SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta on Tuesday chaired an interactive session with entrepreneurs and investors at the Civil Secretariat here. The meeting was aimed at addressing the issues and concerns faced by the industrial sector in the Union Territory.
During the meeting, several important issues were raised and discussed, including land use and allotment, infrastructure development, power, departmental clearances, legal issues, and other related concerns. Chief Secretary assured the participants of full support from the UT government and issued appropriate directions to resolve several issues.
The session also highlighted the hand-holding measures and incentives being provided to the industries in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Mehta assured that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway would shortly be set open for round the year traffic thereby resolving several logistical issues faced by industries. He assured the industrialists from the Kashmir region that the government would take necessary steps to ensure that trucks carrying perishable items are able to move to their destinations smoothly without undue hindrances.
Chief Secretary called for conducting similar meetings every month to address the grievances of the industries in the UT.
Besides industrialists, the meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Prashant Goyal; Principal Secretary Power Development, H Rajesh Prasad; Secretary Revenue, Dr Piyush Singhla; Managing Director, JPDCL, Shiv Anant Tayal; MD KPDCL, Ch Mohd Yasin; Managing Director, SIDCO/SICOP and Senior Officers from Jammu and Kashmir provinces, virtually and in person
I am writing this from Egypt, having completed a chaotic, two-day journey from Khartoum with my husband, children, sister, aunt, cousins and dozens of other people from across the world. The sound of gunfire and shelling is gone. We are safe. But this is no thanks to the UK government or British embassy in Sudan, both of which totally failed us. We are safe because we took matters into our own hands.
Nothing prepares you for the sound of war, which started echoing around us on the morning of Saturday 15 April, as fighting broke out between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. We were based in the suburbs of Khartoum and had access to electricity, running water and wifi. Some of my friends and family were not so lucky; their homes were damaged or even destroyed. Heavy fighting at the main airport meant trying to escape that way was futile.
At first the plan was to look after those in the worst of it, grabbing whoever we could during the pockets of quiet around iftar at dusk, and bringing them to the safety of our home. Then we had to think about saving ourselves. Artillery was landing in the garden and none of the ceasefires seemed to be holding for more than a couple of minutes.
I am a dual-national, British and Sudanese, and my husband and children are British citizens – so we contacted the embassy. We were told it was not possible for the person we had reached out to in Sudan to pass on our details to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for data protection reasons. So we were advised to ask someone do this on our behalf from the UK. A kind friend in London spent all day with copies of our passports and pins of our locations – and that seemed to work. Several days later we got an email confirming we had been registered, but that there was no plan: we were to just stay indoors and not to reply to the email as it was not monitored.
Slowly but surely it became apparent that the British response wasn’t working. News that the UK ambassador, his deputy and other senior staff were out of the country didn’t help: our lives were in the hands of a group of people who thought that during a period of rising tensions it would be fine for the embassy’s senior staff to have some R&R.
In the days that followed, friends texted me sounding thrilled, as the headlines were giving the impression that we would be rescued in hours. In reality we knew nothing, and were getting automated text messages asking us to fill out the same form that we’d already filled out. Some friends joined a UN convoy that was heading to Port Sudan where boats to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia were running. It was chaotic, but they made it. Meanwhile, those “remain indoors” texts were discouraging Britons from joining the convoy.
The final straw for us came on Saturday 22 April when Dutch, French, Italian and Greek citizens – not diplomats – were informed they would be flown back home from an airstrip in Khartoum (this happened on the Sunday and Monday, as the Eid ceasefire was coming to an end). We called the British consulate one last time, wondering if this meant we would be flown out too. We were told in no uncertain terms there were no plans for evacuation, despite what all these other countries were pulling off. Embassy staff and their families were the lucky beneficiaries of the UK’s “complex and rapid evacuation” – as Rishi Sunak put it on Twitter – while ordinary British nationals were left to fend for themselves.
So we felt we had no choice but to book seats on a private bus with friends and family, and make the long drive north to the Egyptian border. We set off late morning on Sunday. My husband, kids and I each carried a small backpack with food that quickly perished in the roasting heat.
We drove past tanks, fires and large groups of soldiers. Men with machine guns got on board the bus twice on our way out of the capital. Outside Khartoum things progressed more quickly and we zoomed up the road. For the first time in over a week, time passed without the sound of bullets and bombs. We went past everything I love about Sudan: palm orchards, sweeping rivers and thousands of people that deserve so much better than any of this.
