Banihal, Jul 12: The eleventh batch of pilgrims undertaking the annual Amarnath Yatra left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu during the early hours of Sunday amid stringent security arrangements, with more than 9,100 devotees proceeding towards the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam.

According to officials, a total of 9,153 pilgrims departed in a convoy of 359 vehicles. Of them, 3,429 pilgrims were headed for the shorter Baltal route in 149 vehicles, while 5,724 pilgrims left for the traditional Pahalgam route in 210 vehicles.

The batch comprised 6,522 men, 2,233 women, 18 children, 267 sadhus, 112 sadhvis, and one sadhu child. No foreign pilgrims or transgender pilgrims were part of Sunday’s convoy, officials said.

The convoy was escorted under a multi-layer security grid by personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and other security agencies. Separate escort teams accompanied both the Baltal- and Pahalgam-bound convoys to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Officials said the Baltal-bound convoy had reached Banihal by the morning, while the Pahalgam-bound convoy halted at the Chanderkote Yatri Langar in Ramban for breakfast before continuing its journey towards the Kashmir Valley under tight security and regulated traffic arrangements.

With the departure of the eleventh batch, the cumulative number of pilgrims who have left Jammu for the ongoing pilgrimage has reached 79,947, reflecting the smooth and steady progress of this year’s annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine in the Himalayas.

Ramban, Jul 11: Ramban Police have initiated preventive action against 10 persons for allegedly approaching and attempting to board vehicles carrying Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims to sell fruits and other items along the Yatra route in Banihal.

According to police, the action was taken by Police Station Banihal under Sections 126/136 of the BharatiyaNagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) as part of measures to ensure the safe and smooth conduct of the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

Police said that despite repeated advisories, the individuals continued approaching Yatra vehicles without authorisation, causing inconvenience to pilgrims and posing a potential risk to public order and security. Consequently, preventive reports have been submitted before the Executive Magistrate, First Class (Tehsildar), Banihal, for appropriate legal proceedings.

Officials said the preventive action is aimed at maintaining security and ensuring the uninterrupted movement of Yatra convoys along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Ramban Police appealed to vendors, hawkers and residents to refrain from approaching or boarding vehicles carrying pilgrims and to cooperate with the security arrangements put in place for the annual pilgrimage.

The police warned that strict preventive action would continue against anyone found violating the prescribed security guidelines during the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra to ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims.

Jammu, Jul 11: Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday asserted that the lavender revolution in Bhaderwah-Doda delineated the power of science-led rural entrepreneurship.

He stated that Doda district had the potential to evolve into a unique hub for Himalayan startups, innovation.

The Union Minister of State in PMO was addressing the two-day hybrid mode conference organised by Government Degree College, Doda.

Dr Jitendra, who is also the Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences besides being the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 democratised aptitude-based learning and created a level playing field for students from tier-2 and tier-3 towns such as Doda to compete with their counterparts in metropolitan cities.

He said NEP 2020 had broken the rigidity of conventional education by allowing students to pursue subjects based on aptitude rather than compulsion, while shifting the focus of higher education from degrees to skills, innovation and entrepreneurship.

“A degree is no longer a trophy, and employment no longer means only a government job,” he said, adding that the policy has prepared India’s youth for the emerging knowledge economy.

Speaking on the theme “Implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 in Jammu & Kashmir: Challenges of inclusion, equity and accessibility” through virtual mode, Dr Jitendra congratulated Government Degree College, Doda, particularly Principal Dr Javed Iqbal, for organising a timely academic deliberation on one of the most significant educational reforms undertaken in independent India. He described the institution as one of the oldest and most distinguished educational centres in the region, carrying a rich legacy of higher learning that has served generations of students across the erstwhile Doda district.

Recalling the educational history of the region, Dr Jitendra said there was a time when students from far-flung areas travelled long distances to Doda and Bhaderwah to pursue higher education because educational institutions were scarce. He said the district possessed a strong academic heritage and had the potential to evolve into a major educational hub by building upon its longstanding legacy and expanding opportunities for future generations.

The Minister said NEP 2020 fundamentally changed the education landscape by replacing rigid academic pathways with flexibility and multidisciplinary learning. “Students are no longer confined to subjects chosen under circumstances or social expectations but are free to pursue disciplines aligned with their aptitude and passion. This has improved academic standards, made classrooms more vibrant and strengthened the relationship between teachers and students by encouraging learning driven by curiosity rather than compulsion,” he said.

Sharing an example from one of the early institutions implementing the policy, Dr Jitendra said a literature professor had expressed her delight at finding students from science streams voluntarily attending her classes simply because of their genuine interest in literature. Such experiences, he said, reflected the transformative spirit of the National Education Policy.

Dr Jitendra said the country also moved beyond the mindset that education was meant only for securing government employment. He observed, “The present era belongs to skills, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.” Referring to India’s startup ecosystem, he said the country had nearly 350 startups in 2014, whereas currently their number crossed 2.3 lakh, making India the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. More than half of these startups, he noted, were emerging from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, demonstrating that innovation was no longer confined to metropolitan centres.

Highlighting the Lavender Revolution initiated under the CSIR Aroma Mission, Dr Jitendra said the success story of Bhaderwah and Doda disproved the notion that entrepreneurship was restricted to information technology or metropolitan regions.

“Beginning from a small patch of land in Bhaderwah, lavender cultivation has expanded across Doda district, neighbouring areas, Kashmir valley and several other Himalayan states, creating new livelihood opportunities and strengthening the rural economy. The model has shown that technology-enabled agriculture, local resources and scientific interventions can generate sustainable employment and successful enterprises,” he said.

The Minister encouraged Government Degree College, Doda to develop a distinct institutional identity by promoting entrepreneurship in areas where the region enjoys natural advantages. He suggested establishing incubation support for Himalayan products, aroma-based enterprises and allied sectors in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH, the Department of AYUSH, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, and CSIR’s Aroma Mission. Such initiatives, he said, would not only generate livelihoods but also promote wellness products, tourism and value-added rural enterprises.

Dr Jitendra informed that the region was witnessing the development of several important institutions and facilities, including a Himalayan laboratory and other scientific infrastructure, creating opportunities for greater synergy among research institutions, academia, industry and startups. He said educational institutions should actively participate in this emerging ecosystem by connecting students with research, innovation and enterprise.

The Minister also called upon colleges to familiarise students with flagship government initiatives that support entrepreneurship and self-employment, including the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and PM Vishwakarma Yojana. He said policy reforms advanced rapidly and educational institutions must ensure that awareness about these opportunities reached students so they could convert their knowledge and traditional skills into sustainable livelihoods.

Referring to the transformative role of technology, Dr Jitendra said digital connectivity removed geographical barriers, enabling talented youth from remote regions to access quality learning resources, prepare for competitive examinations and build successful careers without leaving their hometowns.

The increasing representation of candidates from remote areas in national competitive examinations and the growing number of startups emerging from smaller towns, he said, reflected this changing reality.

Calling the present period one of the most promising for India’s youth, the Union minister said the generation currently pursuing education would lead the country during the centenary year of Independence in 2047. He urged teachers and educational institutions to mentor students with a long-term vision so that they become innovators, entrepreneurs, responsible citizens and nation-builders capable of contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat.