Jammu Kashmir weather update for next few days

Srinagar, Feb 10: Severe cold conditions continued in Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar recording a low of minus 4.9°C on Saturday.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that the temperature in Srinagar dropped by one notch from previous night’s minus 4.8°C and it was below normal by 5.1°C for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year.

Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 5.8°C against minus 6.4°C on the previous night and it was 4.8°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said.

Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 8.6°C against minus 10.3°C on the previous night and it was 3.6°C below normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 3.7°C against minus 5.0°C on the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 3.0°C for the place, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.4°C against minus 4.9°C on the previous night and it was 2.9°C below normal there, the official said.

Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 7.0°C against minus 9.0°C on the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 0.8°C for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir.

Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 7.3°C and it was below normal by 2.8°C for the winter capital of J&K.

Banihal recorded a low of 1.8°C, Batote 3.9°C and Bhaderwah minus 2.2°C, he said.

Regarding the forecast, the MeT official said that weather is expected to be dry till February 17.

“Overall, dry weather is expected till February 17 with occasionally cloudy evening during February 14.”

Regarding the outlook during February 18-20, he said, there is possibility of light snow and rain.

As ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter ended on January 29, Kashmir is presently in the middle of 20-day-long winter period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that ends on February 19 and is followed by a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which starts from February 20 to March 1. (GNS)

After LS, RS gives nod to bill granting ST status to Paharis in J&K

Srinagar, Feb 09 (KNO): Three days after being cleared by the Lok Sabha, the Raya Sabha on Friday approved the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to grant scheduled tribe (ST) status to Paharis and three other communities in the Union Territory.

The Rajya Sabha today passed the bill to include Paharis, Paddaris, Gadda Braman and Koli communities in the Scheduled Tribes list of J&K.

As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the bill was passed in the Upper House via voice vote. With the passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Paharis have now been included in the ST list. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 26, 2023.

The Rajya Sabha also cleared the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to include Valmiki community in the Scheduled Caste list of J&K.

It is worthwhile to mention that the J & K administration has repeatedly maintained that ST status to Paharis won’t affect 10 percent reservation available to Gujjar-Bakerwal community.

On February 6, 2023, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had stated that inclusion of these communities in the Scheduled Tribes list will have no impact on current level of reservations available to Gujjars, Bakarwals & other tribes & they will continue to get reservations like before.

“After the bill is cleared in Rajya Sabha, the UT administration will issue necessary notifications ensuring that the people included in the existing list of Scheduled Tribes continue to get the same level of reservation,” Sinha had said—(KNO)

‘Only 30% Govt, Pvt Schools of JK have internet connection available for students, staff’

Srinagar, Feb 09 (KNO): In Jammu and Kashmir only 30 percent of overall government and recognized private schools have internet connection available for the students and staff members—thus raising a question on communicating and teaching students virtually.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the current official reveal that only ‘5115’ government-run-schools have internet like facilities available for the students and the staff members that include 152 girl schools, 4895 co-educational institutes and 68 boys schools.

It also reveals that only one government aided school has an internet connection available.

The official figures further state that only 34 Kendriya Vidyalaya central schools were having the internet like facilities available for the students and staff.

According to the official figures, a total of 36 schools run by the Wakf Board were having internet facilities available.

About the recognized private schools of Jammu and Kashmir, the official figures reveal that only 3335 educational institutes were having internet facilities available that includes 3312 co-educational private, 20 girls and 13 boys’ schools.

Pertinently, in August 2023, the Jammu and Kashmir government had initiated providing of smart classes in more than 23,000 public schools with educationally backwards blocks on priority.

The government had said that it took the initiative of providing a computer lab with smart class facilities in all the 23,283 schools of the Union Territory (UT).”

It also states that the government was keen to take up the digital initiates on priority for the schools falling in educationally backwards blocks and tribal areas.

The official figures reveal that at least 1420 were set up at elementary level and over 1500 ICT labs at secondary and senior secondary level.

“Till Aug-2023, 1420 CAL centers have been established at Upper Primary School level and 1588 ICT labs at Secondary and Higher Secondary Level and are functional till date (May-2023),” it reads.

Principal Secretary, School Education Department was not available for his comments—(KNO)