 applications from Kashmiri Pandits, whose land and property was grabbed forcibly in 1990. “Administration is working to ensure such properties are retrieved and handed over to KPs,” he said.
He said the J & K situation was returning to normalcy and the evil designs of the enemy is being foiled. The LG said that this year, the year 2022 saw 55 per cent decrease in the civilian killings and the there is a significant dip in the killing of security forces personnel as well.
He said a series of developmental initiatives are going on in J&K to push the UT to new heights of achievements. “Srinagar and Jammu will soon have metros, the tubes on the Srinagar-Jammu highway are also being set up on war footing,” the LG said as per KNO.
He said that for the first time, J&K will have a Women Industrial Estate while promotions of almost 2000 officers that didn’t take place since 2001 are being cleared. The LG said that the special focus of the administration is on the youth as J&K’s 70 per cent economy is dependent on agriculture—(KNO)
(Detailed Story to be released in evening bulletin)
