NEW DELHI, Dec 8:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated Invest India, an investment promotion and facilitation agency of the Union Government, for winning the ‘2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award’.
The award is a testimony to our Government’s focus on making India the world’s preferred investment destination and improving ease of doing business, Modi said in a tweet.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) declared ‘Invest India’ as winner of the United Nations Investment Promotion Award 2020. The award ceremony took place yesterday at the UNCTAD headquarters in Geneva.
The award recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the world’s investment promotion agencies.
“Congratulations to @investindia for winning the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award given by @UNCTAD. This is a testimony to our government’s focus on making India the world’s preferred investment destination & improving ease of doing business,” Modi said.
The evaluation was based on UNCTAD’s assessment of work undertaken by 180 national investment promotion agencies across the world. (PTI)
UN award testimony to Govt’s focus on making India world’s preferred investment destination:PM
BJP leaders trying to mislead voters with false promises: Bhalla
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 8: Former minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla today claimed that BJP Government has become non- performing liability and has nothing to highlight as its achievements and except promises nothing has been done on the ground since 2014.
Addressing huge gathering in favour of Congress candidate from Phallain Mandal DDC seat at Chowadi today, Bhalla said that BJP Government stands exposed for its non-performance and there are no takers for its hollow slogans now. He came down heavily on BJP Govt and criticized its leadership for failing to live up to the expectations of the common masses and befooled them by giving hollow slogans and promises.
He said that BJP Govt has abandoned people with their problems related to the basic amenities during its nightmarish rule, saying the promises made during 2014 Parliamentary and Assembly elections proved just hoax. Bhalla said BJP has shown only dismal performance, nothing short of befooling people to make noise on the plank of development of the J&K as if earlier Governments have done nothing for development in the J&K. It is not surprising if the BJP was blacktopping few roads in Jammu city, the previous Governments used to do it without any fan fare. BJP’s development slogan is just a political gimmickry and an act of securing political gains as masses at large do not get the basic amenities of life like ration, drinking water, power without much ado.
Bhalla further said that the poor-sections of the society are suffering a lot due to mis-rule of BJP Government at the Centre and State BJP leadership.He accused the BJP Government of befooling the people of J&K by its false claims of development. He said that BJP did nothing for the people except generating passions on religious and regional lines. PCC leader said the people have been living miserable lives during the past more than six years, with nobody addressing their problems.
Launching a scathing attack on BJP, Bhalla regretted that people of the Jammu region are back stabbed by BJP leadership as the party has brazenly abandoned its core agenda and has adopted indifferent approach towards problems of the masses. Expressing his anguish over mounting problems of the common masses, Bhalla said that during last six years Union Govt has done nothing to solve basic problems of the people.
Corporators Sobat Ali and Kamal Singh, Block president Jatinder Singh Chib, Sarpanch Hafiz Ullha, Sarpanch Fazal Hussain, Sarpanch Safia Choudhary and others also accompanied.
Regency Honda launches new Activa 6G
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 8: Regency Honda at 71 BC road, Rehari launched the new Activa 6G–20th year Anniversary Edition.
Managing Partner of Regency Honda Vikram Puri and Sales Manager Pankaj Gupta were present to grace the occasion.
In the event the customers were informed about the features of the vehicle such as Double Lid External Fuel Fill, Engine Start/Stop switch, LED DC headlamp, bigger front wheel with telescopic suspension, silent start with ACG, 10 per cent more mileage, All Black Wheel and Engine, Precious Golden Emblem and all new stylish graphics.
Anniversary edition is available in 2 colours.
The Ex Showroom starting price is Rs 67,843 and the vehicle is readily available at dealership.
“A customer can book the vehicle from the comfort of his/her home without stepping out. The customer needs to logon to www.honda2wheelersindia.com or www.regencyhonda.com and book any Honda vehicle and get the delivery at his or her door step”, Puri further added.
Sankhya’s Wellness, Yoga & Meditation Centre inaugurated
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 8: Sankhya International, a leading service provider in mental and physical health issues has extended its business activity in Jammu and Kashmir by opening its Sankhya’s Wellness, Yoga and Meditation (SWYAM) Centre at spiritual growth centre, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board building in Katra.
The centre was inaugurated by SDS Jamwal, Additional Director General of Police, J&K. Three Deputy CEO’s Shrine Board, Dr Sunil Sharma, Dr Jagdish Mehra, Vishwajeet Singh, OSD Rajinder Singh and Manager SGC Sudesh Sharma and were also present in the function.
Many senior officers of Shrine Board, prominent citizens of Katra and Jammu like Rakesh Wazir, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Brigadier (Retd) Mohinder Singh, Rajiv Khajuria and MS Manhas were also present on the occasion.
While speaking, SDS Jamwal said that it is heartening to note that the concept will be of much use to the Police and Prison organizations and belt forces, whose personnel are under tremendous mental strain. He said that the youth in J&K and Government servants can be moulded to behave positively by using the scientific concepts of Sankhya International.
Deputy CEO Dr Sunil Sharma said that the Vaishno Devi visitors have now got a chance to stay in Katra for more days for doing meditation and Yoga besides having information on many other fields from experts of Sankhya International. This will boost the economy of Katra and J&K.
Earlier, Rishab Dev Singh, the J&K franchisee of Sankhya International gave a presentation about the concept, working style and goals of the SWYAM (Sankhya’s Wellness, Yoga and Meditation) and showed how the concept can help the corporate, education and prison sectors and will also be beneficial for States, communities and individuals in tackling behaviour related problems.
Senior functionaries of Sankhya International, Nasib Singh, former visiting faculty of UGC Dr Nirojini Bhan and its Goa based chief psychologist, Dr Nitasha Borah and others were also present.
Lastly, a meditation programme was conducted by Yoga expert Ranjana Verma, in which several dozen people participated.
Roshni judgment not against any religion, region, status: DB
CBI directed to file ATR in sealed cover
Expresses annoyance over selective targeting
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 8: Making it clear that its judgment in the Roshni scam was not against any culture, religion, region and status, Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal today expressed annoyance over the selective targeting by the administration and said that order never meant to target people unnecessarily.
Moreover, the DB has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file Action Taken Report (ATR), as per the previous directions, in a sealed cover by next date of hearing.
The DB was hearing a fresh Miscellaneous Application filed by Government of Jammu and Kashmir seeking pre-ponement of the date of hearing of the review petition which had been fixed for December 16, 2020 along with the PIL No.19/2011.
When the pre-ponement application came up for hearing, the Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Gita Mittal put a specific query to Additional Advocate General Aseem Sawhney, “what is the urgency in the matter”. Upon this, AAG submitted that CBI has started probe and it has restricted its investigation to those FIRs which were being probed by ACB earlier and it is creating problems for the officers of the UT Government. “If CBI probe in those cases is allowed to continue it will amount to unsettling the settled things”, he added.
AAG Sawhney further submitted that the UT administration be allowed to formulate a policy for segregating the poor/farmers from the purview of the judgment dated October 9, 2020 passed by the Division Bench in PIL No.19/2011 and other connected matters.
At this stage, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner in PIL No.19/2011 submitted that ever since the passing of the judgment by the Division Bench, a false narrative contrary to facts and records was run by vested interests to defeat the very intent and purpose of the court directions.
“A particular community was targeted of grabbing ponds, rivers, State land and forest land when there were no such observations/directions in the judgment passed by the Division Bench. Moreover, the judgment was misinterpreted to foster the false narrative to mislead the common masses and to create a wedge between the peace loving people of UT of J&K”, he further submitted.
Advocate Ahmed vociferously argued that Divisional Administration of Jammu is selectively leaking the names of Roshini beneficiaries in the media to target a particular community and to give a wrong impression under the garb of the directions of the Division Bench which was never the intent of the directions passed by the Division Bench on October 9, 2020.
He further submitted that recently a news portal of Jammu leaked the list of beneficiaries belonging to village Ghaink of Jammu wherein an important name of a political figure/Ex-DyCM allegedly surfaced and thereafter the Divisional Administration of Jammu resorted to criminal silence and conveniently suppressed/ hushed up this matter without clarifying the particulars of that alleged political person.
While expressing its deep concern and displeasure, in the open court, the DB orally observed/remarked, “we don’t want discrimination of any kind on the basis of culture, region, religion and status”, adding “we don’t want lopsided investigation and the same has to be fair”.
The Division Bench further remarked, “the judgment never intended to target people unnecessarily” and directed the CBI Counsel Monika Kohli to file first ATR in a sealed cover before the next date of hearing.
Advocate Monika Kohli resisted the submissions of AAG Aseem Sawhney and submitted that CBI is investigating the Roshini land scam squarely as per the directions of the Division Bench. She divulged that CBI is almost ready with its Action Taken Report (ATR) and the same shall be filed shortly.
After considering the heated arguments from both the sides, the Division Bench allowed the pre-ponement application moved by Government and fixed the main PIL No.19/2011 alongwith the review petition for hearing on December 11, 2020 instead of December 16, 2020.
