C M Y K

“May your worries be light. May your joys be great. May your cup overflow.”

Vol. 12 No: 140 | JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 | Pages: 12 | Price: R 3.00 | Air surcharge 50 paisa for Leh

World Bank FundedJTFRP DevelopmentalWorks to be restartedin Jammu Province

from next week

Govt mandatespurchase of 26 military spares and equipment

only from domestic firms

IPL possible withinternational stars

after monsoon:BCCI CEO

Rahul Johri

The role ofwomen in today's

world haschanged

significantly

JAMMUMAX : 38.0 °CMIN : 20.0 °CSUNSET : 7:26 pm TodaySUNRISE : 5:28 am TomorrowSRINAGARMAX : 26.0 °CMIN : 9.0 °CLEHMAX : 9.0 °CMIN : 1.0 °C

LG greets people onShab-i-QadrJAMMU: Jammu andKashmir LieutenantGovernor Girish ChandraMurmu on Wednesday

felicitated the people ofthe Union Territory ofJammu and Kashmir onShab-i-Qadr. In a message

Contd. on P-4 Col 4

Two officersdeployed for assist-ing in COVID19JAMMU: Jammu andKashmir Government onWednesday deployed two

officersforassistingin

Corona Virus pandemic.As per Government OrderNo.581-JK(GAD) of2020, Dated:20.05.2020,two officers are deployed

Contd. on P-4 Col 4

Cabinet okaysissuance of J&KReorganisation(Adaptation of StateLaws) Second OrderNEW DELHI: TheUnion Cabinet, chairedby Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, onWednesday gave its ex-post facto approval forthe Jammu & Kashmir(Adaptation of StateLaws) Second Order,

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Pak shells border villages twice in lessthan a day in PoonchJAMMU: Pakistan Armyon Wednesday againshelled border villagesand violated the ceasefirein less than a day alongthe Line of Control inPoonch district of Jammuand Kashmir. Defencespokesman here said thatafter violating ceasefirein Kirni and Degwarsectors, Pakistan troops

Contd. on P-4 Col 4

IN BRIEF

SPREAD ACROSS AT LEAST 170 COUNTRIESWORLD : 48,97,492 confirmed, 3,23,285 deathsINDIA : Over 1,06,750 confirmed, 3,303 deaths

J&K: 1,22,964 : Travellers, Persons in contact with suspected cases

33,113 : Home quarantine86 : Hospital quarantine

1,00,560 : Tested Negative1,390 : Positive

18 : Deaths

LADAKH: 1 : Active positive0 : No Fresh positive cases

May 21 Iftar : 7:28 PMMay 22 Sehri : 3:50 AM

RAMADAN MUBARAK

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Jammu and KashmirGovernment on Wednesdaysaid that 73 new positivecases of novel Coronavirus,(36 from Jammu divisionand 37 from Kashmir divi-sion), have been reportedthus taking the total numberof positive cases in Jammuand Kashmir to 1390.

Also one COVID-19patient died at SKIMS,Soura, Srinagar.

According to the dailyMedia Bulletin, out of 1390positive cases, 694 areActive Positive, 678 haverecovered and 18 have died;two in Jammu division and16 in Kashmir division.

Moreover, 31 moreCOVID-19 patients have

Contd. on P-4 Col 1

J&K records 73 new positivecases, figure swells to 1390

NEW DELHI, MAY 20:India recorded biggest sin-gle-day jump inCoronavirus infections onWednesday with 5,611 freshcases, taking the count to1,06,750, as the pandemicoutbreak widened postinflux of repatriates,migrants' exodus and fur-ther easing of restrictions inlockdown 4.0.

The rise in number ofinfections is also due to

enhanced testing, touchingone lakh per day.

Maharashtra, TamilNadu, Gujarat, Delhi andMadhya Pradesh continuedto be the major contributorsto the infection tally.

The recovery rate hasimproved to 39.62 per centas 42,297 people recoveredfrom the contagion, HealthMinistry Joint SecretaryLav Agarwal said in daily

Contd. on P-4 Col 2

India sees record surge with 5,611 nCoVinfections, caseload 1,06,750

‘Domestic flights toresume on May 25’

Domestic flights willresume opera-tions from May

25, the minister for civilaviation said onWednesday.

Civil Aviation MinisterHardeep Puri said flightswill resume in a calibratedmanner".

Contd. on P-4 Col 2

Harsh Vardhan setto be WHOExecutive Boardchairman: Report

Union HealthMinisterHarsh

Vardhan, who isat the forefront ofIndia's battleagainst COVID-

19, is set to take charge asContd. on P-4 Col 2

CORONA VIRUS

Jammu and KashmirChief Secretary BVRSubrahmanyam on

Wednesday said that thoughrestrictions under Lockdown4.0 have been eased to facili-tate people movement andeconomic activity, but loweringguard cannot be afforded.

He said that high level ofalertness in order to keep thespread of Coronavirus infec-tion under check in Jammuand Kashmir is also required.

Contd. on P-4 Col 1

Cannot afford to lowerguard, maintain high level ofalertness: J&K Chief Secy

JammuAdministrationdeclares RaipurSatwari ascontainment zoneJAMMU: JammuAdministration onWednesdaydeclaredRaipurSatwari ascontain-ment zonein an orderissued here.

As per order issued byDeputy CommissionerJammu read that in viewof the situation emergingdue to COVID-19 in vil-lage Raipur Satwari ofDistrict Jammu, that thereis sufficient ground forproceeding under Section144 of CrPC for immedi-ate prevention or speedyremedy is desirable to pre-vent danger to human life,

Contd. on P-4 Col 2

SRINAGAR, MAY 20:Two Border Security Force(BSF) jawans were killed ina militant attack in centralKashmir district ofGanderbal on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Securityforces busted a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) by arresting atop militant associate andthree other Over GroundWorkers (OGWs) along-with arms and ammunitionin central Kashmir districtof Budgam.

The militants also man-aged to decamp with theservice rifles of both theJawans.

A BSF spokespersonsaid that two motorcycle-borne militants attacked aBSF Road Opening Party(ROP) at Pandach chowk inGanderbal on Wednesdayevening. ''Two personnel

were injured in the attack,''he said, adding that thewounded were rushed to ahospital, where they weredeclared brought dead.

He said the deceasedjawans have been identifiedas Constable Rana Mondoland Constable Jiaul Haqueof C Company of 37 battal-ion of BSF.

He said the militantsmanaged to escape from thespot along with twoweapons, adding that addi-tional security have beenrushed and a search opera-tion has been launched tonab the attacks.

He said the Jawans weredeployed as part of AdhocK-7 Battalion of BSF inPandich area.

''A checkpoint has beenestablished within three kmradius from the attack siteand vehicles are beingchecked before allowingthem to move forward,'' headded.

Meanwhile Securityforces on Wednesday bust-ed a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)

Contd. on P-4 Col 2

Two BSF jawans martyred, militants decamp with weaponsLeT module busted; top militant

associate, 3 OGWs arrested

DomicileStatus is

eligibility foradmission toEducationalInstitutions

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Jammu and KashmirGovernment on Wednesdaymade Domicile Status aseligibility for admission toeducational institutions andmandatory for appearing inBoard of ProfessionalEntrance Examination(BOPEE).

With the issuance ofJammu and Kashmir Grantof Domicile Certificate(Procedure) Rules, 2020,the Union Territory govern-ment has made DomicileStatus Certificate as an eli-gibility condition foradmission to EducationalInstitutions in Jammu andKashmir.

A circular issued byGAD stated, "The Govern-ment has notified the

Contd. on P-4 Col 2

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Jammu and Kashmir gov-ernment has transportedover 78902 residents ofJ&K, residents strandedoutside UT due to lock-down imposed in the wakeof global pandemic, back totheir hometowns throughCOVID special trains,buses and flights. Likewise,Official spokesman heresaid the first train carrying1184 outbound migrantworkers has left from Katrafor Chattrapur, MP besidesthe outward movement for16399 outside peoplestranded at Lakhanpur hasbeen done till date.

As per the detailed breakup about the figures, the

government has evacuated61354 residents of J&K,stranded in various otherstates and UTs, throughLakhanpur besides bringingback home about 17047people through specialtrains at Jammu andUdhampur railway stations.

Besides 501 passengersincluding students havebeen brought back throughspecial flights, so far. 1862stranded passengers haveentered through Lakhanpurfrom May 19 to May 20morning while 961 passen-gers have reached today inthe 7th COVID special ACtrain at Jammu railway sta-tion besides about 1861passengers have reached

Contd. on P-4 Col 2

Cellular servicerestored, mobileinternet remains

suspended inSrinagar

SRINAGAR, MAY 20:Cellular services of allcompanies have beenrestored after remainingsuspended for a day in thesummer capital, Srinagar,where the gag on mobileinternet continued for thesecond successive day onWednesday for securityreasons.

The services were sus-pended on Tuesday follow-ing the killing of Junaid

Contd. on P-4 Col 4

JAMMU, MAY 20: Theterrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have

been hit by thecoronav i rusand someK a s h m i r i su n d e r g o i n gtraining inthose camps

could die of COVID-19 as"nobody bothers aboutthem", J&K DirectorGeneral of Police DilbagSingh has said.

Citing an interceptedphone-call made by atrainee from his PoK campto his family in Kashmir,

Contd. on P-4 Col 3

Anantnag emergingCOVID-19 hotspotSRINAGAR, MAY 20:Anantnag district of Jammuand Kashmir is emerging as aCOVID-19 hotspot, with nearlyone-third of the cases detectedfrom the District Police Lines(DPL). As many as 78 policepersonnel posted at theAnantnag DPL have testedpositive for COVID-19 so far,officials said. The authorities inthe district have undertaken amassive drive to trace primarycontacts of these policemen,but are facing difficulty giventhe nature of different tasks

Contd. on P-4 Col 3

Pak terror camps hit by coronavirus, Kashmiritrainees may die of COVID-19: DGP

JAMMU: General OfficerC o m m a n d i n g - i n - C h i e fNorthern Command Lt GenY K Joshi on Wednesdaymet Lieutenant Governor

Girish Chandra Murmuhere at the Raj Bhavan.

The Lt Governor and LtGen Joshi discussed several

Contd. on P-4 Col 3

Lt Gen Joshi briefs J&K LGon security situation

DGP reviews security situation,COVID arrangementsSRINAGAR: DirectorGeneral of Police J&KDilbag Singh today visitedCRPF Srinagar SectorHeadquarter Nishat andCRPF South KashmirDIGs/90th BattalionUranhall at Anantnag.

He reviewed securityand COVID-19 arrange-ments during meetingswith the senior officers ofPolice and CRPF at theseplaces. He also addressed

Contd. on P-4 Col 3

Must for BOPEEexams: J&K Govt

Lockdown: J&K Govtevacuates 78902

stranded residents

Passengers arriving at Jammu Tawi Railway Station in spe-cial train on Wednesday. GJ Photo

40-year-old womandies, death tollrises to 18 in J&KSRINAGAR: A 40-year-old woman, who testedpositive for COVID-19,died in a hospital in thesummer capital, Srinagarlate last night, taking thedeath toll due to the infec-tion in the Union Territoryof J&K to 18.

With this, seven peoplehave died due to COVID-19 in less than 96 hours andninth in 10 days in J&K.The COVID-19 cases con-tinue to rise unabated with28 more persons, including22 from Kashmir and sixfrom Jammu, testing posi-tive on Tuesday, taking thetotal number of infected

Contd. on P-4 Col 1

Appeals to people toadhere to COVID-19guidelines

2 members of J&K AccountsService shifted

C M Y K

|| GREATER JAMMU ||JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 ||GJ INFO/ENTERTAINMENT2

CMYK

Thursday 1.30 P.M to 3.00 P.MFriday 10.30 A.M to 12.00 A.M

This time is not auspicious for doing any important task/taking any decision.

Rahu Kaal

Samvat: 2077 (Shaka Samvat 1942)Paksha: Krishna Paksha Tithi: Chaturdashi 21:36:27Nakshtra: Bharani [Madhyaksha] 25:04:04+Moon Zodiac: Mesha*Time is after midnight but before sunrise of next day

TITHI/NAKSHTRA

PP ANC

HANG

ANCH

ANG

Jestha 14 May to 15 JuneHarh 15 June to 16 July

INDIAN MONTHS ENGLISH MONTHS

Pt. Kamal Shastri

su do ku

SU D

O K

U -

981

A mind game and apuzzle that you solvewith reasoning andlogic. Fill in the gridwith digits in such amanner that every row,every column andevery 3X3 boxaccommadates thedigits 1 to 9, withoutrepeating any. Thesolution to yesterdays’spuzzle is at right.

SU DO KU (980) SOLUTION

1554 - Queen Mary I grants a royal charter to DerbySchool, as a grammar school for boys in Derby, England.

1881 - The American Red Cross is established by ClaraBarton in Washington, D.C.

1904 - The Fédération Internationale de FootballAssociation (FIFA) is founded in Paris.

1927 - Charles Lindbergh touches down at Le BourgetField in Paris, completing the world's first solo nonstopflight across the Atlantic Ocean.

1932 - Bad weather forces Amelia Earhart to land in a pas-ture in Derry, Northern Ireland, and she thereby becomesthe first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

1937 - A Soviet station, North Pole-1, becomes the firstscientific research settlement to operate on the drift ice ofthe Arctic Ocean.

1982 - Falklands War: A British amphibious assault dur-ing Operation Sutton leads to the Battle of San Carlos.

1991 - Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi isassassinated by a female suicide bomber near Madras.

1992 - After 30 seasons Johnny Carson hosted his penul-timate episode and last featuring guests (Robin Williamsand Bette Midler) of The Tonight Show.

2001 - French Taubira law is enacted, officially recogniz-ing the Atlantic slave trade and slavery as crimes againsthumanity.

2005 - The tallest roller coaster in the world, Kingda Kaopens at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township,New Jersey.

2011 - Radio broadcaster Harold Camping predicted thatthe world would end on this date.

HISTORY TODAY

BISCUIT CRUNCH PUDDINGINGREDIENTS:

For the crunch part: 1 handful of almonds crushed (not powdered) 15 Hide and seek biscuits 4 slices bread (sides removed and tear into small pieces

with hand) 25g butter

For the Cream 2 sachet dream whip powder 1 1/2 tin nestle cream 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk 1/4 cup milk

NOTES Instead of the dream whip powder, you can use whip-

ping cream. In that case don't use the milk and increasethe amount of sweetened condensed milk.

DIRECTIONSTo make the crunch part

In a pan, melt the butter and add in the almonds. Stir itfor a minute.

Then add in the bread and crushed biscuits. Roast it for about 15 minutes till everything gets crispy.

To make the cream layer Beat the dream whip powder in milk. Add in the condensed milk and cream and beat again

till creamy. Divide the whipped cream into two parts. In one half add in half of the crushed biscuits. Leave the other half plain.

Layering In a tray spread a little roasted nut, bread, biscuit mix-

ture as base. Then add in the plain dream whip mix. Again a layer of roasted mix. Then spread a layer of the biscuit and dream whip mix-

ture. Finally again a layer of the roasted mix.

HAPPENING TODAY

Lawsuit-Hit Johnson & Johnson To StopTalc Baby Powder Sale In US, Canada

Johnson & Johnson onTuesday announced itwould stop selling its talcBaby Powder in the UnitedStates and Canada, say-ing demand had droppedin the wake of what itcalled "misinformation"about the product's safety

amid a barrage of legal challenges. J&J faces more than 19,000lawsuits from consumers and their survivors claiming its talc prod-ucts caused cancer due to contamination with asbestos, a knowncarcinogen. Many are pending before a U.S. district judge in NewJersey. "I wish my mother could be here to see this day," saidCrystal Deckard, whose mother Darlene Coker alleged BabyPowder caused her mesothelioma. She dropped the suit filed in1999 after losing her fight to compel J&J to divulge internalrecords. Coker died of mesothelioma in 2009. In its statement, J&Jsaid it "remains steadfastly confident in the safety of talc-basedJohnson's Baby Powder," citing "decades of scientific studies."

Researchers find 1,400-year-old roomsunder Jerusalem's Western Wall

Israeli researchersunveiled mysterious under-ground rooms with anunknown function, carvedout of the bedrock nearwhere the Second JewishTemple is believed to havestood two millennia ago.The discovery was madewhen Israeli students froma pre-military college wereexcavating a large, lavish Byzantine-era structure from some 1,400years ago, below the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem's Old City.Like other sites inhabited for millenia, parts of Jerusalem containdeep layers of archaeology, the result of societies building on top ofearlier structures rather than expending resources to clear ruins.Below the Byzantine structure's mosaic floor, the student diggers hitrock bottom. "At first we were very disappointed because we foundwe hit the bedrock, meaning that the material culture, the humanactivity here in Jerusalem ended," said Barak Monnickendam-Givon,co-director of the excavation for the Israel Antiquities Authority.

US Pharma Firm says its COVID-19 vaccineproduces antibodies in Mice, Guinea Pigs

US immunotherapy companyInovio Pharmaceuticals Inc onWednesday said its experimentalvaccine to prevent coronavirusinfection was shown to produceprotective antibodies andimmune system responses inmice and guinea pigs. The com-

pany's shares, which have more than quadrupled this year,surged 17.7% to $17.13 in trading before the bell. "We saw anti-body responses that do many of the things we would want to seein an eventual vaccine," said Dr. David Weiner, director of thevaccine and immunotherapy center at the Wistar Institute, whichhas collaborated with Inovio. "We are able to target things thatwould prevent the virus from having a safe harbor in the body."There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines forCOVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Expertspredict a safe and effective vaccine could take 12 to 18 monthsto develop.

Climate Change TurningAntarctica's Snow Green

Antarctica conjures images of an unbroken white wilderness butblooms of algae are giving parts of the frozen continent an increas-ingly green tinge. Warming temperatures due to climate changeare helping the formation and spread of "green snow" and it isbecoming so prolific in places that it is even visible from space,according to new research. While the presence of algae inAntarctica was noted by long-ago expeditions, such as the oneundertaken by British explorer Ernest Shackleton, its full extentwas unknown. Now, using data collected over two years by theEuropean Space Agency's Sentinel 2 satellite, together with on-the-ground observations, a research team from the University ofCambridge and the British Antarctic Survey have created the firstmap of the algae blooms on the Antarctic Peninsula coast. "Wenow have a baseline of where the algal blooms are and we cansee whether the blooms will start increasing as the models sug-gest in the future," Matt Davey of the University of Cambridge'sDepartment of Plant Sciences told.

RAMADANRECIPE

PRERNA NANDA

Women are the epitome ofstrength, love, sacrifice andcourage. The role of women

in today's world has changed signifi-cantly and for better. Women are nowself-sufficient, well aware and finan-cially independent. They haveattained immense success in everyfield, whether it is sports, politics oracademics. With the encouragementof co-education, women are nowmarching side by side with men, inevery walk of life.

A working woman in India has avery different and more challengingschedule as our society has clearlydefined work for women and men.New economic equations are chal-

lenging the old definition and distri-bution of work and somehow theredistribution of work today is notdone with a fresh idea of justice.

The 21st century has brought anew hope and has empoweredwomen in a positive manner. Earlierthey were under the shadow of a hus-band or a father, but now they haveestablished their own identity and areindependent.

Education is an important key tosuccess. Empowering women wouldbecome more pertinent if womenwere well informed and educated. Awoman needs to understand herrights so that she can walk at par withmen. Mother Teresa, Indra Nooyi,Pratibha Patil, Kalpana Chawla and alot more have been very significantin their own sphere and are idols forevery woman in India and across theglobe.

Cooking, cleaning, taking care ofchildren, are still some of the workswhich are considered as "woman'swork" in India. It is the toughest testof her patience, ability, energy andher managerial skills at home as wellas on the job. On the job or off thejob, both the places are like a battle-field for her but still , she is unstop-pable.... no complaints , no demand,no questions.

Today they have been able to cre-ate a positive impression in the socie-ty. From housewives to CEOs, thetransition can be seen at an accelerat-

ing rate. Modernization and theadvent of the latest technology havewidened hope and opportunities forthem. They have established them-selves socially, politically and eco-nomically in almost every field.Women are no longer consideredunfit or weak for military or for otherdefence forces. Recently, AvaniChaturvedi has set a perfect exampleand created a milestone by becomingIndia's first female fighter pilot.

The journey of liberation ofwomen has crossed many milestonesand the society has indeed come along way. They have struggled hardover the last few decades but stillbeen able to successfully establishtheir own identity. Today's womenare adorned with patience and perse-verance, which has helped them toattain the pinnacle of success. Earlier,women were seen only as housewiveswho were projected to cook, cleanand take care of their family. Today-along with handling tough clients atoffice, they successfully multitask athome too. Women are more focusedand have a unique decision makingpower even at senior leadership level,in the most optimal manner, and attimes are in a better position thanmen. Empowering women can helpthe society to grow and develop at afaster pace. We are definitelyredesigning the world.

(The writer is J&K BJP MahilaMorcha Media Incharge)

in continuation….IMMUNE BOOSTING GREEN JUICEIngredients

Coriander leaves - 1 cup Mint leaves - 1 cup Baby spinach - 1 cup Apple or pear - 1 Cucumber - 1 cup chopped Lemon - 2 tbsp Black salt - a pinch

Method Blend all ingredients adding a cup of water. Consume

immediately. How does it strengthen your immune system This juice is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Folic acid

and other antioxidants that prevent inflammation andhelp the body fight infections.GOLDEN MILKIngredients

2 cups of unsweetened almond milk ½ cup light coconut milk 2 tbsp raw honey

1 tsp Haldi powder (turmeric) or fresh grated turmeric ½ tsp ginger, ground ½ tsp black pepper powder 1-inch piece of cinnamon

Method Combine all the ingredients in a pan except the honey. Heat the mixture on the stove over a low flame for 5-10

minutes. Do not boil. Remove from flame, strain and add honey to taste.

The active ingredient, curcumin, found in turmericboosts the body's antioxidant capacity by being highlyeffective against free radicals. The spices and the nut milkswhich provide good fats have an anti-inflammatory actionon the body.

HOT LEMONADEIngredients

4 fresh garlic cloves - chopped 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated 1-inch cinnamon stick 4 cups water Juice of 1 lemon 2 tbsp raw honey 1 tbsp mint leaves

Method Boil the water in a pan. Add all ingredients except

honey, cover and steep for 30 minutes. Strain, pour in aglass and add raw honey or maple syrup to taste. Drinkwarm.

Ginger and garlic contain antimicrobial compoundsthat help in treating infectious diseases. The antioxi-dants in cinnamon have anti-inflammatory effects,which may help lower your risk of disease.

(To be continued...)

DRINKS TO BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM

Wellness

Special moment for Mudasir Zafarfrom Jammu that his film won thebest film jury prestigious award at

Dada Sahab Film Festival 2020. Mudasirdid his education from Atman schoolJammu and Model Academy later andthen shifted to Bangalore for his furtherstudies. After completing his Ba.llb fromKle law college he moved to Mumbai tojoin a film school. His film Nobel peace isDirected by Astik Dalai and produced byAlok Rai. Nobel peace is a film talkingabout religious differences especiallybetween Hindus and Muslims that is hap-pening since ages, In today's modernworld also this situation still exists and cre-ates problems for a peaceful living so ayoung man Hayan Mir tries to find out apermanent solution to the problem of reli-gious bitterness and he faces a lots of crit-icism during his journey. Film WinningDadasaheb Phalke is definitely an honour

for him and his family.Mudasir has already done a Hindi fea-

ture film with the same production house(Kala Niketan Entertainment) named MyFriend's Dulhania which is alreadyreleased. They approached him for thisfilm and he liked the script and he was on

board immediately. Film is shot atBhaderwah a beautiful town, which is hishometown too. Film was shot for a monthall over the town and some local actorsincluding Yasir, Jaanu, Nasir, Sajad etcalso play an important part in the film.Teachers like Naseer-u-din shah, RobReece & Benjamin Gillani taught him act-ing in his film school. Hiten Tejwani alsoplays an important role in the film as he isplaying a role of a professor who guidesHayan through out. Co-Actor Mayur Mehtawho plays his close buddy in the film isalso one of the main characters in the film.Apart from these two films he has doneShort films, tv commercials for lux, Hedeo, Tvs wego, Colgate plax and theatrefor sometime.Before Joining the FilmIndustry Mudasir Zafar played u19National cricket for Jammu & Kashmir andcontinued playing cricket in Mumbai inCelebrity cricket team during his free time.

