J&K gets Rs 154.57 cr fisheries projects under PMMSY
Srinagar, July 28: Jammu and Kashmir has received approval for fisheries and aquaculture projects worth Rs 154.57 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with a central share of Rs 81.43 crore, according to government data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh. The figures were placed in reply to an unstarred question by Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed, Congress MP from Lakshadweep, who had sought Union Territory-wise details of projects sanctioned, funds allocated and utilised under the scheme over the last five years. The Minister said PMMSY, in effect since 2020-21, has approved projects worth Rs 1,032.66 crore across seven Union Territories, with a combined central share of Rs 844.37 crore, of which Rs 246.55 crore has been released and Rs 201.57 crore utilised so far. Jammu and Kashmir's Rs 154.57 crore project cost is about 15 percent of the national total, the third highest among the seven Union Territories after Puducherry's Rs 357.19 crore and Andaman and Nicobar Islands' Rs 280.67 crore. Of the Rs 81.43 crore central share approved for Jammu and Kashmir, Rs 79.61 crore has already been released, a release rate of nearly 98 percent, far higher than any other Union Territory. Of the funds released, Rs 63.44 crore has been utilised so far, a utilisation rate of about 80 percent. The pace of fund release to Jammu and Kashmir stands in sharp contrast to the rest of the country. Nationally, only about 29 percent of the total central share approved has been released so far, while Jammu and Kashmir alone accounts for nearly a third of all funds released to Union Territories under the scheme. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, by comparison, had received only Rs 20 crore of its Rs 257.16 crore central share, a release rate of under 8 percent. According to the details of key projects, Jammu and Kashmir's approved projects include 751 trout raceways, five trout hatcheries, five fish feed mills, 70 fish kiosks, 66 live fish vending centres, 211 three-wheelers with ice boxes, 21 refrigerated vehicles, 64 biofloc units, eight Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) units and 18 value-added enterprises. The reply said 88,225 fishers in Jammu and Kashmir have been covered under livelihood and nutritional support components of the scheme. The reply also said a Cold-Water Fisheries Cluster has been notified in Anantnag district under the scheme, aimed at strengthening trout and cold-water fish production infrastructure in the district. Ladakh, the other Union Territory with a cold-water fisheries focus, has similarly seen a Cold-Water Fisheries Cluster notified in Kargil district. Responding to the part of the question on island Union Territories, the Minister said projects approved for Lakshadweep, worth Rs 71.51 crore, include seaweed culture units, deep sea fishing vessels, ornamental fish units and the development of integrated coastal villages, along with the notification of a Seaweed Cluster. Andaman and Nicobar Islands' approved projects include fish hatcheries, deep sea fishing vessels and the development of a Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabandar, besides the notification of a Tuna Cluster. The Minister said Chandigarh has not taken up any project under PMMSY so far.
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73 Sports Medal Winners of Chandigarh University get government jobs in 2025-26
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Popees Accelerates North India Expansion with Launch of 112th Global Store in Zirakpur, Punjab
Popees Baby Care, one of India's leading baby care brands, has accelerated its North India expansion with the inauguration of its 112th retail store globally at Zirakpur, Punjab. The new outlet represents the company's second store in North India , following its successful Chandigarh launch, and signals its commitment to building a stronger retail presence across the region. Strategically located at Pooja Plazzio on the Ambala-Chandigarh Expressway , the store was inaugurated by Mr. Bhuvnesh Haritash of Trinetra International . Popees Baby Care marks its entry into Punjab with the grand launch of its first-ever store in Zirakpur, expanding its global footprint The new outlet offers Popees' complete portfolio of premium baby care solutions, including infant apparel, newborn essentials, diapers, wipes, skincare and bath products, organic baby care items and sustainable bamboo-based clothing, catering to children from birth to four years of age. Commenting on the expansion, Shaju Thomas, Founder & CMD, Popees Baby Care , said, "North India represents one of our key growth markets. The encouraging customer response to our Chandigarh store has strengthened our confidence in the region. The launch of our Zirakpur outlet is another important step in making Popees more accessible to families while expanding our retail footprint in high-potential markets." Founded in 2003, Popees has evolved into one of India's most trusted baby care brands through its unwavering commitment to quality, safety and innovation. Every product undergoes 28 rigorous quality checks , ensuring the highest standards for infants and toddlers. With 112 stores across India and the Middle East, Popees continues to pursue an ambitious retail expansion strategy backed by product innovation and customer-centric growth. The company has already identified Karnal and Yamuna Nagar as its next destinations in North India, further strengthening its vision of making safe, premium and affordable baby care products easily accessible to families across the country. About Popees Baby Care Founded in 2003, Popees Baby Care is one of India's leading baby care brands, offering a comprehensive range of products designed for infants and toddlers. The company manufactures and retails baby apparel, newborn essentials, diapers, wipes, bath and skincare products, organic baby care solutions, and eco-friendly bamboo-based products. Renowned for its commitment to quality, safety and comfort, every Popees product undergoes 28 stringent quality checks before reaching consumers. Headquartered in Kerala, Popees has grown into a trusted brand with a strong retail presence across India and the Middle East. With 109 stores globally and a rapidly expanding footprint, the company continues to make safe, affordable and high-quality baby care products accessible to families through its extensive retail network and digital platforms. www.popees.com .
