J&K Economy on the rise despite Covid-19

Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s performance during 2019-20 augurs well for the economic health of the Union Territory. One can see that the Union Territory’s all round economic activities including manufacturing, business, agriculture, animal husbandry, public health and utilities and industry oriented education are all going on the right track despite Covid-19.

          The Bank’s balance Sheet for the financial year 2019-20 showed an operating profit of Rs. 1525.05 crore. The Bank has made big changes in its lending policy and public service, according to its Chairman and Managing Director R.K. Chibber. He told the Annual General Body meeting of its shareholders last month that how the Bank has shifted its focus to retail and agriculture lending across the country and corporate lending has been restricted to top rated corporate. The shift has begun yielding favourite results”. This was a great achievement in the face of Covid-19 which has caused world over unprecedented disruption in the economic activities.

          The Bank has played a crucial role in reviving business life in the Union Territory and restoring people’s faith in it. The Bank’s campaign to expand its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) services is proving a great boon to its customers. Mr. Chibber, on another occasion, said it was Bank’s mission to extend basic banking services to people irrespective of their location and status.

          The health of Jammu and Kashmir Bank being in the pink has its reflection on all segments of life-economic and social. The success of the back to village programme, agriculture education’s enthusiasm to push this sector beyond traditional farming, spread of education, success of tourism industry, supply of electricity and tap water to every home and the popularity of Panchayats all owe, directly or indirectly to the good health of Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

          The back to village programme is proceeding according to the plan. Its first two phases recorded success. Now it is in its third phase. Economic sustainability of the village people has been the target of these three phases Jammu and Kashmir Bank has shifted to lending Policy in favour of retailers and farmers. It is expanding to ATM facilities to benefit farmers and also women.

          To make villages economically viable for villagers there is proposal to promote rural tourism which would create an economic chain by helping villagers to display their crafts and their tourism and cultural potential. In fact what are called Kashmiri art and craft and culture are all rooted in its villages. It will boost cottage industry. It is proposed that the year 2021 will be promoted a s “Dekho Apna Desh” to boost domestic tourism.

          One known reason why people leave their hearth and home in their native villages is the feeling they cannot get justice there. But now with a strong Panchayat system backed by the people such a feeling may go. It is through Panchayats that the Rural Developments Department looks into issues concerning wage payment of various works under it.

          Farmer’s dependence on their cattle is crucial. In case they fall sick or die, the farmer is ruined. To mitigate their tragedy, Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla Dr. G. N. Ittoo launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) which will provide free vaccination to cattle. He said various initiatives were being taken to help cattle rearer. All this is to boost daily development. He suggested that young people should choose dairy development as their careers.

          There is a good news for poor villagers. The Union Territory Government has launched a unique scheme to make poor villagers owners of sheep or goats for free. Under this scheme, says Principal Secretary of Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department Navin K Choudhary, each beneficiary of this scheme will be given 25 sheep or 10 goats free with the condition that in the third year of this gift the receiver will start going to the Department with five young ones of sheep or two of goats till the fifth year. Thus it is a win-win case for the Department and the receiver of sheep or goats. This scheme is part of just launched Integrated Sheep Development Scheme 2020-21. It aims at bridging the gap between demand and supply of mutton in the Union Territory.

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUASTK) with its researched in-puts and innovative ideas is a great boost to not only agriculture but fishery, too.

 

Mahakama yawataka mawakili wa utetezi katika kesi ya kina Mpemba kuacha lugha tamu tamu kana kwamba kesi yao imeiva.

Mahakama imewataka mawakili wa utetezi katika kesi ya kukutwa na nyara za serikali zenye thamani ya sh. Milioni 785.6 inayomkabili Yusufu Yusufu maarufu kama Mpemba kuacha kuwaeleza washtakiwa lugha tamu tamu kana kwamba kesi yao imeiva.

