|
|
|
|
Hi-tech gadgets to help curb ration
pilferage
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Officials told to complete pending
works by April
Finance minister meets industry representatives
Sopore hospital boon for residents
Coop society benefits Leh pashmina breeders
Transparent police functioning need
of the hour: DGP
Jammu Diary
|
Hi-tech gadgets to help curb ration
pilferage
Jammu, February 8 As the authorities have failed to control theft of ration usually transported for the remote areas, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department has now decided to introduce advanced gadgets to stop such thefts. Addressing zonal meetings of ministers and Secretaries in charge of food and PDS of states/UTs in the northern region at New Delhi on Monday, CAPD Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon stated that the government was keen on introducing IT in the public distribution system through a tie-up with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), besides launching GPS tracking system for vehicles carrying foodgrains to different destinations. Most of the times vehicles hired for transporting foodgrains to remot areas go “missing” in official records as these vehicles do not reach the destinations after they leave Jammu. According to official records, a number of trucks loaded with foodgrains from FCI stores from Jammu, have been “missing”. These trucks carrying tonnes of foodgrains, have been shown sent from Jammu for different destinations but shown missing midway. The minister admitted in the last session of the Assembly that 144 trucks loaded with foodgrains from stores in Jammu had not reached FCI godowns they were sent to. Most of the “missing” trucks were carrying fake registration numbers and even then grains were loaded on these vehicles. It is believed that by using IT the government could keep a check on the movement of vehicles sent from Jammu for various locations. The minister, however, maintained that the government has undertaken the necessary PDS reforms to ensure that foodgrains reached the fair price shops as per the prescribed calendar. Jammu and Srinagar have been covered under the delivery system of foodgrains at the doorsteps of fair price shops and this shall be extended to the peripheral areas. He said the government would involve panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) in the monitoring of the PDS. Moreover, co-operative societies were being encouraged to take up PDS work on a need basis by self-help groups. The minister informed the Centre that additional storage capacity was being created in critical areas which remained cut off during inclement weather. The FCI was also enhancing the storage capacity for foodgrains.
|
|
Officials told to complete pending
works by April
Srinagar, February 8 He said the Dal Lake was not only important for Kashmir, but also for the state as well as the country. He said the Central government had liberally funded for restoring its pristine glory and it was now the responsibility of the officers and engineers concerned to utilise the funds judiciously and take the optimum results of the work. Tara Chand appreciated LAWDA and SDA officers for evincing keen interest for the completion of the works. He was addressing the high-level meetings of the LAWDA and the SDA in Srinagar. The meeting was attended by special secretary, Housing and Urban Development, GH Mir, vice-chairman, LAWDA, Irfan Yaseen, secretary, SDA, and other officials. The Deputy Chief Minister said the officials who would work with the added zeal and zest and great sense of responsibility would be rewarded and encouraged, adding that, however, those officials showing laxity would be dealt under law. Tara Chand directed the officers to complete all left out works by Regarding the SDA, the deputy chief minister asked the officers to devise ways and means to increase the revenue of the authority so that more and more assets were developed on their own. The Deputy Chief Minister informed that the SDA had yielded revenue of Rs 21.34 crore till January 2011. It was also told that the authority was developing two colonies for economically weaker sections of society at Noorbagh and Bemina. It was also informed that another colony spread over 435 kanals was also proposed at Rakh Gund Aksha. Irfan Yaseen, vice-chairman, LAWDA, informed the deputy chief minister 25 km trunk sewer had been laid in the Dal Lake, while 21 km drains had been remodelled. He said 50 per cent work on Brari Nambal and Nala Amir Khan Sewerage Treatment Plants had been completed. He further said plantation on 700 hectares of land in the catchment area had been completed and another 400 hectares would be brought under plantation during March 2011. |
|
Finance minister meets industry representatives
