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KAS mains exam result fuels regional divide
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My City, My Pride
City can do better
Work apace on Mughal road
Jammu college students busy with elections
53 shutdowns in Valley from June to Sept
Jammu diary
Kashmir unrest
Rs 20-cr rehab plan for 2,000 families
Muslims prepare effigies for Dasehra
PhD degree awarded
Wildlife week concludes in Leh
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KAS mains exam result fuels regional divide
Jammu, October 12 Not only student organisations of the Jammu region have taken up the issue of allegedly neglecting candidates of this region in the mains examination, political groups claiming to be the champion of the cause of the Jammu region have also jumped into the fray to gain politically cashing in on the anger prevailing among the younger generation. Claiming to be the champion of the cause of Jammu, the BJP has decided to launch an agitation for deliberately neglecting meritorious candidates of Jammu. “With the opening of the Darbar in Jammu we would aggressively take up this issue as meritorious and deserving candidates of the Jammu region have become victim of the discriminatory policies being propagated by the successive state governments”, asserted Nirmal Singh, a senior BJP leader who has demanded a CBI probe into the alleged bungling in the KAS mains examination. The Panthers Party, another Jammu-based political group, has also taken up this issue with its leader, Harsh Dev Singh, highlighting this “discrimination” on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. “People of the Jammu region would not tolerate this type of injustice and discrimination”, warned Harsh Dev Singh who alleged that meritorious students of the Jammu region were deliberately debarred as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy. Those who have been alleging bungling in the KAS mains examination have reasons to level such allegations because for first time the names and addresses of the qualified candidates were not disclosed by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC). “I fail to understand why the names and addresses of candidates were not disclosed this time. It is a clear indication that the authorities want to hide their misdeeds”, alleged Ravinder Singh, a candidate who could not clear the mains examination. Substantiating his allegations of bungling in the mains examination, BJP leader Nirmal Singh pointed out that the last question in the geography paper was: ‘Examine the need of reservation to Muslims to end regional disparity”, which hardly related to geography subject being a political question”. With resentment brewing among candidates of the Jammu region after the declaration of the result, political parties have decided to take this issue to the streets. It is believed that after the Darbar move in Jammu, political parties would take up this issue more vigorously due to intense pressure from student organisations. |
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Theatres face closure, courtesy entertainment tax
Jammu, October 12 Last week, the government levied 50 per cent tax on cinema houses. While theatres in Kashmir are already closed due to unrest, in Jammu province there are only eight theatres, five in the city, two in Udhampur and one in Katra, which are already facing tough competition from multiplexes. The order of the government has come as a shock to theatre owners in the city. Presently, Jammu has only three theatres, Hari, Apsara and Swaran, that have been screening films. Shakuntala and Jewel have already been closed due to unknown reasons. Besides, the city has two multiplexes, KC and Indira, which came up last year. Both multiplexes have been exempted from the tax. Amit Choudhary, a regional film-maker, said: “In most of the states, regional films are promoted in every possible way. However, the government has levied tax on my film also. The decision is likely to discourage regional film-making as regional film-makers cannot afford to screen their movies in multiplexes”. “We hardly run three shows of a
film on an odd day. With the opening of multiplexes, we do not get audience. A single show hardly attracts 60-70 persons,” said a cinema owner, and added that: “We are already facing a decline in the business and the tax has dealt a blow to the industry”. “Multiplexes are doing a brisk business, yet they have been exempted,” he rued and alleged that: “The tax is aimed at closing of cinema houses”. Ramesh Mahajan, president of the Cinema Owners Association, said they had taken up the matter with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Before the onset of the Budget Session, we have called upon Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather and he has assured of not levying
tax on cinema houses,” he said. “The entertainment tax has dealt a blow to theatres here as they are already on the verge of closure due to the opening of multiplexes in the city,” he said and added: “In theatres, we usually charge Rs 40 from a person, despite that we don’t get audience. If we raise our prices, who will come to watch movies in theatres? Cinema goers will prefer to move to multiplexes”. “In Jammu, a movie is simultaneously screened in all theatres and multiplexes due to which multiplexes attract all audience,” he said and rued, “Theatres are finding it hard to maintain them and disburse salaries to their employees”. “Now, we only have two options, either to close down theatres or reduce the number of employees,” he added. |