Hakimu Mkazi Thomasi Simba wa mahakama ya hakimu Mkazi Kisutu aliwaambia mawikili hao kuwaeleza ukweli washtakiwa na siyo kuwapa lugha tamu wakati wakijua fika safari yao bado ni ndefu na mbele kuna shubiri.

Hatua hiyo ilikuja wakati kesi hiyo asubuhi ilipofika mahakamani hapo kwa ajili ya kutajwa na Wakili wa serikali Elia Athanas kuieleza Mahakama kuwa jalada la kesi liko kwa RCO.

"Mheshimwa kesi leo imekuja kwa ajili ya kutajwa lakini jalada bado liko kwa RCO kwenye utaratibu wa kuandaliwa vijarada mbali mbali kwa ajili ya kupeleka mahakama ya mafisadi.

Lakini kabla kesi haijaahirishwa mawakili wa utetezi wakiongozwa na Nehemia Nkoko waliwataka Jamhuri  kumpa presha RCO ili amalize kuandaa hayo majarada na kesi iende mahakama ya mafisadi.

" kutokana na kauli za jamuhuri inaonekana kuwa upelelezi haujakamilika tu naomba wawe na kauli moja kuwa upelelezi bado", walisema.

Baada ya hoja hizo hakimu Simba aliwataka mawakili wawe wawazi kwa washtakiwa, waache kuwafanya wajue  kwamba jalada likitoka kwa RCO linarudi moja kwa moja mahakamani wakati wanajua fika kuwa ni lazima liende kwa DPP kisha Kisutu kwa Committal tayari kwa kwenda mahakama ya mafisadi.

"Safari bado ni ndefu sana kwa washtakiwa, acheni kuwaeleza lugha tamu tamu wakati unajua mlolongo mzima" alisema hakimu Simba

Awali, upande wa Jamhuri uliiambia Mahakama hiyo kuwa jalada hilo liko kwa Kamanda wa Polisi wa Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam, Simon Sirro analifanyia kazi ili liende ngazi zingine kwa hatua zaidi.

Mkuu huyo akishamaliza kulifanyia kazi atalipeleka kwa Mkurugenzi wa Mashitaka (DPP), Biswalo Mganga kwa hatua zaidi za kulitolea uamuzi atakaoona unafaa katika kesi hiyo

Mbali na Mpemba ambaye ni mkazi wa Tegeta, washitakiwa wengine ni Charles Mrutu (37) wa Mlimba, Morogoro, Benedict Kungwa (40) wa Mbagala Chamazi, Jumanne Chima (30) wa Mbezi, Ahmed Nyagongo (33) dereva na Pius Kulagwa (46).

Washitakiwa hao wanadaiwa kujihusisha na mtandao wa ujangili na biashara ya meno ya tembo yenye thamani ya Sh milioni 785.6.

Ilidaiwa kuwa katika tarehe zisizofahamika kati ya Januari 2014 na Oktoba, mwaka jana wakiwa Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Iringa na Mtwara, walikusanya na kuuza vipande 50 vya meno ya tembo vyenye thamani ya dola 180,000 sawa na Sh milioni 392.8 mali ya Serikali bila kibali cha Mkurugenzi wa Wanyamapori.

Aliendelea kudai kuwa katika mashitaka ya pili, Oktoba 26 mwaka jana washitakiwa wakiwa Mbagala Zakhem, Temeke walikutwa na vipande 10 vyenye uzito wa kilo 13.85 na thamani ya dola 30,000 sawa na Sh milioni 65.4.

Ilidaiwa kuwa katika mashitaka ya tatu, Oktoba 27 mwaka jana washitakiwa wakiwa Tabata Kisukuru, walikutwa na vipande vinne vyenye uzito wa kilo 11.1 na thamani ya dola 15,000 sawa na Sh milioni 32.7.

Pia Oktoba 29 mwaka jana walikutwa na vipande 36 vya thamani ya Sh milioni 294.6.

Kesi imeahirishwa hadi Februari 21 mwaka huu.