In response to a query from Legislator Hasnian Masoodi, he outlined the criteria for setting up FPS as per S.O. 41 dated January 19, 2023, noting that there are currently no uncovered areas in the Pampore Assembly Constituency. The Minister provided detailed statistics on ration cards in Pampore, indicating a total of 2,679 cards under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), 15,470 under the Priority Household (PHH) category, and 9,776 under the Non-Priority Household (NPHH) category. He emphasized that the department is evaluating the need for new FPS based on factors such as viability, geographical accessibility, and coverage in remote areas. Additionally, the Government of India has initiated the SARTHAK-PDS scheme, which aims to enhance the economic viability of FPS through revised assistance norms and technology integration. In a separate update, Minister for Medical and Health Education, Sakeena Itoo, announced the establishment of two State Cancer Institutes in Jammu and Kashmir, supported by the Government of India under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. These institutes, located at SKIMS and Government Medical College, Jammu, are designed to provide comprehensive cancer care, including diagnosis and treatment. The Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance existing facilities and ensure accessible cancer care, particularly for economically disadvantaged individuals. Eligible patients can receive cashless treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and additional financial support is available through the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor. These initiatives aim to alleviate the financial burden on patients and ensure timely access to necessary cancer treatments.

Srinagar, :  In a bid to revive the crafts of Glazed Pottery and Copperware in Kashmir, the Union Ministry of Textiles has sanctioned two training programmes under the Guru Shishya Hastshilp component of the flagship National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP).

An amount of ₹14.90 lakh has been sanctioned in favour of Craft Development Institute (CDI) Srinagar for conducting the twin trainings.

In a press release issued here Tuesday, a spokesman of the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, stated that the office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) acceded to the department’s proposal for customised training to revive the fading crafts. “Each programme will be of a duration of two months wherein skill of 30 artisans each would be upgraded under the guidance of master craftsmen,” he added.

Glazed pottery was once used for household vessels, decorative tiles, kangris and ceremonial ite Over recent decades, it has been overshadowed by cheaper plastic, aluminium and machine-made ware, leaving only a small number of remaining artisans.

On the other hand, Copperware, or Kandkaari, which is amongst Kashmir’s oldest metal crafts and closely associated with Shehr-e-Khaas, has come under intense pressure from cheap imitations and shrinking artisan base.

The spokesman stated that ₹7.45 lakh each have been sanctioned by the Textiles Ministry for training in Glazed Pottery in clusters of Baramulla district and Copperware in district Srinagar. “The trainings have been designed in such a way that it takes care of wage compensation of artisans, honorarium of master craftsmen, space rent and training related equipment as well as compensation of raw material,” he added.

The programmes follow the traditional Guru–Shishya model of skill transfer, under which experienced master artisans mentor a new cohort of practitioners in techniques that have been passed down over generations but are now at the risk of being lost. “These courses are intended not only to upgrade existing skills but also to rebuild a working pipeline of trained hands in the two crafts,” the spokesman added.

The addition of Apple’s premium services underscores Airtel’s effort to deliver greater value, connectivity, and entertainment under a single subscription. Amit Tripathi, Director Market Ops – Bharti Airtel, said: “At Airtel, we are constantly looking at ways to make our customers’ lives simpler while creating more differentiated value through our propositions. Our family postpaid plans are designed around this belief — bringing together connectivity, entertainment and digital experiences that matter to the entire family, all through a single plan. With the addition of Apple’s iCloud+, Apple TV and Apple Arcade to our family postpaid plan offerings, we are taking this proposition a step further, giving customers even more value and making the Airtel experience more rewarding.”

 Srinagar, :The Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre, Northern Region-II (RCFC NR-II), National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, in collaboration with the Division of Forest Products & Utilization, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, Tuesday celebrated the 11th Ayurveda Day at the Multipurpose Hall, Faculty of Forestry, Benhama, Ganderbal.

Held under the theme “Ayurveda for Healthier Tomorrow”, the programme focused on promoting medicinal plants, their conservation, sustainable utilisation and their role in preventive healthcare.

Dean, Faculty of Forestry, Prof. A.H. Mughal, who attended the programme as Chief Guest, highlighted the link between medicinal plant biodiversity, human health and rural livelihoods and called for greater collaboration among academic institutions, government departments, researchers, AYUSH practitioners and farming communities.

