Omar stresses on quality education
SRINAGAR, MAY 23 – Chairing the 2nd meeting of the Advisory Council for Higher Education here on Thursday, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah laid thrust on growth and accessibility of quality higher education in the State to keep pace with global advancement of modern education.The Chief Minister constituted a high level committee of administrative secretaries of Higher Education, School Education, Technical Education, Finance Departments headed by the Principal Secretary Planning and Development to examine the recommendations made by various sub-groups of Advisory Council. It will also review draft Vision Document 2020 prepared by the Higher Education Department.“The Administrative Secretaries Committee should time bound finalization of the recommendations so that these are deliberated upon i....

State has to speed up progress in IT sector: Omar
SRINAGAR, MAY 23 – Stating that Jammu and Kashmir has to travel many miles to catch up race with other states in the field of Information Technology and Electronics, Chief Minster, Omar Abdullah Thursday said that despite being ideally located and potentially rich for these sectors the continuous law and order situation and disturbance in the State for over two decades has hampered its growth severally.“Though with the restoration of peace we have come a long way but we have to go a long way to make the State a hub of IT and Electronics”, he said reiterating his government’s firm resolve in this direction. He said during the last four years many new initiatives have been introduced to make e-governance rule the roost and upgrade service delivery making it prompt, transparent and hassle-fre....

Speaker for making Financial, other Committees result oriented
SRINAGAR, May 23: The Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Mr. Mubarak Gul today asked Chairmen, Financial and other Committees of the House to ensure the effective, meaningful and result oriented functioning of these.The Speaker was chairing a meeting with all Chairmen of Financial and other Committee of the House here to discuss and review the working of these Committees.The Speaker said that we should work with team spirit and it is our joint responsibility to make the working of the Committees more active.The Speaker directed the authorities of the General Administration Department (GAD) to issue a circular to all the departments with regard to the implementation of the recommendations and observations of the reports laid on the table of the House from time to time impressin....

Relief distributed among windstorm affectees of Gurez
SRINAGAR, MAY 23:  On the directions of Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Mr. Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, the Sub District Magistrate Gurez today visited Cherrwon and Badugam villages to take stock of the situation arise due to recent floods and windstorm in these areas respectively.The SDM on-the-spot allotted land to the flood victims for their rehabilitation in other safer places in the village. He also distributed relief among the victims affected due to windstorm in Badugam village.NO: PR/DI/2013/1488/ab/as ....

New methodology on cards to reduce man-animal conflict: Mian Altaf
SRINAGAR, MAY 24: A low cost methodology is being introduced in critical areas of the State aimed to reduce man-animal conflict and the damage to human lives. Under the methodology, an organic fencing is used to keep wildlife animals like bear and leopard away from human habitation. This was stated by the Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad at an officers meeting of Wildlife Department here today.    Commissioner/ Secretary Forests, Sheikh Aijaz Iqbal, Chief Wildlife Warden, A.K.Singh, Regional Wildlife Warden, Manzoor Ahmad Tak, besides, other senior officers of the department were present on the occasion. The Minister asked the officers to identify the critical areas and take the experts, invited for the purpose, there besides imparting necessar....

Feroz interacts with Union MOS
SRINAGAR, MAY 23: Minister of State for Science & Technology, School Education, Medical Education & Youth Services and Sports Mr. Feroz Ahmad Khan met the Union Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology, Dr. Killi Karuparani, today.During the half an hour meeting, the Ministers discussed various issues pertaining to Information Technology/ Communication network in the state. The issues including lying of NOFN cable were also discussed in the meeting. The Minister also presented a charter of demands regarding improvements of communication network in Zanskar, upgradation of RBSC Kargil into BSC Kargil, increasing the capacity of satellite media in case of GSM calls when OFC breaks down and provision of internet facility at Zanskar. The Union Minister assured M....

Rana welcomes central team’s visit, hopes early release of package
BHELLA (BHADERWAH) MAY 23- Welcoming the decision of the Centre to depute a fact-finding team to earthquake hit Chenab Valley districts in the wake of memo on package submitted by the Omar Abdullah led government, Provincial President National Conference Mr Devender Singh Rana on Thursday exuded confidence that the requisite assistance of Rs 607.77 crore will be released earnestly, enabling the sufferers to construct and renovate their damaged houses ahead of winter.“The Leh type package is imperative for the affected districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban, keeping in view the extent of damages caused by tremors and backwardness of the mountainous hilly region”, Mr Rana said while addressing the people at Thelala and Bhella in Bhaderwah area.Expecting the memo of package getting immediate ....

Omar inaugurates post office fest
SRINAGAR, MAY 23:- Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday afternoon inaugurated post office fest here besides dedicating modernized Lal Chowk Post Office to people. He also inaugurated philately exhibition on the occasion. Union Minister for Communication and IT, Dr. Kruparani Killi was present on the occasion.The festival was organized by Indian Postal Department in collaboration with Srinagar Municipal Corporation. The aim of the festival was to associate postal service with the efforts of SMC to make Srinagar city hygienic and clean.The theme of festival was ‘Green and Clean’ Srinagar. The students from various educational institutions in their cultural events highlighted the need for keeping Srinagar clean and hygienic.Among others, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University, Prof. Talat Ahma....

Govt. Continue efforts to address the problems of common people: Sakina
SRINAGAR, MAY 23: Minister for Social Welfare, Ms. Sakina Itoo today said that Government is making continuous efforts to address the problems of the common people particularly weaker sections, physically challenged and economically backward people.The Minister was addressing a large gathering at an awareness camp for distribution of “Orthotic and Prosthetic Aids and Appliances under ADIP schemes organised by J&K State Rehabilitation Council in collaboration with Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Government of India.Highlighting the aims and objectives of organising of such camps in remote areas and district Headquarters, the Minister said the main purpose of the camp is to aware the common people about the various welfare schemes launched by the State government for the welfa....

CM releases Book on “Shopian Development”
SHOPIAN, MAY 23 – While releasing the book “Shopian- A Paradise of Peace and Prosperity, Chief Minister, Omar Abdulla said the book is an apt reflection of the developmental  activities of all the departments in the district undertaken by the District Administration in the year 2012-13. He observed that completion of works costing Rs. 260 crores and spending Rs. 35.76 crores in social sector in this hilly District as reflected in the compendium, will give a fillip to the socio-economic development.Giving details about the actual utilization of funds in various sectors the Deputy Commissioner, Shopian, Mr. M. Javed Khan (KAS), informed the Chief Minister that not only money was utilized for actual creation of socio-infrastructure but new and innovative schemes were put in place as well. He said that the pivot of development has to be the maximum benefit to maximum people and asserted that such a consideration has been the guideline of the District Administration while undertaking t....