We drove through the night and reached the Egyptian border on Monday. Butcrossing proved difficult. Visas had to be pre-approved and my sister in London frantically arranged ours from there. We ended up spending the night at the border, sleeping outside until the sun rose. Phone calls were coming from those still in Khartoum, Sudanese and British alike, saying the gunfire was getting worse. I felt intensely grateful to be lying on the pavement, surrounded by those I cared about, safe at last.
Many of our party were denied entry, including some British citizens – the British government again seemed to have made no effort to help its citizens get safe passage to Egypt despite its close ties with the country. On Tuesday morning we started heading for the city of Aswan, and hoped to be flying back to London soon.
You’re hearing a lot about the British government and the coherence of its evacuation plan. Don’t believe a word of it. At the time of writing, its people are stuck in Port Sudan, waiting for a ship. According to the latest headlines, amid a “fragile truce”, the government will finally begin evacuating British nationals from Khartoum today. I’ll believe it when I see it.
At the border, a final ping came from the FCDO telling me to stay indoors and asking me to fill out that form for the sixth time. This time I replied: “Fuck you.”
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#finally #Sudan #family #safe #British #government #Leila #Latif
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
The coins will be minted under the authority of the Central Government. The official notification by the Ministry of Finance stated: “The coin of One Hundred Rupees denomination shall only be coined at the Mint for issue under the authority of the Central Government on the occasion of “100th Episode of Mann Ki Baat.”
When will Rs 100 coin be available in the market?
On April 30, the day of the 100th airing of the radio show Maan Ki Baat, the government will release a commemorative coin. The coin will have a value of Rupee one hundred. Even though commemorative coins are regarded as legal currency, they are not made available for widespread use. They can be obtained from the listed organisations.
What are the specifications of 100-rupee-coin?
According to a statement from the Finance Ministry, the coin will be different from other Rs 1, 2, 10, etc coins. It will be round with a 44 mm diameter and 200 serrations. The metal content of the 35-gram coin will be a quaternary alloy with a silver content of 50%, copper at 40%, nickel at 5%, and zinc at 5%.
The coin obverse face will feature the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with “Satyamev Jayate” inscribed below. In Devnagri script the term “Bharat” will be written along on the left periphery and in English the term “INDIA” will be written on the right periphery.
Additionally, it must display the international numerals for the rupee sign “₹” and the denominational value “100.” On the back of the coin the logo of “100th Episode of Mann Ki Baat” consisting of an image of a microphone with sound waves and the year ‘2023’ will be written on it. Mann Ki Baat 100’ in Devnagri and in English is written above and below the microphone image, respectively. (DNA)
J&K Government Orders Transfers And Postings Of JKAS Officers
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday ordered transfers and postings of 4 JKAS Officers in the interest of administration with immediate effect:
The German government, local authorities and trade unions reached a deal late Saturday on higher pay scales for the country’s 2.5 million public-sector workers, staving off the possibility of indefinite strikes.
“We have accommodated the unions as far as we can responsibly do under difficult budgetary circumstances,” said Nancy Faeser, the country’s interior minister. Trade union Ver.di had called for significant raises as the country, like many others across the Continent, grapples with high inflation.
Among other things, the deal entails tax-free one-time payments totalling €3,000 in several stages, with the first €1,240 to be handed out in June, followed by €220 each month from July to February 2024. In March 2024, monthly pay for all public workers will increase by €200, followed by a 5.5 percent salary increase, with a minimum increase of €340.
The agreement runs for 24 months.
The compromise is largely based on a proposal by arbitrators who were called in after talks broke down last month. Ver.di had initially asked for a 10.5 percent raise and at least €500 more pay over a twelve-month period.
Frank Werneke, the union’s chair, said the negotiations had not been easy. “With our decision to make this compromise, we went to our pain threshold,” he said.
Municipalities in the country fear the deal may pose new financial challenges for them. Prior to the negotiations, Karin Welge, president of the Federation of Municipal Employers’ Associations, had estimated the deal could create additional costs of €17 billion for cities and municipalities.
The agreement sets an end to months of negotiations. In a string of walkouts, employee representatives in recent months had disrupted public administration and other public services. At the end of last month, Ver.di, together with the national rail and transport union, brought rail and air traffic to a halt across the country in a large-scale strike.
