Jammu, June 29
Parking mess at Nandni, a hill spot famous for its eateries, situated near Nandni tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway 1-A, has been contributing to chaos on the highway.

A large number of vehicles can be seen parked in a wrong manner at the hill spot, resulting into traffic jams and accidents on the highway.

The reason behind the long queue of vehicles here is the famous eateries. The majority of long route buses and private vehicles, mainly of devotees of Vaishno Devi shrine, halt here to enjoy the delicacies here. However, due to a lack of parking place, they park their vehicles on the road, thus creating inconvenience for others.

A number of accidents have taken place near the Nandni tunnel in the past, but the police has not taken any strict action as yet. Neither any cop has been deployed here nor any restrictions have been imposed on parking vehicles on the highway.

After visiting the place, The Tribune team observed that hardly the road gets clear, as the vehicular movement is high on this road since it connects Jammu region with the Kashmir.

Besides passenger vehicles, a large number of goods carrier also ply on the road. And for heavy vehicles, there is hardly any space to cross this point, which results in traffic jams for hours.

“The prevailing situation can lead to a major road mishap and a number of innocent persons might have to bear the brunt,” said Vishal Gupta, a commuter between Jammu and Katra.

“The eateries are hardly 100 m away from the tunnel and wrongly parked vehicles on the highway come as a surprise for the drivers.”

Another commuter, Rajesh Pathania, said, “Taking into consideration the growing popularity of this destination, the administration should provide proper parking space for visitors so that the risk could be minimised”.

Meanwhile, shopkeepers have expressed helplessness as they said they did not have enough money to construct a parking lot. “We are doing business inside our shops along the roadside and it is not wrong. If the government provides a parking space here, we would be happy as our business would flourish,” said a shopkeeper, adding that a number of people do not prefer their shops because of the lack of parking space.

On the other hand, a senior police officer said, “Cops are always deployed there to maintain the smooth flow of traffic. If someone is found violating the law he or she would not be spared”. 

Jammu, June 29
As bungling in ration meant for below poverty line (BPL) families has been going unabated with the connivance of some government officials and ration dealers, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department has decided to introduce new steps to stop smuggling of ration meant for the poor.

Besides directing ration dealers to display the list of BPL families in their respective areas, the department has introduced three types of ration cards with different colours to keep a check on the misuse of the cards.

With the introduction of three different types of ration cards, it would become difficult for ration dealers to hoodwink illiterate people.

Sources in the department said a majority of the BPL families were illiterate and they were not aware that they had been allotted special cards to get subsidised ration. Most of the time, ration dealers befool the BPL families, but with the introduction of a different card for them these poor and deserving families can stake their claims on subsidised ration by showing the special cards.

Due to prolong dry spell in the Kandi areas of the Jammu province, people have been facing the scarcity of ration and the government has announced some special schemes to provide subsidised ration to these families. To take advantage of the scarcity of ration, dealers of ration depots mostly sell the stock in open markets. Furthermore, the government has also decided to give free ration to the families of farmers who have suffered due to prevailing dry spell. Scale of BPL families is high among the families who are getting free ration and the ration dealers have been making every effort to swindle ration meant for such families.

The government has also formulated village-level committees to keep a check on the distribution of ration to the deserving people.

Last week, while addressing a meeting of public representatives, CAPD Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon admitted that without cooperation of the people, it was not possible to streamline the supply of ration. He sought the cooperation of people in supplementing the government efforts in preventing the pilferage of food grains and kerosene oil for making the distribution network more accountable and transparent.

He said stringent action would be initiated against ration dealers, salesmen and supervisors if they were found with possession of ration cards. Licence of such dealers would be cancelled forthwith. He also advised ration card holders not to handover their cards to the dealers and keep them in their custody if they do not want to take public distribution ration from their depots concerned.

Giving reasons for introducing three different types of ration cards, he said cards for APL, BPL and others have been introduced in three different colours to ensure proper distribution system.

Jammu, June 29
Combating Pak-sponsored terrorism in the state security forces here feel that an unnecessary hue and cry is being raised by political parties demanding dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers’ Act (AFSPA).

“Unlike Pakistan that kills 15 to 20 terrorists on its soil in a single air strike, we never adopt this mode of warfare in the state. We not only avoid collateral damage while fighting terrorists, but also transparently carry out counter-insurgency operations,” said sources in counter-insurgency forces.