Srinagar, February 8 “With this motive, the Commercial Taxes Department has been computerised to help traders and dealers in direct registration and payments without any interference of field officers,” Rather said, speaking at a pre-budget discussion with representatives of the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) and the pharma industry, here recently. He said industrialisation was the key to economic self-reliance. Rather observed that holding of pre-budget discussion with cross section of people, especially trade and industry, proved fruitful as it provided insight into the viewpoint of stakeholders and their expectations and problems. Rather said the objective behind the exercise was to involve people in formulating a people-friendly budget for better growth and all-round development of the state. He said useful and beneficial suggestions would be considered on merit. The FCIK appreciated the government for taking landmark initiatives during the current fiscal on the suggestions of the chamber, which included starting construction of Rattle Power Project, passing of the Act for levying water usage charges on different users, particularly hydropower projects, computerisation of the Commercial Taxes Department etc. The FCIK called for emphasis on areas like infrastructure, communication, connectivity, skill development, entrepreneurship, social and agriculture sector. Besides, financial discipline and proper utilisation of assets by government departments should be maintained in order to avoid wastage of public money, it was asserted. The FCIK also put forth some proposals and suggestions for the overall resource mobilisation and revenue generation. Afaq Qadri, acting president, FCIK, urged for the transfer of power projects of Salal, Dulhasti and Uri to the state, overhauling of power distribution infrastructure to minimise transmission and distribution loss, minimising forest and mineral losses, creating lapse fund account for the Valley. He also pleaded for the formulation
of a separate industrial policy, exclusively for backward districts. He also suggested the creation of a revolving fund in SICOP which could be used in the cases where payments to units from departments get delayed, besides making electric blankets tax free to give boost to this industry. Members of the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation also met the minister and sought a concrete trade policy. They demanded posting of more funds in the appellant authority of the Commercial Taxes Department. They also suggested regularisation of all housing colonies and illegal power connection to fetch revenue and called for a single window system for clearing building permission cases. Simplifying VAT regime, and constituting a joint committee of commercial taxes and traders association are some other suggestions put forth by the KTMF. They suggested that multinational companies should open their C&F in Srinagar to provide job avenues for the unemployed youth. |
|
Sopore hospital boon for residents
Sopore, February 8 This apple-rich town of Sopore, 50 km from Srinagar in Baramulla district, had been known for heavy militant activity over the past two decades, and more recently, for protest demonstrations. Thus, injuries to civilians and security personnel were routine here due to which the hospital used to remain crowded. “Since violence has come down (both the militancy related incidents and protests) to a great extent, there are very less referral cases to Srinagar hospitals,” said Dr Fozia Habib, block medical officer at the Sub-District Hospital. Sopore is the largest medical block in Baramulla district, catering to 2,96,624 people and has its boundaries touching two other districts of Kupwara and Bandipore. The block comprises one maternity and child healthcare centre, six primary health centres, five allopathic dispensaries and 28 sub-centres. The newly created district of Bandipore was carved out of Baramulla in 2007, which has brought down the number of patients to this hospital. A number of patients pour in from affiliated health centres apart from the two neighbouring districts as well, leading to heavy rush of the patients at this centre. A new building of the hospital was constructed on the Kupwara road in March 2008. The maternity and child healthcare centre has been retained at the old complex while the OPD and a casualty and five wards for indoor patients have been shifted to the new complex. An in-patient department (IPD) building, which will make the 200-bed hospital complete in all respects, is under construction and is expected to come up fully in the next two years. The SDH at its OPD has various facilities like operation theatre for ophthalmology, ENT, and general surgeries, in addition to five wards for indoor patients. The hospital has started blood storage and transfusion facilities and is now being equipped with five new ambulances while four more doctors were deputed recently in view of the increasing number of patients. Important facilities like power supply and telephone services have been made available round the clock. Though the healthcare facilities at district and block levels in the state, particularly in Kashmir valley, are being given a priority, most of the tertiary health centres in Srinagar continue to remain overcrowded with a large number of patients from distant parts of the Valley.