Professor & Head, Division of FPU, SKUAST-K, Parvez A. Sofi, highlighted the relevance of Ayurveda as an ancient holistic healthcare system and stressed the role of medicinal plants in healthy lifestyles and preventive healthcare.

District Nodal Officer, AYUSH, Ganderbal, Dr Bahar Ahmad Bhat, emphasised public awareness regarding the appropriate use of medicinal plants and stronger coordination among AYUSH institutions, scientific organisations, farmers and local communities.

Professor, Government Unani Medical College, Ganderbal, Dr Amjad W. Yousuf, stressed responsible utilisation, scientific documentation and conservation of medicinal plant diversity. He also called for greater collaboration between AYUSH institutions and agricultural universities for quality planting material and varietal development, particularly for high-altitude medicinal plants.

Nodal Coordinator, RCFC, Prof. T.H. Masoodi, highlighted the Centre’s role in promoting medicinal plant cultivation, conservation, quality planting material and capacity building. He stressed scientific cultivation, sustainable harvesting, value addition and market linkages to enhance income opportunities for farmers.

A dedicated interaction with progressive farmers and medicinal plant cultivators was also held. Entrepreneur Manzoor Javid shared his experiences and achievements in the sector, while participants discussed challenges, opportunities and the need for stronger linkages among farmers, research institutions, AYUSH stakeholders, NMPB and potential buyers.

The programme concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening awareness, research, conservation, cultivation and sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants in line with the vision of “Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow.”

The event was attended by faculty members, scientists, students, AYUSH professionals, farmers and other stakeholders from SKUAST-K, Government Unani Medical College Ganderbal and related institutions.

The B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Batch 2023 students have been deputed to KVK Bandipora-1 for undertaking prescribed RAWE activities from 21 September to 18 October 2026. The programme aims to provide students with practical exposure to agricultural extension, field-level technologies, farmer interactions and various activities undertaken by the KVK.

Welcoming the students, Dr. Tariq Sultan, Head, KVK Bandipora-1, SKUAST-Kashmir, briefed them about the objectives of the RAWE programme and the role of KVKs in agricultural technology dissemination, farmer capacity building and extension activities. He encouraged the students to actively participate in the programme and gain maximum practical knowledge through classroom sessions, field demonstrations and interaction with farming communities.

The programme included technical presentations, interactive sessions and practical field demonstrations. The students were introduced to major activities of KVK Bandipora-1, including Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs), On-Farm Trials (OFTs), Method Demonstrations, Result Demonstrations, training programmes, farmer interactions and field-oriented extension activities.

During the field exposure, the students visited the Lotus Demonstration Plot, Makhana Demonstration Plot, Water Chestnut Demonstration Plot, along with other ongoing demonstrations at KVK Bandipora-1, where they received practical information on crop establishment, management practices, crop diversification, horticulture, protected cultivation and aquatic agriculture. The students also observed field-level practices and participated in practical demonstrations to connect classroom learning with real agricultural situations.

Dr. Bilal Ahmad Zargar, SMS (Agricultural Extension), KVK Bandipora-1, SKUAST-Kashmir, oriented the students on agricultural extension approaches, farmer interaction and technology dissemination. Shabnum Mumtaz, SMS (Plant Protection), KVK Bandipora-1, SKUAST-Kashmir, provided guidance on plant protection, pest surveillance and integrated crop protection practices.

The scientific staff of KVK Bandipora-1 facilitated classroom presentations, field-based practical learning and interactive discussions, enabling the students to understand the application of agricultural technologies under field conditions. The students were also encouraged to interact with farmers and understand prevailing farming practices, constraints and opportunities.

The Farm Machinery Bank has been established for the Hari Om Self Help Group of Village Chapanoo, Tehsil and District Reasi. It will benefit ten members of the Self Help Group by providing an opportunity to generate income through the rental of farm machinery to local farmers in the surrounding areas.

On the occasion, the DC handed over the key of the Farm Machinery Bank to the Hari Om Self Help Group. He emphasised that the initiative will provide local farmers access to modern farm machinery, reduce the cost and effort involved in agricultural operations and create additional income-generating opportunities for members of the Self Help Group. ADDC Krishan Lal, CHO, DSWO, DIO and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.

