Jammu Apr 23 PTI The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday approved a hike in minimum wages of the daily wagers including casual labourers in all government departments from Rs 225 per day to Rs 300 per day The announcement was made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as an interim measure till the minimum wage rates are revised by the Labour and Employment Department Daily wagers are playing a significant role in the development of UT with exemplary commitment and dedication to work The interim measure has been taken to benefit a sizable portion of the workforce We are firmly committed to ensure the welfare and well-being of all daily wagers and the government will leave no stone unturned to establish principles of equality welfare and social justice in the governance the Lt Governor said While we are fast-tracking the process on minimum wages the interim measure reflects the UT administrations concern to make growth and progress inclusive Together we can confront the challenges of future and there is no doubt that daily wagers and casual labourers will also carry forward the process of social and economic change he added As the process of notifying the minimum wages by the Labour and Employment Department will take at least three months a decision for interim measures was taken to benefit daily wagers in all government departments and those of municipalities and local bodies officials said PTI AB AB AQS AQS

Jammu Apr 22 PTI A minor girl who was kidnapped last week in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district was rescued from Punjab on Friday officials said A man from the Bandi-Mahore area lodged a complaint with the police on April 13 stating that his 15-year-old daughter went to market and did return home they said The man along with his family members had started searching for the girl but could not find her the officials said Acting on the complaint police registered a case and a search was launched by multiple police parties they said After hectic efforts the presence of the girl was established at Khanuwar in Gurdaspur district of Punjab they said adding the minor was rescued from there A hunt is on to nab the accused the officials said Senior Superintendent of Police Reasi Amit Gupta appealed to parents to keep an eye on such persons PTI AB AB AQS AQS

Jammu Apr 21 PTI Five people were killed and thirty-four others injured in two separate road accidents in Reasi and Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir officials said on Thursday While three people were killed and six others injured in a road accident in Reasi district on Thursday two persons died and 28 suffered injuries in a similar incident in Udhampur district on Wednesday night A vehicle which was on its way from Tukson to Mahore along the Bagga-Gulabgarh road skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge near Angralla in Reasi the officials said Three persons were killed and six others were injured they added In Udhampur a bus carrying a marriage party skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge near Rang-Udak village late on Wednesday night the officials said Two persons were killed on the spot while twenty eight others sustained injuries they said The injured were shifted to Ramnagar hospital Of them twelve with critical injuries were referred to Udhampur Hospital they added The deceased have been identified Rajjo Devi 66 and Vimla Devi 48 the officials said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives My condolences to bereaved families prayers for the speedy recovery of injured Have directed district admin to provide immediate relief to families of deceased best medical assistance to injured he tweeted PTI AB AB AQS AQS

Jammu Apr 21 PTI The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday issued the formal order for 50 percent remission in stamp duty for first-time buyers of real estate in the housing sector in the union territory On February 25 the Administrative Council AC which had met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had approved the remission in stamp duty for first-time property buyers In exercise of power conferred by stamps act the government hereby directs that there shall be remission of fifty percent 50 of duty chargeable under the said act for the first time buyers or lessees on purchase or lease of more than 20 years of immovable residential property or apartment or house or a residential plot from any agency of government or development authority of from developer of project approved by RERA said a notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary Finance Atal Dulloo The Housing and Urban Development Department shall designate a nodal agency which shall be responsible for collection of Adhaar-based data of first-time buyers of above properties it said However It is subject to the condition that the value of the property does not exceed Rs 1 crore the notification said The fresh directive will come into effect from April 21 and remain in force till March 2024 The decision is aimed at giving a boost to the real estate sector in Jammu and Kashmir and motivating the new buyers to participate in the market officials said The remission is also expected to provide momentum to property sale and registration by making the purchase of property attractive and affordable they said PTI AB AB AQS AQS

Jammu April 21 PTI Three members of a family were injured here when an LPG cylinder in their kitchen caught fire and exploded setting their house ablaze officials said The incident occurred late Wednesday night in a house in the Bakshinagar area he said In the fire three people suffered burn injuries and were hospitalized they said The fire was brought under control by the fire tenders department PTI AB AB RAX RAX

Jammu Apr 19 PTI Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Tuesday launched e-Kitab Kosh an online library initiative of the information technology department for providing access to a repository of learning resources in five languagesThe online library can be accessed at wwwelibraryjkgovinThe e-Kitab Kosh is envisioned for providing access to a virtual repository of learning resources in five languages of English Hindi Urdu Dogri and Kashmiri an official spokesman saidThe chief secretary directed the department to make available all e-books of JK-BOSE and NCERT on the website for assisting students with learning material in the spirit of the digital India mission PTI AB AB ANB ANB

Jammu Mar 31 PTI Six people were killed and seven others injured when a car skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Thursday officials saidA Tata Sumo which was on its way from Surankotes Marha village towards Bufliyaz skidded-off the road and rolled down into the gorge at Tarran Wali they saidSix people have died and seven others are injured a police office saidThe injured have been shifted to a hospital The vehicle was carrying wedding guests they said PTI AB AB TDS TDS

Jammu March 31 PTI Alarmed over the dwindling population of Turtle Dove the Jammu and Kashmir department of Wildlife Protection on Thursday issued a public notice asking people to share information about those hunting the birdThe number of Turtle Dove Streptopelia Orientalis is dwindling at an alarming rate as some unscrupulous elements hunt this bird a senior officer of DWP told PTIHe said hunting of this bird locally known as Kalmuha is punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine of Rs 25000 or both under the Wildlife Protection ActWe have issued a public notice seeking information about such incidents of hunting the official saidTurtle Dove is a small migratory bird and is listed under schedule-IV of the Wildlife Protection Act the public notice said adding that during this season it migrates from the plains to the higher reaches for breedingThe DWP in the public notice has asked people to provide them information about any hunting incident of this bird and also listed phone numbers PTI AB AB TDS TDS

Jammu Mar 30 PTI The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday urged banks to ramp up lending for increased economic activity in the Union Territory The credit contraction is a big drag on a growing economy like in Jammu and Kashmir Banks must ramp up lending to enable Jammu and Kashmir to keep up the ongoing growth momentum Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta said while speaking in a meeting here While appreciating the JK Bank for launching a portal for real-time tracking of credit applications under government sponsored schemes he informed that a common portal for receiving and processing applications under all such schemes will soon be developed and integrated with banks operating in JK He said This will resolve all the concerns relating to delays in the processing of loan applications by different banks Mehta directed officials to prepare an actionable export and financial road map for the one district - one product scheme by April 15 PTI AB AB ANB ANB

Jammu Mar 30 PTI Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday directed police chiefs of all districts to explore the possibility of organising Thana Diwas to improve efficiency transparency and accountability in policingSinha also said that the government has taken all possible steps for public outreach and grievance redressal in the union territoryThis was conveyed to senior superintendents of police SSPs of all districts by the Lt Governor during a live LGs Mulaqaat public grievance hearing hereSinha directed the SSPs to explore the possibility of organizing Thana Diwas on the lines of Block Diwas to improve efficiency transparency and accountability in policingIn 2020 and 2021 the administration had organised Block Divas in every block to address grievances complete projects and provide benefits to people at their doorstepsWhile interacting with the randomly selected individuals from across the UT the Lt Governor issued on spot directions to officials to take proactive measures to resolve their grievances PTI AB AB ANB ANB