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MC digs up trouble in Jammu
The road leading to the Jammu Municipal Corporation complex has been dug up for laying sewer pipes. Photo: Inderjeet Singh
No respect for those serving the dead
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Maternity hospital for Srinagar soon
State police denies info on ‘flimsy’ grounds
Mushrooming automobile workshops trouble residents
Shutdown: Cab drivers fleece
commuters
Jammu diary
Continuous evaluation system draws flak
Nowshera children’s date with heritage, courtesy Army
Rs 53.58-cr plan approved for Shopian
With the mercury hitting through the roof, a Gujjar caravan moves towards higher reaches.
Anil Padha, secretary, Red Cross, Jammu, shows a medical aid kit.
Tribune photo
Bashir Wani passes away
Disabled tourists to get better accessibility
CRPF organises hockey tourney
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MC digs up trouble in Jammu
Jammu, August 3 Besides building of the municipal corporation, training institute of the J&K Bank, treasury and other commercial establishments are situated in the same building complex. The excavation work has increased parking chaos for the JMC, which was already crippling under the same problem due to the lack of required parking space in its building complex. Now, employees as well as visitors park their vehicle on the next main road, obstructing flow of traffic. The entire road leading to the JMC has been dug up for laying sewerage pipes and no place has been left to walk for residents of various colonies situated in the area. Commuters walk over cemented slabs constructed on height, while entering to JMC complex. “This road is attached to the main road, where I get mini-bus every morning to reach school. Though it is risky, I walk over the cemented slabs to catch the bus,” said Rohit Gupta, a student, who lives in one of the colony adjacent to the JMC complex. “No doubt that the work is for development purpose, but the construction agency should do the work in a planned way,” said Mannjeet Singh, a visitor. However, employees of the corporation and other nearby business establishments have changed their route, but they, too, are facing a lot of inconvenience. Even auto divers were perturbed as their routine business is suffering due to it. “Now we are plying on Hari market road to pick and drop passengers, but that route is lengthy and congested,” said Gopal Krishan, an auto driver. According to sources, the National Building Construction Committee recently started the excavation work, which will take another month to complete. |
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No respect for those serving the dead
Srinagar, August 3 — Siraj-ud-din Hafiz, gravedigger
After a brief pause, he continues, “When their near and dear ones pass away, they give us great respect, but only till the body is buried. Once the work is over, they clearly ask us not to visit their house and they would send money and clothes at our
respective places”. “We are not invited to any function or party. No one visits us either. People will never sip a tea or drink a glass of water or take a morsel of food from our house. They will simply approach us whenever they require our services and vanish thereafter,” says Tasleema Jan, Siraj’s daughter. Siraj lives with his family at Malkah-Nowhatta. Since ages the family has been engaged in gravedigging. “It has been handed over to us since generations”. Siraj’s four sons and two daughters are part of this profession. “My grandson is also learning it. It needs knowledge, skill and training”. People from various parts of Srinagar city and its outskirts approach him for his services. Almost 12 burials take place per day, quotes Siraj. “I don’t remember the number of people I have buried so far, but I can safely assume that about 2,000-3,000 youths hit by bullets would have been buried by me during the past 20 years of conflict. On many occasions I have dug grave one after another without any break”. He adds that more deaths take place during winter. Siraj is paid Rs 500-600 per grave. “Some people have made this as business. They get Rs 2,500 - Rs 3,000 from the bereaved family and pay Rs 500-600 to us.” He demands rehabilitation of all gravediggers. “Our children should be employed as they have to shoulder many responsibilities”. Even Siraj’s grandchildren are taunted in school. “No one likes to be in touch with them”. As many as 10 such families, including Hafiz, Pinjri, Malik, Nikki, Daeg, live here. Mostly, they go for intercommunity marriages. Siraj faces social stigma even in his office. “My colleagues know that I am a gravedigger. Because of that they’ve asked me to look after the garden even as my job is in the office”. Abdul Qayoom, a social activist, says, “They can be at least employed by the Wakf Board so that their problems are eased out. That way they wouldn’t get identified and might escape social stigma.” |
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Maternity hospital for Srinagar soon
