Srinagar, Aug 21: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir is hosting a mega first-of-its-kind science summit ‘Kashmir Science Vision-2024’ on August 23-24 at Shalimar campus. The event is expected to bring together leading scientists, researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and scholars to discuss and develop science and technology policy for the sustainable future of Jammu and Kashmir with a focus on helping the UT to emerge as a model for Viksit Bharat@2047.

The Kashmir Science Vision Summit will feature a dynamic range of keynote lectures, panel discussions and brainstorming sessions.

These discussions will focus on key areas of regional development like Scientific Innovations & Entrepreneurial Opportunities for exploring how technology can be harnessed to drive socio-economic growth and create new business opportunities, Biomedical & New-Age Sciences for advancing healthcare through innovative medical sciences and improving health outcomes for the region’s residents. Food Security & Sustainability for promoting sustainable agricultural practices to ensure long-term food security and environmental health, Biodiversity Conservation & Disaster Management for developing strategies to protect the region’s unique ecosystems and mitigate the impact of natural disasters will also feature in the two-day summit.

The summit aims to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders to ensure that scientific advancements translate into meaningful benefits for Jammu and Kashmir.

Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai said the summit will serve as a catalyst for the region’s sustainable development and strategic growth. “It will be remembered as the spark that ignited science and technology-led future-ready Jammu & Kashmir,” he added.

Pertinent to mention, SKUAST-K is a premier institution dedicated to advancing agricultural sciences and technology. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, the university plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable development and technological progress in the region.

Offers 65% subsidy on rooftop solar, 80% on water pumps

INAM UL HAQ

Srinagar, May 17: Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta Wednesday inaugurated a week-long mega Solar Expo at Kashmir Haat, Exhibition Ground here.

The expo being held from May 17 to May 23 is being organized by J&K Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) in collaboration with multiple vendors of the renewable energy industry and other line departments of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mehta appreciated JAKEDA for organizing the expo saying that the initiative will immensely help in raising awareness among the people about the benefits of rooftop solar plants and other beneficiary-oriented schemes.

He asked JAKEDA to organize more such awareness camps and expos across other parts of the UT so that people there would know about rooftop solar plant, KUSUM scheme and its financing pattern and benefits.

The Chief Secretary said that renewable sources of energy holds the future and government envisions a future with reduced dependence on fossil fuel by promoting renewable energy sources. He also noted that besides reducing carbon emissions, the generation of solar energy through rooftop solar programme would also offset power requirements of domestic consumers in J&K there by aiding our Power Discoms to provide quality power to rest of the consumers.

He maintained that these are the major initiatives aimed at reducing the dependence of people over fossil fuels for energy. He observed that ultimately the future belongs to renewable energy. He further gave out that the energy besides clean and less hazardous is cost-effective for the people. He encouraged them to readily adopt this futuristic technology for both their domestic and agricultural purposes in order to save their resources and environment as well.

Solar Expo at Kashmir Haat. On the occasion, the Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology, Saurabh Bhagat remarked that the department is making concerted efforts to promote both schemes. He made out that Under Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, GoI’s Schemes, domestic electricity consumers across the UT can install Rooftop Solar PV Plants for electricity purpose and can also avail the benefit of installation of solar-powered pumps under PM-KUSUM in order to fulfil their irrigation needs.

Moreover it was made out that under this Rooftop Solar scheme, subsidy upto 65% is being provided to consumers for installing Solar Photovoltaic rooftops. The solar rooftops are available from 1 KW to 10 KW capacity and five years free maintenance is also provided to the consumers.

About the PM-KUSUM, it was said that the same was launched by the Government of India to increase the income of farmers and provide sources for irrigation for the upliftment of agricultural sector. It was also added that the government entails to provide maximum benefit to farmers from this beneficiary oriented scheme.

The scheme allows the farmers to install subsidized Solar Powered Pumps upto 10 HP capacity for irrigation purposes with a choice of AC/DC surface and submersible pumps. Under the KUSUM scheme, the Central and the UT government provides a subsidy of upto 80% while as the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20% cost of the machinery to avail the benefit of the scheme.

Mohmad Iqbal Marazi

                        Iqbal Marazi

The COVID19 pandemic – perhaps more than any other event in human history – has demonstrated the critical importance that telecommunications infrastructure plays in keeping businesses, governments and societies connected and running. Due to the economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic, people across the globe rely on technology for information, for social distancing and working from home.

The telecommunications sector has seen tremendous importance and technological advances over the past few decades, with mobility, broadband and internet services growing in capability and reach across the globe. The International Communication Union (ITU) estimates that there were over 4 billion internet users at the end of 2019. The telecommunications industry consists of digital infrastructure such as fibre, towers, active networks, telephony, video and e-commerce services, etc. The sector has remained ‘mission-critical’ to keep economies moving under the lockdown in at least three different ways:

1) Providing critical connectivity to businesses

2) Facilitating work-from-home arrangements

3) Keeping individuals and societies connected and informed with access to medical, financial, commercial, and other essential services during isolation

COVID19’s IMPACT ON SECTOR

Many telecom players – from broadband to mobile to data centre operators – have benefitted from a surge in the traffic of data and voice, as a result, the telecommunications sector performed well compared to other sectors during the COVID19 pandemic. In sharp contrast to many other industries, the telecommunications sector was exempted from main Covid19-related restrictions such as stay-at-home, quarantine requirements and so on and was recognised as an essential service. Some telecommunication companies have been strengthened by the short-term spike in data traffic and increased use of broadband and internet services, as more people were working from home and relied on video meetings. As a result, the telecom sector remained acyclic throughout the crisis.

 COVID19’s PANDEMIC CHALLENGES

The long-drawn pandemic has taken its toll on telecom sales and distribution networks, especially considering that the footfall of customers at direct franchises has been a major revenue source for the longest time. In many regions, the telecom sector is still reeling from the social distancing measures which has caused an abrupt disconnect between the retail Point of Sale (POS) and subscribers.

As the pandemic restrictions loom over telecom operators, they experience a growing need to develop a robust digital ecosystem, the vulnerability in their existing systems. In an effort to stay resilient in the face of future inevitable events, like the COVID19 pandemic, it is pivotal for telecom companies to increase investment in digital transformation solutions for S&D. Even though many telecom companies are moving towards digitization to bounce back post- COVID19, the inconsistency and lack of synergy in overall sales and distribution (especially across direct and indirect channels) has impeded their growth.

The author is a PG student of economics at HNB Garhwal Central University Uttrakhand. He can be reached at iqbalmarazi999@gmail.com