Rajouri, March 2
Notwithstanding claims of the authorities concerned, farmers of most parts in the Jammu region have been facing a shortage of fertilisers.

After this issue was forcefully raised by BJP and Panthers Party members in the Assembly, Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir has announced steps to ensure timely supply of fertilisers in Jammu district.

The situation is, however, grave in the remotest and far-flung areas the voice of farmers in these belts is yet reach the corridors of power.

“We have been agitating for supply of fertilisers in our area for the past one month but to no avail”, regretted Abdul Rashid of Ghambir Mugla village in Rajouri district. Rashid pointed out that time for using fertilisers was running out. Farmers in most parts of this belt had been facing this problem.

On the one hand the prolonged dry spell had badly affected crops on the other farmers were not getting fertilisers in time. “A large chunk of my land has remained uncultivated due to the prolonged dry spell”, he said, adding that crops in irrigated places were also dying due to the non-availability of fertilisers.

The situation is same in almost all parts of Rajouri district where farmers, on the one hand, have been facing nature’s fury and on the other apathy of the administration. Swami Raj of Doungi village said that his maize crop was completely damaged to the non-availability of fertilisers in time and the supply of spurious seed. “As we are totally depending upon agriculture the government should consider our demand sympathetically,” he said.

Although farmers of the entire Rajouri district have been facing this problem, the situation is worst in Sunderbani and adjoining areas. According to a rough estimate by the department concerned, 50 trucks of fertilisers are required for Sunderbani but only seven have been supplied so far in this belt.

“There is a total mess in the supply of fertilisers”, admits Ravinder Sharma, MLC and spokesman of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) who belongs of Sunderbani. “I took up this issue with the Chief Minister during the District Development Board meeting but nothing has been done so far”, he regretted.

Despite being a part of the government, Sharma admitted that there was something fishy in the supply of fertilisers.

“It is widely alleged that fertiliser is sold in the blackmarket due to a nexus between some cooperative societies and those at the helm of the affairs”, he pointed out. The MLC rued that though he had taken up the matter with the Agriculture and Cooperative Ministers, there was no change in the situation.

Jammu, March 2
Even as the Congress and its allies continue to heap praises on Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for presenting a “balanced” budget for the next fiscal, poor labourers here go out for hard work everyday on their empty stomach. The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities have made the life even more miserable for poor people.

To find out the living standards of lower income strata of society in the winter capital, The Tribune team conducted a quick survey and came across disturbing and bitter facts.

A visit to the colonies in the city and its outskirts presented a grim scenario. The survey found that before sunrise labourers leave their shanties without eating anything. They just have water before leaving for yet another day of hard labour.

As soon as it’s 6:15 am, the labourers start moving towards their work stations to earn a livelihood. The Tribune team followed one such labourer. As soon as he reached a brick-kiln, which was 5 km from his place, on his bicycle, he got down to his daily work without even taking rest for a few seconds.

The labourer, Vijay Kumar, said, “We have to work for more than 12 hours in a day to earn Rs 100. Earlier, we used to work for eight hours a day, but now the things are getting dearer and harsher for marginal labourers, so we have to do extra work to earn two square meals”.

He added, “I have to work till the sunset and while going back home I purchase vegetables and other grocery items on a daily basis. Whatever I earn in a day goes into buying ration for a family of six members and as a result I could not even spare a single penny”.

“Rich people always remain busy in amassing wealth without thinking about the pitiable condition of people like me. The same is with the politicians who remain busy in saving their chair. How can they independently take decision to tame rising prices?” he asked.

Srinagar, March 2
Chaos and uncertainty rules the roost at the OPD of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, as long queues of people could be seen standing on ticket counters.

People here allege that the attitude of employees at the ticket counter is not people friendly and they were forced to stand in long queues as the employees were busy gossiping.

A visit at the consultation rooms for OPD patients present a pathetic look as patients have to wait for several hours before they could get their turn and those who have some links with the doctors or officials are given 'VIP' treatment.

"Since we are sitting here, gatekeeper has allowed a number of people who are either known to the doctors or any other employee here. Common patient is left at the God's mercy," said a patient waiting outside a consultation room.

Sources in the SKIMS say doctors working with the institute are paid a hefty amount as non-practicing allowance so as to discourage private practice, but still a majority of the faculty members are engaged in private practices.

The sole purpose of SKIMS after its inception in 1982 was to provide super-specialty treatment to patients who cannot afford to go out of the state, the facilities being provided on the pattern of PGI, Chandigarh, and AIIMS, New Delhi. But, for the past few years, the institute has not been able to achieve the required goal and the administration is basking over the increase in the number of patients visiting the OPD.

Inside sources in the SKIMS tell a pathetic tale as they say that the only colour Doppler machine in the institute is defunct for the past one year, only one out of three CT scan machines are functional. They say that the ECO facility is provided only to people with good contacts and there has been not a single skull X-ray machine for OPD patients for the past two years.

They say that for the past one year, the institute is running out of stock in avil and paracetamol tablets.

The worst part they say that operation theaters in the institute work for less than four hours a day, whereas even critical patients are asked to wait for months together for their turn for operation.

Prof Abdul Hamid Zargar, director of the SKIMS, said during 2009, about 5 lakh patients were seen at the OPD, whereas a decade ago a little over 2 lakh patients were seen in the OPD. He said increase in population and the failure of the peripheral hospitals in providing better healthcare facility and the reputation of the faculty at the SKIMS were responsible for the increase in the number of patients visiting the institute.

On non-functional equipments he said all machines were in working condition, adding that during the past three years, 45,676 CT scans had been performed and due to overload, these machines developed some technical snag so we shut them temporarily to carry out the maintenance work, but now all machines are in working condition.

Jammu, March 2
Around 956 permanent safai karamcharis of the Municipal Corporation have not been issued uniform for past more than three months. The employees are also dissatisfied with the articles of uniform issued to them which they allege are less than what is being provided by other MCs.

Devanand Gill, president, Civil Safai Karamchari Union, alleged that the uniform provided to them was insufficient. He said at places like Amritsar and Pathankot, employees were provided complete uniform along with shoes, bathing and washing soaps and even hair oil. He demanded issuance of shoes and sweaters to the employees of the corporation.

The president also demanded payment of bonus and wheat allowance once in a year on the pattern of other MCs.

While highlighting the drawbacks of steel wheel barrows, Gill said safai karamcharis should be provided wooden wheel barrows as they had more loading capacity. Claiming that the available wheel barrows are in short supply, he demanded purchase of 500 additional wheel barrows for better sanitation work.

Gill said employees of all essential services like PHE are paid two and a half days leave salary while MC employees who were doing work under hazardous conditions were not given the same.

Mayor Kavinder Gupta said tenders had already been issued for the purchase of uniform for safai karamcharis and the same would be issued to them soon.

While rejecting the claim of a lack of wheel barrows, he said the corporation had sufficient wheel barrows. Upholding the demand for payment of leave salary, the mayor said the matter would be taken up with the government.

Do MLAs plead for public or for themselves in the Assembly? TNS asked this to a cross-section of people. This is what they had to say:

	MLAs are doing nothing for the people. They are just minting money for themselves. Had our legislators represented us, government employees would not have been resorting to strikes more often for the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission. — Hardeep Singh, contractor
	These representatives are enjoying the power and they only fight for retaining the same. On one hand, educated unemployed are on protesting for jobs and on the other, salary of MLAs saw a jump from 7,000 to 20,000 in three years. Pensioners and employees are suffering due to high prices of essential commodities and less salary, but no one is raising these issues in the Assembly. — Tilak Raj, businessman
	We are disappointed. Our legislators come to us with a long list of promises when they want votes, but once they are inside the Assembly, they forget every promise. — Kanta Gupta, housewife
	Our democratic institutions have degenerated so have legislators and political parties. It is hard to draw a difference between the acts of political parties in the Assembly and the rival criminal gangs. No legislator seems to be feeling the pain of people who have to pay heavy taxes and high prices for commodities of daily need. — Suman Raina, private employee
	Once elected, our legislators have a single agenda of pursing their own welfare. We do not expect anything from them, but the prices of daily use commodities keep on rising and these were never rolled back due to the intervention of our legislators. — Nancy Raina, housewife
	Unemployment, sale of spurious drugs, adulteration in spices, milk and consumables, price rise and rising crime never catch the attention of our legislators. Instead, they keep indulging in mud slugging and mutual rivalries during Assembly sessions. — Fatima Ganai, social activist

Srinagar, March 2
Conflict offers enough space for theatre to debate and discuss, but theatre lacks public recognition in the valley which acts as a major impediment in its struggle to survive. A lack of professionalism and expertise adds further impetus to the receding theatre culture in valley.

