The global pandemic of Coronavirus has caused much havoc in the world since past few years with millions dying and crores getting infected .Despite vaccination Covid is still a threat and there seems to be light at end of dark tunel now .
The Omicron variant of Covid-19 is “almost unstoppable” and everyone will eventually be infected with it, a top government expert told recently NDTV. Booster vaccine doses won’t stop the rapid spread of the virus, he added. ”It makes no difference. The infection will occur. It has occurred all over the world regardless of this,” he said about the booster doses.Stressing that Covid is “not a frightening disease anymore” as the new strain is milder and is leading to much less hospitalisation, he said that it’s a disease we can deal with. ”… we are dealing with quite a different virus. It’s much milder than Delta, as you all know, not only that, it is practically unstoppable,” Dr. Jaiprakash Muliyil, epidemiologist and chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, said, adding that Omicron presents itself just like the cold.
Claiming that natural immunity through infection could be lifelong and that’s why India has not been as badly affected as many other countries, he said that 85% of the country was already infected before the vaccines were introduced in the country and hence, the first dose was essentially a booster dose. ”Well, there is a philosophy world over that natural infection doesn’t impart any lasting immunity. Now, that is a philosophy which I think is wrong,” he said. Pointing out that no medical bodies suggested booster doses, Dr Muliyil said they won’t stop the natural progression of the epidemic. Arguing the same against the testing of asymptomatic close contacts of Covid patients, he said the virus doubles infection in just two days, so even before the test detects its presence, the infected person has already spread it to a large number of people. “So even when you test, you are far far behind. It is not something that will make any difference in the evolution of the epidemic,” he said.
“We have not suggested booster dose so far from any of the bodies of the government. To my knowledge, the precautionary dose was just suggested, because there are reports that certain people, mostly in the age group above 60, did not respond to two doses,” he said. “A majority of us will not know we have been infected, probably more than 80% will not even know when we have it,” he said.One hopes that Omicron marks end of covid .
Transparency in Development Projects in Jammu and Kashmir
Ensuring Transparency has been a serious issue in the execution of developmental projects. But now the winds of positive change. As matter of fact , The Government recently maintained that it has taken path-breaking initiatives to promote transparency in execution of developmental projects across Jammu and Kashmir. These initiatives are unique in the country which provide latest updates on the projects with geo-tagged photographs and other project-related information. A statement issued here said that J&K Government launched web portal ‘EMPOWERMENT (Enabling Monitoring and Public Overview of Works Being Executed and Resources for Meaningful Transparency)’ or ‘Janbaghidari’ which enables citizens to overview works/projects being implemented in their areas and become a partner in the process of development with the features of providing timely feedbacks and suggestions for improving expenditure outcomes. The portal contains details of all UT and District Capex projects implemented in Jammu and Kashmir from 2020-21. The said website can be viewed on www.janbhagidari.gov.in.In addition to this ,This web portal also contains links to MGNREGA, PMAY and SBM with real-time information on their implementation in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, progress of PMGSY is available on the website of J&K PWD through the given link on the Ministry’s website. Moreover, the details for the projects executed during the past two years are available on various public platforms including the official website of the Finance Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir and can be publicly accessed on the url https://jakfinance.nic.in.One hopes that this transparency in projects in Jammu and Kashmir would continue.
Jammu and Kashmir leading performance in improving healthcare
As the Pandemic Coronavirus has been wrecking havoc across globe since more than two years now the humankind has learnt the hard lesson that healthcare is first priority.Jammu and Kashmir as a region has faced many bottlenecks in healthcare system and development.In a bright development now it is learnt that Jammu & Kashmir has emerged as the leading performer in terms of incremental performance as per data released by NITI Aayog in the fourth Health Index report. In this regard it is known that among Union Territories, Delhi followed by Jammu & Kashmir, has shown the best incremental performance. In incremental performance, J&K is ranked at number second position with a score of 9.55. In J&K, most of the indicators are in the improved/most improved/fully achieved category so far as the Incremental Performance from the Base Year (2018-19) to Reference Year (2019-20) is concerned.
