Articles by "J&K"
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Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary inspecting RS Pura Hospital wards

JAMMU, JULY 26: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today conducted inspection of  Sub District Hospital RS Pura at late hours and took stock of healthcare facilities available for the patients there.

The Deputy CM inspected various sections of the hospital and assessed the services being extended to the patients. He interacted with the patients and their attendants, seeking feedback regarding the quality of treatment and related services available at the SDH.

While interacting with them, the Deputy CM assured them that the Government is focusing on increasing medical care facilities in rural areas so that they can get access near their vicinities.


He urged the hospital authorities to ensure timely treatment, streamlined processes and patient-centric care for the patients coming from different far flung and border areas.

The Deputy CM asked for maintaining proper sanitation and hygiene in and around the hospital premises besides checking the availability of medicine, duty rooster and staff strength.

He maintained that the Government under the leadership of CM Omar Abdullah is committed to provide all modern healthcare facilities and infrastructure to the people at their door steps.

 

ILEGAL MINING IN NAGROTA

JAMMU, JULY 26: In a significant move against illegal mining and land encroachment, the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), in coordination with the District Administration Jammu, conducted a joint anti-encroachment operation in Khasra No. 851, village Nagrota.

The action led to the retrieval of 15 kanal JDA land that had been illegally occupied and subjected to unauthorized mining activities. The land situated in a sensitive and strategically important area was being misused by elements of the land mafia, causing both environmental damage and loss to public assets.

In a coordinated effort, JDA team headed by Director Land Management JDA under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner, Jammu and Vice Chairman JDA acted swiftly to stop the illegal mining and dismantle all encroachments from the site. JDA boards were also installed on the spot. The operation was carried out under the broader directive to protect public land and uphold the rule of law.

Officials confirmed that further legal proceedings will be initiated against those responsible and steps have been taken to prevent re-encroachment. Surveillance in the area has been strengthened.

Meanwhile, another team of JDA dismantled temporary structures along Ring Road at Bishnah. The JDA appeals to the public to report any instances of illegal land use and reiterates its dedication to transparent and responsible land management.

 

machail mata yatra distance, registration and route info

KISHTWAR, JULY 26: The revered Shree Machail Mata Yatra 2025, which officially commenced on July 25, 2025, touched nearly 5 thousand mark with 4,944 pilgrims (3861 males, 776 females and 307 children) performing Darshan at the Holy Shree Chandi Mata Mandir at Village Machail in Paddar Valley.

This annual Yatra is one of the most significant pilgrimages in the Jammu Division as its popularity has soared in past years, with about 3 lakh pilgrims visiting last year alone.

Pilgrims along with the holy mace (Chhari) procession will proceed from Jammu on August 17 towards Darbar following traditional path and transits. The Yatra shall conclude on 5 September.

The weather at Machail Bhawan remains clear, ensuring a smooth experience for the devotees.

The Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar in collaboration with the district administration Kishtwar, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma and local administration, is diligently working to ensure comprehensive arrangements for the Yatris this year.

Langars by devotees near Bhawan Machail and en-route are offering meals to the pilgrims. Additionally, lodging facilities have been made available at the Yatri Bhawan Gulabgarh, Sapphire Guest House, luxury mushroom tents, along with various tent accommodations and Yatri Sarai near Chandi Mata Bhawan, Machail for the comfort of the devotees.

With the footfall expected to exceed 5 lakh this year, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma has appealed Yatris to follow guidelines/SoPs and Yatra timings religiously.

The Departure Timing from Kishtwar to Gulabgarh  is 05:00 AM to 05:00 PM, Gulabgarh to Machail - 04:30 AM to 04:30 PM and Arrival Timing Machail to Gulabgarh - 04:30 AM to 04:30 PM, Gulabgarh to Kishtwar- 05:00 AM to 05:00 PM.

To ensure a safe and pleasant journey for the pilgrims, the administration has upgraded the road connectivity and made adequate arrangements of water supply, sanitation, security and online registration through the website.

The addition of a road up to Chashoti on the Gulabgarh to Machail axis has significantly reduced the trekking distance, now taking approximately 3-4 hours. Furthermore, the road from Chishoti to Hamori is clear, with the only pending work being the construction of a bridge at Chishoti, which is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed soon.

New bridges and repairs to existing infrastructure aim to provide a safe and hassle-free experience for Yatris amid challenging geography.

The pilgrims can visit the official Machail Yatra website at www.shrimachailmatayatra.com for online registration and get updated information regarding the Yatra, including, routes and other facilities.

