National

BHADERWAH, APRIL 22: A special vaccination camp was organized at Sub District Hospital (SDH) Bhaderwah for the Haj pilgrims registered for the 2025 pilgrimage. The event was held in the presence of DDC Chairman Dhananter Singh Kotwal, who emphasized the importance of health preparedness and preventive care for the sacred journey. A total of 17 pilgrims were administered essential vaccinations and underwent medical check-ups to ensure their fitness and well-being before departing for Haj.

Meanwhile, the camp also focused on preventive healthcare for girls. Under the Prime Minister’s “Suraksha” initiative, HPV vaccines were administered to girl children for protection against cervical cancer. This crucial step in women’s health was also supervised by the DDC Chairman, who appreciated the medical team’s commitment to community welfare.

The health drive was conducted under the supervision of a dedicated medical team, with full adherence to health protocols. Local Tehsildar   BMO   and other doctors were present to support the initiative, reflecting a strong collaboration between civil and health departments.

The comprehensive vaccination effort was widely appreciated by the local community and the beneficiaries. 

KISHTWAR, APRIL 22: In a considerate gesture to ease the hardship of grieving families, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajesh Kumar Shavan today disbursed Rs 15 lakh as compensation among Next of the Kin (NoK).

A total of Rs. 1 lakh each was distributed among the legal heirs of fifteen deceased victims of road accidents under the J&K Road Accident Victim Fund.

The event, held in the Office Chamber of the DC Kishtwar, witnessed the presence of ADC Pawan Kotwal, ARTO Tasleem Wani and other concerned officials.

The government’s initiative aims to extend support to those affected by such tragic incidents and underscores its ongoing commitment to assist bereaved families.

This distribution marks an essential step in providing financial assistance and acknowledging the distress faced by the families of road accident victims.

RAJOURI, APRIL 22: On the occasion of the 17th Civil Services Day held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma presented the progress made under the Aspirational Block Programme in Rajouri district.

The presentation was made in the esteemed presence of Rao Inderjit Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Planning, and Minister of State for Corporate Affairs V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG); and senior officers from across the country.

During the event, the DC Rajouri highlighted the transformational impact of the Aspirational Block Programme in the district, with a focus on key sectors such as health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, basic infrastructure and skill development. He presented success stories, innovations, and convergence efforts that have led to significant improvement in services delivery and quality of life in the Khawas block.

The efforts of District Administration Rajouri under the leadership of DC Abhishek Sharma were lauded for adopting data-driven governance, community participation, and inter-departmental coordination to bridge development gaps in remote areas.

The 17th Civil Services Day served as a platform for knowledge sharing and best practices among civil servants and recognized exemplary contributions in public administration aimed at improving citizen-centric services.

Says all rural tourism hotspots to be developed into viable tourist destinations

TANGMARG (BARAMULLA), APRIL 22: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today visited Tangmarg area of Gulmarg Constituency, wherein she inaugurated Dialysis Centre at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Tangmarg and laid foundation stone for 20-bedded pre-fabricated ward and a new Primary Health Centre (PHC) block.

MLA, Gulmarg, Farooq Ahmad Shah; Director Tourism Kashmir, Director School Education Kashmir, Director Health Services Kashmir, Director Coordination New GMCs, Director Colleges, Director Social Welfare Kashmir, MD J&K Cable Car Corporation, district and sectoral officers of various departments accompanied the Minister during the visit.

While visiting SDH Tangmarg, Sakeena Itoo inaugurated a state-of-the-art Dialysis Centre.

Interacting with the doctors and other medical staff on the occasion, the Minister highlighted that this facility will provide critical support to patients suffering from renal ailments by ensuring access to life-saving dialysis treatment within their area.

While interacting with some locals on the occasion, Sakeena Itoo highlighted the commitment of Omar Abdullah led government towards improving healthcare delivery in rural and semi-urban areas. “Access to quality healthcare is basic right of public. Our Government will ensure that the people of Tangmarg and surrounding areas receive timely and effective medical care”, she stated.

During her interaction, the Minister elaborated healthcare and education as top priorities of the government. She stated that these sectors form the backbone of a strong society and Government is making concerted efforts to improve infrastructure and service delivery across Jammu and Kashmir. She also mentioned that sustained investments are being made to upgrade hospitals, enhance educational institutions and ensure equitable access to quality services in both rural and urban areas

The Minister further said that establishment of Dialysis Center at SDH Tangmarg aligns with the government’s commitment of decentralizing specialized healthcare facilities in peripheral areas.

During her visit, Sakeena Itoo also laid foundation stone for two key healthcare projects; 20-bedded pre-fabricated ward and new Primary Health Centre (PHC) block.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that this 20 bedded ward after completion will certainly expand inpatient capacity and improve service delivery at the hospital. She added that it will considerably enhance patient care facilities and decongest the existing hospital infrastructure, which was long-standing demand of the local population.

Reiterating the Government’s commitment of improving health care infrastructure in peripheral areas, Sakeena said with the establishment of upgraded infrastructure, dependency of locals of these areas will significantly reduce on tertiary care hospitals for specialized treatments.

Later, the Minister visited Baderkoot, Ringawari and Gogaldara areas of Tangmarg where a local tourism festival was organized. She appreciated the local initiative in showcasing the region’s beauty and reaffirmed that all rural tourism hotspot areas of J&K will be developed into viable tourist destinations. She laid emphasis on promoting tourism not only as a recreational avenue but also as a source of livelihood for the local population.

