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Highway blocked over man-monkey conflict
Use of non-woven bags an eco-hazard too
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Ayurveda institute adopts 5 villages
DBN School celebrates golden jubilee
AIDS reaches alarming levels in Rajouri
Quarters for Pandit youth sought
JKSPDC gets India power award
Education tour flagged off at Mahore
Varsity holds seminar on enterprise resource planning
Panun Kashmir to observe Homeland Day on Dec 28
Drug peddler held
20 fined for smoking in public places
Two-day mock rescue drill from December 13
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Highway blocked over man-monkey conflict
Jammu, December 1 Around a dozen persons, including two children and a woman, are
said to have received injuries so far. MP from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda parliamentary segment Lal Singh threatened to join the protesters if the wildlife department didn’t drive away monkeys from the area soon. The district administration has made a formal request to the Conservator, Wildlife Department, Jammu region, for issuing instructions to field staff for necessary action. Hundreds of people, comprising women hailing from Jasrota and adjoining villages assembled near Rajbagh and raised slogans against wildlife department. They held the wildlife department officials responsible for the problems, alleging they (officials) had shifted the monkeys from Akhnoor town in Jammu district to Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary some time back. “Yesterday, a group of monkeys turned violent and they attacked two girls when they were playing in the village. This morning, a woman who had a narrow escape in the attack received injuries and stitches in her head. Simian attacks have become a routine,” the protesters alleged. They said the simians attacked children and women in their areas and even snatched food from their hands. “Screaming of children and women has become the order of the day in our villages as monkeys chase children on streets and snatch food from their hands,” the protesters said. They demanded that the wildlife department should drive away simians from their villages. “We want to make it clear that we will launch indefinite protests and will again block the highway if the wildlife department fails to take corrective measures,” the protesters warned. MP Lal Singh also visited the people and listened to their grievances. He took up the matter with the district administration and wildlife officials. Zahida Praveen Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, said the Conservator, Wildlife Department, Jammu region, had been requested to take necessary action to solve the problem. “We had also raised the issue in the District Development Board (DDB) meeting last year, but the problem still exists there. The simians need to be tacked by the experts but we have started short-term measures like drum beating to shoo away monkeys,” she said. Rishi Paul, Range Officer, Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary, said, “The administration of Akhnoor sub-division had illegally shifted nearly 200 monkeys to the sanctuary last year. They didn’t obtain any permission from the department or the district administration. Since then, people have been facing problems in the area. We have also submitted a comprehensive report over the illegal act on the part of Akhnoor administration.” The officer said they had been facing the problem of catching simians and shifting them to some other place. “We have deputed a team of experts to catch the monkeys,” he said. Later, on assurances from the wildlife authorities, the protesters dispersed and traffic resumed on the highway. However, thousands of vehicles including those of Vaishno Devi pilgrims remained stranded on the highway in the traffic jam. |
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Use of non-woven bags an eco-hazard too
Jammu, December 1 As it is very difficult to detect the amount of polythene material in these bags except in labs, most shopkeepers and showrooms are using these bags. Earlier, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) asked the traders and distributors to surrender their stock of non-woven bags by October 31, but very few people have come forward. Municipal Corporation and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) have already served notices to the manufacturers and importers after laboratory tests revealed they contain poly-propylene, a plastic fibre which is also a non-biodegradable material. “The fight against polythene is a long-drawn one and enforcement is only possible when there is cooperation from the people. In the recent past, many distributors have imported small carry bags having major concentration of plastic,” said a JMC official. The state High Court banned use of polythene in Jammu and Kashmir in 2008. However, packaged material was kept out of this ban. Pollution Control Board (PCB) had decided to send samples of bio-plastic bags to the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology for checking their quality before granting approval and banning others which do not meet the standards. Non-woven fabric is made from long fibres, bonded together with chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. Officials said the Regional Director had, in August this year, written a letter to the corporation that non-woven bags had failed the tests and many of the companies blacklisted in New Delhi and other places were dumping their material in J&K. “Non-woven bags are sold with the claim that the material used is degradable, but that is not the case, tests have found,” said JMC health officer Dr Vinod Sharma. |
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Ayurveda institute adopts 5 villages
Jammu, December 1 Information to this effect was given by Dr Roop Lal Sharma at a function. Besides others, sarpanches and panches of block Bhalwal participated in the function. Dr Sharma said under the programme, medical check-ups would be conducted to know villagers’ health condition, adding that the treatment or medical advice would accordingly be provided free of cost. He also appealed to the sarpanches and panches to extend their cooperation in conducting health care camps in the villages so that people could be benefited. He said the cooperation of sarpanches and panches was the need of the hour.
