The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Low MBBS fee lures students from state to Bangladesh Jupinderjit Singh/ Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 A low fee structure and a lower eligibility criteria encourage students from Jammu and Kashmir to opt for an MBBS degree from Bangladesh. Such students are under the scanner following the arrest of Wasim Akhtar Malik in the Delhi High Court blast case. Wasim belongs to Kishtwar district and is a final year MBBS student at Riyaz Rigbo Medical College. As the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) has a strong following in Bangladesh, the Indian security agencies are suspecting that the militant group has used Wasim and some other students to carry out the blast and send a terror email later to select media organisations seeking clemency for Afzal Guru. Inquiries revealed that nearly 20 doctors, who had done MBBS from Bangladesh, were working in private and public hospitals in the state. Most of them had graduated from Ragib Rabea Medical College, Sylhet in Bangladesh. One of such students is Saima Saroori, elder daughter of former Public Works Department Minister GM Saroori. The students get admission under a special scheme of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. Fourteen students from India are sponsored for the course every year. The admission is done on the basis of marks obtained in Class XII. There are paid seats as well. “We sent Wasim to Bangladesh after a number of youths from Kishtwar got admission there. He appeared in the competitive exams here but could not qualify. However, he was eligible for admission to MBBS in Bangladesh,” said Riaz Malik, Wasim’s father. Riaz said the cost of MBBS was far less in Bangladesh. “Besides saving about Rs 1 lakh on annual fee and expenses, we save more money due to the higher value of the Indian Rupee. Records of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, also showed that the students preferred to pursue medical studies in Bangladesh due to the low cost of education. At present about 5 per cent of the total number of interns in the hospital have done MBBS from the colleges in Bangladesh. “I was selected under the SAARC scholarship programme. The fee in a government college in Bangladesh was very nominal, as I had to pay Rs 3,000 only. Those who opt for paid/NRI quota seats have to pay Rs 10-12 lakh,” said Dr Syed Yasir Qadri, a resident of Srinagar, who is at present pursuing his postgraduation in Jammu. He added, “About 14 students from India get selected under the SAARC scholarship programme every year. The admission is done purely on the basis of marks obtained in Class X and XII. There is no requirement of an entrance test for admission to MBBS in Bangladesh.” Dr Rajinder Singh, Principal of the GMCH, said, “Mostly those students, who do not get admission here, go abroad. The neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and China are favourites among the medical students. Back in India, they have to clear an exam to get a licence to practise here.” Dr Rajinder added, “I believe mostly students from Kashmir go to Bangladesh.” It may be mentioned here that the admission process in these countries starts when it is over in India. Cost Benefit Students get admission to MBBS in Bangladesh under a special scheme of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. Fourteen students from India are sponsored for the course every year. The admission is done on the basis of marks obtained in Class XII. There are paid seats as well. There is no requirement of an entrance test for admission Nearly 20 doctors, who have done MBBS from Bangladesh, are working in private and public hospitals in the state. Such students are under the scanner following the arrest of Wasim Akhtar Malik in the Delhi High Court blast case.
	Omar diverting attention from Yousuf’s death: BJP Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 Taking a serious note of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanding the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), spokesman for the BJP Jatinder Singh said it was ironic that while the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 15 Corps, Gen Syed Atta Hasnain, had warned that an all-time high number of militants were waiting to infiltrate from across the Line of Control (LoC), the Chief Minister held a meeting with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for the repeal of the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) and the AFSPA. “It would have been better had the Chief Minister used the meeting with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram as an opportunity to explain the facts behind the mysterious death of NC activist Syed Mohammad Yousuf,” Jatinder said. He added, “But by talking about the withdrawal of the AFSPA, the Chief Minister has only tried in vain to divert the public attention from his alleged involvement in Yousuf’s custodial death.” He said the Chief Minister was following in the footsteps of other mainstream Kashmir-centric leaders, who, whenever caught on the wrong foot, tried to raise issues with separatist undertones, with the twin objective of blackmailing the Centre and gaining the sympathy of the separatist camp in Kashmir. Reiterating the BJP’s demand for a CBI inquiry into the Yousuf’s death, Jatinder said it was against the rule of justice to have an inquiry conducted by an agency or department, which was subordinate to the person or persons against whom the inquiry should have been carried out. He said the BJP had taken a very clear stand on the cross-voting episode. Jatinder also cautioned against using the Army as a tool to settle political scores. He said in the issues like the AFSPA, ignoring the opinion of the Army and security experts could prove disastrous. He asked the Congress to make its stand clear on the issue. Jatinder added the Congress should take a clear stand on the vital issues, including the implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution.
	Omar, Chidambaram discuss revocation of AFSPA ‘Near normal’ areas may be exempted from Act’s purview Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 12 Taking a step forward to bring about a positive change in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday held discussions over areas of the state that can be taken out of the ambit of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). They also discussed nuances of the proposed final report of the three-member team of interlocutors led by Dileep Padgaonkar. Emerging from the meeting, Omar Abdullah termed it as “stock taking” and said, “I look forward to the report of interlocutors. There is no apprehension of any law and order issue. I hope positive things come out and are implemented.” “The state has made certain recommendations on AFSPA. It should be lifted from areas that have reached near normalcy where the Army is not needed…. Would want Disturbed Areas Act and AFSPA to go,” Omar Abdullah said. He, however, said, “It cannot be done overnight. It will take some time.” The recommendations made by the state originate from the observations made by a state-level committee. The committee comprised the state DGP, the Home Secretary, the Corps Commander of 15 Corps, Srinagar, and the Corps Commander of 16-Corps, Nagrota. The committee has listed out areas “near to normalcy” that can be removed from the list under the Disturbed Areas Act. The final approval will hinge upon the assessment of the Army. If an area is removed from the list of disturbed areas under the Act, AFSPA will automatically cease to apply to that area. The Act gives the Army powers to detain and, if the situation warrants, eliminate suspected militants while fighting insurgents without any fear of prosecution. The Army, on its part, has made it clear that the troops will not carry out operations in the areas not covered under the AFSPA.
	Govt patronising corruption: PDP Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 As part of its ongoing campaign against the NC-led government for “patronising” corrupt elements, the youth wing of the PDP held a protest rally here today. The protesters shouted slogans against the state government for ‘legalising’ corruption as the rally passed through different localities of the old city. A large number of youth from different parts of the city participated in the protest. Addressing the party workers, Rajinder Manhas, vice-president of the youth wing of the PDP, alleged that during the last three years the Omar government had crossed all limits of corruption. He said the death of NC worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf allegedly in police custody had exposed the misdeeds of the government. He regretted that instead of investigating the matter properly, the government was trying to cover up the murder. Manhas said Yousuf’s murder had, on the one hand, exposed the insensitivity of the government towards human values and on the other it showed corruption had reached the highest level. He called upon the party workers to intensify the campaign against the Omar government. Nadeem Khan, general secretary of the PDP youth wing, demanded the sacking of the Omar government to ensure an impartial and fair probe into Yousuf’s death. “A fair probe is not possible till Omar Abdullah remains the Chief Minister as he himself is an accused in the case,” Manhas said. The PDP would take the fight to its logical end so that Yousuf’s family got justice.
	Brick kiln owners threaten to close units Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 Brick kiln owners today expressed resentment against the new rates notified by the district administration and threatened to close their units if the rates were not doubled in proportion to the increase in input cost. Addressing a press conference here today, Yougal Mahajan and Janakraj Mahajan, chairman and president of the Brick Kiln Owners Association, Jammu, respectively, said Coal India Ltd had increased the prices of coal while labour cost had also gone up, resulting in a 100 per cent increase in the input cost. “When the rates of bricks were revised in March, 2010, we were not satisfied with the decision. The authorities concerned had assured us that the rates would be increased in proportion to the increase in the cost of production from time to time,” they said. “The new rates are not viable to sustain business. The authorities concerned must revise the rates as soon as possible, failing which we will close our units. This will hamper the development works in Jammu,” the leaders said. Earlier, the administration fixed the rate of the class “B” quality bricks at Rs 2,990 per thousand at the kiln site (including local tax), the class “C” quality bricks at Rs 2,645 per thousand, while the rate of “tiles” was fixed at Rs 3,105 per thousand pieces. The Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, under Section 13 of the J&K Brick Kilns (Regulation) Act 2010, had issued an order stating that freight charges from the brick kilns to different destinations would remain the same. The brick kiln owners were asked to submit the off take statements to the Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD), Jammu, indicating the class-wise total bricks manufactured, sold and the closing balance every month in duplicate. According to the new notification, the brick kiln owners shall get the samples approved by the Design Directorate and keep the approved samples in the offices of the Director, CAPD, Jammu, the District Superintending Engineer, Jammu, the Deputy Controller, Legal Metrology, Jammu, the Assistant Director, CAPD, Jammu, and the tehsildar concerned.
