KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Governor N N Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J), chaired the 15th Council meeting of SKUAST-J, here on Tuesday at the Raj Bhavan.
Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti, Pro Chancellor of the University and Ghulam Nabi Lone, Minister for Agricultural Production, participated in the discussions, an official spokesperson said this evening.
The Chancellor, while reviewing the on-going infrastructure development projects, regretted the continuing delay and advised the Vice Chancellor to ensure that the University Auditorium and the Hostel for International Students were completed by 31st March 2017 under all circumstances.
The Chancellor appreciated the VC’s efforts to strengthen the Counselling and Placement Cell in the University and advised him to take all required steps for improving the placement prospects of pass-outs in the University.
The Pro-Chancellor advised the VC to identify fruits, particularly mango, of which high density cultivation could be introduced in Jammu region.
The Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor advised the VC to conduct regular training programmes, especially in far flung areas of the Jammu region, for upgrading post-harvest skills of farmers, to improve their economic status.
Earlier, Dr Pradeep K Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST, Jammu, presented a detailed report on the status of teaching, research and extension activities undertaken by the varsity. He informed the Council that the intake capacity of the students of BSc. (Ag.) Hons. programme has been increased from 60 to 120 seats and for the 2016-17 session, the enrolment of students against available seats under various UG programmes has been 100% and the enrollment in MBA (Agriculture Business Management) has increased to 80%.
The VC informed that, for boosting the area specific specialized farming, the KVKs are implementing specialized farming activities; specialized commodity villages for Rice have been established at village Rajpura Szada in Jammu district and in Sultanpur and Haripur Saini villages in Kathua; four specialized commodity villages have been set up in district Reasi, including organic vegetable production in village Talwara, marigold production in village Kangle, Integrated Farming System (IFS) Model in village Sirah, Poultry production village in Tanda, specialized village for garlic production in village Malothi of Doda, specialized village for vegetable production in Bhagwal and Bangle of Sunderbani, Rajouri, and specialized village for maize production in village Digwar of Poonch. Besides, the University is engaged in boosting the area specific specialized Integrated Farming System (IFS) models based on diagnostic surveys. The tribal area of Badodi village comprising 100 farmers has been selected for adoption of IFS model developed by SKUAST-J.
The VC further informed that the University, through its KVKs, is conducting regular training programmes in far flung areas of the State for upgrading post-harvest skills of people in the rural and backward areas to improve their economic status; it has launched Beej Vahan in June, 2016 to make available the best quality seeds to farmers at their door steps; signed MOUs with 22 universities/ICAR institutes at national and international level in pursuit of academic excellence, students exchange and sharing information pertaining to research & extension activities.
In furtherance of the Pro-Chancellor advice, village Swanjna has been adopted by the University under RAWE programme wherein final year BSc (Ag) Hons students are attached with the farmers of the village for gaining on-farm practical experience; a large scale unit for promotion of dairy, poultry and fish farming has been started involving public sector agencies like NABARD, J&K Bank, SBI, PNB, New India Assurance Co. Ltd and United India Insurance Ltd. for making the farmers aware of bankable models.
VC informed that the University is effectively utilizing all its available resources for generation/dissemination of technologies, and presently, externally funded research projects valuing Rs. 40 crore are in operation in the University for the speedy development of agriculture and its allied sectors.
VC informed that the University has adopted new guidelines of ICAR and VCI for BSc (Agric) Hons and BVSc & AH from the academic session 2016-17 and KVK Samba will function from the Advanced Centre for Rainfed Agriculture, Dhiansar till such time as the land at Mananu village becomes available.
TFJ Deputation Meets Governor
A deputation of Tourism Federation Jammu (TFJ), led by its Chairman, Rajesh Gupta, called on Governor N. N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today.
The deputation informed the Governor about the impact of prevailing unrest in Kashmir Valley on Jammu’s tourism sector and made certain suggestions for enhancing the participation of Jammu based traders and tour operators, with the support of the Amarnath Shrine Board to boost tourist traffic to various leisure locations in the region.
The deputation sought Governor’s support in their plans to develop special packages for senior citizens and women, among the pilgrims visiting the Holy Shrine, and enable them to visit identified tourist and pilgrim circuits in J&K. Issues relating to the planned development of new and attractive circuits in Jammu region were also discussed.
The deputation comprised its executive members: Asif Iqbal, Jatinder Koul, Gurmeet Singh, Rajesh Chandan and Nishant Gupta.
Governor Distributes Compensation to Owners Whose Ponies were Killed in Accidents
At a function held at the Raj Bhavan here today, Governor N N Vohra, who is the Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), gave away cheques valuing about rupees fourteen lakh to 49 pony wallahs for the loss of their horses / ponies in accidental deaths during the Amarnath Yatra 2016.
The pony owners were awarded compensation at Rs. 30,000 for each pony/horse killed accidentally.
The Governor interacted with the claimants and lauded their cooperation and contribution in facilitating the Yatris and making the annual Amarnath Yatra a successful event every year.
He observed that pony wallahs are an important part of the pilgrimage and that he had directed P K Tripathi, CEO of the Board to ensure that all insurance claims payable to the pony wallahs are settled without any delay whatsoever.
The Governor observed that since the Shrine Board decided in 2010 to provide insurance cover to ponies killed in accidents, compensation valuing about Rs 1.69 Crore had been paid in 551 accident cases.
P K Tripathi informed that this year 2,20,490 Yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Shrine Cave and elaborate arrangements were made by the Shrine Board with the active support of various Departments of the J&K Government, NGOs and the local people, particularly the residents of Ganderbal and Anantnag districts.
The security arrangements were provided by the Army, Central Police Organization and the State Police. For 2016, 10,212 ponies / horses were registered by the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department for the use of pilgrims. Besides, 4,486 pithoos, 6,952 dandiwallas and 9,034 pony wallas were registered by the Labour and Employment Department for providing service during this year’s Yatra.
CEO further informed that the Shrine Board has since 2010 been providing Group Insurance of Rs one lakh to all Registered Yatris and Service Providers against death resulting from any kind of accident, natural or man-made, during the period commencing from one month ahead of the Yatra till one week beyond the date of conclusion of the Yatra.
In 2010, an insurance cover of Rs 20,000 was provided to the registered ponies against death resulting from any kind of accident, natural or man-made.
The Insurance cover for ponies was enhanced to Rs 25,000 in 2011 and further increased to Rs. 30,000 from Yatra 2013 onwards.
Jitendra K Singh, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board, gave details of the insurance claims of the pony owners who were presented insurance claim cheques.