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DBN School celebrates golden jubilee
Jammu, December 1 Dr Renu Goswami, Secretary J&K Board of School Education, was the chief guest and Major General (retd) RS Jamwal, president J&K Dharmarth Trust, was the guest of honour on this occasion. Rajendra Kakkar, manager of the trust, also presided over the function. He highlighted the objectives and the achievements of the trust in imparting the quality education. A large number of parents, prominent citizens, educationists and scholars were also present on the occasion. Students presented their cultural items, including Dogri, Kashmiri, nursery and Punjabi dance. A belle dance reflecting the environmental degradation was the main attraction of the show. Principal SNS, Neelam Sabharwal presented a vote of thanks.
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Educational institutes, hospitals observe AIDS Day
Jammu, December 1 The Red Ribbon Club of Government College for Women (GCW), Gandhi Nagar, organised a rally to mark the day. Principal of the college, Kiran Bakshi, flagged off the rally by releasing the red balloons in the air to create awareness among masses about the disease. She urged students and staff to take a pledge to stand in solidarity as a nation to halt the spread of HIV and stop the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. The rally started from the college premises passed through Green Belt Park, Gole Market and culminated at the college. The students and the college staff carried the placards, banners and candles during the rally to spread the message of AIDS awareness. Similarly, the Red Ribbon Club of GCW Parade, Jammu, in collaboration with the J&K State AIDS Prevention and Control Society and Department of Health & Medical Education organised a series of events to commemorate Worlds AIDS Day. An awareness lecture on HIV/AIDS Epidemic in India - risk factors, risk behaviour and strageirgies for prevention and control was delivered by Kavita Suri, assistant director, Department of Life Long Learning, University of Jammu. Later, students of Post Graduate Department of Home Science, CRM&E staged a ‘Nukkad Natak’ to spread awareness about the AIDS--its causes and preventive measures”. A poster making competition was also held. World AIDS Day was also observed at Government Hospital Sarwal Jammu where the staff displayed posters, banners and spread other information about HIV and AIDS among the people. Tags of red ribbons representing World AIDS Day were pinned on all people and staff of the hospital. Dr Arun Sharma, Medical Superintendent of the Government Hospital, Sarwal, Jammu imparted information and training in various blocks and districts of the Jammu division. To mark the day, a free camp especially for drug addicts was also arranged where all kinds of medical facilities were provided.
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AIDS reaches alarming levels in Rajouri
Rajouri, December 1 Sources within the district health department disclosed that the number of AIDS-positive patients has touched 200 in the entire border region of district Rajouri. Official figures available with the department show only 43 AIDS patients. Of these, 39 were under treatment in Government Medical College, Jammu and four others are under treatment in district hospital Rajouri. Official figures show that in 2006, there were 2 cases of AIDS patients in the district. In 2007, the number rose to 10, in 2008, figure was 9, in 2010, it was 10 and in 2011 and 2012, it was 4 and 7 respectively. Sources said the actual figures are very high as compared to official ones because department and district AIDS control society of Rajouri have not yet collected figures from various areas like Dhrail, Nowshera, Kandi, Budhal and Sundarbai of district Rajouri. Officials of the department have claimed they have launched various awareness camps, awareness workshops and advertisements through print and electronic media. However, the alarming rate of AIDS and HIV are posing serious threats, which the administration needs to take seriously. Sadiq Khan, District Mass Media Officer Health, said they have launched various campaigns in a number of areas for awareness of AIDS and HIV, including home visits to drivers, people living in slums and other areas for awareness of the masses. He expressed concern over the attitude of people, saying they are still hesitating to come forward to fight against a disease like AIDS. He said, “We are working in collaboration with National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), which was to establish small care centres to provide help to the people affected by HIV, including counselling by a specialists’ team of doctors, free medicines and all necessary help for need patients. HIV can only be transmitted between people through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the blood stream with a bodily fluid. Hence, there has been a lot of stigma around the spread of HIV and people living with HIV and AIDS. It has been estimated that around 33 million people around the world have been infected with HIV and that around two million people die from AIDS-related conditions every year, according to reports.”
