Jammu and Kashmir Archives - Page 4 of 10 - Lokmarg

Devotees Across Country Offer Namaz On Occasion Of Eid-Al-Adha

By LokMarg 29th June 2023

On the auspicious occasion of Eid-Al-Adha on Thursday, devotees from all over the country offered their prayers.

Devotees were seen exchanging greetings after offering Eid-Al-Adha namaz in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.

In Rajasthan’s capital, Jaipur large congregations of devotees offered namaz in the open ground on the auspicious day.

Devotees congregated outside Fatehpuri Masjid in Delhi to offer prayers. Congregations of Devotees also gathered outside Delhi’s Jama Masjid to offer prayers, on the occasion of Eid

Aftering offering namaz at Panja Sharif Dargah, Kashmere Gate in the national capital, former Union Minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi extended greetings on the occasion of Eid-Al-Adha.

People in large numbers were seen offering namaz in Jammu.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, Security beefed up near Jama Masjid on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

DCP Central, Sanjay Kumar Sain, said: “Security of the people is our top priority and with the help of MCD, we are ensuring that the area is clean and hygienic. Around 1,000 district police personnel are present here. Outside force is also supporting us.”

Devotees gathered to offer prayers on the occasion of Eid al-Adha in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

In Mumbai, devotees were seen offering namaz at a dargah on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

People offered namaz in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, on the occasion the holy occasion of Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha or Bakra Eid, which is being observed on June 29 this year, is a holy occasion also called the ‘festival of sacrifice’ and is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic or lunar calendar. It marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Eid al-Adha is an occasion of joy and peace, where people celebrate with their families, let go of past grudges and make meaningful connections with one another. It is celebrated as a commemoration of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice everything for God. (ANI)

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Shah Lays Foundation Stone Of ‘Balidaan Stambh’ In Srinagar

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is on his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir has arrived at Srinagar’s Pratap Park to lay the foundation stone of ‘Balidaan Stambh’.

On Friday, Union Home Minister arrived in Jammu and laid the foundation stone for various development projects and launch public welfare schemes.
The Union Home Minister also met the family members of victims in the Rajouri terror attack.

Shah also addressed a public meeting in Jammu and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will form the government in 2024 by securing over 300 seats and becoming the Prime Minister again.

The Union Minister also remembered the contributions of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerji on his death anniversary and recalled that Bengal is a part of India due to the late leader’s efforts.

Shah also addressed the Vitasta Mahotsav organised by the Ministry of Culture as the chief guest in Srinagar on Friday as part of his 2-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

Several dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi, Union Home Secretary and Secretary, Ministry of Culture were present on this occasion.

“This is the same Vitasta, which has been witness to many kinds of research in Kashmir for thousands of years and also has the privilege of being an amalgamation place of many cultures. This Jhelum has also seen Adishankar. Scholars of every field have come out of this land and made their arts famous not only in India but in the whole world; the assimilation of all these can be seen in today’s culture of Kashmir,” said Shah.

Union Home Minister said that Jhelum has seen difficult times, the stream of Vitasta has also seen blood, attacks by fanatics, and many regime changes and Jhelum has also been a witness to the horrific scourge of terrorism.

He said that Vitasta has given affection, love and enthusiasm to its children by incorporating all these in herself.

Union Home Minister said that about 1,900 artists from Kashmir and about 150 artists from across the country will exhibit and exchange their art in the Vitasta Mahotsav starting in Kashmir today.

He said that the Vitasta Mahotsav is the festival of the upcoming future of Kashmir, a link connecting our glorious history with the bright future, and Kashmir and the country move forward, create a great India, this is the goal of this festival. (ANI)

Jammu Kashmir Starts Biometrics Attendance In Schools

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Department of School Education introduced a ‘Biometric Attendance System’ to ensure attendance by employees. Although it has not been implemented 100 per cent, there has been a significant improvement in the attendance of teachers in government schools since the introduction of this system.

This Beach Model Higher Secondary School Savjian has become the first government school in Jammu and Kashmir, where apart from teachers, the biometric attendance of students has also been started.

ocated in a remote area of Savajian in the border district of Poonch in Jammu province, this school has always been in the headlines for taking a unique initiative.
There are 276 students studying in this school from ninth to twelfth standard. Students are also showing great interest in attending biometric machines and they welcomed the move.

