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PULWAMA: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the 50 meter-long vital Rohmoo Bridge in Pulwama district, connecting the three districts of Shopian, Kulgam, and Pulwama with the capital city Srinagar. The bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 25.97 crore by the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department under the World Bank-funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP), connects over 80,000 residents of several villages including Rahmoo, Mitrigam, Pakherpora, Zagigam, Putrigam, Tujan, Mirgund, Thokerpora, Tilsar, Char-e-Sharief, Yusmarg, Kamrazipora and adjoining areas of Pulwama district.
Addressing a large public gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister stated that with the commissioning of the Rohmoo Bridge, a long-pending demand of a large population in South Kashmir has been fulfilled. The Chief Minister expressed hope that the bridge will significantly boost connectivity from South Kashmir to Srinagar, particularly to Charar-i-Sharief, Pakharpora and other areas of Budgam District.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment, the Chief Minister said, “We will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling the promises and commitments made to the people during elections.” Underscoring the importance of Statehood, the Chief Minister said, “Statehood is not our destination but a prerequisite to start the process of reclaiming what the people have lost in the last six to seven years,” adding that the people’s mandate was for restoring their dignity and protecting their identity.
He also highlighted various initiatives and welfare measures undertaken during the last six months of his government. The Chief Minister further added that the Rohmoo Bridge holds significant importance as it connects several villages in Pulwama with key historical sites in Budgam district, such as Pakherpora and Charar-i-Sharief, which attract numerous devotees from across Kashmir.
The bridge was severely damaged during the devastating floods of September 2014. He expressed hope that the Rohmoo Bridge would serve as a vital link, promoting development and bringing much-needed relief to the local population. Local public representatives and residents expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for addressing their long-standing demand, which will now provide greater convenience and accessibility.
The Deputy Chief Minister, in his speech, highlighted the various significant initiatives and public welfare measures of the present dispensation led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir. Advisor to the Chief Minister and local public representatives also addressed the gathering.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Rajpora Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir, DDC Chairman Pulwama Syed Baari Andrabi, MLA Pampore Hasnain Masoodi, DDC members, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
JAMMU: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat to review the existing traffic regulations for enhanced safety and security of school and college going students of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Education, Shantamanu; Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah; Secretary Transport department, Niraj Kumar; DIG Traffic Jammu Zone, Special Secretary School Education department, Transport Commissioner, Director Colleges, Director School Education Kashmir/Jammu, RTO Kashmir/Jammu, Chief Education Officers of all districts, ARTOs and other concerned officers, either in person or through video conferencing.
During the meeting, the Minister assessed several aspects of traffic regulations like validity of driving licenses, fitness certificates and documents of college and school buses, curbing overloading and installation of CCTVs and Fire safety tools in college and school buses besides other measures to enhance safety protocols for the students.
Speaking during the meeting, Sakeena Itoo passed on strict directions for installation of CCTVs in all school buses including private buses transporting school children. She emphasized on the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, enhanced coordination among schools, transport and police departments for effective implementation of road safety regulations. “It is our collective responsibility to create a safe and secure environment for the school and college going students”, Sakeena stated.
Expressing displeasure over rising road accidents, the Minister called upon transport and police departments to launch effective drives against over speeding, drunken driving as well as licence violations with special focus on college and school going students. She further asked them to keep through check on stunt biking and rash driving among youngsters and juveniles and make their parents fully responsible for such incidents.
The Minister also called upon both the departments for strict implementation of ‘no helmet no fuel rule’. She asked them to constitute joint checking squads to ascertain its on ground implementation. While reviewing other safety regulations, Sakeena Itoo emphasized on routine checking of all college and school buses in terms of fitness and other aspects to maintain safety protocols for students.
The Minister also directed the ACS Education to conduct an in-depth departmental enquiry regarding the recent Handwara College Bus accident. She further asked the Director Colleges to conduct fresh driving test of all college bus drivers. Sakeena Itoo further called upon all the stakeholders like health, education, transport and police departments to work in tandem and organise regular safety drills and awareness programmes regarding road safety protocols.
Meanwhile, the Minister during the meeting, also assessed the SOPs and protocols for conduct of picnics by schools and colleges. She passed on strict directions to enforce complete ban on picnics by schools and colleges on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.
The Minister directed the officers that Higher Secondary schools and High Schools within a district should seek prior permission from the concerned Chief Education Officer, who shall make a proper list as per the applications received and grant permissions accordingly. She added that the Middle Schools and below should seek permission from respective ZEOs who shall inform the CEO so that the schools can be allowed for picnics in hassle free manner.
The Minister further directed the officers that the schools who intend to go for picnics located outside their districts, need to seek prior permission from the concerned Director of School Education, who shall allow them after checking the influx of visitors at these locations. She also asked the Director colleges to establish a mechanism for granting permission to colleges regarding picnics.
JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, while chairing a joint meeting of Civil administration and Security forces, remarked that joint efforts by the Agriculture Production Department, concerned district administrations and security forces should be made to encourage the farmers to cultivate the land patches between the fence and International Border (IB).
The meeting, which was attended by Principal Secretary, APD; Principal Secretary, Home Department; IG, BSF; Deputy Commissioner, Kathua/Jammu/Samba/Poonch and Rajouri along with other officers was called to discuss different measures to help the farmers to take-up these lands for cultivation.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the concerned to encourage the farmers to cultivate all the arable land between the fence and International Border. He maintained that irrespective of the status of such lands these should be put to productive use to add to our local food basket.
He further made out that these farmers should be facilitated by the Agriculture Department besides given assurances by the security forces about their security. He called upon them to give suitable advice to the farmers about the kind of food or fodder to be sown.
He also called for extending all the possible assistance to these farmers so that all such fallow lands come into production from the next sowing season.He further directed the senior officers from Agriculture Department to visit these districts to take cognizance of the issues and resolve them on the spot in consultation with the district administration and the security forces guarding the border there.
In his remarks, Principal Secretary, APD, Shailendra Kumar made out that the Department is ready to provide the necessary handholding to the farmers for cultivating these lands. He further advised the Deputy Commissioners to do the prior ground work on the instant issue so that the obstacles are ironed out on the spot on the day of inspection.
On the occasion, a detailed assessment of land use between the International Border (IB) and the Border Security Fence was given by the IG, BSF. He also flagged some demands of the locals for successful cultivation of these lands besides giving assurance on part of the forces that they would extend full cooperation to the locals for making productive use of these lands here in the UT.
REASI: A farmer-centric outreach programme was today organized here at Village Sungri, Panchayat Channa B, Block Chassana. The event was held under the Government of India’s Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) initiative and conducted by SKUAST-Jammu through its ICAR – All India Coordinated Research Programme (AICRP) on Rice, Chatha Centre, in collaboration with the Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Department.
The programme, under the visionary leadership of Prof. B.N. Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, aimed at promoting sustainable rice cultivation, input support, and livelihood enhancement among Scheduled Tribe (ST) rice farmers of the Mahore region. Member Legislative Assembly Gulabgarh Er Khurshied Ahmed graced the occasion and appreciated SKUAST-Jammu’s dedicated efforts for tribal farmer welfare. He also highlighted the agricultural potential of the region and stressed the importance of diversification in farming practices.
The event witnessed active support from the Reasi District Administration, including Deputy Commissioner Nidhi Malik, ADDC Sukhdev Singh Samyal and Chief Agriculture Officer Harbans Singh. Their efforts ensured smooth coordination and farmer-friendly arrangements. A total of 200 Agricultural Input Kits, including a Knapsack Sprayer, a Rake, and 12 kg of Giza Variety Rice Seed, were distributed among the ST rice farmers. The distribution was facilitated by the Agriculture Department team led by SDAO Dharmari Naresh Gupta and supported by AEOs and field staff from the concerned areas in collaboration with SKUAST-Jammu scientists.
Technical sessions led by Dr. Anuradha Saha, Chief Scientist & Incharge, AICRP on Rice, provided farmers with expert guidance on scientific rice cultivation, pest and disease management, and soil health. She was joined by Dr. R.S. Sudan, Dr. Rajan Salalia and Dr. Parveen Singh, who emphasized the importance of adopting natural and organic farming methods for cost-effectiveness, sustainability and better soil conservation.
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) today commenced Management Development Programs (MDP) in 15 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme, an initiative launched by the Union Ministry of MSME.
The Management Development Programmes (MDPs) were inaugurated in the districts including Kathua, Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Udhampur, Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Shopian, wherein 310 candidates are undergoing 30 hour long training program for six days.
At District Kishtwar, Samba and Bandipora, the MDPs were inaugurated by Rajesh Kumar Shavan, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar and Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Samba, and Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, District Development Commissioner, Bandipora respectively.
The MDPs at Kulgam, Shopian and Udhampur were inaugurated by Altaf Ahmad Khan, ADDC Kulgam, Dr. Nasir Ahmad Lone, ADDC Shopian and Rajinder Singh, ADDC Udhampur respectively. At Pulwama, Noushad Ahmad Rather, Joint Director, Planning /CPO Pulwama inaugurated the programme. At Ganderbal, the MDP was inaugurated by Gulzar Ahmad Khan, ADC Ganderbal.
At Kupwara, the MDP was inaugurated by Mumtaz Ahmad, ACR Kupwara while Mohammad Naseeb, SDM, Banihal, inaugurated the MDP at Ramban. At Anantnag, Dilshada Akhtar, GM, DIC, Anantnag inaugurated the MDP while it was inaugurated by Dr. Ashwini, Assistant Director, MSME, Srinagar, at Budgam. The programme was inaugurated at Baramulla by Javaid Ahmad Ganaie, Principal, Government, ITI Baramulla.
These MDPs coordinated by JKEDI District Centres has participation from local MSMEs who will be provided with the real time know-how of running and managing the businesses. The programme will help the MSMEs of the area to enhance their skills and interact with the experts from different line departments.
The program aims to strengthen managerial, financial, and strategic skills of entrepreneurs and small business owners, empowering them to scale up operations, enhance competitiveness and create sustainable enterprises. This flagship initiative is being implemented in alignment with the broader objectives of the Government of India’s RAMP program to bolster the MSME ecosystem.
The MDP curriculum has been meticulously designed by subject matter experts and includes modules on business planning, marketing strategies, digital tools, financial literacy, compliance, innovation, and leadership. The program also includes mentorship sessions, case studies and hands-on workshops to provide real-world insights.
Over the next six days, local entrepreneurs, MSME operators and the aspiring business leaders will engage with industry professionals, JKEDI faculty and certified trainers in an interactive learning environment. The simultaneous launch in 15 districts ensures equitable access to resources and training opportunities, particularly in remote and underdeveloped areas. The MDPs under RAMP in the remaining five districts shall also commence shortly.
Commenting on the simultaneous inauguration of 15 MDPs under the RAMP initiative, Director JKEDI, Khalid Jahangir, stated that the Ministry of MSME, GoI has approved eight interventions including MDPs under RAMP for J&K, for which the Industries and Commerce Department is the Nodal Agency.
In Jammu and Kashmir, Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance scheme is being implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization (JKTPO). The JKEDI has been assigned the responsibility of necessary capacity building interventions in the form of Management Development Programs (MDPs) and Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programmes (ESDPs) for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs. A budgetary outlay of Rs. 4.17 crore has been approved for conduct of 334 MDPs across J&K in the year 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27, targeting 6672 MSME beneficiaries including 33 percent participation of women/SC/ST categories across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
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