SRINAGAR, July 15: The State Government today approved the implementation of National Food Security Mission (NFSM) with an outlay of Rs 25.06 crore for this fiscal.
The State Level Executive Committee headed by Chief Secretary M I Khandey reviewed and approved the implementation of NFSM 2014-15 with an outlay of Rs 25.06 crore comprising NFSM-Rice, NFSM-Wheat and NFSM-Coarse Cereals for Rs 5.21 crore, Rs 12.63 crore and Rs 7.22 crore, respectively, an official spokesman said.
He said the plan envisages interventions like demonstration on improved technologies and varieties, HYV Seed distribution, need based plant and soil protection management, energy management and efficient water application tools viz-Conoweeder, Rotavators, Pump sets, Paddy Thrasher, Multi-crop planter, cropping system based training to farmers and construction of godowns at approved rate of assistance.
The Mission focuses on low productivity and high potential districts, Agro-Climatic Zone wise planning, promotion and extension of improved technology and integration of various proposed interventions and targets with the district plan, the spokesman said adding the objective is to increase the production of rice, wheat and coarse cereals, restore soil fertility and productivity at individual farm level and enhance farm profits.
He said State Mission Director, NFSM, S S Jamwal presented the achievements registered during the year 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 under NFSM in the State.
Jamwal said the production of food grains, oil seeds and vegetables in J&K stands at 16.25 lakh tonnes (LT), 1.263 LT and 13.67 tonnes, respectively.
He said as many as 107 Rotavator, 979 Irrigation Pump sets besides other farm equipments have been provided under NFSM-Rice and as many as 288 Rotavators, 1,506 Knap Sack Spray Pump and 909 Irrigation Pumpsets have been provided under NFSM Wheat, besides other farm machinery. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : A private security guard of a bank was shot and injured by unidentified gunmen in Pulwama district of south Kashmir today, police said.
Mohammad Rajab (55) received bullet wounds in one of his legs when the gunmen opened fire outside a bank at Shaheedi Garden in Pulwama town, 32 kilometers from here, this afternoon, a police spokesman said, adding that he was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
The gunmen fled the scene taking advantage of the panic which followed the shooting. A hunt has been launched to nab the attackers, the spokesman said.
It was not immediately clear whether the gunmen had come to the town to loot the bank. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  The Government is committed to make conducive atmosphere for facilitating return of Kashmiri migrants, for which the Centre has earmarked Rs 500 crore in its 2014-15 budget.
Giving details about Government’s plan for the migrants, Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju informed Lok Sabha that 57,000 families mostly Kashmiri Pandits along with some families of Sikhs and Muslims migrated from the Valley to Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country in 1990 due to onset of militancy.
At present there are 60,452 registered Kashmiri migrant families in the country with majority–38,119 in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and remaining 1,995 families in rest of the country.
The relief paid to eligible 17,248 migrant families includes a cash relief of maximum upto Rs 6,600 per family besides nine Kgs of rice, two Kgs of wheat and one Kg of sugar for which Rs 136 crore is reimbursed to the Jammu and Kashmir government under the head of Security Related Expenses.
About the measures taken for rehabilitation and safe return to the Kashmir Valley, the Minister said the review of such plans and packages is a continuous process and will remain so in order to remove bottlenecks and shortcomings, if any.
“In the Budget of 2014-15, introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 10, 2014, Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants,” the minister informed the House in a written reply.
He said that it has been the Government’s stated policy to provide various rehabilitation facilities to Kashmiri migrants and to create an environment conducive enough for make them to return to the Valley.
He said that two packages were announced for Kashmiri migrants in 2004 and 2008.
Under Prime Minister’s Package 2004, 5,242 two room tenements have been constructed in Jammu at four locations– Purkhoo, Muthi, Nagrota and Jagti — and have been allotted to the migrants, who were living in various one room tenements, government buildings and temples.
Further, 200 flats have been constructed at Sheikhpora in Budgam district in Kashmir Valley and have been allotted to the migrants on sharing basis, who have joined the government service under employment component of the 2008 package.
Out of these 200 flats, 31 flats have also been allotted to the local migrants, who migrated from their native places to other places within the Kashmir Valley.
The Government has announced a Comprehensive Package of Rs 1,618.40 crore in the year 2008 for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants, which provides for many facilities including financial assistance for purchase or construction of houses, repair or renovation of damaged houses and dilapidated or unused houses and construction of transit accommodation.
As informed by the state government, only one family has returned to the Valley availing the benefit of Rs 7.5 Lakh for construction of house under the package. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR :  More than 20,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance till last night at the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where about 2.31 lakh yatris had darshan of the self made Ice-Lingam since the commencement of the yatra from June 28.