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Collective effort needed to fight AIDS
Akhnoor, December 1 The Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, was chief guest and vice chairman OBC Advisory Board Kuldeep Verma was guest of honour on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the minister called for launching a strong movement against HIV/AIDS with the active involvement of various stakeholders of the society. He said this cureless disease is consuming the lives of many people, irrespective of sex, age and class worldwide. He said collective effort is required to create awareness about the disease and how to prevent it. Highlighting the importance of the day, the minister said the day is celebrated worldwide to renew our efforts to save the lives of lakhs of patients suffering from this dreaded disease. He said the day reminds us of our duties towards the AIDS patients and we all should take a pledge this day to adopt a sympathetic and human approach towards such patients and encourage them to lead a normal life. He said observing only one day in the name of AIDS is not sufficient, the fight against disease should continue throughout the year.
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Quarters for Pandit youth sought
Jammu, December 1 As many as 2,000 youth were engaged under the Prime Minister Rehabilitation Plan. They are working in the Valley and facing accommodation problems. Members of the committee held a meeting under the chairmanship of MLC Vijay Bakaya and expressed their concern over the delay in the enhancement of cash assistance for migrants. The committee members urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla to ask the central government to approve the proposal for enhancement of cash assistance which is pending with the Finance Ministry. They said they would meet again after 15 days to know the status of their long pending demands. They stated that they would start agitation if their demands are not met as hundreds of migrant families are dependent on the relief assistance provided by the government. It has been decided to constitute a five-member committee which will remain in contact with relief commissioner for redressal of the day-to-day problems. Scores of youth belonging to the Pandit community had left the Valley due to militant threats in 1990, returned about two years ago after an employment package was announced for them. Most of the posts were in education, social welfare, relief organisation, engineering, finance, tourism, health and revenue departments in the Kashmir Division. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced an Rs 1,618 crore package for the relief and rehabilitation of Pandits to their homeland on April 25, 2008, and this is for the first time in the past two decades that an employment package was announced by the state. Nearly 2,045 posts were advertised by twin recruiting agencies Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) and State Public Service Commission (PSC) in February, 2010. Nearly 16,000 displaced youth applied for the same. |
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JKSPDC gets India power award
Jammu, December 1 Every year an award is given to a power project for its uniqueness. This year’s unique project award was bagged by MOHRA HEP primarily for its wooden water conductor. On behalf of the JKSPDC, the award consisting of a momento and a certificate was received by executive director Zahoor Ahmad Chat. An impressive award function was held at New Delhi in India Habitat Centre in which about 51 awards were given away by the chief guest Prof MR Srinivasan, a member of the Atomic Energy Commission. The award instituted by the Council of Power Utilities (CPU) is given every year to companies, corporations, authorities, departments and eminent personalities for their contributions in the field of generation, transmission and distribution and other fields of the power sector.The awardees are nominated through a rigorous process by a jury of members of national and international repute in the energy sector.The awardees also included foreign companies from China, Japan and Bhutan. The Mohra Multipurpose Hydel project was the second hydel project in the subcontinent and first in Asia with a wooden water channel was commissioned in 1905.
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NC demands early gurdwara elections
Jammu, December 1 District vice-president, Srinagar, Harmohinder Singh emphasised the need for holding early polls for the proper management of historical and other gurdwaras in 22 districts of the state. He said these elections were earlier held in November, 2003 and the committees appointed then had already completed their tenure in 2008. “The former government was responsible for holding elections, but since then no elections have been announced or held. There is a need to conduct these elections for better management of Sikh religious places,” Singh said. Singh said the J&K Sikh Gurudwara and Religious Endownments Act came into being in 1975 during the chief ministership of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. Singh appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take decision for holding the elections.
