Administrative Council gives nod to Jammu and Kashmir Public University Bill

Srinagar : The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, gave nod to the Jammu and Kashmir Public University Bill, 2022.Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor and Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K attended the meeting.

With the view to address the issues regarding a wide variety of universities in J&K and separate Acts governing each university or group of universities with existing regulations, the government intends to frame a common Public University Bill which would apply to all public universities of UT of J&K.

Further the National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020) envisions an education system rooted in Indian ethos that contributes directly to transforming India, sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society, by providing high-quality education to all, and thereby making India a global knowledge superpower.

The NEP 2020, moreover envisages fundamental transformation in the structure of higher education by mandating the transformation of all affiliated colleges to either multidisciplinary research or teaching universities or degree-awarding autonomous institutions by 2035.

The salient features of the current draft includes emphasis on uniformity and flexibility in working of all the higher educational institutions. A number of new provisions have also been introduced to make the functioning of universities transparent and accountable through transparent procedures and public disclosures.

In order to make the recruitment process fully transparent and merit based, screening by the Public Service Commission and reduction in weightage to interview has been proposed for gazetted positions.For non-gazetted positions, it has been proposed to do away with interviews altogether and conduct recruitment through the Service Selection Board.

Screening/recruitment by Public Service Commission’s/ Service Selection Boards have been introduced in varying measures by other states like Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand etc.

AC approves new public distribution system order

Every Panchayat/ULB/Municipal ward to have a FPS

The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2022’.Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor and Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K attended the meeting.

‘The Jammu and Kashmir Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2022 is reform in the existing system and permits diversification of commodities & services other than those distributed under the TPDS at FPS, which will, besides making FPSs economically viable , will help in putting an end to leakage/pilferage.

The new policy shall significantly revise the existing provisions pertaining to opening of new FPS and their licensing and will ensure atleast one FPS in each Panchayat/Municipal Ward/ULB and for this purpose new FPS will be also be established.

The number shall be based on the population of the Panchayat/MunicipalWard/ULB.Opening of new FPSs shall result in livelihood opportunities for unemployed youth as well as for destitute & separated women, orphan girls, as they have been given additional weightage by virtue of this scheme.

In deference to the position of PRIs in the governance structure, the policy stipulates that the location of the Fair Price Shop and transfer of license to dependent family member shall be done in consultation with the concerned Gram Sabha.

The Licensing Authority shall consider the opening of new FPS to cater the need of the rationees in an area, satisfying the indicative norms under the order.The present FPS dealers shall have to obtain a license under this order within 4 months so that uniformity in licensing system can be ensured.

The provisions concerning ration cards, portability, maintenance of records, e-PoS, penalties, monitoring, inspection and removal of difficulties, etc, have also been introduced in the order. The new policy is in consonance with National Food Security Act, 2013 and the guidelines of GoI.