“The AFSPA is a rulebook that gives us legal protection so as to take on highly trained terrorists under hostile conditions, but we never cross the line,” they said.

However, certain forces inimical to peace in the Kashmir valley and certain political parties for narrow political gains keep on raking up the issue, which is really unfortunate, they said.

Being in a restive state where different lobbies are at work all time, security forces are no exception to face the accusations of committing atrocities, they added.

Separatists and other like-minded parties project a totally wrong picture about the AFSPA that forces enjoy unbridled powers in the state, the sources added.

“Despite performing duties under hostile conditions in Kashmir, soldiers exercise maximum restraint but what can you expect from them when an unruly mob tries to snatch bodies of two slain ultras from them,” they said in an apparent hint to what is going on in Kashmir.

Fingers being raised time and again at security forces not only damage the morale of our soldiers, but also a wrong message goes out to the international community, said the sources.

“We also strongly condemn innocent killings and stand up against any form of HR violations, but people should also realise that we are here to protect them from mindless violence being perpetuated by Pakistan,” they added.

It may be stated here that killings of three Kashmiri youths allegedly by the Army in a suspected fake encounter in Machil in Kupwara district on April 29 followed by the present Sopore impasse has sparked off widespread protests in the valley.

Sunder Bani, June 29
The 11-day-old abandoned baby girl is still looking for a shelter that she can call home. She was noticed by some passersby along a deserted road here on June 18.

On June 19, the block medical officer wrote to the local SHO, the Nowshera SDM and the tehsildar of Sunder Bani to take custody of the baby.

“The baby is clinically stable and does not require any hospitalisation at this moment. As there is no provision in hospital for keeping such children, the baby is being handed over to you for further action under the law,” reads the official letter.

Even after 10 days, no one in the administration or the police has stepped forward to take her custody. The baby was brought to the hospital by the police on the morning of June 18.

“As the matter is legally complicated, all aspects are being looked into,” said Raja Ghulam Mohd, district development commissioner, (DDC), Rajouri .

“ The police has identified the parents. They have recorded the statement of the mother but the father has absconded. The baby can be taken into adoption only after their approval,” he said, adding that “till then the SDM or tehsildar can hand over the custody of the baby to some bona fide citizen on a temporary basis through a supurdnama.”

Sources said the mother of the baby- who is a minor- refused to take custody of her baby whereas the alleged father recently got married elsewhere.

However, the couple willing to adopt the baby girl has been going from pillar to post in their effort to take custody of child. “We met the DDC. He forwarded the application to the SDM, Nowshera. She is on leave and the SDM in charge has marked the application to the Sunder Bani tehsildar,” said Khem Raj, adding that “the local tehsildar maintains that he can not do it.”

“We have been looking after the baby ever since she was found but still we are not getting a word of assurance from anyone in the administration. We fear that they may send the infant to an orphanage after the police investigation is over,” Santosh, Khem Raj’s wife, said. “Can we desert her after acting parents to her for so many days?, she added.

Srinagar, June 29
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that the government had taken new initiatives to encourage adventure tourism by showcasing new areas for international tourist.

The Chief Minister said this while giving away prizes to the winners of the first Mughal rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (KICC) here on Sunday evening. He highlighted the state's rich potential of adventure tourism and laid stress on exploring this sector globally. He said the motor rally on Mughal road would prove highly beneficial for the areas and villages on the route to come up on the tourism map.

Omar Abdullah said that his government was planning to give considerable fillip to tourism in the state. The Chief Minister said that the motor race from Srinagar to Gurez and similar such areas would also be encouraged in the near future. The 85-km-long stretch from Bandipore to Gurez is also a challenging destination for adventure sports. The area connected through the district headquarters of Bandipore in north Kashmir, 57 km north of here, remains cut off through the road surface for winter months. The road to Gurez from Bandipore passes through the 13,000-foot-high Razdhan pass.

The Chief Minister appreciated the participants for successfully travelling difficult and longer distance, crossing different mountain ranges and helping the government showcase the state's potential in the sport.

Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora said that the event would kickstart tourism activities in these areas which have not so far been opened to tourists. He said the Tourism Department envisaged similar events in Kishtwar, Badharwah, northern and southern Kashmir and other feasible areas in the state.

The Mughal motor rally started from Srinagar on June 25. It crossed Simthan Top via Duksum to reach Mansar at Jammu. From Jammu the rally started on June 26 and travelled via Bufliaz, Peer Ki Gali on Mughal road and reached Srinagar via Shopian.

