The News Caravan

Tag: baramulla

  • Centre Frames Rs 3500 Crore Scheme For Industrial Development Of Ladakh, Awaits CCEA Nod

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    SRINAGAR: The Centre has formulated a scheme worth Rs 3500 crore for the industrial development of Ladakh Union Territory. The Union Ministry of Commerce has already approved the scheme, but the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) is yet to green light it. The scheme is modelled on a similar initiative launched in Jammu & Kashmir in 2021 with a financial outlay of Rs 28400 crore.

    A report by the department-related parliamentary standing committee on commerce, states that the scheme was expected to launch in 2022-23. However, due to delays, it could not be launched until now. As per the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) approval, the scheme will utilize Rs 2.30 crore and Rs 97.30 crore in 2022-23 and 2023-24, respectively.

    The parliamentary committee has recommended that the Centre take necessary measures to make the scheme operational, including pursuing the matter with the CCEA and revising the budgetary allocation as required. Once approved, the scheme can be swiftly implemented, according to the report.

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    #Centre #Frames #Crore #Scheme #Industrial #Development #Ladakh #Awaits #CCEA #Nod

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Srinagar Prostitution Scandal: House Owner Booked Under Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act

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    SRINAGAR: Police on Tuesday said that the house owner where Prostitution Racket was busted has been booked under the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act.

    In a tweet, Srinagar police wrote, “Owner of the house used for immoral activities namely Altaf Hussain Afaki S/o Asadullah Afaki R/o Chanapora arrested under section 3 of Immoral Trafficking prevention act 1956(ITPA). Proceedings started for formal attachment/sealing of house as per section 18 of ITPA.”

    It’s pertinent to mention that A prostitution racket in a rented accommodation at Bagh-e-Mehtab was busted yesterday.

    Police had said that two persons running this racket were arrested, namely, Irshad Ahmad Bhat of Pampore and Mohd Shafi Hajam of Karimabad Pulwama. Four female sex workers (all locals of Srinagar) & 2 customers were detained. FIR registered at Chanpura PS. (GNS)

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    #Srinagar #Prostitution #Scandal #House #Owner #Booked #Immoral #Trafficking #Prevention #Act

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Eid Prayers Likely To Be Offered At Eidgah After Three Years

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    SRINAGAR:  For the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the congregational Eid prayers are likely to be offered at the historic Eidgah in Srinagar, the Waqf board said on Tuesday

    Talking to the reporters at Eidgah, the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson,  Darakshan Andrabi, said that in case of favourable weather conditions, the Eid prayers will be offered at Eidgah this year after a gap of three years.

    She said that this year the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers will be held at Eidgah, adding that the whole administration has visited the Eidgah to ensure that people would offer the Eid prayers in a peaceful atmosphere here.

    “Eidgah is the face of Srinagar and we will ensure that the place is developed in a well manner,” she said, adding that they have visited Eidgah to start making elaborate arrangements for smooth Eid prayers.

    Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Muhammad Aijaz Asad told reporters that the Waqf Board had raised several issues like drainage, encroachment, lighting and other things.

    “Proper demarcation will be done to identify the encroached land of Waqf Board. A few works regarding the lighting, drainage and beautification of Eidgah will be started to restore all the utilities of the Eidgah,” he said.

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    #Eid #Prayers #Offered #Eidgah #Years

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • COVID-19: JK Reports 31 Fresh Cases In Last 24 Hours

    COVID-19: JK Reports 31 Fresh Cases In Last 24 Hours

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    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday reported 31 fresh cases of Covid-19, taking the number of active cases to 156 while no death was reported in the last 24 hours.

    Quoting an official, KNO reported that among 31 new cases, 29 have been reported from Kashmir division and two from Jammu division.

    He said that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir have reached to 305,679 including 303,125 recoveries and 2,433 deaths while total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 174,152 including 171,764 and 2,353 deaths

    He further said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 156 including 121 from Kashmir division and 35 from Jammu division.