|
|
Coop society benefits Leh pashmina breeders
Leh, February 8 The sale and marketing of pashmina, which traditionally used to be through middlemen until a few years ago, are conducted through their cooperative society which has became a popular. To fix the price and promote pashmina in other markets, the breeders have formed a regional- level All-Changthang Pashmina Breeders Cooperative Society (ACPBCS). At the village level too, the breeders, commonly known as Changpa nomads in Ladakh, have also formed a cooperative society with 22 memberes, which buys raw pashmina fiber from individual breeders and hand it over to the ACPBCS for processing at the Leh
plant. ACPBCS Chairman Dorjey Stanzin told The Tribune that the current rate for raw pahmina fiber was Rs 1650 and Rs 1500 per kg for A and B grade, respectively . Raw pashmina fiber is divided into three categories, A,B and C, on the basis of purity. The village-level cooperative society has also help breeders in escaping exploitation at the hands of middlemen. Gurmet Dorjey, Executive Councillor for Tourism, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, who hails from Changthang, where pashmina is produced, said: “Due to lack of systematic marketing, before the formation of the Society the Changpa used to be exploited by middlemen. Middlemen used to exploit them through a barter system-- “Pashmina in exchange for cheap goods, including essential commodities and grain while butchers would pay the cost of sheep and goat back to breeders only after the complete sale of meat,” he added. Gurmet Dorjey said the LAHDC was planning to conduct an awareness campaign among the breeders for strengthening the cooperative society, one of the sustainable sources of marketing for pashmina breeders. Chief Sheep Husbandry Officer P Wangchuk said the setting up of the plant initially owned by the Sheep Husbandry Department had not only helped the pashmina breeders in reaping the maximum benefit but also becoming a source of employment for them. |
|
Transparent police functioning need
of the hour: DGP
Jammu, February 8 After a meeting with the senior police officers here, Khoda said the situation was reviewed after the killing of a 21-year-old boy in Handwara. The killing of the youngster has jolted the state government, which has been trying hard to maintain peace, law and order in the Valley after the six months of unrest last year. Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also directed the security forces to ensure that incidents like the killing of a youth in an Army ambush did not recur. Even during his annual press conference in the beginning of this year, the DGP had stressed that the police would deal all incidents with utmost care, especially those occurring in the Valley. Khoda also underscored the need for transparency in the day-to-day functioning of the police to bring about a positive change in the public perception about the force. Sources in the police said the DGP had strictly warned all his subordinate officers to deal the situation with utmost care or get ready to face serious action. Appreciating the role of jawans, the DGP said the Jammu and Kashmir police had demonstrated great valour and courage while fighting the militancy in the state and saved lives and property of public in the past. “I hope, the cops will try their best in dealing with law and order problems,” said Khoda, adding, “We have to work with more consciousness and sincerity to keep the trust of the people”. Khoda asked jawans and officers that people had pinned high hopes on the police to get their grievances redressed and it was the prime duty of the police to protect the lives and property while dealing any untoward situation. |
|
Jammu Diary
Neutral or
traitors
As the battlelines between two rivals of the Congress have been clearly drawn, those who have been trying to remain neutral are finding it difficult to win the confidence of either warring group. Some Congress leaders who had attended rallies of both factions on January 30 have been dubbed as "traitors" by both factions despite the fact these genuine Congressmen, who have genuine concern for the party, have been trying to remain neutral to bring about a truce between the warring factions. During the visit of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, neither of the factions was interested in taking these neutral leaders with them to meet the visiting dignitary. Both factions have sent out a clear message to these neutral leaders to side with either of the groups for their survival. But the problem staring these neutral leaders in the face is that neither group has faith in them. “Secret” of cops’ health
The well-built J&K police personnel perhaps have to thank Shakti Bhog wheat flour for their fitness. As a barricade (See picture) sponsored by the flourmill points out that cops might have been consuming the wheat flour coming from this mill only. Even the cops standing beside this board seem to pose as the brand ambassadors of this popular flourmill. (Contributed by |
|
||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
The Chief Minister took a dig at the local media at a recent book release function. Mediapersons enjoy taking potshots at politicians but at the release of an Urdu book penned by an eminent writer, Omar Abdullah expressed surprise while noticing a large number of mediapersons, especially TV journalists, at the function. He said Urdu language could prosper only if all loved it and used it and the media had a huge role to play in this regard "but they are here to take my quote or byte on the BJP's proposed hoisting of the National Flag at Lal Chowk and my stand against it. Had this controversy not been there, no mediaperson would have come to this function," he said leaving the audience in splits and mediapersons embarrassed.