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Art academy in financial crisis
State BC Commission has power of a civil court: Minister
Saffron cultivation on decline in Valley
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First Catholic school coming up in Valley after 1947
Cigarette puff leads to fire at filling station
Empowerment of destitute women, orphans a
priority, says Minister
Mahayagya for peace in Kashmir
Srinagar DIARY
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Art academy in financial crisis
Jammu, October 7 The academy is the only government-run institution that patronises artists. Unfortunately, it has not held its annual state art exhibition this year for the third consecutive time. Also, the award ceremony for the artists who were announced winners two years ago has not been held so far. Reason: The academy does not have funds to support its regular activities while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who happens to be its president, is too busy to spare time for the academy. Besides, the artistes who participated in the Drama Festival in March this year are yet to receive the payment. Besides, the winners of the best book award in different languages of the current year are also awaiting the prize money. “A panel of the judges comprising Kavi Rattan Sharma, Rita Jetinder and Pritam Katoch, appointed for evaluating the performance of the actors in the festival, has got the remuneration, but the actors have been left high and dry,” official sources say. As many as 12 theatre groups participated in the festival and each group is entitled to Rs 15,000 for participation. “The academy did not hold the annual state art exhibition in 2009 and 2010. Given the attitude of officials of the academy, we do not see any hope that the exhibition would be held this year as well,” the sources add. In the annual exhibition, artists exhibit their works like paintings, sculptures, graphics, drawings etc. Two winners belonging to any of the mediums get a reward of Rs 51,000, besides two students of fine arts also get a reward of Rs 10,000. “Another instance of government apathy can be gauged from a recent incident where school students adjudged winners
in an on-the-spot painting competition received cheques which got bounced. The academy is still sitting over the amount tendered through the bounced cheques,” the sources say. Suman Gupta, a noted painter, describes the present situation very unfortunate. “The annual art exhibition is the only event where senior and junior artists participate and a select audience views the evolution of art and the artists,” he says. He adds, “Award ceremonies get stuck for years after the announcement. These activities should be resumed as soon as possible as the artist community is a vital part of society. There should also be proper funding for the promotion of art”. Gupta also expresses concern over the “shoddy “arrangements at Kala Kendra. Echoing similar views, Vikas Khajuria, a noted sculptor, alleges: “The culprit is corruption not the shortage of funds. The academy has most incompetent officials who have not been holding camps and exhibitions for artists in Jammu”. Zafar Iqbal Manhas, secretary of the academy, says: “The academy has been facing financial problems. The annual budget has not been approved so far. Moreover, the initiative has to be taken by the Chief Minister”. “The state awards ceremony is to be chaired by the Chief Minister. Unless he gives us time, there is no possibility of holding such functions,” he adds. Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Tourism and Culture, says: “Please do not ask me these questions, put these before the Chief Minister”.
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The academy has not held its annual state art exhibition this year for the third consecutive time l An award ceremony for the artists who were announced winners two years ago has not been held so far l The artistes who participated in the Drama Festival in March this year are yet to receive the payment l The school students adjudged winners in an on-the-spot painting competition received cheques which later bounced |
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State BC Commission has power of a civil court: Minister
Srinagar, October 7 The minister said as per Section 3(2) of the J&K State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1997, the commission shall consist a Judge of the Supreme Court or a high court as the Chairperson, an eminent educationist, a person, who has held the post of a secretary to the government for at least two years or any other post under the government which is not less than that of the secretary to the government and shall in either case, have adequate administrative experience. She said the two members should preferably belong to backward classes who have special knowledge in matters relating to backward classes. She said there should also be a secretary to the commission who has adequate administrative experience and holds a post of Additional Secretary or its equivalent. The minister said at present, the commission consists of the Chairperson and a member. She said there was no bar under the Act in appointing persons belonging to the SC, ST and general category to the commission. She said a person belonging to the SC, ST or general category can be nominated as a member if he was an eminent educationist or a person who has held the post of secretary to the government for at least 2 years or in case where persons belonging to backward classes, who have special knowledge in matters related to backward classes, cannot be identified for nomination. The minister said the state government constituted the commission in 1995 in pursuance to the apex court’s judgment in the Indra Sawhney case of 1992. She said it received representations from the citizens of various villages/areas/social castes of the state and they were listed in the commission under Section 8(2) of J&K State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1997. The minister said the commission has powers of a civil court and can call for evidence from any person, record and documentary evidence. She said the commission had devised a format consisting of 53 indicators which was sent to the revenue authorities of the districts for receiving the information. She said so far the criteria for recommending the villages for inclusion in the list of Backward Class/ area is concerned, the commission after scrutinising the report received from the concerned revenue authorities forms its opinion whether the people residing in a particular area are socially and educationally backward. The minister said on consideration, the commission unanimously or with a majority vote resolves that the village/area qualifies for its inclusion in the list as defined under Section 2(d) of the J&K State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1997, read along with section 2(0) of the J&K Reservation Act, 2004, and recommends the cases to the government for its inclusion in the list of Backward Class/ area. She said the government formally vide notification declares the area/village as socially and educationally backward and includes it in backward class.