Srinagar, August 3 This was disclosed by Minister for Medical Education RS Chib at a meeting of the officers of the Srinagar Development Authority, Government Medical College, Srinagar, and other allied departments. He said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had approved the 200-bedded maternity hospital for Srinagar, while as the proposal for setting up of children’s hospital is under consideration of the state for which the Government Project Report has been prepared by the Medical Education Department and the same would be submitted for approval to the Centre. The Minister added that the construction of additional wing of the (maternity) Lal Ded Hospital here would be completed by the end of this year and soon after its completion, the rush of patients would be diverted in the new wing to provide better medicare to patients. Dr RK Jerath, principal secretary, H&ME, apprised the meeting about the steps being taken by the government for extending quality medicare in government hospitals. He said the state government had made elaborate arrangements for strengthening the existing health infrastructure and also for setting up of new hospitals to meet the demand and bring down the pressure of patients on the health institutions functioning in the state. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has underscored the efficacy of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to reach out to the maximum populace in the rural and far-off areas for health care facilities. Reviewing the NRHM at a meeting here the other day, the Chief Minister said NRHM’s multi-dimensional strategy of creating necessary awareness about health care, immunisation, child and mother care, extension of necessary medical treatment and strengthening of health institutions, along with imparting trainings to medicos and para-medical staff, has far-reaching impact on the health upgradation and improvement programme of the government. Omar directed the Health Department to implement the schemes of the NRHM with missionary spirit and zeal. “Every effort should be made to ensure benefits under this flagship programme to poor in the rural areas. Doctors and other staff associated with this programme need to be sensitised at all levels so that aims and objectives of the programme are achieved fully,” he said. A power point presentation was made in the meeting in which details about action taken report, progress in 2009-10, both physical and financial, annual plan for 2010 and performance of Village Health and Nutrition Days were highlighted. It was stated that out of the total availability of Rs 347.65 crore over Rs 279.39 crore has been spent in the state under the NRHM by the end of June 2010. The meeting was told that more than 2.71 lakh children have been vaccinated with BCG during the last year, while as 2.73 lakh children were administered polio, DPT vaccination and 2.59 lakh children were given anti-measles injections. More than 2,630 adolescent group-orientation programmes were conducted besides 1,927 women-group orientation and general awareness camps during the same period. |
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State police denies info on ‘flimsy’ grounds
Jammu, August 3 The RTI applicant, Naresh Kumar, a resident of RS Pura, had also appeared in the rally. He claims that he had qualified all physical tests but because of the intervention of a senior police officer, his candidature was rejected by showing him as fail in 100-m race. The entire recruitment process was videographed to ensure transparency and avoid unnecessary allegations as claimed by police officials. Surprisingly, when Naresh Kumar sought a copy of the video, his RTI application that he made on October 10, 2009, was finally rejected on April 21, 2010. The rejection order states, “As per our information, the entire outdoor events were recorded by a video camera, but no CD was prepared either in full or in parts. Moreover, the record being confidential and pertaining to selection was forwarded to PHQ by DIG, Jammu”. The rejection order further reads, “On scrutiny, one mini digital video cassette was received from the DIG, but there is no such system/mechanism available in this section through which the 100-m event can be separately recorded on a VCD”. The rejection order keeps contradicting itself, the applicant is not told the clause or reason for rejection of his RTI application, whether it was denied on the pretext of “confidentiality” or because of the non-availability of professional mechanism. Naresh Kumar, under section 9 of the J&K RTI Act 2009, preferred an appeal against this order. He filed an appeal before the appellate authority on April 29, 2010, but again showing disregard to the provisions of the RTI Act, his appeal was rejected on July 20. It is pertinent to mention that under the provisions of the law, the reply must be given within 30 days and by the same way, the appeal shall be disposed of within 30 days. But in the case of Naresh, neither the PIO concerned bothered to abide by the rule nor the appellate authority adhered to the transparency law. It is irony that even as the state police claims transparency, but when it comes to deliver it lacks the same. Like Naresh, there are many RTI applicants who are also at the mercy of bureaucrats as the State Information Commission is still headless and citizens have to bear the brunt.
