The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Half of MNREGA funds remain unutilised Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, September 13 Around 42.75 lakh mandays employment has been generation under the national flagship employment generation programme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in Jammu region. A little more than 50 per cent of the funds allocated for the purpose have been utilised till August 2011. This was disclosed by Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Aijaz Ahmed Khan while reviewing physical and financial progress of MNREGA and rural sanitation programmes in Jammu province. Expressing satisfaction over the progress, he emphasised on further accelerating the programme so as to achieve the target before the beginning of the winter season. Unlike other parts of the country, the working season in Jammu and Kashmir does not last for more than seven months, so the utilisation of just more than 50 per cent of the total available funds is really a matter of concern for the minister. In the hilly regions of Jammu province, especially in Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar and many parts of Udhampur, Reasi, Poonch, Rajouri and Kathua district, the working season starts from mid-April and continues till mid-November. The minister while reviewing the achievements, asked the authorities to involve newly elected Panchayats so as to ensure maximum participation of the people in such programmes which were aimed at the uplift of the poor. Aijaz reviewed in detail the financial and physical achievements recorded in various districts of the region under MNREGA and other schemes during 2011-12, ending August 2011. It was informed in the meeting that the total availability under MNREGA for 2010-11 was Rs 10,733 lakh, out of which Rs 5,983.64 lakh had been utilised by generating 33.719 lakh mandays. During 2011-12, the total availability under MGNREGA was Rs 13,828.325 lakh, out of which Rs 7,854.04 lakh had been utilised till August 2011 with the generation of 42.75 lakh mandays. Under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), during 2010-11, against the availability of Rs 2,020.04 lakh, Rs 809.98 lakh was utilised on the construction of 10,160 dwelling units for rural houseless families. Similarly, during 2011-12 till August 2011, against the availability of Rs 1,365.394 lakh, Rs 632.398 lakh had been utilised. It was revealed that out of 5,573 dwelling units taken for construction during the current year, 1294 had been completed till last month. Under SGSY, the total availability for 2011-12 was Rs 479.65 lakhs, against which Rs 75.769 lakh stood utilised by extending financial assistance to 324 individuals and 52 self-help groups. On the occasion, officials projected problems being faced by them in executing various schemes. The minister stressed on total sanitation of “Model” villages. He expected desired progress under various flagship schemes and asked the functionaries of the Rural Development Department to come up to the expectations of the people by achieving the targets. He said the main thrust should be given on rural sanitation. Aijaz asked the officials to ensure the involvement of panchayats and stressed on organising interactive sessions with panchayats at least once in a month to obtain feedback. The minister directed the ACDs to prepare CDs of the development works. Dr GN Sofi, additional secretarym, RDD; Dr Haneef Balkhi, member secretary, MNREGA; assistant commissioners and project officers from all districts of Jammu Division, besides officers of the Rural Development Department, DRDA, DPAP, Doda and Udhampur attended the meeting.
	Reviving traditional Kashmir handloom Time to introduce contemporary designs: Slathia Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 13 Minister for Industries and Commerce SS Slathia has called for reviving the traditional handloom weaving by blending the contemporary designs into latest exquisite fabrics matching new market trends and consumer taste. Speaking at a gathering of handloom weavers, after inaugurating a buyer-seller meet, organised by the J&K Handloom Development Department at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here recently, Slathia said handloom products of the state were famous and favourite world over, adding that its purity needed to be preserved at all costs. He directed the officers concerned of handloom and handicraft departments to launch a vigorous drive against unscrupulous traders who sell fake products on the trade mark of Kashmiri. “We shall have to be tough against unscrupulous trader who sell Amritsari shawls in the name of Kashmiri shawls”, Slathia asserted adding these dishonest traders bring a bad name to the state. Slathia assured the weavers that no stone would be left unturned to improve their living conditions and asked them to take full benefit of various state and centrally sponsored welfare schemes for upliftment of the weavers’ community. He said state government had extended insurance cover to handloom weavers adding that credit facility has now been enhanced from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh. He said scholarship scheme for children of handloom weavers has also been introduced throughout the state. Slathia announced that all traditional handlooms were being replaced by modern looms in a phased manner, which were distributed free of cost to the weavers. This was aimed at boosting handloom production in a big way. He said the handloom sector, which provides livelihood to about 5 lakh people, had a vast potential for employment generation. He said the sector could not be promoted unless the living condition of the weavers was improved, adding that it was necessary to eliminate middlemen who exploited weavers’ artistic works for petty gains. The Minister said in order to give exposure to the weavers, the government organised handloom expose in various states of the country besides sending local weavers to other states for getting firsthand information about the latest market trends and designs. Slathia felicitated the J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board (J&KKVIB) for bagging the first position throughout the country for its good performance and asked the other departments to excel in the open market. He said new marketing channels would be explored to enable weavers to sell their products directly to the buyers.
