DC Poonch Ashok Kumar Sharma felicitated NEET & academic achievers at Shia Federation’s ceremony in Town Hall, Poonch. He called upon students to pursue goals with hard work and dedication.
Lieutenant Governor Lays the Foundation Stone of Mata Lalleshwari Cultural Cum Heritage Centre at Jammu
Lieutenant Governor Lays the Foundation Stone of Mata Lalleshwari Cultural Cum Heritage Centre at JammuLieutenant Governor said that this Centre will preserve the timeless wisdom of Yogini Lalleshwari, promote cultural harmony and inspire future generationsIt will serve as a living repository of Jammu Kashmir’s spiritual legacy, fostering research, spirituality art and social unity: LG SinhaToday, we stand at a significant juncture in our history, where the blessings of our ancestors and their timeless wisdom are converging with the aspirations for a confident, developed and self-reliant Jammu Kashmir: LGMata Lalleshwari Cultural cum Heritage Centre will empower youth through art and creative expression, promote social harmony, and strengthen national integration. It will stand as a monument to India’s cultural soul and a source of national strength: LG SinhaMata Lalleshwari Cultural cum Heritage Centre will contribute to spiritual tourism and economic revitalisation and attract seekers, historians and travellers from all over the world: LG
JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 19: The Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha today laid the foundation stone of the Mata Lalleshwari Cultural Cum Heritage Centre at Mata Bhaderkali Asthapan, Thalwal, Jammu. The project, sanctioned under the Capex budget with an allocation of Rs. 4.5 crore, is envisioned as a landmark initiative to preserve and promote the timeless legacy of Yogini Lalleshwari.Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted that Jammu Kashmir has, since ancient times, been a cradle of sages, saints and seekers of truth. The Centre, dedicated to Mata Lalleshwari, will embody India’s civilisational consciousness and serve as a beacon of cultural harmony, spiritual tourism, and academic research.“This project reminds us of our timeless civilisational consciousness. Today, we stand at a significant juncture in our history, where the blessings of our ancestors and their timeless wisdom are converging with the aspirations for a confident, developed and self-reliant Jammu Kashmir,” he said.The Lieutenant Governor underlined that Mata Lalleshwari’s teachings transcended social divisions and embodied the ideals of tolerance, equality and inner transformation. Her verse, resonating with the highest truths of the Upanishads, continue to inspire generations.“The Centre will act as a living repository of her philosophy, enabling scholars, artists and seekers to engage with her wisdom and disseminate it globally through modern platforms,” the Lieutenant Governor said.He also stated that the centre will not be merely a physical structure but an institutional foundation for cultural preservation. It will host exhibitions, translation initiatives, and archival facilities, while also fostering fellowships in Kashmir Shaivism.“The Centre will empower youth through art and creative expression, promote social harmony, and strengthen national integration,” the Lieutenant Governor said.The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that cultural and heritage centres are a national imperative. He said beyond economic growth, a nation requires civilisational memory and moral direction.“The Mata Lalleshwari Centre will reconnect society with its roots, provide spiritual resources for mental peace, and contribute to grassroots economic vitality by attracting seekers, historians and tourists. The initiative aligns with the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, who has consistently underscored the importance of integrating heritage with development. The Centre will stand as a monument to India’s cultural soul and a source of national strength,” the Lieutenant Governor said.The Lieutenant Governor said that he has been constantly reminding the society that a tree without roots cannot withstand a storm and in the same way, a society disconnected from its foundational visionaries, cultural heritage and the philosophy of its sages loses its balance, sensitivity and sense of direction.“In today’s fast-paced life, people are facing unprecedented mental stress, crises of identity and the challenges of existential loneliness. It is equally true that external, material success alone cannot fill the emptiness within. I believe that the teachings of saints such as Mata Lalleshwari, and the cultural centre dedicated to her, will help fill that void and provide spiritual resources for self-discipline, mental peace and emotional resilience.Mata Lalleshwari Cultural and Heritage Centre will contribute to spiritual tourism and economic revitalisation. In this sacred land, where holy pilgrimage sites, ancient temples and centres of spiritual practice are spread across the region, this centre will attract seekers, historians and travellers from all over the world,” the Lieutenant Governor said.Shri Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary, Culture Department; Shri Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Shri Tejinder Singh, IGP, Jammu; Shri Shridhar Patil, DIG, JSK Range; Dr. Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Shri K.K. Sidha, Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums; Shri Arvind Karwani, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner; Shri Dileep Pandita, President, Mata Bhaderkali Asthapan Trust; Shri Ashok Kaw, General Secretary, Mata Bhaderkali Asthapan Trust; Shri Chand Ji Pandita, Organizing Secretary and other members of the Trust, senior officials, prominent citizens and devotees in large number attended the foundation stone laying ceremony.