MOMENT TO CHERISH FOR ACTOR MUDASIR ZAFAR FROM JAMMU

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN TODAY'S WORLDHAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY

Aries : Grey Taurus : GreyGemini : RoseCancer : CreamLeo : BlueVirgo : Dark brown

Libra : Silver Scorpio : Green Sagittarius : Pastel coloursCapricorn : Dark coloursAquarius : GreenPisces : Blue

COLOUR FOR THE DAY

Finally, you're on the mend,Pisces. The minor ailments that havebeen dragging you down lately arebeginning to disappear, and you'reabout to regain all of your physicalenergy. However, if you overindulge,your energy levels are likely to plum-met again. If nothing else, you willhave learned a valuable lessonabout the importance of moderation,especially now. Don't overdo it!

STARS TODAYSTARS TODAY

Do you feel a little underthe weather, Aries? It's possible,considering all the emotional tur-moil you've been through lately. Ittakes time to recover from thosestorms. As you know, the work itselfisn't what gets you down but ratheryour worries about the future thatdrain your energy. Give yourself abreak today. Take some time forrest and recuperation.

Today more than ever youwill yearn to escape from the dailyroutine. You're thirsty for newsights and sounds, new faces andplaces. However, you're well awarethat you must juggle your desireswith your professional or domesticobligations. It isn't always easy, butyou should trust your imaginationto suggest a way to amicably settlethis conflict.

You've been stamping theground impatiently. You're waiting forthe moment to jump into new adven-tures with renewed vigor after yourmeditation of the last few months.Leo, know that the moment hasalmost arrived! You now have thestrategy, objective, and means atyour disposal to succeed. Just a bitmore work remains. Gather yourstrength and get ready for action!

There is some likelihoodthat thoughts of your love life willhaunt you today, Capricorn. Perhapsyou're intrigued by the idea of explor-ing certain realms of your relationshipthat remain secret, but you're unsurehow to communicate this to yourmate. Perhaps you're still testing thewaters, waiting until you're sure ofhow you feel. In any case, you maymake a decision to proceed!

You took off like a bullet afew days ago, Sagittarius, makinggreat progress in a short amount oftime. But now you're grappling withdoubts that are undermining allyour energy. Reflecting on theevents of the past few days, it'sobvious that you were somewhatreckless in your headlong pursuitof your goals. Don't give up! Justrethink your strategy.

You may have beenspending or saving too muchmoney, Cancer. It's clear that arebalancing is in order if you're tofind pleasure rather than eternalfrustration. It's a curious phenome-non. It's as though you have lostcontact with your body. Yet it's inyour body where you will ultimatelyfind your balance. You certainlywon't find it in your head!

This is the right moment toextricate yourself from relationshipsthat have seen their day, Scorpio. Thiswon't be easy, but you must. In yourprofessional and private lives, you'retoo hesitant to get out of distasteful sit-uations or obligations. You're afraid ofhurting people or making them mad.But in the end, you're hurting yourself.Give more weight to your own needsand follow your own path.

This is going to be a goodmoment to look elsewhere, Libra.You should do just as the artistdoes when he has worked on apainting for too long, which is takea step back. You need to see somepeople, travel, go to the theater,and clear your head. This is nevereasy for you, but don't hesitate.You will realize afterward that itwas the best thing for you to do.

If you find yourself tired andirritable now, Virgo, you shouldknow that this is normal. You mayhave had a few months that were alittle too studious. Would you like tocontinue with the same rhythm? Becareful that your ambitions don'tlead you to physical exhaustion. Ifyou get sick, you will be even morefrustrated. So be wise and takecare of your own basic needs.

It would seem that yoursensitivity is in slight conflict withyour actions, Gemini. You continueto go through the motions and dowhat you planned to do, but itseems like your heart isn't in itanymore. Don't ask yourself why.It's just that you've worked hardand have been thinking hard lately.You have reached your limit andit's time for you to rest.

There is some likelihood thatthe mood at home is fraught withtension, Taurus. Did you dare toexpress some contrary intellectualopinion? In any case, it looks likeyour self-confidence is stronger thanusual right now. Go ahead andexpress any complaints or opinionsyou may have been keeping to your-self. But try and do it gently, especial-ly where your family is concerned.

ARIES TAURUS

GEMINI CANCER

LEO VIRGO

AQUARIUS PISCES

LIBRA SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN

March 21-April 19

September 23-October 22

April 20-May 20

October 23 - November 21

May 21-June 21 June 22-July 22

July 23-August 22

January 20-February 18

August 23-September 22

February 19-March 20

December 22-January 19November 22-December 21

C M Y K

|| GREATER JAMMU ||JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 ||GJ STATE3

CMYK

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:"Though restrictions underLockdown 4.0 have beeneased to facilitate peoplemovement and economicactivity, however, we can-not afford to lower ourguard and shall be requiredto maintain a high level ofalertness in order to keepthe spread of Coronavirusinfection under check inJammu & Kashmir", ChiefSecretary BVRSubrahmanyam said thisduring the first interactionof its kind with all DeputyCommissioners andDistrict Superintendents ofPolice over video confer-ence, after issuance of newguidelines on lockdownmeasures that come intoeffect from today.

F i n a n c i a lCommissioner, Health andMedical Education;Commissioner SecretaryIndustries and Commerce;Divisional Commissioners,Jammu/ Kashmir, SecretaryDMRRR and Mission

Director, NHM also partic-ipated in the interaction.

Applauding the Districtauthorities for their effortsduring the COVID-19 pan-demic, the Chief Secretarysaid that the guidelinesissued on the lockdownmeasures are required to beenforced strictly so that theprogress achieved in thisregard is maintained.

Chief Secretary said thatthe order with a fresh clas-sification of districts asRed, Orange and Green inthe Union Territory hasalready been issued toimplement Lockdown 4.0from today. The classifica-tion is based on an overallassessment of the situationpertaining to the spread ofCOVID-19 in Jammu andKashmir, the trend in newcases particularly the recentspike in new cases in viewof the movement of strand-ed persons into Jammu andKashmir which is still anongoing exercise, and therisk perception of theHealth department vis-à-vis

each district and the param-eters laid down byMOHFW, GoI, he added.

Chief Secretary said thatconsidering lockdownmeasures, in place sinceMarch 24, have helpednoticeably in containing thespread of COVID-19. TheGovernment of India hasdecided to further extendthe lockdown till May 31.However, this time thelockdown will be withmuch more relaxations,especially in Green andOrange districts, he added.

Chief Secretary empha-sised that the earlier SOPswith regard to containmentzones shall continue toremain in force to ensure astricter perimeter and acomplete lockdown in suchareas except essential sup-plies. Though certain relax-ations have been specifiedin the guidelines, however,District Magistrates cantake any local measure toensure social distancingand to avoid congestionespecially in the areas

where increased activity isexpected, he maintained.

Regarding the return ofstranded people to J&K,Chief Secretary said thatthe Divisional/Districtadministrations shallensure that the existingSOPs are strictly adhered toand each person on returnto the Union Territory istested, quarantined andallowed to go home onlywhen declared negative onthe test report.

Chief Secretary said thatrecent spike in positivecases in some districts canbe attributed to a high pos-itivity percentage amongthose returning from out-side J&K. Complimentingthe health department forits work in terms ofenhancing the testingcapacity, the ChiefSecretary said once theinflux of stranded personsdecreases the testingcapacity shall be rational-ized among the districts tofurther increase local test-ing.

Substantive relaxations under Lockdown 4.0 easedto facilitate people's movement: Chief Secretary

Directs DMs to maintain high level of alertness

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Secretary, Hospitality &Protocol (H&P), CivilAviation and EstatesDepartment, M Raju, todayconvened three separatemeetings with the seniorofficers and officials ofH&P, Civil Aviation andEstates Departments atCivil Secretariat, Jammu.

While chairing the meet-ing of Civil AviationDepartment, Secretaryexamined the projects underCapex plan being undertak-en by the department whichincluded construction ofHangar of Airport Jammu,extension of Nehru HelipadSrinagar, extension anddevelopment of Airstripsand Helipads in UT Jammuand Kashmir.

M Raju also reviewedthe working of subsidizedHelicopter Scheme of MHA

which provides option ofHelicopter travel to peopleof remote areas of the J&K.He stressed on effectiveusage of Helicopter andAircraft Tonnage providedby the government ofJammu and Kashmir.

Later, M Raju convened

a meeting with senior offi-cers of Hospitality andProtocol Department andreviewed the functioning ofthe department. He issuedseveral directions to furtherstreamline the working ofthe department.

Additional SecretaryH&P, P S Rathore, briefedthe Secretary regardingfunctioning of theDirectorate of H&P, theResident Commission andToshakhana Office. Other

issues that also came underdiscussion were the assetsand properties being man-aged by the Directorate ofH&P and the ResidentCommission, UT of J&K,New Delhi.

M Raju directed the offi-cers to put up all pending

issues before him whichrequire immediate disposal.The matter of referringvacant Class-IV posts of theDepartment to theCommittee constituted bythe General AdministrationDepartment was also delib-erated upon.

M Raju also chairedanother meeting of seniorofficers of EstatesDepartment and took stockof working of the depart-ment besides assessing

overall review of all theprojects of the departmentwhich are in pipeline.

Secretary directed theofficers to complete all thelanguishing projects in atime bound manner includ-ing construction of 400-flatsat Pampore Srinagar, 28-flats at Sarwal, Jammu, 28-flats at Ahata Amar Singh,Jammu, 28-flats at LowerMuthi, Jammu, 5-flats atGhulami Bagh, Jammu,projects for which work hasalready been initiated andunder progress.

He was apprised that theDetailed Project Reports(DPRs) for thousand (1000)flats (500) each at Jammuand Srinagar are beingexpedited for submission tothe department for furtheraction. Besides, develop-ment of software for allot-ment of Governmentaccommodations projects is

in pipeline.Director Estates, Subash

Chhibber, Director FinanceH&P/Civil Aviation,Mohammad Arif Khan,Additional Secretary CivilAviation, Sat Pal Bavouria,Joint Director H&P, AnsuyaJamwal, Deputy DirectorEstates Kashmir, DeputyDirector Estates, Jammu,

besides other officersattended the meetings.Director Hospitality &Protocol, Tariq AhmadZargar, Assistant DirectorH&P, Nisar Ahmad Bhatand other officers and offi-cials participated in themeetings from Srinagarthrough VideoConferencing.

M Raju reviews functioning of H&P, Civil Aviation, Estates Department

Secretary, H&P, Civil Aviation and Estates Department, MRaju, chairing a meeting on Wednesday.

Asks to complete languishingprojects in a time bound manner

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Principal Secretary, PowerDevelopment Department,Rohit Kansal today chairedan introductory meetingwith the senior officers ofPDD and JPDCL to reviewthe status of Power sector,centrally sponsoredschemes, revenue realiza-tion and related issues per-taining to Jammu PowerDistribution CorporationLimited.

During the meeting,threadbare discussion washeld on completion of lan-guishing projects and worksunder ongoing centrallysponsored schemes, aug-mentation of central work-shop/strengthening of work-shops, distribution network,over loaded and inadequatepower distribution.

Principal Secretary wasbriefed about the presentstatus of Integrated PowerDevelopment Scheme(IPDS), DeendayalUpadhyaya Gram JyotiYojna (DDUGJY), PrimeMinister's DevelopmentPackage (PMDP) and sever-

al other schemes.While reviewing

progress on these schemes,Rohit Kansal directed theconcerned officers to speedup the execution of the cen-trally sponsored schemes fortimely completion. He alsoasked the officers forremoval of bottlenecks, ifany, so that the projects arecompleted at an earliest.

Managing DirectorJPDCL, Yasha Mudgal,gave a detailed presentationon medium term measuresincluding formation of newenforcement system/wing inline with the enforcementsystem. She also informed

that the target of installationof 100 percent metering inJammu city and other areashas been taken up on mis-sion mode for providing un-interrupted power supply tothe consumers.

Managing Director alsoinformed regarding un-interrupted power supplybeing provided in the quar-antine centres in the Jammudivision besides during holyRamzan.

Principal Secretarydirected the concernedauthorities to take up allnecessary steps to furtherstreamline the functioningof Jammu Power

Distribution CorporationLimited. He asked for lay-ing special focus on improv-ing billing system and real-ization of revenue so thatthe infrastructure of theCorporation is improved.

Chief Engineer Planning& Procurement JPDCL,Chief Engineer ProjectJPDCL, Chief EngineerDistribution, JPDCL,Additional Secretary PDD,Director Planning PDDwere also present in themeeting while DirectorFinance and DeputySecretary PDD attended themeeting through video con-ferencing.

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20: FormerMinister and Senior Congressleader R S Chib, said that theDomicile law notified by theGovt of J&K UT has fullyexposed the anti-peopleand anti-youth face ofthe Bharatiya JantaParty (BJP). The BJP,Chib said has beenrepeatedly assuring thepeople of J&K and theyouth in particular, forsafeguarding their rightsin jobs and lands.However, he said thatthe shape and spirit ofthe Domicile law is totallyagainst their assurances andcommitments. He said that itis most unfortunate that thislaw is being notified by theUT Govt when the people areseriously fighting the deadlyCoronavirus pandemic. This isa reflection of the mindset ofthe BJP, which is totally anti-people and undemocratic.

Chib, while referring to thePM package, said that thefarmers, MSME sector andsmall traders have been neg-lected in the same. The com-mon man is going through a

very difficultphase, because ofprolonged lock-down and theyare under seriousfinancial crisis.

Chib madespecial mentionof the suffering ofthe farmersbecause of thefailures of both

Kharif and Rabi crops in theBorder areas of Kathua,Samba and Jammu District.The farmers in these districtsespecially along theInternational Border are ingreat depression and distress.Chib urged upon the UT Govtto grant special relief to thefarmers, out of the PM pack-age.

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20: Wheel of progress torestart in Jammu with the start of work onmany road and bridge sub-projects underthe World Bank funded Jhelum TawiFlood Recovery Project (JTFRP). DrSyed Abid Rasheed Shah, ChiefExecutive Officer, JKERA/JTFRP todaydirected the engineers and contractorsworking on the project to resume the workon the projects while strictly adhering tothe SOPs (Standard OperatingProcedures) stipulated in the guidelinesof Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of Indiaand by the Administration of the UnionTerritory of Jammu and Kashmir vis-a visthe resumption of construction activitieson the infrastructure projects.

Chief Executive Officer,JKERA/JTFRP was chairing a meeting tochalk out modalities for the resumption ofwork on the various projects underJhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project after

the administration of the Union Territoryhas issued guidelines for the resumptionof the construction activities whichremained stalled due to the implementa-tion of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown.He directed the contractors to restart thework on these projects as soon as possi-ble as the resumption of work on the var-ious projects will instill a new hope in anera of post-pandemic stress and also playa crucial role in revitalizing of the eco-nomic activity and creation of employ-ment avenues. Project, Manager,Transport and contractors were alsodirected to submit the fortnightly reportsregarding the progress of work.

Dr Abid directed the Project Manager,Transport, JKERA, Jammu to depute thededicated staff for the execution/monitor-ing of these works. Project Manager wasalso asked to depute AEE and JE toReasi and Poonch immediately. The rep-resentatives of the contractors wereasked to mobilize men and machineryimmediately at construction sites whilestrictly adhering to the guidelines issuedby MHA and government of UT of Jammuand Kashmir for construction relatedwork.

He also asked for ensuring themandatory measures of social distancing,use of face masks, regular hand washing

and other requisite sanitation measuresat the work sites. He also said that work-ers and supervisors be encouraged touse "Arogya Setu" App for better surveil-lance at the site. He instructed to strictlyfollow the guidelines/instructions issuedas lockdown measures in the UnionTerritory of Jammu and Kashmir as perGovernment Order number 55-JK(DMRRR) of 2020 dated 19.05.2020.

He added that works be executed ina systemic manner and each projectactivity be planned in such a manner soas to ensure that work on all the projectsare completed within the agreed upontimelines. Dr Abid also laid stress onensuring strict quality control as perparameters of works.

It is pertinent to mention that JTFRP isexecuting works worth Rs.166 crore onthe upgradation of (07) vital road proj-ects and (03) bridges in the Jammudivision of the Union Territory underthe World Bank funded JTFRP (JhelumTawi Flood Recovery Project) whichwill give boost to the socio-economicdevelopment in many remote parts ofthe Union Territory.

GJ REPORTRAJOURI, MAY 20: On thedirections of DeputyCommissioner Rajouri,Mohammad Nazir Sheikh andunder the supervision of DSEOand Nodal officer of MSK Rajouri,Bilal Rashid Mir. DLCW headedby Anjum Mirza (Women WelfareOfficer, Rajouri) has taken an ini-tiative to provide door to doorsanitary products, antisepticsoaps and other hygiene items

especially among needy ones inremote areas of the district duringthe lockdown.

Due to the novel Coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic and thesubsequent nationwide lockdownhave left several without basicessentials, particularly in ruralareas. Access to one suchessential commodity is sanitarypads which have been hit harddue to the national lockdown.

MSK team comprising,

District Co-ordinators SanjanaThakur and Nazma Sheikhensured to provide appropriateknowledge to girls and womenregarding menstrual hygiene andurged females not to use unhy-gienic cloth and other alterna-tives, as it is causing many repro-ductive health issues.

MSK team in their 3-day longdrive has distributed 900 sanitarynapkins and 900 antiseptic soapsin various areas (Aiti, Fatehpur,Muradpur, Chingus, Kallar,Narayan) of district Rajouri underBeti Bachao Beti Padhao cam-paign for better health of adoles-cent girls and women.

Anum Mirza said, "menstrualhygiene is a major health issueaffecting girls and women ofreproductive age. Menstrualhygiene is vital for the empower-ment and well being of girls andwomen". She also said that theMSK team from the very first dayof their job working for theempowerment of women and willcontinue to do that in the futureas well.

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20: Lambasting thegovt over the newly released domi-cile rules for J&K UT, JKNPP-Chairman and former Minister HarshDev Singh, today described the noti-fication as an obnoxious piece ofsuper-imposed legislation enacted bythe executive authority by defyingthe popular sentiment in the State.Seeking its review in the ultimateinterests of the educated youth ofJ&K, he said that the new set of ruleswould include several outsiders with-in the ambit of Domicile Law, entitlethem to avail Domicile Certificateand ultimately enable them toencroach upon the share of educatedunemployed youth in govt jobs inJ&K. Calling for a relook into theprovisions allowing outsiders tobecome domicile of J&K, the NPPChairman torched the effigy of theBJP led govt asserting that the edu-cated youth of erstwhile State had

once again been cheated by the saf-fron regime.

Referring to some of the objec-tionable clauses in the new notifica-tion, Singh maintained that thou-

sands and thousands of labour force,construction workers, traders etc.from various States of the countryincluding Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand,Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh,Chhattisgarh, etc had been staying inJ&K for the last several years and thenew rules would automatically makethem eligible not only for DomicileCertificates but also for govt jobs inJ&K which would operate harshlyagainst the local youth whose sharein services would further shrink.

Describing the new domicile rulesreleased by the BJP govt as grossbetrayal with the youth of J&K,Singh said that the educated unem-ployed of the UT were made to faceworst nightmares after the State'sReorganization on August 5, 2019.The BJP govt must understand thatantagonizing the unemployed youthcould have catastrophic fallouts" saidSingh.

GJ REPORTDODA, MAY 20: DistrictD e v e l o p m e n tCommissioner (DDC)Doda, Dr Sagar D Doifodetoday urged the generalpublic of the district to sus-pend congregationalprayers on forthcomingShab-I-Qadir, Jumat-ul-

Vida and Eid-ul-Fitr as aprecautionary measure tocombat the spread ofCOVID-19.

The DDC made theseremarks during the meetingwith the members ofMarkazi Seerat committeeand religious clerics of theDoda town to discuss pre-

cautionary measures to betaken on forthcoming fes-tivities to effectively dealthe COVID-19 situation.

He urged upon religiousclerics and members ofMarkazi Seerat committeeDoda to sensitize the gener-al public about the impor-tance of social distancingand other precautions incurrent situation ofCOVID-19 pandemic.

The DDC also laudedthe role of Imams andmembers of Markazi Seeratcommittee in sensitizing themasses to pray at home dur-ing the holy month ofRamadhan. While briefingthe clerics about the meas-ures to be taken for peace-ful celebration of festivi-ties, the DDC said thatalthough district adminis-tration has taken all strict

measures to combat thespread of virus but it isobligatory upon people tocooperate with the districtadministration and assist itin its efforts to defeat thisglobal pandemic.

He urged upon people tooffer prayers on forthcom-ing festivities at theirhomes and added that socialdistancing is critical to con-taining Corona virusspread.

The DDC also urged formaintaining social distance,observing total lock downand adopting other relatedadvisories to mitigate thespread of COVID-19 infec-tion.

Among others the meet-ing was attended by SSPDoda, Mumtaz Ahmed, DySP DAR and other con-cerned.

Rohit Kansal chairs officers meeting toreview functioning of JPDCL Jammu

Principal Secretary, PDD, Rohit Kansal chairing an introductory meeting with senior offi-cers of PDD and JPDCL on Wednesday.

Seeks special relief for farmers out of PM package

Domicile law exposed anti-people,anti-youth face of BJP: Chib

World Bank Funded JTFRP Developmental Works tobe restarted in Jammu Province from next week

CEO JKERA/JTFRP Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah speaking at a meeting on Wednesday.

Adhere strictly to SOPs duringexecution of works: CEO

JKERA/JTFRP

3- day drive for distribution of sanitarykits under BBBP concludes

WWO Rajouri Anjum Mirza distributing sanitary productsamong women.

New domicile rules, a gross betrayalwith J&K youth: Harsh Dev

DDC Doda holds meeting with MarkaziSeerat committee, Religious Clerics

DDC Doda, Dr Sagar D Doifode speaking at a meeting onWednesday.

|| GREATER JAMMU ||JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 ||GJ STATE4

CMYK

J&K records 73...recovered and discharged from various hospitals, four from Jammudivision and 27 from Kashmir Division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 101950 test results available,100560 samples have tested as negative till May 20.

Additionally, till date 122964 travellers and persons in contactwith suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance whichincluded 33113 persons in home quarantine including facilities oper-ated by government, 86 in Hospital Quarantine, 694 in hospital iso-lation and 19892 under home surveillance. Besides, 69161 personshave completed their surveillance period.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Bandiporahas 138 positive cases (including 01 cases reported today) with 09Active Positive, 128 recovered, 01 death; Srinagar has 169 positivecases with 67 Active Positive, 97 recovered (including 01 caserecovered today), 05 deaths; Anantnag district has 252 positivecases (including 05 cases reported today), with 159 Active Positive,89 recovered (including 02 recoveries today), 04 deaths; Baramullahas 129 positive cases (including 08 reported today) with 34 ActivePositive, 91 recovered, 04 deaths; Shopian has 109 positive caseswith 11 Active Positive, 98 recovered (including 23 cases recoveredtoday); Kupwara has 118 positive cases (including 17 cases report-ed today) with 70 Active Positive, 48 recovered; Budgam has 58 pos-itive cases, with 27 Active Positive and 30 recovered cases and 01death; Ganderbal has 25 positive cases with 10 Active cases and 15recoveries; Kulgam has 171 positive cases (including 05 reportedtoday), with 160 Active Positive and 10 recoveries (including 01case recovered today) and 01 death and Pulwama reported 19 pos-itive cases (including 01 reported today) with 13 active positive, 06recovered.

Similarly, Jammu has 67 positive cases (including 20 casesreported today) with 35 active positive cases and 31 recoveries(including 02 recoveries reported today) and 01 death; Udhampurhas 33 positive cases (including 05 reported today) with 11 activepositive case, 21 recovered (including 02 cases reported today) and01 death; Samba has 16 positive cases (including 02 cases report-ed today) with 10 Active Positive and 06 recoveries; Rajouri has 08positive cases with 04 active positive cases and 04 recovered;Kathua has 37 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with36 Active positive and 01 recovered; Kishtwar has 05 positive case(including 03 cases reported today) with 04 active positive case and01 recovered; Ramban has 27 positive cases (including 03 casesreported today) with 26 active positive and 01 recovered; Reasi has04 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 03 activepositive and 01 recovered, Poonch has 04 active positive cases(including 01 case reported today) while Doda has 01 active positivecase. The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts fromwhich the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing.