The Division Bench, during the course of hearing, made significant oral observations wherein it expressed anguish/ displeasure over selective targeting and impressed upon CBI to investigate the matter fairly. “Our judgment never meant to target people unnecessarily”, the DB said.
DGP reviews functioning of Police Housing Corporation
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 8: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh who is also Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Police Housing Cooperation today reviewed the functioning of the corporation and gave on spot directions with regard to further improvement in the corporation working.
The meeting was attended by Managing Director Jammu Kashmir Police Housing Cooperation (JKPHC) Deepak Kumar, ADGP Headquarters PHQ J&K AG Mir, IGP Headquarters PHQ J&K Gareeb Dass, AIG Building PHQ Javed Iqbal Mattoo, Superintendent Engineer JK PHC Kuldeep Singh Latiyal, Executive Engineers Abdul Rashid, Sameen-ul-Saba and ADO Abdul Latief.
During the meeting, 23 projects under police modernization programme and 5 projects under SRE were discussed.
Speaking on the occasion, the DGP directed the officers to use new technologies in construction of different buildings for supervision and management. He impressed upon the officers to visit the project sites to access the pace of work on ground for completing the projects in time. He said that visiting the sites will help ensure optimum use of the land and the buildings. The DGP directed the officers to complete the unfinished works which can be completed with some resources, and funds. He also directed the MD JKPHC to make master plans of all the police colonies in Jammu & Kashmir. The DGP advised the officers to ensure quality of works and added that future construction areas be marked specifically.
DGP assured the officers that the requirement of funds for the projects that are stalled at present will be taken up with MHA. He directed that the Board meetings of the corporation ration must be conducted as per schedule.
DGP was given a detailed briefing by the Managing Director JK Police Housing Corporation Deepak Kumar about the projects in hand and also about the projects which will be taken in near future. The MD placed the requirement of funds and liabilities accured before the DGP. He also put forth requirement of some manpower in meeting.
J&K lists healthcare, frontline workers, co-morbid as priority categories
Major exercise for COVID-19 vaccination
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 8: Ahead of the launch of vaccination for COVID-19 across the country, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has directed administration of all Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), Directorate of Health Services, District Magistrates and other field agencies to be ready with numbers, locations and other details as it has identified three priority categories for initial doses of vaccination whenever it is made available.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Health workers including doctors, para-medical staff and ASHA workers have been listed in Category No. 1 who will be vaccinated first. For the purpose, the Principals of all Government Medical Colleges, Directorates of Health Services, Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and administration of other Institutes have been asked by the Union Territory administration to prepare lists and total number of the health workers who will require vaccination for Coronavirus.
“The process has already been initiated by all concerned in the Health and Medical Education Department and will be completed within the next few days,’’ they said, adding the authorities were on the job to list total numbers of the health workers in Jammu and Kashmir. The data will be compiled in the next few days to get exact numbers of healthcare workers in the Union Territory.
Police, armed forces personnel and Municipal workers have been listed in the second category after health workers in the frontline workers category. They will be administered vaccine after the healthcare workers as they too are vulnerable due to regular duties and direct inter-action with the public.
In the third category, persons above the age of 50 years and co-morbid will get vaccinated and the administration including the District Magistrates and Health authorities have been asked to identify such persons and prepare their data.
Health experts are of the view that vaccination of healthcare and frontline workers apart from co-morbid people and those aged above 50 could help in breaking chain of the virus to a large extent.
It may be mentioned here that a number of senior doctors, para-medics and other healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir since the pandemic broke out in February this year and number of them including some young doctors have died either because of pathogen or post-COVID related complications. Large number of police and para-military personnel, a number of them IPS and JKPS officers, have also tested positive for the virus.
Moreover, almost 80 percent of the people who died of COVID-19 were co-morbid.
“Vaccinating co-morbid people is among the priority of the Jammu and Kashmir Government,’’ sources said.
As per the initial procedure, adopted by the Central Government, an SMS will be sent to the recipients mentioning time, date and venue to get the vaccine shots. Each person in the immunization list would be linked with their Aadhaar cards to avoid duplication and to track beneficiaries. However, in case a person does not have an Aadhaar card, a Government photo identity proof can be used, sources said.
Anganwadi centres, schools, Panchayat buildings and other such setups will be used in addition to healthcare facilities as vaccination sites, according to the sources. The Government would identify buildings which can be used as vaccination booths under the special COVID-19 immunization programme.
The Central Government, according to sources, is planning to procure COVID-19 vaccines directly from the drug makers and distribute them among priority group. The States and Union Territories have been asked not to chart separate pathways of procurement, according to reports.