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My City, My Pride
Purohit, who worked in the secretariat of Maharaja Hari Singh for some time and later retired from the Revenue Department, has witnessed some major developments in and around the old city in the past three decades. His great grandfather, Kalu Shah, was secretary of Maharja Ranbir Singh. There was a single bridge spanning the Tawi and just two roads, including the Banihal Cart road, between new and the old city. The famous bazaars were Raghunath bazaar, Moti bazaar, Jain bazaar, Pakka Dangga, Peer Mitha and Urdu bazaar (Rajinder bazaar). Famous singer of yesteryears who later shifted to Pakistan, Malika Pukhraj used to live in Urdu bazaar. Hindi film comedian Om Prakash and legendry singer and actor KL Sehgal lived in Julika Muhallah. Both of them used to enact roles in Ramleela at Diwan Mandir, he says. “Jammu got its first cinema hall, Hari Talkies in 1925. There was a zoo where now stands civil secretariat. Another theatre, Uttam Talkies came up in next few years. The first powerhouse was set on the Ranbir canal. GGM Science College, formerly Prince of Wales College, was set up in 1907”. “There were only two political parties namely Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League. The first radio station was set up in a small room of Ranbir Higher Secondary School in 1948. The city got municipal committee in 1925”. Chander Kant Gupta, who lives in block A of Gandhi Nagar, recalls when the area was a wasteland with wild growth all over and Gujjars and
Bakkarwals used to graze their cattle here. “To expand the city, Gandhi Nagar was planned in 1956 during the regime of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. Plots were demarcated and sold to government employees on a priority basis, besides businessmen. The minimum price of a plot was fixed at Rs 500. However, people were reluctant to leave the old city due to emotional attachment with one another and also due to scarce money. Gandhi Nagar also did not have any market and other basic infrastructure. The government then allotted plots on installments and used to deduct Rs 3 from the salary of employees. This is how the housing department encouraged people to settle in Gandhi Nagar”. “The kind of bonhomie people used to share in the old city is missing here. We get surprised on hearing that in cities like Delhi people do not know anything about their neighbours. The same thing is happening here,” Gupta said and added, “Earlier, there was respect for elderly people, everyone was concerned about others. But now things have changed completely”. |
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What kind of developments you want to see in Jammu? The Tribune asked this to local youth. This is what they had to say: Besides, MNCs should be allowed to set up their units here so that more employment avenues can be generated for the youth. Infrastructure in all educational institutions should be upgraded. Specialisation courses should be made available here as students have to go outside the state for pursuing professional courses. Another problem is poor traffic management. There are no proper roads due to which people face problems in plying their vehicles and pedestrians are not able to walk properly. A proper road infrastructure on the pattern of Chandigarh needs to be provided. Moreover, traffic lights should be installed to regulate traffic. — Vaneet Kaur, president, students’ union, Government College for Women
To put an end to encroachments on roads and footpaths, a separate market should be constructed for vendors and others. More flyovers should be constructed to deal with the problem of traffic jams. In fact, the government should introduce metro train service to facilitate people. — Rajeesh Koul, college student
More institutions of higher education should be opened so that students need not go outside the state for pursuing professional education. The authorities should develop existing parks and rotaries. To entrain the children, aquariums and zoos should also be opened. The main bus stand and railway station of the city, which present an ugly look, should be renovated. — Meenakshi Bhat, private schoolteacher
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Work apace on Mughal road
