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Ration scarcity continues to hit commoners
Snakebite incidents on the rise
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1,000 historical structures need immediate attention
Barren hills turn into lush green forest
Jammu Diary
Super specialty hospitals coming up in state
New Master Plan for Budgam town unveiled
Musician gets Rajiv Gandhi Pratishtha Samman
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Ration scarcity continues to hit commoners
Jammu, August 30 A massive protest in Kathua on Monday against the shortage of rations, especially wheat flour, belies the claims of the authorities regarding adequate supply of rations. The residents of Kathua also recently held a demonstrations against the shortage of rations in CAPD depots. They had alleged that in some areas people had not received rations for the last three months. Due to unprecedented hike in the prices of essential commodities, the demand for rations from CAPD-run depots has increased manifold during the past two years. A majority of people now prefer to purchase flour, sugar and rice from depots, but adequate stock is not available. Last month while reviewing the functioning of his department, CAPD Minister Qamar Ali Akhnoon had claimed that the eradication of corruption in the state and ensuring accountability and transparency in the implementation and execution of various schemes were government’s priorities. He also asked officials to work with dedication for the welfare of the people and conduct surprise checks in the rural as well as urban areas for ensuring regular and smooth supply of rations and other essential commodities. Earlier, during a meeting at Jammu held in July, local MLAs had put forward various demands, including ensuring regular supply of rations in their respective constituencies, enhancement in margin of rations dealers to mitigate pilferage, modification in the distribution system, rectification in BPL list, early introduction of National Food Security Bill, implementation of various Central schemes etc. They had stated that the network of LPG supply should be expanded to the rural areas and LPG outlets must be sanctioned at the block level. They had also demanded the enhancement of LPG quota, rations and kerosene oil. The minister had assured that their demands would be considered. He had asked the officers to effectively monitor the public distribution mechanism in the district and ensure that the already provided quota of rations reaches the beneficiaries well in time. He had also directed the officers to ensure display of stock position, rate list and list of BPL families in each depot. The officers concerned were also told to personally monitor the quality and quantity of rations being supplied to the people and to take a stern action against the dealer who violates the fixed norms. Interestingly, the minister had claimed that there was no shortage of rations supply to BPL families, but there was a shortfall so far as supply to APL families were concerned, who were being given rations on the basis of 2001 Census. He had stated that the Central Government would now fix the PDS according to the 2011 Census which would be completed soon. However, despite assurances, BPL families in some areas are also facing a shortage of rations. In Kathua, a majority of the people who recently protested against the shortage of rations belonged to the BPL category.
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Snakebite incidents on the rise
“After noticing such swelling or redness on any part of the body, the victim should be immediately taken to a nearby hospital so that the treatment could be started as soon as possible,” says a doctor at the GMCH. He adds, “Any delay either by the victim’s family or by the doctor may lead to the death of the victim. After detecting the snakebite, the patient immediately requires a ventilator because it normally lead to respiratory arrest”. Referring some recent cases, he says some snakebite incidents could not be easily diagnosed, especially those happened in the night when the victims were sleeping. “These types of cases are tough to handle as the victims need immediate treatment otherwise it can also result into paralysis,” he says. Vinod Kumar, whose nephew Akhil Kumar was recently bitten by a snake at his house in Smailpur village, said, “We were unaware about what had happened to Akhil. After he got severe stomach pain, we immediately took him to a nearby hospital where the doctors failed to detect the problem. Then he was taken to the GMCH where the doctors told us about it being a case of snakebite”. “Hardly any sign of snakebite was visible on the body, but the doctors diagnosing him said that the problem in respiratory system and dark redness in eyes were the signs of snakebite. They shifted him to the ICU, gave an anti-snake venom and put him on the ventilator. Only then his life was saved,” adds Vinod. He says later a snake was also found moving near our house which confirmed that it was a case of snakebite. The GMCH authorities say almost three-fourth of snakebite victims who come to the hospital lose consciousness due to shock. “The victim and his/her family should deal the situation patiently. These types of incidents are very dangerous and tough to handle,” says Dr Sushil Sharma.