According to sources, the National Expert Committee on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 has already mapped the existing cold chain presently being utilized under the Government’s immunization programme informing about the preparation of a cold chain for the storage of vaccines.
Director Agriculture reviews performance of department in districts
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 8: Director Agriculture Production & Farmer Welfare Jammu, Inder Jeet chaired a meeting of the officers to review the implementation of various farmers’ welfare schemes and programmes in the districts.
The physical and financial achievements/ expenditure under various centrally sponsored schemes and CAPEX/REVEX Budget 2020-21 were discussed threadbare in the meeting.
Director Agriculture impressed upon the officers to create mass awareness regarding various ongoing farmers’ welfare schemes at grassroots level. He took detailed review of status and progress of KCC, PM-KISAN, Soil Health Cards, formation of FPOs, formulation of new projects, Mushroom, Apiculture, Organic Clusters, Farm Machinery, Farmers Whatapp groups and Integrated farming System models (IFS).
He further impressed upon the officers to upload beneficiary related data under different schemes on relevant DBT portals and instructed for geo-tagging of all works.
Stress was also laid on updating of POS machines to 3.1 version, QR code installation and liquidation of all fertilizer stocks in POS machines.
Feedback regarding stocking and off-take of Rabi 2020-21 seeds was also taken in the meeting.
Director stressed on expediting the utilization of funds to ensure 100% achievement under the Centrally Sponsored Farmers Welfare Programmes and CAPEX Budget 2020-21. He asked officers for strict adherence to quality parameters and Codal formalities while executing the infrastructure development works as per DPRs. Inder Jeet further impressed upon the officers to identity and resolve the bottlenecks for successful implementation of the farmer welfare schemes.
He also took latest update regarding progress of Paddy Procurement.
The Chief Agriculture Officers were asked to submit weekly progress report in respect of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Greens Top To Total scheme and PM Food Processing & Marketing Enterprises.
The meeting was among others attended by Joint Director Agriculture (Extension), B. K. Chandan; Deputy Director Agriculture (Central), Inderjeet Singh; Dy. Director Agriculture (Trainings) Rajinder Kr. Sharma; Dy. Director Planning, Rishu Gupta; Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu, A. S Reen; Agronomist Vegetables, J. C. Raina; DSSO Jammu, Mukesh Khajuria and Sectoral Heads of different Schemes of Agriculture Department.
The Chief Agriculture Officers of all districts of Jammu Division attended the meeting through virtual mode.
Will protect land, jobs of J&K residents: Malhotra
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 8: Seeking protection to job and land rights, Apni Party General Secretary, Vikram Malhotra today urged upon the Government to guarantee protection of land rights to the people of J&K under new land laws.
“If we come to power, we will protect land and job rights of J&K people. Apni Party will not allow anyone to remain landless in view of anti-people laws,” he said.
Malhotra was addressing a series of public meetings in support of Satpal, his party candidate contesting District Development Council (DDC) elections from Kathua wherein the meetings were organised by Sarpanch Sunita Devi of the area along with others.
Malhotra was apprised about the concerns of people regarding fear of losing their land in view of land laws.
“In new land laws, the land rights of J&K people have not been protected while there is protection on land to the residents of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and other States,” he maintained adding that the Government must act as a welfare state for the people and favour their interests.
“J&K is the only Union Territory where people have land and no one here sleeps on the road. Therefore land rights must be protected here to ensure that the people do not become landless,” he said.
The Apni Party leader also said that rural population, labourers, vendors, factory workers and small farmers depended upon the State land.
Speaking on the occasion, Apni Party leader Gourav Kapoor said their party will protect jobs for the locals of J&K whenever it comes to power.
“The jobs should be protected for the locals only in J&K as here is growing unemployment among the youth,” he further said.
Mehbooba put under house arrest
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 8: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti was today put under house arrest at her Gupkar residence as she wanted to visit hilly areas of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district where Gujjar families are being evicted by the authorities.
Her daughter, Iltija Mufti, said that the PDP president intended to visit remote areas of Budgam district where Gujjar families are being evicted. “But a heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces reached our Gupkar residence and locked the main entry gate,” she said.
“Mehboobaji is a politician, and has a right to go wherever she wishes,” Iltija said, adding that “Mehboobaji even told police that she will take her private vehicle to reach Budgam, but instead she was not allowed to venture out.”
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“On one hand, BJP politicians are given full security cover and other facilities to undertake journey of their choice and on the other, Mehboobaji has been caged at her home,” Iltija said adding that the Government wants to continue its “oppressive and disruptive actions here and anyone who even tries to talk about these issues isn’t allowed to do so.”