The Health & Medical Education Department while giving information about the development said that a robust and acceptable mechanism is used for measuring performance by NITI Aayog. Data is collected online through a portal maintained by NITI on agreed indicators. The data is then validated through an independent validation agency selected through a transparent bidding process. The importance of this annual tool is reemphasized by MoHFW’s decision to link the index to incentives under National Health Mission. This has been instrumental in shifting the focus from budget spending and inputs to outputs and outcomes.
According to the report, the health index comprises three domains –health outcomes, governance and information, and key inputs and processes. In terms of overall health performance, the UT of J&K has moved one position up and is categorized as an aspirant and has substantial scope for improvement, the statement added.One hopes that entire region of Jammu and Kashmir continues to make all the required progress in the field of healthcare development.
DESIRE FOR CERTAIN PLEASURE IS THE PART OF OUR PAIN
Dr Suhaib Ashraf Bhat Hypocrisy: Hypocrisy is a serious sickness and a great crime. There are four (characteristics), whoever has all of them is a complete hypocrite, and whoever has some of them has some element of hypocrisy, unless he gives it up: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a treaty, he betrays it; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; when he quarrels, he resorts to insults. We say we’ll definitely eat healthier, spend less, and read more, and yet we tend not to do as we say. Why? It’s certainly not for lack of knowledge. We all basically know how to eat right and save money. If we don’t, any gap in know-how can be filled with a quick Google search. And yet, information clearly isn’t enough. Why is it that despite knowing what we want and how to get it, we still don’t follow-through? This question has perplexed deep thinkers for thousands of years. Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle had a word for the tendency to act against our best interests: akrasia—literally, “lack of mastery.” Our ongoing struggle with akrasia, some 2,500 years later, suggests its part of human nature. We’ve seen that hypocrites fail to take their actions or values seriously, but closer inspection suggests that to some extent we all do. Our goals are based on our values; they are de facto attributes of the person we will be in the future. Someone might set a goal of exercising more because the person they want to become is physically fit, they decide to save money because the person they want to become is financially secure, or they may want to read more books because being well-read is an attribute they’d like to possess. When we set a goal, we are making a commitment to a fictional person psychologists call, “future you.” Future you is the person who will have to actually do the things you promised your present self you would do. When you say you will exercise more often, save money, or read more, you are committing future you to fulfil a promise made by present you. Occasionally failing to take our commitments seriously doesn’t automatically make us hypocrites. One hypocritical episode might not break the hull of our lives in half, but it can weaken it. Over time, those tiny cracks in our characters can add up. There are well-worn paths anyone can slip into that can turn good people into someone they’re not proud of. No one’s childhood dream is to be a cheat, a criminal, or a corrupt cop, and yet people end up being deceitful, delusional, or hypocrites. Over time, the sum of little hypocritical acts can become habits.
Greed: What connects the various addictions is that enough is never enough—not for long anyway. As addicts progress (or rather, regress) into their addiction, to derive sufficient gratification they must constantly seek more and more of their drug of choice. For “more” is the keyword of addiction. It doesn’t matter whether they’re addicted to a substance, relationship, or activity—the “ante” for getting enough of the object of their craving must continually be raised.
