Srinagar, July 27
Healthcare scenario in the rural areas is enough to raise the alarm. The poor functioning of health centres coupled with non-availability of medical facilities at grass-roots level make the situation worse.

A lack of doctors, paramedics, dispensaries and medicines speaks volumes of the absence of health infrastructure in the rural parts of the Valley. Medical care thus continues to be a distant dream for the rural populace here.

Residents in Hajan-Baniyari in Baramulla district, 47 km from city centre, have been living in unhygienic conditions. Polluted water bodies coupled with the absence of medical facilities have made the situation grim. Another village, Balhama faces almost the same situation.

Braindub, 21 km from Baramulla, too lags behind in this regard. Villagers say there exists a sub-centre with one nursing orderly and a sweeper, but no medical infrastructure at all. They allege that most medicines available here are outdated.

“People either go to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) or district hospital for treatment. The nearest PHC is almost 8 km away from the village. It becomes extremely difficult in case a person requires immediate medical care,” says Shabnam Bano, a health worker.

She is of the opinion that medical camps organised by various NGOs will not suffice. “Follow-ups are must to make medical intervention a success”.

Similar conditions prevail in Nasarullah pora in Budgam district. Carpet weaving is the main source of income in this village and mostly children are involved in this profession. Eye problems and backache are common ailments prevailing among youngsters here.

“Healthcare, hygiene and sanitation are the basic requirements. The rural health infrastructure has almost broken down due to conflict here,” says Imrana Bano, a health worker.

Many NGOs claim to mobilise local doctors for providing medical care to masses residing in the far-flung areas and offer free medicines to locals.

The Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association has started a community health programme in few villages in Budgam and Pulwama districts, HelpAge India started Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) in Baramulla, AMAN public charitable trust in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Research and Development Trust (J&KRDT) too has set up health centre in Mattipora-Baramulla to look into health issues in and around their area of intervention and Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) came up with mental health counseling in valley in the past few years.

“Such initiatives are to be taken by voluntary organisations for overall benefit of society. But at the same time, only medical awareness and medical camps will not suffice, follow ups have to be followed and such programmes are to be conducted at a large scale,” says Shaheen Akther, a social worker.

Usually, people have to walk several miles to reach the nearest health centre where they often fail to find doctors. “The non-availability of medicines further makes situation tough. Health has been the most ignored sector in the state”, says Abdul Rahim, a local resident of Magam.

Srinagar, July 27
To avoid the wrath of youths, who throw stones on those defying shutdowns, and ding-dong battles between stone-pelters, police and security forces that often turns the situation hostile, locals and tourists prefer to move in wee hours to reach their respective destinations.

Streets present deserted look, markets are shut and other business establishments remain closed owing to separatists' shutdown and curfew and restrictions imposed by authorities since last month. Amidst all this, common masses get stranded and fail to venture out.

"We left at 4 pm from South Kashmir's Tral to reach the city to see our ailing relative," said Mohammad Shaban accompanied by his wife. Shaban added that a few Tata Sumo from their area and other adjoining areas leave for Srinagar in the wee hours and return by 8 am.

"This works two way - commuters reach their respective destinations and Tata Sumo drivers get an opportunity to earn a few bucks," he said.

Mohammad Afzal, a load carrier owner, also echoed similar views. "I leave my place as early as possible and then collect fresh vegetables to sell during one-hour relaxation in evening that has been granted to shops dealing with essential commodities".

A group of tourists from South India said they had almost cancelled their trip to the Valley. "But our travel agent somehow misguided us and we landed here. It is horrible to see everything closed here. There are almost no tourists. The hotel where we are putting up too has low occupancy when it happens to be the peak tourism season".

The tourists added that they were planning to leave for Gulmarg the next day. "The travel agent has asked us to leave during the dead of the night as it would be safe to travel by that time".

A group of students, while sharing their views said: "We have to attend a training course in New Delhi the day after tomorrow. We've planned to leave early morning so that we face no problems on our way and are able to join the programme in time".

Jammu, July 27
Bridges over the Tawi have been proving popular recreational points for locals as cool winds that blow there give them relief from the hot and humid weather.

Visit any such bridge after 9 pm and you will find a large number of people enjoying their evening out. As a result a queue of vehicles can be witnessed there. Some people can even be seen having snacks and sharing lighter moments with family and friends.

After the daylong hectic activity in the sultry weather, whenever locals find some time they prefer to sit on the pedestrian track on the bridges. “This place provides great relief in the night because of less traffic and pleasant weather. The lightning of Bahu Fort also attracts people towards this bridge,” said Rahul Nargotra, who usually comes on the New Tawi Bridge for relaxation after his tiring bank job.

There are many people like Rahul who daily visit this bridge after their office hours. While some get attracted to the Bahu Fort’s lightning, others like strong water flow in the Tawi during these rainy days.