“Conflict prevailing over here for the past two decades offers a lot to write, debate and perform in order to make masses think on various lines,” says Bhawani Bashir Yasir, a renowned theatre director.

He says theatre can be more effective provided state extends financial and moral support to genuine people engaged in the field. Yasir, who is also director of the Ensemble Kashmir Theatre Akademi (EKTA), School of Drama and Repertory, believes efforts are on to revive theatre movement in Kashmir, which he says took a back seat after 1989.

He argues that theatre in Kashmir has lost its audience over the years. “Without material support from audience, our theatre can’t prosper,” says Yasir, who has been in field for the past 35 years.

He emphasises that unless theatre doesn’t identify itself with contemporary challenges, aspirations and public sentiments, it becomes irrelevant. According to him, theatre is not “tamasha”, but a medium of mild glorified protest, debate and argument.

“Kashmir has been a hub of turmoil and turbulences since ages. When foreign cultural influence intruded Kashmir, theatre underwent certain changes. However, for the past 100 years, theatre in Kashmir has tried to re-emerge,” says the theatre director.

He says Kashmir theatre history reached people through folk performers who under all circumstances have managed to preserve and perform it. “We have rich traditional folk form of theatre known as Pather performed by bhands. We have references of so many scholars of theatre in Kashmir history vis-à-vis Khamandar, Abenau Goupt and Kalidasa”.

Yasir informs that 1980-90 was the golden period of contemporary Kashmiri theatre. “In every nook and corner of Kashmir, there was a concerted theatre movement patronised by the Jammu and Kashmir State Cultural Academy as district drama festivals were organised. A galaxy of playwrights, directors and actors earned popularity in theatre during this decade. “After 1990, the movement went into comma. After 2002, our concerted efforts are on to rejuvenate it.”

Expressing concern, he says the absence of separate ministry for culture in the state, lack of rehearsal space for artistes, negligible funding, lack of professionalism and public support are confronting theatre activists.

“So far there was no professional institution that could impart training in theatre arts and thus, build a new professional artistic and aesthetic sensibility among the new generations, which could bring professionalism in theatre in Kashmir,” says Yasir.

He observes that those who obtained professional training at the national level (National School of Drama) are least bothered about strengthening the theatre movement in Kashmir. According to him, one production a year is nothing but a mental luxury.

Kashmiri theatre, according to him, hasn’t yet been able to get sponsorships whereas in Jammu and other states private as well as public sector sponsors theatre to help its growth. “Public recognition is biggest challenge to theatre here.”

Kathua, March 2
As fish rearing is turning out to be a lucrative business in the region, the National Fish Seed Farm (NFSF) here intends to produce a record number of 30 lakh fingerlings during the coming breeding season beginning from April.

These fingerlings are being supplied to farmers of the entire Jammu region for the development of pond fisheries and also put into streams, dam reservoirs and other natural water bodies.

To enhance the productivity of quality fish seed, NFSF officials here have approached the local deputy commissioner for acquisition of 54 kanals to start the third phase. Presently, the farm, the biggest in North India, is spread over 360 kanals, having 26 nurseries, rearing and stocking ponds.

KK Khajuria, deputy director, Fisheries, said a proposal has been put forward for acquiring more land for fish farm here so that more cultured fish seed is provided to the farmers to stock their private ponds.

“Last year, we supplied 22 lakh fingerlings to the farmers of the Jammu region and the neighbouring areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. We intend to raise our productivity to 50 lakh fingerlings once the third phase of the farm becomes operational after the transfer of 54 kanals,” Khajuria said.

The deputy director claimed that the farm is the nucleus for production of carp seeds in the northern region. “We produce seeds for six varieties of fish, including rohu, catla, mrigal, silver carp, grass carp and common carp. The fingerlings with a good survival rate are supplied to the farmers at subsidised rates,” he said.

Khajuria said the farmers of Hiranagar, Bani, Billawar, Samba and neighbouring states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, who obtain fish seed from here, are making a lucrative business in fish farming. “During April to December, the department also stuffs streams, brooks and rivers with fish seed cultivated here,” he added.

Srinagar, March 2
After nearly a three-year delay, the state government has finally procured a state-of-the-art machine from Finland for conservation of the famous Dal lake by desilting and removing weeds from the water body.