Cannot afford to...Subrahmanyam during an interaction of its kind with all DeputyCommissioners and District Superintendents of Police over videoconference, after issuance of new guidelines on lockdown measuresthat come into effect from, said, "order with a fresh classification ofdistricts as Red, Orange and Green in the Union Territory hasalready been issued to implement Lockdown 4.0 from".

The classification is based on an overall assessment of the situ-ation pertaining to the spread of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir,he said adding that the trend in new cases particularly the recentspike in new cases in view of the movement of stranded persons intoJammu and Kashmir which is still an ongoing exercise, and the riskperception of the Health department vis-à-vis each district and theparameters laid down by MOHFW, GoI.

Applauding the district authorities for their efforts during theCOVID 19 pandemic, the Chief Secretary said that the guidelinesissued on the lockdown measures are required to be enforced strict-ly so that the progress achieved in this regard is maintained.

He said that considering lockdown measures, in place sinceMarch 24, have helped noticeably in containing the spread ofCOVID-19. "The Government of India has decided to further extendthe lockdown till May 31. However, this time the lockdown will be withmuch more relaxations, especially in Green and Orange districts", headded. Chief Secretary emphasised that the earlier SOPs withregard to containment zones shall continue to remain in force toensure a stricter perimeter and a complete lockdown in such areasexcept essential supplies.

Regarding the return of stranded people to J&K, Chief Secretarysaid that the Divisional/District administrations shall ensure that theexisting SOPs are strictly adhered to and each person on return tothe Union Territory is tested, quarantined and allowed to go homeonly when declared negative on the test report.

Chief Secretary said that recent spike in positive cases in somedistricts can be attributed to a high positivity percentage amongthose returning from outside J&K. Complimenting the health depart-ment for its work in terms of enhancing the testing capacity, the ChiefSecretary said once the influx of stranded persons decreases thetesting capacity shall be rationalised among the districts to furtherincrease local testing.

40-year-old woman...people in the Union Territory to 1317. Official sources said that awoman, a resident of Bijbehara in Anantnag, was admitted from lastfew days in an isolation ward of S K Institute of Medical Sciences(SKIMS). "The woman, who was suffering from acute pancreatitis,was shifted to the isolation ward after she tested positive for COVID-19," they said. They said a Baramulla resident, who was a COVID-19 positive patient, passed away at SKIMS, Srinagar, on Tuesdaymorning. "The 55-year-old man, who was a cancer patient, suffereda massive heart attack this morning and died," they added.

With the death of the Anantnag resident, the mortality rate in thedistrict has risen to four. However, the worst affected district in termsof mortality rate is Srinagar, where five people have lost their lives tothe infection so far. Baramulla and Anantnag stand at number two interms of mortality rate with four deaths each. They said sinceMonday morning five people have lost their lives due to the infectionin the valley.

On Monday, three people -- including a 65-year-old woman fromKulgam, a 75-year-old man and 75-year old woman from Kokernagin Anantnag - died due to COVID-19 in Chest Disease hospital,Srinagar. A 29-year-old woman, a resident of Habba Kadal in the city,died at Chest Disease hospital, Srinagar, on May 17.

Five doctors, including four of them who treated 29-year-oldwoman patient, tested positive for COVID-19 in the summer capital,Srinagar on Monday. An elderly man, who died in a hospital in thesummer capital, Srinagar on May 16, tested positive for COVID-19.

Another elderly man had died on May 13 in Jammu due toCOVID-19. Earlier last week, an elderly man died on May 11 due toCoronavirus in Kashmir valley. The death of the elderly man hadcome just days after his son became the youngest victim of the infec-tion in J&K. J&K recorded first death due to COVID-19 on March 25,when a 65-year-old man from Hyderpora died due to the infection atChest Disease Hospital. Then, on March 29, a 50-year-old man, aresident of Tangmarg, passed away at CD hospital.

Earlier last month, a 54-year-old Bandipora resident, who wastested positive for the infection, died at SMHS hospital. Later on April

8, a 61-year-old woman from Udhampur died at GovernmentMedical College (GMC), Jammu. A 70-year-old patient died on April17 due to Coronavirus in Kashmir valley. An elderly man, a residentof Baramulla, on April 18 died due to Coronavirus in Kashmir valley.

A pregnant woman, who died at a hospital in Anantnag onSaturday, tested positive on April 26. An 80-year-old woman died ina hospital in Srinagar on April 28 due to the infection.

Jammu Administration declares...health or safety. Whereas, Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 andDisaster management Act, 2005 also empower the undersigned toissue certain directions for safety and preventing any harm to humanlife, it read. The Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sushma Chauhanadded that village Raipur Satwari, falling under Police stationSatwari, District Jammu, is hereby declared as containment /redzone. Accordingly, the SOP issued by State Executive Committeevide its order number 38-JK-DMRRR of 2020 dated 14-4-2020 shallapply to the village, she said.

"Entire village shall be under strict lock down and tight perimetercontrol, except for essential needs. However, for any medical emer-gency, individuals can contact 24X7 control room at 0191-2571616,0191-2571912 and necessary facilitation shall be done," she said.

Meanwhile Chauhan also termed the order circulated on socialmedia regarding "closure of shops" as large number of people foundin the market areas despite advisories to avoid gatherings as 'Fake'.

Domicile Status is...Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure)Rules, 2020, vide 5.0 166 dated 18th of May, 2020.

Consequent upon the above, it has been decided that therequirement of 'Permanent Resident Certificate' wherever prescribedfor admission into Educational Institutions shall be replaced with'Domicile Certificate'. The Circular further advises all AdministrativeSecretaries to immediately effect changes in statutes/rules wherev-er there exist prescribed requirement of 'Permanent ResidentCertificate' for admission in Educational Institutions.

The circular also stated that "With the enactment of the Jammuand Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, series of constitutionalchanges have been affected. In terms of the Jammu and KashmirReorganization (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2019, any referenceby whatever form to "permanent residents of the State or hereditaryState subject", wherever they occurred in any Act or notificationissued or rules, orders made there under, stands omitted with nec-essary grammatical variation."

Meanwhile the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has orderedthat any candidate interested in appearing in any entrance test, con-ducted by Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional EntranceExamination (BOPEE), must possess Domicile Certificate issuedunder the Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate(Procedure) Rules,2020.

In a Notification issued here, the government stated the, theLieutenant Governor of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, inexercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 23 of the Jammuand Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE)Act, 2002, is pleased to direct that Rule 4 of the Jammu and KashmirBoard of Professional Entrance Examination Rules, 2014 shall besubstituted as under:

"(4) General Eligibility for Admission: Any candidate interested inappearing in any entrance test, conducted by the Board, must pos-sess Domicile Certificate issued under the Jammu and KashmirGrant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020 and such ageand qualification, including of category certificate and experience, asprescribed by the Government for such course from time to time,"the notification stated.

Two BSF jawans...by arresting a top militant associate and three other Over GroundWorkers (OGWs) alongwith arms and ammunition in central Kashmirdistrict of Budgam.

With these arrests, nine LeT OGWs have been arrested in thedistrict in the last four days.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Budgam Amod Nagpuresaid that following specific information, police and 2 Rashtriya Rifles(RR) launched a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) inMagam in Budgam.

"During the operation, a top militant associate and three OGWswere arrested," he said.

He said the accused have been identified as Muzaffar AhmadDar, Mudasir Ahmad Lone, Younis Waza, residents of Budran andNazir Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Poshkar Khag. "One pistol,grenade, arms and ammunition and other incriminating material hasbeen recovered from their possession," he said.

He said this group was active in the area since last few months."They were involved in providing logistics and shelter to active mili-tants and other unlawful activities," he said, adding Case FIR No82/2020 under relevant sections of UAPA and Arms act has beenregistered in Police Station Magam.

On May 16, Police busted a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module byarresting five militant associates and unearthing a hideout inBudgam.

Lockdown: J&K Govt...Udhampur railway station from Bengluru, Habibganj and Bholapur in3 special trains.

So far, seven trains have reached Jammu with a total of 6469stranded passengers belonging to different districts while 10578 pas-sengers have reached Udhampur in 13 special trains, so far.Besides, special trains carrying about 1100 passengers fromAhmadabad is expected to reach Udhampur by this evening.

Pertinently, the Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Srinagar districtadministrations under the guidance of their Deputy Commissionershave evolved a multi-pronged strategy to ensure that all requisitearrangements and facilities are in place for an organised and con-venient boarding and de-boarding of returnees at the Railway sta-tions and airport and their journey towards their home districts.

The administration is ensuring 100 per cent sampling ofreturnees being done at the kiosks established at the stations.Besides, an elaborate transport system has been established to takethe passengers to their native districts for adminstrative quarantineamidst strict adherence to the guidelines issued by MHA andMoFHW regarding COVID-19. Elaborate arrangements have beenput in place for reception and departure of these passengers to theirhomes in different districts of J&K.

It is being ensured that during the boarding and de-boardingprocess the passengers observe social distancing and wear masks.Besides, complete protection of the administrative staff and otherson duty is being ensured.

India sees record...briefing. Indian Council of Medical Research chief epidemiologist DrRR Gangakhedkar said the country has so far conducted 25,36,156tests in 555 active labs.

Comparing infection in population terms, Dr Gangakhedkar said,'Globally, 62 people per lakh have been affected with Covid-19.Whereas in India, its only 7.9 people per lakh population."

Meanwhile, the overall number of fatalities due to the virusreached 3,303 after 140 more people lost their battle to the pandem-ic in the last 24 hours. With 2,347 fresh patients, cases under activemedical supervision stand at 61,149, as per the government data.(UNI)

‘Domestic flights to..."Domestic civil aviation operations will recommence in a calibratedmanner from Monday, May 25, 2020. All airports and air carriers arebeing informed to be ready for operations from 25th May," Puri saidon Twitter. "SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for passengermovement are also being separately issued by the Ministry of CivilAviation."

The development comes as the central government looks atslowly easing strict lockdown restrictions first called on March 25---and extended thrice since---to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The central government recently extended lockdown until May31. The Ministry of Home Affairs had issued guidelines on May 17easing several restrictions, including those on public transport, butbanned air travel. Flights will resume on May 25 after a gap of twomonths. (Agencies)

Harsh Vardhan set...the chairman of the WHO Executive Board on May 22, officials said.

Vardhan would succeed Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, currently

the Chairman of the 34-member WHO Executive Board. The propos-al to appoint India's nominee to the executive board was signed bythe 194-nation World Health Assembly on Tuesday, officials said oncondition of anonymity.

His taking over the post seems to be a formality after the decisionthat he will be India's nominee as the WHO's South-East Asia grouphad unanimously decided last year that India would be elected to theexecutive board for a three-year-term beginning May.

Vardhan would be elected at the Executive Board meeting of theWorld Health Organisation on May 22, the officials said.

The chairman's post is held by rotation for one year amongregional groups and it was decided last year that India's nomineewould be the Executive Board chairman for the first year startingFriday. It is not a full time assignment and the minister will just berequired to chair the Executive Board's meetings, an official said.

The Executive Board is composed of 34 individuals technicallyqualified in the field of health, each one designated by a memberstate elected to do so by the World Health Assembly. Member Statesare elected for three-year terms. The Board meets at least twice ayear and the main meeting is normally in January, with a secondshorter meeting in May, immediately after the Health Assembly.

The main functions of the Executive Board are to give effect tothe decisions and policies of the Health Assembly, to advise it andgenerally to facilitate its work. (Agencies)

Anantnag emerging COVID-19...assigned to policemen in the union territory.

Anantnag, in south Kashmir, was COVID free till mid-April. Thefirst positive case in the district was recorded on April 15. However,now the district has the highest number of COVID cases in the unionterritory - 247 - and has witnessed four deaths so far.

When the first policeman from the DPL tested positive, his con-tacts were sampled and out of them 18 tested positive. On furthercontact tracing, 55 more of them tested positive and now we have 78positive cases in the police - 55 from an IRP battalion and 23 fromthe district police," the officials said.

They said while few policemen from other areas of the valleyhave tested positive, the sudden surge in number of cases from theDPL and the spread of COVID-19 among policemen was a cause ofconcern.

"It is a cause of concern, more so because several of those per-sonnel who have tested positive were on duty at the mess and evenmanned the gates of the police lines," the officials said. The officials,however, said it would not affect the maintenance of law and orderas most of the cases pertain to a battalion of the Armed Police.

"Most of these cases are from the Armed battalion of the Policewhich is not linked to anti-militancy operations or law and orderduties, so it won't affect the normal policing," they said.

They said the policemen who have tested positive have beenshifted to a COVID facility in the district. So far more than 250 policepersonnel have been tested, while an aggressive contact tracingdrive has been undertaken, the officials said.

"Families and immediate colleagues of the positive policemenare being traced and put in quarantine," he said.

A police official, who did not wish to be named, said while allefforts are being made to trace the contacts of these police person-nel, there might always be a possibility of some contacts slippingaway. "Police personnel are being used for many duties - like anti-militancy front, law and order, enforcing social distancing apart fromnormal policing. Most of the time, the cops do not remember thenumber of people they have come in contact with. So, it is not pos-sible to establish all the contacts," he said.

The deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of policeconcerned were not available for comments as calls to their numberswent unresponsive.

Pak terror camps...Singh said there are fears that the desperate terrorists would try toinfiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir and spread the deadly virus in theValley.

The revelation has come as intelligence agencies, too, sayPakistan is pushing militants infected with COVID-19 into Kashmir.

"There are reports that somebody from a training camp inPakistan, where he is being trained, made a call to his family mem-bers here (Kashmir), telling them that some of the trainees fromKashmir have been infected by the coronavirus," the DGP said.

"He was telling them that some of them would die of the coron-avirus in the training camps and nobody bothers about them," hesaid.

The phone-call has raised serious concerns that those whocrossed the border would try to return due to the outbreak in thecamps.

"They are infected with coronavirus and if they come to this side(Kashmir), they will pass on the infection to other cadres. This is avery serious concern," he said.

Pakistan has reactivated at least 20 terror camps and another 20launch pads along the Line of Control and increased its efforts sinceOctober last year to ensure infiltration of as many terrorists as pos-sible into Jammu and Kashmir.

The camps and launch pads, with at least 50 terrorists in each,were reactivated after remaining shut for months following the bomb-ing of a CRPF bus in Pulwama in February 2019 and the subsequentretaliatory bombing of terror camps in Balakot by the Indian AirForce.

The DGP said 250 to 325 terrorists were waiting on the launch-pads to cross over to Jammu and Kashmir, where over 240 terroristsare already operating in hinterlands.

On Wednesday, four terrorist associates of the Pakistan-basedLashkar-e-Toiba were arrested in Budgam district and arms andammunition were seized from them, police said.

The police chief also said the burial process of terrorists havebeen changed to avoid crowds due to the coronavirus pandemic."The bodies of terrorists are being buried away from crowds," hesaid.

"We don't want a large number of the people to unnecessarilygather. That was a serious violation of COVID-19 (protocols), so werevised our drills," he added. (PTI)

Lt Gen Joshi...issues relating to the security management and other importantissues to meet the security challenges in J&K.

Lt Gen Y K Joshi briefed the Lt Governor about the overall secu-rity situation along the LoC and the successful anti-terrorist opera-tions being conducted by the Army in co-ordination with Jammu andKashmir Police and Central Armed Police Forces in the hinterland.

The Lt Governor lauded the role being played by the Army insafeguarding the territorial integrity and the internal security ofJammu and Kashmir.

DGP reviews security...darbar of CRPF Jawans at Nishat Srinagar.

Accompanied by IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, DGP first visited theCRPF Sector Headquarters Nishat Srinagar, where he was receivedby IGP CRPF Srinagar P K Pandey and later in the afternoon he vis-ited 90th Bn CRPF at Uranhal Anantnag where he had interactionwith senior Police and CRPF officers.

Addressing the CRPF officers, personnel the DGP complimentedall the Police and CRPF personnel in handling different situationssuccessfully.

He said that the synergy between the forces especially CRPFand Police is being hailed by the higher authorities. He said due towell planned and coordinated efforts of Police and CAPFs, goodresults are being achieved on anti-terror front.

Other CRPF officers present at Nishat CRPF Headquarters forthe meeting and Darbar with the Jawans included DIG CRPF NorthShri Davinderjeet Singh, DIG CRPF South D S Mann and Srinagarbased CRPF Commandants.

The DGP appreciated the role of Police/CRPF in handling the sit-uation in yesterday's operation at Nawakadal Sringar. He said thatdespite highly congested area it was a good operation in whichdreaded terrorists were neutralised.

He said that the efforts of Police, CRPF and other security forcesin maintaining peace and stability in Jammu & Kashmir despite chal-lenges will be remembered by the nation. He said that the elementsvitiating peaceful environment in J&K will be dealt with firmly.

He exhorted upon the personnel to ensure that the anti-nationalactivities are kept under check and emphasized upon the senior offi-cers to brief the nafri on naka points to boost their morale for exhibit-ing excellent performance on duty from time to time.

The DGP J&K also rewarded the CRPF Quick Action Team(QAT).

While reviewing the security with senior Police/CRPF officers, the

DGP appreciated the joint efforts of forces in its fight against the ter-rorism and said that we have to continue our peace mission withmore dedication to ensure long lasting peace in Jammu andKashmir.

He said that though forces are heavily engaged in Covid 19 relat-ed enforcement, yet various successful anti- terrorist operationshave been carried out jointly by the police and security forces inwhich several top terrorist commanders have been killed.

It speaks of the commitment of forces in strengthening the peaceand order in J&K.

During the meetings the DGP took stock of the arrangements andmeasures being taken by Police/CAPF to prevent the spread ofCOVID-19 and stressed for sustained efforts at all levels andinvolvement of local populace in breaking the chain.

He said that our officers and jawans are going out of way anddoing an exemplary work in providing a helping hand to the needypeople at this critical juncture and assured that we will continue toserve our people with full commitment. He said that with the increas-ing number of positive cases in police and security forces all unitshave to take extra precaution in handling the situation.

The officers of Police and CRPF briefed the DGP about securityscenario of their respective jurisdictions and security measures initi-ated for ensuring peace and stability.

Cellular service restored...Sehrai, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Divisional Commander and son ofseparatist conglomerate Tehreek-e-Hurriyat's chairman AshrafSehrai, and another militant in an encounter in downtown Srinagar.

Official sources on Wednesday said cellular services of all com-panies were restored late last night after reviewing the security situ-ation. Only, BSNL phones and landlines were working during the dayon Tuesday in Srinagar.

However, they said that mobile internet services of all cellularcompanies, including BSNL, remained suspended since Tuesdaymorning as a precautionary measure.

Mobile internet service was functioning normal in other districts ofKashmir valley.

Jammu and Kashmir government in the last week of January lift-ed six-month long ban on mobile internet. However, only 2G servic-es were restored, creating problem for those who might want toattend classes or study online.

Meanwhile, the gag on high speed internet was on April 27extended through an order issued by J&K administration, crushingthe hopes of students, who were keen on availing online classes tocover the academic losses due to the lockdown.

LG greets people...of greetings, the Lt Governor hoped that this auspicious occasionwould strengthen the bond of brotherhood and harmony amongst allcommunities and faiths and usher-in amity and prosperity in the UT.

He prayed for the well-being and happiness of the people of theUnion Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

He also appealed to the people to adhere to the guidelines andnorms issued by the Administration in view of the emerging situation.

Two officers deployed...with Nodal Officer/overall incharge at Railway Station, Katra forassisting in Corona virus mitigation efforts, in addition to their ownduties.

The officers to be deployed are Vir Krishan Dhar, posted as JointDirector, Forensic Science Laboratory, J&K and Anil KumarChandail, Deputy Director, Tourism, Jammu.

Meanwhile Finance Department ordered transfers and postingsof members of J&K Accounts (Gazetted) Service.

As per Government Order No.l64-FD-of 2020 Dated:-20.05.2020, Mahesh Dass, Director General, Local Funds Audit &Pensions, J&K is transferred and posted as Director GeneralAccounts and Treasuries, J&K relieving M Y Ittoo, of the additionalcharge.

Azad Ahmad Wani is posted as Director General, Local Funds,Audit and Pensions, J&K.

Cabinet okays issuance...2020 issued under section 96 of Jammu & Kashmir ReorganisationAct, 2019.

This order has further modified the applicability of Domicile con-ditions to all level of jobs in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmirunder the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralisation andRecruitment) Act (Act No. XVI of 2010), an official release said here.

This order would apply the specified domicile criterion foremployment to all posts in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.(UNI)

Pak shells border...violated the truce in Kirni and Qasba sectors.

After ceasefire violation in the morning, again at about 1350hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by Small arms fir-ing and intense shelling with Mortars along LoC in Kirni and Qasbasectors in District Poonch.

Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, he added.Earlier at around, 0930 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire

violation by firing with small arms and shelling with Mortars alongLoC in Kirni and Degwar sectors in District Poonch.

On Tuesday also Pakistan shelled forward areas and violated theceasefire in Balakote sector of Poonch and Sunderbani sector ofRajouri.

Lockdown: Travel operatorbooked for defying norms,

owner, driver, labourers sent toquarantine centres in Samba

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20: Taking an undue advantage of the restrictionsimposed on public transport during the Covid-19 lockdown a travelagency under proprietorship of M/s Zimindara Travllers was illegallytransporting 128 interstate migrants from Jammu to Kanpur, UttarPardesh has been stopped at Raya Morh samba.

Official spokesman here said that the bus driver along withOwner of travel agency namely Mahinder Pal Singh have beenarrested by Samba police.

Deputy Commissioner Samba, Rohit Khajuria, during the inspec-tion found that two buses carrying 128 labourers were stationed atRaya Morh near Zimindara Dhaba.

After detailed enquiry it was revealed that owner Mahinder PalSingh had convinced labourers to help them in ferrying fromResham Ghar Colony Jammu to their native place in Kanpur UttarPardesh in his buses.

It was also confirmed that the owner has charged Rs 2600 perhead from the labourers for their transportation.

"We had boarded the bus from Jammu yesterday for travellingback to our native homes in Uttar Pardesh however we were haltinghere since yesterday and were not taken ahead or any other place"said an labourers while accusing the bus owner.

Deputy Commissioner taking cognizance of the matter immedi-ately directed police officers to register a case against the owner ofthe travel agency and arrest the bus owner along with driver.

He said that this a clear case of exploitation of innocent labour-ers stranded due to lockdown by the bus owner. All the 128 migrantlabourers have been sent to a quarantine centre in district sambaand they have been provided with food, water and shelter.

The DC directed labour Department samba to register all thelabourers and establish necessary arrangements immediatelyregarding their safe travel strictly through government advised pro-tocol besides police has also been directed to initiate process forreturning the money taken by the accused.

Follow regulated attendance to maintain social distancing: J&K Govt

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday saidthat Government Offices in Jammu and Kashmir has been askedto follow regulated attendance to maintain social distancing normsamid Covid 19 pandemic.

A GAD order issued by the Ministry of Personnel, PublicGrievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training,Government of India and in partial modification of previousGovernment Order ordered that in order to enable implementationof social distancing norms, it has been decided that the atten-dance in the Government offices in the Union territory of Jammuand Kashmir shall be regulated.

The order read that all officers of the level of Under Secretaryand above shall attend office on all working days.

For regulating the attendance of officers and staff below thelevel of Under Secretary, all Heads of Departments/Offices shallprepare a roster so as to ensure that 50 percent of officers andstaff attend office on every alternate day. The staff who are notrequired to attend office on a particular day, shall work from homeand should be available on telephone and electronic means ofcommunication at all times. Bio-metric attendance shall continueto be suspended until further orders, it read.

With profound grief & sorrow, it is to inform the sad demise of ourbeloved Smt. Sheela Rani (Tirtho Devi), W/o Late. Sh. Nitya NandSharma R/o H.No. 929, Lane 16, Rajpura Magotrain, Jammu on07/05/2020.RASAM PAGRI (UTHALA) will be performed on 22/05/2020 from4PM-5PM at our residence.