Udhampur, June 29
Jammu and Kashmir may become the hub of production of disease-free and good quality potato seed tubers and its commercial cultivation due to cold temperate conditions in the maximum land area of the state.

Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Agriculture, Jammu and Kashmir, observed this at the two-day seminar on “Potato Development in Jammu” which concluded at Sanasar-Patnitop recently.

Pointing out the impact of potato production on the employment scenario, Mir asked all stakeholders to tap unexplored potential of high-altitude land areas by introducing modern agriculture technology to make the state self-sufficient in potato seed tubers and its crop production.

He said the state has maximum land area which comes under 5,000-8,000 ft altitude and added that this land is most beneficial for the production of potato seed tubers having favourable climate. Referring the state’s potential in yielding high quality seed tubers, the minister emphasised upon the directors of agriculture, Kashmir and Jammu, for the optimum utilisation of their respective agriculture farms, particularly hill station farms, in production of disease-free and quality seed tubers.

The minister assured that maximum funds would be made available for the development of agriculture farms across the state this fiscal. Thrust should also be made for setting up of ‘seed villages’ by providing all modern technical inputs to farmers, as it is the viable economic activity for the rural populace, he said while emphasising on the dire need to expand the area under its cultivation across the state.

He also called for taking initiatives to process high quality potato for making chips for which tourists could be buyers.

Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister of State for Agriculture, assured that the State Agriculture Department would play a pivotal role in introducing improved crop production technology among farmers. Giving the example of farmers of Punjab, who have revolutionised this sector by adopting commercial potato cultivation, he emphasised on setting a target for commercial potato cultivation and its seed production.

Ajay Khajuria, director, Agriculture, Jammu, in his welcome address, projected the latest initiatives of the department to boost potato production and diversification. He said self-sufficiency in production of potato seed could be achieved by gearing up departmental seed multiplication farm at Sanasar, Gool, Katoli Mian and Kandi in the Jammu province.

Principal secretary, Agriculture, Mohmmad Iqbal Khandey; chief scientist from Potato Research Centre, Jalandhar, RK Arora; and director, research, SUKAST, Dr AR Trag; were among the prominent speakers at the seminar.

Srinagar, June 29
Kashmir University (KU) has proposed to introduce foreign language courses at the undergraduate level. It has also decided to start postgraduate courses in different specialised branches of dentistry.

These decisions were taken at a academic council meeting presided over by vice-chancellor Riyaz Punjabi. Notably, the last meeting of the council, the highest decision making body of the university, was held five years ago on February 17, 2005.

The University, which has an Institute of Foreign Languages, established in 1976, offers certificate courses in French, German and Russian languages.

In his remarks, Prof Punjabi stressed on the need to convene such meetings in time, asserting that these were a “vital component” of effective functioning of the university. “Such meetings give a sense of belongingness to deans, heads of departments and academics as they become an integral part of the decision-making process,” he said.

Prof Punjabi dealt extensively with the emerging challenges in the higher education arena in the state. “Higher education in the state is facing many challenges and we need to gear up and meet these challenges”, he said, calling for exploring the opportunities of collaborating with other institutions in academics and research, and also to have more funding for the university.

Registrar S Fayyaz Ahmad, as ex-officio secretary of the council, said many academic initiatives had been taken during the past few years.

The vice-chancellor, he said, had tried to streamline the institution and bring quality in teaching, extension and research process of the university. He added that the council meeting indicated democratic decision-making process at the university.

Srinagar, June 29
Skill development among educated youths here is expected to answer the ever-rising unemployment graph in the valley. Estimates say there are over four lakh educated unemployed youths in the state.

“Only degrees don’t work, they hardly matter. It is important that youths have proper training and are skilled enough to get a place in employment arenas. Outlook and working mechanism has to be changed,” said Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar at a function recently organised by the Directorate of Lifelong Learning (DLL), University of Kashmir, in collaboration with the State Council for Science and Technology.

He stated that Rs 75 crore have been sanctioned to the Entrepreneurship Development Cell this year where aspirants would be provided Rs 5 lakh each to set up their own entrepreneurship units.

He said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) has done miracles in the country. “Eight states have been revolutionised. It has created assets in villages and has changed the face of rural areas, but our people have no knowledge about such things”.

In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his recent visit to the valley on June 8, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) demanded the strengthening of concept of skill development among educated youths for employment generation in the state.