    “Among the fresh 31 cases today, 16 are from Srinagar, three from Pulwama , two each from  Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam and Kulgam and one each from two from Pulwama and one each from Kupwara and Ganderbal in Kashmir division and one each from Jammu and Kuthua in Jammu division.

    “In last 24 hours, 1125 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the UT while 41 patients have recovered,” he said.

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    #COVID19JK #Reports #Fresh #Cases #Hours

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Teenage Boy Dies After Falling From Moving Minibus

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    SRINAGAR: A teenage boy, hailing from Larkuti village of Kotranka sub division in Rajouri district, died after he fell from a passenger bus in the district.

    Quoting officials, KNO reported that a passenger bus JK11-9702 was on way from Larkuti to Kotranka when a teenage boy standing in entrance portion fell off.

    They said that the boy sustained serious injuries after which he was taken to Community Health Center (CHC) Kandi where he was provided medical first aid and then referred to GMC Associated Hospital Rajouri.

    Police officials further informed that the teenage boy later succumbed to his injuries during treatment after which medico-legal formalities and post mortem examination was conducted.

    A case under relevant sections of law has been registered in police station Kandi.

    The deceased has been identified by police as Rashid Hussain (18) son of Mohammad Aftab resident of Larkuti.

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    #Teenage #Boy #Dies #Falling #Moving #Minibus

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • JK Govt To Spend Rs 560 Crore On Agriculture, Allied Sectors Under HADP

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    SRINAGAR: The agriculture and allied sectors in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are poised for significant growth and boost with launch of a slew of technological advancements and extension programs, government said on Tuedsay.

    These interventions, incentivized through various schemes and projects, have already led to improvements in quality and quantity of produce in the region, a government spokesperson said.

    However, the challenge remains in integrating smallholder produce with market systems that are both effective and transparent. This will ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their goods while consumers get good value for their money. To tackle this issue, Jammu and Kashmir is implementing a project under Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) that aims to strengthen the existing market infrastructure and create a robust market ecosystem that caters to the needs of all stakeholders, it said.

    Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, emphasized that the proposed project will be segmented into several key areas. These included market reforms, infrastructure development, institutional and capacity building, branding, digital marketing, and market research information systems. The project aims to achieve its objectives through an investment of Rs 560 crore, which will be spread over a period of five years.

    Dulloo expressed confidence that this project will bring about significant improvements in agriculture and allied sectors in Jammu & Kashmir, providing a boost to the region’s economy and benefiting farmers and consumers alike.

    The project aims to improve the Terms of Trade (ToT) in favor of farmers, improve efficiency and effectiveness of the market ecosystem and minimize the value loss while maximizing societal welfare. The proposed activities or areas of intervention will strengthen the existing agricultural marketing system in Jammu & Kashmir, bringing long-term dividends across stakeholders, particularly farmer-producers.

    The proposed project also envisages significant growth in agriculture and allied sectors through various activities. The market reforms included implementation of an open auction system, a single license for trading in all mandies, and institutionalization of post-harvest infrastructure with the eNAM network. Infrastructure development will involve converting mandies into value chain parks, creating new mandies and installing composting units. Besides, institutional building and capacity development will focus on the formation of Niche Product Marketing FPOs.

    Branding activities will include creation of two Agriculture Branding Centers, mapping of existing branding practices, farmers/FPO brand building training and workshops, and integration of branded niche products with the tourism and hotel industry. Lastly, rural business and service hubs will be established in production areas.

    The Directorate of Horticulture, Planning & Marketing will be responsible for on-ground implementation of the project and will serve as the nodal agency for providing unified licensing to potential traders.

    The government of Jammu & Kashmir is set to implement this new project that aims to transform the agriculture sector through a multi-faceted approach. This approach includes market reforms, development of infrastructure, and promotion of institutional building and capacity development of Niche Product Marketing FPOs.

    Market reforms will bring transparency and fairness in trading practices, genuine price for produce, increase the number of buyers, and fair competition. This will result in an increase in producers’ share in consumer rupee. Infrastructure development will create an efficient and effective market ecosystem, minimize value loss, overcome distress sale, improve logistics, adhere to quality standards, ease of doing business, target unattended geographies, waste to wealth, and minimize environmental pollution.

    Private entrepreneurs will be responsible for development of infrastructure, including CA stores, grading lines, mini cold stores, reefer vans and pick-up vans. The Directorate of Horticulture, Planning & Marketing will establish composting units at potential mandies, and also create new mandies in collaboration with the respective District Administrations.

    The promotion and support of institutional building and capacity development of Niche Product Marketing FPOs will be done in collaboration with allied departments and Agriculture Universities of the UT. The emphasis will be laid on branding of agriculture produce to promote marketing and competitive advantage of Niche crops. This will also result in scale economies in input and output marketing, operations, bargaining power, contract farming, better terms of trade (ToT), self-reliance, and confidence.

    The project will also include the identification, capacity building, and promotion of Rural Business & Service Hubs (RBSHs) across all districts of J&K. This intervention will provide quality inputs/services, improve logistics in management operations, improve yield and quality produce, technology outreach, extension of improved varieties and machines, and market information

    A dedicated Market Intelligence Cell will be established at SKUAST-K in collaboration with concerned Departments. The establishment of this Cell will result in creation of decision support system, improved marketing strategy by stakeholders, fairness in trading, more competition, and better policy outcomes. Digital marketing will play a pivotal role in doubling farmers income. It will increase the visibility online and enable potential customers to find agricultural business online. The digital marketing strategy will be more effective in case of niche products from UT of J&K to reach the potential customers across the country and globe.

    In order to facilitate online marketing of niche based agri/horti/livestock/fishery/NTFPs, a dedicated web portal may be made operational for online marketing under PPP mode. The portal will be customized for J&K Niche Products for effective marketing strategy.

    The proposed project will have both direct and indirect beneficiaries. Direct beneficiaries will include farmers, market functionaries, potential entrepreneurs, employable masses in infrastructure development, and employable masses in value creation. Indirect beneficiaries will include consumers/customers, importers/buyers, outsource sector/industry, and indirect employable masses.

    Under the initiative, a 50% capital subsidy will be offered for the establishment of 11 Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores, each with a capacity of 5000 MT, at a unit cost of Rs. 30.00 cr. In addition, a 50% subsidy will be provided for the establishment of 12 hi-tech grading lines, 275 portable grading lines, reefer vans, pick up vans, and mini cold stores. Four mechanized windrow composting units, 16 simple composting units, and four new mandies will also be established at a cost of Rs. 49.00 cr.

    The Institutional Building and Capacity Development component of the project will see 55 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) established with an investment of Rs. 11.00 cr, and 35 capacity building training programs arranged for FPOs, costing Rs. 1.05 cr. Additionally, two Agriculture and Branding Centers will be established in each division at a cost of Rs. 5.20 cr.

    A 50% subsidy will be provided for establishment of 400 Rural Business and Service Hubs, with a ceiling of Rs. 15.00 lakh on each hub. Finally, the infrastructure for digital marketing and market intelligence will be established at a cost of Rs. 11.30 cr.

    The off-season availability of fruits and vegetables is also expected to improve. Value creation is anticipated to increase by 25% to 75%, and there will be an increase in income, value output, employment, reduced food wastage, and an efficient decision support system. As a result, this investment is expected to be highly beneficial.

    The project will result in several key outputs, including the establishment of 11 CA stores with a capacity of 55,000 MT, 12 hi-tech grading lines, 25 mini cold stores, four new mandies in Samba, Reasi, Kishtwar, and Bandipora, 400 Rural Business & Service Hubs, two Agri Branding centers, and one Market Intelligence Cell. This project is also expected to create 6,000 jobs and 629 enterprises in the next five years.