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Mushrooming automobile workshops trouble residents
Jammu, August 3 “They park vehicles that come for repairs on already congested roads. Besides, they add to the noise and air pollution,” said Ajay Gupta, a resident of
Gumat. No doubt, owners of such workshops were earning their livelihoods, but the authorities concerned shouldn’t overlook the problems and health hazards being posed to residents, he added. However, the city has witnessed mushrooming of automobile repair workshops in the past few years. “In the city, these workshops aggravate the problem of traffic jams and the traffic cops, too, can’t do much considering the fact that workshop owners had to earn their livelihood,” said Mukesh Sharma, a banker and a resident of
Gumat. The government in the past had shifted trucks and other load-carriers to
Narwal, on the outskirts of the city, but it seemed that the government either can’t foresee things, he added. The Jammu city had witnessed a rapid expansion in population since the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir in 1989, but the government didn’t deem it fit to go for a master plan for Jammu, where displaced people from Kashmir, Doda and refugees from Pakistan had settled over the years, said Sharma. He added that Jammu had always been neglected when it came to infrastructure development. Talking to The Tribune, Jammu Municipal Corporation’s commissioner Mubarak Singh said the corporation had a proposal of constructing a multi-tier parking lot at Parade Ground to accommodate workshops that were working haphazardly in the area. “Thirty workshops has been shifted opposite the Geeta Bhawan in Parade Ground and now the remaining will be shifted once the multi-tier parking lot is constructed,” he said. “On the one hand, the JMC is trying to beautify and decongest the city, but at the same time such workshops add to the problem of congestion,” he said, adding that the JMC alone can’t do much. The government has to take a holistic view of the problem to come up with a comprehensive plan, he said, adding that, “As of now, the JMC doesn’t have a plan regarding such workshops, but we will approach the government”. |
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Shutdown: Cab drivers fleece
commuters
Srinagar, August 3 However, on normal days, the fare of Tata Sumo from Srinagar to Baramulla is Rs 60, whereas during strike days, drivers charge something around Rs 100 to Rs 120. Not only this, where only nine passengers are allowed, they carry 11 to 13
passengers. "These drivers are taking advantage of commuters' problems. They charge exorbitantly and we have no other option, but to pay the amount that they demand," said Prithipal Singh, a resident of Nowpora village, who works at a Health Department in Srinagar. Owing to the violent situation in the valley for the past five weeks, the buses are off roads and only small vehicles ply on roads. "Most of the drivers are engaged in such malpractices in the absence of law enforcers and are taking full advantage of the situation," said Gulzar Ahmed, another commuter. The drivers, too, have an excuse as they say that they are taking out their vehicle especially for commuters' convenient. "We ply our vehicle on the roads just for commuters as we risk our vehicle being damaged by stone
pelters. Several such instances have happened where stone pelters have damaged our vehicles, but we risk not only our vehicles, but our lives as well," said a driver. He added, "I don't think there is something wrong if we charge Rs 10 extra during such a situation, where our vehicle worth lakhs of rupees is at risk". But commuters say that the drivers are not only charging extra, but also risking their lives by overloading in vehicles. "Firstly, they are charging double the actual fare, then they stuff people like cattle. They even make passengers sit on
the driver seat, which is risky and can lead to accident some day," said Gulzar Ahmed, a
commuter. |
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Congress-NC ‘collusion’ Government
As the law and order situation has been deteriorating in the Kashmir Valley with every passing day, there is mad race among newly emerged social and political organizations to condemn the present dispensation headed by Omar Abdullah. Very much like the early 90 situation, there is mushroom growth of many social organisations and these groups have been trying to take benefit of the prevailing situation. While issuing press statements such groups are never concerned about the words they are using therein. Recently one such group issued a statement after the unfortunate Tral incident. Instead of using the words Congress-National Conference coalition regime, the group used the term Congress-National Conference collusion government. Similarly this organistion, while pointing towards the ongoing stir in the Kashmir Valley, had used the word ongoing hesitation being launched by the separatists in the Kashmir Valley. Encroachment on footpaths common
One can see encroachments on footpaths at every place in the city done either by rehariwalas or by shopkeepers. Thought the Municipal Corporation claims that every day they remove encroachments in the city under anti-encroachment drives, it all seems to be a drama. The rehariwalas have encroached upon footpaths at Jewel
Chowk, Indra Chowk, Shalamar Road and Parade whereas encroachment on footpaths by shopkeepers can be seen at Kanak Mandi and Ware House. Violating the municipal laws, these rehariwallas and shopkeepers continue selling their products, not caring two hoots for the rules. “Due to encroachments on footpaths we are forced to walk on the main road. The corporation should impose a heavy penalty on shopkeepers and
rehariwalas”, said Rita Gupta, a resident of Jewel Chowk. Rusted letter boxes
If you are going to post your secret documents through the Postal and Telegraph Department, you should be alert as most of the letter boxes in city have rusted and have big holes. One such letterbox in Bakshi Nagar (see picture) has rusted so much that it has a big hole. The letters put in this letter box are as good as left in the open. (Contributed by Dinesh
Manhotra, Sunaina Kaul and Archit Watts) |
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Continuous evaluation system draws flak
Srinagar, August 3 Noted academician Prof GM Malik opines that continuous evaluation will help check over-burdening and controlling examination fever among students. “Students mostly rely on guess work and cover just a portion of their syllabi to pass examination under the annual examination
system.” Malik observed that competition level would not be reduced in case of continuous evaluation system. “Children would enjoy studies. We’ve generally observed that students don’t read books as compared to older generations. They like computers. If computers are included in syllabi, they would dislike that as well.” “Generally, we’ve seen that a candidate with 80 per cent marks at graduation level fails to make it to university whereas those with lesser percentage succeed,” Malik says. For Nasir
Mirza, senior faculty member in Media Education Research Centre, University of Kashmir, continuous evaluation assessment is equivalent to no test.