School Principal Anwar Khan while talking to Milap News Network said that Savjian Model Higher Secondary School is the first such institution in Jammu and Kashmir, which has started a biometric attendance system. He said, “Teachers have been bound during school hours due to biometric attendance, similarly children must be bound so that the education system and quality can be improved”.

According to Principal Anwar Khan, there are many benefits of biometric attendance, when we have to send the attendance of students up, we used to calculate the number of days of attendance and absence of each individual from the registered and send it, now one click. But the entire PDF file will come out and we will know which child came and how many times. This attendance file will also be sent to the parents in PDF format so that they also know when their children attended school.

In this school, not only the attendance but also to improve the education system, a good laboratory, and library has been established. Tri-curricular activities, quizzes, seminars, and debate competitions are also organized continuously, in the sports department, many children of the school also performed prominently in interzonal and interdistrict competitions.

Yesterday District Magistrate Poonch Yasin Chaudhary also visited this school and appreciated the facilities available there. He also asked many questions of the students, for which he praised the school management for their satisfactory answers. It should be noted that Principal Anwar Khan is not only from Poonch but also among the best teachers in Jammu and Kashmir, he has been DIET Poonch for many years. And have also been imparting training to teachers and lecturers in state-level workshops, and orientation programs. (ANI)

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Centre Blocks 14 Apps In J&K For Promoting Terror

By LokMarg 1st May 2023

After getting inputs from intelligence agencies, the central government has blocked 14 messenger mobile applications that were largely used in Jammu and Kashmir for spreading terror, sources said.

According to sources, these mobile applications were used by terrorists in Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers (OGW).
“Agencies keep track of channels used by Overground workers (OGWs) and terrorists to communicate among themselves. While tracking down one of the communication, agencies found that the mobile application does not have representatives in India and it is difficult to track down activities happening on the app,” said an official.

Thereafter, with the help of other intelligence agencies operating in the valley, a list of such apps was prepared that pose a threat to national security and do not follow Indian laws. After getting the list prepared, the concerned Ministry was informed of the request to ban these mobile applications. These apps have been blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the official added.

In official communications to higher-ups, the intelligence agencies informed that these apps are spreading terror propaganda in the Valley.

Sources said these apps include Crypviser, Enigma, Safeswiss, Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second Line, Zangi, and Threema among others. (ANI)

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A Spiritual Journey: The Amarnath Yatra 2023

By LokMarg 27th April 2023

As the summer season approaches, devotees across the world gear up for the annual Amarnath Yatra in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The 62-day yatra, which commences on July 1 and culminates on August 31, is an important pilgrimage for Hindus who visit the Amarnath Cave, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
The administration has assured a smooth and hassle-free yatra for all devotees, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stating that the government’s top priority is to provide the best healthcare and essential facilities to visitors and service providers.

The government is also working closely with various departments to ensure proper arrangements for lodging, power, water, security, and waste management.

The yatra would commence simultaneously from both the Pahalgam track in the Anantnag district and Baltal in the Ganderbal district, giving devotees the option to choose the route that suits them best.

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has also enabled live telecasts of morning and evening prayers for devotees across the world.

To make the registration process easier, the SASB has made available an app on the Google Play store, allowing devotees to get real-time information about the yatra, and weather conditions, and avail several services online.

During the 44th meeting of SASB, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, members and officials reviewed various aspects of Amarnath Yatra-2023, including registration, provision of helicopter services, service providers, camps, langars, and insurance cover for yatris.

The annual Amarnath Yatra is a significant event in the Hindu calendar and attracts thousands of devotees every year.

With the government’s assurance of a hassle-free yatra, devotees can look forward to a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey to the Amarnath Cave. (ANI)

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J-K: Tulip Garden Witnesses Huge Footfall

By LokMarg 27th April 2023

The Tulip Garden at Sanasar – Jammu and Kashmir’s second biggest and Jammu division’s biggest Tulip garden, witnessed a huge footfall of tourists from different places of the country.

The Garden is spread over 40 kanals (5 acres) of land adjacent to the Lake surrounded by picturesque Sanasar meadows. Around 2.75 lakh tulip bulbs of 25 varieties and different hues have been planted in the garden.
The Tulip Garden was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha on April 8 during a grand function held amid much fanfare.