Petrol bomb hurled at BJP office in Punjabs Sangrur
In a shocking incident late Monday, a petrol bomb was reportedly hurled at the Sangrur BJP office. Police swiftly responded and launched an investigation, examining nearby CCTV footage for leads. Officials disclosed that a beer bottle was ingeniously repurposed to hold the petrol device. An FIR will follow, and authorities assure that the perpetrators will be apprehended shortly.
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The most valuable asset in a democracy is neither a political party nor a charismatic leader. It is the trust of the voter. Every election is built upon a simple understanding: citizens cast their votes for a candidate, a party, an ideology, and a vision for governance. Yet, across India, this understanding is increasingly being tested by a political culture in which defections, splits, mergers, and realignments have become commonplace. The question that emerges is both simple and profound: who truly owns the voters mandate? Over the last decade, Indian politics has witnessed an unprecedented wave of political migration. Maharashtra saw a dramatic split within Shiv Sena, where a large section of legislators moved with the faction led by Eknath Shinde, fundamentally altering the states political landscape. In West Bengal, defections between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP became a defining feature of electoral competition, with leaders crossing party lines in pursuit of new political opportunities. Political commentators have increasingly described defections not as isolated incidents but as a recurring feature of contemporary politics. These developments raise uncomfortable questions for representative democracy. If voters elect a representative on one partys symbol and that representative later changes allegiance, does the mandate belong to the individual politician or to the political platform on which the election was won? While the Constitution provides legal mechanisms to deal with defections, the moral and democratic questions remain unresolved. This debate has particular relevance for Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory is undergoing a crucial phase in its democratic journey. After years of political uncertainty, elected institutions are once again expected to serve as the primary channel through which public aspirations are articulated. At such a moment, political stability and ideological coherence are not merely matters of party interest; they are essential to democratic confidence. The pressure on political parties in Jammu and Kashmir is therefore unlike that in many other regions. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, for instance, occupies a strategically important position in national politics. Its parliamentary representation has enhanced its relevance in negotiations concerning issues affecting the region. Yet greater political relevance also brings greater internal pressure. Expectations from party workers rise, regional interests become more assertive, and differences within leadership structures become more visible. Recent public statements by some party leaders and parliamentarians have occasionally revealed tensions between individual political positions and broader party messaging. Such developments are not unique to the National Conference; they are visible across Indias political spectrum. However, they highlight a challenge faced by all democratic parties: how to balance internal debate with organizational discipline. A party that cannot accommodate dissent risks becoming rigid, while a party unable to maintain coherence risks appearing divided. The challenge becomes even more significant when governance expectations remain high. Citizens are waiting for visible progress on employment, infrastructure, investment, and public services. Questions surrounding cabinet restructuring, administrative priorities, and policy implementation naturally generate debate within political circles. In such circumstances, any perception of internal instability can create uncertainty among party workers and voters alike. The larger concern, however, extends beyond any single party. The normalization of defections has gradually transformed Indian politics from a contest of ideas into a contest of political arithmetic. Numbers have begun to overshadow narratives. Legislative strength increasingly appears vulnerable to post-election realignments, creating a perception that electoral outcomes can be modified long after votes have been counted. Defenders of political realignment argue that elected representatives must retain the freedom to leave parties that no longer reflect their beliefs. Critics counter that most defections are driven less by ideology than by calculations of power and political survival. The truth may vary from case to case, but the cumulative effect is undeniable: public trust in representative politics is weakened whenever voters feel that their mandate can be transferred without their consent. For Jammu and Kashmir, this lesson is particularly important. The regions political future depends not merely on electoral participation but on sustained faith in democratic institutions. Political parties must therefore recognize that maintaining internal cohesion, respecting voter expectations, and providing stable governance are essential responsibilities. Democracy cannot thrive if electoral mandates become temporary arrangements subject to constant renegotiation. Ultimately, the question is not whether defections are legal. The more important question is whether they strengthen the bond between voters and their representatives. Democracy survives not because politicians change sides, but because citizens believe their vote continues to matter after the election is over. As India witnesses an era of unprecedented political mobility, Jammu and Kashmir must guard against a culture in which political loyalty becomes secondary to political opportunity. The future of democratic representation depends on preserving the integrity of the mandate entrusted by the people. For in the end, the voters mandate belongs neither to parties nor to politicians. It belongs to the people who cast it. Author is Assistant Professor at UILS, Chandigarh University. Views are personal.
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