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Sunday,
June 29, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Kalam for herbal gardens in border belt
Rs 2.25 lakh relief for torture victim |
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CAG points finger at Health Dept Khalil joins People’s Conference One killed in Pak firing 33 B’deshis held in Samba sector
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Kalam for herbal gardens in border belt Srinagar, June 28
Soon after his visit to the Hazratbal shrine, the President flew to the forward area of Uri in north Kashmir where he met the Army authorities and interacted with the locals. Later he held discussions with legislators before his departure for New Delhi. Dr Kalam has called for generating commercial activity for people living in the border belt of Jammu and Kashmir. This view, according to an official spokesman, was put forth by the President at a high-level meeting here last evening. The President suggested that the government should encourage establishment of herbal gardens in the border belt. He said the medicinal plants with readymade market and value addition can transform the economic conditions of the people. Another area, he suggested for promotion, in the belt is small scale and cottage industries, which too has tremendous potential. Governor S.K. Sinha, Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, Chief Secretary, Sudhir S. Bloeria, and other senior state government functionaries, besides GOC-in-Chief Northern Command Lt. Gen. Hari Prashad, GOC 15 Corp Lt. Gen. V.G. Patankar, were among those who attended the meeting. Dr Kalam listed several measures to boost economic development in Jammu and Kashmir with special emphasis on border areas and advised the state government to take steps for spreading knowledge in different parts of the state. He suggested that the border areas need e-governance more than any other area and the information technology should be utilised to improve governance in this state. Dr Kalam said that in the present day, application of information technology has become almost a necessity for the nation and Jammu and Kashmir must keep pace with the new trends. He said computer education should be provided in all schools of the state.
The President also stressed the need for strengthening infrastructure in the border belts and said coupled with commercial activity, it would really transform the overall economy of the border areas. Making a strong plea for taking the technology advancement to rural areas in the state, Dr Kalam, known for his in-depth knowledge about science and technology, observed that he found cities of Jammu and Srinagar highly congested. He said that the inflow from the rural areas to urban areas needs to be reversed by creating urban type facilities in rural areas. He said the focus of industrialisation should also shift from urban to rural areas. During his interaction with students of Delhi Public School and Women’s College here this afternoon, Mr Kalam exhorted them to work hard, achieve excellence by defeating problems and not letting problems defeat them. At the Delhi Public School, the President interacted with the students asking questions to little children between the age of six and 12, who also asked a few questions to the first citizen of the country. The students who presented a cultural programme offered gifts with little boys and girls dressed in traditional, Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist dresses from three different regions of the State, were excited by the presence of the President. He also interacted with the students of the women’s college, MA Road, where it was the turn of the eighth President to visit the College during 53-year history. It was the first time for Delhi Public School, which became functional here in March last. At Hazratbal shrine to pay obeisance early this morning, Dr Kalam began with the recitation from the Quran praising the attributes of the Almighty and saying that Allah is great. He praised the humanism and benevolent character of the Prophet Muhammad and his message of peace. He emphasised the need for following the righteous path and performing good deeds to make a healthy society. The shrine housing the Holy Relic of the Prophet Muhammad, is the most reverred religious centre in Kashmir commanding the highest respect of the people. Dr Kalam, arrived at the shrine situated on the western shore of the Dal Lake, in a motorboat accompanied by Governor, S.K. Sinha and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and other senior officers. As the mechanised boat carrying first citizen of the country touched the bank of the lake, a large number of people waiting for the President there welcomed him. The President reciprocated by waving. The boat journey took 15 minutes to reach the shrine. Mediapersons, particularly the electronic media were strategically positioned to capture the event. |
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Omar Abdullah
not invited Srinagar, June 28 Mr Omar said no invitation had been sent to him but he was not sure who was responsible for it. By convention, the local MP is invited to functions attended by VVIPs like President or the Prime Minister. The state Protocol Department was unwilling to comment on this.
— PTI |
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Rs 2.25 lakh relief for torture victim Srinagar, June 28 The commission, comprising Mr Justice A Q Parry, chairperson, in its judgement passed in the case recommended that the victim, Mr Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, resident of EhamaMawar, Handwara, might be employed under relevant provisions of the jobs reserved for disabled and handicapped persons. The SHRC pointed out that the person was no doubt entitled to a compensation which could be awarded to him by the competent court, in case, he approached it and was advised legally to do so. The commission observed that although the government had formulated a scheme of Rs 75,000 for permanent disability, but Mr Sheikh, the victim in this case, had three permanent disabilities, — both his legs and four fingers of his left hand have been amputated. The commission while taking all three disabilities into account held that an ex gratia relief of Rs 75,000, be awarded for each disability. A case under FIR, No: 54/95;U/S 325, RPC was registered at Handwara police station and during the investigation steps were taken to trace out the accused person, without any success. According to the report of Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir Range, when the victim had visited a bazar to purchase some eatables on October 31, 1994, he was lifted by some unknown security personnel and interrogated ruthlessly. The mother of the victim, Khatija, searched for her son but in vain. After a month there were newspaper reports that Nazir had been admitted to the Joint Hospital Barzulla, Srinagar.
— UNI |
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CAG points finger at Health Dept Jammu, June 28 The report said drugs costing Rs 11.91 lakh, purchased from nine suppliers in between 1999-2001, did not conform to specifications laid down in the Drug Act. As per the terms of supply, drugs supplied should conform to the specifications laid down in the Drug Act and payment to suppliers is released after successful test-reports of drugs by the Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO). But by the time the analytical reports of the drugs were received, these had already been issued and administered to patients in different health institutions across Jammu division. The Health Department neither bothered to study the impact of these drugs on patients, nor took any action, the report said. Not only this but an amount of Rs 85,000 and Rs 1.90 lakh were also released towards the payment for these drugs. The state unit of the BJP has demanded a probe and action against health department officials for their negligence.
— PTI |
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Khalil joins People’s Conference Srinagar, June 28 The People’s Conference and the People’s League are both part of the 25-party Hurriyat amalgam. “The league is marred by various contradictions and my efforts to unite its various groups didn’t achieve any results,” Mr Khalil said after he was welcomed by People’s Conference chief Sajjad Gani Lone. Though Mr Khalil cited differences with the League leadership for his decision, it is believed that the move was prompted by the party’s decision to replace him on the Hurriyat executive.
— PTI |
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One killed in Pak firing Jammu, June 28 Official sources said the Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling in which one civilian was killed and three others were injured. Several families migrated to safer places. Many structures were damaged. The sources said the Indian troops retaliated “suitably” and pounded several Pakistani bunkers across Dras. Since 1999,when Dras and Kargil witnessed fierce battle the sector has been witnessing intermittent firing by the Pakistani forces. |
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33 B’deshis held in Samba sector Jammu, June 28 Defence sources said the troops apprehended the Bangladeshis near Nanga border out post in the Samba sector, when they were trying to cross over to Pakistan at 7.30 a.m. Meanwhile, BSF personnel apprehended 49 Myanmarese near A.M.K. border out post in the R.S. Pura sector last evening, when they were trying to cross over to the other side of border. The arrested nationals included 24 men, 18 women and 9 children.
— UNI |
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