Tourists from all over the country and even outside the country are visiting Tulip Garden in Sanasar in hordes thereby boosting the socio-economic status of the area.

To date, 43964 tourists including 18026 from J&K and 25936 local tourists besides a few foreigners have visited Sanasar this year.

At present 40 per cent of Tulip flowers are in bloom and will remain bloomed for 10 more days.

Jammu Kashmir Department of Floriculture works hard to decorate the garden with lakhs of flowers with dozens of varieties so that more and more tourists from across the world may visit it.

It is said that the Kashmir tulip garden has no competition with any other tulip garden in the world. Besides the beauty of the garden in the ‘world’s paradise’ what attracts the tourists is the warm hospitality of the locals. (ANI)

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Kashmir’s Bandipora To Soon Host India’s Largest Book Village

By LokMarg 17th April 2023

‘Sarhad’ a Pune-based non-government organisation is all set to convert Aragam village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district into India’s largest book village in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir government.

The NGO has submitted a proposal which has already been discussed with the District administration to create a book village in Aragam village in collaboration with the J-K government.

Explaining why it has chosen the Aragam village, an NGO official said, “The village is located in the scenic region where the beauty of nature can solace to the visitors’ minds and make them more creative and probe the fundamental questions of life.”

“There cannot be such a place equal to Aragam in Kashmir that has a great potential to make a group and cultural village where unparalleled natural beauty can inspire to probe into Kashmiri literature and rich history of Kashmir, besides witnessing an astounding culture,” he added.

He also said that ideally located nestled amidst the pristine forests of the Himalayas along the banks of Asia’s second-largest freshwater Wular lake in the district.

“Teeming with inspiration for art and literature-scenic beauty, diverse, cultural natural trails for leisurely walks and several locations for trout fishing while enjoying the books,” he added.

Giving details about the book village, the NGO official said, “The book village idea, though not new, in this concept it will be a unique destination where visitors can get absorbed into the ancient to modern literature and history of Kashmir and can get to introduce to its folk culture intimately.

The visitors, NGO said, will find books almost everywhere and places to read at leisure.

Talking about the concept, he said, “It will be a village where ancient manuscripts, paintings and artificials from Kashmir will be on constant exhibition. The new and old books will be made available to read and contemplate, adding that it will be a village where folk culture will be showcased, besides the author’s historians and nature lovers will visit for their solace.”

He further said that a room would be constructed where literary discussions and cultural shows can take place, whose walls would be used to display the artwork of various artists on a rotation basis.

“Library complex will consist of a main building which will house a huge library for regular use of litterateurs and community and will have books in 6 languages initially English, Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi, Marathi & Bengali,” he added.

He also said that audiobooks also will be made available for visitors who can listen to books of their choice while on a stroll or trek.

“To facilitate these two three-storied structures to be constructed to house the books with sufficient reading tables,” the official said.

“Special room to house antique/valuable books and manuscripts computer room with internet access for use by visitors on a payment basis, adding that general reading room comprising newspapers and magazines for the public to read will also be available,” said the official.

“Library to be run in a professional manner which will have its own management committee comprising government and community which is elected and staff to be recruited by the management for running the library,” he added.

Notably, the Sarhad, which is known for its diversified social work in border states like Punjab, J-K, Ladakh and the north-east, has also done mountainous work in the field of literature and music.

The NGO official also noted that Sarhad has planned Apple Tourism and Border Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the Book Village can be comfortably integrated into the tourist circuits to increase footfall and spread awareness about the Book Village.

He further said that there are more than six schools, two hospitals and one panchayat in the village where books can be made available.

“More than 50 householders in Aragam are ready to keep books in their houses with the responsibility to preserve books under the guidelines provided by Sarhad NGO,” he said. (ANI)

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Amarnath Yatra To Begin From July 1, Registration Starts

By LokMarg 17th April 2023

The registration for 62-day-long Shri Amarnathji Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir has begun on Monday, the officials said.

The Yatra will commence on July 1 this year and culminate on August 31, 2023, the government of the Union Territory said.