GRIEF STRICKENSister & Brother-in-lawSmt. Geeta & Late Sh. K.K MagotraSister-in-law & BrothersSmt. & Sh. M.L SharmaSmt. & Sh. R.C SharmaSister-in-law & Brother-in-lawSmt. Kanta & Late Sh. H.L. SangraDevrani & DevarSmt. Vimla & Late Sh. Kaka Ram RainaSmt. Sudesh & Late Sh. Gopal RainaSmt. Veena & Sh. Yudhvir RainaSmt. Madhu & Avdesh Sharma- Daughter-in-law & SonSmt. Meenakshi & Deepak Chopra- Daughter & Son-in-law

RASAM PAGRI

Smt. Sheela Rani(Tirtho Devi)

With profound grief and sorrow, we inform the saddemise of our beloved Late Sh. Ram Lal Verma S/oLate Sh. Bhagat Ram Verma R/o H.No.31-A, Pvt.Opp. Church Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, who expired on12 May, 2020. Tenth Day will be performed on 21May, Thursday at our residence at 10.00 AM.Kriya will be performed on 24 May, Sunday at our res-idence at 12 O’Clock. Uthala will be performed on 25May, Monday at our residence at 4.00 PM.GRIEF STRICKENSmt. Nirmal & Late Sh. S.K. AbrolSmt. Neelam & Late Sh. B.B. VermaSmt. Parveen & Late Sh. Subash VermaSh. Vijay Verma & Smt. Vijay VermaSh. Tilak Raj Verma & Smt. Kamala VermaSh. Virender Verma & Smt. Asha VermaH.No. 31-A, Pvt. Opp Church Gandhi Nagar, Jammu 9906060818

TENTH DAY/KRIYA/UTHALA

LATE SH. RAM LALVERMA

With profound grief and sorrow, we regret to inform thesad demise of our beloved mother Smt. Usha Raina W/oSh. Omkar Nath Raina originally resident of 193,Kharyar, Habbakadal, Srinagar at present H.No 577,Sector 14, Faridabad on 17-5-2020. Tenth Day Kriya willbe performed at Palla Ghat near Sarai Khawaja, BypassRoad, Faridabad on 26-05-2020 at 8 am.GRIEF STRICKENSh. Omkar Nath Raina - Husband(Brother-in-law & Sister-in-Law)Smt. & Sh. Amar Nath RainaSons & Daughters-in-LawMr Kulbhushan Raina & Mrs Anjali Raina (Mobile: 9810015430)Mr Shakti Raina & Mrs Kiran Raina (Mobile: 9811466142)Grand Children and Great Grand ChildrenAbhay & KamakshiKaran & MonicaShweta, Kashish & Aarvi

OBITUARY

Smt. Usha Raina

With profound grief and sorrow, we inform the sad demise of SmtMohan Rani (Shanta Koul) W/o Lt Sh Mohan Lal Koul R/oUttersoo Anantnag at present H.No 33/34 Swaran Vihar PoliceColoney Bantalab Jammu near Shiv Temple on 19.05.2020.Tenth Day Kriya will be performed at Muthi Ghat (NearDirectorate of School Education, Jammu) on 28th May(Thursday) at 8.30 am.GRIEF STRICKENSons & Daughter in LawsSh Pran Nath Koul & Smt Shanta KoulSmt Saitha Koul W/o Lt Sh Ravi Jee KoulSh Vijay Koul & Smt Ranu KoulDaughters & Son in lawsSmt Suman Bhat W/o Sh Jatinder BhatSmt Sweety Tickoo W/o Sh Tej Krishen TickooGrand Daughter & Grand Son in LawSmt Archana Koul & Sh Rahul PanditaGrand Children: Karishma,Vansh Deep, Sahil , Sunaina & KamiyaMobile No : 9419101531, 9419439042, 7889750019

OBITUARY/TENTH DAY KRIYA

Smt Mohan Rani(Shanta Koul)

With profound grief and sorrow we inform the sad demise ofour beloved SMT RATNA DEVI, W/o Late Sh. Darshan LalGupta (Bishnah Wale), R/o 65/4 Nanak Nagar Jammu on 09-05-2020.Kriya will be performed on 21-05-2020 (Thursday) at 12.00noon at our residence.

GRIEF STRICKENDaughters-in-law and SonsLate Smt. Sharda and Sh. Vinod Kumar Gupta (Kala)Smt. Vimmi and Sh. Parmodh Gupta (Muna)Daughters and Sons-in-lawSmt. Suman and Late Sh.Subash Chander GuptaSmt. Sunita and Late Sh.Vinod Kumar DarmaniaGrand Daughters-in-law and Grand SonsRitu and Rohit GuptaGinni and Mohit Kumar GuptaNishil Gupta (Grand Son)Grand Daughters and Grand Sons-in-lawRashmi and Akash GuptaPalak and Rahul GuptaGreat Grand Children : Ananya, Ishita, Akashi, Kamil, Aradhaya, Evraj, Avyukt, Cyaan

KRIYA

SMT RATNA DEVI

With profound grief & sorrow, it is to inform the sad demise of mybeloved wife Smt Tara Sharma W/o Sh Hari Krishan Sharma R/o59/1 Ghou Manhasan Jammu on 8-05-2020.Uthala will be performed on 23-05-2020 2.30 pm at our resi-dence.

GRIEF STRICKENHari Krishan Sharma -HusbandDaughter & Son-in-lawNeeraj Sharma & O.P BawaSons & Daughters-in-lawNaresh Sharma & Jyoti SharmaNavneet Sharma & Ankush SharmaGrand Children: Sumati, Aadish, Avikshit, Hreedyansh, Divyansh, MithaM/s Hari Timbers (Bakshi Nagar, Jammu) Ph: 9419105889M/s Hari Traders (Ghou Manhasan, Jammu) Ph: 9419141221M/s Hari Furniture (Akhnoor Road, Domana) Ph: 9419140620M/s Aay Ess Bros (Ghou Manhasan Jammu) Ph: 9419208527M/s Subash Chander & Sons (Ghou Manhasan)

UTHALA

Smt Tara Sharma

With profound grief, sorrow and tearful eyes, we inform the sadand untimely demise of our beloved Pran Krishen Bhat S/oLate Sh Sri Kanth Bhat erstwhile resident of Krere (Nagbal),Uttersoo, Anantnag, at present House No.2/114-A, PamposhColony Janipur, Jammu on Wednesday the 13th of May, 2020.The Tenth Day Kriya will be performed on Friday, the 22nd ofMay, 2020 at Muthi Ghat near Directorate of School Education,Jammu at 9 am.

GRIEF STRICKENSmt Baby Bhat (Reena Ji) -WifeSh Ikshvaku Bhat -Son (9797356009)Sh Keshav Bhat -SonBhabis & BrothersSmt Babli Bhatt (Romy) & Sh O.N Bhatt (SBI) (9419139327)Smt Ranjini Bhat & T.K Bhat (9868271833)Sisters & Brothers-in-lawSmt Bita & Sh B.L Raina (9419123880)Smt Reeta (Babli) & Sh Attan Ji Raina (SBI) (9419102480)Panditas, Rainas, Razdans and Samast Bhat Parivaar

OBITUARY/TENTH DAY KRIYA

Pran Krishen Bhat(Kaka Ji)

THE TENTH DAY KRIYA OF OUR BELOVED MOTHER SMT.MANMOHNI SHER W/O LATE SH. BADRI NATH SHER R/OPEERBAGH, SRINAGAR, PRESENT AT ROOP NAGAR, JAMMU,IS BEING SOLEMNIZED ON THURSDAY 21ST MAY (UPTO 9:30A.M) AT MUTHI GHAT (NEAR DIRECTOR SCHOOL EDUCATION)JAMMU.

GRIEF STRICKENNANCY & P.L SHER -DEVRANI & DEVARDAUGHTER-IN-LAWSUMAN SHER W/O LATE. SURINDER SHERDAUGHTER-IN-LAWS & SONSHARSH & ASHOK SHERSANTOSH & SUNIL SHERRAJNI & SUSHIL SHERPOOJA & SANJAY RAZDAN -DAUGHTER & SON-IN-LAWSHER & ZUTSHI PARIVARGRAND CHILDREN’S: SHEETAL, SAMEER, ASHEEM, ANUJ, SUSHANT,DIPESH, JAYESH (SHER), RISHI, YASH (RAZDAN)PHONE NO: - 7780982332, 9971500902, 9810115421.

TENTH DAY KRIYA

Smt. Manmohni Sher

With profound grief and sorrow, we inform thesad demise of our beloved father Sh. SudeshBakshi S/o Lt. Sh. Kewal Krishan Bakshi andLt. Smt. Danwanti Devi Plot/No-105 BakshiNagar Jammu (Depu No. 100) near BagatSingh Chowk who expired on 11th May 2020(Monday).KIRYA will be performed on 21st May(Thursday). UTHALA will be performed on23rd May (Saturday) at 2.30 P.M.GRIEF STRICKENSmt. Kamlesh Bakshi-WifeVishal Bakshi-SonArti Bakshi-DaughterJyoti Bakshi-DaughterPooja Bakshi-DaughterMobile No: 9419363806, 9682351835, 7051397493

KIRYA/UTHALA

Sh. Sudesh Bakshi(Retd. PDD Employee)

Union Health MinisterHarsh Vardhan onWednesday said the coun-try’s policy of micro-identifi-cation, mass isolation andquick treatment helped pre-vent large scale deaths andspread of COVID-19.

He said 1.35 billionIndians honoured the deci-sion of nationwide lockdownthat helped keep the mortali-ty rate down and containedthe spread of COVID-19 sofar.

Addressing the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)Health Ministers’ meetingthrough video conference,Vardhan stressed that humanwelfare must be the basis ofall economic growth.

The meeting was chairedby Ogtay Shiraliyev,Minister of Health, Republicof Azerbaijan, the Union

Health ministry said in astatement.

Vardhan said the presentCOVID-19 pandemic crisisalso reminds the people thatthe global institutions of gov-ernance need to becomemore democratic, transparentand representative to be cred-ible and effective.

A reformed multilateral-ism is the need of the hour,he said.

“Our Prime MinisterNarendra Modi has ensuredspeed, scale and determina-tion in the handling this cri-sis. “Armed with a politicalwill to ensure that we defeatthis dreadful disease, 1.35billion Indians came togetherto honour the decision onnationwide lockdown thathave kept our mortality ratedown and contained thespread of the disease,” thestatement quoting Vardhansaid. (Agencies)

|| GREATER JAMMU ||JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 ||GJ NATIONAL5

CALCUTTA, MAY 20:Cyclone Amphan todaycaused extensive damage inNorth 24 pgs, South 24 pgscompletely ravaging theseareas besides damagingCalcutta. The Guief Ninisterof West Bengal MumtaBannerlee said in a tweet,even Kolkata is completelydamaged, our secretariat hassuffered major damages.Communications snapped inmost places. About12 per-sons dead. Everything is fin-ished, from the embankmentto houses to light posts,everything is destroyed. Thisloss is of hundreds of crores.I'm pained to see this naturalcalamity. We will request theCentral govt to not see it aspolitical but try and help us. Iwould request all to nottouch the live wires. Do notleave the relief camps as ofnow. It is not safe. The extentof damage is so much that itwill take us at least 3-4 daysto assess it. This is a big dis-

aster. We did not expect thiskind of a disaster. No drink-ing water, electricitysnapped, bridges cut off,communications snapped.

The IMD had in its dis-tress message alerted thatCyclone Amphan is likely tomake its landfall onWednesday (May 20, 2020)between West Bengal andBangladesh coast. It turnedinto a Super Cyclone from anExtremely Severe CyclonicStorm, as per the IndianMeterological Department(IMD).

The cyclone was centredover northwest Bay ofBengal near Latitude 19.45degrees North and Longitude87.52 degrees East at 6.30am on May 20. The windspeed of the 'most intense'cyclone in the sea right nowis around 200 kmph and wasmoving towards north north-westward direction.(Agencies)

Amphan causes severe damagein WB leaving over 12 dead

GREATER JAMMU SHARES YOUR CONCERNFor Obituaries and Remembrance Call us at Ph: 2435309, Mob: 9906198186 or email to: editorgreaterjammu@gmail.com

NEW DELHI, MAY 20: India onWednesday hit out at Nepal forreleasing a new political mapthat includes Kalapani, a boneof contention between the twocountries, as well as other dis-puted spots.

The Ministry of ExternalAffairs (MEA) said Kathmandu'srelease of a revised official mapof Nepal that includes parts ofIndian territory was a “unilateralact and not based on historicalfacts and evidence”.

Accusing Nepal of goingcontrary to the bilateral under-standing to resolve the out-standing boundary issuesthrough diplomatic dialogue,MEA official spokespersonAnurag Srivastava said Indiawould not accept such artificialenlargement of territorial claims.

The dispute over Kalapanihad been brewing since late lastyear when India reacted in

measured tones. It reared againwhen Defence Minister RajnathSingh announced the black-top-ping of a road leading to apass with China through a trian-gle that Nepal says is itsterritory.

India had offered to holdForeign Secretary level talksonce the pandemic was over,but influential members ofNepalese Parliament, which isin session, set the tone for ahardening of stance by pointingout if the Indian DefenceMinister inaugurated a road dur-ing a pandemic, the talks couldalso take place now.

The MEA further said theNepal Government was wellaware of India’s position on thismatter and urged it to refrainfrom “such unjustified carto-graphic assertion and respectIndia’s sovereignty and territori-al integrity”.

India hits out at Nepal, says artificial enlargementof territorial claims not acceptable NEW DELHI, MAY 20:

The Union Cabinet, chairedby the Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, onWednesday gave ex postfacto approval for the allo-cation of food grains fromthe Central pool to approxi-mately eight crore“ m i g r a n t s / s t r a n d e dmigrants” free of cost inMay and June under the“Atma Nirbhar Bharat”package.

The quantity approved is5 kg per person for twomonths – May and June,2020.

It would entail an esti-mated food subsidy ofabout Rs 2,982.27 crore.

Further, the expendituretowards intra-state trans-portation and handlingcharges and dealer’s mar-

gin/additional dealer mar-gin will account for aboutRs 127.25 crore which willborne fully by the CentralGovernment.

Accordingly, the totalsubsidy from the UnionGovernment is estimated atabout of Rs 3,109.52 crore.

The allocation will easethe hardships faced bymigrant/stranded migrantsdue to economic disruptioncaused by the COVID-19pandemic.

This was also a persist-ent demand from variousquarters, including tradeunions, to providemigrants, especially labour-ers food, as a relief to themdue to loss of jobs duringthe national lockdownengendered by COVID-19pandemic.

Cabinet approves free allocationof food grains to migrants

NEW DELHI, MAY 20: Thenumber of people who havebenefited from the‘Ayushman Bharat’ schemehas crossed the one crore-mark, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi said onWednesday, noting that theinitiative has had a positiveimpact on several lives.In September 2018, Modi hadlaunched the Pradhan MantriJan Arogya Yojana-Ayushman Bharat. It has beentermed as the biggest govern-ment-sponsored healthcarescheme in the world.

“It would make everyIndian proud that the numberof Ayushman Bharat benefici-aries has crossed 1 crore. Inless than two years, this initia-tive has had a positive impacton so many lives,” the primeminister wrote on Twitter.

He congratulated all thebeneficiaries and their fami-lies and prayed for their goodhealth. He appreciated thedoctors, nurses, healthcareworkers and all others associ-ated with Ayushman Bharat,saying their efforts have madeit the largest healthcare pro-gramme in the world.

“This initiative has wonthe trust of several Indians,especially the poor anddowntrodden,” he said. Oneof the biggest benefits ofAyushman Bharat is porta-bility, the prime ministerpointed out.

“Beneficiaries can get topquality and affordable med-ical care not only where theyregistered but also in otherparts of India. This helpsthose who work away fromhome or are registered at a

place where they don’tbelong,” he explained.

He said during his officialtours, he would interact withAyushman Bharat beneficiar-ies.

“Sadly, that is not possiblethese days but I did have agreat telephone interactionwith Pooja Thapa fromMeghalaya, the 1 croreth ben-eficiary,” he said.

The prime minister sharedthe audio clip of the conversa-tion in which Thapa, a sol-dier’s wife, explains about thesurgery she underwent inShillong using the AyushmanBharat facility. Her husbandis posted in Manipur andcould not be with her due tothe coronavirus lockdown.Her two small children arebeing taken care of by theneighbours.

Number of Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries crosses1 crore mark; PM speaks with latest beneficiary

Micro-identification, isolationprevented large-scale death,

spread of COVID-19: Vardhan

NEW DELHI, MAY 20:The Defence Ministry onWednesday issued directivesproviding for procurement of26 spares and equipment formilitary use only fromdomestic suppliers in syncwith the government’s focuson encouraging indigenousdefence manufacturing, offi-cials said.

The move came days afterFinance Minister NirmalaSitharaman unveiled a seriesof reform measures to pro-mote the domestic defenceindustry and cut India’sreliance on importedweapons and military plat-forms.

All the items identifiedfor procurement from domes-tic defence manufacturers areused in shipbuilding.

So far, the DefenceMinistry has notified 127items where purchase prefer-ence is given to local suppli-

ers.“In order to further

encourage procurement fromlocal suppliers, 26 items outof 127 already notified, havenow been notified underclause 3(a) of the PublicProcurement (Preference toMake in India) Order 2017,”the Defence Ministry said ina statement.

“Henceforth, procuringentities will procure theseitems only from local suppli-ers, irrespective of purchase

value, provided that the localsuppliers meet the minimumlocal content (MLC) as pre-scribed for each item,” itsaid.

The local content pre-scribed for the 26 items is inthe range of 40 per cent to 60per cent.

The reform measuresannounced by Sitharamanincluded making separatebudgetary outlay to procureIndian-made military hard-ware, increasing FDI limitfrom 49 per cent to 74 percent under the automaticroute and generating a year-wise negative list of weaponswhose import will not beallowed.

India is one of the mostlucrative markets for globaldefence giants as it figuredamong top three importers ofmilitary hardware in theworld for the last eight years.(Agencies)

Govt mandates purchase of 26 military sparesas equipment only from domestic firms

NEW DELHI, MAY 20: The datefor this year’s civil services prelim-inary examination is likely to bedecided on June 5, the UnionPublic Service Commission(UPSC) has said.

The test, which was sched-uled to be held on May 31, hasbeen deferred due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

A revised programme ofexaminations, including the civilservices preliminary 2020, will beuploaded on June 5, the UPSCsaid on Wednesday.

The civil services examinationis held annually in three stages –prelims, main and interview—bythe commission to select officersfor the Indian AdministrativeService (IAS), the Indian ForeignService (IFS) and the IndianPolice Service (IPS), among oth-ers.

Lakhs of aspirants take theexamination every year to be partof the coveted civil services.

As many as 796 vacancies

were announced by the commis-sion to be filled through the civilservices examination 2020.

A decision regarding deferringof the preliminary examinationwas taken on May 4 during ameeting by the UPSC to reviewthe situation after the second-phase of the nationwide lockdownwas announced.

“Taking notice of the extensionof restrictions, the commissiondecided that it will not be possibleto resume examinations and inter-view in the present,” it had said ina communique.

The civil services (preliminary)examination, 2020, scheduled tobe held on May 31, therefore,stands deferred, the communiquehad said.

“Since this examination alsoserves as the screening test forthe Indian Forest ServiceExamination, the schedule for theIndian Forest ServiceExamination is also deferred,” ithad said.

UPSC to decide date for civilservices prelims on June 5

Grand Children:Himanshu Sharma & Rishabh SharmaBhargav Chopra & Aditi ChopraMobile: 9419195554, 9419148925,9469461395, 9419181816, 9419231677

Dear Editor,

Through the medium of youresteemed newspaper I would liketo express that I was born and

brought up in a village lying adjacent tothe metropolitan city Kochi. In the late70's my village had a large number ofdrunkards and boozing was a way of lifefor the elders. Only a few wise and piousmen could abstain from boozing byvirtue of faith in God. Womenfolk espe-cially wives were the worst sufferers ofthe boozing of males in the families.Fortunately for the boozers there wereseveral legal and illegal outlets of hardliquor within a radius of one kilometerand tipplers always had a gala time oftippling from early morning to lateevening. Late afternoon was always adisturbing time for villagers as the booz-ers mainly daily laborers snaking theirway laboriously and picking up a quarrelwith those who came their way. Theseboozers after reaching home would startpestering their wives or their neighborsmaking the neighborhood livelier and theacrimonious crescendo would die outonly when the kick went out of the booz-ers. A few yards away from my home amiddle-aged couple with their three chil-dren lived in a thatched hut. The husbandand wife were the binge boozers and aperfect couple for the boozers to emulate.Both of them were born boozers. In thewee hours, the wife used to get up andmake a beeline for the nearest homewhere illicit hooch was being brewed.

She was an early customer who wantedto have a heady potion of hooch to getinstant 'kick'. Her husband though notgot used to such early guzzling of hoochwould come later to have a glass or twobefore going to his daily grinding labour.This family was also the perfect exampleof how a drunkard's family setting towork on its own destruction throughreckless living. Husband was paralyzedall of a sudden, wife was crushed todeath by a speeding bus and the childrengrew up to become good for nothing forthemselves: eldest one being the son whobecame a notorious goon. The youngestgirl committed suicide and the elder oneeloped at a tender age. Majority of thefamilies had a harrowing story to tell onthe ill-effects of the alcoholism. This vil-lain had such a deep influence on thehuman minds that many families becameirrecoverably bankrupt due to the incomehaving been used for boozing. It alsomade men aid and abet crimes of variousdegrees and even send many to the gal-lows for the crimes committed. Everycrime originates mainly from people whoare under the influence of alcohol. It isoften considered and proved that alcoholis the driving force to commit crime.Also, when a crime is contemplated,liquor becomes an integral part to executeit. So, it is notoriously a reprehensiblething to be shunned and to be kept alwaysat bay. It is the mother of all evil things.

T. K. Nandanan,Perumanur, Thevara, Kochi.

|| GREATER JAMMU ||JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020||GJ EDIT/OP-ED PAGE6

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Please send your valuable responses at editorgreaterjammu@gmail.com

MOTHER OF ALL ILLS…?

Greater Jammu

Philanthropy has been one of the most significantcomponents of human civilization since times imme-morial and with the passage of time and changing life

styles and materialistic race it has assumed much more sig-nificance in today's scenario when the people are strugglingamid battle against COVID-19, especially the under developedworld including India are the worst sufferers. On account of thelong lockdown the poor labourers including daily wagers arefacing the brunt and in such a situation people with adequateresources need to come forward to help the hapless lot in thecurrent unprecedented situation. and the global organiza-tions including the prosperous nations need to come for-ward to their help. Moreover, certain developing nationswhich also face similar situations should not keep dependingupon the international organizations or foreign aid only butneed to initiate drastic philanthropic measures at the offi-cial level creating an environment that encourages individ-uals too to make philanthropy an essential feature of thecharacter. While India is known for its philanthropic ethos forcenturies, the same needs to be adapted to the new evolvingneeds of the present day Indian society. It is pertinent to men-tion here that social service promotes integration and helps incementing bonds between people. Though the traditional con-cept of philanthropy encompasses charity and righteous-ness, today this institution is required to focus on multi-purpose programmes to ensure that the beneficiaries of phi-lanthropy are able to achieve self dependence and arethereafter able to lead philanthropic pursuits for the needy sec-tions in the society. It is an acknowledged fact that multipleorganizations are presently providing succour to the poor andneedy across the world. Indians having highest regard for thevalues of humanism, charity, philanthropy, compassion for fel-low human beings and all living creatures continue to carry for-ward the legacy knowing well that these values are more rele-vant today than at any other time. Even during the lockdownhundreds of community kitchens continued to provide food tolakhs of needy people daily. Even some rich and affluent joinedthis noble cause in the hour of crisis. Taking lessons from thephilanthropic shortcomings during the current crisis, todaythere is a need to promote character education; awarenessabout service learning in a caring, safe, participatory envi-ronment to allow students to develop 21st Century life skillsand all these components need to be priority areas of workof various social service organizations. Every individualtoday needs to be alive to the needs of the society and thecommunity he is living in and must try to extend a helpinghand. Nothing gives greater satisfaction and joy thanextending a helping hand to those in distress. NonGovernmental organizations must come forward to supple-ment the efforts of the Governments in providing succour tothose in distress due to the pandemic thrust lockdown.However, post pandemic there is a need to continue the phil-anthropic endeavour for eliminating poverty, illiteracy andother social evils like dowry system, gender discriminationand atrocities against women and weaker sections. Even RigVeda calls upon the people to become God's instrument anddistribute fortune to the poor and needy. Similar command-ments have been reiterated in all the religious scriptures of theworld. It is hoped that the philanthropic organizations as wellas the individuals of this nation as well as those across theglobe come forward to extend helping hand to those in dis-tress in all times to come.

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020

MUCH NEEDED PHILANTHROPY

SURESH KUMAR

Covid-19 has ravaged the world. India is noexception. The contagion has beaten all pos-tulates of socio-economic growth. It has

defeated science, technology, economics, and evensocial systems. The common man is perplexed andshattered. And, governments are struggling to finda way out of the present pandemic.