Kunal Mahajan and Deepti Mahajan, a newlywed couple, who were found enjoying some moments at a bridge near Bikram Chowk, said, “This place is the best to enjoy the evenings as cops are also present here and there is nothing to worry. Otherwise also there are fewer places in the city to have fun or to relax”. They added that they got married about a month ago and had been regularly coming here for outing.

Even as these two bridges - Old Tawi Bridge near Bikram Chowk and New Tawi Bridge near Gujjar Nagar - have become favourite hot spots among Jammuites, wrongly parked vehicles on these bridges have become a nuisance for commuters and needs to be checked.

Ramesh Bachloo, a senior citizen, who regularly comes for a stroll on the New Tawi Bridge, said, “I love to see young people here in the night, but they should realise that their wrongly parked vehicles can cause mishaps. Either they should park their vehicles somewhere else or come on foot”. He further said some people consume liquor on these bridges that should be immediately checked.

A senior police officer said cops in uniform or civil clothes always remained present there to keep a check on activities of people. “And if something illegal is happening there, strict action would be taken against those found guilty,” he added. 

Jammu, July 27
Although Rs 53 crore has been approved as the annual plan for the newly carved Samba district, resident of Mansar and the adjoining localities were feeling dejected as no announcement was made regarding preservation of the famous lake located in this belt.

The District Development Board (DDB) meeting, held under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, approved the annual plan for the district in which various developmental projects for Samba were approved.

The residents were expecting that the government would make some announcement regarding the conservation and preservation of the famous Mansar lake but nothing came out of the meeting. “We were expecting that the government would announce a programme to save the dying Mansar lake but our hopes were dashed because the government has not announced any policy for this lake”, regretted Ramesh Singh, a local social activist, who has been fighting to preserve the lake.

During his visit Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had announced a comprehensive policy for the preservation of Wullar lake in the Kashmir valley. When political groups of the Jammu region had raised their concern over neglecting water bodies of this area, the government had promised that some effective steps would be taken in this regard. “Such promises remained only on papers as nothing has been announced in the DDB meeting”, Ramesh Singh pointed out.

Sheshnag, July 27
Due to heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperature en route to Amarnath cave shrine this year, oxygen is lesser than the previous years on the traditional Pahalgam route and as a result, number of pilgrims have fainted.

Though oxygen cylinders are in abundant at all dispensaries and hospitals en route the cave shrine, the consumption is too high these days and the cylinders run out of stock by afternoon.

Especially after crossing Sheshnag, oxygen is lesser as mountains are covered with snow and pilgrims are facing difficulties in breathing while climbing this arduous track. While trekking on this route, The Tribune team observed that all dispensaries were nearly full of patients, getting oxygen through the cylinders.

A doctor of the BSF at Sheshnag said: “We are facing an acute shortage of oxygen cylinders as the number of pilgrims is increasing with every passing day. In a day, there is consumption of 30 oxygen cylinders”.

He added that they were getting the supply on a daily basis, which should be increased.

He also appealed the pilgrims that those who are suffering from any kind of heart disease or breathing problem, should not come here. Others should also carry mini oxygen cylinders with them while starting the yatra.

To tackle the problem, the BSF, the CRPF and the Army have been serving hot and salted water to the pilgrims with an advice “Don’t stop, move on. Oxygen is less in this area”. Security officers are also not allowing the pilgrims to go ahead if they get any indication of poor weather ahead.

So far, few pilgrims have died en route the cave shrine this year due to the oxygen problem, still it is the faith of people on Lord Shiva that the yatra has crossed 3 lakh pilgrims in 25 days.

Jammu, July 27
Even as the Union Home Resource Development Ministry seems to have put on hold the appointment of Prof Amitabh Mattoo as vice-chancellor of Jammu central university, an eight-member delegation of the Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS) headed by Justice (retd) Paviter Singh is going to meet HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and President Pratibha Patil on August 2 and 3 to apprise them about certain ground realities and local sentiments.

After Chief Secretary SS Kapur reportedly wrote to the HRD Ministry advising against the appointment of Mattoo as the VC of the country’s youngest central varsity, the Samiti has decided to make representations before Sibal and Pratibha Patil.

“On August 1, an eight-member delegation comprising Bar Association president, Jammu, advocate Sunil Sethi, Dr Agnishekhar (leader of displaced Kashmiri Pandits), MS Katoch, KN Singh, Inderjeet Khajuria, Prof Virender Gupta, Avinash Bhatia, including me, would leave for New Delhi,” said Justice Singh.

“Obviously, we will not suggest any names, but the HRD Minister and the President would be apprised about the ground realities. There is no dearth of well qualified and well-experienced professors in Jammu, who to their credit have more than sufficient publications and at the same time have administrative qualities,” he added.

“In the past over four decades, we had only three professors from Jammu University, who became its VC despite the fact that we had highly experienced and qualified professors,” said Singh.

“We are not opposed to the appointment of any individual, but when we have got a good number of eligible professors from Jammu University then where the problem lies. If professors from the Kashmir valley can head their varsities there, then why our professors can’t,” he quipped.

The delegation would also request the HRD Minister and the President to re-initiate the process, he said. It has been learnt that a panel of deserving professors from Jammu University would soon be submitted to the HRD Ministry, probably within a week.

“After affording equal opportunity to the eligible professors from Jammu University, let the HRD Ministry decide about the VC, but we would not allow any outsider to head Jammu Central University,” he said.

It may be recalled here that ever since Mattoo’s name figured in a section of media as the possible VC to the central varsity, a spate of protests by various students, political and social organisations had been witnessed in Jammu.

At the same time, Prof Mattoo, an expert in international affairs and foreign policy, headed Jammu University for six years from 2002 to 2008 and under his tenure, Jammu University had become the first varsity to get ISO Certification.

“Vice-chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Budshah University in Rajouri was a police officer and vice-chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University for Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Jammu is again an outsider. Jammu University in the past 40 years had only three VCs from Jammu unlike universities in Kashmir, which always had local VCs,” said sources in Jammu University.

“Our professors here possess experience, education and publications that could beat anyone from varsities in the rest of the country, they said and castigated such jaundiced moves.

“We also know that a VC is picked for his academic and administrative abilities alone and that is the point we want to make. If we have people here, then why can’t they be afforded an opportunity,” said the sources.

The sources further said the chief secretary had of late received a report from Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal apprising him that Mattoo’s appointment may trigger law and order problem in Jammu.

Udhampur, July 27
In view of the help to security forces in terms of providing information about the movement of terrorists by members of the nomadic Gujjar and Bakkarwal communities, the Army has taken several initiatives for their development.

The issue is of utmost importance for the Army because both communities form the third largest ethnic group in the state after Kashmiri-speaking Muslims and Dogra Hindus.

In several parts of the state, Gujjars migrate from their native villages to the upper reaches of the Pir Panjal range during the summer season. Here, they pursue their traditional tribal way of life unaffected by modern life.

Gujjar herdsmen drive their sheep, goats, buffaloes and horses from the Rajouri, Poonch and Thanamandi areas across the Pir Panjal to the lush grazing grounds of the Kashmir Valley. The herdsmen move into the area of responsibility of the Army with families and animals and stay in dhoks, a temporary shelter made of wood and rocks, till the beginning of winter.

Living a semi-nomadic life and rearing sheep and goats, the tribe is usually targeted by militants for food and refuge in thick forests.

Essentially nomadic, the community requires help in education, healthcare, animal husbandry and basic sanitation and civic amenities. All these key issues are being addressed by the Army on a regular basis. Gujjar and Bakharwal children are studying in Goodwill Schools. A number of hostels have also been set up so that their children can study in select government schools. Since this migratory population does not have resources to finance their children’s education, schools have been providing books and other stationery items free of cost.

Health and veterinary camps are being established all along migration routes to provide essential health and veterinary care to migrants and their flock. A number of dairy courses are also being run to provide requisite knowledge to start their own modern dairies. The state government authorities have been incorporated so that loans are provided.

A number of power projects like micro-hHydel projects (MHPs), distribution of solar powered lights, cookers and lanterns are being carried out. Water supply schemes also are being provided in some of the remote areas. The community people are also being taken on motivational tours. Items of use like UV polysheets and blankets are also being distributed, besides the construction of temporary shelters.

Gujjars leaving Rajouri and Poonch have been issued photo identification, which entitles them to medicines, veterinary support and emergency rations when they reach what are known as Receiving Area Support Points (RASP) of the Army on the Kashmir side of the Pir Panjal. The RASP provides these people necessary medical and veterinary support throughout the season till their de-induction to the other side of Pir Panjal.

Students and elders of the community have benefited from educational-cum-motivational tours of the Army. In these tours, students of an impressionable age group are taken to various parts of the country so as to broaden the horizon of citizens of tomorrow and offer them an opportunity to appreciate the vast natural, historical and cultural heritage of the nation as also to integrate them with the national mainstream. The focus of such endeavors is to expose youth to avenues of development and growth available in the country, wean them away from the path of insurgency and consequent self-destruction.

As part of its social responsibility, the Army has been assisting the nomadic community in terms of various civic amenities like holding medical camps, supplementing education and undertaking development projects.

The assistance has generated employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled workforce from these communities and provided educational facilities to their children.

Kathua, July 27
Despite having ambitious plans to commission more bore wells and construct at least 12 overhead tanks (OHTs) of high capacity in the scarcity hit areas, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department here is facing a daunting task of meeting the increasing requirement of potable water.