	Rs 5-cr tourism project for Veerinag Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 13 The government has decided to formulate a comprehensive project for the integrated development of the tourist resort of Veerinag in South Kashmir, costing Rs 5 crore that would be fully funded by the Union Ministry of Tourism. The Centre has already sanctioned two projects, including Rs 2.16 crore for the construction of Tourist Reception Centre at Veerinag and Rs 1.16 crore for the development of Looka Bhawan Temple. This was decided at the third meeting of the Veerinag Development Authority (VDA) held here recently under the chairmanship of Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora. Speaking on the occasion, Jora enjoined upon the VDA to stop unplanned and illegal constructions in and around Veerinag and directed to complete the Master Plan for Veerinag expeditiously. He asked the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, to convene a joint meeting of the officers of the Tourism, Revenue, Forest and Agriculture for this purpose. He also directed the VDA to give priority to the completion of the ongoing works, adding that budget allocations should not be exceeded in any case. He also directed for the commissioning of the Tourist Reception Centre, Veerinag, within three months. He also earmarked Rs 30 lakh for completing development works at Ziarat Sharief Kaaba Marg, which is being developed as a major pilgrim tourist destination. He also directed for the development and beautification of seven springs at Vetesta and earmarked Rs 8 lakh for the construction of “Hawan Kund” for the convenience of pilgrims. Minister of State for Tourism, Revenue, Housing & Urban Development Nasir Aslam Wani asked the VDA to create revenue generating assets to make the authority financially sound and self-sufficient. He called for outsourcing of the assets to generate revenue. He urged for the minimum use of forestland, adding that the natural beauty of Veerinag should be tampered while undertaking different development works. He urged the need for the minimum use of concrete materials at tourist destinations, adding that tourists come to see the natural beauty of the state.
	Mission to uproot cannabis crop Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, September 13 In its drive against illegal and mushroom growth of cannabis across the state, the Excise Department claimed that they had destroyed cannabis plants over a large chunk of land in the Kashmir Valley and were now moving towards the Jammu region. Vineeta Gupta, Excise Commissioner, J&K, said she had directed all officers concerned to uproot cannabis all across the state. “So far, we have succeeded in destroying cannabis plants over an area of 1,496 kanals in the Kashmir valley during this August only,” Gupta said. Giving further details, Gupta said: “Besides destruction of cannabis, the officers have been directed to conduct regular raids to eradicate the menace of bootlegging and manufacture of illicit liquor”. It may be mentioned here that last month The Tribune had published a report that cannabis was growing on a large scale along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Giving its credit to all officials working in the department, she said in August, the department recovered Rs 62.36 crore from the defaulters, which was Rs 13.09 crore more than that recovered during the previous year in August. “Our officials have done a good job and the results are very positive. We have earned revenue of Rs 52.03 crore more as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year,” Gupta said. Sources said the department became active only after the pressure form Finance Minister Abdul Raheem Rather for taking some steps to increase the revenue of the state government. The Excise Commissioner said: “Two smuggling cases of willow clefts and one case of smuggling of narcotics have been detected at the Lakhanpur Toll Plaza during August. “Besides this, the department has also collected a fine of Rs 1.95 lakh from the defaulters in the Jammu division,” she said.