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Education tour flagged off at Mahore
Katra, December 1 The tour was flagged off from the Rashtriya Rifles Sector, Mahore, in
the presence of Commanding Officer of the Rashtriya Rifles battalion, Sarh. SDM Mahore Thakur Sher Singh, SDPO Mahore Mushim Ahmed, parents of the youth
and sarpanches of the nearby villages also graced the occasion. The aim of the tour would be to broaden the horizons of the youth by showing the progress that has been made in other parts of the country. Exposing the local youth to the world would also motivate them to pursue higher studies, which in a long-run would prove beneficial for the state. On a way to Jammu, the youth got an opportunity to interact with the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform). He motivated them to draw maximum benefit from the tour and take up careers, which will contribute towards the development of the state. The youth would witness the Passing Out Parade at Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. Besides, they will visit the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Forest Research Institute, ITBP Academy and the elite Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy which is the training academy for IAS candidates at Mussoorie. From Dehradun and Mussoorie, the tour will go to Nainital via Haridwar and the youth will also visit the JAT Regimental Centre
at Bareilly. “I am excited about the tour. I am looking forward to witnessing the Passing Out Parade at IMA, Dehradun. I thanked the Army for providing him the opportunity,” Mushtaq Ahmed, a resident of Mullas, Mahore. “We will spread the message of peace across the country through such tours,” Nazir Ahmed, a resident of Lancha. |
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Varsity holds seminar on enterprise resource planning
Jammu, December 1 The resource person for the seminar was Gulshan Prashar, senior SAP consultant at Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) Limited, New Delhi. Prasher presented a detailed presentation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) scenario in the corporate sector and discussed about the architecture and functional-cum-technical aspects of SAP-ERP. Earlier, Prof Vibhakar Mansotra, head of the department of computer science and IT, University of Jammu, emphasised the need of acquiring latest skills and technical expertise for getting better job opportunities. Dr Vinod Sharma, an associate professor in the department apprised the audience about the vast technical and domain experience of Prashar. Amit Mahajan, a system analyst, presented a vote of thanks on this occasion.
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Panun Kashmir to observe Homeland Day on Dec 28
Jammu, December 1 Activists led by Ajay Chrungoo, chairman PK, are extensively sensitising the community members about the emerging political developments and conditions that have a direct impact on the community. Speaking on the occasion, Chrungoo said “The sectarian violence that has erupted recently in Kashmir depicts clearly that the policymakers have failed to accept the challenges posed by the communal and fundamentalist forces to the democratic and secular set up of the nation.” He said the settlement of the community is not possible in a society which is regressive and communal. ‘The carving out of the homeland with the union territory status is the only solution that reaffirms the free flow of the Indian nationhood,” he added. He appealed the masses to celebrate Homeland Day with full vigour and transform their sentiments for the reclamation of homeland into the absolute reality.
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Drug peddler held
Batote, December 1 In another case, the Ramban police arrested two persons in a case
pertaining to smuggling of bovines. |
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20 fined for smoking in public places
Batote, December 1 So far, the Ramban police has caught 39 smokers in public places. |
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Two-day mock rescue drill from December 13
Batote, December 1 It was decided today during a District Disaster Management Authority meeting presided over by its Chairman, Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, SA Bhat to remain prepared for any possible natural or man-made calamity and launch a timely and effective rescue operation, especially because of the area being in the seismic zone. On the suggestion of Brig AK Singh SM through a power point presentation, it was decided to conduct the mock exercises on Disaster Management & Rescue operation on the highway and inaccessible areas of Ramban district involving the use of helicopter including the civil administration, Army, police, traffic police on December 13 and 14. He deplored the dilapidated portions of the highway at Kunfer, Seri, Digdole, Khooninallah etc, which could be causes of accidents and directed the PWD, R&B and BRO engineers to repair it. He asked all the departments concerned to keep the snow cutters, bulldozer etc ready and ensure well-maintained shelter sheds having blankets, heating material and food for stranded passengers on the highway during winters. A joint control room will be established at the police station Banihal which will coordinate the overall activities of different rescue and management agencies. BA Khan, ADC, Brig AK Singh, SM, Col Kuldeep Ahlawat, Dy Cdr CMO, ACD, CEO, DSP Traffic, SDPO, Banihal, Officers of Beacon, Nuvyug Engineering, IRCON International Ltd HCC, Leighton Wellspun Construction Ltd also attended the meeting.
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V. Badrinath educational trust-run institutions--Dewan Badrinath Vidya (DBN)
Mandir, Amarvilla, DBN Mandir, Mubarak Mandi and SNS Vidya Mandir Talab Tillo today jointly organised a cultural programme to celebrate the golden jubilee of the trust.