	Ayush treatment can help promote herbal tourism, says minister Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 12 Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture Sham Lal Sharma has called for promoting the Ayush treatment in a big way to give impetus to herbal tourism in the state. Sharma said Jammu and Kashmir had a great potential for herbal cultivation and all efforts would be made to explore it. The minister was chairing a meeting of officials here yesterday to sort out various issues confronting the Indian System of Medicines (ISM) and take stock of the ongoing projects of the state Health Department. Asserting that Ayush was an important component of the Health Department and it had to establish a different identity, Sharma said like in other states, a large number of people were showing interest in the Ayush treatment, as it was quite safe and cheap as compared to allopathic medicines. During the past few years, the number of patients opting for the Ayush treatment had substantially gone up, he said. He added the government would give more thrust to upgrading the sector in view of the changing trend and meeting the requirements of patients. Maintaining that the state had a huge potential for herbal cultivation because of its climatic conditions, the minister said efforts would be made to encourage more people, especially the youth, to cultivate medicinal plants to reap high yields, which would improve their economic condition. This would also help the state to overcome the unemployment problem to some extent, he added. The minister said the Central government was keen to strengthen the Ayush treatment in the state for which it had sanctioned one unani college in the Valley and one ayurvedic college in Jammu. The work on both colleges was in full swing and the process for the appointment of staff and creation of infrastructure facilities had already been started. The government had ensured the services of ayurvedic and unani doctors in every health institution and the people were availing of the facilities, he added.
	BJP leaders resign from party as infighting intensifies Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 Even as the BJP high command is yet to officially expel the six suspended MLAs from the party, the infighting in the party has intensified as a group of leaders today labelled allegations of corruption against the party MLAs who had been given the clean chit in the cross-voting controversy. While addressing a press conference here this evening after sending their resignations to state party president Shamsher Singh Manhas, the BJP leaders led by Arun Khanna, a former councillor of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), alleged that the new entrants into the party were given important posts in lieu of money by ignoring genuine and dedicated workers. To substantiate his allegation, Khanna gave the example of BJP state general secretary Sat Sharma, who left the NC to join the BJP and was made general secretary. The leaders alleged that the state unit of the BJP was minting money by blackmailing government officers. They attacked the chief whip of the party, Ashok Khajuria, for bartering Jammu’s interests for his personal interests. He said instead of serving the interests of the party Khajuria was acting as an agent of the ruling coalition and a PDP candidate had gifted a vehicle to him during the Rajya Sabha elections in lieu of votes. “In the days to come we will expose the misdeeds and corrupt practices of the BJP leaders who had been given the clean chit by the party high command in the cross-voting episode,” he said. Ridiculing the rath yatra started by veteran BJP leader LK Advani against corruption, they said Advani should start the rath yatra from the BJP office in Jammu as the state party unit was a centre of corruption. Besides Arun Khanna, Keshav Chopra, mandal president of the BJYM, Munish Gupta, district general secretary of the BJYM, Ravi Dogra, vice-president of the BJYM, and others resigned from the party. They said many more leaders would resign from the party in the days to come.
	Suggestions sought on proposed Food Security Bill Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 12 To finalise the views and comments of the state government on the proposed Food Security Bill, 2011, a meeting of administrative secretaries and heads of departments concerned was held under the chairmanship of Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) and Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon here yesterday. The meeting discussed various issues relating to the proposed Bill and sought suggestions from the authorities concerned for early submission to the Central government after they were approved by the state Cabinet. The minister said the Bill being introduced by the Centre had great importance in handling the food crisis and inflation. He added the Centre desired to bring the Bill and had issued a format to all the states for submitting their suggestions. Akhoon said under the Act the CAPD Department would function as the nodal agency. He added in this regard the state government had convened several meetings to discuss its pros and cons. He underscored the need for taking the maximum benefit from the Bill for providing hassle-free foodgrain supply to the consumers in the state under various categories. He asked the authorities concerned to come out with suggestions at the earliest so that they could be consolidated and submitted to the Central government. The minister instructed the authorities that all objectives should be kept in mind while formulating their suggestions. He added due care should be given to providing foodgrains to priority households and general households, besides anganwari centres, educational and health institutions.
