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Government Initiatives January 17-23, 2021

   

Bamboo Development

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha during MoU signing ceremony for Bamboo Entrepreneurship and Bamboo Infrastructure Development in J&K in January 2012. Pic: DIPR

In order to harness the unexplored potential of the bamboo sector in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Ministry of DoNER through North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) under North Eastern Council (NEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for Bamboo Entrepreneurship and Bamboo Infrastructure Development.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha during MoU signing ceremony for Bamboo Entrepreneurship and Bamboo Infrastructure Development in J&K on January 12, 2021, in Jammu. Pic DIPR

The MoU was signed in presence of Lt Gov Manoj Sinha and Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The Lt Governor said that with the signing of MoU for bamboo development in Jammu and Kashmir, the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Har Medh Par Ped has been made a reality in Jammu and Kashmir.

The MoU will create financial and market linkages for the Bamboo produce and facilitate promoting Bamboo start-up entrepreneurship, besides developing the training facilities for farmers, entrepreneurs, craftsmen, and villagers associated with the bamboo sector. It will also facilitate market awareness to entrepreneurs and facilitating joint exhibitions, export promotions. At present, around 1000 families are associated with bamboo handicrafts in Jammu and Kashmir. But at the national level, more than 25,000 bamboo-based industries are providing employment opportunities to about two crore people, while about 21 to 22 lakh people are engaged in bamboo-based art.

A Pilgrim Call Centre

Vaishno Devi Shrine Katra

Lt Gov Manoj Sinha threw open a hi-tech, 24 x 7 Call Centre for Vaishno Devi devotees. He said the Shrine Board will make optimum utilization of available technologies for larger facilitation of the pilgrims. The call centre will provide assistance in planning pilgrim visits, offering weather details conditions, yatra status, availability of helicopter services and battery-operated vehicles, accommodation and other facilities at any given point of time. The centre has SMS, outbound services and e-mail services for the convenience of the devotees. Starting with six work stations, it will be taken to 30 with the Primary Rate Interface (PRI) line of BSNL (01991-234804) and will be manned by people in three shifts.

 

For 2021-22, about 13000 hectors of degraded and open forest area is proposed to be rehabilitated under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act  (CAMPA). It envisages planting of about 72 lakh plants and other related measures, such as patch sowing, dibbling and soil and moisture conservation works to augment natural regeneration.

Snowfall Declared Natural Calamity

Lt Gov Manoh Sinha after taking the review of snow clearance work on ground declared the heavy snowfall as state-specific natural calamity under SDRF. This is for the first time that ‘Heavy Snowfall’ figured in the list of ‘Natural Calamities’ under SDRF norms, due to which disbursement of relief and ex-gratia for the damages due to heavy snowfall was not possible for the Districts’ Disaster Management Authorities. Now, the losses suffered by individuals during the snowfall can be compensated.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha conducting a whirlwind tour of Srinagar City after heavy snowfall on January 13, 2021. Pic: DIPR

Sinha, the DIPR said, took a detailed district-wise review of the overall status of power scenario, snow clearance, road connectivity, water supply, essential supplies, disaster management, food supplies, availability of Power buffer stock and other issues. He further directed the officers to keep a check on the increase in prices of essential commodities, if any, and take corrective measures.

Chasing New GIs

Following the registration of seven world-famous handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir under Geographical Indication of Goods (GI) Act, authorities are pursuing GI registration of five more crafts for quality assurance so that their marketing in the market receives considerable fillip.

The crafts shortlisted include Basohli Pashmina and Painting, Tweed fabric, Loi blankets from Kishtwar and Chikri craft from Rajouri district. While Craft Development Institute is the Nodal Agency for GI registration of Loi blankets and tweed, NABARD shall facilitate the process for Basohli painting and pashmina and Chikri crafts. Already Pashmina and Kani shawls, Carpet, Wood Carving, Sozni and Crewel embroidery and Khatamband have been GI registered for which the proprietary rights lie with Tahafuz and Meeras Societies. Saffron was also recently GI registered.

For The Youth Bulge

In Jammu and Kashmir, 70 per cent of the population is below the age of 35 years, giving a great demographic dividend. Highlighting the initiatives specifically for the youth, Lt Gov Manoj Sinha said while 4.5 lakh jobs will be created under a new industrial development scheme, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali is planning to do a workshop for the youngsters.  Besides, some major players from the music industry are also going to work on honing the skills of youth, in association with the Cultural Academy.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressing on youth engagement and outreach in J&K event on Saturday, October 31, 2020.

The Government, he said has provided assistance and handholding to the aspiring entrepreneurs during the Back to Village programme and the same youth is emerging as a job provider. More than 12000 young entrepreneurs are earning their livelihood. In 2020, more than 5 lakh sportspersons participated in various activities. 100 students from Jammu division were given skiing courses at Gulmarg, and another 200 are going to be trained soon. More than 10 thousand students from Jammu division went on inter-district trekking expeditions last year. More than 44 thousand students participated in the Back to Village and My Town My Pride programmes.

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