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JK records fourth Covid death as elderly woman succumbs  

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Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its fourth Covid death late tonight as a 61-year-old woman from Udhampur district of Jammu division succumbed to the disease after she was tested positive for the deadly virus.

In his late-night tweet, the UT Government spokesman Rohit Kansal said: “61yrs old female patient from Udhampur passed away at GMC Jammu; tested positive for Corona; reported to be suffering from Arthritis and bedridden. Contacts being traced”.

This is the first COVID-19 death in Jammu region and fourth in overall J&K UT. Earlier, all three Covid-19 deaths took place in the Kashmir division.

Three persons, all aged above 50, died of the novel caronavirus infection. Two of the deceased were part of Tableeghi Jamaat while the third one, according to doctors, had transmitted the virus within the community.

The Jammu woman died on a day when J&K witnessed 33 positive cases for Covid-19, the highest ever single-day cases since the pandemic gripped UT on March 18.

Amid Covid-19 crisis, UNICEF calls for debt relief for poorest countries

New Delhi (NVI): As the world battles coronavirus pandemic, the fight has been especially tough for some of the poorest countries which are already under a debt burden.

While observing the debilitating impact of this unprecedented situation on some nations, UNICEF has said that debt relief for the poorest countries is critical in the fight against COVID-19.

“COVID-19 is generating an unprecedented global economic crisis. And as we witness in all such crises, this economic destruction is cruelly and unequally distributed,” UNICEF chief Henrietta said in a statement today.

She said that for the world’s poorest countries, the financial fallout caused by the pandemic, combined with debilitating debt-service obligations, is hampering their ability to prevent further transmission and protect citizens.

“And for the families within those countries, with widespread loss of income and limited access to food in environments where social distancing is impossible, soap and water for handwashing a luxury, and quality health services non-existent, the situation is already dire, and it is only going to get worse,” she said.

“While children are largely spared the immediate health consequences of the pandemic, they will suffer the economic destruction left in its wake. More than 200 million children live in debt-distressed countries and those at high risk of debt distress. The burden of debt leaves countries struggling to prevent disease transmission,” she added.

Henrietta further stated that low-income countries, in particular, are being forced to drastically increase spending to respond to the health emergency, while scaling up – or, in some cases, creating – social protection systems including unconditional cash transfers, guarantee of income for those who lose their jobs and employment security.

“The additional spending required must not come at the cost of other critical services for children, such as routine immunization, maternity care, and child protection. At this crucial time, countries need to spend more to protect the future of their children,” she said.

UNICEF has joined The World Bank and IMF in their call for debt relief and debt restructuring for countries in need. Henrietta said that UNICEF took the decision to reduce disease transmission and prevent further economic catastrophe.

“As the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted in his recent letter to the G20, debt restructuring is a priority — including immediate waivers on interest payments for 2020. By relaxing the burden of debt financings, countries are more likely to deliver the agile and aggressive response required to reduce the impact of the economic crisis and stop COVID-19 in its tracks,” she said.

Covid-19: ASSOCHAM recommends $200 bn stimulus to support Indian economy

New Delhi (NVI): Industry body ASSOCHAM has recommended a stimulus package of at least USD 200-300 billion, apart from a 16 point agenda, to support the Indian economy amid the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath.

“With a sentiment that to tackle the unprecedented times, exceptional measures are essential, apex industry body, ASSOCHAM has recommended a 16 point agenda and a stimulus package of at least $200-$300 billion to thwart one of the deepest global recession expected in the world’s history,” said the trade body’s Secretary-General, Deepak Sood.

According to Sood, the ASSOCHAM believes that in keeping up with most economies of the world to institute stimulus measures with 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Indian economy would need a transfusion of over $200 billion with an ability to go up to $300 billion, over the next 12-18 months.

He stated that out of the corpus, $50-100 billion cash needs to be infused in the system over the next three months, to arrest the loss of jobs and compensate for loss of income. Such an infusion would help businesses and workers tide over the challenging situation, he said.

