The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

All dist hospitals to get CT scan machines
Five devices each being installed at as many hospitals in north and south Kashmir
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
The health authorities with a view to providing health facilities to patients from remote areas of the region are mulling over to equip all the district hospitals in Kashmir with sophisticated CT scan machines.

If this is done, the patients in rural Kashmir will no longer be forced to rush to Srinagar for doing complex tests, including the CT (computerised tomography) scan.

In the first phase, the authorities are procuring five CT scan machines that would be installed in five district hospitals in south and north Kashmir.

The hospitals which are being covered in the first phase include Kulgam, Kupwara and Anantnag district hospitals, sources said.

“In the first phase, the CT scan machines will be installed in five district hospitals in south and north Kashmir. However, the remaining hospitals will be covered in the next financial year,” J&K State Health Secretary Manoj Kumar Divedi said. He said his department was busy completing the formalities for procuring these sophisticated CT scan machines.

“We hope these machines are installed before the year end,” he said. The department is making efforts to improve the standard of health services at the very basic level, he added.

In absence of CT scan machines, doctors in district hospitals of the Valley were forced to refer accident victims and other trauma patients to already crowded hospitals in Srinagar for specialised treatment, including CT scans.

This would also cost many patients their life, mainly accident victims as precious time is lost in travelling and frequent traffic jams.

Majority of patients from rural areas who are referred from district hospitals with critical head injuries end up either at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Bone and Joints hospital or the SHMS Hospital in Srinagar which are already over crowded.

“Non-trauma patients who are referred from various district hospitals to Srinagar for CT scan have to wait for weeks together for their turn to get their test done in Srinagar,” said a Baramulla-based doctor.

The doctor said the installation of CT scans at district hospitals would save many precious lives, besides their money and time.

The Tribune had earlier reported that the health authorities were going to test a health tablet device with an Android phone that would act as a mini-lab for doctors in three districts of Kashmir.

This device called swasthya slate which is a first-of-its-kind diagnostic tool will perform an on spot testing of essential health parameters like ECG, heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar.

The low-cost device was being introduced at primary health centers (PHCs) of three districts through a pilot project called Mehak.

How this will benefit people

Patients in rural Kashmir are forced to rush to Srinagar for taking complex tests, including the CT scan

Doctors in district hospitals refer accident victims and other trauma patients to already crowded hospitals in Srinagar

Kulgam, Kupwara and Anantnag district hospitals are among those being covered in the first phase

Non-trauma patients referred to Srinagar for CT scan have to wait for weeks together to get their test done

Nine get 3-year term for assault, criminal trespass

Kupwara November 11
A Kupwara court yesterday convicted nine persons, including four women, and sentenced them three-year rigorous imprisonment for assaulting the members of a family and trespassing their property.

Munsif Judge Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone held guilty the accused for offences committed under the RPC 325. All the accused are residents of Chukpora near Trehgam. They are Khaliq Zargar, Anwar Zargar, Ijaz Zargar, Aziz Zargar, Parvaiz Zargar, Zubida Begum, Haneefa Begum, Shafiqa Bano and Fatima Begum.

The police had filed a chargesheet against the accused in the court of munsif judge, Kupwara, following registration of case under Sections 148,447,354, 336,427,425 at the Trehgam police station. The police after investigations into the case had produced six witnesses before the court.

Victim GhulamNabi Zargar of Chuckpora Trehgam in his complaint had alleged that the accused forced their entry into his house and assaulted his daughter Haseena, while damaging the doors and windowpanes of his house. The victim in his complaint had also said the accused chopped trees in the yard of his house and threatened his family with dire consequences.

Chief prosecuting officer Sheikh Musharaf and prosecuting officer Fayaz Ahmad argued that the accused were culpable of heinous crime as they had indulged in criminal trespassing, assaulted the family members and caused damage to the property.

“The accused deserve conviction for committing such heinous offense and no lenient view may be taken to punish them,” Musharaf argued. Senior advocate Mohd Maqbool Mir represented the accused.

The court after hearing the case awarded a sentence of three years rigorous imprisonment. — OC

State’s first IT Park clears major hurdle
MoU signed; 150 kanals of land allotted to nodal agency in Budgam for project
Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service

Budgam, November 11
Clearing the major hurdle for setting up of the state’s first Information Technology Park, the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) and J&K e-Governance Agency (JaKeGA) have signed a memorandum of understanding in this regard. About 150 kanals of land has been allotted for the IT Park to JaKeGA which is the nodal agency for implementing IT projects in the state.

“An MoU has been signed and the process for setting up of the state’s first IT Park has been set into motion,” Commissioner Secretary, Information Technology, Bipul Pathak said.

The government claims the proposed park at Ompora in Budgam, 12 km from the city centre, would create job opportunities for hundreds of IT professionals in the state who were forced to shift to various cities in the country in search of jobs in the corporate sector.

While signing of the MoU is being seen as a first major step, sources said that SIDCO which acted as a prime mover for promotion of industrial ventures has set a deadline of three years to the IT Department for setting up of the park.

“Setting a deadline will ensure that the park will be developed quickly. That is why a clause of three years deadline was set in the MoU,” said a senior SIDCO official.

With the allotment of land to JaKeGA, the government plans to hold an IT event in Srinagar very shortly in which major national IT players will be invited.

“The aim of holding an IT event is to make it convenient to IT companies to set up their base in the proposed IT Park in Budgam,” Minister for Science and Technology Aga Syed Ruhullah told The Tribune.

“We want that by March 2013, we should have IT companies which will have base in Kashmir,” he added.

IT Department officials said the upcoming IT Park will be on the lines of various state-of-the-art technology parks in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore.

“We are already in touch with IT officials of these states and our IT Park would be like the one in these states,” said a senior official.

It is learnt that many IT companies have been avoiding setting their base in Kashmir due to two-decade long turmoil in the state. But as the violence at its lowest ever, the government feels that IT players can come to the Valley to set up their base.

Security guards must get legal power connections: PDD
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
After it emerged that police personnel guarding the residences of Valley’s VIPs were involved in power theft, the Power Development Department (PDD) has directed its staff to ensure that these connections are properly metered.

The directions were issued almost a week after the special enforcement teams (SETs) of the PDD raided Friends Enclave near the Srinagar International Airport and found that guards of a retired inspector general of police (IGP), some serving bureaucrats, senior police officer, former legislator, relatives of politicians and some doctors were indulging in power thefts.

The security guards were found drawing electricity by using hooks and other means.

“Security personnel have to get a proper connection and have to sign an agreement with the department. No one will be provided electricity free of cost,” said PDD Chief Engineer Muzaffar Mattoo.

“The directions have been passed in this regard. Executive Engineers have been told to get connections of security guards metered after a proper agreement,” he added.

PDD officials said the bills on electricity expenditure for security personnel will be debited under the security related expenditure (SRE).

The government has instructed the PDD that if the latter faces any difficulty regularising power connections to security guards, they must seek help from the superintendent of police (SP) or inspector general of police (IGP) of respective zones.

PDD officials associated with SET said the department would penalise the owners of those houses where the security guards withdrawing electricity without a meter.

Sources said that SET has penalised over 500 influential people in the past six months during in raids across the state which included bureaucrats, politicians and police officials.

Pvt schools double fees
Parents say govt rules mocked by pvt schools
Bismah Malik
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
As the new academic sessions have started in a majority of Valley schools, parents and children have turned into a complaining lot. This is due to the sky-high hike in tuition and transport charges by private schools. The fees are now being termed as unaffordable by a large section of parents.

A group of agitated parents told The Tribune that without any prior notification, a large number of private school managements had gone for the fee hike, both in terms of tuition and transportation charges, thus shocking them.

Parents criticised the School Education Department for failing to press the private school bodies to comply with the norms, issued under Section 29 of School Education Act (2002).

“The way tuition fees are hiked every now and then by the school authorities, the government rules seem to have fallen flat as the schools do not adhere to the norms,” Tanveer Ahmad, leading the parents delegation, said.

Parents maintained some of the “posh schools” had arrangements with leading garment stores in the city, pushing students and their parents to buy uniforms from the selected stores only.

“I do not see the logic of buying school uniforms from their selected stores, especially when they sell the uniforms at double the market price. This definitely crushes the average income of people like us, while benefitting the business traders and school authorities,” a parent said.

Meanwhile, principal of a city school, when contacted, said there were no norms which the school managements were supposed to be comply with while fixing their tuition and transportation charges.

“All schools do not offer the same education quality, so why should they charge the same fee? Depending on the standard of infrastructure and education imparted, the charges vary,” the principal added.

Nikhil, Stuti shine in swimming competition
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
The state-level inter-division swimming championship for boys and girls concluded at Heritage School, Sainik Colony, here today. The competition was held under the supervision of Tirath Ram, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Jammu.

Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director, Youth Services and Sports, was the chief guest on the occasion and who gave away medals to the position holders. Zonal Physical Education Officers (ZPEOs) Sher Singh, Chanchal Kour, PEMs Rajesh Sambyal, Harvinder Kour, Anirudh, Nirmal Singh, Rachpal Singh and Ravinder Singh were also present.

Results:

U-14 Boys (Free Style): Nikhil Sambyal (1st) and Mudasir Hussain Bhat (2nd).

50mts Butterfly: Idrees Hussain Tinda (1st) and Aditya Gupta (2nd).

50mts Free Style: Dilawar Hussain Malik (1st), Prithpal Singh (2nd) and Nikhil Sambyal (3rd).

100mts Breast Stroke: Yawar Abbass (1st) and Jatinjit Singh (2nd).

100mts Back Stroke: Mudasir Hussain Bhat (1st), Rasagya Tondon (2nd) and Prithpal Singh (3rd).

200mts Free Style: Suhail Hussain Akhoon (1st) and Prithpal (2nd).

100mts Back Stroke: Prithpal Singh (1st) and Suhail Hussain (2nd).

100mts Butterfly: Yawar Abbass (1st) and Dhruv Kohli (2nd).

200mts Breast Stroke: Aditya Gupta (1st) and Dhruv Kohli (2nd).

U-17 boys (50mts Free Style): Ahmed Ikram (1st), Razat (2nd) and Murtaza Ali (3rd).

50mts Butterfly: Adhar Kaul (1st), Firdous Ahmed (2nd) and Rahul Kohli (3rd).

100mts Freestyle: Danish Bashir (1st), Ahmed Ikram (2nd) and Sahil (3rd).

100mts Back Stroke: Razat Sharma (1st), Amit Sharma (2nd) and Neerav Gupta (3rd).

200mts Free Style: Razat Sharma (1st) and Ahmed Ikram (2nd).

50mts Back Stroke: Murtaza Ali (1st), Sahil Sharma (2nd) and Firdous Ahmed (3rd).

100ms Breast Stroke: Rahul Kohli (1st), Honnesh Rohmetra (2nd) and Mohammad Ali Agha (3rd).

50mts Breast Stroke: Showkat Ali (1st), Hardik Khajuria (2nd) and Sahil Sharma (3rd).

100mts Butterfly: Kunwar Sethi (1st).

200mts Breast Stroke: Rahul Kohli (1st) and Honnesh Rohmetra (2nd).

200mts Back Stroke: Danish Bashir (1st) and Rohan Mahajan (2nd).

U-14 girls 50mts Freestyle: Stuti Kuthiala (1st).

100mts Breast Stroke: Epsita (1st).

U-19 girls 50mts Freestyle: Sabia Nagpal (1st).

50mts Back Stroke: Arshiya Kalra (1st).

‘Cannot force St Joseph to take back special children’
Our Correspondent

Kupwara, November 11
State project director of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) Yasha Mudghul today said they had no control over St Joseph School and hence could not force the school management to resume the classes for 15 children with special needs. The parents of the special children threatened to move the court against the “harsh decision” if the management of the school did not resume the classes in next few days.

The school management had on Tuesday refused to provide education to these children suspending their classes.

“Since St Joseph is a private school which comes under the Centre, the SSA has no direct control over it. We cannot force the school management to revert its decision and resume the classes for special children,” said the SSA director.

The project director said the SSA would take up the matter with the school management and try to resolve the issue.

“If the school did not admit our wards in next few days, we will move the court for justice. The future of our children is at stake and we cannot see them sitting idle at home,” a disgruntled parent said.

Mudghul said the SSA was making efforts to provide education to all such children in government schools and many special children were enrolled in schools across the state. Hopefully more such children will be enrolled in schools in coming years, she added.

“Under Article 370, such schools (St Joseph) were governed under the Central rules and not state rules. That is why it is beyond our jurisdiction to give them a direction,” Mudghul said.

NC treating Srinagar as bonded territory: Mufti
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the ruling National Conference (NC) had been treating Srinagar as a bonded territory, only as a ladder to luxuries of power.

Addressing a workers’ meeting at Balhama in the Sonwar constituency here, he said no transformation of the historic city was possible till the NC enjoyed a free run in elections in Srinagar, facilitated by poll boycott.

Citing the data available in public domain, Mufti said the share of Srinagar District had got reduced from 5.83% in 2006-07 to 3.29% in 2012-13 within the District Plan of the State.

"Srinagar is crumbling as the infrastructure development is not keeping pace with the pressures of increasing urbanisation and tourist inflow. 95% of Srinagar dwellings are unplanned, leading to choking and other social problems. The government is busy only in compromises for its survival,” Mufti said. He added that the city was turning into a virtual slum.

Mufti said last year the government had diverted funds amounting to Rs 48 crore under Central Road Fund (CRF) but none of the legislators raised the issue, not to speak of the CM who actually ordered it, as the minister in charge of R&B.

“Though the 10 legislators from Srinagar and Ganderbal district are crucial to NC’s survival, the party takes the residents for granted. Considering there would always be boycott of elections, NC would run away with results in its favour. It is for the people to ponder over the situation and decide whether the situation should be allowed to perpetuate at the cost of their interests or not,” Mufti said.

Police lose track of swindler tour operator
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
A tour operator of the city, who swindled more than Rs 4 crore from 131 Haj pilgrimage aspirants, remains absconding as police says they have lost track of him. Mehjoor Ahmad Khan, who ran a fraudulent tour company, under the name Al Balagh Tour and Travel, duped residents who had paid him to arrange their travel to the cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, for the performing the annual Haj pilgrimage.

Case against Mehjoor and his Al Balagh company, under section 420 of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), was registered nearly a month ago at the Shaheed Gunj police station but since then his whereabouts have remained unknown.

Sources in the police say Mehjoor’s phone record was last tracked to Kathua district in Jammu region but since then he has disappeared from the scene.

“We are now trying to track his transaction records,” a police source said.

One of the duped Haj aspirant, Mohammad Ismail Parray of the Natipora locality, said he and his wife had paid Rs 3.30 lakh, their ‘lifetime saving’ to Mehjoor.

“To perform the Haj is a wish that one lives with throughout his life and at the end of our life, we have been stabbed and robbed,” Parray said.

He said the police should intensify search for the accused. Mehjoor’s swindling of the money from the Haj aspirant is the second such scam after Hajeej India Tour Operators duped separate batches of Haj aspirant twice since last year.

Police registered a fresh case against Hajeej India owners this month for swindling nearly Rs 5 crore from 384 pilgrims, who had paid around Rs 1 lakh each.

Last year, Hajeej had swindled Rs 4.50 crore from another batch of Haj aspirants. Hajeej India owners-Waheed Gilkar, Fabian Gilkar and Arsalan Gilkar were arrested last week. Fabian was also arrested last year in December from Rajasthan where he was hiding. Police had issued a ‘hue and cry’ notice against him as he disappeared after his name surfaced in the scam.

Traders for humane face of banks in state
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
Stating that the business community had been hit hard due to the turmoil in the Valley, the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an amalgam of various traders’ bodies, today urged the banks to understand the ground realities before recovering loans.

“Most of the business community in Kashmir is a borrower in trouble and not willful defaulter. The past 20 years including 2008, 2009 and 2010 have been a big catastrophe, bringing business fraternity virtually to a state of trauma. Banks and their corporate partners need to understand the reality,” KEA general secretary Siraj Ahmad said.

He said the manner in which recoveries were being made had attracted controversies, invited criticism and even violence at times. Weak and vulnerable businesses had to be given more time and confidence to succeed.

“Banks have to improve relations with their business partners and give them the respect they deserve. Credit counselling would go a long way in eliminating the trust deficit. The KEA would like banks and their business partners to interact more often and openly to understand the ground realities, so as to improve relations and ensure success in the ventures undertaken,” Siraj added. Demanding that the RBI guidelines for Kashmir on recoveries and interest rates should be more rational and humane, he regretted the banks operating in the Valley had never come to the rescue of their business partners.

The alliance alleged that the banks were charging them ‘exorbitant’ rates of interest.

National Sculpture Camp concludes at Pattan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
The first ever National-level sculpturing camp, organised by the Department of Tourism in Parihaspora of Baramulla district, concluded on Saturday with an award distribution ceremony. The occasion was chaired by Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora.

The camp was organised to showcase the rich historic architecture heritage of Kashmir and to promote the art of sculpturing in the state.

The camp is first of its kind in the Valley, in which artists from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir participated.

Speaking on the occasion, Jora said the coalition government was committed to revive the tourism industry, adding that more than 10 lakh tourists visited the Valley this year. He said tourism industry is the backbone of the economy of a state.

Referring to the historical background of Parihaspora, Jora added that the area was known as Kani Shahar, owing to the fact that historically significant stones still existed there. Measures have been taken to bring Parihaspora on tourist map to restore its pristine glory, he added.

He distributed awards among eight sculptors of Karnataka, two of Andhra Pradesh and 10 of Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister was accompanied by the officers of the Tourism and Archives Departments.

SMC seals hotel in Raj Bagh
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 11
As part of its ongoing drive against illegal constructions, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today sealed a hotel at Raj Bagh area of the summer capital. The enforcement wing of the corporation sealed the premises owned by Firdous Ahmed Lone following the directions of the High Court, the SMC spokesman said in a statement. He said that Lone had only been granted permission for constructing a roof over the existing gutted residential building and for construction of the compound wall at Raj Bagh.

“But he (the violator) in breach of the permission granted to him converted the residential house into a hotel and violated the terms and conditions of the permission granted to him as per the plan by the Building Operation Controlling Authority (BOCA). A huge illegal construction had come up there and the violator has raised construction on ground floor also without any permission,” the spokesman added.

The building was sealed in the presence of the executive magistrate and SMC chief enforcement officer Hakeem Aijaz.

Lawrence School organises annual conference
Tribune News Service

School children at a function in Srinagar on Sunday. A Tribune photo

Srinagar, November 11
Lawrence Vidya Bhawan School organised its annual conference ‘Education- Past, Present and Future Environment’ today. The students, teachers and guests expressed their opinions on the occasion.

The event was chaired by Shabir Ahmad Khan, Minister of State for Power, CAD, Transport, Forest, Environment & Ecology, Labour & Employment and Er Rasheed, MLA Langate, social activist Roma Wani, chairperson of The Inner Call and vice-chairperson Bharat Scouts & Guides were the guests of honour.

Khan said the need of the hour was to impart moral education to youth. Rasheed and Wani also spoke on the occasion.

Chief Executive Officer of the School, Inam Un Nabi read the progress report of the school.

The chief guest and the guests of honour distributed prizes among the meritorious students of the school.

Haj pilgrims return home

Srinagar, November 11
The 10th batch of Haj pilgrims arrived at the Srinagar International Airport today. “As many as 540 pilgrims, comprising 325 males and 214 females besides one infant, returned from Saudi Arabia this morning, after performing Haj,” an official said.

The first Haj flight had reached here on November 2. Air India is operating direct Haj flights from here to Saudi Arabia after a gap four years. Around 9,170 pilgrims from the state performed Haj this year. This year’s quota for Jammu and Kashmir had been increased from 8,441 to 8,670. — TNS