	Crop diversification in hilly areas advocated Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 13 Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir has called upon research scientists and extension departments to work for the introduction of diverse crop pattern in the hilly terrains of J&K keeping in view the local climatic conditions. He was speaking at the inauguration of one-day Kissan Mela-cum-Exhibition organised at Tangdhar (Karnah), a far-flung area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir recently. The Minister said: “Its introduction in the hilly and mountainous areas where farmers have small landholdings should be thrust area for our agricultural universities and its allied departments to get the maximum output by introducing the latest technology”. He said this would help generate more income for the local farmers. The Minister directed the director, Agriculture, to introduce double cropping pattern in the tehsil and asked to provide quality seeds, fertilisers and technological inputs in advance to the farmers to make the programme beneficial for the farming community. He asked the agriculture and its allied departments to launch a mass awareness campaign about various schemes, technological innovations in agriculture, Horticulture, Apiculture, Floriculture so that farmers of this far-off area were benefited. Mir said the present demand was to introduce such a diversified crops, fruits, dry fruits, vegetables in these hilly areas which were more economical to the local conditions and had a market value to strengthen their economic conditions. While encouraging the hybrids and exotic varieties, the Minister stressed on the need not to forget the traditional crop varieties. Hailing the farmers of the Karnah area, he said it was encouraging trend of the farmers of the area as they were still cultivating “Zag” varieties of rice in their paddy fields, though low yielding. He stressed on the Agriculture Department and the Extension Department of the SKUAST-K to promote it as a Kashmiri brand and exploit it commercially, owing to their aroma and table value in the local and the national market. He assured the farmers that the department would provide assistance to cultivate it on commercial lines. He said such traditional crops had enormous potential at the national and international market. During the inspection of Dringla Agriculture Farm, a major portion of which is under the occupation of the Disastrous Management Authority, Mir announced that it would be transferred to the department back shortly to bring back its pristine glory. This agriculture farm was feeding vegetables to the people of the whole tehsil before 2005. This farm was earlier transferred to the Disastrous Management Authority during the 2005 earthquake to rehabilitate the affected people at that time. The Minister directed the director, Agriculture, to start the development of this heritage agriculture farm on modern lines. He also asked for proper irrigation facilities to the farm at the earliest. The Minister underlined the need for the marketing of agriculture produce, saying good market prices would attract more and younger people to adopt agriculture as a means of livelihood. He said the government was trying to restore the prestige of the farming community. He asked the youth to take the benefits of the schemes and programmes in the agriculture sector launched by the government from time to time. The Minister also stressed on the use of the latest technological innovations and other sustainable options favourable to the local climatic conditions in the respective agro-climatic zones in the state to increase the productivity. He asked scientists and research scholars to implement new researches in agriculture and allied sectors in fields to make the state self-sufficient in agriculture and horticulture produce. Director, Agriculture, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Lone, Director, Command Area, Kashmir, Tariq Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, MS Rather, and other heads of departments were also present on the occasion.
	Omar for energy efficient power distribution system Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 13 Underlining the importance of energy efficient and up to the mark power distribution system in ensuring hassle-free electricity supply to the consumers, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has laid thrust on time line completion of projects. “Pace of progress on each project being executed by the PDC and the NHPC should be regularly monitored by the concerned,” he said fixing the target of fortnight monitoring for the division-level monitoring committees and monthly progress analysis by the district-level committees. The Chief Minister was reviewing the progress of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) at a meeting here recently. Omar said the RGGVY, aiming at electrification of un-electrified and de-electrified villages and hamlets and providing free-of-cost power connection to BPL families in the rural areas, could prove highly beneficial for the upgradation and construction of energy efficient power distribution network in the state. Omar asked the executing agencies to gear up at all levels and redraft their working schedule by fixing fortnightly and monthly targets of physical achievements in line with the targets identified for the completion of the projects as a whole. “This will help you in a big way to move fast and achieve the targets within the fixed time frame,” he added. The commissioner secretary, Power Development Department, Bashrat Ahmed Dhar, stated that under the centrally funded RGGVY, 14 projects of construction of receiving stations, 66kV, 33kV and 11kV transmission lines, LT lines and installation of distribution transformers were under various stages of execution in 14 districts (old) of the state. He said the NHPC was executing these projects in seven districts of Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, Budgam, Leh and Kargil, while in seven districts of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama and Anantnag, the JKSPDC was doing the execution work. He said the cumulative expenditure on these projects which had been launched on different dates was over 536.55 crore by the end of July this year, adding that two projects of Baramulla and Pulwama had been allotted in 2010.