“The council on skill development has set a target for creating 500 million skilled persons by 2022,” read the memorandum while demanding necessary financial support for the state through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and implementations of skill development initiatives by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.

The chamber stressed for funds to establish rural self-employment training institutes (RSETIs), one in every district of the state through the Union Ministry of Rural Development. It further demanded the establishment of NSIC-TIC centres under the public private partnership (PPP) mode of the National Small Industries Corporation, Ministry of MSME.

“Huge infrastructure of HMT and ITI, Srinagar, should be put to use for skill development initiatives for sectors of gem jewellery, information technology and electronic sectors,” says Nazir Ahmad Dar, president, KCC&I.

Dar suggested that employment for large number of youths could be generated by implementing poultry and sheep projects. “Local corporate culture can be developed and mindset of educated unemployed youths who are relying only on government jobs could be changed”.

The KCC&I has identified 11 projects to be taken up under the PPP mode for self-sustained economic development and employment generation. These include flower centre, integrated textile park, mega food park, cold chain, modernisation of abattoir, food streets and integrated sericulture project.

“It is our mission to reach out to far-off places with different skill-based programmes to help solve the problem of unemployment,” said Prof Neelofar Khan, director, DLL, University of Kashmir.

At a time when police personnel are busy removing masks or handkerchiefs from the faces of motorists in the city, their own women colleagues of the traffic wing are using handkerchiefs to save their skin from the sun (See picture). A traffic police constable is hiding her face with a handkerchief and that too while performing her duty at a busy chowk here.

Srinagar, June 29
Limited career options compel youth either to restrict to certain professional courses or to move out of state. Private study centres offering professional courses, which have seen mushrooming growth in the recent past, have yet to pass credibility test.

“We’ve limited career options, here. We stick to courses like medicine, engineering, agriculture and forestry. New and professional courses should be introduced at 10+2 level so that we’ve more choices,” said a group of aspirants appearing in a common entrance test (CET) conducted by the Board of Professional Entrance Examination on June 26 and 27.

The aspirants pointed that only a few would be able to make it to professional colleges. “Rest will either have to continue with higher studies or move out of the state for professional courses”.

About 17,853 candidates appeared in the CET held at 28 examination centres across the state. Compared to previous year, there has been a sizeable rise in the number of candidates appearing for the examination. Last year, around 16,000 candidates took the test.

“Despite three universities, dozens of schools and colleges and professional institutions and other learning centres, we don’t have enough opportunities for young people,” said Prof Riyaz Punjabi, vice-chancellor, University of Kashmir, during a function organised recently by varsity’s Directorate of Lifelong Learning (DLL) in collaboration with the State Council for Science and Technology.

He informed 35,000 admission forms for various courses offered by the varsity were downloaded this year. “Out of which, 22,000 applied and more than 18,000 qualified for admission, but only 3,000 could be given admission due to limited seats”.

Prof Riyaz said, “Nevertheless, the university has gone beyond its confined areas keeping into consideration local, national and international scenario”.

“The biggest challenge confronting education, especially technical and vocational, is to provide human resources that are compatible with latest technology,” said Minister for Technical Education Medical Education and Sports RS Chib.

He said linkages between technical and vocational institutions with other institutions could provide productive solution. “Apart from establishment of 18 polytechnics, the Central government has been requested to set up more than 100 ITI at the block level. Skill development centres will be established on public-private partnership mode”.

“This is the age of professionalism and technical knowledge is vital”, said Showkat Ahmad, a student of Wigan Leigh College (WLC), Srinagar, adding, “Proper counseling at the right time would do wonders”.

“We are offering various technical courses like business management, fashion designing and media management. The response is good. Most students after finishing their courses plan to set up their own ventures on individual or group basis”, said Rehana Bhat, academic counsellor, WLC.

She adds, “Due to saturation in professional and technical fields, candidates have to move out of the state. Many are working with reputed institutions within and outside the country”.

“There is mushroom growth of centres and sub-centres offering professional courses here,” said Mudasir Ahmad, a student, adding, “The basic infrastructure is core requirement for such courses, but these institutions are nothing more than money-minting machines”.

Ahmad added that most of these centres were not recognised. “Besides, not many technical courses have a bright future here”.

“It is our mission to reach out to students at far off places with different skill-based programmes,” shares Prof Neelofar Khan, director DLL, University of Kashmir, adding the directorate received more than 3,000 applications this year, but due to paucity of funds only 2,100 applicants were selected.