Jammu, May 6
The Information Department recently circulated a bulletin to local media houses regarding an interaction between chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the chief secretary.It was stated that during the interaction, chief secretary Madhav Lal briefed NCPCR chairperson Shantha Sinha about steps taken by the state government for the protection of child rights in the state.

The chief secretary reportedly told Sinha that under the Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice System Act-1997, juvenile justice boards and child welfare committees had been set up at the district level, which were working under the chairmanship of respective district magistrates and district social welfare officers, respectively.

Now, the question arises whether the chief secretary mislead NCPCR chairperson over the child rights issue in the state? Leave alone the functioning of child welfare committees or boards, most of the deputy commissioners and district social welfare officials do not even know about the existence of such bodies.

When this correspondent spoke to officials, most of them were caught unawares about the existence of such committees. “I will have to check it with the social welfare officer,” said Mubarak Singh, Samba deputy commissioner. “There is no such committee or board in this district,” said Sachin Jamwal, district social welfare officer Samba.

Mohd Hussain Mallik, Kishtwar deputy commissioner, said he had joined his service a month ago and was not aware of any such committee. “I will have to check it with my line officers only then I will be able to comment”.

“I suppose there is no such committee or board in the district,” said district social welfare officer, Kishtwar Prem Singh Chib, adding, “Though I have been appointed here recently, the district does not have any problem related to child delinquency as far as I know”.

GA Khawaja, Rajouri deputy commissioner, said: “We have a child welfare board in association with an NGO, but it has no official standing. It works under the juvenile board that was constituted six months ago”.

“So far, the juvenile board has convened one meeting,” he said and added that the next meeting would be held by 
June 15.

There were some shocking comments as well.

Mohd Ashraf Choudhary, district welfare officer, Poonch, said, “No, I don’t deal with juvenile justice board or child welfare committee”.

“You should contact the Health Department or the department that runs integrated child development service scheme,” he told the reporter.

Zahida Khan, Kathua deputy commissioner, said: “As far as juvenile justice boards are concerned, the sessions judge deals with it whereas the child welfare committees are supposed to work under the Education Department or Social Welfare Department”. Rajiv Salaria, district social welfare officer, Kathua, said juvenile justice board and child welfare committee were not constituted as the department had not been notified in this regard yet.

PK Pole, Reasi deputy commissioner, said: “We have a juvenile welfare board and its meeting is held regularly after two-three months along with other social issues. The issues pertaining to delinquent juveniles or forcible child labour are handled by assistant SP, Katra,” he said. 

Srinagar, May 6
While the work on the main drain along the Airport Road has been going on for the past about six months, it has been causing inconvenience to the people of the area.

The road connects Srinagar with the neighbouring Budgam district that shoots off from the Airport Road at Humhama. The work is under way on about three-km-long stretch between Hyderpora and Peerbagh due to which there is space for only one way movement of traffic.

Vehicles coming from the Srinagar Airport Road and the entire Budgam district have to take alternative routes which are narrow and could hardly sustain the traffic movement. Besides, such routes are in a state of dilapidation. Only official vehicles are allowed on the three-km-long stretch and all passenger and private vehicles have to take alternative routes.

This is not only creating problems for locals but also troubling tourists arriving in the Valley with the onset of summer season.

Minister of State for Home, PHE, H&UDD and Revenue & Relief Nasir Aslam Wani recently issued instructions to the traffic authorities for the identification of three diversions on the Srinagar Airport Road to minimise traffic jams owing to the construction of the drain. He was assured that normal traffic would be restored by May 20.

The minister issued these directions at a high-level meeting, which was attended by the Srinagar deputy commissioner, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo, DIG Traffic, Kashmir, chief engineers of PDD, PHE, UEED, I&FC and superintending engineers of R&B, UEED and project officer, ERA.

The minister asked the SP Traffic to explore opening of Gogoo Wanbal diversion, besides two other traffic diverts around Galwanpora and Nadirgund Narkara so that heavy traffic on the VIP road is streamlined.

The ERA authorities were directed to carry out two shifts so that the ongoing work was completed without any further delay.

Expressing concern over the problems being faced by the people, the minister asked the Traffic Department to reinforce manpower on the road for better traffic regulation.

The Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&K ERA) is making all out efforts to complete the work on the main drain. The work was started early this year and despite harsh weather, 600m of main drain has been 
completed till date, an official spokesperson said.

He said the work on both fronts of the Indira Gandhi (IG) Road (Airport Road) had been further accelerated and was going on in full swing. “Every day, the work starts at 7 am and continues till late evening. The agency is making all out efforts to complete the work at the 
earliest”.