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1,000 historical structures need immediate attention
Jammu, August 30 Kripal, who has surveyed and documented most of these structures ranging from old buildings, religious places, shrines, inns, ponds and natural springs, apprehends that if no immediate measures are taken, such historical sites will get vanished with the passage of time. Most of these heritage buildings belong to the Dogra regime. The conservator has found these structures in the Gumat, Panjtirthi, Ustad Mohalla, Bagh-e-Bahu and Pir Mitha areas and has called for declaring some of them as protected sites under the existing laws so that the process for their preservation could be taken up. Kripal recalled that there used to be five main gates in the peripheries to approach Jammu city. Considered to be the symbols of the Dogra pride, three of such gates had already vanished, he regretted. He pointed out that only two such gates were now exiting, one at Gumat and the other near the Vivekananda Chowk. Unfortunately, in the absence of any concrete policy, the remaining two heritage gates were also losing their grandeur, he said. Though he appreciated the department for renovating Chingus Fort, Samba Fort, Hira Nagar Fort and Lakhanpur Fort during the past three years, yet much remains to be done, he added. Dr Lalit Gupta, an art critic, blamed the state government for the neglect of
archeological sites and buildings in the region. “It appears that no priority is accorded to such historical buildings,” he said and demanded that Jammu should be declared as a heritage city. He alleged that it was the Jammu Municipality which itself had earlier razed some of the ancient buildings in the city to raise new structures. There should be stringent laws against all those who were found guilty in vandalising such heritage sites, he demanded. The authorities should also seek no-objection certificate from the Archaeological Department while allowing civilian or government institutions to construct houses or office buildings, he suggested. Gupta demanded that archaeological sites at Sakhi Maidan, Poonch and Basholi town should also be declared as protected monuments.
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Barren hills turn into lush green forest
Bajalta (Jammu), August 30 Residents of the village, and soldiers of the 129 Battalion of the Special Ecological Unit, most of who are ex-servicemen, have done what the residents of a number of villages in Orissa had done to revive a dying forest. Rich by its experience in the Rui Watershed Micro Catchments area project for which it won the Indira Priyadarshini Mitra Award in 1994, the battalion has been engaged in the restoration and afforestation of the degraded forestland in the Bajalta block since 1997. “We have developed 2,373 hectares of degraded forestland with the plantation of near 23 lakh saplings,” said a spokesperson for the unit. The change is very much visible. Old pictures of the region as well as elders in villages like Mahore and Kunni reveal that forests were almost gone. Aided by the State Forest Department, the unit first earmarked the forest area, put up a fence and began the conservation of the forest apart from new plantation. “The biggest difficulty was to restrict the movement of people and yet enable them to use the forest produce like dry wood and grass as fodder for animals,” said the spokesperson. The residents vouch the development but want more to be done. “I remember when I was a child the hills around our village were barren. Mindless cutting of forests by residents as well as the forest mafia and indifferent attitude of the authorities had taken its toll on the ecology. Rainfall had reduced considerably and temperatures had increased. Then, the villagers and the battalion came together. Now, you can see the forest developing,” said Karan Singh, who is now the sarpanch of the village. However, he wants the Forest Department and the battalion to concentrate more on the deeper areas in the forest. “The forest has developed a lot on the areas visible from human habitation or the road, but a lot needs to be done in the remote areas deep in the hinterland.” Babu Ram, a social worker of Kunni village, while appreciating the development work says he wants more freedom for villagers to collect produce from the forest. “We get grass and dry wood but that is not enough. People in the area are poor. Most of them live in mud houses and more wood is required.”
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Jammu Diary Some of the Congress legislators have even questioned working of their own party ministers and criticised them for not addressing grievances of the workers of the party. Earlier these Congress legislators used to appreciate functioning of the government because they had hoped to get themselves inducted into the ministry. But now as the reshuffle has been postponed again, these legislators have started campaigning against the government to express their anguish. One of the Congress legislators has even threatened to sit on an indefinite dharna, if the demands of his areas were not fulfilled. Phone missing from hospital The government negligence in providing basic facilities becomes apparent yet again by the missing telephone from Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh hospital. Here a large number of child patients come from across the region, yet the telephone installed by the BSNL is missing (see photo) from its place. The telephone was installed to serve the purpose that if someone needs to make an urgent call, he/she could do it by putting a coin in the machine, yet the careless approach of the officials concerned have defeated the very purpose. As a result, the public has no other option left, but to go outside the hospital for making a telephone call. (Contributed by
Dinesh Manhotra and Archit Watts)
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Super specialty hospitals coming up in state
Srinagar, August 30 This was stated by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad at a meeting convened to review the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Education Department at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi, recently. J&K Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports RS Chib and Minister of State for Medical Education Javed Ahmed Dar were also present in the meeting, an official spokesperson here said. Discussing various issues of medical education sector, the Union Minister was apprised that the construction of Super Specialty Hospital in Jammu was nearing completion and could not be made fully functional in near future due to the absence of integrated modular OT for which the director general, CPWD, had taken up matter with Hindustan Latix Limited. Moreover, the work on the construction of Super Specialty Hospital at Srinagar is in full swing. The training of existing doctors for super specialty treatment to keep the human resource available at the very initial stage was also discussed. The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare announced that a four-member team of senior doctors, two from AIIMS and two from PGI, Chandigarh, would be visiting the state for the formulation of guidelines for the training of appropriate number of existing doctors for such specialised job. He said the team, along with the members of the CPWD and the HLL, would carry inspection on the site to ensure the operationalisation of Integrated Modular OTs by the first week of March 2012 at Jammu, adding that the team also reviewed the progress of Super Specialty Hospital, Srinagar. The requirement of additional funds amounting to Rs 12.84 crore for the procurement of remaining equipment for these hospitals and for the construction of connecting corridors with the medical colleges and multi-storey parking areas was also placed before the Union Minister, who said the same would be taken up in next 12th Five Year Plan. However, he assured that due consideration would be given to all genuine requests of the Jammu and Kashmir government in providing health care facilities. The construction of two newly sanctioned maternity hospitals one at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu and Bemina in Srinagar at an estimated cost of Rs 62 crore each was also discussed. The Union Minister has asked the state government to take up the construction of these hospitals at the earliest. These hospitals would be fully air-conditioned with modern facilities and would be 100 per cent funded by the
Centre.
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New Master Plan for Budgam town unveiled
Srinagar, August 30 Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said: “Budgam town is rapidly expanding and it has almost touched the peripheries of Srinagar city. The district has come into existence way back in 1979 and since then no expansion of the town has been made”. He said the town needed new commercial and industrial hubs, besides its areas and dimensions should be redesigned to incorporate every sector allied with advanced and progressive approach and vision. The function was attended by district development commissioner, Budgam, Mohammad Rafi, chief town planner, Hakeem Iftikhar, ADC, Budgam, MA Qureshi, and other officers concerned, an official spokesperson said. The Master Plan, prepared by the Town Planning Authority, was displayed on the projector screen to be keenly observed and also for the benefit of the departments concerned who have to execute the proposals and plans of the 20-year road map. The chief town planner said every sector had been incorporated as per the requirements of the plan. There would be space for sophisticated housing colonies, IT parks, green patches, well-established private and public sector corporations and offices, communication facilities, space for more health sector establishments and educational institutions with complete facilities. He said this was a curtain raiser of the projections and proposals and it would be kept available on the website and also notified for the general public to ascertain their opinion suggestions before formatting the agenda. Commenting on the vision documents of the Master Plan, Ruhullah said since the town had expanded beyond the capacity and the population was estimated to reach about 1.5 lakh in the next 20 years, it was imperative that this Master Plan should incorporate all the needs and requirements so that it proves to be a gift for the people for Budgam. The Minister impressed upon the officers, particularly key institution officers, to work with dedication and devotion while discharging their duties.
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Musician gets Rajiv Gandhi Pratishtha Samman
Srinagar, August 30 The awards were presented to various luminaries of India for their contribution to the country, a statement from New Delhi said. It added that Pandit Bhajan Sopori, the Santoor legend and music composer, was awarded for his contribution to Indian music and culture. Pt. Sopori is hailed as the “Saint of the Santoor” and the “King of Strings”. He is regarded as the cultural bridge of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. He has led the revival of Sufism to spread the message of humanism amongst the masses. Having composed over 5,000 songs, his compositions and recitals bear the distinctive stamp of his virtuosity and erudition. He has used his Santoor and his compositions to highlight the concept of oneness and foster unity enshrining the idea of national integration, humanism and peace amongst the common man and youths in particular for which he has been honoured with various national and international awards and decorations. Other awardees included Oscar Farnandes, Jai Prakash Aggarwal, Kishore Upadhyay, Raj Shekhar Vyas and Anupam among others. Madhu Shrivastav, editor, Digvijay Magazine, highlighted the importance of the award and the contribution of the awardees in building a strong nation and also spoke about the six-decade-long journey of the magazine.
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Bajalta (Jammu), August 30
Jammu, August 30
As the proposed reshuffle in the state cabinet has been further delayed, the Congress legislators, staking their claims on ministerial berths, have started pinpointing faults in the functioning of coalition government.