JAMMU: To commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Department of Educational Studies, Central University of Jammu, organized a thought-provoking panel discussion on the theme “Ambedkar and the Idea of Nation: Reconciling Democracy, Justice and Identity” under its academic platform, Shiksha Shastrarth. The event was conducted under the esteemed patronage of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sanjeev Jain, and was held at Pt. Malviya Shiksha Bhawan.
It brought together distinguished scholars, faculty members, and students for a rich and reflective engagement with the intellectual and political legacy of Dr. Ambedkar. The event commenced with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp (Deep Prajwalan) and a Pushpanjali ceremony, invoking the spirit of reverence towards Dr. Ambedkar’s contribution to the nation.
Prof. Asit Mantry, Head of the Department, delivered the welcome address wherein he warmly welcomed the distinguished panellists and participants. He highlighted the significance of the Shiksha Shastrarth platform as a meaningful space for academic dialogue and critical engagement. Prof. Mantry also reflected upon Dr. Ambedkar’s profound contributions to the fields of education and social justice, emphasising how Ambedkar envisioned education as a powerful tool for empowerment and social transformation.
The panel discussion was presided over by Prof. Ritu Bakshi, Dean of Students’ Welfare, who chaired the session and offered insightful perspectives on the enduring relevance of Ambedkar's thoughts in the contemporary socio-political landscape.The distinguished panellists included Dr. Jai Bhawani Singh, Dr. Rahul Thakur, Dr. Abhay SD Rajput, and Prof. Pawan Kumar, who explored various dimensions of Ambedkar’s idea of nationhood, particularly his emphasis on constitutional democracy, social justice, and identity politics.
Each panellist brought a unique lens to the discussion, drawing from Ambedkar’s writings and their applicability in present-day India. The panellists, during their talk, threw light on various aspects on which Dr. Ambedkar has emphasised, such as: education, society, democracy, politics, nation, nationality, caste, equality, etc. The panel discussion was followed by an open interaction session, where students, research scholars, and faculty members engaged directly with the panellists through thought-provoking questions and reflections.The event concluded with remarks by the Chairperson, Prof. Ritu Bakshi, reiterating the critical importance of Ambedkar’s thought in academia and public discourse.
A formal vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Yad Ram, acknowledging the contributions of all participants and collaborators. The event was successfully coordinated by the organising team comprising Dr. Yad Ram, Dr.Ravail Singh and Dr. Arvind Kumar, Mr. Vivek Kumar, and class representatives whose collective efforts ensured the smooth execution of the programme. The proceedings ended with the singing of the National Anthem.This academic gathering served as a fitting tribute to the vision and values of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and reflected the University’s commitment to fostering inclusive and informed dialogue.
AWANTIPORA, April 16: Prof Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor IUST chaired the 10th meeting of the Academic Council which was attended by distinguished academicians from across the country including Prof Talat Ahmad, former Vice Chancellor Jamia Milia Islamia and Kashmir University, Prof Mehraj ud Din Mir, former Vice Chancellor Central University of Kashmir, Prof Ashok Aima, former VC Central University of Jammu, Prof Mohammad Mubin, Vice Chancellor Cluster University ,Prof Madav Govind Jawaharlal Nehru University, Prof. Shobha Bagai Delhi University, Prof Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Director National Institute of Technology, Prof Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Dean School of Physical and mathematical sciences, Kashmir University, Registrar, Finance officer, Deans and other officers of the University.
In his address, Prof Romshoo expressed his gratitude to the government for their constant support. He presented the university report highlighting performance across indicators concerning enrolment, H Index, citations, infrastructure expansion among others. The members commended the efforts and appreciated the initiatives taken and said that IUST is poised to emerge as Skill and Entrepreneurship University.
Pertinently, IUST’s enrolment in the last Academic year increased by 40 %, while the H-Index rose to 64 from 49 and the citations doubled in one year alone. Prof Romshoo referred to the collaborations with reputed institutions across the country such as IIT Bombay, Ministry of Heavy Industries, GoI, SIDBI, Ultratech among others which have helped in the materialization of many of the initiatives taken. The agenda was presented by Prof A H Moon, Dean Academic Affairs who gave a detailed action taken on the decisions of the last AC.
The Council approved the establishment of the Centre for Good Governance and Policy Analysis which shall provide the platform aiming at transforming the governance experience through a localized but smart approach bridging technology, public policy and participatory planning. The Council also approved establishment of the Centre for Cyber Security, introduction of One Year MBA through Lateral Entry, M Tech in Electrical engineering and M. Tech in Computer Science Engineering, B. Voc in Tourism and Hospitality, Four Year Undergraduate Programme in Political Science among other initiatives.
JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched the e-SEHAT App — a comprehensive, one-stop digital solution designed to cater to the healthcare needs of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, including citizens, doctors and medical professionals.
The Chief Minister congratulated the team for developing such an elaborate and wide-ranging application that addresses the health needs of J&K’s citizens.
He suggested making the app more user-friendly and incorporating additional features, including the integration of the appointment system of empanelled private health institutions.
The Chief Minister also directed the concerned authorities to conduct hands-on training through scheduled workshops for the staff to familiarize them with the application. “Once the staff is trained, awareness campaigns can be launched to educate the public about the app and its benefits,” he said.
To ensure effective implementation and monitoring, he called for regular reviews — weekly by the Secretary, Health & Medical Education; monthly by the Chief Secretary; and quarterly by the Minister In-charge — to assess the app’s performance and progress.
The launch event was attended by Minister for Health & Medical Education Sakeena Itoo, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Dheeraj Gupta, Secretary Health & Medical Education Syed Abid Rashid, DG BISAG-N, Principals of various Government Medical Colleges, Medical Superintendents, HoDs and other concerned officials.
Earlier, Secretary H&ME Syed Abid Rashid gave a detailed presentation outlining the objectives, purpose, and target users of the SEHAT App.
He informed that the department has developed a cutting-edge digital application designed to guide and support patients and their attendants in accessing healthcare facilities and services across both public and private sectors in Jammu & Kashmir.
He stated that the SEHAT App is a smart e-health solution offering tele-diagnosis and first opinion for healthcare needs. Useable from home, offices, or hospitals, the app is especially beneficial in remote areas and serves a broad range of users including the general public, patients, healthcare professionals, medical students, and aspirants of medical and paramedical courses.
The SEHAT App offers a wide array of features aimed at improving healthcare access and delivery across Jammu & Kashmir. It provides detailed information related to healthcare institutions, including doctors' availability, options for appointment bookings, diagnostic and surgical services, as well as tele-consultation, telemedicine, and emergency care.
For the general public, the app includes tools for health promotion and disease prevention, an AI-powered symptoms checker, health tracking capabilities, medication reminders, integration with wearable devices, and multilingual support.
Healthcare professionals can benefit from secure messaging, access to Electronic Health Records (EHR), prescription and billing management, lab result integration, academic resources, and opportunities for research. The app also supports medical students by offering information on academic courses, hostel accommodations, library facilities, and student exchange programs.
Additionally, SEHAT includes helpline services for hospital assistance, ambulance information, and feedback mechanisms.
It facilitates a coordinated referral mechanism through hospital networking for efficient patient transfers and emergency support. The app also provides comprehensive details on health insurance schemes such as PMJAY, CGHS, and ECHS.
Furthermore, it promotes skill development through CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) training, workshops, and various continuing education programs.
The Secretary emphasized that the SEHAT App is aimed at strengthening collaboration between healthcare providers, patients and insurers by improving communication and facilitating access to healthcare resources.
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha today attended the celebration of 'Himachal Diwas', hosted by Jammu Kashmir Raj Bhawan at Jammu. Security personnel, students and the people of Himachal Pradesh living in J&K UT were the special invitees for the evening. The Lieutenant Governor extended his felicitations and best wishes to the people of Himachal Pradesh on the occasion.
“This Devbhoomi is blessed by nature, rich spiritual and cultural heritage and vibrant traditions. It has also emerged as a major hub for hydropower, and this sector is significantly contributing to its local economy. I pray that the aspirations of the people of this state are fulfilled and Himachal keeps strengthening the nation's growth,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised the need to increase the Cultural exchanges between the States and Union Territories. He said, the cross-cultural engagement programmes can strengthen India by fostering mutual understanding, breaking down barriers, and building social cohesion. The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that when people from different states and regions share traditions, food and art, they reduce the division and bridge the gaps.
“Cultural exchanges between the States and UTs under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat can also spur economic benefits. The local festivals will attract tourists and cross-state collaborations will help in curating mega festivals and also boost community pride and local economies,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor paid homage to General Zorawar Singh, the great warrior and military strategist. He also recalled the significant contributions of army bravehearts and prominent luminaries from Himachal Pradesh. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor released an Activity Calendar of Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
UDHAMPUR: The historic three-day Baisakhi Devika mela, which commenced on April 13, 2025, on the sacred banks of the holy Devika rivulet in Udhampur town, concluded today amidst immense enthusiasm and devotion. The event witnessed an overwhelming participation of over 60,000 visitors and devotees from various parts of Jammu Province.
On the concluding day, Member Legislative Assembly Udhampur West, Pawan Kumar Gupta, graced the occasion as the chief guest, while Additional District Development Commissioner Udhampur, Rajinder Singh was the guest of honour and DDC Member Narsoo, Subash Chander, DIO/ CEO, Municipality, Rajinder Digra, Mela Officer Tehsildar Udhampur, Jai Singh were the special guests at the concluding day.
While addressing the gathering, the chief guest lauded the tireless efforts of the District Administration for smooth and successful organization of this grand event. He extended warm congratulations to the public for their enthusiastic participation and stated that such traditional fairs are not only reflective of our rich and diverse cultural heritage but also serve as a major attraction for tourists. He further emphasized that these melas significantly contribute to the economic upliftment of the region and act as vital platforms for promoting brotherhood, peace and prosperity.
He also underlined the importance of preserving and promoting the region’s cultural legacy, stating that melas like the Baisakhi Devika Mela are indispensable parts of our cultural identity, encouraging the younger generation to stay connected with their roots.
The three day mela was organized under the overall supervision of Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai, the District Administration made adequate arrangements for the successful culmination of the event. These included robust measures for security, water, power supply, medical care, traffic regulation and sanitation to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors.
The mela featured a number of temporary sweet shops, toy shops and other eateries by both locals and outside vendors, attracting the general public visiting the mela site.
During the three-day mela, Information Department Udhampur presented cultural programme in which local artists including students from various educational institutions and folk artists from surrounding areas presented performances depicting the traditions of the area and theme-based skits, which were highly appreciated by the audience.
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