It was also informed that concrete work required proper time before any other activity could be carried out. Further, only a limited portion of the trench could be opened in one go as transit mixers carrying concrete must have approach to the trench and opening of longer trench would endanger the adjacent structures and other tube of the IG Road which, if damaged, will result in crisis beyond control.

Jammu, May 6
Despite efforts of the local administration and milk plants, city residents are facing acute shortage of milk products, especially cheese these days.

The milk plants are finding it difficult to procure the required quantity of milk as the demand has already gone up across the state for making sweets during the ongoing wedding season.

A quick survey of the market revealed that most of the shops of Surya, a major manufacturer of milk products, were running out of stock. Similarly, other sweet shops, dealing in milk products were also facing shortage of cheese.

“We have already taken buffer orders from market to supply cheese. So, the quantity which we get from the plant is being supplied to those consumers,” said Anup Kumar, who owns a Surya shop in Shastri Nagar here.

He added, “Cheese was earlier available at Rs 130 per kg, but now with the increase in demand, the price has also shot up. However, even then there is no availability of cheese in the market as the companies do not have adequate supply of milk”.

A visit to sweet shops and dairies also revealed the same facts that the wedding season which will continue till the end of this month has led to the shortage of cheese in the market.

“We have stopped the supply of milk and other products for the time being. At present, we are only supplying cheese which we manufacture in a day to local ‘halwais’, as they had already given us advance money,” said Des Raj, a dairy owner at Nanak Nagar.

In villages, too, farmers, especially Gujjars, have been storing milk for khoa and other milk products.

On the other hand, a housewife, Sangeeta Sharma, said the prices of most of milk products had gone up due to the wedding season. “We are being forced to pay more money for milk products and the shortage is likely to continue for 15 more days,” she added.

Due to this scarcity, complaints of black marketing are also being received. However, officials of civil administration said they had launched a drive to check the authenticity of these products and were also monitoring the prices of milk products. 

Srinagar, May 6
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mission, currently on a five-day visit to the state to finalise sub-projects to be taken up under the Tranche-2 of Loan-II (J&K Urban Sector Infrastructure Development Programme) being executed by the J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), held extensive discussions with a team of ERA officers headed by BB Vyas, principal secretary to the Chief Minister, and the chief executive officer, ERA, here yesterday.

Earlier, the ADB Mission visited Jammu and held meetings with various stake holders, an official spokesperson said. The team arrived here yesterday and reviewed the progress of various sub-projects being executed by the ERA. The ADB Mission appreciated the progress achieved on the sub-projects despite the loss of the crucial working season in the Valley last summer. The team visited Achan Landfill Site, Harwan to Nishat raw water conduit and other sub-projects being executed by the ERA.

Two prestigious flyovers, Jahangir Chowk Flyover in Srinagar and Bikram Chowk Flyover in Jammu, are proposed to be taken under Tranche-2. The ADB Mission would be undertaking feasibility of these two flyovers after consulting various stake-holders. Parking lots are also proposed to be taken up in Srinagar city under the 2nd Tranche.

The ADB Mission was apprised about the importance and requirement of these flyovers, especially in view of the increasing traffic congestion problem being faced in the two capital cities. The ADB Mission was informed that the concept plan of the flyovers has been vetted by RITES. Further,the design of the flyovers has been approved by IIT, Roorkee.

It may also be mentioned that the Chief Minister, in a meeting held yesterday in New Delhi with M/s RITES, has asked them to prepare a comprehensive mobility plan for both Jammu and Srinagar city at the earliest.

The Economic Reconstruction Agency is presently executing sub-projects under two loans viz Loan-I (Multi-Sector Project for Infrastructure Rehabilitation) and Loan-II (J&K Urban Sector Infrastructure Development Programme) funded by the Asian Development Bank. Total size of Loan-I is Rs 1,611 crore out of which the ERA has achieved the expenditure target of Rs 1,170 crore ending April, 2011.

At the request of the state government, the ADB has extended the loan closing date for Loan-I till December, 2011.

Total size of Tranche-1 of Loan-II is Rs 292 crore with a loan closing date of October, 2012.

Srinagar, May 6
World Earth Day celebrations, organised by the Department of Geology and Geophysics in collaboration with the dean, Students’ Welfare, concluded at the University of Kashmir’s Gandhi Bhawan recently.

Students and faculty members from various departments and colleges participated in a debate “climate changes have depleted glaciers and water bodies of Kashmir” to mark the conclusion of the event. A poster-making competition was also organised on the theme “deforestation and its impact on the environment” in which students from major city schools participated.