But of all the things one might be addicted to, nothing tops the greed-laden pursuit of wealth in its audacity, manipulativeness, and gross insensitivity to the needs and feelings of others. Not to mention its extreme, short-sighted, irresponsible covetousness. Ask a multi-millionaire or billionaire so afflicted (if you can find one willing to talk to you!), and you’ll discover that their “mega-fortune quest” really has no end point. They won’t be able to name the definitive “millionth” or “billionth” that, finally, will do it for them. They can’t because the means by which they reap their riches has itself become the end. Chasing every financial opportunity—and, it cannot be overemphasized, to the detriment of virtually everything else in their life—has become their be-all and end-all. For that, frankly, is where the dopamine is: the master molecule of pleasure and motivation. And the “end” for them is simply the high (or dopamine release) they receive each time they do a deal, turn a profit, or make a “killing.” And just like other addicts, over time (because of the related phenomena of tolerance and dependency) they’ll need to make bigger and bigger “killings” to get the ego gratification they require in order to feel good about themselves. In general, their “money high” has to do not just with feelings of fiscal elation but with a kind of self-inoculation. What perpetual wealth production inoculates them against are underlying, and barely recognized, feelings of distress—such as depression, anxiety, guilt or shame—which stem from a belief that deep, deep down they may not be good enough at all. So greater and greater financial success is required to help them sustain their cherished illusion that they really are superior—in economic terms, vastly superior—to others: a most convenient narcissistic “fix” for whatever subterranean doubts they may yet harbour about themselves. On an ethical level, the worst thing about their pursuits is that their mercenary, ego-driven achievements frequently do considerable damage to others and their prospects. Not always but typically those who might be called “greed addicts” aren’t in the professions or creative Arts, but in business: entrepreneurs, investors, speculators, lenders, CEOs. And most often their successes contribute little or nothing to society. Rather, their undertakings are cunningly contrived to transfer money out of the pockets of others and into their own. Exceedingly competitive and aggressive, they’ll take ruthless advantage of every opportunity to turn a profit—and not shy away from turning against others in the process. It’s been said that “you never get enough of what you don’t really want.” With people addicted to pursuing wealth, their overwhelming, insatiable passion isn’t about getting rich—but richer…and still richer. And it’s unquestionable that this is not a virtuous cycle but a markedly vicious one. Ultimately, their heart’s desire—tragically unknown to them—isn’t for wealth at all, but for love, emotional intimacy, unconditional acceptance (and self-acceptance), and “rich,” satisfying relationships. Regardless of how obscenely wealthy they may become, these are all things that, alas, cannot be purchased with money. Cheating: Cheating in buying and selling: This is one of the common thing which we experience in our daily life. Even though we have many sort of cheatings in our daily lives but today we will be discussing only one. How often this happens nowadays in the marketplaces. It may take the form of concealing faults in goods or other ways such as deceiving people about the quality of a product, or its components, quantity, weight, essential features or source. These are some of the ways in which that cheating is manifested: 1-Some fruit-sellers put a lot of leaves or papers in the bottom of the basket of fruit, and then they put the best fruit at the top. In this manner they deceive the purchaser and cheat him by making him think that the basket is full from top to bottom, and that all the fruit is of the same quality as that which he sees on the top. 2-Some of them get food oil and mix it with perfume, with the larger proportion being of oil. Then they put it in glass bottles, and this substance smells like perfume, and they sell it for a low price. 3-Some traders buy a product in a very light wrapper, and then they put it in a much thicker wrapper, maybe five times thicker. Then they sell the wrapper and its contents, weighing the whole lot and charging for both the wrapper and the contents. 4-Some traders do some light mending on clothes, and then they sell them without explaining that they have been mended. 5-Some of them may wear a garment until it loses its value, then they shorten it and put some starch in it, to make people think that it is new, and they sell it as if it is new. 6-Some perfume-sellers put some products, such as saffron, near water so that they may absorb the moisture, thus increasing the weight by approximately one-third. 7-Some vendors and shopkeepers make their stores very dark by using coloured lights, so that rough products will look smooth and ugly ones will look beautiful. 8-Some goldsmiths mix gold with copper and the like, and then they sell it as if it is pure gold. 9-Some of them buy clean second-hand gold, and then they offer it for sale at the price of new without telling the purchaser that it is second-hand. 10-Some vendors at car auctions put thick oil in the car engine so that the purchaser will think that it is in good condition. 11-Some of them turn back the odometer, if it shows that the car has travelled a great distance, to trick the purchaser into thinking that the car has only been used a little. 12-Some of them, if they have a car that they want to sell and they know that it has a hidden fault, will say to the one who wants to buy it, “Try this car if you want to buy it,” without telling him anything about it. This is cheating and deceit. 13-Some of them describe many faults in the car which are not real, with the intention of concealing the real faults of the vehicle behind these imaginary faults. Even worse than that is when they do not mention the faults until after the sale has been made and the deposit paid, and the purchaser is not able to inspect the car and is not allowed to do so. 14-Some of them, if they have a car that they want to sell, will praise it and will say that that it is good, and they will fabricate reasons why they want to sell it. 15-Some of them agree with their friends to increase the price so that someone else will take it. This is the artificial inflation of prices. 16-Another kind of cheating in selling is when butchers inflate the animal carcass that they want to sell so that the purchaser will think that it is all meat. 17-Some vendors at sheep auctions and places where chickens are sold feed the animals salt [to make them drink more and thus look fatter], so that the purchaser will think that they are fat when they are not. 18-Some owners of cattle etc. tie up the teats of milking-animals a few days before selling them so that this will look like milk when it is not. And the list goes on and on. Conclusion: Strange that, desire for certain pleasure is the part of our pain.