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Saffron cultivation on decline in Valley
The cultivable area of saffron has declined from 5,707 hectares in 1997-98 to 3,010 hectares in 2006-07, records of the state Agriculture Ministry have shown. The ministry, headed by Ghulam Hassan Mir, has informed the state’s legislative council that the crop, considered the most expensive condiment, faced the threat of extinction. The state government has also acknowledged that the productivity of saffron had decreased from 16 metric tonnes to 8.5 metric tonnes. It said the average saffron yield in Kashmir was 2.32 kg per hectare. The government said the production was expected to increase to 5 kg per hectare, double the present yield, after the implementation of the National Mission on Saffron for Economic Revival of Jammu and Kashmir saffron. Under the mission, Rs 372.18 crore will be spent over a period of four years, beginning in 2010-11, in all saffron-growing districts of the state. —
PTI
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First Catholic school coming up in Valley after 1947 Srinagar, October 7 On a visit to the state, Archbishop Pennacchio inaugurated the project for New Burnhall School at Mujgund village on the Srinagar-Leh Highway on the outskirts of Srinagar. The Bishop of the Jammu and Kashmir Diocese, Father Peter Celestine, was also present on the occasion. All the three existing Christian missionary schools functioning in Srinagar were established here before 1947. The contribution of these schools has been historic and the old generation of Kashmiris owe their schooling to these institutions. Despite the violence in the Valley during the past 22 years, the functioning of these missionary schools has remained unaffected. The archbishop also inaugurated a community centre and a guest house at the Catholic Church on the Maulana Azad Road here. He also prayed at the church. “The archbishop prayed for peace and service to the people of Kashmir,” church officials said. —
IANS
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Cigarette puff leads to fire at filling station
Srinagar, October 7 The alert staff of the Srinagar Garages petrol pump located at Sonawar immediately informed fire services and the police. One of the staff members, Syed Mustafa Bagwanpora, grabbed an AB-type fire extinguisher and brought the fire under control and ensured that the petrol tanks do not catch fire, an official spokesperson said. The volunteer had recently undergone firefighting training from an oil company as well as the Civil Defence. In the meantime, fire tenders reached the spot and brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading. The CRPF and the police played an active role in putting out the fire along with the local people. Head, Disaster Management, Aamir Ali, along with SHO Ram Munshibagh, Nazir Ahmed, also reached the spot and supervised the firefighting operations. During this process, one of the employees of the filling station Gulzar Ahmed Chopan suffered serious burn injuries and was immediately rushed to a hospital, where his condition is said to be stable. The auto driver had been arrested by the SHO Ram Munshibagh and a case had been registered, the police said. Additional Director General Police, Civil Defence, Home Guards, and Auxiliary Police, Ram Lubhayya, has announced cash reward for the volunteer. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Abdul Majid Mir, and Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo, have also appreciated Syed Mustafa for the exemplary show of courage.
