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Bandipora, Mar 16: Almost the entire staff of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Ashtingo in Bandipora district was found absent from their duties and have been put on notice by the Block Medical Officer Bandipora.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), ten out of 12 staff members including two medical officers (MO), two pharmacists, three nurses, one BHW, one driver and one sweeper were found absent during a surprise inspection at PHC by the BMO Dr Masarat Iqbal on 13 March.

A show-cause notice has been served to the employees asking them to explain their position before action shall be taken against them.

He impressed upon the officers to ensure the punctuality of their subordinate staff to ensure effective service delivery.

“During a surprise visit on 13-03-2023 at around 11:00 Am, the officers /officials of PHC Ashtingoo, who were found late on duty are directed to explain their position and why action under rules shall not be initiated against them,” the order said, adding that they shall submit the reply in the office u/sd within a day positively.

“Also their RDA (2 ½ Days salary) will be deducted for the month of March 2023 reads the order,” it said.

Meanwhile, in a separate order, the BMO said that in view of the unauthorised absence from his legitimate duties on 15-03-2023, Dr Saboor Sikandar (Medical officer) PHC Ashtingoo is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect. “He is directed to report to the office of u/sd with immediate effect,” the order said—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 16: Despite the education department’s initiative of a special enrollment drive at government schools, the upgraded government boys primary school is witnessing a grim situation as the school is functioning in two rooms only.

Established in 1985, the school functioning in the jurisdiction of Zone Dangerpora in Bomai Tehsil has only two rooms for six classes and has about 60 students, while the school building has already been declared unsafe in the year 2014.

A teacher pleading anonymity at the school told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the school has three rooms, one for teachers and two for students. Also, the school has only two teachers. “We are facing an accommodation crunch and can’t give proper accommodation facilities to the students enrolled here, ” he said.

“The condition of the school is deplorable as the floors are damaged and windows and tables are broken”, he said. Adding that the building was already declared unsafe.

Iffat, a student said that the government only claims to provide the best quality education to students but you can see here what the quality education government is providing to us.

Due to the dilapidated condition of the school, the students are being forced to study under an open sky, said a local. “The issue has already been brought into the notice of concern in the school education department, but to no avail,” he said.

The school was recently upgraded as the students were merged to this primary school building, however, no additional building has been given to the school, said Ali Mohammed, another resident. ” It is the need of an hour for the school to be shifted as there lies every apprehension of any untoward as students’ lives are at risk due to shambles conditions of the said building”, Ali said.

The residents, however, further added that the school has no fencing of the vicinity and the nallah is approaching nearby, thus having apprehension of any untoward incident.

Zonal Educational Officer (ZEO), Dangerpora told KNO that he is not aware about the building being declared as unsafe. However, there is a provision of a new school building but due to land unavailability it could not be executed.

The ZEO added that the Tehsildar concerned was asked to demarcate the land for the construction of a school building.

Notably, the school education department has started a 10 days special enrollment drive, with the director pinning hopes of the highest number of new entrants in the government schools—(KNO)

Srinagar, Mar 16: National Conference president and MP from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said that the Election Commission of India has assured them they will do something soon on their demand of holding elections in Jammu & Kashmir.

Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the former CM of J&K said that they assured the delegation that they will do something soon on their demand. “They assured everyone that they will do something soon,” he told KNO.

Jammu and Kashmir is without an elected Government since June 19, 2019 when BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government, citing the deteriorating security situation in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.

The two-year long delimitation process was completed on May 5, 2022 when the three-member panel headed by justice (retired) Ranjana Desai unveiled final electoral map of J&K. The voter revision process was also completed on November 25, 2022.

A delegation of regional political parties and national parties met the poll-body today in New Delhi and sought immediate restoration of democracy in the Union Territory.

The memorandum submitted by the parties today to the ECI states that the Panchayat elections and other PRI elections cannot be a substitute to legislative assembly elections and the government or for that matter the ECI cannot avoid and delay assembly elections on that ground—(KNO)

Naidkhai: A tractor went out of the driver’s control and skidded off the road in Gulabwari area of Naidkhai in Bandipora district on Thursday.
The tractor was on his way from Gulabwari to Naidkhia Gulabwari when mishap took place.

Immediately, the quick reaction team of the Indian Army of 13RR swung into action and rescued the driver .
The Army team also towed the tractor back on to the road using a heavy military vehicle.
The tractor was, thus, saved from getting more demage.
Efforts put in by the army personals particularly Subedar Sanjay Yadav of
Army camp Naidkhai were lauded by the villagers who were present on the spot

Zojila pass, Mar 16: The strategic 434 km long Srinagar-Leh highway was thrown open by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in a record 68 days, officials said Thursday.

Talking to reporters after throwing the highway open for traffic officially, Director General Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lt General Rajeev Chaudhary, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), it is always a toughest challenge to throw open Zojila pass. “It was due to the hardwork of BRO officials and men that we were able to throw the pass open in a record number of 68 days. For the past three years, we have been breaking our own records,” he said, adding that first the road was thrown open in 110 days, then in 78 days and now in just 68 days.

“Our efforts will be make the road through in just 60 days (two months),” he said. “BRO officials and men are fully acclimatized and familiar with the area. No equipment was damaged during the road opening process.”

He said the locals who work with the BRO are being provided with adequate wages, shelter and food besides warm clothes. “Some people are with us since 25 years. We are like a family,” the DG BRO said.