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#German #government #trade #unions #agree #wage #deal #public #workers
( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )
Patna: The District Magistrate in Bihar’s Saran has barred all government employees from wearing jeans to office.
The employees have also been asked to wear identity cards around their neck so that they could be easily identified. They have been asked to wear formal dress and stay in the offices during the working hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The idea of the initiative is to change the work culture in the offices.
The District Magistrate said that he will undertake surprise inspections of particular departments and could also do video conferencing or video calling to check the status of the directive. He has warned the employees to strictly follow the new guidelines, especially the dress code, and warned that offenders would be penalised.
SRINAGAR: Former Deputy Chief Minister JK, Muzaffar Hussain Baig on Tuesday said that assembly elections and restoration of statehood will likely be in place after new government formation will take place in Centre. He said abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) was an extraordinary decision of Government of India to deal with extraordinary situation.
KNS reported that the former Deputy CM Muzaffar Hussain Baig said, “I think neither assembly elections will be held nor statehood to JK will be returned back until there is new government formation in the Centre.
“GoI want huge participation of people in forthcoming elections here so they will take some steps including restoration of statehood after 2024 elections across the country. The huge participation of people in polls is possible only once they will restore statehood to JK, so GoI will give it back after 2024 elections at the centre,” Muzaffar Baig said.
He said since article 370 and 35(A) were revoked, Kashmir witnessed no rebellion against India.
“The people did not indulge in stone pelting and other things after reading down of article 370. Hundred welfare schemes have been implemented in JK which were not executed earlier. I feel there will be a huge participation of people in upcoming elections whenever it will be held,” he said.
To a query, the former Deputy CM said some people termed the present situation in J&K as “peace of graveyard” which is not reality. “With near elimination of militancy people of J&K and particularly people of Kashmir are in a positive frame of mind. People have adopted realistic approach. For peace in J&K, I give credit to people as they chose the path of realistic politics to let peace prevail here,’ he said.
He said the local political leaders should keep their tune low against New Delhi. “Our politicians at this juncture should think about the interest of people instead of gaining personal points. Elections cannot be held in an overnight. It needs some steps to be taken on ground, and GoI is working on that,” he said.
When asked about former CM J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad’s quit from Congress, Baig said he may have not received such importance from present leadership in the Congress which he was receiving since the times of Indira Gandhi. “He was dear of Indira Gandhi. His quit from the Congress was not only an emotional step but he was willing to work for his own people at local level. He is a true nationalist,” Baig said.
About abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A), the former Deputy CM said extraordinary situation demands extraordinary decisions. “People were getting killed due to militancy and government took an extraordinary decision and at the same time it introduced positive and welfare schemes for people”.
About Gupkar Alliance which was formed to fight for restoration of Statehood to J&K, the former Deputy CM said “The draft of Gupkar declaration was given by me and former-politician-turned-IAS officer Shah Faisal wrote the draft. This was an act of hope but practically that could not be implemented”.
“Pezzola has not shown how any of this relates to an element of an offense with which he is charged — or how it relates to him at all,” Kelly wrote, adding, “Nor has the evidence been suppressed. As the Court has already explained to Pezzola, he cannot base a [suppression] claim on information he has long possessed.”
As the trial of five Proud Boys — including former national chairman Enrique Tarrio — inches toward a conclusion this week, Kelly sidelined several of the most sensational allegations that Pezzola’s attorneys had lodged. Among them: that prosecutors had destroyed evidence related to the case, that they coerced false guilty pleas from other Proud Boys and that they doctored at least one report from an informant to obscure an FBI agent’s involvement.
Kelly summed up his response to these claims in a section of his order headlined: “There Is No Evidence of Government Misconduct, Let Alone Misconduct Warranting Dismissal, a Mistrial, or Other Sanctions,”
Kelly described Pezzola’s theories as “bizarre,” based on “conjecture” and other times not based on anything at all.
“At bottom, not one of Pezzola’s contentions withstands scrutiny,” Kelly wrote. “His factual premises lack support, and his legal premises cannot be squared with case law.”
In his order, Kelly also rejected claims that prosecutors had improperly withheld key evidence in the case by claiming it was classified. The Justice Department worked frantically to reclaim 80 lines of internal FBI messages that it had inadvertently provided to the defense lawyers in the case, saying they were never meant to be turned over and were likely classified. The effort prompted defense lawyers to raise questions about whether prosecutors were seeking to seal away significant exculpatory evidence under the guise of a classification issue.