Mirza feels that most of the time teachers don’t adopt scientific method to assess. “Continuous evaluation empowers teachers, but they end up giving good marks. Ultimately, good marks fail to decide actual status of students. The job of teachers has been reduced to grading. Essentially, grading should be part of job and not the entire job.” Education system, says the academician, has to be transparent and scientific. “Equip teachers and education system with tool, techniques and scientific
approach.” Mirza adds: “Instead of setting things right the government is trying to ape better off states. We can’t afford this luxury at this stage. No such concession should be given to the students as they have to compete at national and international levels.” Sharing same apprehension, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani (Canny), principal Canny Mission School and Srinagar district president for Private school education observes, “We are playing with the future of students.” Pointing to other facet, Wani says: “The student gets impression that the school authorities have no power to fail them. This sends a wrong signal and they at times misbehave. In case the school authorities take action, student initiates police action.” A senior faculty member on conditions of anonymity said: “The university conducts examinations at graduate level but admission to post-graduate courses isn’t given on that basis. In a way, it doesn’t trust its own evaluation mechanism. We need to evolve better mechanism.” |
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Nowshera children’s date with heritage, courtesy Army
Jammu, August 3 Back from a 13-day educational tour, at least 23 schoolchildren, accompanied by two schoolteachers, witnessed historical places in
Jaipur, Mount Abu and Udaipur of which they have only read in their books. They visited a museum in Udaipur which displayed the sword and armoury used by Maharana
Pratap. They also visited Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Jal Mahal, Birla Planetarium at
Jaipur, Sajjangarh Palace, Chitaurgarh Fort, Fateh Sagar at Udaipur and Sri Raghunath Temple, Mount Abu Museum, Sunset Point at Mount
Abu. Organised by the 13 JAK LI under the aegis of the HQ 163 Infantry Brigade
(Tithwal), the troupe was welcomed by Maj-Gen Om Prakash, General Officer Commanding, 25 Infantry Division. The tour, which was planned from July 19 to 31, was designed with an aim to providing exposure to young hearts and minds about the rich heritage, dynamic culture and development in other parts of the country. Highlight of the tour was the interaction of schoolchildren and teachers with the Princess of
Jaipur, Diya Kumari, in person. It was a great moment for the children of such a remote area to meet an actual princess. They were fortunate to visit the living area of palace, which is even restricted to VIPs. While interacting with
Maj-Gen Prakash, children shared their experience with him and conveyed thanks to him and the Army for organising such a wonderful tour for them and giving them an exposure to learn about the history of the country. They promised that they would also work hard towards the progress of the state and this area. |
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Rs 53.58-cr plan approved for Shopian
Srinagar, August 3 Addressing the meeting held here yesterday, Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, as the chairman, appreciated the efforts of the district administration for registering expenditure of about 98 per cent of plan on various developmental programmes in the district and hoped that same commitment would be shown by the officers in the implementation of new developmental projects during the current financial year. The minister stressed on judicious utilisation of plan funds allocated for different sectors. He asked the concerned for the completion of projects within stipulated time adding that no excuse would be accepted for any delay in the development process. He urged the executing agencies for early execution of new works, while reminding them that working season in the Valley is limited. The meeting, among others, was attended by Legislators MY Taing, Showkat Hussain Ganai, District Development Commissioner MS Sood, heads of various departments besides district officers. Aga Ruhullah appealed to the people and public representatives for extending cooperation to the district administration in maintaining essential services and law and order situation in the area. The legislators also projected various demands of the area. These included establishment of Tourism Development Authority for Shopian, upgrading of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, repairs and upgrading of Srinagar-Shopian road, installation of hand pumps, besides establishment of a blood bank in the district hospital. Sood informed that Rs 50.76 crore had been spent out of the total earmarked amount of Rs 51.94 crore during the previous year.