He said that early opening of this road helps save RS 7 Crore a day for the government. “This road helps to send defence equipment including guns, bullets and tanks besides troops to Ladakh. Similarly, the early road opening helps give an economic push to the Ladakh region who remain cut-off from the rest of the world for six months,” the DG said, adding that “people of Ladakh can come to Srinagar through this road and carry out their economic activities—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 15: Former chief minister of erstwhile J&K state and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) president, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that his party, if voted to power, will undo all the anti-people decisions taken by the incumbent BJP government.

Addressing a gathering at Zaloora area in Sopore, Azad, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the restoration of Statehood, land rights and the security of government jobs for the local youth is the priority and if voted to power, he will ensure all these rights again to J&K people through the assembly.

He added that the youth from outside J&K are not enemies, but the fact is the children here (in J&K) cannot compete with them given the ability. “The children, hailing from outside, use to speak in English soon after they take birth, but here our children start learning basics after the age of 6 years, when they are being enrolled in the schools. Therefore, the government jobs here should be ensured for the locals only,” he said.

Azad further said that the recent demolition drive by the government would have made 70 lakh people across J&K homeless. “It is the time for J&K people to decide about their future and extend their support to BJP or their own people,” he said.

He added that the people are not being even allowed to utter anything, but this situation will be changed shortly if they are elected to power—(KNO)

Srinagar March 15: Police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested a militant associate of Lashkar-i-Toiba oufit along with ammunition in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

In a handout to GNS, the police spokesman said that a joint forces of Baramulla Police, Army 29 RR and 2 Bn SSB during naka checking at Singhpora Pattan noticed a person wearing Pheran (Gown) coming from Matipora side on seeing the naka party he tried to flee from the spot but the alert party chased him and was apprehended tactfully.

During his personal search, 71 live rounds of AK-47 were recovered, and he was taken into custody immediately, he said.

During questioning, he revealed his name as Ali Mohammad Bhat S/O Gh Rasool Bhat R/O Bonichakal Arampora Pattan and is working as a militant Associate with banned militant organisation LeT outfit, he said.

Case under sections of Arms and ULA (P) Act stands registered in Police station Pattan and investigation set into motion, reads the statement.(GNS)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Mar 14 : The Government Degree College for Women in Sopore is facing scarcity of teaching staff affecting the overall functioning of the college.

The college with about 2000 students has only 11 teachers. As per student ratio and sanctioned strength, it should be close to 30.

The students told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that many teaching posts have been vacant for the past several years and it affects their studies.

“There is a lack of teaching staff for core subjects like Political Science, History, Tourism, Home Science, Disaster Management, Urdu and others for the last nearly three years,” they alleged. Adding that lack of faculty is only adding to the miseries of students and they are able to attend merely one or two classes in a day.

“We have been approaching the college administration for a long time, but nothing has been done in this regard,” said a student of semester 3rd.

She said that they have already suffered academic losses during the past several years and there is a need to ensure every possible support to students at this juncture so that the losses can be compensated.

“We feel as if we have come to a picnic. We spend all day on the lawn and nobody seems to be interested in resolving our issue,” said Qurat, a 2nd semester student.

Principal of the College, when contacted, admitted to KNO that there is a shortage of teaching staff and said that they have already forwarded the same to the higher ups. “We have been assured that their staff shortage issue will be resolved within days”, he added.

Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla directed the principal GDCW to take immediate necessary action in the matter, and asked the authorities to share the action taken in this regard to her office.

Pertinently, the degree colleges across the valley reopened on 15 February, 2023 following a fifty days of winter break—(KNO)

BARAMULLA, MARCH 14: In a bid to create awareness among youth about the Apprenticeship Scheme and to promote apprenticeship training among them, the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar today inaugurated National Apprenticeship Awareness Workshop” at Dak Bungalow here.

The Workshop was organized by Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, J&K, (GoI) in collaboration with District Administration Baramulla.

At the outset, Dr Sehrish Asgar highlighted the objective of the training and said that the workshop aims to create awareness among establishments on apprenticeship training, benefits under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). She hailed for organizing the workshop and advised to conduct more such orientation programs to encourage skill up-gradation to meet the requirement of a qualified workforce for Industries.

Elaborating further, the DC said that the industry provides training to the beneficiaries under the said scheme and recognize their skills by providing certificate recognized at National and Internationally level thereby enabling the youth to get a job at any organization.

She urged the dropout school students in general and the unemployed youth in particular to get themselves registered with the industry and avail the benefits under the scheme.

The Apprenticeship Scheme aims to provide a mechanism that will ensure availability of qualified skilled workers based on industry requirements and also can address the unemployment issue among educated youth” Dr Sehrish Asgar added. The DC welcomed the support provided by the Government of India to the Industries.

Meanwhile, the senior functionaries of Regional Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the benefits of apprenticeship schemes and opportunities by the Govt. of India. They said that the workshop focuses on the registration of establishments in the J&K UT and advised the representatives of industries to accommodate ITI pass-outs /trainees under the Apprenticeship Act.

2 Drug Peddlers arrested; 135 grams of contraband Charas like substance recovered at Saloosa Kreeri; Case registered
Police under the supervision of Sh Khalid Ashraf-JKPS, SDPO Kreeri assisted by Inspr. Arif Hamid, SHO PS Kreeri arrested 2 Drug Peddlers namely Amir Subhan Malla S/O Subhan Malla & Farooq Ahmad Chopan S/O Gh Hassan Chopan both residents of Watergam Kreeri during naka checking atSaloosa Kreeri

During their personal search 135 grams of contraband Charas like substance was recovered from them and were taken into custody immediately.
Cases under NDPS Act registered in Police Station Kreeri and investigations set in motion.
General People of the area hailed the efforts of Baramulla Police and showed their willingness to support police to eradicate menace of drugs from the society which is the real sign of Police Public relationship.