“A Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989, to repeal the Jammu and Kashmir Self Reliant Cooperative Act, 1999 and to provide transitional arrangement of self-reliant cooperatives under the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989 and for matters connected or incidental thereto. (LA. Bill No.9 of 2026),”  already published in an extraordinary issue of the Official Gazette.

The event, themed “Transforming Horticulture Marketing in Jammu & Kashmir”, highlighted the Department’s achievements, economic impact and various interventions undertaken to strengthen the market infrastructure and improve post-harvest management in the horticulture sector.

On the occasion, the Minister inspected various stalls showcasing horticulture produce, products, technologies and marketing initiatives. He interacted with the farmers, growers, traders, buyers and other stakeholders and took their feedback regarding marketing facilities, post-harvest management, market linkages and issues confronting the sector.

During his interaction, Javid Ahmad Dar emphasized the need for further strengthening the horticulture marketing infrastructure and creating efficient, transparent and farmer-centric market mechanisms to ensure better returns to growers. He stressed upon coordinated efforts among all stakeholders to improve the entire horticulture value chain, from production and post-harvest handling to marketing and final market access. He also called for greater focus on value addition, modern market facilities, scientific post-harvest management and stronger buyer-seller linkages.

The Minister said that horticulture constitutes an important component of Jammu & Kashmir’s rural economy and provides livelihood opportunities to a large section of the population. He underscored the importance of sustained interventions to reduce post-harvest losses, improve handling and storage facilities and facilitate wider and remunerative markets for local produce.

The Buyer-Seller meet provided an important platform for direct interaction between the growers, traders, buyers, market functionaries and other stakeholders, enabling them to explore new business opportunities, share experiences and identify measures for improving the marketing ecosystem.

The Department, through its presentation, showcased the impact of its market infrastructure and post-harvest interventions. Besides, it highlighted the ongoing initiatives aimed at modernizing the horticulture marketing and enhancing the competitiveness of Jammu & Kashmir’s horticulture produce.

The Minister called upon the department and stakeholders to work in close coordination and adopt a market-oriented, technology-driven and farmer-centric approach so that the benefits of improved marketing infrastructure translate into enhanced income and greater economic opportunities for growers across Jammu & Kashmir.

Among others present were MLA, Srigufwara–Bijbehara, Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri; MLA Kulgam,Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami; MLA Bandipora, Nizamuddin Bhat ; MLA,Sonawari, Hillal Akbar Lone; MLA,Anantnag West, Abdul Majeed Bhat, Larmi; MLA Langate, Sheikh Khursheed; MLA Shangus–Anantnag East,  Reyaz Ahmad Khan; MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar, MLA Wagoora-Kreeri Irfan Hafiz Lone and other senior officers of concerned departments.

The four day workshop brought together representatives and stakeholders from Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana. The initiative is aimed at providing a common platform for reviewing the progress of Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), identifying institutional gaps and evolving State-specific strategies for strengthening the community institutions.

The National Supportive Supervision Framework, developed under DAY-NRLM, seeks to provide a structured and outcome-oriented approach for nurturing CLFs towards greater institutional maturity, financial sustainability and self-reliance. The framework places emphasis on state ownership, structured accompaniment, peer learning and a progressive transition from national-level support towards autonomous community-led institutions.

The workshop deliberated upon the existing status of CLFs and Model CLFs, gap analysis against prescribed criteria, cross-State peer learning, State-specific and time-bound action plans, strengthening of the MSRP/SRP–CLF support architecture, capacity-building requirements, systems and documentation, besides establishing robust monitoring and follow-up mechanis

It was informed that DAY-NRLM has established a vast institutional ecosystem of approximately 34,000 CLFs, federating more than 10 crore rural women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the country. The next phase of the Mission is being focused on moving beyond mere institution formation towards developing community-governed, financially sustainable and autonomous institutions capable of driving rural transformation from within.

The national framework envisages expanding the number of Model CLFs from approximately 10,000 to 20,000 by 2031, with around 500 CLFs proposed to be nurtured as Model CLF immersion sites during FY 2026–27. For Zone 3, comprising the six participating States/UTs, 53 Model CLF immersion sites have been identified as the target for FY 2026–27.