The pilgrimage was going on smoothly from Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps.
As many as 28 pilgrims have died, majority of them due to heart attack till yesterday.
Officials said fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps early this morning for the cave shrine. However, the exact number of pilgrims undertaking the pilgrimage today will be known only in the afternoon.    They said 20,007 pilgrims paid obeisance at the Holy Cave till last night. The devotees who paid obeisance before the self-made ice-lingam in the cave have also started their return journey to Baltal. Some of them have returned last  evening.
Officials said pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on traditional track, also started their journey towards the cave shrine early this morning.    They said a total of 2.31 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the holy cave since the commencement of the yatra from Baltal route on June 29 and from Pahalgam route on July 2 till yesterday.
(AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  Amid demands by Civil Service aspirants for scrapping the CSAT test, government today urged the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to postpone the preliminary exam scheduled next month till there is clarity on the syllabus and exam pattern.
“We are also urging upon the UPSC and the committee that was constituted to look into the matter that not only report be constituted at the earliest, considering the urgency of the matter and the concern of all sections of the society… They should also consider postponing the date of the preliminary examination,” Union Minister Jitendra Singh told reporters outside Parliament.
The prelims entrance exam is scheduled to to be held on August 24.
Yesterday, ABVP activists had staged protests outside the UPSC office demanding scrapping of Civil Services Aptitude Tests (CSAT), saying such a pattern was putting Hindi language aspirants at a disadvantage.
Singh, who is also Minister of State for Department of Personnel and Training and Prime Minister’s Office, said, “Till the report about the final conclusions in the matter is out, these young guys and girls would not be able to make out the kind of preparation they have to do for the exam.
“Therefore, till there is a clarity over the syllabus and exam pattern they should be given sufficient time. It is quite legitimate on their part that we are suggesting to concerned authorities to consider postponement of the preliminary examination of IAS (UPSC) exams,” he said.
A group of students also met Singh over the issue today.
The Minister said senior officials would meet the protesting students and urge them to end their hunger strike.
“We were all deeply concerned when we found our students were resorting to hunger strike. We have succeeded in convincing them. They should not resort to such extreme measures,” he said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : The government has no proposal to repeal Article 370 of the Constitution that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Lok Sabha was informed today.
“No” was the reply of Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju to a written question by TMC member Saugata Roy on whether the government has any proposal to repeal Article 370.
Immediately after NDA came to power at the Centre, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh had said the government was open to debate on merits and demerits of Article 370 and would make efforts to “convince” the “unconvinced” by holding contact programmes with every section of the society in Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh, who was elected from Udhampur Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir, had said BJP was working “very professionally” on this issue and has been calling meetings in the Kashmir Valley.
“We have succeeded in convincing some of them (on the issue of repealing the provision),” he had said.
Meanwhile, replying to another question, Rijiju said as on date, a total of 270 individuals are being given security by the central government on the basis of their threat perception.
“The central government provides security cover on the basis of assessment of threat to some individuals. The security provided is subject to periodic review based on which security is continued/withdrawn/downgraded/upgraded.
“Thus the number of protectees in the central list varies from time to time. However, as on date, there are 270 threat-based protectees in the central list,” he said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  India today said an expeditious and successful conclusion of probe and trial of those involved in the Mumbai terror attacks case in Pakistan would help bridge the trust deficit between the two neighbours.
“In order to take up the issue of terrorism strongly with Pakistan, government has conveyed to the Pakistan leadership, at the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of Pakistan on May 27 in New Delhi, that Pakistan must abide by its commitment that it will not allow its territory and territory under its control to be used for aiding and abetting of terrorist activities against India and for providing sanctuaries to such terrorist groups.
“It has also been conveyed to Pakistan that an expeditious and successful conclusion of the investigation and trial relating to those involved in the Mumbai attacks would be a major confidence building measure and would help bridge the trust deficit,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Rijiju said a total of 43 attempts of infiltration along the Indo-Pakistan border have taken place till May this year. He added that 277 such attempts were made during 2013 while in 2012, they were 264.
He also said that till July 11 this year, a total of 42 incidents of ceasefire violation have taken place along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
“As per report, no security personnel or civilian was injured or martyred during these ceasefire violations. India has repeatedly emphasised, including at the highest level, the need for Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of the Line of Control and abide by its ceasefire commitment of 2003 along the International Border and Line of Control,” he said.
He also denied there was any proposal to “demilitarise” the Indo-Pak border.
“However, under the Simla Agreement of 1972, India is committed to resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan including the issue of Pakistan’s forcible and illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir through a peaceful bilateral dialogue,” he said.
In reply to a separate question on the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, the Minister said a total of four people have been killed and 23 injured till July 8. (AGENCIES)