The Covid growth rate in India is lower than inmany other countries. Given the vague behaviourof this virus, no easy conclusions are possible fromthese numbers. Statisticians are working overtimeto predict the flattening of the curve, which is notyet visible.

Health professionals are performing the mostdifficult task— to test and treat Covid patientscommendably well — and it is more so in India, asthey have achieved far better results with a bareminimum facilities and preparedness. The charac-ter of this virus impels upon the healthcare systemsto remain ready for preventive and curative treat-ment for all times. These systems need to beupgraded to meet the challenges in the future aswell.

The public sector health systems, that haveremained ignored for a long time, have performedwell in this hour of crisis. These should, hence-forth, remain a priority of any national or state pol-icy on public health. Evasive, and in some cases,unethical conduct of private health practitionershas attracted public ire and they need to be regulat-ed better through appropriate legislation for trans-parency and public good.

In India, the results are better because our polit-ical leadership, civil servants, health workers,police personnel and all others in the government atvarious levels rose to the occasion and understoodthe challenges much quicker than most other gov-ernments in the world. The country was lockeddown to save human lives, a step which has neverbeen taken since Independence.

It is also true that the time gained by the coun-try through the lockdown should have been usedmore gainfully. Not much seems to have happenedto upgrade and strengthen the healthcare systemsfurther to meet future challenges, which are goingto be humongous. The development of a vaccineremains a dream. The remedy so far is to maintainsocial distancing and wear masks, perhaps a newway of living. These behavioural changes areexpected to stay for a long time.

Devastation due to loss of jobs, businesses, andeconomic opportunities still does not seem to be onthe radar of the governments. There is, in fact, noconfirmed figure of loss on this account. All weknow is that the economy will slow down and theGDP will not rise.

The pandemic has also severely impaired equityand civil liberties in our society. The poor havebeen the worst affected, with damage to all aspectsof their socio-economic living. The threat of pover-ty, hunger and health deprivation has become farmore imminent. The subalterns in the socio-eco-nomically disadvantaged groups are completelywrecked. Social mobility of the deprived seems tohave been obstructed in an unusual way. Social dis-tancing is apprehended to become social untoucha-bility for the poor.

The governments will have to salvage the situa-tion to minimise, if not fully obliterate, the miseriesthat have been thrust upon the common man due toCovid-19. In case the socio-economic living of thecommon man is not repaired immediately, therecould be a severe psychological dismemberment ofour society, which had over the years shown signsof being more progressive, vibrant and united. Arise in crime and issues of public order will becomemore pronounced, with further damage to oursocial fabric. Trust deficit in social systems willincrease substantially, with declining faith in glob-al economic systems that had risen over the lastthree decades of accelerated globalisation.

The devastation by the pandemic is difficult toquantify. It has exposed the weaknesses of thehealth systems across the nations. Governmentstimulus to trade, businesses and industry to securejobs is elusive so far. Perhaps, a way out of lock-down for a safer life is not yet clear, but it may beso gradually. The strategy that shows the path to arevival of normal living and creates a hope for thecommon man should be announced soon. Weshould save lives and secure livelihoods by main-taining and sustaining the present level of livingwith effective support for disaster mitigation meas-ures.

Resource constraint is a major handicap of gov-ernments. Revenue inflows have completely driedup with rising pressures and demands for relief totaxpayers because of a complete shutdown of trade,business and industry. Orthodox tax planners areadvocating more taxes, further limiting the spend-ing in an economy, which is already cash-starved.The banks in the country have become too conser-

vative because neither are their loans being repaid,nor deposits rising. An infusion of capital in thebanking system or an increase in public spending isalso unlikely because of depleting state revenues.The routine banking regulations and diktats of theRBI are, thus, not going to work, and, perhaps, fis-cal planners and economic thinkers of the govern-ment would have to envisage out-of-the-box solu-tions to provide for this exceptionally grave situa-tion.

The paradigm of growth appears to havechanged in just about 20 weeks of this pandemic.Social regulations are preferred now over fiscaldiscipline. Economic laws need to be liberalisedwith a flexible regulatory regime, allowing busi-nesses to grow unhindered. Arvind Dattar, a senioradvocate and specialist in tax laws, has advocated amore unorthodox decision making in fiscal andeconomic matters, as in pursuing containmentmeasures. These include abolishing revenue targetsfor a year; preferring rise in growth over tax rev-enue; implementing tax laws in spirit and not in let-ter; benchmarking tax rates with the best in theworld to spur economic activities and attractinvestments; tailoring fiscal policy for a longer per-spective of five years; simplifying GST with one ortwo tax slabs; and making tax policy and systemsmore fair and growth friendly than adversarial.

Some other thinkers feel that leaving aside allcanons of fiscal discipline, the government shouldprint more currency to enhance liquidity in themarket to enable spending and promote economicactivities that would create more jobs; and thecountry can reinforce financial discipline and con-solidation measures later, maybe after a year ortwo.

Notwithstanding the disastrous pandemic, wewill ultimately win, though with a new economicorder, changed social systems and behaviour, andperhaps, changed lifestyles. Covid-19, is in fact, asArvind Dattar says, a new tryst with destiny. It isunprecedented and uncertain and is going to remainunfinished for a long time. Therefore, the process-es of governance — executive, legislative and judi-cial — will have to change to turn this crisis into anopportunity to reform. We may require new laws, arenewed approach to economic growth and a differ-ent regulatory regime in which more of the corespace is conceded to social and ecological better-ment than merely the market-led economic growthif this new tryst has to be for the better destiny forall.

COVID-19 PROVING TO BE NEW TRYST WITH DESTINYThe devastation by the pandemic is difficult to quantify. It has exposed the weaknesses of the health systems acrossthe nations. Government stimulus to trade, businesses and industry to secure jobs is elusive so far. The strategy that

shows the path to revival of normal living and creates hope for the common man should be announced soon.

Towards the clos-ing days ofLockdown 3.0

Prime Minister Modigave the nation a clar-ion call ofAatmNirbhar Bharat(Self-Reliant India).Amplifying his earlierstatement of "JaanBhiJahan Bhi", he assert-ed that "we have to

protect ourselves andmove ahead as well". He also announced a specialeconomic package, and said the recent decisionsby the government, the decisions by the RBI com-bined with the May 12 financial packageannouncement come to about ?20-lakh-crore -nearly 10% of India's GDP. By recent governmentdecisions he implied the immediate measuresannounced by the government foreconomic sur-vival of the poor and weaker sections hit by thesudden announcement of Lockdown 1.0 in form ofPradhan MantriGaribKalyanYojana and a fewother measures to fight the deadly pandemicwhich was the causa primariaof the Lockdown 1.0which suddenly brought to halt the economic activ-ity in the country and people were confined to theirhomes to maintain social distancing and stay safe..The series of Lockdowns thereafter were termed bythe PM as "Tyag" (sacrifice) and "Tapasya"(penance) of the people. The shift from initial "JaanHai to Jahan hai" to "Jaanbhi Jahan bhi"was reali-sation of the fact that Corona is going to stay andwe have to learn to live with it.

PM said, "Corona crisis has also taught us theimportance of local supply chains, local marketshas stepped into help us. Time has taught us that wehave to now think local. Even global brands wereonce local. When people used it, branded theseproducts, marketed them, those products becameglobal from local. We need to be vocal for our localproducts. Not just buy but also publicise them."Quoting from Vedas, PM explained the importanceof self-reliance,"Sarvam Aatmam Vasham Sukham.That which is in your control gives you happiness.We have to move ahead with new energy. We andwe will make India self-reliant."

Modi also enunciated five pillars ofAatmNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan,"Five pillars willprop up this edifice; 1) Economy that doesn't talkof incremental change but a quantum jump. 2)Infrastructure. 3) Technologically driven systems.4) Demography is our strength. Source of ourenergy. 5) Demand - we need to stoke demand andevery spoke of our supply chain has to bestrengthened. This supply chain will have thearoma of our country and the sweat of our labour."The PM also clarified that definition of self-reliance has changed post Covid-19, self-reliancedoes not mean "isolation" or "protectionism".India has always believed in"VasudhaivaKutumbakam" (world is one family).PM clarified, "Our definition of self-reliance isabout including everyone, who believe the earthas mother. When such a country becomes self-reliant, then the prosperity and happiness of theworld is included in it. The aims and works ofIndia have an impact on the prosperity of theworld."

Thereafter, the Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman in a series of five press conferencesexplained to the nation the fine details of the eco-nomic package which focused onland, labour, liq-uidity and laws, and catered to various sectionsincluding cottage industry, MSMEs, labourers,

farmers, Self Help Groups (SHGs), middle class,industries, among others. The package is alsomeant to give requisite boost for the AatmNirbharBharat Abhiyan through structural reforms, tech-nology intervention and improved measures for"ease of doing business." These included both fis-cal and monetary measures.

Even before the FM had finished announcingall the tranches of the economic package a debateraged in the country terming the measuresannounced by the government as a "loan mela"rather than a 'stimulus package'. Those opposingthe government advocated cash doles to the peo-ple engaged in different sectors so that the cash inhand would revive the demand cycle which as perthem was a pre-requisite to revive productioncycle. Those advocating the cash doles belongedto the school that believed in using the people asvote bank by pleasing them through appeasementsand in the bargain always keep them dependent attheir mercies rather than encouraging them tostand on their own feet and compete. The govern-ment did not concede to their pressure. The gov-ernment insisted that there is a mix of ?scalimpulses and liquidity provisions. In any case, theentire debate was ill-founded since the PM veryclearly had announced an "economic package"and not merely a "stimulus package."

The opposition failed to grasp the concept ofAatmNirbhar Bharat or deliberately chose toignore it to gain sympathies of the people in orderto nail the government and portray it as 'unsympa-thetic' and 'anti-people' to score brownies. Butpeople of India hold PM Modi at a differentpedestal and believe that he is not merely a politi-cian but moral, social and sptritual leader of ourvast country who has been ordained to make India"Sone kiChidiya" again. That is why nationresponds to him in a way it does to no other polit-ical leader. He has convinced the nation 'there isno gain without pain'.

It needs to be understood that the economicpackage announced by the PM and slew of meas-ures announced by the FM are not mere short termquick fix patch solutions but focussed time boundmission mode projects with necessary laws, liber-alisation and financial support to enable farmers,companies and producers to compete at globallevel and ultimately lead the global supply chainin the new world order post Covid-19. The ten-dency to start counting eggs even before thechickens are hatched needs to be curbed and allownecessary time for the package to fructify andmake real the dream of AatmNirbhar Bharat.Brand India, because of its quality, world classcertification and competitiveness, will first domi-nate the local market and thereafter be envy ofothers in global market.

There are two components of self-reliant India.First is developing, promoting and selling world-class Brand India. The second one is to attractmulti-national foreign companies desirous of re-locating from China post Covid by providingthem business facilities and environment at leastequal to if not better than China.

For making Brand India world class as well asaffordable, we need to develop the talent andinfrastructure for designing and producing prod-ucts which compete with market leaders like I-phone, BMW,Samsung, Nike, Gucci, Honda,Google, Android etc without compromising onquality yet cheaper and affordable. Quality, relia-bility, visibility, affordability and ease of accessare a few essentials for brand acceptability. As PMhad said self-reliance does not mean using onlyswadeshi products but implies producing world-

class quality products which would sell not onlydomestically but globally. Self-reliance does notmean that you depend on the free cash doles givenby the government to sustain you but it meansthat you become a contributor to nation's economyby starting own business with incentives and loansgiven by the government and stand gradually onyour own feet. Once you are on your own feet,loan can be re-paid. Be a contributor rather than adependant. In nutshell, there is a need to shed allour past inhibitions and forge ahead with a newmind-set. A positive mind-set of "We Can WeWill." Future vistas in nuclear, space and geo-spa-tial space has provided wings for young start-upsto fly.

In order to be "vocal for local" aggressivebrand promotion will be needed. Extensive use oftelevision and social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook and others will enable instantbrand visibility. It is the best opportunity for exist-ing Indian companies like Reliance, Tata,Mahindra, TCS, Infosysetc to establish them asworld class brands through aggressive advertisingand turn this short term crisis into a long-termopportunity.

China's weakened global position is a God sentgolden opportunity for India to attract moreinvestment by providing environment for a newworld factory. To begin with companies whichalready have some manufacturing in India may beinterested to reduce stakes in China and scale upproduction in India. Bur that wouldn't suffice. Themarket is wide open and there are other competi-tors as well. In order to beat the other competitorswe will have to not only provide supply chaininfrastructure like large ports and highways, topquality and cheap labour and sophisticated logis-tics but continuity, stability and sincerity in ourpolicies and regulations. A consistent and trans-parent FDI policy is also warranted. Bharat alsoneeds to integrate with already existing regionalsupply chains through bilateral and multilateralagreements. Everything is achievable when thereis sense of purpose, sincerity and submission tonational interest. PM has already said "our resolveand determination are greater than the crisis."

The economic package announced by the PMand subsequent measures contained in five tranch-es are meant to enable us to do exactly what isneeded to become vocal for local as well as drawinternational investment. It will provide ourMSMEs a unique identity which they have beendenied so far. It would formalise the Micro FoodEnterprises by showcasing our diversity in whichnon -descript and remote towns have productswhich are unique as well as commercially viable.It would also enable us to "Think Global-MakeLocal." The scope is vast from wearables toorganic wellness products, robotics, 3D printing,hospitality and clean energy products. We have togrow beyond pickles, pappad and handicrafts, notthat they be ignored but our supply chain should-n't be exclusive but include maximum possibleproducts as per domestic and global need.

Make in India, Make for India, Make forWorld, the quintessential requirement of inclusiv-ity is the key to provide global reach to the Vocalfor Local programme-the spirit behindAatmNirbhar Bharat.PM's economic package isjust an enabler. It provides for laying a foundationof taking a quantum leap. Those who dare to seizeopportunity will come out winners!!!

(The author is Jammu based veteran, politi-cal commentator, columnist, security and strate-

gic analyst. He can be contacted atanil5457@gmail.com)

AATM NIRBHAR BHARAT

BRIG ANIL GUPTA

|| GREATER JAMMU ||JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 ||GJ INTERNATIONAL7

A woolen masterpiece called The Knittingale Hospital, which has been knitted with woolby Margaret Seaman, 91, at her home in Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. The scene has been knit-ted during the coronavirus lockdown to raise funds for the NHS.

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SIDON: Twenty years after Hezbollah guerrillas pushedIsrael’s last troops from southern Lebanon, both sides aregearing up for a possible war that neither seems to want.Israeli troops are striking Hezbollah targets in neighbor-ing Syria and drilling for what could be an invasion ofLebanon. Hezbollah is beefing up its own forces andthreatening to invade Israel. The bitter enemies routinelyexchange warnings and threats. “We are preparing seri-ously for the next war. We’re not taking any shortcutsbecause we understand we have to be extremely strong todefeat the enemy,” said Col. Israel Friedler, an Israelicommander who has been overseeing a weeks-long exer-cise simulating war with Hezbollah at a base in northernIsrael. Hezbollah emerged as a ragtag guerrilla group inthe 1980s, funded by Iran to battle Israeli troops occupy-ing southern Lebanon. Agencies

Canada, US extend border closure to non-essential travel

TORONTO: Canada and the US have agreed to extendtheir agreement to keep border closed to non-essential trav-el to June 21 during the coronavirus pandemic. A seniorgovernment official confirmed the extension of the agree-ment, which had been set to expire this week. The officialspoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorizationto speak publicly ahead of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’sannouncement. The two governments announced a 30-dayextension of the restrictions last month. U.S. PresidentDonald Trump has said that the U.S. and Canada are doingwell in handling the pandemic. But many Canadians fear areopening. The U.S. has more confirmed cases and deathsfrom COVID-19 than any country in the world, though itsper capita numbers are well below many other nations.Essential cross-border workers like healthcare profession-als, airline crews and truck drivers are still permitted tocross. Truck drivers are critical as they move food and med-ical goods in both directions. Much of Canada’s food sup-ply comes from or via the U.S. Agencies

IN BRIEF

LONDON, MAY 20:Hundred-year-old BritishWorld War II veteranCaptain Tom Moore is to beknighted after raising near-ly $40 million for health-care charities, with PrimeMinister Boris Johnsoncalling him a "beacon oflight" during the coron-avirus pandemic.

The knighthood, whichbrings with it the title of"Sir", will be formallyissued by Queen ElizabethII. Moore set himself thegoal of walking 100 laps ofhis garden before his 100thbirthday in April.

He was hoping to raise£1,000 ($1,200) forNational Health Servicecharities as a thank you forthe treatment he receivedwhile suffering from cancerand a broken hip.

But the money startedpouring in after his effortdrew national and theninternational interest, a raregood news story in the mid-dle of a global health emer-gency.

"Colonel Tom's fantasticfundraising broke records,inspired the whole countryand provided us all with abeacon of light through thefog of coronavirus,"Johnson said Tuesdayannouncing the knight-hood.

"On behalf of everyonewho has been moved by hisincredible story, I want tosay a huge thank you. He'sa true national treasure."The army had made Moore,who served as an engineerin India and Burma duringWorld War II, an honorarycolonel. Agencies

KABUL, MAY 20:Gunmen killed 14 people intwo separate attacks inAfghanistan while theTaliban targeted pro-govern-ment checkpoints in thenortheast, killing nine militi-amen, officials said onWednesday, the latest inrelentless violence that con-tinues to plague the war-tornnation.

The attacks came againstthe backdrop of renewed UNcalls for an end to violenceand as Washington’s specialpeace envoy, ZalmayKhalilzad, embarked onanother round of talks withthe Taliban to press them tostart negotiating with thenewly reconciled Afghanpolitical leadership in Kabul.

In Parwan province, northof the capital, Kabul, anunknown number of gunmenstormed a mosque late onTuesday, killing 11 wor-shipers and wounding sever-al others, said WahidaShahkar, spokeswoman forthe provincial governor.Reports earlier in the dayhad eight killed. Also late onTuesday, gunmen in easternKhost province attacked afamily returning home froma nearby mosque, killingthree brothers, according toAdil Haidari, spokesman forthe provincial police chief.In both attacks, the gunmenfled the scene. Agencies

SEOUL, MAY 20: LG Group chairmanKoo Gwang-mo apologised Wednesdayover two fatal accidents at LG Chem facili-ties in the past two weeks, reports said,including a gas leak in India that killed 12people.

LG Group is the fourth-biggest of thechaebols, the family-controlled conglomer-ates that dominate business in South Korea,the world’s 12th-largest economy.

LG Chem, the group’s key subsidiaryand South Korea’s largest chemical compa-ny, is reeling from the deadly gas leak at itsLG Polymers India subsidiary, which left

12 residents dead and saw more than 1,000hospitalised.

On Wednesday, a fire broke out at LGChem’s plant in Seosan, around 120 kilo-metres south of Seoul, killing a researcherand injuring two workers.

“I express my deep condolences andconsolation to victims and their families,”Koo said at the Seosan plant, according toYonhap news agency.

“I am very sorry for causing concern tomany people,” Koo added, noting that man-agement felt “heavy responsibility” for thesafety accidents. Agencies

LG chairman apologises over Vizaggas leaks, fire in Seoul plant

100-year-old WWII veteran'Captain Tom' to be knighted

MASERU, MAY 20:Moeketsi Majoro wassworn in as Lesotho's newprime minister onWednesday, a day after hispredecessor resigned underpressure over a scandalinvolving the killing of hiswife.

Majoro, who was previ-ously finance minister, tookthe oath at the king's palacein front of dignitaries. Hewill stay in charge untilscheduled elections in June2022.

It was only the third timethat power has changedhands peacefully inLesotho's history sinceindependence from Britainin 1966, a period marked bycoups and waves of unrest.

Veteran politicianThomas Thabane, 80,bowed to calls to resign onTuesday, three months afterpolice named him and hiscurrent wife Maesaiah assuspects in the murder ofhis former spouse Lipolelo

in a case that plunged themountain kingdom into apolitical crisis.

"I have inadvertentlyerred in several ways,"Thabane said in his han-dover speech. "I ask youthat you forgive me for mymistakes."

Lipolelo Thabane wasshot dead in her car in June2017 two days before herhusband's inauguration asleader of the country ofabout two million people.He married Maesaiah twomonths later.

Maesaiah, 43, has beencharged with murder, whileThomas Thabane argued incourt in February that hehas immunity due to hisoffice. Both deny anywrongdoing. Thabane's ownAll Basotho Convention(ABC) party, oppositionfigures and South Africanmediators had leant on himto quit, but he had resisted,supported by an inner circleof loyalists. Agencies

US warns of deaths from depression,suicide, drug abuse in rationale for

quick rollback of shutdownWASHINGTON, MAY 20: The Trump administration hasrolled out a new rationale for fully reopening the United Statesfor business even as the coronavirus pandemic is receding infits and starts, arguing that extended shutdowns will onlycause more deaths from depression, suicide, drug overdoseand alcohol abuse for years to come. Separately, the USPresident also indicated that he is now inclined to host the G7summit of world leaders at Camp David in-person -- after hav-ing previously canceling the June gathering due to the pan-demic -- to signal normalcy is returning to the world. “Nowthat our Country is “Transitioning back to Greatness”, I amconsidering rescheduling the G-7, on the same or similar date,in Washington, D.C., at the legendary Camp David,” Trumpwrote on Twitter, arguing it would be a great sign of progressin fighting the coronavirus. “The other members are alsobeginning their COMEBACK. It would be a great sign to all– normalization!” he said. The G7 membership includes,besides the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, andthe United Kingdom. India was a special guest of FrenchPresident Emanuel Macron, who hosted the last G7 in 2019.Such a gathering will bring together all major westerneconomies and Japan in what could result in further isolationof China. Meanwhile, proclaiming that the situation was fastreturning to normal in the U.S, administration officials onTuesday elaborated on the line put forth by President Trumpthat there will more deaths from depression, loneliness, sui-cide and drug abuse if the lockdown was not lifted. Agencies

Man sentenced to death inSingapore via Zoom call

SINGAPORE, MAY 20: A man has been sentenced todeath in Singapore via a Zoom video-call for his role in adrug deal, the city-state’s first case where capital punish-ment has been delivered remotely.

Punithan Genasan, a 37-year-old Malaysian, receivedthe sentence for his role in a 2011 heroin transaction onFriday, court documents showed, with the country underlockdown to try and curb one of the highest coronavirusrates in Asia.

“For the safety of all involved in the proceedings, thehearing for Public Prosecutor v Punithan A/L Genasan wasconducted by video-conferencing,” a spokesperson forSingapore’s Supreme Court said in response to Reuters’questions, citing restrictions imposed to minimise virusspread.

It was the first criminal case where a death sentence waspronounced by remote hearing in Singapore, thespokesperson added.

Genasan’s lawyer, Peter Fernando, said his clientreceived the judge’s verdict on a Zoom call and is consid-ering an appeal.

While rights groups have criticised the use of Zoom incapital cases, Fernando said he did not object to the use ofvideo-conferencing for Friday’s call since it was only toreceive the judge’s verdict, which could be heard clearly,and no other legal arguments were presented.

California-based tech firm Zoom did not immediatelyrespond to a request for comment made via its representa-tives in Singapore. Agencies

WASHINGTON, MAY 20:US President DonaldTrump again lashed out atChina on Wednesday overthe coronavirus pandemic,blaming Beijing for "massworldwide killing."

The early morningtweet, which also referredto an unidentified "wackoin China," was the latestheated rhetoric from theWhite House, whereTrump is making attackson Beijing a centerpiece ofhis November reelectionbid.

"It was the 'incompe-tence of China', and noth-ing else, that did this massWorldwide killing," the USpresident tweeted.

The virus first appearedin the Chinese city ofWuhan last December andspread rapidly around theworld, killing more than323,000 people at the latest

count, and triggering hugeeconomic damage.

Trump initially playeddown the seriousness ofthe threat and said repeat-edly that China wasaddressing the outbreak.He later pivoted to blam-ing China for allowing theinternational spread.

The White House hasalso suggested, withoutoffering evidence so far,that the virus originated ina laboratory and was acci-dentally released. Trumphas made repeated butvague threats of retaliationagainst the chief US eco-nomic rival.

He has also threatenedto break off US funding tothe World HealthOrganization or WHO overwhat he says was its assis-tance to China in coveringup the extent of the out-break. Agencies

US President Trump blamesChinese 'incompetence' for

'mass worldwide killing'

BLOOMBERG, MAY 20:Taiwanese President TsaiIng-wen urged China’s XiJinping to “find a way toco-exist” with the island’sdemocratic government, asshe started her second termriding high with a recordapproval rating and a surgein U.S. support.