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    #Govt #Spend #Crore #Agriculture #Allied #Sectors #HADP

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Gurus: The Kashmir Drink

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    A by-product in traditional butter making, buttermilk has been the most consumed drink in Kashmir for centuries. With machines taking over the skimming and the marketing chains renamed and rebranding the product, Gurus (Lassi) may not be as abundant as it once was, writes MJ Aslam

    Milk Butter Milk Gurus Chatch. A glass of milk left and a glass of buttermilk right. Buttermilk is thicker and covers the glass after taking a sip
    Milk, Butter Milk (Gurus), Lassi, Chatch). A glass of milk (left) and a glass of buttermilk (right). Buttermilk is thicker and covers the glass after taking a sip

    Long before the making of Gurus (buttermilk) and Th’ain (butter) was found in created cultured cream or milk, there were traditional methods of preparing the same from unrefrigerated fermented milk. All societies in the East and West have used the traditional ways of making these delicacies for centuries.

    Gurus was so vital to the Kashmir food that a lot of saying mentioned the buttermilk. One such saying suggests that Gurus (also called Lassi) should be given to a friend in autumn, while to an enemy in spring. The folklore believes that autumn Gurus is healthy unlike that of spring. Its nutritious value is linked to the quality of grass grazed by cows and goats in spring and autumn.

    However, the fact is the Gurus was prepared in hot summers too when the milk, in absence of modern refrigerators, fermented automatically in earthen and copper pots. It was called Ban e Doud.

    Then, Kashmir was rich in milk and milk products. The cowherds possessed a large stock of cows and goats. The Gujars in higher altitudes possessed buffalo too. They prepared Gurus. In the city, guoir families associated with dairy items of milk, curd, cheese and butter, too prepared Gurus for sale to the common people. Some village families who skimmed milk and made Gurus at their homes would often come to sell Gurus in the city.

    The Process

    Traditionally, Gurus means the milk that was left over after churning butter from unrefrigerated sour and fermented milk. Once the milk is ready for the process, it would take 30 minutes to 60 minutes till butter was churned from the milk in a big vessel like tchod.

    Ordinarily, Gurus is buttermilk. Gurus is sour in taste. It is still popular and sold with added spices, mint, salt and sugar across most of the subcontinent as a refreshing fermented dairy drink. Its equivalent in the households of the Indian subcontinent is Chaash, which is prepared by beating curd with a churner or leftover of butter (Gurus) and taken with spices, a pinch of salt and mint. In Arabian countries, buttermilk with added ingredients of spices and salt is a favourite drink during the Muslim month of fasting, the Ramzan at Iftiari and Sehri times.

    However, like many age-old valued traditions, the churning of butter from milk has disappeared from Kashmiri. Well, Gurus Mandun was an age-old tradition among Kashmiris and it was an elaborate process. The tools that were used for the process included an earthen vessel like tchod in which milk was poured. The milk was churned to Gurus and Th’ain in the vessel. It is a long wooden churner, De’on that is fundamental to the process. Gurus e De’on is a fine paddle chiselled out of a wooden log that has blunt wooden blades or wicker rings attached at one end – the one that stays in the milk vessel. Its other end is tied to a wall or a thum, a pillar in the kitchen, and in between is the Lam e Raz or Mandan Raz, a pull-push rope that the Gurus maker pulls for making the blade move. The grass or jute rope has attached two handles tied of wood or Pach-i-Adiji (bones of sheep or goat legs) for the right and left hand that is either made of grass or jute.

    The vessel was fastened to thum with another rope for preventing it from slipping away during the process. De’on was held tightly with grip of hands by the churner, the Gurus-Gour. With back-and-forth movements of the Lam e Raz butter was churned from the milk with buttermilk left in the vessel. Churning was done at a steady and measured pace by the Gurus-Gour holding two ends of the Lam e Raz in his hands till layers of butter appeared, gathered and thickened at the surface.

    The finest quality of milk gave a yellowish tinge to the butter with the pungent taste of the buttermilk. Then, the churner would remove the paddle and scoop out all butter leaving behind Gurus in the vessel. The handmade butter, Th’ain, was what Kashmiris knew in the past.

    A Routine

    Unlike Srinagar where the Gurus was skimmed by the professional Gurus-Gour families, in the periphery, almost every household had the equipment and enough milk to make Gurus. Apart from spinning wheel, almost every woman in Kashmir periphery would pick the art from the elders.

