Lieutenant Governor, G C Murmu today convened a high level meeting to review COVID-19 preparedness in Kashmir division.
The meeting was attended by Advisors R R Bhatnagar, Baseer A Khan, Chief Secretary B V R Subramanyam, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education Dept. Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Planning and Information Rohit Kansal, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir K B Pole, Director SKIMS G R Ahangar, Principal GMC Sgr, Dr Samia Rashid, Director Health Sameer Mattoo, OSD H&ME Owais Ahmad besides Deputy Commissioners and SPs of various districts.
The meeting discussed various measures that are being taken to control the spread of COVID-19 across Kashmir division.
In a power point presentation Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo informed that there are 108 ventilators, 18183 PPE kits, 81089 N-95 Masks, 706601 triple layer masks, 11456 VTM, 12923 sanitizers and 354 infra red thermometers available in Kashmir division.
It was also informed that there are 11 dedicated hospitals for treatment of Covid-19 patients in Kashmir with a total strength of 8736 beds in Kashmir. The district wise details of red zones, buffer zones, isolation beds, COVID wellness centres was also given in the meeting.
It was divulged that so far 75838 number of travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance in overall J&K and surveillance of 57386 people has been completed so far.
The meeting was also informed that rate of increase of COVID-19 patients has been stabilized, which earlier was fluctuating, and added that 1912 tests are being done per million population with four labs being made operational. Besides two CB NAAT labs have been made functional and rtPCR machines have also been pressed into service to enhance COVID-19 testing
Lieutenant Governor directed to ramp up the testing and priority be given to pregnant women, elderly and all those returning from outside. He also directed that the household survey undertaken be completed fully.
LG stressed on 100% coverage of Aarogya setu app, 100 % physical inspection of all COVID care centres and other facilities in order to ensure that all the facilities are fully available in each centre.
LG gave directions that immediate steps be taken for isolation of Covid patients and ensure strict separation of covid and non-covid patients including separate entry and exit points in the hospitals.
Lieutenant Governor directed setting up of kiosk like facilities for testing labour class as has been done in some of the districts across the valley.
Lieutenant Governor also asked Director SKIMS to start online training sessions with doctors and medical staff and apprise them of the protocol to be followed while treating COVID-19 patients.
No: PR/DI/20/23/
Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Directorate of Information
Monday, May 04, 2020
Email: dipr@jkinformation.co.in
G I tagging of saffron will boost export, help farmers to get best price for produce: Advisor Sharma
Distributes 9 CA refrigerated Vans for marketing Veg Produce among districts
SRINAGAR, MAY 04: The Advisor to Lt. Governor, K K Sharma today visited the saffron park at Dusso Pampore in Pulwama to see the facilities being set up at the Saffron Research Station and also to get an overview and evaluate the preparedness besides address the quality parameters required to be maintained under GI tagging of saffron.
Director Agriculture, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi, Joint Director Agriculture Iqbal Chowdhary and other senior officers were accompanying the Advisor.
The Advisor went around the upcoming facilities and was informed that the Research centre would be having all the state of art facilities for extraction, packing of the locally produced saffron besides e- auctioning.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Department of Agriculture Kashmir has been granted Certificate of Registration by Registrar of Geographical Indication, Chennai, and Government of India in respect of Kashmir Saffron for districts of Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, and Kishtwar. The Registered Proprietor of the G.I Kashmir Saffron is Director Agriculture, Kashmir, facilitated by SKUAST (K) and Saffron Research Station Dusso Pampore J&K.
While referring to the recent development of the Kashmir saffron getting the GI Tagging, the Advisor said that it can encourage and motivate the marketers to expand their business at Global level besides the protection of Geographical Indicator boosts exports and ensures that the growers get best remuneration for their produce.
The Advisor while complimenting the Secretary Agriculture and Director Agriculture Kashmir for undertaking the initiative for getting the GI tagging said that the efforts of the department have resulted in the grant of this prestigious mark. He said that it will ensure that the exports of the saffron would register an increase and the farming community would get benefited.
Highlighting the achievement the Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi said that GI is a sign on products that have a specific geographical origin and the product may have special quality or reputation. He added that the prime purpose of registering a geographic indication is to seek protection for specific products produced in a particular geographic region.
The Advisor later distributed Nine refrigerated vans worth Rs 5 crore at Agriculture complex , Lal Mandi aimed at providing controlled air conditioning facilities to the farmers for exporting their produce within the districts, UT and to other states. The step would ensure better marketing facilities to the farmers which would result in improving their economic profile.
While speaking on the occasion, the Advisor said that the step would go a long way in ensuring better marketability of the vegetable produce of the farmers in different districts. He said that budgetary provision for the same was provided in 2019-2020 and it is for first time that these vans have been procured for the benefit of farming community.
The Advisor also visited Floriculture Development Park set up by the Agriculture department for extraction of the oil from Aromatic plants. He was informed that the department has recently set up the plant which would be producing quality aromatic oils for marketing the same both within Jammu and Kashmir and outside.