“It will be critical to ensure we proceed with three objectives i.e. immediate assistance to employees and labour through direct transfers and through employers, ensuring that companies have enough cashflow to survive the downturn, and finally stimulating demand and investment to revive the economy through fiscal and tax measures,” he said.

The Secretary-General said that the government also needs to modify the FRBM Act to consider the debt/GDP ratio as a metric and not fiscal deficit.

“The government needs to set an example for other businesses with no bills being unpaid for more than 15 days. This will enormously help the credit cycle and will also bring down tender prices for everything,” he said, adding that with the deflation that is expected in overall demand, the government should implement the National Infrastructure Plan with no loss of time, once the lockdown is completed.

Some of the key recommendations by ASSOCHAM to the Finance Ministry includes, the one-time loan restructuring to all corporates assuming a principal repayment start date moving upwards from March 2021, NCLT provisions to be held in abeyance for 6 months and a further reduction of interest rate/repo-rate by another 100 bps by the Reserve Bank of India.

Apart from that ASSOCHAM has also recommended the reduction in GST across the board by 50% for 3 months and 25% for the fiscal.

“The final GST due should be payable in 6 quarterly installments starting October 2020 with no interest. Final income tax of FY 2019-2020 and advance tax FY 2020-2021 should be payable starting October 2020 in 6 quarterly installments with no interest,” Sood said.

For the real estate sector, ASSOCHAM has recommended that Section 43CA and 23 (5) which deals with selling properties less than 10 percent of the circle rates and taxing of developers inventories for the notional rent be scrapped immediately. Also, the 5 percent GST on under-construction real-estate to be scrapped or to be given a full input tax credit.

Track down absconding travelers on war footing: Div Com Kashmir

Kashmir Div Com

Srinagar (NVI): Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today directed all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in the region to track-down all absconding travelers on war footing basis in their respective districts and put them in administrative quarantine.

An official spokesman said that all DCs were asked to strengthen their ground surveillance teams and trace the absconding recent travelers, of other states and abroad visitors, immediately and put them for proper screening and quarantine.

Additional Deputy Commissioners have been put in-charge of contact tracing and they are following the mechanism as per prescribed Advisory.

He said that the Divisional Commissioner directed the DC’s to set up separate helpline numbers for Cancer, Dialysis patients and other serious patients at all district headquarters immediately so that life-saving treatment be ensured to them at the earliest.

The official spokesman said that Divisional Commissioner directed DCs to constitute teams under CMOs who shall visit Juvenile, old age homes and orphanages alternatively for health checkups of the inmates, besides establishing separate dedicated helpline numbers for their services in each district.

The Divisional Commissioner passed these directions while chairing a meeting to review preparedness and foolproof arrangements to combat Coronavirus disease in the valley.

He also sought detailed feedback from all DCs regarding arrangements against COVID-19 pandemic through video conferencing.

The meeting was informed that samples collected from Baramullah, Kupwara, Bandipora, Gamderbal and Budgam are tested at SKIMS Soura and samples collected from Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam are being tested at CD hospital, Dalgate.

According to the official spokesman, Pole directed the DCs to take employees from non-essential departments and deploy them at Block, Tehsil and District level for COVID-19 related emergency tasks. An adequate number of officials will be earmarked for Red Zones, Hospital Isolation, Administrative and Home quarantines which will monitor their smooth functioning. Officials should submit the daily based report to the concerned Deputy Commissioner for further course of necessary action, he said.

Pole stressed on DCs to enforce lockdown and social distancing in letter & spirit. Concerned should maintain high level of vigil and alertness regarding COVID-19 scare across the valley and take quick action against any emergency, said an official release.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal, Divisional Level OSDs,  Owais Ahmad and Aijaz Assad, Director Health Services, Dr. Sameer Matto, Deputy Director, Health Services and other concerned officers were present in the meeting whereas nine Deputy Commissioners participate the meeting through video conferencing mode.