This resource is designed to help pilgrims stay informed and address any queries they may have. Yatris are advised to carry their Aadhar cards and review the guidelines on the website.

The administration remains committed to ensuring a seamless and spiritually fulfilling experience for all devotees participating in the Shree Machail Yatra this year.

 

Launches renovation, upgradation works under heritage conservation scheme

SRINAGAR, JULY 19: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on Saturday visited the ancient Vicharnag Temple, a site of historical and religious significance, in Nowshera area of Srinagar city.

The visit was aimed at to take onsite appraisal of the works being taken up for revival, restoration and conservation of the monumental asset under  government’s initiative of preserving the rich cultural and architectural heritage.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo and Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Faz Lul Haseeb accompanied the Chief Secretary during the visit.

On the occasion, the Chief Secretary kick started the renovation and restoration works of the ancient Vicharnag temple, also known as 'Vichar Sahab’.

The Chief Secretary, while reviewing different project components at the site, directed the officers to execute the works at fast pace, strictly adhering to the set timelines and quality of the work as envisioned under the project guidelines.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary emphasized that the renovation and conservation work on the prestigious project is aimed to restore the temple's centuries old past glory and preserve its cultural and architectural legacy.

The Chief Secretary said that the Vicharnag temple holds significant historical, cultural and religious importance, reflecting Kashmir's diverse cultural society. He expected that the renovation work will revive and preserve the temple's aesthetic, heritage and social values.

On the occasion, the public, particularly the members of Pandit community from various parts of the country participated in the event and sought blessings from Shri Vichar Sahab.

Earlier, the Chief Secretary was apprised that the work on the project is being executed by R&B Srinagar at a cost of Rs 4.58 crore which included conservation and restoration of the main Temple structure, earth filling around the temple precincts to restore the site's original topography, construction of entry gate to provide a formal and aesthetic look, construction of toilet block, desilting of egress channel up to Gilsar Lake to be undertaken by the Irrigation & Flood Control Department.

The restoration works also include the use of traditional lime mortar and Budloo/Fir wood, ornamental wood and stone work preserving original aesthetics, grills, signage, and landscape integration to enhance the visual appeal of the temple. The project is planned to be completed within one year, i.e., by July 2026.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Aadil Fareed, Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, senior Officers from R&B, PHE, PDD, I&FC, SMC, Police, Revenue and other concerned departments were present on the occasion.

 

Reviews performance of School Education Department

SRINAGAR, JULY 19: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the School Education Department to take stock of the teaching scenario and implementation of other education reforms in the Union Territory.

The meeting besides Secretary, School Education Department was attended by PD, Samagra Shiksha; Director, School Education, Kashmir/Jammu; Secretary, JKBOSE and other concerned officers of the department.

The Chief Secretary stressed on further improving the quality of education in government schools, highlighting the department's substantial budget of approximately Rs 11,000 crore that should commensurate with the quality of education imparted.

Dulloo underscored the pivotal role of teachers, stating that "none of the infrastructural or technological upgradation would bear fruits unless the teachers do not play their roles in an efficient manner." He further remarked that there is no alternative to the dedication and creativity of teachers in teaching the students.

The Chief Secretary emphasized the critical need to monitor the teacher punctuality and time spent in classrooms. He called for use of IT tools to identify teachers demonstrating a lackadaisical approach, tardiness or unauthorized departure from schools for personal matters. He directed that teacher salaries be linked to their school attendance and lawfully availed leave. He was informed that JK Attendance App, a geo-coordinates-based face recognition attendance system, has already been implemented, with 1.14 lakh employees actively marking their attendance.

The Chief Secretary enjoined upon the senior functionaries of the department to conduct surprise visits, both physical and virtual, to schools, especially in remote areas, to assess the staff presence and teaching effectiveness.

Dulloo stressed the importance of utilizing the modern infrastructure such as ICT labs, Computer-Aided Learning (CAL) labs, smart classrooms, Atal Tinkering Labs and other available resources. He directed the department's IT team to develop a dashboard for daily monitoring of IT infrastructure usage in each school. Currently, 1420 CAL Centers and 2036 ICT Labs and 4272 Smart Classrooms are fully operational across the UT.

Regarding vocational education, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the department for regular handholding and support to the vocational learners until they secure placements in the job market. Over 141,000 students from classes 9th to 12th were said to be currently enrolled in 15 different trades imparted in the schools.

