JAMMU AND KASHMIR

CM Omar Abdullah reaffirms commitment to strengthen JKRLMs Umeed programme

CM Omar Abdullah reaffirms commitment to strengthen JKRLM s Umeed programme

Admin January 16, 2025 0

Addresses Lakhpati Didi Sammelan; CM lauds efforts of women entrepreneurs connected with Umeed

Jammu, Jan 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reaffirmed his government s unwavering commitment to the Umeed Programme, promising to take all necessary steps, provide the required funds and simplify procedures to ensure its continued growth and success.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the Lakhpati Didi Sammelan organized by the J&K Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) working under the aegis of Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj at the Convention Centre here.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said, As I stand here, my heart is filled with pride. I want to assure all of you our daughters, sisters, and mothers that the government is fully committed to supporting this program. We will take every necessary step to ensure its continued growth, provide the required funds and simplify procedures to empower more women.

Highlighting the programme s impact, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that over 12,000 Lakhpati Didis have already been empowered under the initiative. He expressed hope for this number to grow significantly, emphasizing that financial independence for women strengthens not just individuals but the entire society.

  This programme, which began during my first tenure as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has exceeded expectations. Who would have thought that this initiative would lead to the emergence of Lakhpati Didis in Jammu and Kashmir? And yet, here we are, witnessing incredible stories of success, perseverance and achievement, said the Chief Minister.

He praised the women s fiscal discipline, which has garnered trust from banks and financial institutions. Your discipline, responsibility and commitment to timely repayments have built this trust. If all sectors operate with the same level of integrity and accountability as you do, Jammu and Kashmir s economic landscape would be transformed, he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the transformative power of financial independence for women, saying, When women our mothers, sisters, and daughters become self-reliant, the entire society benefits. It allows you to make your own decisions, shaping a future that is better for you and your families.

He commended the quiet yet impactful progress of the Umeed Programme, stating, This programme has done wonders, quietly and without fanfare. Where there is noise, there is often politics. But progress made in silence speaks volumes.

The Chief Minister highlighted how the program has evolved, with many women not only achieving self-reliance but also creating job opportunities for others. You are no longer just beneficiaries of this program; you are its leaders and torch bearers, he said.

Acknowledging the potential of the Umeed programme to serve as a national model, he urged the replication of success stories from other states.

He also announced plans for women entrepreneurs to receive training and skill development opportunities across India, with a batch of women already scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad for advanced training.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah virtually launched several key initiatives aimed at further empowering women entrepreneurs under the Umeed Programme. These included the felicitation of 11,936 LakhpatiDidis, the e-delivery of engagement orders for 650 banking correspondents and the e-inauguration of four Common Training Centres to build the capacity of potential Lakhpati Didis.

Additionally, CM witnessed e-disbursement of loans amounting to Rs 5000 lakh among 2016 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Rs 231 lakh to 165 Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) for establishing mini-custom hiring centers.

The Chief Minister also flagged off a group of women entrepreneurs deputed to the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) in Ahmedabad for advanced training.

A documentary on the Umeed Programme s journey was screened, highlighting its transformative impact. Two Lakhpati Didis shared their inspiring success stories with the audience and the Chief Minister.

The event was attended by Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Javed Ahmad Dar, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Secretary RDD & PR Aijaz Asad, Chief General Manager NABARD J&K and Mission Director JKRLM, among others.

Popular post
Sopore scientist gains global recognition for black hole research

Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). “About a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,” he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.“If we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,” he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeeb’s research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. “In this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,” he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. “It is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,” he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,” he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. “My parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,” he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. “Just as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.” “Young people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,” he further added.

Class 10th, 12th result on Wednesday: Govt

Srinagar, Jan 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) will declare the result of class 10th and 12th examination on January 14 of, 2026 (Wednesday), minister for education Sakina Itoo said on Monday. Minister for education Sakina Itoo said the government has decided to declare the result of both the classes-10th and 12th on the same day. "We understand that students have been waiting for the results. So we decided that result of both the classes will be declared on Wednesday (January 16 of 2926)," Sakina Itoo said. She said the meeting of the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) will be convened by the Secretary JKBOE along with the members-Director School Education (DSE) Kashmir and Jammu division besides the joint secretaries as well. "We will give the administrative approval to the result instead of getting approved by the chairman," she said. The announcement comes amid the delay in appointment of chairman JKBOSE as the position is lying vacant for the last one year. "After declaration of the results, we will also appoint the permanent chairman for JKBOSE as well," education minister said. An official from JKBOSE said the class 1oth result will be declared on Wednesday morning followed by the declaration of result of class 12th students in late afternoon on the same day. As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year. Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively. Approximately, 81622 students – 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 students—56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.

Class 10th results soon after appointment of new Chairman: JKBOSE

'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.

College contractual faculty seek pay hike, regularisation

Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. “Hundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,” said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the faculty’s demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. “We are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,” he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. “The irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,” he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for “equal work, equal pay” gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. “Promises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,” he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. “This issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

PSAJK president congratulates 17 UPSC qualifiers from J&K, Ladakh

Calls for strong academic ecosystem Srinagar, March 6: President of the Private Schools Association Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK), Dr. Baba Nazrul Islam Friday extended his heartfelt congratulations to the 17 candidates from J&K and Ladakh who successfully cleared the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examination. He termed the achievement as a moment of immense pride for the region and a powerful inspiration for the youth. He said that success of these candidates reflect the immense talent, determination, and intellectual potential present among the students of the region. Nazrul Islam Baba emphasised that educational institutions must work collectively to create a robust academic ecosystem that encourages students to aspire for and excel in national-level competitive examinations like the IAS. He stressed that schools should nurture curiosity, discipline, analytical thinking, and leadership qualities from the early stages of education. “Such remarkable achievements demonstrate that our youth possess the capability to compete at the highest national platforms," he said. He said a supportive academic environment, mentorship, and access to quality resources need to be kept available so that more students from J&K and Ladakh can prepare for and succeed in prestigious examinations. PSAJK President further highlighted the need to develop benchmark institutions and academic support systems in the region that can guide and mentor students aspiring for civil services and other competitive examinations. "Creating a culture of excellence and competition within educational institutions will help channelize the talent of the youth towards nation-building roles," he said. He urged educators, parents, and policymakers to work in synergy to foster an environment where students feel motivated to pursue ambitious goals and contribute meaningfully to society. “Every success story from our region becomes a beacon of hope for thousands of young minds. These achievers have shown that with perseverance, dedication, and proper guidance, no dream is beyond reach. Their journey should inspire our students to believe in their abilities and strive for excellence,” he added. PSAJK expressed hope that this achievement will ignite a new wave of aspiration among students across schools in J&K and Ladakh, motivating them to prepare for the country’s most competitive examinations and play a vital role in shaping the future of the nation.

Jammu and Kashmir

View more
JK Congress protests 'anti-poor' LPG price hike

Jammu, Mar 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress protested against the LPG price hike here on Sunday, saying this "anti-poor" decision by the government will add to the financial burden on the common man. Led by PCC president Tariq Hamid Karra and working president Raman Bhalla, the protesters also criticised the Indo-US trade deal, alleging that it will adversely impact the country's economy, according to a party spokesperson. The protesters gathered in Model Town, Digiana, near here, raised slogans against the ruling BJP and criticised what they described as the government's "surrender" in the Indo-US trade negotiations. The price of domestic cooking gas LPG was hiked on Saturday by a steep Rs 60 per cylinder, the second increase in less than a year, as the spike in global energy rates following the West Asia crisis weighed on the world's third largest energy consumer. Non-subsidised LPG -- the one that common households use in kitchens -- will now cost Rs 913 per 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi as against Rs 853 previously, according to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) website. The protesters said the continued rise in the prices of essential commodities, particularly cooking gas, has added to the financial burden on ordinary households. Addressing the protesters, Karra termed the LPG price hike "cruel". Many rural households still do not have access to piped gas supply and rely entirely on LPG cylinders. This will force them to plan their monthly budgets more carefully, he said. He demanded an immediate rollback of the price hike. The Congress leader described the Indo-US trade deal as a "major blow" to the country's economic interests. Instead of safeguarding the nation's economic and strategic priorities, the Centre "bowed to pressure" from the United States, he charged. He also expressed concern over the possible implications of the trade deal on India's agriculture and dairy sectors, and claimed that orchardists and dairy farmers in Jammu and Kashmir will be severely affected if safeguards are not put in place. "Our apple growers, walnut producers and small dairy farmers could face serious challenges if cheap imports enter the market without minimum support guarantees," Karra said. He demanded that the government present a white paper on the trade deal in Parliament. PCC working president Bhalla also strongly condemned the "unprecedented" hike in LPG prices and said poor and middle-class families will be badly affected by this decision of the Union government. He called for an LPG relief package for families belonging to the BPL (below poverty line) category, along with a special subsidy buffer for Jammu and Kashmir, citing the higher transportation and logistics costs in hilly regions. (PTI)

Editor March 9, 2026 0

LG interacts with youth from Ladakh visiting Jammu under ABVP's SERU initiative

Ensure each decision, investigation, prosecution stands firm under scrutiny of courts: LG tells ACB

SSP orders intensified vigil to counter anti-national elements in J-K’s Doda

6 spa, massage centres closed over violations in Jammu

Jammu, Mar 8: Six spa and massage centres were closed here for violating regulatory norms and notices issued to their owners, officials said on Sunday. The action came after a comprehensive inspection drive ordered by District Magistrate Jammu, Rakesh Minhas, to regulate the functioning of such centres. During the day-long drive on Saturday, dedicated inspection teams under the supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioners Ansuya Jamwal and Vidhu Shekhar inspected a number of spa and massage centres across the district, some of which were found to be in violation of the directions stipulated under the order, the officials said. The establishments served notices are K Crystal Spa, Evergreen Thai Therapy Centre, Touch of Magic, The Bubble Spa, the Golden Thai Unisex Spa and Health Ayurveda Spa and Salon. The violations observed across the inspected establishments included, among others lack of mandatory undertaking, absence of display board and site plan; provision of cross-gender services; presence of door locks inside private cabins, non-production of identity cards by staff, unaccounted payment of employee salaries, non-maintenance of client registers and malfunctioning CCTV cameras, the officials said. They said notices have been issued to the defaulting establishments and further police and legal action shall be taken against the owners, managers and employees under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as applicable. The district magistrate said the administration maintains zero tolerance towards the misuse of commercial establishments for “unlawful and immoral” purposes. All spa and massage centres operating within Jammu district are directed to ensure strict compliance with the regulatory framework, failing which they shall face immediate closure and prosecution under the relevant provisions of law, Minhas said.

Editor March 8, 2026 0

PSAJK president congratulates 17 UPSC qualifiers from J&K, Ladakh

17 from J&K qualify UPSC-2025 exam

Not everyone can secure a govt job; explore innovation, become entrepreneurs: CM Omar to youth

Govt tightens noose against illegal mineral extraction, bans use of heavy machinery

Srinagar, Mar 5: The Jammu and Kashmir government has tightened its noose against illegal mineral extraction across Kashmir and banned use of heavy machinery. As per the fresh circular issued by the Directorate of Geology and Mining department, the move comes to regulate the scientific exploitation of minerals across the J&K UT as per conditions provided in the Environmental Clearances issued by J&K Environment Impact Assessment Authority(JKEIAA). The instructions have been issued in wake of the meeting convened on February 27 of 2026 as enforcement measures against Illegal extraction, transportation of minerals and action t. As per the circular, all the District Mineral Officers (DMOs) and designated committees have been directed to ensure that no Heavy Earth Moving Machinery, including Hydraulic Excavators (Poclain), is deployed for extraction of minor minerals in violation of the conditions of Environmental Clearance or statutory provisions. "Any heavy machinery, vehicle, or equipment found involved in illegal extraction or transportation of minerals shall be seized forthwith and action shall be initiated under the relevant provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957 and applicable rules," the circular reads. The District Mineral Officer and designated committees have been asked to submit the Action Taken report on daily basis to their respective Joint Directors. The Joint Directors shall consolidate the reports and forward the same to the Directorate on a daily basis for onward submission to the competent authorities. "Any lapse in enforcement or reporting shall invite strict administrative action as per rules," the circular reads. "This circular shall come into force with immediate effect and shall be complied with in letter and spirit," it reads.

Editor March 5, 2026 0

GoPro used to recce Pahalgam before terror attack ‘traced to Chinese distributor', NIA to approach China

MP Er Rashid sanctions ₹21 lakh MPLADS funds for education, tourism

Sat Sharma marks 1994 PoJK resolution anniversary, urges unity for justice to 'Forgotten' families across LoC

0 Comments