The multifunctional 'Water Master Classic-III' machine would be pressed into service within a fortnight, Irfan Yasin, Chairman, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), told PTI.

The machine is known for its low maintenance and high success rate in conservation of lakes in many countries.

A team of engineers from Finland is also scheduled to arrive to help assemble and operate the machine.

The High Court had in 2007 directed LAWDA to procure latest machines for restoring the lake's glory. However, the authority was not able to buy it on one or other pretext for the past three years.

The machine includes water masters, which can be used as a suction dredger and a floating excavator at the same time.

It was designed to work effectively in narrow waterways for excavation in shallow waters, besides dredging, he said.

Due to the degradation of Dal's catchment areas, the lake is facing excessive siltation leading to growth of obnoxious weeds. The influx of silt has caused reduction of the lake's depth and area. — PTI

Jammu, March 2
The state government has launched a species recovery programme (SRP) for the endangered snow leopards, Mrkhor and Kashmiri stags to prevent their extinction.

"The Forest Department has launched the Centre-aided SRP for three species- snow leopard, hangul (Kashmiri stags) and Mrkhor- for reversing the extinction process of such species in J-K," Forest Minister Mian Altaf said here. "In 2009, the estimated population of hangul has been recorded at 175 only," the minister said. He said that a breeding centre for hangul was being established at Shikargah Tral in Kashmir.

"The project, being funded by the Central Zoo Authority of India, Dehradun, has been approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India," Altaf said.

It was being funded under the species recovery programme of centrally sponsored scheme 'Integrated Development of Wild life Habitats'.

Five national parks and 13 wildlife sanctuaries were currently being controlled and looked after by the State Wildlife Protection Department the minister said. — PTI

Srinagar, March 2
It is the time of revelry for schoolchildren in Kashmir, after the government has ordered the extension of winter vacations. Educational institutions up to higher secondary level, scheduled to reopen on March 1, would now reopen on March 8. Not only the schoolchildren, but also the teachers are happy to know about the extension of the vacations, which for a change, was unexpected this time.

The government order on February 28 in this connection issued from Jammu stated that all educational institutions, including recognised private schools up to Higher Secondary level of the Kashmir division (excluding the Ladakh region) and also those falling in the winter zones in the Jammu division, would reopen on March 8 instead of March 1. This was due to weather forecast and upper belts of winter zone still being snowbound, the handout stated. The weather forecast had on February 26 revealed that most parts of the Kashmir division would be witnessing occasional rains and snowfall during the week up to March 4.

This order has brought a wave of happiness among young children who were yet to reconcile with the changing cold season. Though the freezing conditions in the planes of the valley had died down recently, the cold is yet to say adieu to the valleyites after yet another dry winter. Dry winter conditions also gave enough time to kids to play in fields wherever available and also on the roadsides and streets. This continued for the past over two months after the schools were closed down for the winter vacations by mid of December last year. The extension of the vacations brought smile on the faces of children on Sunday evening in Kashmir, while Holi festivities were being celebrated in the rest of the state and elsewhere in North India.

It also brought some relief to Aamir, student of class XII, who was yet to complete his winter assignment in one of the subjects, and it is not only for Aamir, but also there are many others like him. After spending about a week in his maternal home along with his mother before going to the school, he finally completed his unfinished work back home on Sunday evening.

The announcement further brought cheers on his face doubly because he had been able to complete his unfinished task. For his mother, also a government schoolteacher, it is a bonus period to ensure the completion of homework by her two children, including Aamir, and for setting household belongings in place after the winter break. For many kids it is the time to press for the fulfilment of their demands of new winter uniforms, shoes, notebooks and stationery to start the academic session after admission to higher classes prior to winter vacations. All annual examinations, including that of class X and class XII under the State Board of School Education, are conducted between October and December every year.

Jammu, March 2
Galaxy Gym claimed the top position by clinching 18 medals in the recently held 6th J&K State Bench Press Championship, organised by the All-J&K Power Lifting Association, held at the MA Stadium here.

The Galaxy Gym power lifters claimed eight gold medals, six silver medals and four bronze medals and remained at the top place. Deepak Jyoti lifted 160 kg to become the “power man” of the state in 67.5 kg body weight category and brought laurels for BSNL.

In the heavy weight category of above 125 kg, Karnail Singh broke the previous state record by lifting 195 kg, which was created by Rahul Sawhney, junior agriculture assistant, by lifting 190 kg in 2005.