The registration has started for both – the Pahalgam track in the Anantnag district and Baltal in the Ganderbal district. Registration has begun through both online and offline modes.

The offline registration can be done in 542 bank branches across the country including 316 branches of Punjab National Bank, 90 branches of J-K, 37 branches of Yes Bank and 99 branches of SBI Bank, the officials said.

Meanwhile, this year a new feature in registration is Aadhar-based registration in which a thumb scan of Pilgrim will be taken for registration.

As per the guidelines, individuals aged between 13-70 can register themselves for Amarnathji Yatra 2023 and for all pilgrimage health certificate is a must. Women with a pregnancy of 6 weeks or more are not allowed to undertake the yatra.

On March 14, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, while announcing the dates for the holy pilgrimage, said that the administration is committed to ensuring a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage.

“Hassle-free pilgrimage is the top priority of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The administration will provide best-in-class healthcare and other essential facilities to all the visiting devotees and service providers. Telecom services will be made operational prior to the commencement of the Pilgrimage. All the stakeholder departments are working in coordination to ensure facilities for lodging, power, water, security and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of Yatra,” LG Sinha said.

The Lt Governor also directed the officials to ensure high levels of cleanliness and to take necessary interventions for sanitation and waste management.

Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) will also enable live telecasts of the morning and evening Aarti (Prayers) for devotees across the globe. Shri Amarnathji Yatra’s App has been made available on the Google Play store to get real-time information about the Yatra, weather and for availing of several services online,” the government said in a statement.

The pilgrimage to the Amarnath Gupha, a holy place for Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir, is marked by devotion, religious tolerance and brotherhood.

Inside the Amarnath Gupha is an old ‘Linga’ of Lord Shiva. Pilgrims come from all over India to have darshan here. Hindus believe this was Lord Shiva’s abode, located 168 km from the district headquarters in the Anantnag district.

Located 141 km from the capital Srinagar at an altitude of 12,756 feet above sea level, Gupha lies in the Ladar Valley, which is covered by glaciers, and snow-capped mountains for most of the year.

Common pilgrims are allowed to come here for darshan only for a limited time in summer. There are two main routes to reach here, one is beyond the town of Pahalgam and the other is the route to Baltal via Sonawar, a popular tourist spot in the Ganderbal district.

A 43-km hill trek starts from Chandiwadi and Noonan base camps in Pahalgam. Some people also avail the option to go on horses or palanquins to cover the trek. The shortest route is from Bal Tal which is 16 km but that’s more challenging.

Prior to 1990, the pilgrimage was very exclusive and available to only sadhus and saints to visit. In 1995, the pilgrimage was held for 20 days. From 2004 to 2009, its duration was increased to two months. The pilgrimage now lasts for 40 to 45 days between July and August. (ANI)

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Rijiju’s Car Meets With Accident, Min Safe: J-K Police

By LokMarg 8th April 2023

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s car met with an accident in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Saturday.

Ramban Police said that while going from Jammu to Srinagar by road, the Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju’s car met with a minor accident.
“No injuries happened to anyone and Honourable Minister was driven safely to destination,” police added.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Saturday visited Jammu and Kashmir to attend the inauguration of the first edition of the Constitution of India in Dogri language at the University of Jammu. (ANI)

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J&K Govt’s Huge Push For Sustainable Agriculture

By LokMarg 22nd February 2023

The government of Jammu and Kashmir, giving a huge push to sustainable agriculture in the Union Territory, has approved a five-year project on “Innovative Extension Approaches for Revitalizing Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir”, said a press release.

The project, worth Rs 463 crore, is aimed at empowering farmers and educated youth through technology-driven and inclusive agri-extension services. One of the critical outcomes of the project would be the creation of 2,000 Kissan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs), which will serve as a One Stop Center for extending farmer-oriented services, added the press release.

“The extension system in Jammu and Kashmir faces many challenges, including serving a large clientele with structural complexity and functional diversity. There is a significant gap between extension workers and farmers, with a ratio of 1:1100 and a contact intensity of one hour per farmer per year. The existing system is also plagued by defects such as lack of realistic base-level information, poor coordination and cohesiveness among the extension players and a low level of public confidence”, said Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, APD.