The Directorate of Hindi, University of Jammu, in collaboration with the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), today inaugurated the week-long Hindi Week celebrations, being observed from September 14 to 20, 2026, with a ‘Mera Parichay’ activity
The Directorate of Hindi, University of Jammu, in collaboration with the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), today inaugurated the week-long Hindi Week celebrations, being observed from September 14 to 20, 2026, with a ‘Mera Parichay’ activity.
Baramulla Police destroyed approximately 2 kanals of wild bhang in Boniyar during a sustained anti-drug drive, based on inputs from the VPO and Beat Officer
Baramulla Police destroyed approximately 2 kanals of wild bhang in Boniyar during a sustained anti-drug drive, based on inputs from the VPO and Beat Officer
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena directs settlement of rights, claims of local community in protected areas, within two months
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has ordered the complete settlement of rights and claims for local communities across three major protected zones, within two months, which include Hemis National Park, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, and Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary.
One of the key agenda items of the Board meeting was the consideration of the sub-committee report on finalisation of the boundaries of these three protected wildlife areas.
According to a press release, in a development that will have far-reaching implications and offer relief to the local communities, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has directed the completion of the settlement of rights and claims of local communities in three protected areas of Ladakh Hemis National Park, High Altitude Cold Desert (Changthang) Wildlife Sanctuary and Karakoram (Nubra–Shyok) Wildlife Sanctuary within two months.
This will pave the way for a lawful and participatory process for finalising their boundaries, particularly in the newly created districts.
The direction was issued on Friday during the 16th Meeting of the newly constituted State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), UT Ladakh, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor. The decision is expected to bring long-awaited clarity and certainty to local communities, who have been seeking clarity regarding the boundaries of the protected areas and recognition of their longstanding settlements, habitations and traditional rights.
It has been the demand of the local people that settlements and human habitations have existed for a very long time in these areas, which clearly fall outside the purview of the wildlife sanctuary. However, the earlier formed sub-committee included all these areas, the release said.
The erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir government had issued a preliminary notification of the boundaries of these sanctuaries in 1987. However, the Board, while deliberating threadbare on the final notification of the three protected areas, noted that the notification issued by the erstwhile Government of Jammu and Kashmir had not correctly mapped the boundaries of the protected areas on the ground.
LG Saxena, during the Board meeting, observed that the statutory process prescribed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for settlement of rights of individuals and communities residing in the proposed protected areas, has not been undertaken by the Committee. He noted that this process was not initiated and that the delineation of boundaries was carried out through a table-top exercise, without adherence to the legal framework. This rendered the exercise inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, inequitable to affected communities, and susceptible to legal challenges.
The Board observed that several of the areas included in the sub-committee report are of strategic importance and relate to national security, and the mandatory defence considerations were not duly factored into the report of the sub-committee.
Saxena also observed that the international boundaries, as depicted in the Survey of India maps, have not been taken as a reference point, which is essential while determining the limits of any protected area.
Accordingly, taking serious note of the discrepancies, LG Saxena directed that the report of the sub-committee be submitted.
The Board also directed the designated DCs /Settlement Officers to resume the process of public hearings and to complete the proceedings within a period of two months.
Saxena urged the people to come forth with their claims and titles of land and traditional rights, including those on pasture lands, to enable the administration to arrive at a fair decision on the boundaries of these protected areas. The Board noted that an early completion of the settlement process would be of great significance to local communities, as it would bring greater clarity, certainty and recognition to their bona fide rights in these protected areas.
At the same time, it would also provide a clearer framework for wildlife conservation and development activities within these landscapes.
The Board, in its meeting, also ratified 23 important projects and sent them to the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife, Government of India, for clearance. These included proposals relating to power transmission infrastructure in strategically important border areas, defence infrastructure and other essential projects in the Karakoram and Changthang regions.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today reviewed the Action Plan for Promotion of Export of Handicrafts and Handloom Products, aimed at raising J&K’s textile and apparel exports from ₹800 crore to ₹2,000 crore by 2030
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today reviewed the Action Plan for Promotion of Export of Handicrafts and Handloom Products, aimed at raising J&K’s textile and apparel exports from ₹800 crore to ₹2,000 crore by 2030.
He stressed the need to analyse the sector’s strengths, competitive advantages and challenges before finalising the implementation framework, while identifying issues requiring immediate resolution.
CS called for a year-wise strategy with clear targets, measurable milestones and timelines to systematically boost exports of high-value craft products.