In a speech after apared-down inaugurationceremony Wednesday inTaipei, Tsai, 63, issuedone of her most forcefulcalls yet for an equal dia-logue with Beijing. Xi’sgovernment cut off directcommunications acrossthe Taiwan Strait duringTsai’s first four years inoffice, citing her refusal toaccept that both sidesbelong to “one China.”

“Cross-strait relationshave reached a historicalturning point. Both sideshave a duty to find a way

to co-exist over the longterm and prevent theintensification of antago-nism and differences,”Tsai said. “I also hope thatthe leader on the otherside of the strait will takeon the same responsibility,and work with us to joint-ly stabilize the long-termdevelopment of cross-strait relations.”

Tsai called for “peace,parity, democracy and dia-logue” in relationsbetween the two sides andreiterated her oppositionto unification with Chinaunder “one country, twosystems” like the frame-work used in Hong Kong.She also pledged to buildcore industries including5G and other informationand communication tech-nologies, bio-technology,medicine, defense andrenewable energy.

“Taiwan’s relationshipwith the U.S. will contin-ue to warm up as the U.S-China relationship contin-ues to break down,”Stephen Tan, president ofthe Taipei-based Cross-Strait Policy Association,said before Tsai’s speech.“As long as the U.S.-China relationshipremains tense, cross-straitties won’t improve. AllTaiwan can do, and Tsai isexpected to do, is to avoidbeing provocative andchanging the status quo,but also not giving in.”

The event marks anotherhistoric high point forTsai’s DemocraticProgressive Party, whichhas grown over the pastfour decades from a looseband of pro-independencedissidents to becomeTaiwan’s dominant politicalbloc. Agencies

Taiwan president says wants talks withChina, but not ‘1 country, 2 systems’

Lesotho's new PM sworn in butfaces task of uniting fractious elite

Attacks kill14 civilians,9 militiamen

KATHMANDU, MAY 20:Nepal Prime Minister K PSharma Oli has said the coro-navirus coming from India is“more lethal” than thosefrom China and Italy andblamed the rising number ofCovid-19 cases in theHimalayan nation on thoseillegally entering the countryfrom India, as the total num-ber of Covid-19 casesjumped to 427 onWednesday.

Speaking about theCOVID-19 pandemic inParliament on Tuesday, Olisaid it has become very diffi-cult for Nepal to contain thespread of the deadly virusdue to the flow of peoplefrom outside.

“Many coronavirusinfected patients haveentered into Nepal. The viruscame from outside, as we didnot have here before. Wecould not stop infiltration ofpeople from outside the bor-der,” he said.

Oli said that the biggestchallenge facing the countrytoday is the rising number of

coronavirus cases andblamed the rising number ofcoronavirus cases on individ-uals breaking the nationwidelockdown, especially thosesneaking into Nepal fromIndia.

“The coronavirus comingfrom India are more lethalthan those from China andItaly,” he said.

“Those who are comingfrom India through illegalchannels are spreading thevirus in the country and somelocal representatives andparty leaders are responsiblefor bringing in people fromIndia without proper testing,”Oli was quoted as saying bythe Kathmandu Post.

Oli’s remarks came amidNepal’s border row withIndia after the construction ofa key road connecting theLipulekh pass withDharchula in Uttarakhand.

He said the Nepal govern-ment has been following pre-cautionary measures sinceearly time to stop the spreadof the virus. “It is the mainpriority of the government to

make the country free fromcoronavirus,” he said.

There were reports ofhundreds of people enteringthe country daily through dif-ferent border points despitethe deployment of securitypersonnel at all major entrypoints along the Nepal-Indiaborder to check cross-bordermovement of people duringthe lockdown. Earlier thismonth, Prime Minister Olihad instructed authorities tointensify the vigil along thecountry’s southern borderwith India due to a suddenspike in the number of coron-avirus patients and directedthe officials to properly man-age the lockdown. Thenationwide lockdownimposed to contain the spreadof the coronavirus has beenextended until June 2. Thecoronavirus cases in Nepal onWednesday rose to 427 after25 new infection cases wereconfirmed, the HealthMinistry said. Two persons, aman and a woman, have dieddue to COVID-19 in thecountry so far. Agencies

Coronavirus coming from India ‘more lethal’than those from China, Italy: Nepal PM

MADRID, MAY 20:Facing growing politicalopposition and protests inthe street, Spain's PedroSanchez called for unity onWednesday as his minoritygovernment soughtParliament's approval foran extension of the lock-down.

Pot-banging demonstra-tors have hit the streets ofseveral cities to demandSanchez's governmentquits over its handling ofthe crisis and curbing ofbasic freedoms.

"It's the Spanish peoplewho have stopped the virustogether, nobody has theright to squander whatwe've achieved duringthese long weeks of con-finement," the PrimeMinister told Parliament,which is expected to back

extending the state ofemergency until June 6.

The protests have beenbacked by the far-rightVox, whose leaderSantiago Abascal onWednesday declared it "anunstoppable revolt", andby the main right-wingopposition People's Party(PP).

"You are the epitome ofchaos and the worst thingis that you are unable toprotect the Spanish peoplewithout resorting to thisbrutal confinement," saidPP leader Pablo Casado.

But the governmentsays the state of emer-gency, which has beenrenewed four times since itwas imposed on March 14,has allowed it to battle theepidemic and reduce thedaily number of new cases

and deaths to a fraction ofwhat it was in early April.

"There are still hun-dreds of new cases everyday which we have todetect, deal with and iso-late," Sanchez said, addingthat an extension was "theonly way possible way toeffectively fight the virus".

From Thursday, it willbe obligatory to wearmasks in public wheresocial distancing is notpossible, officials said onWednesday. Already com-pulsory on public trans-port, the new decreeapplies to everyone agedsix and over.

The current state ofemergency will expire atmidnight on Saturday andSanchez initially said hewanted an extension ofaround a month. Agencies

Spain PM urges unity as hepushes to extend lockdown

Turkey eases quarantine restrictions onarrivals from abroad: Anadolu

ANKARA, MAY 20: Turkey will ease existing 14-day quarantine restrictions for citi-zens coming from abroad as the country starts softening measures taken to stem spread ofthe coronavirus, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday.

Turkish citizens ferried from abroad were spending 14 days under quarantine in studentdorms where they were monitored for possible symptoms of Covid-19 disease.

The people arriving on scheduled flights will go through medical check and will bemonitored for 14 days at their homes.Agencies

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20: The SocialWelfare schemes, being imple-mented by the Social WelfareDepartment, have helped lakhsof beneficiaries to steer throughthe difficult times of globalCOVID-19 pandemic.

The Pension underIntegrated Social SecurityScheme (ISSS)/National SocialAssistance Programme (NSAP)have particularly saved the mostneedy from the economic falloutof the pandemic.

As per the Department, it isproviding pension to 3,66,326citizens under the two Schemes.

The pensioners have beenpaid the pension upto April,2020, while for the month of Mayit would be released in the firstweek of June, 2020.

In addition to the regular twoPension Schemes, theDepartment has disbursed anadditional sum of Rs 500 each toaround 4503 pensioners - as anex-gratia relief under PradanMantri Garib Kalyan Yojna(PMGKY).

The second installment ofanother Rs 500 under theScheme would be disbursedsoon.

The department also contin-ues to help the students by pro-viding Scholarships withoutinterruption. During the lastfinancial year which has justended, the Department has dis-

bursed Scholarships to over oneLakh students under differentCentrally Sponsored Schemes(CSS) and UT GovernmentSchemes.

Under the ScholarshipSchemes of Ministry of MinorityAffairs (MOMA) (Pre-Matric/Post-Matric and Merit-Cum-Means), the Departmentrecorded 250% achievementover the last year's achieve-ment.

As regards ScholarshipSchemes on the State Portal for

SCs, OBCs, EBCs etc, theCOVID-19 situation slowed theprocess slightly, as few caseswere still pending disposal at theend of the financial year i.e. on31st of March, 2020.

However, the process of dis-posing them off has been initiat-ed as residual cases and thesame would be cleared in thecurrent financial year.

The department also paidspecial attention towards theWelfare of the inmates ofResidential Institutions of Social

Welfare amid COVID-19 situa-tion.

The Residential Institutionsboth in the Government and theNGO Sector are being super-vised and monitored to ensurethe protection of the inmatesfrom Coronavvirus.

The Department conductsregular inspections of theResidential Institutions in theGovernment Sector like BalAshrams/Nari Niketans and alsosuch institutions in the NGOSector.

|| GREATER JAMMU ||JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 ||GJ MISCELLANEOUS8

Edited, Printed, Published and Owned by Capt. Murti Gupta, Mob: 9419182274, Managing Editor Seema Murti, Leh Office: E-41, Moti Market, Leh Ph. 01982-251305, Bureau Representative Jigmet Janspal. Srinagar office: New Theed Harwan Srinagar, Bureau Chief Irfan AalamGanie Mob: 9797994664, 9469773518 Delhi office: Flat No. 726 Pocket 13, DDA Flats, Dwarka Phase 1, Bureau Chief Sudesh Dogra Mob: 9654351768, 09968041934, Email: sudeshdogra11@gmail.com.

Printed at JK Printing and Publications, near Matador Stand Sunjwan, Jammu and Published from Greater Jammu, Hall No. 7&8, 2nd floor Auqaf Complex, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu-180004. Ph. No(s)- 0191-2435305-09, 0191-2439705 Fax:- 0191-2431799.Email: editorgreaterjammu@gmail.com RNI No. JKENG/2009/29765. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums at Jammu. The views expressed by authors and writers are their personal and publication is not responsible for any comment.

GJ REPORTDODA, MAY 20: Districtadministration Doda, in itsendeavour to provide suc-cour to the rural labour ofthe ditrict in the wake ofCOVID-19, is going toresume a number of devel-opment works under theMahatma Gandhi NationalRural EmploymentGuarantee Act (MGNRE-GA).

District DevelopmentCommissioner, Doda, DrSagar D Doifode, informedthat the department ofRural Development andPanchayati Raj has alreadycommenced number ofworks under MGNREGAin different parts of the dis-trict which shall be expe-dited in the coming days.

The DDC also informed

that the plan for currentfinancial year has beenfinalized under which 8808works of different naturestands approved which aregoing to be started acrossthe district in coming days.The approved labour budg-et for the district is 132.60

crore for the current finan-cial year, besides said thatthis time initial target of 45lakh Person days genera-tion has been fixed for theexecuting department,DDC added.

While assessing the pre-vious year achievements

DDC informed that in thelast financial year the tar-get for the district was26.50 lakh person daysagainst which the districthas recorded phenomenalgrowth and went beyondthe target hence achievedthe figure of 37.70 lakhperson days across the dis-trict.

It was informed that therates has been fixed in con-sultation with the execut-ing department and accord-ingly the estimates aregoing to be float on securesoft, so that material pay-ment issue can be avoidedin the future positively and60:40 ratio can be main-tained across the districtwithout any fail.

As per the detailsreceived from the official

of ACD Office Doda, 147SOS works are ongoingacross the district so far;besides the work on 5782PMAY houses are ongoingin the district on war foot-ing.

DDC informed that dueto closure of all works inthe wake of COVID-19lockdown the rural labour-ers were facing lot of hard-ships, so the administrationinitiated to restart severalworks under the scheme.He said that already direc-tions have been passed tothe field functionaries tofollow all the requisiteguidelines especially main-taining social distancingand wearing safety gears,into consideration so as toprevent spread of the pan-demic.

Amid lockdown MGNREGA worksgoing to address rural distress in Doda

MGNREGA works in progress in Doda.

GJ REPORTSRINAGAR, MAY 20:Advisor to LieutenantGovernor, Baseer AhmadKhan today directed main-taining close synergyamong different wings ofDisaster Management,Relief, Rehabilitation andR e c o n s t r u c t i o n(DMRR&R) Departmentfor effective managementof emergencies triggered bydisaster like situations.

The Advisor was speak-ing at a meeting held heretoday.

The meeting was con-vened to review and discussthe critical issues likeSustainable Reduction ofDisaster Risk, NationalDisaster ManagementServices, Aapda Mitra, sta-tus of the appointment ofDisaster Managementexperts and Sendai frame-work for disaster riskreduction.

The meeting was attend-ed through video confer-encing by DivisionalCommissioner, Kashmir,P.K Pole, Secretary,DMRR&R, SimrandeepSingh, Chairman, JKSSBKhalid Jehangir.

Director FCS&CA,Bashir Ahmad Khan andDirector DMRR&R werepresent in person.

Threadbare discussionwas also held on Nationalseismic risk mitigation planand development ofresource personnel.

Status of funds utilizedfor disaster managementpreparedness and utilizationof funds released for Covid-19 management were alsoreviewed.

Secretary, DMRR&R,gave detailed power pointpresentation with regard todifferent schemes and pro-grammes of the department.

It was given out in the

meeting that the work onsix pilot projects underDisaster Risk Reductionschemes are in process,which got slowed down dueto Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Advisor asked theconcerned to undertake thework on these schemes andalso constitute an expertcommittee in this regard.

He further asked fornotifying NHW patch fromRamban to Ramsoo, whichis high risk zone and beincluded in approved activ-ity under Disaster manage-ment. He stressed thatearthquake resistance com-ponents should be internalpart of the design of all suchprojects. He directed theconcerned to appoint aNodal officer, who will sub-mit monthly feedback onthe progress achieved.

With regard to floodrelated issues, the Advisorasked the concerned to

identify the vulnerablespots along the river banksso that necessary works aretaken up.

Taking serious note onunauthorized occupation ofmigrant tenements both atKashmir and Jammu, theAdvisor instructed forimmediate eviction of suchoccupants. He also askedfor streamlining the distri-bution of ration couponsamong the migrants.

Issues of displaced per-sons of POJK, Chamb andWest Pakistan Refugees,were also discussed indetail in the meeting. It wasgiven out that all bottle-necks in this regard havebeen resolved. The Advisordirected ensuring propermonitoring and checking ofthe funds disbursed amongthem.

While discussing the sta-tus of Prime Minister'sSpecial Package

(Recruitment andRehabilitation}, theChairman, JKSSRBinformed that 550 selectionfor different posts havebeen done, while proposalto fill 126 posts is inpipeline.

The Advisor directed theChairman to speed up theprocess of filling theseposts by fast tracking selec-tion of the candidates. Healso directed the Board toprepare a detailed note inthis regard and submit thesame to the concerned sothat these posts are filled ina time bound manner.

Advisor Baseer Khan reviews functioning of DMRR&R DepttAsks for effective disaster management, risk reduction

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Government PolytechnicBikram Chowk, Jammutoday organized an onlinequiz competition as a part ofcampaign 'Defeat COVID 19'competition -VI.

The topics for online quizcompletion was currentaffairs, inventions, sports,general knowledge, famousdays & dates, country capi-tals and currency, science &technology. In the competi-tion, 75 students of differentdepartments participated.The quiz masters for theonline quiz were competitionwas Shokat Ali, LecturerComputer Engineering,Sanam Gupta, LecturerMechanical Engineering,Jasdeep Kaur, Lecturer,Instrumentation and DeepakGupta, Demonstrator, CivilEngineering. Online quizportal was prepared by quizmasters and was shared 15

minutes prior to quiz in allthe Department whatsappgroup of students. In thequiz, there were total 50questions for students andtime allotted 30 minutes afterlogin. After attempting all thequestions, the answers weresubmitted for online evalua-tion. Results were announcedimmediately after the quizwas over.

The first position wassecured by Rohit Kumar Attriof 2nd Semester, CivilEngineering Departmentwith a score of 47 out of 50.

Second position wassecured by five students witheach score of 46, AkshitGupta, 2nd Semester; SahilBhat, 6th Semester ComputerEngineering; Ashish Balotra,Aftab Ahmed 6th SemesterElectrical Engineering andManik Sharma, 4th SemesterCivil Engineering.

While 3rd position wasbagged by five students with

score of 45 each, RishabPuri, 4th SemesterArchitecture; Parnab Dubey,Manoj Kapoor, 4th SemesterMechanical Engineering;Neha Manhas, 6th SemesterComputer Engineering andArun Kumar, 4th SemesterElectrical Engineering.

Principal of the collegeEr Arun Bangotra, appreci-ated the wholeheartedly par-ticipation of all the studentsin various competitionsorganised during lockdown.He further advised to stu-dents to stay home and uti-lize their time in study andattend online classes.Government PolytechnicJammu is effectively con-ducting online class throughGoogle Classrooms, GoogleHangout, Zoom App,Whatsapp, GoMeeting andYoutube channels sincelockdown for the polytech-nic students of all thesemester and branches.

Govt Polytechnic Jammu organizesonline quiz competition

GJ REPORTUDHAMPUR, MAY 20: On thedirections of FinancialCommissioner H&ME. AtalDulloo, Director HealthServices Jammu Dr RenuSharma along with ControllerStores Dr Suresh Gupta andDNO QAP Dr Vijay Raina, visit-ed COVID Health CenterUdhampur which has been cre-ated in a separate wing in thepremises of District HospitalUdhampur and took stock offacilities there.

CMO Udhampur Dr K CDogra and MS DH UdhampurDr Vijay Basnotra gave adetailed description of the facil-ities created in the hospitals inthe District and other newly cre-ated establishments for COVIDpositive patients. DHS Jammualso took round of the varioussections of the hospitals whichincluded Trauma Section of thehospital where ICU wards havebeen established fully equippedwith ventilator support facilitiesand Dialysis unit of DHUdhampur and was happy tosee patients undergoingDialysis there.

DHS also visited the sam-

pling booth in DH Udhampurand directed MS Udhampur togive priority to pregnant ladiesand elderly and sick patientsand make them comfortableduring sample collection. Shealso interacted with the staff,doctors and directed them toundertake all safety precau-tions while dealing with theCOVID-19 positive patients. Itis pertinent to mention here thatDH Udhampur has startedadmission of COVID positivepatients and 3 patients arealready admitted in DCHCUdhampur.

Later, DHS visited the newlyestablished COVID Care

Centre in GNM School atBailey, Udhampur. CMOUdhampur and District HealthOfficer also accompanied theDirector who was satisfied withthe preparations done there atwar footing to accommodatethe COVID positive patients ifand when required.

On the way back, Directorand team visited sample collec-tion booth created atGovernment School Tikri andinteracted with the staff avail-able and BMO Tikri Dr ManoharLal. She appreciated the wholestaff of district Udhampur forputting in hard work in the fightagainst COVID-19.

COVID-19: DHS Jammu inspectsfacilities at DH Udhampur

Director Health Services Jammu Dr Renu Sharma inspect-ing facilities at District Hospital Udhampur.

SWD schemes continue to support needy amid COVID-19 pandemic3.66 lakh provided pension; over one lakh students get scholarship

GJ REPORTRAJOURI, MAY 20: In abid to facilitate the inter-state movement of strand-ed labourers, the Districtadministration Rajouriunder the overall supervi-sion of the DeputyCommissioner Rajouri,Mohammad Nazir Sheikhon Wednesday has sent afleet of fourteen vehiclescarrying 425 labourersmostly hailing fromMadhya Pradesh to Katrafrom where they shall betransported to their homestate in a special train.

Speaking on the occa-sion, the DeputyCommissioner said thatthe District administrationhas put in place all thenecessary arrangementsfor the smooth, safe andfree of cost journey of thelabourers up to Katra. Headded that a liaison offi-cer has been deputed ineach vehicle who wouldmoving with the labourersup to Katra to take care oftheir needs and to ensurethat they do not feel anyinconvenience during

their journey and theseofficers shall report backafter dropping the personsat the scheduled place.

The DeputyCommissioner informedthat the process of regis-tration of these labourersin the district has beendone by the LabourDepartment Rajouri. Healso informed that all thelogistics arrangements interms of food, drinkingwater and other essentialshave been made by thedistrict administration tofacilitate the labourersduring their journey.

He also said that thesepersons are being sent totheir homes after onsitescreening by the Doctors.

The labourers on theoccasion have expressedtheir thanks to the Districtadministration for takingthis step of sending themback to their home state.They have also applaudedthe efforts of Districtadministration for takingcare of their demands andneeds during the lock-down period in the dis-

trict.Among others

Assistant LabourCommissioner, AngrezSingh Rana; DistrictInformation Officer,Narinder Raina; Block

Development Officer,Mohd Zubair; Inspectorfrom the Motor VehicleDepartment, RajeevBhasin and HealthOfficers were present onthe occasion.

District administration Rajouri facilitates inter-state movement of 425 stranded labourers

DC Rajouri, Mohammad Nazir Sheikh interacting with offi-cers facilitating inter-state movement of labourers.

IRCS Jammu distributesration among needy familiesGJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20: Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS)Jammu region has provided an inspiring example by con-tinuously distributing ration and other food items to thou-sands of poor and needy families during lockdown period.Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Jammu Region VinodMalhotra, along with his team today distributed ration andother food items among 140 poor and needy families ofMaheshpura, Bakshi Nagar and its adjoining areas.

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20: Gandhi GlobalFamily (GGF) J&K in collaborationwith Himalaya Botanicals PrivateLimited organised 27th relief camp atMakka Chowk, Bathindi here. Over100 local needy families of Bathindiwere identified by local social activistCh Mumtaz Kabir, son of eminentGandhian Ch Ahmed Din.

The relief material includes dryration (rice, edible oil, chilli, turmericpowder, salt and pulses) and freshvegetables were distributed in pres-ence of GGF president J&KPadmashri Dr S P Varma. EarlierGGF COVID-19 Response Team per-

sonnel Ankush Varma conductedawareness campaign to educate thelocals about the preventive measuresagainst COVID19.

Er K K Mattoo, Sr Adv UsmanSalaria, Nissar Bhat, Farid Khan,Sajjad Azad, Mohd Shafi Wani,Mohd Ashraf, Dr Taran Singh, ErAmin Bhat, Prof Qayoom Chouhan,Jaswinder Singh Kuku, Ch MumtazKabir, Ch Shanash, PP Bathindi SIShabir Ahmed, Noor Alam, JameelChoudhary, Ch Gulzar, Amit Varma,Raman Sharma and Ragav Changotrawere also present.

The relief camp was dedicated toBharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam.

GGF J&K distributesration at Bathindi

GGF president J&K Dr S P Varma distributing ration at Bathindi.

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|| GREATER JAMMU ||JAMMU, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 ||GJ LEGAL/BUSINESS 9

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GJ REPORTNEW DELHI, MAY 20: TheSupreme Court today issued noticein a batch of fresh petitions challeng-ing the constitutional validity of theCitizenship Amendment Act (CAA),2019.

The three-judge Bench compris-ing Chief Justice of India SA Bobdeand Justices AS Bopanna andHrishikesh Roy tagged the five freshpetitions along with 160 otherswhich are already pending before theCourt.

Justice AS Bopanna, CJI SABobde and Justice Hrishikesh Roy

The petitions by Tamil NaduThowheed Jamath, Shalim, AllAssam Law Students Union, MuslimStudents Federation (Assam), andSachin Yadav were filed in February,but could not be listed due to theCOVID 19 pandemic.

In today's hearing, lawyer for theAll Assam Law Students Union andthe Muslim Students Federation(Assam), Advocate AbhinavAggarwal, sought an interim orderfrom the Court to address the con-flict of the CAA with the AssamAccord.

Though CJI Bobde refused to pass

any interim order, the Court issuednotice in the pleas.

The CAA, which was notified onJanuary 10 this year, grants Indiancitizenship to non-Muslim minorities(Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi,and Christian) who migrated to Indiafrom Afghanistan, Pakistan, andBangladesh till December 31, 2014,following religious persecution.

On December 18 last year, theSupreme Court had decided to exam-ine the constitutional validity of theCAA, while refusing to stay its oper-ation. Hearing a batch of 143 peti-tions, the Apex Court had, onJanuary 22, made it clear that theoperation of the CAA will not bestayed. It had given the governmentfour weeks to respond to the pleas.

The Court had also said that pleasconcerning Tripura and Assam, aswell as the matters related to UttarPradesh, which is going ahead withthe implementation of CAA withoutframing any rules, can be dealt withseparately. In January, the Court hadalso said the modalities for hearingthe petitions will be decided in-chamber and that it would fix themfor day-to-day hearing after fourweeks.