Dulloo directed the department to exercise caution and make thorough preparation before adopting the ECCE model, emphasizing the extensive groundwork required for merging pre-primary education with childhood care in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department. He asked for appointment of nodal officers for each zone to ensure the feasibility of such mergers and prevent difficulties for children seeking admissions.

It was informed that Pre-primary classes are scheduled to be initiated in 15,550 schools and 13,804 AAYAs/helpers have been engaged in schools with ECCE sections.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the progress on various works under different schemes, including establishment of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), Girls Hostels, modern infrastructure and particularly the PM SHRI scheme  in designated schools across the Union Territory.

While throwing light on the overall educational landscape of J&K, Secretary, SED, Ram Niwas Sharma, revealed that 20 districts had been distributed into 188 Education Zones (Jammu: 97, Kashmir: 91) for managing the affairs of the department.

He also revealed that the literacy rate (UT, NSO Survey 2017) has been shown as 77.30% across the UT. He added that J&K has total schools strength of 24,137 (18,724 Govt. and 5,413 Pvt. + Other) with a cumulative enrolment of 2,617,817 students (1356838 in Govt+ 1260979 in Pvt Institutions) from Primary to Higher Secondary level.

The meeting was also apprised that the total budgetary allocation for the department for FY 2025-26 is Rs. 11,356.43 crore (including UT Capex and CSS)  with an overall approved budget allocation of Rs. 13,492.27 crore. It was added that the expenditure on each enrolled student in a government school accrues to around Rs 1 lakh/year which is much higher than the national average.

It was further divulged that in J&K 396 schools had been selected for being taken up under PM SHRI programme.

Regarding the Vidhya Samiksha Kendra, it was informed that it has fully been completed and operational in Jammu, ensuring data-driven decision-making and improved educational outcomes. Four chat bots (Smart Attendance J&K, J&K Study Buddy, Field Monitoring Bot, J&K Parent Pulse Bot) have been rolled out, so far, from there.

 


SRINAGAR, JULY 19 – In a major fillip to Kashmir’s famed craft sector, hand-made products worth 309.62 Cr have been exported to various overseas destinations in the First Quarter of the current financial year, up from 126.90 Cr in the same quarter last year.

As per figures made available by the concerned financial institutions, exports have recorded a huge jump of 243% and is the highest for Q1 in last four years.

In a press statement issued here today, a spokesperson from the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, stated that the Department is targeting craft exports of over Rs.1500 Cr during the current FY, provided global conflicts relent. “Higher exports of craft products to overseas destinations secures the welfare of Kashmir's famed artisans and weavers,” he said.      

Last year, craft products worth 733.59 Cr were exported, largely affected due to various global conflicts. “While Kani, Sozni shawls and hand-knotted carpets continue to lead exports, the other products exported include crewel, papier mache, chain stitch and wood carving items,” he added. 

The spokesman urged the exporters to avail Export Subsidy Scheme notified by the Government, which provides incentive of 10% of the total volume of GI registered handloom/ handicraft export products to any country with maximum reimbursement up to 5.00 crore in favour of eligible exporters registered with the Department,” he explained.    

Highlighting the Government’s strategy for welfare of artisan community, the spokesman further stated that the Department has a well-established Design Studio in the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology at Bagh-e-Ali Mardan Khan and unique prototypes conceived by the School of Designs and Craft Development Institute. “We urge the business stakeholders to access these designs and packaging models to add value to their products in high-end global markets,” he added.


Calls Upon Devotees Across India to Join the Sacred Yatra 

Jammu & Kashmir, July 13, 2025: Devyani Rana, Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Jammu and Kashmir UT (J&K BJYM), undertook the sacred pilgrimage to the Shri Amarnath Ji shrine and paid obeisance at the holy cave. Her visit comes during the auspicious month of Shravan, a period revered in the Hindu tradition as especially sacred for the worship of Lord Shiva.

Ms. Rana described the experience as deeply spiritual and profoundly humbling. "There are moments that remind us of who we are, where we come from, and what connects us as a people. This yatra is one such moment. To walk the path so many have walked in devotion, along with feeling the energy of prayer, is both grounding and uplifting," she said.

The month of Shravan is marked by devotion, fasting, and prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is traditionally during this sacred period that the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra draws lakhs of pilgrims from all over the country, united in faith and purpose.

Ms. Rana lauded the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, administration, and security forces for their exceptional coordination and unwavering dedication to the safety, comfort, and well-being of the pilgrims. “From various facilities to logistical support, every detail has been thoughtfully planned and executed.” She noted.

As the yatra continues through the holy month, Ms. Rana urged devotees from across India to join the divine pilgrimage.