Prof Riyaz Punjabi, vice-chancellor, Kashmir University, who presided over the concluding event, said it was high time to sensitise ourselves on challenges to mother earth. The vice-chancellor turned nostalgic and recalled his childhood days and said the Dal Lake of Srinagar used to be an abode of crystal clear water which people even used to drink.

He lamented the way people have contributed in polluting the Dal Lake. “Everything is happening before our eyes and in front of us,” he said in an emotional tone asking for the participation of society to help save this treasure of Kashmir.

Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof AR Yousuf, while speaking at the valedictory function, said: “The Almighty wants us to create a balance on earth to safeguard it from the hazards of climate change. The silver lining lies in the fact the way the event has attracted the youth and the way they are interested in environment issues”.

On the occasion, Dean, Students’ Welfare, Prof Neelofar Khan, welcomed the guests and expressed satisfaction on the participation of students in a debate on an important issue considering the relevance of the topic in current times. Prof Khan said: “Such debates help give vent to students’ talent and help them to foresee themselves as catalysts for change”.

Dr Shakil A. Romshoo, noted scientist on climate change, and head, Department of Geology and Geophysics, said: “The aim of the World Earth Day was not only to create awareness, but also to create a consciousness about the importance of earth and how we are unfortunately contributing to its deterioration”.

Earlier during the debate, students deliberated in depth both for and against the proposition. The term climate change too was debated at length by students. They talked about the ill effects of climate change and how it affects our lives. Debaters unanimously voiced concerns over the deterioration of atmosphere and environment and suggested ways to replenish mother earth. Shahid Ali Khan, cultural officer, and Shaheena Kanth, literary officer, Department of Students’ Welfare, conducted proceedings, concluding event and debate session, respectively.

Srinagar, May 6
A weeklong art and literary event organised by the Department of Student Welfare, Kashmir University, concluded at Gandhi Bhawan recently. The event saw active participation from students of various university departments, affiliated colleges and schoolgoing children.

The event included debate and poster competitions as part of the World Earth Day celebrations, photography exhibition and an art therapy workshop.

The art therapy workshop was organised in collaboration with ‘A Path with Art’ group - the group dedicated to expressing Kashmir through art.

The workshop was conducted by Dena Lawrence, an award-winning art therapist from Australia. Spread over five days, art therapy sessions saw participation of more than 500 students. Art therapy is a psychiatric technique to aid expression and exploration of feelings, thoughts, conflicts and relationships issues through art.

“The workshop has made me more expressive and now I have become confident,” said Hina Ashraf, a participant student.

Vice-chancellor, Kashmir University, Dr Riyaz Punjabi, who visited the workshop, expressed happiness that events of the sort were being organised in the university.

He said: “When I was a student, I used to draw to de-stress myself.” Stating that great scientists, mathematicians, scholars and writers have had associations with art, he said: “Practicing art develops patience, thinking, comprehension, and concentration”.

“Art therapy gives an opportunity to people to get in touch with their own feelings and starts a healing process of the inner psyche,” said Dena, adding that this was of particular use to the people in Kashmir since they had seen periods of great pain and trauma.

Dean, Students’ Welfare, Prof Neelofar Khan, said: “Art therapy workshop has been beneficial to our students and the response has been overwhelming. Even students from NIT, some doctors and PhD scholars participated in the workshop. A platform was provided to the participating students to not only express their talents, but this also gave them a chance to further enhance their capabilities”.

Assistant Dean, Students’ Welfare, Showkat Shafi, presented a vote of thanks on the concluding event and appreciated the way students took part in DSW activities.

Debate and poster competitions were organised by the Department of Student Welfare in collaboration with the Department of Geology and Geophysics, Kashmir University on the occasion of the World Earth Day.

Dr Shakil Romshoo, head of the Department of Geology and Geophysics, said the competitions form a part of series of events on the World Earth Day.

“Every year, we hold similar programmes. The objective is to create awareness and show concern for the environment. The aim is to inculcate an environmental concern and a spirit of protectiveness towards earth systems among youth. These youth will serve then as future conservationists,” he said.

A photography exhibition “Frames” was also organised in collaboration with the Institute of Music and Fine Arts and Gayoor Foundation. More than 60 works of photography were displayed at Gandhi Bhawan. Noted artist Masood Hussain and noted photojournalist Habib Naqash were awarded on the occasion for their outstanding contributions to art of photography.

“Many more events for students are to be organised in this calendar year,” said Shahid Ali khan, cultural officer at Kashmir University.