Meanwhile, Sakeena Itoo also held a brief review of all ongoing developmental works. She instructed the concerned departments to expedite the pace of works for timely completion of these works. She asked them to maintain synergy for smooth execution of works while maintaining quality and standards.

SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 19: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Srinagar is going to hold Ist National Lok Adalat of the year 2025 at District Court Complex Srinagar on March 08.

Lok Adalat will be held for Pre-Litigation cases including bank recovery matters, labour disputes cases, electricity and water bills (excluding non-Compoundable) and other criminal compoundable, matrimonial, civil disputes etc.

Besides cases pending in courts including criminal compoundable offence, NI Act cases under Section 138, bank recovery matters, MACT cases, labour disputes cases, electricity and water bills (excluding non-compoundable), matrimonial cases (except divorce matters), land acquisition cases, other civil cases including rent, easementary rights, injunctions suit, specific performance suit etc.

Accordingly, all concerned parties & advocates who desire to get their cases, disputes & claims settled through this Ist National Lok Adalat are asked to approach District Legal Services Authority Srinagar or concerned courts by or before March 01 for amicable settlement of through National Lok Adalat.

SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 19: Following the directions of Commissioner State Taxes J&K, P.K. Bhat, State Taxes Department Kashmir has intensified its enforcement efforts against taxpayers involved in sale suppression and tax evasion by launching a large-scale inspection drive across the Kashmir division.

Based on intelligence inputs generated through advanced AI tools such as Business Intelligence and Fraud Analytics (BIFA), E-Way Bills Portal, Field Enforcement teams, information received from various wings of the department and extensive taxpayer scrutiny, the department, under the supervision of Additional Commissioner, State Taxes (Administration & Enforcement) Kashmir, Parvaiz Ahmad Raina, conducted massive first of its kind inspection, search, and seizure drive in Srinagar, Budgam and Anantnag districts of the valley.

The drive aims to curb fraudulent activities, including fake Input Tax Credit (ITC), willful tax evasion, tax fraud, fake invoicing, and non-compliance with GST provisions with an aim to safeguard the revenue of state exchequer.

Eight teams comprising of more than 70 officials constituted by Additional Commissioner, led by State Tax Officers, simultaneously inspected multiple business establishments in Srinagar, Budgam and Anantnag, verifying documents, stock registers, bill books, and physical stock positions to detect GST violations.

Meanwhile, several documents were seized for further investigation.

Speaking on the enforcement action, Additional Commissioner stated, “The inspections are part of our ongoing enforcement activities. Eight dedicated teams involving more than 70 officials have been deployed to carry out these inspections across the division, targeting dealers involved in sale suppression, fake ITC claims, and fraudulent invoicing.”

He further added that the primary objective is to create a fair and transparent tax environment where compliant taxpayers are protected, and unfair trade practices are curbed.

The department is committed to taking strict action against those engaging in tax evasion and fraudulent activities, he added.

The State Taxes Department has urged all dealers to adhere to fair trade practices and refrain from tax evasion.

Businesses are advised to conduct invoice-based transactions, report actual sales, and pay the applicable GST in their monthly or quarterly returns to avoid penalties and enforcement actions.

The department remains committed to ensuring tax compliance and transparency, warning that strict action will be taken against those found violating GST laws.

RAMBAN, JANUARY 24: District Ramban celebrated National Girl Child Day with great enthusiasm under the overall guidance of Deputy Commissioner Ramban Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary. The event, held at the Conference Hall, District Administrative Complex generated awareness about the importance of empowering the girl child and promoting gender equality in society.

A series of activities were organized by the Social Welfare Department and District Legal Service Authority across the district to mark the occasion, including awareness programs, seminars, cultural events, and interactive sessions highlighting the significance of educating and nurturing girls.

The government departments, educational institutions, and social organizations collaborated to spread awareness about the rights and opportunities available for girls under initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), Mission Shakti, and Mission Vatsalya.

Secretary DLSA Ramban Priyanka Mahajan, was also present at the event and highlighted the legal provisions and rights available for the empowerment of girls. She emphasized the importance of ensuring justice and protection for girls, encouraging them to seek legal aid whenever needed.

Addressing the gathering at the event, officials emphasized the need for equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and skill development for girls.

District Social Welfare Officer Rahul Gupta, in his address, stressed the importance of collective efforts in ensuring a brighter future for the girl child and reiterated the district administration’s commitment to effectively implementing various government schemes.

Several initiatives were showcased during the event, including Career counseling sessions for school and college-going girls, Health and hygiene awareness campaigns conducted by medical teams, Skits and cultural programs performed by students advocating gender equality, Distribution of educational materials to underprivileged girls to encourage their participation in schooling.

Boxing kits were given away to 20 National Level Boxing Champions and participants, encouraging them to continue excelling in sports and bringing laurels to the district. The initiative aimed to motivate young girls to pursue sports as a career and enhance their physical and mental strength.

A special rally was also organized, featuring students, Anganwadi workers, and volunteers, carrying banners and placards advocating for the empowerment of girls with the slogan “Educate, Empower, Celebrate!”

The event concluded with the felicitation of meritorious girl students and achievers in various fields, acknowledging their contributions and encouraging them to aim higher in life.