	Minister kicks off plantation drive in Leh Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 13 “My Earth My Duty” campaign was kicked off recently from Leh which experienced one of the worst climatic disasters when it was left ravaged by cloudburst last year. Such campaigns are a symbol of hope for a better and greener future. Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Ajay Maken launched this nationwide campaign from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) centre in Leh in the presence of Minister of Youth Services & Sports, Technical and Medical Education RS Chib, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Rakesh Mohan, DIG, ITBP, Jaspal Singh, and senior representatives of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), ITPB and Zee News. They all made a contribution of planting a sapling each. The families of the ITBP, residents and schoolchildren showcased their wholehearted support of the initiative by coming forward and planting saplings. The campaign aims at involving over 50 million young volunteers from the NYKS, NSS, UN Volunteers, National Youth Corps Volunteers, both schoolgoing and non-schoolgoing children and other institutions for planting saplings across the country. Speaking on the occasion, Maken lauded the efforts of the NYKS, which, with its 1.25 lakh youth clubs, has been able to undertake the task successfully and create awareness regarding tree plantation nationwide. He emphasised the need to save energy for brighter future of the country. He made a particular reference that the Department of Youth Services & Sports under the guidance of RS Chib was making excellent contribution in creating awareness among the NYKS volunteers and the youth of J&K. Chib laid stress on the need to plant saplings and create awareness in pockets, especially where ecological degradation is noticeable like in the state. He appreciated the efforts of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanagthan, and the ITBP in organising this campaign and making it a great success. Around 500 students, NYC and ITBP Jawans took out a rally in Leh town to create awareness about environment degradation and to motivate people to bring about behavioural change to fight the menace of global warming and most importantly the role that each one of us can play in saving the Earth.
	Jammu DIARY Going an extra mile for political mileage Although the Mughal road connecting the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with the Kashmir province is yet to be opened for vehicles, there is competition among political parties, especially Kashmir-based, to take credit for building this road. Leaders of the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been trying to give an impression to the people that it was due to their efforts that the road had been opened. Braving deplorable conditions of this road, leaders of the PDP and the NC are trying to travel through this road to get political mileage. First of all it was Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who took this road, followed by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. Later two former Chief Ministers Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Dr Farooq Abdullah also used this road. Mufti reached Poonch through the Mughal road, while Farooq Abdullah entered the Valley through this road. Complex turns into parking lot Once the seat of power of Dogra rulers, the crumbling Mubarak Mandi Complex has turned into a parking lot for the people living in the adjoining areas. Lack of parking space has forced the people to park their cars in the complex (see photo), which is hampering the restoration work of the complex. Misunderstanding technology Modern technology has made our life so easy. We can send text, pictures and videos in micro seconds to any part of the globe. Waiting for days to send or receive these things seem so medieval. But many political parties and social organisations in Jammu are still living in old age. They would first send a routine press note via e-mail, then they would call to confirm the receipt and would still send it again. To be sure that the desired press note has reached the media organisation, a hard copy of the press note is sent by a messenger in the evening. There are few others who are still not convinced about the modern technology. These organisations, including some security agencies repeat same mail twice, thrice or even more. They continue doing so despite being requested against it. It seems some refresher course in information technology can help. (Contributed by Dinesh Manhotra, Archit Watts and Jupinderjit Singh)