Addressing the gathering, Javid Ahmad Dar said that DAY-NRLM has evolved far beyond the conventional paradigm of poverty alleviation, emerging as a powerful institutional framework for women-led socio-economic transformation in rural India. He said the Mission has created a nationwide ecosystem in which rural women are increasingly moving beyond the role of beneficiaries to become partners in development, entrepreneurs, producers, service providers and community leaders.

The Minister noted that more than 10 crore rural women are now part of over 93 lakh SHGs across the country while cumulative bank credit accessed by SHGs has crossed ₹13 lakh crore.

Javid Dar said the emergence of more than 3 crore LakhpatiDidis is an important reflection of the growing capacity of women-led institutions to translate collective action, financial inclusion and livelihood interventions into sustainable household incomes and economic opportunities.

Highlighting the significance of the national movement for Jammu & Kashmir, the Minister said that the Union Territory has made significant progress in building a strong grassroots institutional network under JKRLM. He informed that more than 8 lakh rural women have been mobilised into around one lakh SHGs across all 20 districts and 285 blocks of J&K. These SHGs are supported by nearly 7,000 Village Organisations and 652 Cluster Level Federations, creating a broad-based institutional architecture for rural economic and social transformation.

Javid Dar said that the achievements reflect not merely numerical growth but the emergence of a strong community-owned institutional network capable of facilitating sustainable livelihoods, financial inclusion and grassroots development. He credited the robust convergence mechanism under the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) for strengthening linkages between women-led institutions and various line departments, including Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Horticulture and other allied sectors.

The Minister said that JKRLM has provided ₹532 crore as institutional capitalisation while SHGs have accessed ₹3,489 crore in bank credit through repeated credit linkages. He further informed that J&K currently has around 2.40 lakh LakhpatiDidis, while another 2 lakh potential LakhpatiDidis have been identified for focused interventions aimed at enhancing livelihoods, productivity and household incomes.

The Minister highlighted the expanding livelihood ecosystem under JKRLM, stating that more than 7 lakh Mahila Kisans have been supported across J&K. He said 176 Integrated Farming Clusters, 249 Producer Groups and 12 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have been established while around 30,000 rural enterprises have been promoted through various enterprise development interventions.

The meeting was attended by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, J&K; Deputy General Manager, NABARD; Managing Director, J&K State Cooperative Training Board (JKSTCB); representatives of the System Integrator and Managing Directors of the District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs).

During the meeting, the System Integrator made a detailed PowerPoint presentation before the Committee, apprising the members of the overall progress of the PACS Computerisation Project, the status of implementation across the Union Territory. The presentation also highlighted the activities presently underway and the areas requiring focused attention for timely completion of the remaining targets.

Reviewing the progress, Yasha Mudgal directed the System Integrator to maintain the momentum of implementation and ensure completion of all assigned deliverables within the stipulated timelines. She emphasized that the approved implementation schedule must be adhered to strictly and all necessary measures should be taken to prevent delays in completion of the remaining activities.

The Commissioner Secretary stressed that the objective of the project should go beyond mere installation or deployment of the computerised system and should culminate in its effective adoption and utilisation by PACS. She emphasized that the computerisation initiative should facilitate improvement in the day-to-day functioning of PACS and enable them to provide more efficient and transparent services to their members.

She underscored the importance of close and continuous coordination among the Cooperative Department, Registrar Cooperative Societies, NABARD, DCCBs, System Integrator and other stakeholders for timely resolution of field-level issues and smooth implementation of the project.

Yasha Mudgal also stressed the need for proper monitoring and verification of the progress reported against each milestone and deliverable. She directed that completed activities must be duly verified and supported by appropriate records and documentation to ensure that the actual status of implementation remains clearly ascertainable.

The Commissioner Secretary called upon all stakeholders to sustain the present momentum, adhere to the approved timelines and ensure timely completion and verification of all remaining deliverables. She reiterated that coordinated, time-bound and result-oriented efforts by all implementing agencies are essential for achieving the approved objectives of the PACS Computerisation Project and ensuring its effective implementation across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.