Countering Covid19
Jammu and Kashmir government said 62 per cent of people in the age group of 45 years have been vaccinated in comparison to the national average of 32 per cent. For this age group, four districts have so far achieved 90 per cent coverage. The government said that it is further expected that the remaining population in the 45 above age category will be covered within a few days. Based on the likely flow of vaccine in the coming months, the government announced that the vaccination programme for the 18-45 age group with an estimated population of 60 lakh would be ramped up in a systematic and phased manner to prioritize coverage of high-risk and vulnerable groups.
In the 18-45 age group, the higher risk and vulnerable groups have been already identified and are being inoculated in a phased manner.
The Relief Package
Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir government stated that relief has been extended to around 40 lakh beneficiaries under different welfare schemes. Under Interest Subvention, about 3.50 lakh borrowers have received instalments of 5 per cent interest subvention worth Rs 200 crore. On benefits extended to construction workers the government said the first instalment of more than Rs 34.50 crore has been provided to 3,49,303 active construction workers at the rate of Rs 1000 per beneficiary. Moreover, Rs 5.6 crore has been provided for around 28 thousand Shikarawalas/Ponywalas/ Dandiwalas/Palkiwalas/Tourist guides at Rs 1000 per month per beneficiary as two months’ relief – 14,627 from Kashmir and 13,153 from Jammu Division.
As a part of Covid19 mitigation measures, Rs 55 crore have been provided to all District Development Commissioners at the rate of Rs 2.25 crore each and Rs 5 crore to each Divisional Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir. The government also stated that Rs 2000 were disbursed each to 9.5 lakh farmers under PM-KISAN Yojna involving a total amount of Rs 190 crore. The Rural Development Department has provided employment to 26,673 households covering 35,484 individuals, involving Rs 8.21 crore under MGNREGA during April and May 2021. About 7.10 lakh pensioners have received their pension amounting to Rs 71 crore under ISSS Pension for the month of April. Under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme, amount to the tune of Rs. 25.68 crore for the month of March and April has been paid in favour of 1.28 lakh pensioners (through DBT).
Ushering Farming
PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
The Government of India has sanctioned the establishment of three Common Incubation Facility Centres worth Rs 7.81 crore at Anantnag, Baramulla and Jammu. The first Incubation Facility Centre will be established at Anantnag with an estimated cost of Rs 2.70 crore, which will have a focus on processing fish and fishery based products. The Centre will aim for a manifold increase in the production of fish, processing, packaging and export to different parts of the country as well as abroad.
The second Centre will be established at Narwal, Jammu, with an estimated cost of Rs 2.68 crore for the processing of dairy products. The Government is according focused consideration on increasing milk production and Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be transformed into milk surplus territory.
The third Facility will be established at Baramulla for the processing of apple and other fruits and vegetables. This will give a new dimension to the processing, packaging of fruits and vegetables of international standard and consequently better marketing and income to the growers. Horticulture Department is already implementing an ambitious scheme of High-Density Plantation and the establishment of large-scale CA stores. Another proposal of establishment of Incubation Centre at Ramban is likely to be considered by the Center government shortly. This proposed Centre will focus on olive, lavender and other important products like beans of erstwhile Doda region.
Oxygenating Kashmir
Kashmir’s Mechanical Engineering Department has increased the Oxygen demand by adding 21000 Litre Per Minute (LPM) of oxygen besides increasing the capacity at SKIMS Soura and JVC Hospital by 3250 LPM during the current wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. As of now the capacity of oxygen production stands at 36000 LPM, which means that the department has increased oxygen supply by three times to the production in the first phase. Also, the Industries department has revived another filling Plant to its line which now stands at five plants and is now supplying near 3000 oxygen cylinders in the last few days.
Regarding the preparation for the containment of prophesied third wave of covid virus, the government stated that in the coming days more oxygen plants will be installed at different hospitals to increase the capacity of oxygen production to 45000 LPM. The total potential of oxygen plants installed at Government Medical College And its Associated hospitals stood at 6000 LPM earlier which now stands at around more than 18000 LPM besides 1000 to 2000 LPM oxygen plants have been installed in District Hospitals so that the covid patients don’t have to suffer for want of oxygen and reduce the shifting of patients to Srinagar hospitals. Moreover, oxygen plants with a capacity of 1000 LPM each have been installed in SMHS Hospital Srinagar last week. The overall oxygen capacity built by Mechanical Engineering Department at SMHS Hospital has been raised to 5600 LPM. At Chest Disease hospital 1500 LPM plant was set up in last two days besides 1000LPM oxygen plant at JLNM Hospital.