    A traditional drink, Gurus is seen as a traditional coolant. Families making Gurus used to gift part of it to the neighbours. Till recently, even Kashmiri Hakims would advise Gurus intake to the patients. In certain cases, it was customary to dip some silver ornament in the Gurus before drinking it. The tradition goes that Gurus being sour in taste is helping digestion.

    With Gurus consumed, the focus would remain on homemade butter. It was gathered in a separate bowl and compounded into soft Th’ain balls (manun) with a spoon. Th’ain was sold in the market in weighed quantities to the buyers. Besides local mustard oil, the Kashmiri womenfolk in the past used the traditional Th’ain for anointing their hair to strengthen and shine the hair strands. Folklore suggests using butter to keep the women’s head cool.

    The Gurus may be out of fashion but its making has not ceased in Kashmir. Herders who take their sheep and cows to upland meadows are unable to take the milk down. They convert it into butter as they consume Gurus while grazing their herds.

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    #Gurus #Kashmir #Drink

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Aspire Institute Associated With Harvard University Offers Leadership Programme

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    SRINAGAR: Aspire Institute, a non-profit associated with Harvard University is offering a fully funded leadership development programme for the low-income background students of weak social and financial adversity.

    Selected candidates will get access to the fully funded HarvardX courses and leadership development tools. Candidates will also get an opportunity to participate in live seminars with Harvard and excellent faculty for idea exchange and mentorship.

    Candidates of age 18-26 years whose parents did not complete an undergraduate degree are eligible to apply. Current undergraduate students or recent undergraduates and the students impacted by the armed conflict/natural disaster can also apply.

    Candidates need to have access to the internet and a mobile device, laptop, or computer as the programme will be delivered online.

    The programme will be delivered in the English language. The last date to apply is April 19, 2023.

    For further information and to apply click here

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    #Aspire #Institute #Harvard #University #Offers #Leadership #Programme

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • JKCCC Demands High-Level Investigation Into Lapse Of Funds

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    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee Chairman Ghulam Jeelani Purza, on Monday said that the families of the contractors are on verge of starvation as the pending bills of the contractors have not been released since long.

    Requesting LG led administration to conduct a high level inquiry into the frequent fund lapsing, Purza said that funds are being provided by the government on time, however, the same are held by departments for no reason and are provided to the DDOs in the last days of March resulting in fund lapse.

    Purza said that this year also funds lapsed and the government officials were responsible for the same. Government should come to the rescue of the contractors and investigation at higher levels should be conducted.

    JKCCC Chairman further said, “Government promised us that the money of all the contractors would be released, but the due money has not been released yet. Our money is stuck in R&B, PHE and other departments. For last three years, we have been running around government institutions. Our bills are pending from last many years, and should be settled immediately so that we will get some relief”.

    He said that contractors are being harassed in the name of NOC and 345 contractors have been blacklisted. They are asked to bring verification from CID and NOC from police which ultimately makes their families suffer.

    Government had made a policy for the rehabilitation of youth under various schemes and one such scheme was provision of contract cards to them. Some were hired as temporary employees and some were given loans. It was provided and invested in business so that the youth could earn their livelihood.

    We hope our grievances are redressed at the earliest so that our families won’t have to suffer.

     

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    #JKCCC #Demands #HighLevel #Investigation #Lapse #Funds

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Srinagar-Leh Highway Shut Down As Avalanche Strikes Zojila Pass

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    SRINAGAR: On Tuesday, due to an avalanche near Zojila Pass in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, the Srinagar-Leh highway had to be closed for traffic.

    As per an official statement, following recent snowfall in the area, avalanches struck near Panimatha and Kai-Pathri on Zojila Pass. The official added that efforts are underway to clear the road with the help of men and machinery.

    In light of the snowfall and avalanches in several locations on Zojila axis, upward traffic was not permitted on the day in question, the official confirmed .(KNO)

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    #SrinagarLeh #Highway #Shut #Avalanche #Strikes #Zojila #Pass

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )