Published 20:04 IST, September 8th 2019
Kashmir situation remains calm, attendance in school rises
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir remained peaceful on Sunday with no incidence of major violence in any part of the Kashmir valley, according to sources.
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir remained peaceful on Sunday with no incidence of major violence in any part of the Kashmir valley, according to Republic sources. Subsequently, no loss of life was reported in the area and the local police.
Mobile services have been restored
All landlines have been made functional within the area and mobile facilities have been restored in all districts of Jammu, Ladakh division and Kupwara district of Kashmir. Near about 91% of Kashmir valley and all of Jammu and Ladakh regions have now been declared free from any day time restrictions.
Hospitals and other medical facilities have been functioning normally with a whopping attendance of 700,000 people who visited different district hospitals in Out Patient Departments (OPD) in August alone. All 376 notified drugs have been made available at all government shops and private retailers in the area.
The government has ensured a regular supply of daily essentials, including all-day electricity, water supply, and sanitation. Moreover, 60,000 LPG cylinders have been distributed in Srinagar and the distribution has also started in Kashmir valley. The travel industries have shown improvements as well, as per the sources. Airlines ticketing counters with 8 terminals have now been made functional at Tourist Reception Center (TRC), Srinagar. Additionally, road transport, both public and private, within the districts and between districts has been resumed.
On the development front, six new projects worth US$ 37.5 million (₹270 crore) have been initiated in Srinagar. These projects would focus on the strengthening of power infrastructure and improving the power scenario in the state capital. The government sector has opened 5000 new vacancies, which happens to be the largest single recruitment drive in the state so far, to be filled on a priority basis. In addition to that, over 29,000 aspiring youth from Jammu region have registered for Army recruitment and are likely to be screened for physical and medical fitness during a week-long rally to be held in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) had pledged over $800 million for apple procurement in the Valley. The move, in turn, is expected to benefit over 7 lakh apple farmers of the state. The transportation of fruit production has seen a massive shift in its working with as many as 300 trucks plying daily. Additionally, over 1.5 Lakh MTs of fruit production has been sent to various sale points outside of the valley, thus expanding the fruit export system of the state.
School attendance
The attendance in primary, middle and high schools have gradually started coming up and the banking and ATM facilities have been restored in the area. A media center, that has successfully issued about 400 press passes to the local journalists and is planning to hold several press conferences, has been set up in Jammu and Kashmir to enable and ensure smooth and regular coverage of the situation in the area. All mainstream newspapers are being printed and the public also has regular access to satellite channels and Cable TV networks.
According to local sources, elections to Block Development Councils have been scheduled to be conducted & completed before the end of October and the schedule of weekly hearing of public grievances by Government officials in both the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu has been notified.
While most of the restrictions on the public have now been lifted, some remaining restrictions on the communications and preventive detentions remain with a view to maintaining public law and order. These restrictions are being reviewed continuously and being eased by local administration based on the ground situation.
Updated 22:11 IST, September 8th 2019