SC issues notice in fresh petitions challenging Citizenship Amendment Act

TRIVANDRUM, MAY20: A Kerala-based lawstudent has moved theSupreme Court challeng-ing the constitutionalvalidity of the notifica-tions/ordinances issuedby various state govern-ments doing away withlabour laws dealing withpayment of wages, healthand safety of workers,and working hours, amidthe COVID-19 pandemic.

The plea filed byNandini Praveen throughAdvocate Nishe RajenShonker claims that thenotifications and ordi-nances issued by thestates of Rajasthan,Gujarat, Punjab,Himachal Pradesh,Uttarakhand, Haryana,Madhya Pradesh, UttarPradesh, Goa and Assamare ultra vires theConstitution.

The petitioner statesthat Central Laws such asthe Industrial Disputes

Act, 1947; the FactoriesAct, 1948; the Code ofWages Act, 2019 and allother laws on labourissues cannot be over-ruled by executive ordersissued by the state gov-ernments.

The petition states thatevery day, labourers inthe concerned states are"put to sheer exploitationin terms of workinghours, wages, health andsafety conditions."

"The impugned lawsviolate the fundamentalrights of the citizens con-cerned. Thus, they aredeprived of the benefit ofthe existing central labourlaws passed by the parlia-ment. Since lakhs oflabourers/ workers aresubjected to the rigour ofthe impugned laws on aday to day basis and sincethe impugned laws arepromulgated for a speci-fied period, a stay of thesame is sought for in the

writ petition. After thesaid period, the writ peti-tion may turn infructu-ous."

Praveen has contendedthat though the impugnedlaws are passed in thewake of the COVID-19pandemic, purportedly toenable better economicactivity and marketreform, they "are viola-tive of the workers' fun-damental rights underArticles 14, 15, 19, 21and 23 of the Constitutionof India". Highlightingthe faulty grounds onwhich the states have sus-pended labour laws, thepetitioner says that thesame was "purportedlydone so invoking powersunder Section 36B of theIndustrial Disputes Act".

"A reading of Section36B along with the aboveconditions shows that thenotification is ultra-viresof the Section for two rea-sons. Firstly, the Section

does not permit the stategovernment to exemptany undertaking from theprovisions of the Actunless there is adequatemechanism for investiga-tion and settlement of dis-putes. It is a prerequisite.Secondly, the purpose ofthe section is not to givepower to states to exemptthe entire Act without anyother alternative, in a cri-sis like the Covid-19 pan-demic."

Pointing to the UttarPradesh Ordinance, thepetitioner has contendedthat Clause 3, which sus-pends labour laws for aperiod of three years,would lead to employersnot paying wages at all.

It is pertinent to notethat the Uttar Pradeshgovernment has sincewithdrawn its notificationto relax certain labour lawregulations concerningworking hours, rest peri-ods and overtime.

BHOPAL, MAY 20: Thegrant of bail and anticipato-ry bail in the time ofCOVID-19 has led to someinteresting orders from var-ious High Courts. InMadhya Pradesh, the HighCourt has taken to directingbail/ anticipatory bail appli-cants to register as"COVID-19 warriors" andto download the AarogyaSetu COVID-19 trackingapp to secure their releasefrom prison.

In some orders, theapplicants have also beendirected to deposit contri-butions to the CentralGovernment's PM CARESCOVID-19 fund.

Over the past two days(Monday and Tuesday),Justices Sheel Nagu andRajeev Kumar Shrivastava,either sitting singly or as aDivision Bench, havepassed several orderswherein the bail applicanthas been directed to registeras a COVID-19 Warrior tosecure release from prison.

Similar conditions havebeen imposed for allowing

certain anticipatory bailpleas as well. As per avail-able case information onthe Court's website, 22such orders have beenpassed.

After ascertainingwhether the particular caseis fit for the grant of bail oranticipatory bail, the Courtin these cases has directedthe applicant/petitioner toregister themselves withthe concerned DistrictMagistrate as a "Covid-19Warrior" "by entering hisname in a Register namedas COVID-19 WARRIORREGISTER."

The Court adds that thepersons should be assignedthe work of COVID-19 dis-aster management at thediscretion of the concernedDistrict Magistrate whiletaking all prescribed pre-cautions.

All such orders are sim-ilarly phrased, with theCourt adding a note that itexpects the petitioner orapplicant to "rise to theoccasion to serve the socie-ty in this time of crises to

discharge his fundamentalduty of rendering nationalservice when call upon todo so as per Article 51-A(d) of the constitution."

The majority of theseorders (16 orders) havebeen passed by JusticeNagu while sitting singly.Two such orders have beenpassed by a Division Benchcomprising of both JusticeNagu and JusticeShrivastava, whereasJustice Shrivasta haspassed at least 4 suchorders. The cases in whichsuch orders have beenpassed involve a widerange of offences. Interalia, charges under theNarcotic Drugs andPsychotropic SubstancesAct, criminal breach oftrust, cheating, mischief,obscenity, offences underthe Scheduled Caste andScheduled Tribe(Prevention of Atrocities)Act, 1989, dacoity, ArmsAct offences, Excise Actoffences, outraging themodesty of a woman andattempt to murder.

Plea filed in SC challenging constitutional validity ofLabour Law notifications,ordinances passed by 10 states

Register as Covid-19 Warriors, downloadAarogya Setu, donate to PM CARES: MP HC's

novel conditions for bail/ anticipatory bail

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20: TheJammu and Kashmir gov-ernment, as part of itsmeasures being initiated inthe wake of COVIDLockdown, has issueddetailed guidelines regard-ing elimination of interme-diary brokers, buyers, dis-tributors, decongestion ofmajor fruit and vegetableMandies across Jammu &Kashmir besides timelymarketing of Agriculturaland Horticultural produce.

It may be recalled thatAgriculture ProductionDepartment in view ofCOVID-19 situation hadallowed DeputyCommissioners in theirrespective jurisdictions tonotify the places wherefarmers can bring their pro-duce for marketing withoutany intermediary interfer-ence.

The guidelines said thatcollection or aggregationcentre in the proximity ofproduction areas may be set

up by a person after gettingit registered by the con-cerned MarketAdministrative Committees.The person will have to com-ply with a set of guidelines,particularly refraining fromany kind of hoarding, underEssential Commodities Act.

The guidelines furtherclarified that direct whole-sale purchase can also becarried out outside thePrincipal market Yard, Sub-Market Yard, Market Sub-Yard and Private marketYard. Besides, MarketAdministrative Committeesmay declare the place ofsuch purchase as CollectionCentre for direct Marketingwithout establishment ofany permanent structuresetc.

Meanwhile, the MarketAdministrative Committeeshave been authorized byvirtue of GovernmentOrder, "to seek any type ofadditional information fromthe registered direct mar-keting farmers, and can also

inspect and issue directionrelating to functioning ofsuch wholesalepurchase/sale and the activ-ities incidental thereto."

All the MarketAdministrative Committeesof the Union Territory ofJammu & Kashmir havebeen asked to allow andfacilitate functioning ofsuch Collection and SaleCentres without any hin-drance.

Principal Secretary,Agriculture ProductionDepartment, Navin K.Choudhary while elaborat-ing on steps being initiatedin this regard, said thatthese measures will allowfarmers and producers toenjoy complete freedom inselling their produce at bestpossible prices. He furtherinformed that massive edu-cational programmes willbe launched soon to ensuree-marketing facilities forthe farmers to sell their pro-duce in distant markets atcompetitive prices.

Govt issues detailed guidelines toeliminate intermediary brokers

Measures afoot to ensure e-marketing facilities for farmers: Navin Choudhary

JKEDI organizes webinar forstartups amid COVID-19 crisis

GJ REPORTSRINAGAR, MAY 20: The Jammu and KashmirEntrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) todayorganized a webinar titled, "How to survive the lockdown andwhat to expect after the Covid-19 crisis" to help the entrepre-neurs and startups of J&K in distress due to ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

The webinar is part-iv of the series initiated by the instituteto mitigate the problems faced by entrepreneurs and startupsin J&K. The webinar was organized in collaboration withStartup India and the Indian Private Equity and VentureCapital Association (IVCA).

"These webinars will be fruitful for the entrepreneurs andthe startups of J&K. The interaction with leaders and expertsin the business world will help them to take this crisis head-on. It is important that we adapt and survive this pandemic andemerge much stronger. In the future, we will conduct moreinformative webinars and will try our best to help entrepre-neurs in this time of crisis," said, Director JKEDI, G M Darwhile speaking during the webinar. Several entrepreneurs ofJ&K shared varied experiences of working during the crisiswith the experts besides highlighting other issues faced bythem in the current times. "There is no specific set of rules tooperate a business in this crisis, one has to adapt and cater tothe changing circumstances. We must focus on collaborationsand use whatever infrastructure is available to us. This crisiswill not last long, but due to our perseverance and resilience,our venture will," said Abhishek Aggarwal, the chief speakerof the webinar.

Kashmir based agri-tech firm e-fruitmandi elaborated onhow they collaborated with other startups to deliver fruitslocally while as Jammu based essential item delivery startupApnakiryanawala informed the participants that they cateredto more than 500 people during the crisis.

The session was attended by entrepreneurs and startupsfrom both the regions of J&K besides several faculty membersof the Institute. The event was moderated by KrishnaGudipudi from Startup India and Irtif Lone from JKEDI.

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Continuing their efforts ofhonoring Corona WarriorsBJP Talab Tilloo MandalPresident Keshav Chopraorganised a impressivefunction where J&K Bankofficials Of Central ZonalOffice Jammu (Rail HeadComplex) Felicitated asfrontline Corona Warriors,Honorable Municipalcouncillor Ward 40Neelam Nargotra, DistrictWest Secretary BrijeshGupta, MandalSpokesperson SahilSharma Was also Presentduring The Programme,Pertinent to mention, BJPon the directions of PrimeMinister Narendra Modiand National President JPNadda at National level ishonouring front lineCorona Warriors for theirexcellent work done forsociety during COVID-19outbreak.

The officers felicitatedwere Sunit Gupta Vice

President (Zonal Head),Ashok Gupta AssistantGeneral Manager (Engg.Wing), Kamal KishoreSharma PublicRelationship Officer,Kumar Sourav InchargeEstate and GeneralDepartment, Vinod SharmaExecutive Manager, SunilSharma Assistant BankingAssociate, Manoj KumarSenior Executive, AshwaniKumar, Hardutt (GovtScheme Spentor), Sanjeev

Sharma Senior Executive(Gen Dept), Varun KumarSupervisor Housekeeping,jai Dev Banking Associate,Renu Bala Security Guard.

Speaking on the occa-sion, BJP Talab TillooMandal President KeshavChopra hailed the workdone by bank officialsacross Jammu and Kashmirand said that it is becauseof them that we are stillworking in a conduciveatmosphere and despite of

such a situation outside,bank officials are riskingtheir lives and still workingon ground so that propersystem prevails every-where in Jammu andKashmir.

Speaking On theOccasion HonorableMunicipal councillor Ward40 Neelam Nargotra saidthat every BJP activist ofJammu West is serving themasses in one way or otherby being a responsible citi-zen it is our duty in thesetough times to provideassistance to needy peoplein every way possible.Neelam also said that wewill continue our fightagainst Corona Virus andwhatever required will bedone for the betterment ofthe society.

The Programme WasManaged and Arranged ByBJP Talab Tilloo MandalSecretary Paramjeet.

The Officials Of JKBank thanked the BJP teamfor the appreciation.

BJP Talab Tilloo Mandal President, Keshav Chopra felici-tating JK Bank Zonal office team in Jammu on Wednesday.

BJP felicitates JK Bank Zonal Office team

GJ REPORTFRANKFURT, MAY 20:A new research collabora-tion network initiated andled by the FrankfurtInnovation CentreBiotechnology (FIZ) willanalyse within the"Ayurgenomics" projectwhether Ayurveda phytoac-tive substances can supportthe human body against thecoronavirus SARS-CoV-2.FIZ network partners areexamining an anti-inflam-matory and immune-boost-ing Ayurveda productShakti Drops for its effec-tiveness. TheAyurgenomics project over-all aims to develop evi-dence-based guidelines tointegrate Ayurveda princi-ples and practices in mod-ern medicine.

This specific collabora-tive project by FIZ NetworkPartners will investigate a

Proprietary formulation ofSri Sri Tattva "ShaktiDrops" for its ACE 2:SARS-CoV-2 Spike inter-action inhibitor capabilityand immune-boostingeffects to evaluate its suit-ability for use againstCovid-19 infections. Theproject is financed by SriSri Tattva Europe B.V. asubsidiary of Sri Sri TattvaIndia. "We are very pleasedto take initiative in thisextraordinary research proj-ect and thus also to be able tomake our contribution in thefight against the coron-avirus," explains Dr.Christian Garbe, ManagingDirector of the FIZ and con-tinues, "this particular studyaims to validate Ayurvedaformulations with scientificstudies. "Ayurveda has treas-ure of herbs and formulationsto address one's health in aholistic manner. There are

several such formulations inAyurveda which have poten-tial anti-viral and immunityenhancing properties." saysKarthik Jeganathan,Director of Sri Sri TattvaEurope B.V.

The research team willfocus on two indicationareas: firstly, inhibition ofviral entry and secondlyimmune-boosting effects.FIZ Network PartnerGenXPro will examine theeffects of a proprietary for-mulation of Sri Sri TattvaShakti Drops' on the T-cells,major players in the immunesystem. GenXPro uses itshigh-resolution gene expres-sion profiling technique"MACE-Seq" to examine upto 35,000 different genessimultaneously," describesDr. Björn Rotter, ChiefScientific Officer ofGenXPro. The network part-ners will thereby assess the

impact of the candidatecompounds on importantbiologic pathways in the T-cells.

The Ayurgenomics proj-ect, launched in October2019, was part of theGerman Chancellor's 2019delegation trip to the GermanIndian governmental consul-tations. This special Covid-19 research cooperationbears fruit from which bothsides can benefit - Ayurvedaand precision medicine,India and Germany. FIZ initi-ates collaborations focusingon precision medicine andinnovative healthcare solu-tions via its 'GermanGenethics' platform. FIZFrankfurt Innovation CentreBiotechnology The FIZFrankfurt Innovation CenterBiotechnology is a market-oriented technology centeroperated under a public-pri-vate partnership.

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Continuing their efforts ofhonouring Corona WarriorsBJP Team Comprising ofIncharge Grievance cellBJP JKUT SSP (Rtd)Bhupinder Singh andOffice Secretary BJP JKUT Tilak Raj Gupta todayfelicitated JK GrameenBank Chairman Janak RajAngural, D.K Bali GeneralManager, D. D Gupta ChiefAudit, inspection and vigi-lance Dept , the team of thebank was Felicitated asfrontline Corona Warriors,

Pertinent to mention thatBJP on the directions ofPrime Minister NarendraModi and NationalPresident JP Nadda atNational level is honouringfront line Corona Warriorsfor their excellent workdone for society duringCOVID-19.

Speaking on the occa-sion, Bhupinder Singh saidthat we must respectCorona Warriors in ourareas and must not insultthem as whatever they aredoing is for us and we mustfeel indebted to them.

Tilak Raj Gupta hailedthe work done by bank offi-cials across Jammu andKashmir and said that it isbecause of them that we arestill working in a conduciveatmosphere and despite ofsuch a situation outside,bank officials are riskingtheir lives and still workingon ground so that propersystem prevails every-where in Jammu andKashmir.

The Officials of the JKGrameen Bank thanked theBJP team for the felicitationprogramme.

Incharge Grievance cell BJP JKUT, SSP (Rtd) BhupinderSingh felicitating JK Grameen Bank Chairman Janak RajAngural in Jammu on Wednesday.

BJP felicitates Chairman of JK Grameen Bank

Europe starts testing of Art of LivingShakti Drops to fight COVID-19

Excise Department destroysillicit poppy crops in KashmirGJ REPORTSRINAGAR, MAY 20: Excise enforcementteams on Wednesday destroyed illicit poppycrop spread over a total of 187 Kanals ofland in Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian,Bandipora, Baramulla and Budgam areas.

The teams were headed by Excise &Taxation Officer South Kashmir, Excise &Taxation officer North Kashmir and Exciseand Taxation Officer Central Kashmir. In thestatement Dy. Excise CommissionerKashmir, said that the department hasdestroyed illicit poppy crop spread over 833kanals of land, so for during this cultivationseason. The officer said the drive shall con-tinue till all illicit poppy crops in Kashmir isdestroyed.

Sensex surges over 300 pts inopening trade; Nifty tests 8,950

MUMBAI, MAY 20: Equity benchmarkSensex jumped over 300 points in open-ing session on Wednesday tracking gainsin index-heavyweights ITC, HDFC twinsand HUL amid mixed cues from globalmarkets. After rising to 30,524.53, the30-share index was trading at 217.69points or 0.72 per cent higher at30,413.86. Similarly, NSE Nifty rose57.70 points, or 0.65 per cent, to8,936.80. ITC was the top gainer in theSensex pack, surging around 3 per cent,followed by L&T, Tata Steel, NTPC,HUL, PowerGrid, HDFC twins andUltraTech Cement. On the other hand,Hero MotoCorp, IndusInd Bank, BajajFinance, Asian Paints and SBI wereamong the laggards. Agencies

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MUMBAI, MAY 20:Rahul Johri, CEO of theIndian cricket board, con-firmed what this paperreported in April: plans areon to hold the IndianPremier League (IPL) withIndian and internationalplayers after monsoon.

The idea, of course,hinges largely on the WorldT20, scheduled fromOctober 18 throughNovember 15, beingdeferred by Australiabecause of Covid-19. Adecision is expected whenthe International CricketCouncil’s board meets onMay 28.

“IPL is one of the great-est engagers. More peoplewatched the IPL last yearthan those who voted forgeneral elections. For spon-sors, cricket is a leader andit will lead the way. Therecovery will be sharperthan a V-shaped recovery,”said Johri at the TCM

Sports Huddle webinar.“The flavour of IPL is

that best players of theworld come and play, andeveryone is committed tomaintaining that flow. But itwill be a step-by-stepprocess. We can’t expectnormalisation tomorrow,”he said. Johri though saidplayers’ decision to partici-pate or not would berespected.

Asked if the May 17guidelines allowing stadi-ums to be opened without

spectators mean IPL13, onhold because of a nationallockdown, can be held soon,Johri said: “We will beguided by the governmentguidelines. Our advisorysays: IPL is suspended tillfurther notice. We areengaging with various agen-cies. After the current phaseof lockdown ends, there isthe monsoon. Cricketingactivities can start only aftermonsoon. By then, hopeful-ly things will improve.”

Johri accepted schedul-

ing IPL won’t be easy evenin October-November.“When flights resume,everyone has to quarantinethemselves before playing.We will have to look at howthat will impact the sched-ules, which as it is are tight.Imagine you have to factorin 14-day quarantine priorto practice also. So, thereare a lot of moving parts.But we are still optimistic.Hopefully, the situation willimprove after monsoon, andwe will approach it then,”he said.

Asked about holding IPLwithout spectators, Johrisaid: “It will not just be inIPL but also internationalcricket. Although it (gatereceipts) gives us small per-centage of our revenue, it isimportant because bulk ofthat goes in maintenance ofstadiums. However, in theshort term, before we getback to normal, we can livewithout (spectators) it.”

IPL possible with international starsafter monsoon: BCCI CEO Rahul Johri CHANDIGARH, MAY

20: Compulsory use of theArogya Setu App for play-ers and coaches, strictinstructions to carry person-al equipment, training insmall groups of 8-10 play-ers and the arrival of onegroup only after the previ-ous group’s departure.These are part of the 14guidelines the HaryanaSports Department issuedregarding the opening ofsports complexes and stadi-ums in the state.

The directions came twodays after the Ministry ofHome Affairs (MHA) laidout new norms regardingthe extension of the nation-wide lockdown that permit-ted the opening of stadi-ums. Sports complexes andstadiums in Haryana will beopened after they are sani-tised.

“Haryana has the pres-ence of the country’s bestsportspersons. Opening upof the sports facilities willhelp such players and sports

trainees. The sports depart-ment will take all the pre-cautions and a team fromthe state health departmentwill brief the coaches andplayers about precautions,”SS Phulia, Director Sportsand Youth Affairs inHaryana told media.

The 14 guidelines willbe applicable as the stan-dard operating procedurefor the operations of morethan 80 stadiums and sportscomplexes in the 22 dis-tricts of the state.

The guidelines alsoinclude the mandatoryscreening of players using

non-contact thermal read-ings and the use of masks. Italso states that personalequipment like javelin, dis-cus, bow etc. should not beshared by trainees.

The state has alsoallowed training for closecontact sports like judo andwrestling, but the numberof trainees will be in smallbatches of eight to ten. Forteam events, a maximum of18 players and two coacheswill be permitted in agroup. Only one group at atime will be allowed to usea facility.

“Apart from the arena,

the medical rooms at thestadiums and sports com-plexes too will be sanitised.A proper record of every-day training and medicalupdates at more than 80 sta-diums and complexes willbe maintained and playerswill also be encouraged toconsult coaches via telecon-ferences to avoid exposureto the virus,” Phulia said.

“For events like boxing,wrestling and other contactsports, there will be strictmeasures of sanitisationand social distancing.Coaches will be told tostrictly adhere to maintain-ing the advised number oftrainees in the batches,” hesaid.

Athletics coach NaseemAhmed, who has coachedthe likes of 2018 Asian andCWG champion NeerajChopra, believes that eliteplayers need to train andthat players and coachesshould take the responsibil-ity of following strict socialdistancing measures.

No sharing equipment, Aarogya Setu compulsory:Haryana guidelines to open sports facilities

NEW DELHI, MAY 20:When the match betweenIndia and Pakistan in the2007 T20 World Cup wentinto a bowl-out — theprevalent method of decid-ing tied T20s before theSuper Over — it was apiece of street-smartnessby wicketkeeper MS Dhonithat took India to victory,said Robin Uthappa.

Uthappa, one of the fivebowlers delegated by Indiain their first ever taste ofthe bowl-out, said Dhonidid something that Pakistanwicketkeeper KamranAkmal did not do, thusmaking it very easy for theIndian bowlers to hit the

stumps.Speaking on a Rajasthan

Royals podcast with NewZealand spinner Ish Sodhi,Uthappa said, “One of thethings that MS Dhoni didreally well that night, andthat he did different fromwhat the Pakistan keeperdid, was where he stoodbehind the stumps.”

“The Pakistan keeper(Kamran Akmal) wasstanding where a keeperusually stands. A few feetback and besides the stump— just alongside thestump. But MS was (sit-ting) right behind thestumps and that made it somuch easier for us. We just

had to bowl at MS and itgave us the best chance tohit the wickets. That’s allwe did.”

Pakistan, who pickedmost of their regularbowlers for the bowl-out,did not have much luck,with the first three – YasirArafat, Umar Gul andShahid Afridi – all missingthe stumps. India went forVirender Sehwag,Harbhajan Singh andUthappa, all of whomstruck the stumps.

“Venkatesh Prasad(India’s bowling coach)was the studious type inour team back then. He wasvery astute and he had uspreparing for this scenario.In the warm ups, we hadthe bowlers pitted againstthe batsmen and we wonthe bowl-outs every time,”Uthappa recalled, on howhe came to bowl one of thedeliveries, adding that hecould see Pakistan bowlerswere barely prepared forthat scenario.

LONDON, MAY 20:Brazilian left-back RobertoCarlos revealed he was with-in touching distance of sign-ing for Premier Leaguegiants Chelsea in 2007.Following his departure fromReal Madrid, Carlos couldhave donned the blue ofChelsea but ended up withFenerbahce in Turkey.

Carlos won 13 trophiesduring his time at SantiagoBernabeu and the former left-back stated he was lookingfor a new journey, aged 34,and coming to England wasan option.

“I had two proposals,Fenerbahce and Chelsea.Chelsea didn’t work out so Isigned for Fenerbahce. But,with Chelsea, it got veryclose. It was literally agreedand I just had to go there andsign the contract,” Carlos toldGoal.com after the ChallengeHeineken Legends. “It wasjust a week before I signedfor Fenerbahce and I hadbeen to Paris to meet bothRoman Abramovich andPeter Kenyon.

“Unfortunately, in the

final moments somethingdidn’t work out just beforefinalising, which happens alot in football. There was anissue with the lawyer,” headded.

Carlos also stated hewould have done well in thephysically challenging top-tier of England despitespending majority of hisEuropean career in LaLiga.

“It was all agreed, though,and I am 100 per cent sure Iwould have done well in thePremier League and it wouldhave suited my characteris-tics,” the Brazilian WorldCup winner said.