Power employees strike call of ; welcome decision Recently the Jammu and Kashmir witnessed major crisis as the employees of Power Department went for strike . This resulted in long cuts in power especially in the Kashmir valley which compounded the misery of common masses amid much cold weather . However in a bright development after that , the J&K administration gave assurance to the four point demands put forth by the All Jammu and Kashmir Power Employees and Engineers Coordination Committee (JKPEECC), the protesting employees of PDD called off their strike. The strike from the J&K PDD employees against the merger of the department into the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI) and others resulted in the massive power outage in J&K, prompting the administration to break the ice by agreeing to the demands of protesting employees. The demands of the protesting employees were given written assurance by the Div Com Dr Raghav Langer, MD JKPDCL Anant Tayal, and other three officials. However, the merger of JKPDD with Grid Corporation of India has also been put on hold by the administration. After this as result of the assurances to the demands of the protesting employees, the PDD workers have started to help in the restoration of power to the affected areas by repairing the faults and other snags in power lines. One hopes Jammu and Kashmir does not witness any major power crisis in near future.
Developing Medi- cities in Jammu and Kashmir Health is the basic need of every human being. The ragging pandemic of Coronavirus which has killed millions since past two years . It has brought to standstill many economies . In a bright development for health care of Jammu and Kashmir, which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the proposal of Industries and Commerce Department to establish two medi-cities, one each at Sempora, Pampore and Miransahib, Jammu.
It was stated that Farooq Khan and Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisors to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K and Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor attended the meeting.
The decision aims at strengthening the health services in the Union territory and support recovery and disaster resilience in calamity prone areas by increasing the Government’s capacity to promptly respond to emergency situations.
The Medicity in Kashmir Division will be established in an area of Sempora, Pampore Pulwama. The centrality of the place will act as a focal point for the for the whole population of the valley for specialized health services.Similarly, Medicity in Jammu division, will be established at Miransahib, Jammu. The land is ideally located close to the main city and can cater to the medical service requirements of the entire division.One hopes that health care of Jammu and Kashmir would receive much needed boost due to development of these medicities.
Tribute to General Bipin Rawat In a great loss to the country , the first ever Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, were among 13 people killed in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu Wednesday, 8 December, 2021.The entire country is in mourning over such a great class as General Bipin Rawat was a legendary figure of the country as he became symbol of much needed reforms. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid respects to General Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat at their 3, Kamraj Marg residence. The bodies of General Rawat, his wife and the defence personnel killed in the clash were flown in from Sulur in Tamil Nadu to Delhi .It is worth mentioning that General Rawat and 12 people on board an Mi-17 V5 helicopter were on their way to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the crash took place. The Indian Air Force has ordered an inquiry into the helicopter crash. The flight data recorder of the helicopter has been recovered. Bipin Laxman Singh Rawat, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, was appointed as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on December 30, 2019. The former Indian Army Chief assumed office from January 1, 2020.General Rawat had taken over the reins of the Indian Army from General Dalbir Singh Suhag on December 17, 2016, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The first CDS was a veteran of counterinsurgency warfare and served in some of the most difficult terrains of India, including the northern and eastern commands. During his four decades in service, Rawat served as a Brigade Commander, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-C) Southern Command, General Staff Officer Grade 2 at the Military Operations Directorate, Colonel Military Secretary and Deputy Military Secretary in the Military Secretary’s Branch and instructor in the Junior Command Wing .He was undoubtedly a great Military man .