Srinagar, October 12 Having been taken up by various governments during the past three decades, the project was launched in 2006 under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme, which came into effect from 2004-2005. It was scheduled to be completed within a period of five years by 2011. The state government, giving details, said it would be completed in all respects by March 31, 2013, as per the deadline fixed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. So far, an amount of Rs 368.03 crore has been the cumulative expenditure on the project to be constructed at a cost of Rs 639.85 crore. The Centre has already decided to fund the additional cost of Rs 385 crore to build the road. This was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while inaugurating the last stretch of 19-km-long rail line between Anantnag and Qazigund in South Kashmir on October 28 last year. The road has already missed the deadline set by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had assured that it would be opened to traffic by mid summer this year. The Chief Minister had a historic drive on the road on November 26 last year, when he drove from Shopian to Bafliaz making it first on the historic road, which had been used by Mughal emperors to cross through high mountains to reach the Valley surrounded by high Himalayas. After the Chief Minister’s drive, the road has also been covered as part of the 1,100-km-long Mughal Car Rally organised by the Himalayan Motor Sports Association on the Srinagar-Kishtwar-Jammu-Rajouri-Bafliaz stretch on June 25-26, 2010. The rally was also aimed at exploring the tourism potential of different areas of the state, yet to have been explored. “Tourists are restricted only to the selected resorts of Kashmir over the years, but there are many more areas which needed to be explored for the attraction of tourists,” said Mohammad Ashraf, former Director of Tourism, J&K government, who has remained as an adventure sportsman. He refers to two main areas of tourist attraction on the route, Daksum-Kishtwar stretch on one side and Bafliaz-Dobjan on the other end of the road, which have been covered by the car rally. The 84-km-long road passing through high peak mountain is equally divided by Pir Ki Gali (pass) at the height of 11,460 ft, with 41 km in the Kashmir region and 43 km in the Jammu region. The work gets hampered due to high altitude rains and snow and much of the work had been completed in the stretch falling below the height of 9,000 ft, officials said. Regarded as a safe route to Kashmir, the only alternative to the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, it would remain open only for about nine months a year and snow-bound during winters. The construction of a tunnel, as proposed to cut the 20-km-long distance on the Pir Ki Gali, would make the road all-weather and save more time. |
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Jammu college students busy with elections
Jammu, October 12 To ensure free and fair polls, the election process is being conducted under the supervision of principals and other senior staff members of the colleges. Firstly, class representatives (CRs) are being elected by students in all sections of the colleges. Later, these CRs cast their votes for the selection of president, vice-president and other student members of the colleges. Government College for Women (GCW), Gandhi Nagar; Government Maula Azad Memorial (MAM) College; Government Sri Pratap Memorial Rajput (SPMR), College of Commerce; and Government Degree College, Paloura; are expecting to start election process for the selection of college president, vice-president and general secretary probably in the next few weeks. “Though we have elected CRs in all sections, we will soon start elections for president, vice-president and general secretary,” said Nalini Kohli, principal, GCW, Gandhi Nagar. “In our college, the election process may start next week. I hope that deserving students should be elected for the posts of president, vice-president and general secretary,” said Vishal Raina, a college student. However, Government College for Women, Parade Ground, conducted the elections recently in which Vaneet Kaur, student of part-III was elected as president, Akriti Sharma of part-II was elected as vice-president, and Sunali Bindra of part-III was elected as general secretary. Meanwhile, Anu Sharma of part-III was elected as convener, Sugandh Gupta and Anuishka Koul of part-II were elected as co-convener and treasurer, respectively. Tanzeel of part-II was elected as coordinator, whereas Riya Gupta of part-I was elected as joint secretary of the college. Government Gandhi Memorial Science College has completed the election process for the same posts. |
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53 shutdowns in Valley from June to Sept
Srinagar, October 12 The process of shutdowns began on June 7 when both factions of Hurriyat Conference called for a strike on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the Valley. However, strikes became a regular feature soon after the killing of a teenage boy, Tufail Ahmad Mattoo, after he was hit by a tear smoke cannister allegedly fired by the police following which both Hurriyat factions called for a shutdown. Out of the 53 shutdowns observed in the Valley from June 1 to September 30, three shutdowns were called by both Hurriyat factions, one was called by the moderate faction and the rest 49 were called by the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, which is spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley. Omar also said several industries and business sectors suffered heavy financial losses during the period. “During the current turmoil, government property worth crores of rupees has been damaged. Transport, horticulture, tourism and other business sectors have also suffered,” Abdullah said.
— PTI |
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Jammu diary
The photograph showing street kids resting near a traffic booth at Bikram Chowk carrying an advertisement of some Internet company (See picture) captures the contrast rightly. Students or
protesters
Holding regular demonstrations, boycotting classes and then demanding relaxation in syllabi at examination time has become the general trend of some college student unions here. After taking admission, most of the students join one union or the other. These students are always found wondering on the college campus instead of attending
classes. It is difficult to find them in classroom or library but they can be easily spotted near the canteen or at college gates either gossiping or holding protest demonstrations. Traffic plan
‘abandoned’
To streamline traffic on city roads, the traffic police came up with a plan a few days ago — block vehicular movement for a while at zebra crossings — so that pedestrians can cross the roads easily. But it seems that the cops have either forgotten the plan or it has failed to deliver. Go to any busy road, especially Bikram Chowk, where the DIG(Traffic) launched this scheme on October 2, to see that pedestrians have no other option but to cross the road amidst moving vehicles. (Contributed by Ashutosh
Sharma, Sunaina Kaul and Archit Watts) |
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Kashmir unrest
Srinagar, October 12 The four months of shutdowns and curfews have taken a heavy toll on the frail economy of the Kashmir Valley. According to estimates by the Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (FCIK), some 50,000 skilled and non-skilled workers have been retrenched by their employers due to the unrest as they were “unable to meet their idle wage bills”. And many more are likely to lose their jobs as the private sector feels it unviable to pay the wage bills, Afaq Qadri, vice-president of the FCIK, said. Kashmir has 16,000 industrial units in the organised and unorganised sector, providing direct employment to 1.6 lakh skilled and non-skilled workers, Qadri said. Ten to 15 per cent of the skilled and non-skilled non-local workers have fled as they felt unsafe in the current state of affairs, said the FCIK vice-president. Over 100 persons have been killed, mostly in firing by security forces on street protesters, since June 11 when a tear gas shell hit a teenager. The teenager's death led to mass protests in the Valley, reviving the separatist campaign. Production and marketing of goods has come to a standstill and incomes have nosedived to naught, according to the FCIK. "It is becoming unmanageable for industrialists to pay their workers," Qadri said. He said the majority of unit-holders are still withholding their employees hoping that the situation would soon change, but 20 per cent of them had “economised by way of cutting their workforce numbers”.
— IANS |
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Rs 20-cr rehab plan for 2,000 families
Srinagar, October 12 The Minister said the payment of relief on account of repairs and renovation of damaged houses of border migrants of Nowshera tehsil has also been made as per norms approved by the government. Giving details of providing compensation and relief on analogy of Valley migrants to border migrants Pallanwalla, Jammu, the Minister said no compensation and relief had been provided to them on the analogy of Valley migrants. The Minister said under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs approved rehabilitation package of Rs 58.99 crore for 6,072 families of Naibat, Khour, in November 2004. He said under the rehabilitation package, Rs 4.43 lakh were approved for allotment of five marlas of land to each of the families, Rs 29.60 crore for construction of two room tenements at Rs 50,000 to each family, Rs 11.28 crore for rehabilitation of civil amenities in rehabilitation colonies, Rs 5.93 crore for purchase of appear of block at Rs 10,000 each family, over Rs 1.23 crore for clearing of 3,512 acres of agriculture land and its ploughing. The Minister said the government had issued order No. 455 dated October 1999, under which ex gratia relief was sanctioned in favour of the families falling within 5-km belt along the LoC and between the International border and Ditch-cum-Bund, who had not been able to sow their crops due to border shelling and firing. He said the said government order was amended vide order No. Home-305 (P) of 2002 dated June 21, 2002, to provide improved relief package in favour of affected families of both the divisions of the state. He said the relief package had been also provided from January 2002 to September 2004 to the border migrants of Nowshera in addition to all other civic amenities. |
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Now, woollens flood Leh
Leh, October 12 Hardly a day goes when any organisation or individual does not arrive with such kind of relief material at Leh. The result is that every available space has been used to store such material. A government official said, “If people really want to help rebuild Leh then they must visit this place because more tourists will mean revival of economy of this place”. “With the passage of time, the requirements of victims have changed. Presently, they require spices, pulses and pressure cookers because these items are hardly available here,” said T. Angchok, deputy commissioner, Leh. Angchok said they had received less quantity of grocery items than required. “Though we can purchase wheat flour and rice from the FCI, if someone sends these things free of cost, we can utilise relief funds in rebuilding houses for homeless people,” added Angchok. Jigmet Takpa, chief relief coordinator, said, “We are now not requesting for relief material. What we need at this point of time are skilled labourers to reconstruct a large number of houses. Since the place is situated on a high altitude, we need skilled workers to construct specially designed houses”. He added, “If any state government can provide us skilled labourers, it will surely help the cause”. |