Carlos also jumped intothe age-old debate as to whois better between Portuguesesuperstar Cristiano Ronaldoand Argentine talismanLionel Messi. He, however,picked former teammateRonaldo as the greatest ever.“Ronaldo stood out in train-ing. He was the best. Therewill never be anotherRonaldo ‘Fenomeno’. NotNeymar, Cristiano or Messi -- Ronaldo is unique, “ Carlossaid.

NEW DELHI, MAY 20:London Olympics bronzemedallist MC Mary Komhas said her only aim rightnow is to ensure that shewins an Olympic medal of adifferent colour in Tokyonext year. Mary became thefirst female boxer fromIndia to win an Olympicmedal when she won abronze at London 2012 butmissed out on Rio Olympicsfour years later in 2016.

Mary qualified for theTokyo Olympics at theAsian qualifiers in Amman,Jordan earlier in the yearbefore the event was post-poned until next year due tothe Covid-19 pandemic.

“There are always a lotof expectations whenever Iam in the ring and that staysin my mind,” Mary says onSony Ten’s “The Medal ofGlory” which airs on thenetwork’s Facebook pageon Wednesday.

“I do spend sleeplessnights sometimes thinkingabout how to make myselfbetter, how to work on my

weaknesses and so on. It isbecause of the prayers thatcome my way that I havebeen so successful. I am still

working on my strength,stamina, speed andendurance. Right now mymain dream is to change thecolour of the Olympicmedal this time.”

The six-time WorldChampion said that she hadto work with male boxers inIndia in the run-up to the2012 Olympics in order toget used to the 51kg catego-ry. Mary competed in 48kgbefore the AmateurInternational Boxing

Association (AIBA)scrapped the weight classfrom the Olympics beforeshifting to 51kg, a categoryin which she won bronze atthe 2010 Asian Games.

“At the time I did nothave much experience inthe 51kg category. It hadjust been one year or sosince I had changed myweight category beforewhich I used to compete in48kg. I won all my WorldChampionship titles in the48kg category before that,”she said. “In 51kg I was fac-ing taller boxers and theyhad better reach. There werenot many in India with thiskind of height and reach forme to get used to. “So fortraining in the 51kg catego-ry at the 2012 Olympics Itrained with boys who weretaller and heavier than meafter my qualification wasconfirmed. I was trainingfor the Olympics after all soI didn’t mind getting hit. Igot to learn a lot from it andso did those boxers I trainedwith.”

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Tokyo-bound Mary Kom wishes toimprove on London 2012 performance

NEW DELHI, MAY 20:It was music to the ears ofathletes when the govern-ment decided to allowsportspersons to starttraining on Sunday underLockdown 4.0 and sprinterDutee Chand is no differ-ent. After spending the lastcouple of months insidethe four walls of herhome, the Asian Games100m silver medalist isback where she belongs --the track at the KalingaStadium in Bhubaneswar.But the sprinter believes alot has changed in the lastcouple of months.

Speaking to IANS,Dutee not only spokeabout returning to thetracks, but also highlight-ed how there is a sense ofcaution everywhere. Shesays that everyone wantsto be alert and not commita mistake.

“Earlier everyone usedto greet each other butnow even the securityguards are a bit scared.Whenever we touched

something, they asked usto wash our hands. Neversaw the gym gettingcleaned so many timespreviously but now, theywere constantly sanitizingit,” Dutee revealed.

Not just at the stadiumbut Dutee can feel changesin her body as well whichhas been a result of sittingat home without any prop-er training.

“I did my warm-ups butI faced some difficulties.Earlier I used to take five

minutes to complete akilometre during warm-ups, now it took me sevenminutes,” she said.

“I did my practice andthen came home. Earlier,we used to train in teamsand we used to motivateeach other but now, I hadto do everything alone andit didn’t feel good.”

Before coronavirus hitthe world hard, Dutee wasfocussing to bring herspeed down to 11.15s,which is the Olympics

qualification mark in100m. She clocked 11.22sin Ranchi and became thefastest Indian but still wasa fair distance away fromsecuring an Olympicberth. “I was preparingfor the Olympics but thenit was announced that dueto the pandemic the entirecountry is going underlockdown,” she said.

“During that time I hadgone to Patiala to take partin a tournament but it wascancelled. We weren’teven allowed to go on theground and I was confinedin my room. During theinitial days it was veryproblematic for me.”

It was a mixed feelingfor Dutee when TokyoOlympics was finallymoved to 2021. Sherevealed taking a bigfinancial hit because ofthe postponement and alsohow she will have to do itall over again to reach theplace where she wasbefore coronavirus cameinto existence.

LONDON, MAY 20: Worldnumber 14 Johanna Kontafeels ATP-WTA merger wasproposed a long time ago butgetting backing from 20-time Grand Slam championRoger Federer has drawneverybody’s attentiontowards it.

Earlier in April, Federerhad proposed that tennis’men’s and women’s govern-ing bodies should be com-bined to tackle the effectsbrought onto the circuit bycoronavirus pandemic.

“Billie Jean King beathim (Federer) to that a longtime ago,” Konta toldreporters as per TheGuardian. “So I think it issomething that has beentalked about for a long timebut having Roger vocalise itdrew attention to it.

“I definitely think in thelong run it makes sense for itto be one tour, it makes logi-cal sense but I also knowthere are a lot of moving

parts to it, and I know therewill be a lot of people whowon’t want it to happen, butalso a lot of people who dowant it to happen,” theBritish No.1 added.

Former World No.1,Federer, had stated that heisn’t asking for competitionsbeing merged but only thegoverning bodies.

“Am I the only one think-ing that now is the time formen’s and women’s tennis tobe united and come togetheras one?” Federer wrote onhis Twitter handle.

‘I am not talking aboutmerging competition on thecourt, but merging the twogoverning bodies (ATP andWTA) that oversee themen’s and women’s profes-sional tours.

“It’s too confusing for thefans when there are differentranking systems, differentlogos, different websites,different tournament cate-gories,” he wrote further.

BRUSSELS, MAY 20:Belgian coach RobertoMartinez’s contract hasbeen extended, officialsconfirmed on Wednesday,more than a fortnight afterit was first reported.Martinez will stay until theend of the 2022 World Cupand will also act as thetechnical director of theBelgian FootballAssociation, it said in astatement.

“Talk about a renewal ofthe current contract of thenational manager, whichends on June 30, has beengoing on for some time andeach time in a particularlyconstructive atmosphere,”it said.

“The coronavirus crisisdelayed the process some-what, but the contractextension is now confirmedand official.

“This allows RobertoMartinez to continue hiswork, lay the foundation forthe future of Belgian foot-ball and train his successorto take over after the 2022World Cup.”

Martinez, whose con-tract was up after this year’sEuropean Championship,which has been shiftedback a year because of thecoronavirus crisis, told alater news conference hestill had unfinished busi-ness with the team.

“It was not the time toend the relationship. I felt Ineeded to carry on,” hesaid. Part of this wasinformed by the postpone-ment of the EuropeanChampionship whereBelgium are among thefavourites.

“That was one of thereasons to stay but not theonly reason.

“The next two and a halfyears will be very intensefor our national team, withthe EuropeanChampionship, NationsLeague, 2020 World Cupqualifying matches and theWorld Cup in Qatar itself.”

Martinez, 46, admittedapproaches from clubs dur-ing his tenure with Belgiumbut said turning them downhad been easy.

Roberto Martinez to remain Belgiumcoach till 2022 FIFA World Cup

Warm-ups taking longer, need till Febto hit top speed: Dutee Chand

Roger Federer backingdrew attention to ATP-WTA

merger idea, says Konta

KOLKATA, MAY 20: Ace rifle shoot-er Anjum Moudgil believes athleteswill not be scared of returning to prac-tice after the Sports Ministry gave its goahead to the resumption of training inall sports complexes and stadia earlierin the week. The COVID-19 pandemichad brought the sporting world to astandstill with almost all events acrossthe globe getting cancelled or post-poned, including the Tokyo Olympics.

The International Shooting SportFederation (ISSF) has also cancelled allits tournaments this year.

India has been under lockdownsince March 25 to combat the menaceof the deadly virus but as it entered the

fourth phase, the government decidedto ease restrictions and among themwere re-opening of sports complexesand stadia.

“I am happy that the stadiums areopen and that athletes will get to trainagain properly for any competitions thisyear or preparations for the TokyoOlympics,” World Championships sil-ver medallist Anjum told IANS onWednesday.

Anjum has been recommended forthe Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award,the country’s highest sporting honour.The first Indian athlete to make the cutfor the Olympics by winning a silvermedal in 10m air rifle at the 2018 World

Championships in Changwon, Anjumsaid all the decision to re-open sportscomplexes and stadia will help athletesget back in shape.

“All the athletes will now be in goodshape before playing any tournamentdomestically or international,” said the26-year old who is good at both 10mAir Rifle and 50m Rifle 3-position cat-egories.

Around the world, the GermanBundesliga football league has resumedwithout spectators while SpanishLaLiga and the English Premier Leagueis planning a June return. But as manyas six tested positive for coronavirusacross three Premier League clubs.

BELGIUM, MAY 20:Gold medal favouritesBelgium fear they mighthave lost some of theadvantage they held overtheir rivals for the Olympicmen’s hockey title after thepostponement of the TokyoGames and the novel coron-avirus-induced sportinghiatus.

Coach Shane McLeod,who led Belgium to silverin Rio de Janeiro four yearsago and then a World Cup

title in 2018, believes theplaying field is now levelagain with the Games post-poned by a year. But heinsists it only served toheighten the challenge forhim and his players.

“I was very happy withhow we had been going,”he said, with Belgium hav-ing secured qualification bywinning last year’sEuroHockey NationsChampionship while theirrivals had to play another

qualifying tournament inorder to book a berth toJapan.

“We bought ourselveseight weeks that othernations didn’t have, sowhile we were working onindividual aspects of ourgame, other countries werestill needing to qualify.

“I think we had a bit of aheadstart and you saw thatin the Pro League games weplayed earlier this year.”

Belgium were topping

the table after six matchesof the new-look nine-nationround-robin competitionthat extends over a two-year period and pits hock-ey’s top sides against eachother in regular competi-tion. “I’m a bit disappoint-ed we weren’t able to justkeep on going, mainlybecause of the results wewere achieving,” the 51-year-old New Zealand-bornMcLeod added in an inter-view with Reuters.

No fear, athletes will get to train properly again: Anjum Moudgil Olympic postponement sees hockey worldchampions Belgium lose advantage

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COVID-19: Preventive measures; Administration, NGOs, Volunteers in fight against Corona WWWWEEEE CCCCAAAARRRREEEE FFFFOOOORRRR YYYYOOOOUUUU

Labourers working at a MGNREGA Project in Doda. Social Welfare Department reaches out to families of frontline work-ers in Rajouri.

IRCS Jammu volunteers distributing ration among needy families in Maheshpura BakshiNagar.

BJP OBC Morcha activists distributing ration among needy families onWednesday.

(L to R) BJP leaders felicitating SSP Jammu Shridhar Patil and SP Rural Suram Singh for their services during lockdown.

BJP leaders felicitating employees of PNB Bakshi Nagar and J&K Bank officials Rail Head Complex as frontline Corona Warriors.

A volunteer donating blood during a camp organised atSant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan, Shastri Nagar, Jammu.

Army personnel assisting civilian populace in clearance of rock bouldersto open road NH 144 A, in Sunderbani.

Army personnel providing wheel chair toparalysed wife of an Army Veteran inPoonch during lockdown.

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YEH HAI LEH

BLOSSOMING SEASON: As summer sets in apple trees in full bloom in the Cold Desert. Jigmet Janspal Shey

NEW DELHI, MAY 20:Department of Personnel &Training (DoPT) has exemptedpregnant women officials andstaff members from attendingoffice.

This was disclosed here todayby Union Minister Dr JitendraSingh, who is also In-ChargeDoPT. He said, a circular to thiseffect has been issued and isexpected to be followed by differ-ent Ministries/Departments aswell as State/Union Territory gov-ernments.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, preg-nant women employees who arenot already on maternity leavewill also be exempted fromattending office. Persons with dis-abilities are also to be given simi-lar exemption from attendingoffice.

The latest circular issued bythe DoPT also states that

Government servants who haveunderlying Co-morbidities andwere undergoing treatment forthese ailments before the lock-down, may, as far as possible, beexempted upon production ofmedical prescription from treatingphysician as per the CGHS/CS(MA) Rules, as applicable.

What is important is to strictlyobserve staggered timings for thearrival and departure of the offi-cers and the staff. In order toavoid unnecessary crowding, allthe Heads of Departments havebeen advised to ensure three setsof timings. These would be 9 AMto 5 PM, 9:30 AM to 6 PM and 10AM to 6:30 PM respectively.

While officers of the level ofDeputy Secretary and above areexpected to attend office on allworking days, the officers and

staff below the level of DeputySecretary will attend office with50% attendance every alternativeday and those not attending theoffice should work from homeand remain available on telephoneand electronically.

Dr Jitendra Singh appreciatedthe staff in the Ministry ofPersonnel for having continued towork with full commitment dur-ing the entire phase of lockdown.In fact, he said, some of the staffmembers were working fromhome even during the weekendswhich normally does not happenwhen the offices are closed.

Every care has been taken toensure that while offices continueto function, at the same time, thewelfare and safety of officials isnot overlooked, said Dr JitendraSingh.

MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh brief-ing about circular regarding DoPToffice attendance in New Delhi onWednesday.

Pregnant women officials exempted from attending office: Jitendra

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Responding to PrimeMinister Narendra Modiand BJP National PresidentJP Nadda and the UTPresident, Ravinder Raina'scall, the J&K UT PresidentMahila Morcha Sanjita

Dogra alongwith her gener-al secretaries UrvashiGupta and Neha Mahajanhonoured Advisor FarooqKhan who is performing hisduty in true spirit to takecare of management in var-ious departments in thiscrucial time when the world

is facing COVID-19 pan-demic.

On the occasion AdvisorFarooq Khan thankedSanjita Dogra and her gen-eral secretaries UrvashiGupta and Neha Mahajanfor the honour. Addressingthem on the occasionFarooq Khan said, all thedepartments that I hold willhelp needy people throughvarious schemes of theGovt. He also assured thathe will eligible beneficiar-ies in whatever way he canthrough his various depart-mental schemes. He urgedSanjita and her team to takeschemes of government tograss root level throughparty cadre.

Speaking on the occa-sion Sanjita Dogra thankedthe Advisor for his selflessdetermination to serve forthe society.

J&K UT BJP President Mahila Morcha, Sanjita Dogra felici-tating LG's Advisor Farooq Khan in Jammu on Wednesday.

BJP Mahila Morcha honours Advisor Farooq Khan

JIGMET JANSPALKHUNGRU LEH, MAY 20: TundupGyatso (CouncillorThiksay Constituency) hassaid that due to unclaimedstray horses grazing on thegrass lands and farms ofthe Shey Village regularlysince last winter damaging

the poplar trees, standingcrops, firms etc. and thehorse owners are requestedto take their horses backwhich have remainedunclaimed till now.Addressing a press confer-ence at Press Club heretoday he said that due to

regular raids by the herdsof horses, villagers arefinding it difficult. He fur-ther said that earlier, wehad also circulated mes-sages on social media anddespite repeated requestsrespective owners havefailed to respond. Heinformed that today he hada meeting with DC Leh fortaking appropriate actionagainst the owners onurgent basis. Speaking onthe occasion SonamDorjay, Nambardar Sheyalso appealed to the ownersof the horses to take themback failing which thesehorses will be relocated toother areas. TsewangPaldan BDC, ThiksayBlock and media personswere present on the occa-sion.

Councillor Thiksay Constituency, Tundup Gyatso flankedby Nambardar Shey addressing media persons in Leh onWednesday.

Councillor Thiksay, Nambardar Sheyask owners to take back horses

GJ REPORTLEH, MAY 20: TheStudent Organisation ofUnified Ladakh (SOUL), inan appreciation letter to theDivisional CommissionerLadakh Saugat Biswas,hailed every individualeffort of Administrativemachinery for working tire-lessly in the COVID-19pandemic situation, withspecial mention about theevacuation process.

The letter appreciatesthe UT Administration andthe Ladakh AutonomousHill Development CouncilLeh for evacuating thestranded students ofLadakh from all parts of thecountry. It also acknowl-edges the effort of theStudent Unions by workingas liaison agents to theNodal Officers assigned bythe UT Administration ofLadakh.

1 Iran returnee tests COVID-19 positive,228 samples sent for testing

GJ REPORTLEH, MAY 20: As per the Media bulletin released by theDirectorate of Health Services UT Ladakh, one Iranreturnee has rested COVID-19 positive today while 228samples were sent to NCDC New Delhi for testing. Out ofthe total samples, 148 samples are of Leh district and 80samples are of Kargil district.

Meanwhile, 322 passengers reached Leh yesterday in 9Buses/Tempo travelers where all passengers were screenedand vehicles were sanitized. Nine oil tankers reached Lehyesterday via Manali road. All drivers were screened andvehicles were sanitized.

A lady from Chuchut Yokma containment zone had anormal delivery at PHC Chuchot on 18/05/2020 and boththe mother and baby are in good health.

Health check-up of 288 recent Iran returnees has beendone and samples have been collected from them by a teamof doctors. Other lab investigation regarding the co- mor-bidities have been done and necessary medicine providedto the needy.

Block Medical Officer Chiktan today visited Dargoovillage for medical check-up and daily surveillance of stu-dents/residents put under home quarantine.

SOUL representatives posing for a group photograph withDivisional Commissioner Saugat Biswas in Leh onWednesday.

SOUL appreciates UT Admin,LAHDC for students' evacuation

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Lieutenant Governor,Jammu and Kashmir, G. C.Murmu has sanctioned anamount of Rs. 5.70 crore,out of J&K Relief Fund, forproviding two months freeration and dietary items toinmates of residential insti-tutions run by Government,residential institutions runby NGOs (provided Grant-in-Aid) and residentialinstitutions run by NGOswhere inmates exist.

With this financial assis-tance, a total of over 21000inmates of these institutionsincluding children, old agepersons besides physicallyand mentally challengedwould be benefited. "Thismove of the governmenthas provided much neededrelief to these people in dis-tress during ongoing lock-down imposed due to theglobal pandemic ofCOVID-19".

During the ongoinglockdown, these institu-

tions needed one time gov-ernment support on dietaryitems so that inmates do notface any difficulty on thisaccount.

Social WelfareDepartment has beendirected to release theamount through DBT modebesides ensuring that thisamount is utilized only forproviding quality dietaryitems to the inmates and notfor making any otherexpenses. It has also beendirected to ensure thatdietary items reach to theinstitutions and served tothe inmates of all residen-tial welfare institutions inthe Government as well asNon-Government sectoruninterruptedly.

The Social WelfareDepartment has beenadvised to take care ofhealth, social distancingand other precautionarymeasures like provision ofmasks, sanitizers, soapsand conducting regular vis-its to such institutions.

LG sanctions RR 5.70 cr to providedietary items to residential institutionsGJ REPORT

JAMMU, MAY 20: FormerMinister and senior Congressleader Raman Bhalla onWednesday hailed the UTAdministration for condition-al relaxation saying thatrelaxation was the dire needof the hour to halt the emerg-ing poverty and deprivationof the people. He said Govt'sfirst and foremost priorityshould remain protecting thelife and health of people ofJ&K and must be fully awareof the emerging unemploy-ment and deprivation of peo-ple owing to lockdown.Phase wise and conditionalrelaxation in lockdown willnot only enable the people toearn their bread and butterthemselves but also ensurethe implementation of pre-ventive measures againstcoronavirus, he added. Heurged all those who havebeen given relaxation to fullyabide by the standard operat-ing procedures (SOPs) andnot only enforce them onthemselves but also general-ize the same. "They should

not entertain any customercoming without a face mask,hand gloves and making rushor congestion", he appealed.

Bhalla stressed upon thepeople to look into and taketheir responsibilities withregard to lessen the risks andchances of spreading coron-avirus and take healthy bene-fit from the relaxation givenby the government. Theymust wash their hands andsanitize them before goingout, wear a face mask and

plastic hand gloves, avoidmaking the crowd and keep asafe distance from others toensure safety. He alsoadvised the traders not toentertain those customerswho do not take care of pre-ventive measures.

Meanwhile the formerMinister continued distribut-ing Ration and other neces-sary items among needy andpoor families of GandhiNagar Constituency onWednesday. He distributedfood packets at MarbleMarket Trikuta Nagar.Necessary steps must betaken immediately to ensurethat the people stranded

inside their houses do notface any hardship. The gov-ernment machinery and gen-eral public must cooperatewith each other during thiscrucial period. Most impor-tantly, the administrationmust ensure that people arenot exploited and fleeced byshopkeepers by creating arti-ficial scarcity of essentialitems. The government musthandle hoarders strictly,Bhalla added.

Each one of us shouldcontribute our bit towardsfighting the coronavirus byjust staying at home. We, asindividuals, should under-stand the intensity and dire-ness of this situation we arein. each one of us shouldcontribute our bit towardsfighting the coronavirus byjust staying at home. We, asindividuals, should under-stand the intensity and dire-ness of this situation we arein, Bhalla added. We shouldkeep on mind that unusualtimes need unusual efforts.In this hapless situation, thecooperation of people withthe administration and thehealth authorities is a must.Residents should follow thegovernment advisory onthis.

Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalladistributing food packets among the needy in Jammu onWednesday.

Bhalla urges public to follow guidelines during lockdown relaxation

GJ REPORTSRINAGAR, MAY 20: Director General of Police J&K,Dilbag Singh has expressed grief over the sad demise ofMohammad Aslam Gillani, popularly known as SyedFarhat Gillani, father of ADGP Coordination PHQ SJMGillani, who passed away last evening at his SheikhporaHumhama residence in Budgam. The DGP accompaniedby IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar visited their residence toconvey deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences tothe bereaved family personally, and also on behalf ofJammu and Kashmir Police Pariwar. The DGP prayed forthe eternal peace to the departed soul and to give strengthto the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss.

Reasi Administration providesmedical help to migrant lady

GJ REPORTREASI, MAY 20: District administration has providedmedical help to a migrant lady stranded in the district dueto lockdown. Draupadi, 24, wife of Gulu, while waiting forher special evacuation train, at Railway Station Katradeveloped labour pain in the waiting room of the station.

While the family was waiting for the special trainarranged for repatriation of stranded labourers, the womandeveloped labour pain. The matter was immediatelyreported at the Health Desk set by the district administra-tion and the patient was immediately shifted to CHC Katrawhere she delivered a full term normal female baby in theafternoon. Both, the mother and the child were pronouncedhealthy by the Block Medical Officer.

The family hailing from Gram Patra, Madhya Pradeshwere later dispatched back home after necessary medicalprocedures.

DGP J&K condoles demise ofADGP Coordination's father

GJ REPORTJAMMU, MAY 20:Jammu and Kashmir ApniParty (JKAP) todayappealed to the LtGovernor Girish ChanderMurmu to consider exist-ing state subject certifi-cates of the residents ofthe Union Territory asdomicile certificates.

In a statement issuedhere today, the J&K ApniParty senior leader,Vikram Malhotra said thatthe existing people havingState Subjects of erst-while State of Jammu andKashmir should be con-sidered as domiciles.

"They should not beforced to stand in queuesfor new domicile certifi-cates which would beinjustice for the residents,who have already com-

pleted their documents,and it would create chaosin the society," he said.

He appealed to theGovernment to use tech-nology in this case to findout existing people whohave the State Subjectsand it should be consid-ered as their domicile cer-tificate.

"If the State Subjectholders are not consideredas domiciles, it wouldlead to chaos and anarchy.People will have to under-go unnecessary hassle.Government should find away out," he suggested,while referring to the con-fusion among the peoplesoon after the notificationon domicile was issued.

Appreciating the domi-cile rights to those resid-ing in Jammu and

Kashmir since manyyears, Malhotra said,these people had been suf-fering from decades asthey were deprived ofbasic rights in past.

"It was the humanitari-an cause. These peoplehave been staying here,and have contributed tothe development ofJammu and Kashmir," hesaid appreciating theirrole in the UnionTerritory.

With regard to con-cerns of the people ondomicile notification,Vikram Malhotra said that"It is a document, and nodocument is complete initself. As and when theelected Governmentcomes in J&K, they willmake the changes accord-ingly."

Consider PRCs as domicile certificates, don't compel people tostand in queues: Vikram Malhotra