The project aims to address these issues by developing a dynamic agri-extension system using IoT-enabled real-time big data for farm-centric planning and resource allocation. This technology-enabled system will form the basis for a proactive agriculture extension system with a cluster approach. This approach will use real-time regional analysis of climate and agro-ecology information to promote niche agriculture under given agro-climatic conditions”, he added.

“Innovative Extension Approaches for Revitalizing Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir” is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors in UT of J&K. The prestigious committee is being headed by Dr Mangala Rai, former DG ICAR and has other luminaries in the field of Agriculture, Planning, Statistics and Administration like Ashok Dalwai, CEO NRAA, P K Joshi, Secretary, NAAS, Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner MOA and FW, DH. S Gupta, Former Director, IARI, Atal Dulloo , Additional Chief Secretary, APD besides Vice Chancellors of twin Agriculture Universities of the UT.

The project envisages promoting sustainable and profitable agriculture with a significant increase in the share of agricultural GDP. To achieve this goal, the project will establish 2,000 Panchayat level KKGs, revitalizing the Block-level Extension Advisory Committee and promoting Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) as a hub of convergence of services at the district level. The project will also establish business orientation centres at SKUAST-Kashmir and Jammu and facilitate real-time problem redressal through cyber extension including RS-GIS-driven agro-advisories and ICT-based virtual contacts and communication systems.

The Kissan Khidmat Ghar will be a Stop Center for farmers to access a range of services related to agriculture and allied sectors. It will serve as a knowledge centre with modern ICT tools including a kiosk, to provide direct access to various information such as input supply, technology, marketing, and more. The KKG will be a platform for a public-private partnership to manage the value chain effectively and economically. Each KKG will have a technical facilitator to provide end-to-end services to farmers at nominal charges.

The project will also create a strong MIS system to maintain transparency and accountability in service delivery and information sharing with parent departments and administration. The KKG will function in close coordination with the Panchayat, fostering the Public-Private-Panchayat partnership. The key functions of KKG will include execution of direct services in agriculture and allied sectors, input booking/delivery, market intelligence services, capacity building and skill development, facilitating custom hiring services and generating baseline information for policy planning and review of operational schemes at block and higher levels.

The project will focus on holistic planning and execution of “production to profit” agriculture with the area and commodity-specific extension approaches based on the agri-knowledge system (JK Agri stack platform). It will converge functional extension resources and approaches for participatory planning and decentralized decision making to promote remunerative agriculture. It will also provide seamless agricultural extension services with perfect outreach and dynamic contact across the value chain and real-time resource person-client interaction. Besides, the project will focus on capacity building in agricultural extension and skill development for generating entrepreneurship and employment.

Meanwhile, the project will also reorient capacity-building programs and promote secondary agriculture with post-harvest and non-farm activities as the primary focus for harnessing better returns. This will include training in agri-business, marketing, secondary agriculture and non-farm activities. It will constitute an “Agri-Extension Club” promoting regular online Expert Extension Lecture Series (EELS) and skilling farmers and youth in mission mode for profitable agriculture, entrepreneurship development, agri-business start-ups, employment generation and livelihood security.

The project will also synergize PPP extension systems and accreditation of service providers at the UT level with outcome-linked incentives. It will establish sustainable market linkages for physical and e-markets and promote secondary agriculture. The project will also focus on the augmentation of mechanization, automation and digital agriculture, awareness programs, demonstrations and entrepreneurship in farm machinery services.

The project will promote research in extension, technology and service gaps, technology adoption, and impact assessment. It will use a bottom-up approach and employ IoT-enabled real-time big data to monitor the impact of the project at the backend.

The project aims to promote a smart technology-driven seamless innovative, implementable and inclusive agri-extension service that empowers farmers and educated youth to realize the sustainably progressive growth of the agricultural sector in the country. By providing farmers with access to modern tools and techniques, the project hopes to increase agricultural productivity and improve food security while also reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Ultimately, the implementation of a smart, technology-driven approach to agricultural extension services has the potential to revolutionize the way farmers access information and support. By leveraging the power of IoT-enabled big data, the project can measure the impact of its efforts in real time, providing valuable insights for future decision-making. As a result, the project has the potential to contribute significantly to the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to food security, poverty reduction and sustainable development, positively impacting millions of people’s lives. (ANI)