Srinagar, July 8
Unemployed youth in the Kashmir valley have welcomed the Rs 1,000 crore employment package cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs government.

The package is expected to create 40,000 jobs in the state. “Jammu and Kashmir was in dire need of such a package as lakhs of educated youth in the state are unemployed. A mechanism should be formed under which they get the benefit,” said an unemployed youth, Touseef Ahmed.

“Our concern is that the package must be utilised for the benefit of the deserving people and it should not became a tool in the hands of politicians, who may use it to provide benefits to their near and dear ones,” said Khalid Ahmed, a postgraduate student of the University of Kashmir.

The youth say the state government should devise a plan so that the package is implemented in a proper way.

“The number of educated unemployed youth in the Valley is increasing every year. I hope when I complete my studies, such a package will help me get a job ,” said Sheikh Suhail, another postgraduate student.

The state has more than five lakh unemployed youth and the new package will provide job-oriented training to around 40,000 graduates and postgraduates and professional degree holders over a period of five years. Under the package, 8,000 youth will be imparted training annually with the help of the corporate sector.

“Under the Special Industry Initiative (SII) scheme, 40,000 graduates, postgraduates and professional degree holders from all districts of the state will be covered in the next five years. The estimated expenditure will be Rs 2.5 lakh per trainee,” says an official statement.

It says the scheme, to be funded entirely by the Centre, will be implemented in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and other institutions identified for the purpose. The cost of travel, boarding and lodging and stipends under the scheme will be borne by the Central government.

Jammu, July 8
The women’s cooperative movement in Jammu got a boost today when Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the pioneering movement would soon get recognition and support from the RBI.

Heralding the initiative of a group of women, the membership of which has swelled to over 20,000 from a few hundred in the last one year, Azad said the major requirement of the RBI was that such a cooperative should hold an annual general body meeting, which was organised today.

“I would recommend to the RBI to recognise this movement, as I was present at the annual general meeting and witnessed the resolutions passed therein,” he said while addressing the meeting here.

The movement started by the Jammu Women’s Credit Cooperative Limited (JWCCL) had grown fast in Jammu division.

Azad said once the cooperative was recognised, the RBI would provide it financial and infrastructural support. “Soon, the cooperative will become a bank and I hope the movement will spread to the whole of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Azad also announced he would soon donate a vehicle, preferably a jeep or a car, to the cooperative to run its operations. Exhorting women to take care of the cooperative, he said as per the latest Census report, 16 per cent less women died during delivery in the country as compared to the deaths in 2007.

The minister said, “India is working overtime to achieve the maternal mortality rate of 109 women per one lakh laid down by the United Nations. The latest Census report says 212 women per one lakh died during delivery in the country from 2007 to 2009. In 2007, the rate was 254.”

Kailash Kumari Verma , chairperson of the JWCCL, said the cooperative disbursed loans to women for self-employment.

Later talking to mediapersons, Azad hoped that the issue of resignation by some MPs and MLAs over the Telangana issue would be resolved soon, as he was holding parleys with some of them. He welcomed the recent statement of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani that stone throwing was not a solution to the Kashmir issue. “It is good that he has realised this,” Azad said.

Srinagar, July 8
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand visited Amarnath yatra base camps at Nunwan in Pahalgam and Chandanwari today and took stock of facilities being provided to pilgrims.

Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Kafiyat Ahmad Rizvi told the Deputy Chief Minister that sufficient foodgrains and other essential items were available at the base camps for the convenience of the yatris. Besides, elaborate arrangements of medicare, power, water supply and tented accommodation had been made. Tara Chand was told that a joint control room had been set up at these places to facilitate the yatris.

A team of senior officers of various departments accompanied Tara Chand during the visit. The Deputy Chief Minister also chaired a meeting of officers of various departments at the base camps and reviewed the arrangements.

Meanwhile, in view of the sudden change in the weather and a special weather advisory forecasting heavy rainfall along the Amarnath yatra area later today, the movement of pilgrims from Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni towards the holy cave shrine was stopped around 12.30 pm today.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, RK Goyal, the decision was taken to ensure the safety and security of the yatris. He stated that the Army, the Air Force and other agencies had been alerted in view of the abrupt change in the weather to provide the required support to the pilgrims in case of any emergency.

The yatris were advised to remain confined to their camps and those en route must reach the nearest locations in view of the likelihood of heavy rain.

Srinagar, July 8
In view of the sudden change in the weather and a special weather advisory forecasting heavy rainfall along the Amarnath yatra area later today, the movement of pilgrims from Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni towards the holy cave shrine was stopped around 12.30 pm today.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), RK Goyal, the decision was taken to ensure the safety and security of the yatris.He stated that the Army, the Air Force and other agencies had been alerted in view of the abrupt change in the weather to provide the required support to the pilgrims in case of an emergency.

The yatris were advised to remain confined to their camps and those en route must reach the nearest locations in view of the likelihood of heavy rain.

Meanwhile, Governor NN Vohra, who is also the chairman of the SASB, has directed half-hourly monitoring of the situation in the yatra area.

According to the special weather advisory issued by the Meteorological Department for the Pahalgam route for July 8 and 9, the sky will remain generally cloudy with rain/thundershowers and isolated heavy rain from Jammu to Pahalgam and beyond up to the holy cave. Similar weather conditions have been forecast for the Banihal-Srinagar-Baltal sector for today and tomorrow, with the sky remaining generally cloudy with rain/thundershowers and isolated heavy rain.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand visited Amarnath yatra base camps at Nunwan in Pahalgam and Chandanwari today and took stock of facilities being provided to pilgrims.

Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Kafiyat Ahmad Rizvi told the Deputy Chief Minister that sufficient foodgrains and other essential items were available at the base camps for the convenience of the yatris.Besides, elaborate arrangements of medicare, power, water supply and tented accommodation had been made. Tara Chand was told that a joint control room had been set up at these places to facilitate the yatris.

A team of senior officers of various departments accompanied Tara Chand during the visit. The Deputy Chief Minister also chaired a meeting of officers of various departments at the base camps and reviewed the arrangements.

Tara Chand impressed upon the officers to provide all facilities to the yatris and enjoined upon them to ensure close coordination for a smooth and successful yatra.

The Deputy Chief Minister visited stalls of all departments and assessed the facilities. He also visited various langars and inspected the quality of eatables being provided to the yatris. Tara Chand interacted with the yatris and enquired about the facilities being provided to them.

Jammu, July 8
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu, MS Parihar today dismissed the bail application of Ashish Abrol, who was allegedly involved in the Durga Nagar sex scandal, observing that, “In view of the seriousness of the allegations regarding the commission of the offence of rape against a minor girl, the court is of the view that the accused is not entitled to bail as there is every apprehension that the grant of bail to the accused at this stage will hamper the investigation of the case and also when two co-accused have already been refused bail in the case.”

On May 26, 2011, the complainant, a minor girl, lodged a written complainant with Domana police station that Santosh Devi, a resident of Kishtwar and married at Durga Nagar, Jammu, visited her house at Kishtwar and assured her of getting her married to a boy in Jammu. However, taking advantage of her poverty and the fact that she was an orphan, the woman forced the girl into prostitution against her will. The girl, however, escaped from the woman’s clutches. An FIR under Sections 366-A and 376 of the RPC was registered on her complaint.

During investigation, it was concluded that the girl was taken by Abrol to Dalhousie, Patni Top and Manali, where she was raped by different persons. The prosecutrix, during the investigation, was medically examined in the Government Hospital, Sarwal. According to the medical report, her age was concluded to be around 14 to 16 years. The statement of the prosecutrix was recorded under Section 164-A of the Cr PC. On identification by the prosecutrix, the police arrested seven persons, including the accused, who had raped her at different places.

Srinagar, July 8
Paying rich tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has sought the involvement of representatives of Jammu and Kashmir in talks between India and Pakistan for a final resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Addressing a Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid here today, the Mirwaiz said the ongoing talks between India and Pakistan would be result- oriented and fruitful only when the representatives of the state were involved in the talks.

He also sought to create a conducive atmosphere at the ground level in the trouble-torn state that would pave the way for a congenial atmosphere for talks at all levels.

The Mirwaiz called for a general strike on July 13 to commemorate the sacrifices of those, who laid down their lives on this day eight decades ago.

Meanwhile,hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman S A Geelani was today put under house arrest as the authorities feared law and order problems due to his presence at a Friday congregation.

Personnel of Humhama police station arrived at Geelani's residence at Hyderpora early today and informed him about the ban on his movement, official sources said.

They said there were apprehensions that the Hurriyat leader might visit Hazratbal, where a large congregation was expected for Friday prayers on account of Shab-e-Meraj, which could lead to law and order problems.

Police officials, however, refused to confirm or deny Geelani's house arrest.

A Hurriyat spokesman condemned the government's move.

Srinagar, July 8
Inaugurating a four-day orientation camp for newly elected sarpanches and panches of the Charar-i-Sharief constituency, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday said panchayats could be used as an important tool for the success of development programmes.

The Chief Minister, in his address to the newly elected panchayat members, congratulated them and the people on making the elections a success.

