Srinagar, June 17
The Central government has released a whopping amount of Rs 311 crore under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to Jammu and Kashmir for the current financial year.

This information was given at a review meeting of the State Health Society (NRHM), chaired by Minister for Health & Family Welfare Sham Lal Sharma, here recently.

It was informed in the meeting that the funds would be utilised for infrastructure development, procurement of mobile medical units for 11 high focused districts, additional incentives to ASHAs, besides host of other allied activities aimed at upgrading health facilities in the rural areas. Being the priority sector, it was decided that the funds earmarked for different components would be released to the concerned HoDs in a few days.

The minister directed the concerned HoDs to implement the flagship programme in letter and spirit so that the benefits of the programme percolate down to the people. He said the Central Government was providing adequate funding to improve the health infrastructure in the state and it was the duty of the officials concerned to make optimum use of these resources.

Sham directed timely submission of utilisation certificates (UCs) to the Centre to facilitate free flow of funds. The delay in submission of UCs would be viewed seriously, he added.

He also stressed on strict observance of the guidelines while implementing various components of the NRHM. Laying stress on achieving the targets, the minister directed the officials to put in their best efforts for the improvement of medical facilities in government health institutions. He asked them to work with missionary zeal and take all necessary measures to improve the healthcare. He also stressed on strengthening the monitoring mechanism and plugging the loopholes, if any.

Dr Abdul Kabir Dar, director, Indian System of Medicines (ISM); Dr Rakesh Khajuria director, family welfare; Dr Yashpal Sharma, mission director, NRHM; Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman director, health services, Kashmir; Dr Ashok Sharma, director, health services, Jammu; and Satish Gupta, controller, drugs and food organisation were present on the occasion.

Jammu, June 17
When the police wants to perform and decides to fight all odds in ensuring justice to the people, it can achieve good results. Be it solving the murder case of cement tycoon Raju Chopra or the murder of nomadic Gujjar Sher Ali, when intentions are correct none can stop the police.

While khaki in the past had been stained by some disgruntled officers in the state, there are officers in the Jammu and Kashmir Police who adhere to honesty and integrity. After assuming the charge as SSP, Samba district, Israr Khan has become a popular officer in this border area.

People are now approaching Jammu divisional commissioner Pawan Kotwal and IGP Jammu zone Dilbagh Singh with requests to assign old cases, either closed or pending, to this officer.

Further, the work speaks for itself. Soon after taking over as the SSP of Samba district, Khan reopened the cases where he felt that justice had not been delivered to the aggrieved families.

In this context, he referred to the murder case of Sher Ali of RS Pura, which was registered at Bari Brahmana police station. The facts of the case are that on August 9, 2002, Bari-Brahmana police station received information that one Sher Ali, son of Lal Hussain of Beaspur, RS Pura, had died but the cause of death was not known. Initially, inquest proceedings were taken up by ASI Gurdev Singh, thereafter SHO Bari-Brahmna and the then DSP (HQ) Jammu. Subsequently, the inquest proceedings were closed as a suicide case on April 25, 2005.

However, in compliance to Police Headquarters communication, the instant case was registered and investigation was taken up by Munish Anand, DSP, the then SDPO Bari- Brahmana, who closed the case as untraced.

On December 28 last year, one Muneer Hussain appeared before the SSP and alleged inaction on the part of investigating agency.

Accordingly, CD file along with IO was called and after a perusal of CD file, along with the site inspection, the SSP observed certain gaping holes.

“The height of the wall from where the deceased supposed to have hanged himself is barely 6 ft. Since 1½ ft of the extra length of rope is required to hang after tying the rope at the base of an iron angle on the top of the wall and the fact that the deceased was a tall man, around 5’10”, it is not possible to execute a suicide unless the deceased bents his knees to facilitate the act, which, in all probabilities, is not possible,” said the SSP.

Further, the mark of the rope suggested that it was a clear sign of death by strangulation, as in case of hanging, the mark is always above the windpipe below the chin and extends to the ear lobes, he added.

The SSP attributed the cause of murder to illicit relations between one Farooq and the wife of the deceased Saleema, alias Billa. In fact, immediately after the closure of inquest proceedings, Saleema, (wife of the deceased) and Farooq had solemnised their marriage.

To top it all, there is an eye witness to this gruesome murder namely Sakina Begum, alias Gogi, who happens to be the wife of Sher Ali’s brother. She had clearly mentioned in her statement that she saw the alleged suspect persons executing the strangulation while the deceased was asleep on the bed on the fateful day.

The case will be produced before the court of law shortly.

Similarly, the officer has reopened around five other old cases, like the rape and suicide case of a Rajasthan girl Anjana Sihag at Bari-Brahmana, the blind murder of a young girl Nisha Devi at Rajpura Jattan, the blind murder of Nager Singh of Tapyal and again the blind murder of Jaswant Singh, alias Jassa, at Chak Salarian.