Grievance Resolution in Jammu and Kashmir Grievance solution is the integral part of ensuring smooth governance . If people’s issues are not heard then Grievance resolution is a must .In Jammu and Kashmir people not being heard in the offices and administration has been a big concern . Now, in a positive development it is learnt that Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha few days back interacted with randomly selected applicants from across the UT during the monthly edition of “LG’s Mulaqaat- Live Public Grievance Hearing” and took first-hand appraisal of the public issues and grievances through virtual mode. Terming ‘Grievance Redressal’ as one of the biggest aspects of good governance, the Lt Governor directed the Deputy Commissioners and officials to resolve public complaints promptly as soon as they are received.It is worth pointing outhere that The Lt Governor passed explicit directions to all concerned officials in districts and secretariat for ensuring that public welfare services are delivered, and requests and complaints from people are responded to within a reasonable timeframe. “Every district office must have a performance management system in place to audit, assess and improve performance and to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of services”, the Lt Governor said.The lack of effective system to get a heed to the problems of people of Jammu and Kashmir had in past increased the people’s anger and one hopes same will be solved on top priority. One hopes on ground zero the Grievance resolution mechanism in Jammu and Kashmir would become more vibrant with every passing moment .
To have Jammu and Srinagar as mega smart cities is a dream of everyone living here . The Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta recently chaired a meeting to review the progress of the Smart City Mission in Jammu and Kashmir.Administrative Secretary Housing &UD, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu divisions and Chief Executive Officers of Jammu Smart City Limited and Srinagar Smart City Limited participated in the meeting.CEO, SSCL informed that out of 137 projects to be executed under the project, 42 projects have been completed while 35 projects are ongoing. Out of the remaining projects, 23 projects have been tendered out while in respect of 47 projects, detailed project reports are being prepared.The Chief Secretary expressed concern at the delay in the execution of the projects saying that even after 4 years of commencement, many projects are far from completion.Dr Mehta asked the department to develop the entire ensemble of the surroundings along with the heritage sites in the downtown Srinagar to create real aesthetic impact for the visitors.He advised the department to fix timelines for each of the ongoing as well the project that are yet to be taken up and work earnestly to achieve those timelines.One hopes that these plans are executed soon and we have in coming times both Srinagar and Jammu as smart cities .Jammu and Srinagar are among the most important cities of the country and to make them smart City will go a long way in making the country progressive.
In a big announcement, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday morning that the Central Government will take steps to repeal the three contentious farm laws. “We have decided to repeal three farm laws. We will finish the constitutional process to repeal the law in upcoming Parliament session”, Prime Minister Modi said in a special address to the nation on the day of Guru Nanak Jayanti. The Prime Minister said that though the laws were enacted for the benefit of farmers, the Government could not convince them, and a section was opposing the laws. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farm unions, on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to repeal the three farm laws. It also said that the SKM will take note of all developments and will hold its meeting soon and announce further decisions. “The agitation of farmers is not just against the repeal of the three black laws, but also for a statutory guarantee to remunerative prices for all agricultural produce and for all farmers. This important demand of farmers is still pending,” it said.We tried our best to explain to farmers. We were even ready to modify the laws, suspend them too. The matter reached the Supreme Court as well. We haven’t been able to explain to our farmers. This is not a time to blame anyone. I want to tell you that we have taken the farm laws back. We are repealing the farm laws”, the Prime Minister said. Supreme Court-appointed farm panel member Anil Ghanwat on Friday described as regressive the Central government’s decision to repeal the three farm laws which were at the centre of protests by farmers for the past year. “This is the most regressive step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he chose politics over farmers’ betterment,” Ghanwat told PTI. The repeal of farmers law is a big step towards agricultural prosperity .