“This would open new ways to reach out to people on the development front in all areas of the state,” he said.

Omar said public representatives had to shoulder greater responsibilities in the process of development.

“You can serve as an important means to fast-track development, monitor works and reduce the chances of corruption,” he said and added the decentralisation of powers was imperative to ensure area-specific and equitable development of the state.

The Chief Minister said a state like Jammu and Kashmir could not be run from the Civil Secretariat. “We have to involve grass-root public representatives in the process of development to reach out to every nook and corner and deliver on the public service giving front,” he said, adding that powerful and effective panchayats in the state were in the offing.

Omar told sarpanches and panches that his constant interactions with them at the constituency level were to assure them that the government was committed to transferring powers to them not only in the rural development sector, but also in other sectors.

He advised them to render their services to the people with responsibility, devotion and honesty.

The Chief Minister said grants under the 13th Finance Commission amounting to Rs 500 crore annually would be spent by the panchayats. He emphasised on judicious spending and proper monitoring of works.

Jammu, July 8
Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma, today called upon sarpanches, panches and the people to join hands for ensuring lasting peace and strengthening communal harmony and brotherhood in the state, which was imperative for transforming the development profile of the state.

The minister was addressing a monthly review meeting at Akhnoor, which among others, was attended by a large number of sarpanches and panches.

Sham Lal said the newly elected panchayats had given rise to a new category of politicians and asked the sarpanches and panches to serve the society with utmost zeal and dedication, to write a new chapter in the socio-economic and political spectrum of the state.

Reminding sarpanches and panches of their responsibility to deliver their valuable services, he said the people had exhibited faith in the newly elected panchayat representatives by electing them.He added that it was the turn of the elected representatives to serve their areas in a more accountable and transparent manner.

Jammu, July 8
Asserting that peace and development was the only agenda of his party, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that the achievements of the previous PDP-Congress government were visible.

He said the previous regime, with the support of the people, had fulfilled its promises. On the second day of his visit to border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, the former Chief Minister addressed a public meeting at Surankote and asked the people to compare the achievements of the then PDP-Congress regime with the performance of successive National Conference- led governments in the state.

He said the construction of the Mughal road was a major achievement of the previous regime. He observed that it would emerge as a road of prosperity in the belt because the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri were going to become the gateway to Kashmir after its completion.

The PDP was committed to revive Jammu and Kashmir's unique distinctiveness in the region and efforts of the party in this regard had yielded results as many intra and inter-state routes were opened during the previous regime.

"While on the one hand, the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawakote roads had provided relief to the divided families, the opening of the Mughal road will be a windfall for the people of Rajouri and Poonch,”, he said.

Jammu, July 8
Provincial president of the National Conference (NC) Rattan Lal Gupta has welcomed the Union Government’s announcement of a special industrial initiative scheme for the state.

In a statement issued here today, Gupta said the decision, which was taken in Delhi yesterday, would change the economic conditions in the state, particularly of the educated youth.

He said it would also generate employment opportunities for them in the public and private sectors.

Gupta also hailed the new hydropower project policy approved by the state Cabinet yesterday.

He termed the decision as historic, which would open vistas for the state to start power projects under the independent power producers’ mode, as it had a huge potential.

He added that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was sincere and serious about solving the problems of the masses.

Srinagar, July 8
The Airport Authority of India said today the night-landing facility would soon be provided at the Srinagar international airport.

This was stated by the Chairman of the Airport Authority of India, VP Agrawal, at a press conference here. Agrawal said the step had been taken on the request of the state government, which had been demanding the installation of the facility in Srinagar to meet the manifold increase in the air passenger traffic.

He said a direct flight connecting Srinagar with Jeddah would also start from the airport here soon and the necessary steps were being taken in this regard. He added that the repair work on the runway of the Jammu airport would start soon.

Agrawal said the airport in Leh would also be upgraded and for the purpose land acquisition would start soon.

Jammu, July 8
A large number of activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) from Jammu and Kashmir will join the scheduled August 9 “Sansad Gherao” rally under the “Chalo Delhi” slogan, along with other morcha activists from across the country over the issue of corruption.

Addressing a press conference here today, BJYM state president Munish Sharma said scams, involving crores of rupees, had shocked the nation.

“With each passing day, new scams are getting unearthed, which have active involvement of Union Cabinet ministers, MPs and leaders of the ruling Congress-led UPA,” he said, and added, “The BJYM at the national level has chalked out a series of programmes to expose the UPA for its involvement in several corruption cases and reach out to the masses to expose the real face of the ruling dispensation.”

The rally was being organised against corruption in the country and the role of the Congress in shielding corrupt elements in the UPA.