‘Developing nations in Asia-Pacific need to increase health emergency spending’

New Delhi (NVI): Asia-Pacific developing countries should increase health emergency spending by $880 million per year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to a new UN report.

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in its report released today, said that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having far-reaching economic and social consequences for the Asia-Pacific region, with strong cross-border spillover effects through trade, tourism and financial linkages.

‘The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2020’ highlights the COVID-19 pandemic as the immediate risk to the region’s economic outlook, deepening the economic slowdown that was already underway.

Although there are significant uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, the negative impacts are likely to be substantial, says the report.

As governments respond to the unprecedented health crisis and introduce economic stimulus packages, the report estimates that Asia-Pacific developing countries should increase health emergency spending by $880 million per year.

The survey also calls on Asia-Pacific countries to consider establishing a regional fund to respond to future health emergencies.

The ESCAP report suggests that, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers should maintain accommodative macroeconomic policies to sustain the economic health of the region.

Monetary policies should be focused on supporting affected enterprises and households and preventing economic contagion, it says.

the report adds that fiscal spending can also play a significant role in enhancing the ability of health responders to monitor the spread of the pandemic, care for infected people and improve health emergency preparedness.

At the same time, countries should take the opportunity posed by these challenging times to rethink their economic development strategies towards a more inclusive, sustainable and planet-friendly economy, it says.

Countries in the region are not only going through a public health crisis but also a climate emergency, which is permanent and even more far-reaching and potentially more disastrous than the pandemic, according to the report.

“Policymakers should not lose sight of people and the planet. When it comes to designing economic stimulus packages, social inclusiveness and environmental sustainability must be built into every decision,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

The ESCAP report further reveals that the decades-long high economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region has been accompanied by growing inequality of income and opportunity, and detrimental impacts on the planet, which are endangering the well-being of present and future generations.

Unsustainable consumption and production patterns have substantially increased greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the vulnerability of the region to climate change, says the report. Additionally, $240 billion worth of annual subsidies continue to feed the region’s heavy dependence on fossil-fuels, it adds.

The Survey calls for a transition towards sustainable consumption and production, with cleaner production and less material-intensive lifestyles, supported by enabling policies. This would require all stakeholders, notably Governments, businesses and consumers, to urgently align their own goals and actions with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The report also urges strengthening of regional cooperation to raise the ambition to tackle climate emergency. Governments should scale up their efforts on climate-related standards, carbon pricing and implement sustainable consumption and production patterns at the regional level.

J&K Govt approves houseboat policy for Dal, Nigeen Lake

Jammu (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government today approved a houseboat policy for Dal and Nigeen Lakes which will regulate the functioning & operation of houseboats in these water bodies.

J&K Administrative Council (AC), which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, G C Murmu in here today, approved policy guidelines for registration, renewal and operation of houseboats in both the lakes.

According to an official spokesman, the AC decided that the guidelines should conform to the overall framework of Dal conservation framed by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) besides, an appropriate legal framework would be also instituted for enforcing the policy.

“The decision will help to regulate the functioning and operation of houseboats in both the water bodies and to preserve the lake for future generations by adopting sustainable tourism, preventing pollution of the lake besides, providing conducive and pleasant atmosphere for tourists, on one hand, sustainable source of living for the houseboat owners/shikara wallas and other stake holders on the other hand,” the spokesman said.

He said that complying with the directions of the JK High Court and suggestions made by the Committee of Experts (CoE) on Dal/Nigeen Lake, the Government has taken this step for conservation of the two lakes.

“This move will also address the environmental concerns and give a further push to the ongoing activities relating to preservation and conservation of the lakes,” he said.

He said that under the guidelines, the houseboats owners will be able to register/renew their houseboats after fulfilling certain general conditions. The guidelines, according to the official spokesman, also provide constitution of Advisory Committee to be headed by Director Tourism, Kashmir to identify areas of concern for securing use of houseboats for enhancing tourist influx and Regulatory Committee to look after registration/renewal process and overall regulation of functioning of the houseboats.

As per the policy guidelines, no new houseboat shall be allowed to be constructed in Dal/Nigeen Lake. The provision of categorisation of houseboats based on the facilities has also been made in the guidelines.

Covid effect: Govt to give income tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh immediately

Union Cabinet
Representational/file photo

New Delhi (NVI): The Government today decided to issue all pending income-tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh with immediate effect in an effort to provide relief to the taxpayers amid the outbreak of deadly coronavirus.

This will also include the GST and Custom refunds.

“In the context of the COVID-19 situation and with a view to provide immediate relief to the business entities and individuals, it has been decided to issue all the pending income-tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh, immediately,” the Ministry of Finance said in a statement today.


The Revenue Department further added that the move would benefit around 14 lakh taxpayers.

“It has also been decided to issue all pending GST and Custom refunds which would provide benefit to around 1 lakh business entities, including MSME. Thus the total refund granted will be approximately Rs 18,000 crore,” read the ministry statement.

33 test positive in J&K, highest single-day rise so far

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir continued to witness a spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases as 33 more persons tested positive for the deadly virus today, highest single-day rise so far, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 158.

Earlier in the day, J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted: “14 news cases today, 11 in Kashmir, 3 in Jammu. 139 cases in all now. 130 active cases, 27 in Jammu division, 103 in Kashmir. Good news too: 2 patients discharges from SKIMS (hospital).”

In another tweet this evening, Kansal wrote: “19 more cases tested positive in Kashmir division, details follow.”

In total, 33 positive cases were tested in J&K in a single day today, which is highest since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UT.

(More details awaited)

JeM commander killed in ongoing Sopore encounter: J&K Police

(Updating earlier copy)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A Jaish-e-Muhammad commander was killed in the ongoing encounter at Arampora village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said today.

“JeM commander Sajad Nawab Dar got neutralised in ongoing encounter at Sopore. Further details to follow,” read a tweet by Kashmir Zone police. The encounter started early this morning in which a house also got damaged. Joint teams of security forces had laid siege in Arampora after a specific lead about the presence of militants in the area.

In its earlier tweet, police had stated that two to four militants were believed to be trapped in a house. As per the locals of Arampora, the house in which the militants were hiding, was blown up amid intense exchange of firing from both sides. A local resident from Arampora said that the house where militants were hiding went up in flames early in the morning barely a few hours after the encounter started.

A source in the police said that the encounter was in the last stage and massive mopping operation was going on to rule the presence of any more militants. “Firing has stopped and we are searching whether any other militant is present near the encounter spot,” he said. The operation is being carried out jointly by police, army and the paramilitary CRPF. The security forces had laid a siege in Arampora village late last night after acting on a tip-off about the presence of militants in a residential house. After hectic searches, the security forces zeroed in on a particular house in the wee hours after which a contact with the hiding militants was established.

J&K: Wearing of masks made mandatory at Civil Secretariat

(File)

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir government today made wearing face masks mandatory for the officers, staff and visitors at the Civil Secretariat here.

An order issued here by the General Administrative Department (GAD) of J&K Government reads that as a preventive measure to stop the spread of Coronavirus in the Union Territory (UT), wearing of masks has been made mandatory for all officers, staff and visitors in the civil secretariat.

“Accordingly all the administrative secretaries are authorized to effect the purchase of masks so as to provide three reusable masks for each employee of his/her department in the civil secretariat. The expenditure on this account shall be defrayed from the office expenses (OE) head,” reads the order.

“In the event of non-availability of masks in the open market, the administrative secretaries shall submit their requirements to the department of civil supplies, consumer affairs and public distribution for supply of same,” the order signed by Rohit Sharma, Additional Secretary to the J&K government, reads.

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