Srinagar, June 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has banned begging across the capital city of Srinagar, urging the general public to report any such activity to facilitate appropriate rehabilitation measures under the Centre-sponsored Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme, officials said.

The officials said the scheme, being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is being actively enforced in the district with a focus on rehabilitation, social support and reintegration into society rather than punitive measures.

They said the govt has pressed mobile publicity vans into service across Srinagar to raise awareness about the ban on begging. Through public announcements, residents are being informed that begging is prohibited and are being urged to assist authorities in identifying individuals engaged in the activity.

The district administration stated that over 1,000 individuals involved in begging have been rehabilitated over the past two years. Depending on their age and circumstances, they have been provided accommodation in old-age homes, shelter homes and juvenile care institutions.

Authorities said a substantial number of those rescued and rehabilitated were juveniles. Children found begging are being provided protection, counselling, education-related support and access to welfare schemes through the established rehabilitation framework.

The administration said the campaign is aimed at addressing the growing presence of beggars, particularly children, at markets, traffic junctions, roadsides and tourist destinations across Srinagar. Officials noted that many such children are vulnerable to exploitation and require institutional support and care.

The move has received support from residents, who have welcomed the administration’s efforts to curb begging and protect vulnerable children. Several citizens said the presence of juvenile beggars in public places had become a matter of concern and that rehabilitation was a more sustainable solution.

The district administration has appealed to the public not to encourage begging by offering money on the streets. Instead, residents have been asked to immediately inform the Srinagar district administration or designated SMILE Scheme officials whenever they come across any person engaged in begging anywhere in the district.

Officials said awareness campaigns, rescue operations and rehabilitation measures will continue across Srinagar to ensure social protection, child welfare and the successful reintegration of vulnerable individuals into mainstream society.

Srinagar, June 17: Child Rights and You (CRY) in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Association of Social Workers (JKASW), facilitated the handover ceremony of a comprehensive Five-Year Strategic Roadmap for Mission POSHAN Jammu & Kashmir to the Directorate of Mission POSHAN, J&K.

The roadmap provides a strategic framework for strengthening nutrition, health and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services for children below six years of age, pregnant women, and lactating mothers across Jammu & Kashmir.

It focuses on improving outcomes through effective implementation of Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 while supporting the goals of NEP 2020 through strengthened ECCE services in Anganwadi Centres.

Key recommendations include the constitution of a State Resource Group, contextualisation of ECCE curriculum and learning materials, capacity building of officials and frontline workers, strengthening infrastructure and human resources, enhancing inter-departmental convergence, promoting community participation, leveraging digital platforms such as the POSHAN Tracker, and strengthening monitoring and accountability systems.

The handover ceremony was attended by Sarmad Hafeez, Commissioner Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, and Sajad Hussain Ganie, Director Mission POSHAN, J&K. Representatives from CRY and JKASW, District Programme Officers, Child Development Project Officers, Supervisors and other stakeholders also participated in the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sarmad Hafeez appreciated the collaborative effort in developing the roadmap and expressed the Department’s commitment to exploring its recommendations for strengthening services for children and mothers. Mr. Sajad Hussain Ganie welcomed the initiative and emphasized the importance of evidence-based planning, convergence and continuous capacity building for effective implementation.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Santanu Sarma CRY representatives, who thanked the Department of Social Welfare, Directorate of Mission POSHAN, JKASW and all stakeholders for their contributions to the development of the Five-Year Roadmap and appreciated the collaborative efforts that made the initiative possible.

Emphasising Jammu & Kashmir’s growing role in India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Ghulam Ali Khatana on Monday addressed a press conference ahead of the three-day national exhibition and awareness initiative, “Rise in Jammu & Kashmir 2026 – Building the Path Towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047.”

As per a press release, the mega event, scheduled to be held from June 17 to 19 at SKICC, is being organized by Tarmeh Events under the guidance of Ghulam Ali Khatana and will bring together some of India’s leading public sector enterprises, scientific institutions, government departments, and development organizations on a common platform.

Addressing media persons,Khatana said the exhibition has been conceived as a significant public outreach initiative to showcase India’s developmental journey and the transformative changes taking place across sectors including infrastructure, science and technology, healthcare, agriculture, education, energy, environment, innovation, and public service delivery.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is witnessing unprecedented progress across multiple sectors and that Jammu & Kashmir is emerging as an active participant in the country’s development story. The exhibition, he added, aims to connect citizens—particularly youth, students, entrepreneurs, researchers, and aspiring professionals—with institutions that are driving national growth and innovation.

Khatana stated that “Rise in Jammu & Kashmir 2026” will serve as a platform for creating awareness about flagship national programmes, technological advancements, scientific achievements, and development initiatives that are contributing to the vision of a developed India by 2047. He said the event reflects the spirit of inclusive development and public participation while encouraging greater engagement between citizens and nation-building institutions.

The exhibition is expected to witness participation from several prominent organizations, including NHPC, BIS, ICMR, ISRO, CSIR, ICAR, APEDA, Northern Railway, IRCTC, CPCB, Survey of India, POWERGRID, HURL, NFL, NBCC, REC, NTPC, TRIFED, National Jute Board, NAFED, the Department of Atomic Energy, and various other public sector undertakings, research institutions and government bodies. According to the organisers, the event will feature thematic exhibition pavilions, technology demonstrations, citizen awareness campaigns, interactive displays, innovation showcases, and opportunities for direct engagement between institutions and the public.

The organizers said the exhibition is envisioned as a landmark initiative aimed at highlighting India’s achievements, fostering collaboration, promoting innovation, and inspiring the youth of Jammu & Kashmir to contribute to the realization of the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision. The event is expected to attract students, professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers and members of the general public from across the region.This version reads more like a mainstream newspaper/government-event press release and places the spotlight on Viksit Bharat and the exhibition, rather than on the press conference itself.