Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Apr 29: A month-long (online) Faculty Induction Programme (FIP) was inaugurated at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra under the UGC- Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre.
This programme has been designed for four weeks from 27th April-25th May, 2026, in line with Guru Dakshta (FIP) modules of UGC. The programme aims to enhance academic, professional and personal competencies of newly recruited faculty members across HEI’s. A total of around 237 participants from various parts of the country have registered for this programme.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Vice Chancellor-SMVDU, Prof Pragati Kumar as the chief guest. In his address, he emphasized on the role and importance of faculty development, academic integrity and continuous learning in higher education ecosystem.
The Vice Chancellor stressed upon the urgency of transforming teaching-learning practices in the context of 21st century challenges, under NEP2020. He also discussed about various dimensions of recruitment processes, examination systems and academic framework for higher education institutions.
Prof Ankush Anand, Director MMTTC, presented an overview of MMTTC-SMVDU and the initiatives undertaken. The inaugural session was also attended by the other members of UGC-MMTTC-SMVDU. The proceedings of the programme were carried out by Dr Jatinkumar Soni, Assistant Professor, School of Electrical Engineering, Coordinator of the programme. Dr Prabhu Omer, Assistant Professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Co-Coordinator of the programme presented the vote of thanks.
Experts from different domains across the country will be interacting with the participants during this month – long programme. The Faculty Induction Programme covers ten comprehensive modules, including Higher Education Ecosystem, Curriculum Design and Outcome-Based Learning, Teaching-Learning and Assessment, Technology Integration, Personal and Emotional Development, Research and Academic Leadership, Academic Integrity, Constitutional Values, Environmental Sustainability, and Strategic Planning and Management.

RRC allays fears, asks migrants not to panic

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Kashmiri Pandit relief holders held a massive protest in front of Relief Organisation here, today. While totally rejecting the National Food Security Act (NFSA) they demanded that it should not be implemented on displaced Pandits.
The protest was held under the banner of United Alliance of Displaced Kashmiri Community Jammu a conglomerate of various KP organisations and relief holders.
The protestors, while raising slogans in support of their demand said that they were put to unnecessary harassment by the Government after introducing NFSA forms. They said that the migrants who filled up their NFSA forms face lot of inconvenience in getting ration as there are so many discrepancies in the system.
Ravinder Kaul president relief holders and over aged youth said that the Government announced that migrants under Priority House Hold (PHH) and Non Priority house Hold (NPP) category will get nine Kgs ration, two kgs flour and one kg sugar. But while going on ration depot the depot holders tell another story. Click here to watch video
The irate migrants with placards and banners in their hands said that they are neither migratory labourers nor the BPL people but they were hounded out from their homes and hearths way back in 1989 and forced to lead an exiled life due to the follies of the Government which also over last 36 years failed to rehabilitate them in the Valley.
They demanded that the ration be provided to relief holders on the same analogy and pattern as it was provided since 1990. This way the Government is gambling with human dignity said Sunil Fotedar of Vision Kashmir who took a dig at Government of slicing the community into artificial categories i. e PHH, NPHH, special category and Exclusive as if suffering can be measured, graded and divided.
Sunil Pandita of Jagti Migrants Front said NFSA forms are riddled with errors wrong data and genders, flawed income data and in some cases the cards exist without numbers. This is a ploy to harass and humiliate the community.
Desh Rattan of AIMCCC said instead of taking steps for the rehabilitation of migrants in their homeland in Kashmir, the Government day in and day out was adding to the problems of the hapless community. He urged the community to be united to face the challenges.
The protesters warned that they are not against the welfare schemes but they are against the humiliation under the disguise of welfare.
The president, ASKPC, R K Wangnoo, Dilip Pandita of Victims of Terrorism, representatives of Youth 4 PK, Vision Kashmir, M K Razdan of Durga Nagar Committee, Social activists, camp representatives of Buta Nagar, Nagrota etc, Bushan Lal Bhat , ex MLC , Bharat Kachroo and representatives from various non camp localities attended the protest.
However when contacted, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, Dr Arvind Karwani allayed fears that after integration of ration cards the migrant status will not be diluted. He said all the 22000 migrant families will continue to get ration as they were getting earlier at the rate of 11 kgs per soul. In this connection an amendment was also made on March 5 by Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department in the Act. He said instead the migrants will get benefit of all welfare schemes like old age pension, marriage assistance etc.