The department is presently facing a shortage of four lakh gallons of drinking water everyday for a population of 70,000. With a threat of depletion in the level of groundwater, the figures are likely to go up further.

An official of the department said at present the requirement of potable water in the town was 18 lakh gallons per day, while as the department was making available only 14 lakh gallons.

“With the rise in population and further depletion in the water level, people in this Kandi belt by 2019 would require 24 lakh gallons of potable water everyday and it could be a tough task to arrange such a quantity of water that time,” he feared.

The official, however, said if used judiciously, the department could meet such a requirement to some extent.

“We intend to construct overhead tanks of one lakh gallons capacity each at Partap Nagar, Chak Desa Singh, Mandi Medikar and in ward numbers three and four,” he said, adding that such OHTs have already been sanctioned for Patel Nagar, Parli Band, Tara Nagar, Lower and Upper Shiv Nagar, Raj Bagh and Amrit Vihar.

However, in the absence of any law governing the regulation of groundwater in the state, many people are engaged in the business of supplying water to the residents of the area after having installed such pumps of their own on private land.

“Such an activity is bound to cause depletion in the water level. Further, public is supplied water (in lieu of money) without treating and making it fit for consumption,” he said.

The official clarified that for digging bore wells, the requisite permission is to be sought from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and not from the PHE.

“One wonders, who has permitted the owners of these bore wells to install water pumps and make business in this Kandi belt,” he added.

Interestingly, even the state having some known Kandi belts does not fall in the list of notified areas vis-à-vis management of groundwater.

“In the absence of any such notification, people are not seeking permission from us,” JN Bhagat, senior scientist, CGWB, said.

With the rapid growth of media in the Jammu region, many "paper tigers" have emerged during the past decade in this part of the state.These "paper tigers" do not miss any opportunity to issue press releases to register their presence in all newspapers. Earlier when militancy was at its peak, these "leaders" issued statements minutes after any terror incident. Now when road accidents have become regular a feature in the Jammu region, they miss no opportunity to condole the deaths those who killed in mishaps.

Some of these "paper tigers" have even prepared readymade press notes in which the place of accident and the number of those killed are kept blank so that they could issue the same as early as possible.

This Friday when a road accident took place at Kishtwar, one such "paper tiger" issued a press note in which the place of accident and the number of those killed in the accident were written with a pen.

Srinagar, July 27
While most parts of Srinagar downtown continued to remain under restrictions to prevent trouble due to protest demonstrations against the series of killings for the past about one month, the authorities have been trying to assuage the situation by focusing on the developmental issues in the area.

Out of the eight Assembly constituencies in Srinagar district, at least six are spread over a major portion of the densely populated areas, mostly in downtown. All seats are represented by the ruling National Conference (NC) during the past more than three decades. Only two constituencies of Zadibal and Habba Kadal were represented by Independents, the then allies of the PDP in the 2002 elections. The PDP bagged Batamaloo seat in the byelections held later following the death of a senior NC leader Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah. But, the NC managed to bag all eight seats in Srinagar in the 2008 elections.

During the previous coalition government of the Congress and the PDP between 2002 and 2008, the then opposition NC had been crying hoarse on the neglect of Srinagar city in developmental activities. The issue had become hot even as the NC returned to power at the head of the coalition government with the Congress early last year.

In view of these developments, NC legislators, including Minister for Rural Development, Panchayats, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar and Chief Minister’s advisor Mubarak Gul, have been frequenting the city areas. While Sagar represents the Khanyar constituency, Gul represents the Eidgah constituency in the downtown.

“Being a Minister for Rural Development, Panchayats, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Sagar is more seen in the downtown than rural areas,” commented an observer. He added that though Sagar’s constituency is Khanyar, he has been touring other areas of the city, while the least attention is paid to distant rural areas. The minister, on his part, has been focusing on development and scoring points as being the first to reach there after the separatists make their show.

When normalcy was restored across the Kashmir valley on Sunday, Sagar made it sure that he first visits the area to oversee developmental activities. During this visit, the Minister said Rs 60 crore had been earmarked for blacktopping of various roads of Srinagar city. He said this while interacting with various groups of people during his extensive tour of the city.

The areas he visited included Khanyar, Khayam, Bishamber Nagar, Kohnakhan, Reshi Mohalla and Dalgate. Accompanied by senior officers of the district administration, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and divisional heads of various departments, Sagar said in order to rehabilitate various artisans skilled in different trades of handicrafts, a comprehensive package had been formulated by the government.

He appealed the people to help the government in restoring peace and normalcy in the state. He said these factors were paramount in furthering developmental projects and uplifting the socio-economic condition of people. “The government is abreast of the problems being faced by people and in this regard, necessary instructions have already been passed to the concerned to redress these within the shortest possible time,” he maintained.