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Empowerment of destitute women, orphans a
priority, says Minister
Srinagar, October 7 Speaking at a rehabilitation programme function organised by Guild for Services, an NGO at Gulab Bagh Raahat Ghar here recently, the Minister said NGOs were playing a commendable role in making women self dependent by imparting them trainings in different crafts and trades. She called upon women to come forward and take the benefit of these schemes by equipping themselves with different crafts and trades. Sakina appreciated the role of NGOs which they are rendering for the empowerment of widows and orphans in Kashmir. The Minister said: “Children are the future of the nation. To give them modern and vocational education should be our motto so that they not only earn their livelihood but also compete with modern world challenges”. The Minister said people of the state had suffered a lot during the past two decades due to militancy. “Hundreds of women became widows and children orphans. Our endeavour would be to rehabilitate them for which not only the government, but also society as well as NGOs have to play their roles,” she said. Appreciating the role of Guild for Service, the Minister hoped that the organisation would continue its service in the Valley so that more and more widows and orphans were benefited by their support. She assured the organisation that the government would provided necessary logical support and financial assistance to them for this noble cause. Highlighting the services of the organisation, Neera Khanna, vice-chairperson, Guild Kashmir Chapter, said: “Raahat Ghar at Srinagar is a unique home where women and children affected in conflict find their common and safe shelter while trying to rebuild their lives”. She said apart from Raahat Ghar, sanitary napkin project focusing on genital hygiene and employment for women was run by the Guild with the support of generous donors. She said over 50 widows of the Valley had been given training in making sanitary napkins to make them self dependent. Director Social Welfare Hilal Paray, Chairperson, Raahat Ghar, Girja Dhar, Inspector General CRPF, Ravi Prakash, Members of the Advisory Committee Guild, prominent citizens, besides widows and orphans of Raahat Ghar attended the function.
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Mahayagya for peace in Kashmir
Jammu, October 7 A large number of devotees from Jammu and elsewhere are taking part in this “shanti yagya”, which is being organised under the spiritual guidance of Shankracharya of Kanchi, Jagatguru Sri Jayendra Saraswati. The yagya will conclude on October 9. Former Chief Minister and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah and State Governor NN Vohra will be among other dignitaries taking part in the concluding celebrations. Organisers of the yagya said: “Sri Easwara Ganapati of Delhi, assisted by five priests, is conducting this ‘havan’ with the active support of the local Muslims”. They said on the occasion, “Laugakshi Gruhya Sutram” in Sharda script would be released by Kanchi Shankracharya. The work deals with daily practices adopted even today by the Kashmiri Pandit community in India or abroad. The work was first published in 1928 under the aegis of Maharaja Hari Singh, who ruled Kashmir at that time. Being out of print now, a reprint of this work was arranged by the present Kanchi Shankracharya with the help of Sri Venkateshwara Vedic University, Tirupati. Kashinath Handoo, a 109-year-old Vedic Scholar of the Kashmir origin, would also be honoured on the occasion, the organisers said. In the afternoon, an “abhishekam’’ has been arranged for Lord Shiva in the Durga Nath Temple at the foothills of the famous Shankracharya hillock.
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Srinagar DIARY It was coupled with the use of un-parliamentary and abusive language by the Speaker and uproar (see photo) over a resolution seeking clemency to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. As the new complex has a traditional architect, there is a least possibility of hurling of chairs and other similar items during an uproar. It is thus the appliances which have become the target. These include pedestal fans fixed in the well of the House. In the past two sessions, even mikes fixed at the Speaker’s table were detached by some members of the Opposition. Recently, pedestal fans became the target during an uproar on the penultimate day of the session, which led to the removal of all these fans from the well of the House on the last working day. Exam fever grips students With the advent of the autumn season in the Valley, examination fever has started gripping the student community. The J&K State Board of School Examinations has already started the exercise with the conduct of class VIII examinations, which began on Friday. This would soon be followed by the examinations for classes X and XII. After facing trouble by way of disruption in normal working due to unrest in the past three years, the students have been able to overcome the deficiencies this summer season, which more or less remained peaceful. It is now time for examinations for all classes from the primary school level to the postgraduation level, where the November session is scheduled for examinations before the winter vacations from mid-December. The State Board of School Education and the University of Kashmir authorities would be busy during the winter months in evaluation of answer sheets and compilation of results before the beginning of the next academic session in March next year. (Contributed by |
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Given a surge in the grievances of artists and a sharp decline in cultural activities in the past few years, it appears that the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages no longer enjoys the patronage of the government.
Srinagar, October 7
Some unique events have been taking place ever since the state legislature started functioning from the new Assembly complex near the Civil Secretariat in 2008. While it began with the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s announcement to step down in the aftermath of the Amarnath land row in 2008, the recent uproar over various issues culminating with the political crisis over the death of a ruling National Conference worker, Syed Yousuf Shah, was the last such event before the session was adjourned sine die early this week.