GK NEWS NETWORK

Srinagar, July 25: Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Depart-ment, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has issued instructions for connecting all Tehsil Supply Offices of CAPD and Food Godowns with 24-hour internet services by August 15, 2016 so as to pave way for online supply chain manage-ment.

The Minister chaired a meeting to review the prog-ress made in the implemen-tation of e-PDS in CAPD in which Secretary, Informa-tion Technology Department, Hilal Ahmad Parray, Direc-tor CAPD Kashmir Peerzada Mushtaq Shah, and other offi-cers were present, an official statement said.

Assuring to make CAPD fully computerized, the Min-ister said that he wants to change the perception about this department among public and make it one of the best digitized and 100 percent cor-ruption free department.

He said the department has been facing various chal-lenges such as leakages, fake/bogus ration cards, lack of transparency and weak griev-ance redressal mechanism.

He said to check the pilfer-age of foodgrains to a greater extent, the department has started e-PDS project envis-aging full computerization of the department and bring

total transparency in it. He said the scheme on

“End to End Computeriza-tion of TPDS Operations” was launched by government of India on cost sharing basis for implementation during 12th Five Year Plan which is being implemented in two components. The Minister said that CAPD is working on first component and they are hopeful that the work of com-ponent 1 will be completed by August 15, 2016.

The Minister issued

instructions to the depart-ment to connect all Tehsil Supply Offices of the state and Food Godowns with 24-hour Internet service so that the project could be initiated from August 15 and advised both Directors of Kashmir and Jammu to take the project in mission mode and complete it before the scheduled time-frame.

He added that once start-ed, the project will transform manual system of work in CAPD into fully digitized system which is vibrant step towards bringing transpar-ency in the department.

The Minister said that computerization of PDS has been taken up across the country on priority basis with a view to address various challenges of current system on the National Portal.

He added that e-PDS proj-ect has been approved at a cost of Rs 20.37 crore out of which “the centre govern-ment has released Rs 6.11 crore and the state govern-ment Rs. 3.69 crore.”

He said that till date they have spent Rs 3.67 crore from state share and 2.91 crore from the central share.

On the occasion, the Minis-ter issued instruction to NIC to manage linking of J&K Bank Transactions of CAPD Department with the official website of CAPD, J&K so that complete transparency can be achieved in the transactions.

10 Greater KashmirSRINAGAR | July 26, 2016, Tuesday

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Violence in JK, North East affecting ‘local’ tourism: Sharma

GK NEWS NETWORK

Jammu, July 25: The Government has decided to upgrade tourism infrastructure at the famous hill resorts of Patnitop and Sanasar, here.

“The tourism department has decided to create more facilities at the twin tourist spots in view of increasing rush,” Director Tourism,

Sushma Chauhan said during her recent tour to the area.

Director Tourism was accompanied by a team of officers. She inspected the facilities for tourists and newly created infrastructure.

During the visit, Chauhan interacted with Convener, INTACH S.M. Sahni, and discussed various aspects of tourism pro-

motion in Patnitop. She also inspected various spots, desti-

nations and reviewed the measures which would be taken to enhance the facilities for the tourists.

The Director also inspected newly con-structed projects including glass hut restau-rant at Sanasar, take off point for Paragliding,

newly constructed accommodation built by Patnitop Development Authority, Sanasar meadow and refurbished accommodation by JKTDC.

Chauhan also interacted with the tourists and listened to their suggestions. She stressed on the need to create more facilities in view of increasing rush, an official statement said.

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, July 25: With a series of militant activities being reported in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East region, the Centre today said such acts have affected tourism "locally" but ruled out its impact on the overall industry in the country.

In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Tourism Min-ister Mahesh Sharma said, "Though terrorist activities have to some extent affected tourism locally, they have not had an impact on overall tourism in the country."

He was responding to que-ries whether the "growing" incidents of “terrorist activi-ties” in the North East states and Jammu and Kashmir were causing "enormous"

loss to tourism.In Jammu and Kashmir,

Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) fell about 3 per cent to 91.45 lakh last year from 94.38 lakh in 2014, while For-

eign Tourist Visits (FTVs) decreased by about 32 per cent to 58,568 in 2015 from 86,477 in 2014, Sharma said.

He said the DTVs to differ-ent states and Union Territo-

ries recorded a growth of 11.6 per cent in 2015, while FTVs increased by 4.4 per cent.

Media reports have claimed thousands of tour-ists were fleeing violence-hit

Kashmir and bookings were being cancelled due to unrest and consequent curfew in the Valley following the kill-ing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in an encoun-ter on July 8.

North Eastern states also account for casualties due to terror attacks, with a report stating that 413 people died in the region in 2014, with Assam being worst affected.

Sharma also listed out various state initiatives to boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, including special campaigns on the affected regions on TV channels, and allowing government employees to convert their home town Leave Travel Concession (LTC) to all India LTC for visiting these regions. PTI

Jammu and Kashmir- Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) fell about 3 per cent in 2015- Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) decreased by about 32 per cent

Other states & Union Territories- DTVs recorded a growth of 11.6 per cent in 2015- FTVs increased by 4.4 per cent

Thousands of tourists were fleeing violence-hit Kashmir and bookings were being cancelled due to unrest and consequent curfew in the Valley.

Govt reviews World Bank financed projects, TAMEIR in JK

CAPD to go hi-techTSO offices/godowns to get 24x7 internet connectivity by Aug 15; Minister reviews e-PDS project,

Govt plans to upgrade tourism infra at Patnitop, Sanasar

e-PDS project

Approved project costRs 20.37 crore

Centre government released so farRs 6.11 crore

State government released so far

Rs. 3.69 crore

 AMOUNT SPENT

From central shareRs 3.67 crore

From state share Rs 2.91 crore

The department has been facing various challenges such as leakages, fake/bogus ration cards, lack of transparency and weak grievance redressal mechanism.

JK Govt to train 1.24 lakh youth under ‘revamped’ Himayat in 3 yearsRs 1,600 cr approved by GoI for scheme: Abdul Haq

GK NEWS NETWORK

Srinagar, July 25: Jammu and Kashmir government will train over 1.24 lakh youth from the State in skill development programs over the next three years under the revamped Himayat pro-gram, Minister of Rural Development Department, Abdul Haq, said today.

Chairing a review meet-ing at his civil secretariat office here today, the Min-ister said unlike in the past, the State Government will have direct control on the implementation of the revamped scheme.

Khan said a revised target of providing training and placement to 1,90,000 youths over five years in J&K has been approved by the Centre, out of which 65,820 youths have already been trained while the remaining 1,24,180 will be trained over the next three years.

"Nearly 1000 youths, who successfully complete train-ing programs, will be placed outside the country," Khan said.

Giving the information, the Minister said the pro-posals for implementing the program has already been invited online by DDU-GYK National Mission Manage-ment Unit, Union Ministry of Rural Development.

"The Centre has approved Rs 1601.51 crore for the scheme over the next three years during which six-

months, nine-months and one year job-oriented train-ing in residential and non-residential courses will be imparted to the aspirants," Haq said.

During the meeting, the Minister was informed that the Project Implementa-tion Agency (PIA) will be selected by State Level Proj-ect Appraisal Committee in which experts from Nation-al Institute of Rural Devel-opment and DDU-GYK will participate along with the officers of the State Govern-ment, an official statement said.

"The State is establishing Himayat Mission Manage-ment Unit at the State Level within one month whereas the JKSRLM will oversee the overall implementation of the program in the state. The PIAs will be allocated targets district wise," Direc-tor National Rural Liveli-hood Mission, Dr GN Qasba, said.

He said the aspirants will be trained in and outside the State, "A provision has been kept for foreign place-ments. To begin with, about 1000 youth shall be placed outside the country. Also, a special provision for 40,000 female placements shall also be covered over the next three years," he said.

The meeting was also attended by Commissioner Secretary, Rural Develop-ment Department, Khurshid Ahmad Shah, besides other officers of the department.

GK NEWS NETWORK

Srinagar, July 25: Minis-ter for Industries and Com-merce, Chander Parkash Ganga today reviewed the proposals and prog-ress of various projects of Industries and Commerce department.

The minister reviewed the “proposals of Project Implementation Unit con-stituted within Industries and Commerce Depart-ment under the World Bank assisted Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP)”, an offi-cial statement said.

The proposals include upgradation of Kashmir Haat, skill training for flood affected in handi-craft sector, PG profes-sional education, devel-opment of handicraft clusters, handloom devel-opment, weavers liveli-hood and skill rebuilding, creation and maintenance of e-commerce portal for J&K handicrafts, estab-lishment of market cen-tres for cocoon growers, reelers and sheep rearers.

The Minister also took stock of the proposals under Aggregative Mac-ro-Economic and Infra-structure Rebuilding Plan (TAMEIR).

TAMEIR is a Rs 80,000 crore Prime Minister’s

relief package for the state to assist the state in rebuilding infrastruc-ture in the state which got devastated in the floods of 2014.

TAMIER plan covers projects worth Rs 200 crore to be completed by March

2017 and includes upgrada-tion of industrial estates in Anantnag, Anchidoo-ra, Bijbehara, Pulwama, Poonch, Udhampur, Kathua among others, the statement said.

The Minister said that the progress on these proj-ects will be evaluated on a monthly basis to ensure adherence to time sched-ule as well as quality stan-dards.

The Minister directed the heads of various cor-porations to begin compi-lation of data and vision documents along with business plans to be pre-sented in respective board meetings to be conducted next month.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Department, Shailendra Kumar and Director Nazim Zia Khan, MD JK Industries, Javed Iqbal, MD Handlooms Showkat Zargar, MD JK EDI M.I Parrey and others.

Meanwhile, the min-ister expressed empathy with the grieving fami-lies of people killed in recent unrest and hoped for speedy recovery of those injured. He direct-ed the officers to ensure attendance in the offices to keep them effectively functional.

Proposals include Upgradation of Kashmir Haat

Skill training in handicraft sector

Development of handicraft clusters

Handloom development

E-commerce portal for JK handicraftsMarket centres for cocoon growers

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