Kelly rejected this speculation in his order, contending that they had no bearing on the defense’s case at all.
“The Court has reviewed the 80 messages produced to it in camera and finds — regardless of whether they were properly classified or even properly categorized as law-enforcement sensitive — that the Government had no duty to produce them to the defendants in the first place,” he wrote.
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#Judge #Proud #Boys #trial #rejects #claims #government #misconduct
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has called on the government to recognize the dire situation faced by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Kashmir region and to take immediate action to fulfill its commitments to this vital sector. The FCIK, which represents the organized industrial estates of the Kashmir valley, held a meeting with the Advisory Council to address the ongoing crisis in the MSME sector.
During the meeting, the Presidents of various industrial estates criticized the government’s response to the challenges facing the industrial sector, particularly the MSMEs, in the wake of long spells of forced business interruptions over the past three decades, particularly after 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2019-21. They accused the government of being blind and unconcerned about the crises, and warned that it was worrying to believe that the government had no clear and accurate idea of the state of MSMEs in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Kashmir valley, where the failure of the government to intervene has resulted in the closure of a substantial number of units.
The participants in the meeting also blamed the industries department for exacerbating the crises faced by MSMEs by adopting a dictatorial approach and issuing unilateral orders. They observed that the lack of cohesion between the various wings of the department had affected the working of MSMEs, and criticized the appointment of inexperienced officials. The members regretted that most of the District Industries Centers (DICs) in the valley were manned by temporary arrangements without full-fledged General Managers.
The FCIK members refuted the claims of industrial growth made by the government, arguing that the government’s data did not reflect the ground realities faced by MSMEs, which have been left to fend for themselves with continued onslaughts by different departments and institutions. They also criticized the government’s unilateral changes to industrial policies without consulting stakeholders, citing the example of the land allotment policy.
The members also lambasted J&K Bank for harassing MSME defaulters and tarnishing the image and credibility of entrepreneurs, particularly in light of the challenges faced by MSMEs during the 2500 days of business interruptions. The bank did not waive interest against the MSMEs even for a day, despite the fact that during these shutdowns, the bank did not provide any services to its customers. The FCIK members regretted that the government was watching the humiliation of entrepreneurs as a mute spectator.
The FCIK authorities assured the Presidents of organized sector to take up their grievances with relevant quarters for redressal. They also agreed to make all relevant issues public in a series of press releases. The meeting of the Presidents of organized sector would be held periodically but more frequently to take stock of the situation.
The FCIK’s call to recognize the plight of MSMEs in the Kashmir region highlights the need for the government to take immediate action to fulfil its commitments to this vital sector. The MSMEs are a significant source of employment and economic growth, and it is imperative that the government provides them with the necessary support and assistance to help them weather the ongoing crises. The FCIK’s efforts to address the issues facing the MSMEs are commendable, and it is hoped that the government will take the necessary steps to address the concerns raised by the FCIK and other stakeholders.
SRINAGAR: ECNU Shanghai Government Scholarship is inviting applications for international students who want to pursue undergraduate, graduate or PhD programs at East China Normal University. The scholarship is fully funded.
Study fields include faculty of Economics and Management, School of Humanities and Social Science, School of Social Development, School of Foreign Languages etc.
In order to be eligible applicants must be a non-Chinese citizen and must be in good health. Applicants need to have an excellent educational background. For the bachelor’s degree, applicants must be under 25 and have a high school degree. Applicants who want a master’s degree must be under 35 and have a bachelor’s degree and for the doctoral degree, applicants must be under 40 and have a master’s degree. Candidates are not eligible if they have availed any other Chinese government scholarship before.
Documents required for graduate admissions include academic transcripts of the student , two recommendation letters ,student’s passport copy, motivation letter, student’s study plan, acceptance letter (for Ph.D.), health certificate , non-criminal certificate and a language proficiency certificate
The selected candidates will get a full tuition fee waiver and free accommodation. Students will also receive free medical insurance.
Undergraduate students will receive a monthly stipend of 2500 Chinese yuan (INR 29,796.46) and Master’s program students will receive a monthly allowance of 3000 Chinese yuan (INR 35,755.75)
The application deadline is: 10 May, 2023.
For further information and to apply you can visit:
