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‘Bungling’ hits work to develop Mansar lake
Navratra festival livens up Katra, Reasi
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Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan
Over 2 lakh cases pending in state courts
Power Disruption In Industrial Areas
Centre sanctions 114 infra
projects for state
Order to deploy new appointees in Social
Welfare Dept
Police-public meets planned to redress grievances
Extra labour sanctioned to speed up work
Pvt practitioners ‘misguide’
TB patients
Leh civic poll
Army takes mobile school to nomads
It’s harvest time in Kashmir
Gojri musical records launched on Internet
Panel formed to weed out corrupt
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‘Bungling’ hits work to develop Mansar lake
Jammu, October 15 Local residents are also of the view that on the one hand the government is not serious for the preservation of the water body while on the other, whatever meagre amount sanctioned for the upkeep of the lake has been misused. “The government had sanctioned some funds for the beautification of the lake, but nothing is visible on ground,” said Ram Parshad, a resident. He said there was no accountability. He demanded that locals should be involved in the development process so as to ensure proper utilisation of funds. RS Pathanai, senior vice-president of the Pradesh Youth Congress, who is also a resident of this belt, has criticised the discriminatory and lackadaisical attitude of the authorities towards the lake. “It was five years ago that an exclusive development authority was to be established here. Although crores have been spent on the beautification and preservation of the lake, least is visible on ground,” he said and alleged that works had been allotted without tenders and the quality of work was also poor. To substantiate his allegation of bungling, he pointed out that tiles on the pathway around the lake dismantled within months. “The fencing wall has also collapsed into the lake, exposing the poor standard of work,” he said and demanded a thorough enquiry into the mode of allotment and execution of work. He further demanded the association of locals with the work going on here in order to ensure greater accountability and public participation. “The construction of a cafeteria, parks, a restaurant and other works around the lake are being carried out without any planning and state-of-the-art approach with the public money being constantly squandered,” he alleged. He also called for an initiative for checking pollution and contamination in the lake and preservation of flora and fauna. For the past two years, political groups of the Jammu region have been agitating over the issue of neglecting the lake. The issue had created furor in the Assembly a number of times. It was all due to the efforts of these political groups that some funds were allotted for the preservation of the lake, but now allegations of bungling has created anger among the people. Indo-Pak wrestling a big draw
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Navratra festival livens up Katra, Reasi
Udhampur, October 15 The festival is being organised by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Tourism Department in collaboration with the district administration, Reasi. As part of the inaugural ceremony, a magnificent “shobha yatra” depicting the rich cultural heritage of the state was taken out. The huge turnout for the procession indicated the popularity of the event. Those participated included a large number of pilgrims from across the country and abroad, schoolchildren and cultural troupes. The showering of flower petals by helicopters added more colour to the occasion. The Deputy CM said the festival provided an opportunity to the pilgrims and tourists to have a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage and peaceful conglomeration of people of different faiths. He said Navratras had a special significance for the sacred shrine of Vaishno Devi. Appreciating the efforts of the shrine board, the Deputy CM said the pilgrimage was gaining popularity every year. As part of the festival, cultural processions were being taken out from Asia Chowk on a daily basis and so was the all-India devotional song competition at Shri Yog Ashram Air Strip, Katra. The song and drama division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organised cultural programmes at Government Higher Secondary School, Katra. Similarly, exhibitions were put up by different government departments, showcasing their achievements. A massive awareness rally on environmental issues was taken out in which around 1,400 students from 35 schools of Reasi district participated. Another event, a story-telling competition on the life of Vaishno Devi, was held in which students of 30 schools participated. Such a huge turnout during the festival days also delighted the business community, which looks forward to such events. Traders and shopkeepers of Katra did a brisk business. “I have always seen devotees thronging this place during Navratras as they believe visiting the shrine during this time is auspicious for them. So, when the tourist inflow increases, the local population gets benefitted,” said Amarjit Singh, a restaurant owner. “Our turnover increases by about 70 per cent during the festival,” added Anu Dubey, a dry fruit seller. Another benefit is that the whole town, especially its narrow market places, get cleaned up on the occasion.
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Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan
Jammu, October 15 The warning has been issued following reports that the managements of a good number of private schools, who thrive on high tuition fee but have poor infrastructure, were refusing to divulge information on the pretext that the same could be misused by government machinery . Naseem Lankar, Commissioner, Education Department has, however, clarified that the sole motive for the collection of DISE data was to prepare a sound database for educational planning in order to achieve the goal of universalisation of elementary education in the state. In a recent circular to the managements of all government,aided and unaided schools, Lankar said the DISE data provided complete picture of school environment, including the student-teacher ratio and infrastructure available for the students, mostly at the elementary level. She said all government, private , Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodayalas, Army, BSF and other central government schools functioning in the state were required to provide details of their institutions. The circular clarified that in case school managements fails to come out with details of their institutions on a prescribed format, severe action would be taken against them. The cluster resource persons (CRPs) have been directed to approach the administration of all such defaulting schools for submission of the relevant DISE data under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan.
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Over 2 lakh cases pending in state courts
Srinagar, October 15 In a written reply to a question in the state Legislative Council, Sagar said more than 56,000 civil cases, writ petitions and appeals were pending in the state High Court. The Minister, however, said the authorities were trying hard to encourage resolution of the disputes between parties by using alternative methods. "The State Legal Service Authority is striving hard to achieve the twin objectives of providing free legal service to the poor and downtrodden and encourage resolution of the dispute by alternative methods like Lok Adalat and mediation," Sagar said. There are 2,496 criminal cases pending in the High Court, he said. In subordinate courts, a whopping 1,64,036 cases, which include 1,17,601 criminal cases and appeals and over 34,000 civil cases, were pending, the minister said. — PTI
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Power Disruption In Industrial Areas
Srinagar, October 15 This decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Minister for Industries and Commerce SS Slathia here yesterday. Several decisions were taken at the meeting to help the industrial fraternity flourish by giving a fillip to their production activities, an official spokesman said. The Minister informed the meeting that in view of difficulties faced by several industrial estates with regard to power disruption, the government has kept a provision of Rs 25 lakh for purchase of DG sets complete in all respects. It was decided to allow the industrial estate to purchase more DG sets to avoid frequent power disruption, wherever prevailing. Other issues, which came up for discussion include exemption of GST, VAT and service tax on several items. The meeting also decided to explore the possibilities to consider local entrepreneurs in tender process while effecting purchases of blankets, police uniforms and power transformers by the Police Department and Power Development Departments. Delay in payments from government departments and creation of revolving fund of Rs 20 crore would be considered sympathetically and a meeting with the Chief Minister, along with the Finance Minister, will be arranged in this regard, the meeting decided.
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Centre sanctions 114 infra projects for state
Srinagar, October 15 "As many as 114 infrastructure development projects at a cost of nearly Rs 260 crore have been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Tourism from 2002 to March 2010 for the promotion of tourism in the state," they said. Out of the 114 projects sanctioned by the Central Ministry, they said 27 projects had been prioritised by the Ministry for sanction during 2010-11 at a cost of Rs 116.58 crore. Three mega projects - one each for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh - have been identified for sanction during 2010-2011, they said, adding that Rs 50 crore had been sanctioned for the project in Kashmir and Rs 25 crore each would be utilised in the projects for the Jammu and Ladakh regions. The tourism industry in the Valley was hit hard by over two-decade long turmoil. However, the tourism sector witnessed growth after 2002 when militancy began to decline. But the tourist season over the past three years has been continuously marred by the unrest that has seen the Valley shut for three consecutive summers. Tourists fled the Valley at the peak of the season in 2008 following the Amarnath land row agitation and again shunned the breathtaking tourist destinations here the following year when the death of two women in Shopian district of South Kashmir brought locals on streets. The Valley again witnessed near empty hotels for the past four months as widespread protests over killing of civilians brought the entire Valley to a standstill. — PTI
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Order to deploy new appointees in Social
Welfare Dept
Srinagar, October 15 The minister expressed hope that the new incumbents would give the much-needed impetus to the implementation of the ICDS scheme. She said effective monitoring by the supervisors would go a long way in streamlining further the working of the Social Welfare Department. The minister called upon the new appointees to work with dedication as service in the Social Welfare Department was akin to a mission as it was related with bettering socio-economic status and development of the poor, disadvantaged and destitute.
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Police-public meets planned to redress grievances
Srinagar, October 15 The DGP said such darbars were aimed at prompt redressal of public grievances. Kuldeep Khoda cautioned the people to remain aware of vested interests who were hell bent upon disrupting peace for fulfillment of their nefarious designs. Khoda said the main problem of the state was un-employment and illiteracy and urged everyone to work hand in hand for eradication of these growing problems. He assured the people that he would take up the matter of on-the-spot recruitment with the government so that the poor and downtrodden were benefited and due representation was given to all sections of society in North Kashmir Range. The DGP maintained that despite tough times, the people had always maintained brotherhood and communal harmony. The DGP asked the people to bring their genuine problems to the notice of police officers for immediate redressal. He announced that such police-public meets would be held once a week at the police station level, once a fortnight at the subdivisional level and once in a month at the district level. Cultural and study tours would be organised by the police for the general public in general and the student fraternity in particular. Khoda announced the setting up of police public schools in Baramulla, Anantnag, Doda, and Rajouri in the first phase. He said nearly 8,000 appointments had been made in the J&K Police and the recruitment of 800 more constables was unde rway.
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Extra labour sanctioned to speed up work
Srinagar, October 15 The labourers will be engaged in the departments of Power Development, Public Health Engineering, Irrigation, Flood Control, Public Works, Rural Development, Floriculture, School Education and Forest, he said. The Cabinet also approved the guidelines for the engagement of labourers, the spokesman said, adding that of the 43,000 labourers, 20,500 would be engaged in Jammu division and the same number in Kashmir division while 2,000 engagements will be made in the Ladakh region. In another decision, the Cabinet approved the creation of 10 posts of Chief Executive Officer, Accounts Officer, section officer, accountant, accounts assistant, senior assistant, junior assistant, driver and two orderlies in the State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, the spokesman said. — PTI
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Pvt practitioners ‘misguide’
TB patients
Jammu, October 15 Besides quacks, few private practitioners have reportedly been misguiding patients regarding the treatment provided at government health centres, whereas in several cases, patients don’t complete the course of medication when they get temporary relief and therefore the symptoms of the disease continues. The District Tuberculosis Centre, Jammu, which also caters to Akhnoor, Samba and RS Pura, has accomplished only 60 per cent detection rate, which is 10-15 per cent short of the intended target. The centre is giving treatment to 25,000 patients. Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) was launched under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme in 2004 in an attempt to achieve and maintain a cure of at least 85 per cent among newly detected infections, besides touching the detection rate of 75 per cent. “We have been getting encouraging results from DOT providers. Nearly 15 of them were honoured recently for dedicated work,” said Dr Poonam Mahajan, district TB control officer. She said the death rate amongst the patients undergoing TB treatment was 1.5 per cent maintaining that the death many be due to other reasons, besides the disease. “Earlier, the course of medication was of 18 months, but now it has been reduced to six months. Patients get medicines on Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week at the nearest health centre. In several cases, DOT providers and ASHA workers do the job so that the patients do not have to travel a long distance,” the officer said and claimed that the cure rate was more than 90 per cent. Maintaining psychological reasons, she said: “If the patient or any member of his/her family has medicine at discretion, the patient may skip the dose of the medicine for obvious reasons, but it will not help cure the disease, therefore DOT providers are asked to give loose pills to the patient twice a week. “Private practitioners are a big hindrance. They do not guide patients properly,” she said and added that, “Though the government provides free of cost consultation and medicine, there is a wrong feeling in the minds of few patients that private treatment is much better. Medicines provided by the department are the best. These are certified by the WHO and are same world over”. “Symptoms of TB are most prevalent among the people living in poor and unhygienic conditions,” she said and added that, “The social stigma tagged with the disease is a major challenge besides unawareness, as people usually undermine the symptoms of the disease like if they have prolonged cough”.
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Leh civic poll
Leh, October 15 The initiative has been taken keeping in view the record of past elections in Ladakh where parties tried to influence voters by money and alcohol. The campaign is being conducted by the volunteers in collaboration with the district police. Posters with messages like “Don’t waste precious votes for money and alcohol” are seen pasted on walls of almost all streets of Leh town. The volunteers are also campaigning through loud speakers in the town and its adjacent areas. Tsewang Thinless, president of the association, said: “A committee of 10 volunteers has met political parties and candidates and urged them to stay away from such measures. The campaign is also being run through radio. Letters to youth associations and village nambardars have also been sent, urging them to cooperate in making the initiative a success”.
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Army takes mobile school to nomads
Jammu, October 15 As a goodwill gesture, the Army has started providing education to such children in Mandi tehsil of Poonch through a mobile school, which now has 30 students, who are trying to brighten their future prospects. Gujjars and Bakerwals are a nomadic community who migrate annually from the hills of Jammu-Poonch region through the Pir Panjal range to the Kashmir Valley and go till the highland pastures of the Himalayas. Their migration starts in April and continues till July every year. They start returning to the plains in September and October. The Army not only strives for its prime goal of eradicating militancy but also carries out people friendly operations like providing educational facilities and generating job opportunities for the populace. A gesture in this direction by a Rashtriya Rifles battalion has greatly benefited the Gujjar-Bakerwal community of Mandi. The nomads move every year to the higher reaches of Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Tangmarg and other such places in the search of greener pastures. While doing so, they vacate their permanent habitation in April and climb upwards through Jamia Wali Gali to the Kashmir Valley. This transit phase lasts till October when they return through the same route. In many cases during this period, male members go ahead and their families stay back in Dhoks around Jamia Nala and the Dholawali area. The Rashtriya Rifles as one of the guardians of the Pir Panjal range has its presence in the area. The proposal of the mobile primary school was mooted by representatives of the community, which has been temporarily residing there. The battalion provides support in terms of material, resources, stationery and teaching staff for establishing and running the mobile school at Jamia. People there are appreciative of the benefits accruing to the children who miss out on education for four to five months every year as a result of migration The school was set up in July this year with the assistance of local people and as on date, 30 children are regularly attending primary classes in the school.
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Even as life in the urban areas remains affected due to the ongoing general strikes and curfew restrictions in some areas, these are hardly imposed on farmers working in the fields. The farmer is busy in making hay while the autumn sun shines calling him to do his job on time lest it should be too late. Both men and women peasants are busy contributing their bit in the harvesting season (See pictures). While they are engaged in reaping crops and plucking of fruit, the women folk have an additional job of making timely supply of food and traditional salt tea in copper-made samovars. Unrest hits work culture The prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley for the past more than four months has not only affected the daily routine of the common man in Kashmir but also badly affected work culture here. With the closure of banks, offices and other educational institutions for the past more than four months people remain mostly confined to the four walls of their houses, apprehending that it would be difficult for them to resume their normal activities for some time. After a long spell of tension and unrest in the Valley, people pray that the situation should return to normal so that they can start their lives afresh. As rightly put forth by a government employee, the four months of unrest has affected the work culture so much that it would take time for the employees to resume their normal activities. (Contributed by Ehsan Fazili and Tejinder Singh Sodhi)
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Gojri musical records launched on Internet
Srinagar, October 15 This new initiative was aimed at popularising and widen the access of Gojri music in all parts of the world, said a press statement of the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation- a frontal organisation of Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir, who launched this free channel one year back to boost Gujjar culture. Over one lakh viewers from all parts of the world, including the US, the UK, Pakistan, Gulf countries, have registered their presence on our channel in the past few months, said Dr Javaid Rahi, Secretary of the Tribal Foundation. He said Gojri was the first language of millions of Gujjars residing in different parts of the world, predominantly in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Rahi said the new records uploaded on the Net included variety Gojri folk songs, baits, aaats, si harfis, ghazals, epics, videos etc. Javaid Rahi said some rare videos acquired from artists of Poonch Rajouri , Kupwara and Baramulla and other parts of the state were rarest copies of folklore popular in the Himalayan Nomadic groups facing extinction had also been uploaded for reference and record. Being nomads by culture, the Gujjars have a distinction over other tribal groups and these videos have been launched to highlight globally the nomadic costumes, traditions, food habits, living habits etc.
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Panel formed to weed out corrupt
Srinagar, October 15 The committee will secure the necessary inputs from the Vigilance Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police (CID), whenever required. The two officers will also remain associated with the committee as special invitees. — PTI
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The 6th Mission Dosti Rustam-e-Hind Wrestling organised on Thursday conveyed the message of peace and harmony. This sports event attracted a large number of spectators, especially due to the participation of wrestlers from Pakistan. Wrestler Vijay Pal from Uttar Pradesh won the title by defeating his Pakistani rival Bashir Bhola in the 13-minute final bout. He won a silver “gurj”, “patta” and cash prize of Rs 31,000 while the runners-up got the cash prize of Rs 20,000.
It is autumn in Kashmir and the farmer is busy harvesting the main paddy crop and plucking apple ahead of the approaching winter. The crispy sounds of reaping paddy in vast fields and mounds of dry fallen leaves from chinars and other trees in the Valley meet the eye everywhere.