Once in hundreds of years, few writers attain the wisdom made available by the existence. Shrilal Shukla was one of them. His writing is truly a light on the path: LG Sinha

Books are like powerful inner eyes that provide glimpses into the world of knowledge and wisdom. The writer through their alphabets gives us opportunity to think and enlarge our perspective and these writings are the source of cognitive insight: LG

The power of Shrilal Shukla’s knowledge, his ideas, his imagination, his satire not only entertain us but also guides us to build self-reliant villages and a developed India: LG Sinha

Shrilal Shukla’s novels and stories have served to enlighten the society during that period and his thoughts continue to warn us in our developmental journey to focus on reform and I believe his words are more powerful than any other presentation: Lieutenant Governor

His works contain life’s mysteries and the intimate experience of everyday living. I believe Shrilal Shukla’s words soaked in his experience are eternal. Raag Darbari, in particular, has become ingrained in our consciousness: LG

JAMMU: LG Manoj Sinha attended the Birth Centenary Celebrations of renowned writer Shrilal Shukla at a programme in Lucknow.

Paying homage to Shrilal Shukla, the Lieutenant Governor shed the light on life and timeless works of Shrilal Shukla and his deep understanding of the social and political issues of rural India.

The Lieutenant Governor said, the power of Shrilal Shukla’s knowledge, his ideas, his imagination, his satire not only entertain us but also guides us to build self-reliant villages and a developed India.

“Once in hundreds of years, few writers attain the wisdom made available by the existence. Shrilal Shukla was one of them. His writing is truly a light on the path.

The works of Shrilal Shukla contain life’s mysteries and the intimate experience of everyday living. I believe his words soaked in his experience are eternal. Raag Darbari, in particular, has become ingrained in our consciousness,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor emphasised the significant role of great writers like Shrilal Shukla to inspire the positive change in the society.

The Lieutenant Governor said, “Books are like powerful inner eyes that provide glimpses into the world of knowledge and wisdom. The writer through their alphabets gives us opportunity to think and enlarge our perspective and these writings are the source of cognitive insight.

“Shrilal Shukla’s novels and stories have served to enlighten the society during that period and his thoughts continue to warn us in our developmental journey to focus on reform and I believe his words are more powerful than any other presentation”.

Shri JPS Rathore, Minister of State for Cooperative; Uttar Pradesh; Shri Dileep Sanghani, Chairman, IFFCO and Dr U.S Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO also spoke on the occasion and paid homage to Shrilal Shukla.

Bollywood Actors Shri Pankaj Tripathi and Shri Ashok Pathak recited an excerpt from Shrilal Shukla’s famous work ‘Raag Darbari’.

An Exhibition organised in the revered memory of Shrilal Shukla was also inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor.

57 health institutes functional in Sheeri,  Kreeri blocks in Baramulla

JAMMU: “Around 550 posts of Medical Officers (MOs) are vacant in Jammu and Kashmir with selection of 181 MOs in process”, stated Minister for Agriculture Production Department, Javed Ahmad Dar, while replying on behalf of Minister for Health and Medical Education to a clubbed question raised by Dr. Sajad Shafi and Javed Hassan Beig in the Legislative Assembly.

The Minister informed that 57 health institutes are functional in Sheeri and Kreeri blocks of Baramulla district. The sanctioned staff including Medical Officers and paramedics in block Kreeri is 157, 121 are in place while 36 are vacant. Similarly, the sanctioned staff in block Sheeri is 330, 223 are in position and 107 are vacant. These posts included regular category and NHM, he added

The Minister said that the land acquisition in respect of CHC Chandoosa is under process and the matter has been taken up with the concerned revenue authorities for identification of state land. He added that an amount of Rs. 8 lakh has been released for land compensation of NTPHC Laridora during the year 2021-2022 which has been kept at the disposal of District Development Commissioner, Baramulla. The said amount could not be paid to the landowner due to closure of the financial year and the funds were lapsed.  However, construction of NTPHC on aforementioned land has been completed and presently NTPHC Laridora has been functioning from this newly constructed building since September 2024.