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Muslims prepare effigies for Dasehra
Jammu, October 12 This Muslim clan from Uttar Pradesh, having the mastery in making effigies, has been visiting Jammu in September since 1980 when Siraj-ud-Din came here for the first time. After making and erecting effigies at Parade Ground here, they will return to Meerut only to come next year to spread the message of “victory over evil” through their artistically created effigies. “When the effigies will go up in flames on October 17 here, thousands of spectators would cheer. Not many know that a Muslim family has painstakingly mounted these effigies,’’ said Mohd Subhan, who has joined the group for the first time. The group is putting up at Geeta Bhawan, adjacent to the Parade Ground. All 30 members are toiling hard to accomplish the work in time. “We make and erect effigies for the entire Jammu division. It is not just the money that brings us here, but the occasion gives us an opportunity to visit Vaishno Devi shrine,” said Gaayas-ud-Din, who is visiting Jammu for the 17th consecutive year. Gayas-ud-Din opined that local artists here were not so well equipped to handle firecrackers that were fitted inside the hollow effigies made of bamboo and cardboard. “The effigies of Ravana and others are generally mounted on Assam bamboo structure with heads carved out either in clay or with paper. The structures are then covered with cloth and paper so that effigies catch fire easily,” he explained. Din is optimistic that their trade would become popular with each passing year. “People now have purchasing capacity. They place orders for every major locality to erect effigies,” he said. Din, however, candidly admitted that he would not allow his sons to go for this trade. “After all, we are playing with the fire,” he said while showing his left arm that has a burn scar which he received a few years ago while fitting crackers in one of the effigies. |
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PhD degree awarded
Jammu, October 12 He carried out the work at the Department of Electronics Technology under the supervision of Prof IS Hudiara and Dr ML Singh of the same department. The PhD work was a part of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India-sponsored project amounting more than Rs 1.5 crore which was carried out by a research team comprising Dr Sharma. Dr Sharma has published his research work in various prestigious international journals like Institution of Electronics and Electrical Engineers, Springer, etc. He earlier had the privilege of representing India in the International Union of Radio Science symposium organised by the Glenn Research Centre, NASA, USA, in September 2006 and then in October 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dr Sharma presently writes reviews for various international journals published from Asia, the UK and the US. His biography also features in the latest edition of Mrquis Who’s Who published from the US. Currently, he is working as an assistant professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering of the Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu. |
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Wildlife week concludes in Leh
Leh, October 12 Students of Elizer Joldan Memorial College and various local schools, representatives of NGOs and district officers of departments concerned attended the function.
A symposium competition among schools students on wildlife and the need for its conservation was held. Jigmet Takpa, conservator of forest (wildlife), Ladakh, who was chief guest on the occasion, said the Wildlife Department had conducted a series of functions, besides screening films on wildlife in Ladakh schools. — OC |
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Jammu, October 12
He says, “Jammu that was once a walled city was confined between Vinayak Bazar (today Jewel or Gumat bazaar) and Panjtirthi. The bazaar was set up by a local trader, Vinayak Mishr, who was settled in Kolkata. The old structure of Vinayak dharamshala still exists near the Jewel chowk. It provides shelter to pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine. 
Jammu should be made a green city like Chandigarh. Planning should be done for the plantation of green bushy trees in the city to make it an attraction for tourists. The Tourism Department should identify more and more tourist spots.
We have only a few multiplexes and one mall in Jammu. More multiplexes and malls should come up. The government should also boost sports activities in the state. All existing stadiums should be maintained properly and modern stadiums should also be constructed for various sports. Heritage places should also be well maintained so that outsiders can visit such places. Efforts should be made to make the city slum-free by rehabilitating all the slum dwellers at one place.
The government should first concentrate on providing basic amenities to its people. Art, dance, drama and music schools should be set up to make talented students able to excel in their respective fields. Auditoriums with advanced facilities should be constructed.
I see two countries within India, one on cloud nine while the second one trudges through the muck, says Gulzar in one of his poems.
There are some people who have access to all modern technology and luxuries of life whereas the other class is still struggling for basic requirements life like food, clothing and shelter. For them even basic amenities like
healthcare facilities remain out of bounds. Their children hardly see the school.