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Gujjars and Bakkarwals
Call it a curse or blessing, they can’t stay at a particular place beyond six months. They keep travelling always in search for greener pastures. Homelessness, wandering and cattle rearing are some of the traditional characteristic features of the Gujjar and Bakkarwal communities of the state.
During the summer season, their cavalcades move to the upper reaches in mountains whereas with the decline in temperature and onset of winter, they trek down to plains. Natural calamities are biggest threat to the livestock and members of the communities. Recently, untimely rain and snowfall in the upper reaches of Kishtwar district and some areas of Kashmir region took a heavy toll on their livestock. Some nomads also lost their life to adverse climatic conditions whereas others suffered severely for the want of timely aid. The communities are at the crossroads today, facing challenges from modernisation. The cultural onslaught the twin tribes are going through is visible as they have started discarding their traditional customs and attires. As the concern over the environmental degradation is running deep and wide, these migratory herders are in trouble. Further, the lands are shrinking and they have been facing hardships while searching for a suitable place for halting their cavalcades. The communities are known for their immense knowledge of herbs and shrubs, besides rearing some rare species of goats, sheep and dogs. Education and healthcare are two problem areas. Mobile schools have failed to deliver whereas the communities have poor access to healthcare facilities. To watch the interest of these tribes, the state government has set up an advisory board under the Department of Social Welfare. However, the communities want a statutory body to secure their interest. Their students want hostels in all district headquarters, besides hike in scholarships. The communities constitute 20 per cent of the total population of the state and are distributed in many constituencies. Since the communities are socially and politically most cohesive group, they play a major role in making or marring the political prospects of the parties. The political destiny of the state primarily depends as to which side these communities tilt. National and regional political parties have already started realising their worth, which hitherto has been used as political fodder during elections. However, the problems faced by them do not just need political solutions. There are other dimensions to the problems, which indicate towards administrative inefficiency in the implementation of welfare programmes, besides faulty and lopsided policies.
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Red Cross readies relief plan
Tribune News Service
Jammu, August 3 Anil Padha, honorary secretary of the society, said medical kits and a special kit of utensils had been provided at each district headquarters. The utensil kits having 20 pieces each are a ready to use kitchenware which would come handy in relief camps. “These kits are of great advantage. When a dislocated family is housed in a tent, it can immediately start cooking with this kit, which has a piece each of kitchenware.” Earlier, the society had distributed medical kits among mediapersons during the Amarnath land row. “We saw many mediapersons suffering injuries during the Amarnath agitation and later during protests. They had no immediate system of getting medical aid, which we provided to many of them,” he said. “These days, the society is on its toes. Flood alert means relief can be required anytime, anywhere. We are ready to meet any eventuality,” Padha added.
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Bashir Wani passes away
Wani had served all along in the Information Department except for a brief spell when he was posted as joint director, Handicrafts, Kashmir. He had joined the Information Department as assistant information officer (AIO) and had risen to the position of joint director in which capacity he headed the Kashmir Division office of the department. He was also posted as the chief of the New Delhi Bureau Office of the department. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. Wani was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard at Malkha near the Zaroo Gun Factory. A condolence meeting was held by the employees of the department with director, Information, Zaffar Ahmad in chair, in which rich tributes were paid to the departed colleague.
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Disabled tourists to get better accessibility
Leh, August 3 The general secretary of PAGIR, a Leh-based NGO formed by physically challenged people, who has initiated it with the collaboration of Travel Another India Group, Kunzang Dolma, said: “To convert the existing tourists spots accessible and disabled-friendly, the NGO has been approaching the owners of tourists spots, hotels and guest houses since last two months to build ramps, make wide doors, etc. The response they have shown us is overwhelming”. Tourism specifically for disabled people, ‘Himalaya on Wheels’, is perhaps a new concept in the country and it was recently launched by Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora. Kunzang said the main objective was to provide equal opportunities to disabled people willing to visit Ladakh as normally they could not come here due to hilly and difficult terrain. “Also, it is to create a source of income for the disabled people of Ladakh,” she said.
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CRPF organises hockey tourney
Jammu, August 3 As per the press handout, fourteen sector teams are participating in the event which is being organised by the Jammu Sector under the supervision of DIGP SR Panthi. DIGP O/O IGP Kulbir Singh inaugurated the games which will conclude on August 6. The responsibility of organising the event has been assigned to the Jammu Sector for the second consecutive time. |
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pipes on roads, which lead towards the entry gate of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, has caused parking chaos, putting into trouble the MC staff as well as people visiting the corporation office or other business establishments.
Jammu, August 3
Gujjars and Bakkarwals
Flood threat
Srinagar, August 3