Dr Karwani while asking migrants not to panic said ration of April will be released in two to three days and migrants should not get perturbed with some minor issues. Under NFSA Jammu and Kashmiri migrants are entitled to get ration through single window, he added.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 29: In an event, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), here today, launched Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 and started many initiatives like Swachhta Jingle, flagged off a fleet of new garbage collection vehicles and started a feedback system for senior citizens.
Prominent among those present in the event were MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi and MLA Bahu, Vikram Randhawa along with JMC Commissioner, Dr. Devansh Yadav and other officers of JMC.
Joint Commissioner (H&S) JMC, Abdul Sattar, delivered welcome address after which 16 garbage collection vehicles comprising of 10 door-to-door e-waste collection vehicles were flagged off.
These 10 vehicles were provided by HDFC Bank under CSR initiative, with a significant contribution of Rs. 1 crore toward city’s sanitation infrastructure.
The remaining six vehicles (3 tippers and 3 auto-tippers) approximating to an amount of Rs. 89 lakh have been procured by JMC.
The JMC also started the Garbage Hotspot Challenge, an initiative in which quick reaction teams have been established to dispose-off the complaints regarding waste within 24 hours of lodging the complaint on MyJammu Portal & helpline number.
JMC also launched Citizen Feedback System as a part of Swachh Survekshan 2025-2026. This platform gives residents a direct way to share their views on quality of municipal services and the overall cleanliness of the city.
An official Swachhata Awareness jingle in Dogri language written and designed by Padma Awardee, Balwant Thakur, was also launched on this occasion. The event also featured a solemn ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ pledge by the participants.
MLAs Yudhvir Sethi and Vikram Randhawa assured continuous support to JMC for improving the city cleanliness.
Commissioner JMC highlighted the significance of the Swachh Survekshan and emphasized upon the participation of the citizens and all stakeholders for taking measures in the ranking of the city this year.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 29: Devyani Rana, MLA Nagrota, today led a road blockage to protest against the acute and escalating water crisis in the Nagrota constituency, terming it a direct consequence of administrative negligence and failure on the part of the Jal Shakti (PHE) Department.
“This is a clear case of prolonged negligence, administrative apathy, and systemic failure, which has severely disrupted the water supply and caused immense hardship to the people of Nagrota,” she said.
During her visit to Badsoo Panchayat in Nagrota, the MLA staged a warning protest against the department. She highlighted that more than 13 PHE stations and dug wells across the constituency have remained defunct for several months, severely affecting water supply to thousands of residents.
Citing specific instances, she pointed out that the PHE dug wells at Hurnali and Kah Pohta have been non-functional since August following flood damage, with no meaningful restoration efforts undertaken so far.
Expressing serious concern, Rana stated that despite substantial allocations in the 2026-27 budget to the PHE sector of Rs 3,500 crore along with financial assistance from the Central Government of an additional approximately Rs 3,000 crore under SASCI, the UT administration and the department have “miserably failed” to utilize these funds effectively.
Taking strong exception to the functioning of the Mechanical Wing of the PHE department, she said the department has failed to ensure timely repair and maintenance of pump sets and motors.
“In many cases, motors are repaired and reinstalled only to get burnt again within days. This clearly points towards substandard repair work, lack of technical oversight, and absence of preventive maintenance. Such inefficiency is unacceptable,” she said.
She further added that over the past six days, the department has been repeatedly repairing and reinstalling motors, pumps, and transformers at PHE stations in Galali and Gharota, only for them to develop faults or burn out again the very next day. “This recurring failure reflects sheer mismanagement, poor quality control, and a complete lack of accountability within the system,” she asserted.
She further noted that water tanker services, which had been providing temporary relief, have also been discontinued without any alternative arrangements, aggravating the hardships faced by the people.
Ms. Rana asked the department to act immediately and restore all defunct water supply systems on a war footing.
“If the authorities continue to remain indifferent, the patience of the people will wear thin. They will have no option but to come out on the streets and protest against this blatant neglect and administrative failure,” she warned.
She urged the UT administration to intervene at the highest level, fix responsibility, and ensure time-bound restoration of water supply systems.