	‘Encourage panchayats to nurture girl child education’ Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 12 Detailing the initiatives the state government had taken for the empowerment of women and their active participation in the socio-economic development process, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal has said the Panchayati Raj institutions in the state and the election of women members to the grass-roots level democratic institutions would give further boost to the cause. During an interactive meeting with Sayeeda Hameed, member of the Planning Commission, and Devika Jain, renowned economist, here yesterday, the Chief Secretary referred to various initiatives, flagship programmes and awareness campaigns launched in the state for the empowerment of women and to maintain the child sex ratio. The visting team members stressed on educating society about the child sex ratio and suggested that the government should encourage the panchayats to nurture the development and education of the girl child by special incentives. They said they found the attitude of women in the state remarkably vibrant towards varied economic activities and social issues related to them. Gender budgeting, women inclusive plans and other women-specific issues were also discussed in detail. They briefed the Chief Secretary about their field visit to various hospitals, anganwari centres, educational institutions and their interactions with several women groups, including ASHA workers, lady health workers etc.
	School buildings in a shambles Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 The All J&K Movement for Peace and Justice, an NGO, has sought the government’s attention towards the buildings of Boys Middle School, Joura Kalan, and Middle School, Kunthal, in the Thathri block of Doda district. Chairman of the organisation Anil Kumar said, “The buildings were constructed in a very defective way by using low quality material. There is every possibility that the crumbling structures may collapse any time during the monsoons.” “The GI sheets of Boys Middle School, Joura Kalan, had blown off in a storm recently, though children had a narrow escape,” he said, adding that an inquiry though the Vigilance Commissioner’s office, Jammu, was initiated into the issue on the insistence of the local people. “Thereafter, the Deputy Commissioner, Doda, directed the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) to conduct an inquiry. The ZEO in his report has indicted the engineer concerned and the contractors, but no action has been talken against them,” Anil said. “We appeal to the Chief Minister once again to intervene in the case and get the erring officials punished,” he added.
	Magazine of RM College released Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla released the magazine of RM College of Education, Chowadhi, at the Sainik Colony here today. While attending the annual day celebrations of the college, Bhalla asked the teachers to make concerted efforts to ensure excellence among students, who were the builders of the nation. Students presented a number of cultural programmes, which were appreciated by the audience. Bhalla said, “Such functions not only provide a platform to the students to present their talent, but also familiarise themselves with the culture and heritage of the state.” Chairman of the college Rameshwar Mengi; Commissioner of Bharat Scouts and Guides ID Soni; Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Jammu, RP Sharma; Director, CDC, University of Jammu, Rajive Gupta, besides students, parents, teaching and non-teaching staff members were present on the occasion.
	Yousuf died of heart attack: Autopsy report Srinagar, October 12 The final autopsy report of NC worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf has not found any evidence of poisoning or injuries and stated his death was caused by a massive heart attack. The final report by Principal of the Government Medical College and Hospital, said Yousuf had died of a “cardio-vascular respiratory failure” and that there were no signs of any external or internal injuries, official sources said here today. The report is likely to be submitted to Additional District Magistrate Mohammed Akbar. The preliminary report had also suggested that there were no traces of any poison in the blood and food samples taken from Yousuf’s body during the postmortem, the sources said. — PTI
	‘My Experiments with Truth’ in Gojri soon Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 “My Experiments with Truth”, the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi, will soon be available in the Gojri language, which is spoken by at least 25 lakh people in the state. The book has been translated into Gojri by Choudhary Hussan Parvez, who has reproduced it under the title, “Main Azmaayo Sach”. Dr Javed Rahi, chief editor and head of the Gojri wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, said, “The ambitious project of the academy, which was assigned to Parvez, is complete and we are going to release the book at a function soon.” “The translated version of the book will bring the Gojri-speaking people close to the life and philosophy of the Father of the Nation,” Rahi opined. He added Gojri was the first and the only tribal language spoken by the Muslim community. The project was assigned to Parvez in 2008.
	Workshop on Gandhian philosophy Jammu, October 12 The NSS unit of GGM Science College organised a two-day workshop on the “Impact of Gandhian Philosophy in Present Scenario” under the supervision of programme officers Dr Rajinder Singh and Prof Ram Singh here today. A rally was also held in which about 120 volunteers participated. Dr Satinder Singh, principal of the college, flagged off the rally from the college and it passed through Circuit House, Bakshi Nagar and other areas before culminating at the college around 10 am. — TNS
	Man found dead Tribune News Service Jammu, October 12 A 43-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his house in Trikuta Nagar last night. The police said the body of Rajesh Nanda was spotted by his family in the morning when the door of the room was broke open.