Jammu, June 17
As electricity becomes a luxury in the rural areas of Jammu region during the summer season, people have started demanding that solar energy equipment should be set up in such areas to cope with this problem.

A meeting of the J&K State Advisory Board for the Development of Kissan was held recently under the chairmanship of Rachpal Singh, vice-chairman, at Kathua. Those present were of the view that the power supply system had been virtually collapsed in the rural areas and there was a need to look for an alternative. Villagers strongly favoured the installation of solar energy equipment.

They asked the state government to take a cue from the neigbouring states of Punjab and Haryana where solar energy instruments have been set up especially to run the tubewells for agricultural purposes. Further, the villagers maintained that proper functioning streetlights were must, particularly during the rainy season, so there was a need for solar energy system.

The villagers also pointed out that since Dr Farooq Abdullah was the Union Minister of New and Renewal Energy, the state government should send some proposals to the Union government in this regard.

Rashpal Singh assured the villagers that their suggestions would be considered. He said the aim of the board was to sort out the problems being faced by the rural people, particularly the farming community.

He stated the state government had provided a platform to the rural people to express and highlight their difficulties. He stated that the creation of the board was a sincere and powerful demonstration of the government’s resolve to look into the plight of the rural people and suggest remedial measures for their overall welfare and uplift.

Meanwhile, the rural areas of Jammu region are facing numerous problems on account of power shortage. In the kandi areas, the supply of drinking water has been badly affected. In some areas, tubewells meant for supplying drinking water have become defunct due non-availability of power. Some areas of Kathua, Samba and Udhampur districts have getting drinking water once a week through tankers since tubewells could not be used due to power crisis.

Jammu, June 17
As the sowing of kharif crops is going on in full swing across the state, the Agriculture Department has launched a massive drive to keep a check on the sale of substandard pesticides, weedicides and insecticides.

Earlier, it had been reported that a large number of pesticide dealers were looting farmers by selling misbranded items to earn easy money. Acting over such complaints, the department has decided to check the stock of all dealers throughout the state.

The department has also issued an advisory to the farmers so that they don’t get cheated by unscrupulous dealers.

“The enforcement wing of the department has advised all farmers not to use Butaveer (a weedicide brand) batch No BuTJK0190 and KRICEL (an insecticide brand) batch No KRE1JK/256 as these have been found substandard in the quality control lab of the department,” said a senior officer of the department.

He further said all enforcement officers had been directed to seize the stock of said pesticides under batch No KRE/JK-389 CMO2.

“Similarly, the farmers have also been advised not to use Butaveer (Nanda Dawa) batch No ButJK0190, Benmain (fungicide) batch No MA00908CB and KRICEL (insecticide) batch No KREJK256 as these have also been found misbranded after lab tests,” he added.

He said so far the drive had proved successful and a large quantity of misbranded items had been seized.

“Now, the farmers will have to be aware so that their produce could be saved. First, they should use the pesticide, insecticide or weedicide over a small area so that the result could be checked. If it comes positive, only then they should spray it over the entire crop otherwise it might prove harmful,” said the officer.

Srinagar, June 17
Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, recently organised a literary event on “Children’s Literature in Kashmir” at Delhi Public School, Srinagar, in which a number of writers, teachers and over 1000 students of the school participated.

The event was inaugurated by Aziz Hajini, Convener, Kashmiri Advisory Board of Sahitya Academy. Deputy Director-General, Doordarshan, Kashmir, Dr. Rafiq Masoodi, was also present on the occasion.

In his address, Aziz said: “Our mother tongue Kashmiri is the symbol of identity and the Sahitya Academy is consciously working for the promotion of quality literature in Kashmiri”.

The writers who made presentation on the occasion include Fayaz Tilgami, Ghulam Nabi Aatish, Sheikh Razi, Suraya Rasool, Ayoub Sabir, Nayeem Kashmiri and Abdul Ahad Farhad.

Prof. Neerja Mattoo, Aziz Hajini and the Principal, DPS, were in the presidium of the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Masoodi said there was a need for joining hands and heads together for the preservation and promotion of Kashmiri language.

He announced Rs 5000 as award for children who participated in the Kashmiri song presented on the occasion.

The principal, DPS, Srinagar, gave assurance that this institution would be working for the upliftment of Kashmiri Language and Literature regularly. The DPS, Srinagar, observed the day as Kashmiri Language Day.

Jammu, June 17
The Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad, which is rated among the top 10 business schools in the country, has set up a regional centre here at Jeevan Nagar.

“The centre has been opened here to equip participants with better services and facilities through personal contact programme,” said a spokesperson of the institute.

The strength of this institute lies in its eminent faculty and the quality of its courses, added the spokesperson.