In the below 56 Kg category, Dinesh Mehra claimed silver medal by lifting 117.5 kg. Rakesh Kumar bagged bronze by lifting 115 kg. In the 60 kg category, Sumit Gupta claimed a silver medal by lifting 105 kg and Atul claimed bronze by lifting 105 kg.

In the 67.5 kg category, Deepak Jyoti claimed gold by lifting 160 kg and Sanjeev Singh claimed Silver by lifting 142.5 kg.

In the 75 kg category, Rajan Jain claimed the bronze medal by lifting 130 kg. In the 82.5 kg category, Jain Karna claimed gold medal by lifting 160 kg and Khem Raj Sharma claimed silver medal by lifting 122.5 kg. In the 100 kg category, Ankush Sharma claimed bronze medal by lifting 115 kg. In the 110 Kg category, Varun Singh claimed gold medal by lifting 180 kg and Karamjeet Singh claimed silver medal by lifting 105 kg.

In the 125 kg category, Rahul Sawhney, a junior agriculture assistant, Agriculture Department, posted in Sub Division Marh, brought the laurels to the department after clinching gold medal by lifting 160 kg and Avtar Singh claimed silver medal by lifting 115 kg. In the above 125 kg category, new record was made by Karnail Singh, he claimed a gold medal by lifting 195 kg.

Srinagar, March 2
Demanding withdrawal of the Armed Forced Special Powers Act (AFSPA), a panel of jury, during an open tribunal conducted here by Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD) and Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), recommended that the Public Safety Act (PSA) and other anti-terror laws should correspond to provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that India has ratified.

“India has been repeatedly criticised in the UN Human Rights Committee for the AFSPA that violates several articles of the ICCPR,” say recommendations put forth by the seven-member jury during a two-day public hearing, “An independent Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights Violations in Kashmir”.

The interim report says in view of large concentration of military and paramilitary forces in the state that is disproportionate to civilian population and is making civil administration ineffective in many matters, the union government should take immediate steps to minimise the number of these forces.

The establishment of a special judicial authority making an independent and thorough inquiry into the allegations of human rights violations, including disappearances, custodial killings, rape, torture, fake encounters and others was also recommended.

The panel suggested that every case of killing by the police and security forces in situations like protests and demonstrations should be followed by a judicial inquiry and time-bound administrative action. “The police cannot kill anyone in any situation, unless it can justify the action under Section 100 of the IPC that has to be done in a judicial procedure.”

Proper rehabilitation of families of the deceased, injured and traumatised victims, especially rape victims, was also suggested. “Compensation as interim relief should be arranged promptly and it should be adequate and purposeful.”

The panel recommended that the state should immediately establish fast-track courts for trying a large number of pending cases. “Both the state and central governments should take steps to address sufferings of detainees languishing in various jails and interrogation centres within and outside the state.” They also suggested the state to provide protection to witnesses.

The panel included Justice S. Suresh, former judge, Bombay High Court; Justice Malay Sengupta, former CGI, Sikkim High Court, Justice A. Baruah, former judge, Calcutta High Court; Prof Kamal Mittra Chenoy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi; Dr Nusrat Andrabi, former principal, Government Women’s College, Srinagar; Prof Anuradha Chinoy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi; and Shujaat Bukhari, a senior journalist.

The jury heard testimonies by 37 victims, their kin and statements from members of civil society. The testimonies were spread over a canvas of various human rights violations for a period of two decades.

The report further said any abuse of powers by armed forces was a criminal offence. “It should promptly be investigated by an agency independent of armed forces, followed by impartial prosecution. Testimonies of all witnesses clearly establish that there has been no satisfactory investigation by any agency or authority in the state. We get an impression that all institutions of the state, executive, legislature, human rights commission and judiciary, have failed to provide justice to victims of human rights violations”.

Although Jammu and Kashmir is core of “nationalist” ideology of the BJP, the new president of the party, who is widely known as an RSS man, is not aware of the history of the state.

In his maiden press conference, Nitin Gadkari demanded rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits who had migrated in 1947 and had been living as refugees without citizenship rights.

Gadkari was not aware that they were not Kashmiri Pandits but West Pakistani refugees, mostly Scheduled Castes, who had migrated in 1947. When Gadkari repeatedly mentioned these refugees as Kashmiri Pandits, some mediapersons rectified him.