The Minister informed the House that the department is making sustained efforts to address the ongoing issue of vacancies of Medical Officers, which presently stands at approximately around 550 posts. He added that the selection process for 181 Medical Officer posts is still underway with JKPSC and once the selection is completed, they will be posted to health institutions experiencing severe staff shortages.

The Minister further informed the House that the department is also in the process of operating a waitlist for 91 selected Medical Officers, who will be deployed to under-served areas across Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the healthcare delivery.

Regarding vacancies of MOs in Baramulla district, the Minister informed the House that, out of a sanctioned strength of 275 MOs, 219 are in position and 56 are vacant across different Medical Blocks of the district. He also stated that, out of 365 recently appointed Medical Officers, 39 have been posted to district Baramulla to address the staff shortages and enhance healthcare services.

The Minister further informed that additional 11 staff members from NHM and 71 from Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), including doctors and paramedics, have been deployed in Baramulla which significantly improved the healthcare services, particularly in underserved areas of the district.

Legislators; Mubarak Gul and Mir Saifullah raised the supplementaries to the question.

JAMMU: LG Manoj Sinha today interacted with the youth delegation from the UT of Ladakh under ABVP’s Rashtriya Ekatmta Yatra – Student Experience in Regional Understanding (SERU) initiative.

During the interaction, the participating youth shared the experience and exposure they gained during their visits to different regions of the country.

The Lieutenant Governor commended the initiative by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to provide the youth of Ladakh with an opportunity to understand the country’s cultural heritage, democratic values, educate them about educational and governance framework, and recognize their role in realising the vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. He extended his felicitations and best wishes to the youth.

The tour is designed to broaden the youth’s perspectives, promoting cultural understanding and national unity among them and enabling the youth to gain valuable insights and inspiration for their future academic and career endeavours.

JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Legislative Assembly that the digitization of Jamabandi for Balhama has been completed and is currently undergoing authentication.
Responding to a question by Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad Pardesi, the Chief Minister, who also holds charge of the Revenue Department, stated that the digitization of Jamabandi for Lasjan has also been completed.

However, any errors identified during the process are being rectified on a case-to-case basis.

JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today moved 13 Demands and 12 supplementary Demands in the Legislative Assembly which was subsequently presented before the House for discussion by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.

“I move that a sum not exceeding the aggregate amount mentioned in Demand Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 19, 20, 24, 31 and 33 be granted to Government to defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 2026 in respect of Heads indicated in the List of Business against each demand,” Chief Minister said.

These Demands for Grants pertain to General Administration Department, Finance, Housing, Power Development, Tourism, Revenue, Law, Disaster Management, Hospitality & Protocol, Civil Aviation, Culture, Estates Information and Planning departments and the charge of these departments is held by the Chief Minister.

He added: “I also move that a sum not exceeding the aggregate amount mentioned in Supplementary Demand Nos. 1, 8, 10, 12, 18, 19, 24, 29, 30, 32, 33 and 36 be granted to Government to defray the charges which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 2025 in respect of Heads indicated in the List of Business against each demand.”

The discussion for demands of grants will continue for today, March 19 and 20 while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will reply to the demands on grants on March 20 afternoon which will be followed by voice vote to pass the demands of grants.

JAMMU: A delegation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Pracheen Marg Shrines Sanstha, led by its President Shri Harbans Lal called on Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, today.

The members of the organization presented ‘Mata ki Chunni’ to Lieutenant Governor and extended invitation for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Pracheen Marg Chhari Yatra to be organized on March 31, 2025 from Kol Kandoli Nagrota to Oli Temple Bamyal.

They also sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor for the redevelopment of the Pracheen Marg to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine

JAMMU: A delegation of Shri Shri Jagat Amba Sharika Chakreshwar Sanastha Trust Hari Parbat, Devi Angan, Srinagar, led by its President Shri Ranjeet Gurkha called on LG Manoj Sinha, today.

Subsequently, representatives of Global Solace Society also called on the Lieutenant Governor.