|
|
|
|
|
J-K varsities to be linked with European institutes, says Lone
Make youth partners in growth: Agri minister
Strawberrry production down, growers cite govt apathy
|
|
|
Climate change threatens food security in Valley
J-K asks Spain to lift negative travel advisory
Civilian’s killing: BSF court summons 15 witnesses
Varsities must work together on research projects, says Governor
Kashmiri Pandits call on Omar, seek hike in
relief
NC’s Rana sees ‘Jammu challenge’ as opportunity
KU students to leave on all-India tour on February 10
Rise in mercury brings respite
Two constables among 3 held for extortion
|
|
J-K varsities to be linked with European institutes, says Lone
Jammu, February 2 He has also said two Islamic universities of the state would also be linked with Malaysia University so that students of these varsities interact with research scholars of Malaysia, which would help the state in achieving academic excellence. In his maiden interview after assuming the charge as Minister for Higher Education, Lone told The Tribune that Vice-Chancellors of all universities would be taken into confidence prior to any decision taken for accomplishing high academic standards. “We are planning to link all universities of the state with reputed institutions of the country as well as Europe to give exposure to students of the state, which, in turn, will help in their better placement,” he said. Lone, who has earlier served as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, also disclosed that his department was planning to introduce more job-oriented courses in the colleges and universities which will assist the
government in dealing with growing problem of unemployment. He said they had already initiated the exercise to introduce more subjects in colleges and universities. “Special attention is being given to introduce subjects like Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit in all those colleges which are still deprived of the facility. We will ensure adequate financial assistance and staff strength in these institutions so that new subjects are introduced in a hassle-free manner,” he said. On the shortage of teachers in degree colleges, the minister said, “We have decided to expedite the process of recruiting teachers for various colleges. Till the completion of selection process, we will appoint well-qualified people on contractual
and ad hoc basis so that the studies of students don’t suffer.” Besides, all senior officers have been asked to review the “stay” of college teachers within city limits. “Overstaying teachers will be shifted to rural areas so that the problem of shortage of staff in rural colleges is addressed. They will either have to serve in remote areas or quit in case of reluctance,”
Lone said. To a question regarding the lack of infrastructure in newly opened colleges, he admitted that there was a need to expedite the process. “We have decided to constitute an Engineering Monitoring Cell within the department which will identify the shortcomings, monitor the functioning and suggest various measures to develop infrastructure in the universities and colleges, particularly new institutions. We are hopeful that we will be able to resolve all these issues soon,” he said. He also said the government was planning to open more degree colleges in the state so that students didn’t face any difficulty in getting quality higher education. “The feasibility report of proposed new colleges is still awaited and it will be put before the state Cabinet, as and when we receive it,” he said. On a query regarding various issues confronting Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET), Jammu, Lone said he had ordered the shifting of office headquarters to the main campus within 15 days as both were located at two separate locations. Besides, teachers of the college who were
demanding benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission have been assured that they would be given the benefits. |
||
|
Make youth partners in growth: Agri minister
Jammu, February 2 Addressing a public meeting at Chinkah, Arnas in Reasi district today, the minister said over the past six decades since India became independent, the country had marched ahead on the path of development and progress while the state could not keep the pace due to political mud-slinging between various sections and groups. The minister said a revolution had taken place in infrastructure, road connectivity, power, education and health sectors in the country and there was an economic boom in the country but Jammu and Kashmir was yet to receive its share of benefits, which it could not owing to all these reasons. Mir appealed to all the political parties in the state to come forward and plead the case of the state in one voice. He said “We have lost enough time in doing politics and done precious little for the development of the state.” He said the time has come when you should show the people of the state, particularly youth, way forward and make them partners in growth and progress of the country. The minister said the state was facing peculiar problems and it could not tide over them without the support of the Centre. He said financial support from the Centre had helped the state in launching numerous ambitious projects in different sectors to upgrade the basic facilities in the state besides providing employment opportunities to skilled and unskilled youth of the state. Asking the people of the area to opt agriculture as profitability activity, the minister said introduction of latest agri techniques, quality hybrid seeds and farm mechanisation had helped farmers to enhance their production manifold. He said the Agriculture Department was providing quality seeds, agri-techniques and guidance to farmers at the doorstep besides providing incentives to them on the introduction of farm machinery and other agriculture inputs. While advocating that the hilly belt of Reasi district had a huge potential for organic farming, he urged the farmers to adopt organic farming for which the government would provide incentives for three years besides facilitating them in providing market linkage to their produce. He said in today’s consumer market, the organic produce had a huge demand as it was considered safe. |
||
|
Strawberrry production down, growers cite govt apathy
Jammu, February 2 In 2007, there were 2,500 strawberry growers in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Rajouri districts. Now their number is just 150. The area under strawberry cultivation and its production has also shrunk. “Last year the land under strawberry cultivation in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Rajouri districts was 100 acres. This year it has come down to 20 acres. In 2012, we had a total yield of over 35 metric tonnes but this year we fear that it may not even reach 20 metric tonnes,” said Sham Singh, president of the Strawberry Growers’ Association of J&K and a progressive farmer from Bishnah. He attributed the disturbing trend to the official apathy. “Earlier, we used to purchase a strawberry plant at Rs 2 but this time around Agriculture University in Palampur has increased the rate to Rs 5 per plant (Chandler variety), which is not a good variety,” said Singh. He said despite a representation in August last year to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah via Rachhpal Singh, the then
vice-chairman of the Kissan Advisory Board, seeking support for the strawberry growers in the form of allied planting material and technical know-how, nothing positive had happened. “Today a strawberry grower has to spend Rs 35,000 per kanal to cultivate the Chandler variety, that too, without allied planting material and technical know-how. The government provides us a cash subsidy of 50 paise per plant,” he said. Singh attributed the success story of Mahableshwar, the strawberry capital of India, to active support of the Maharashtra Government to the growers. “The Maharashtra Government has imported a mother plant from California and multiplied it. Now, it is being sold at Rs 8, Rs 10 and Rs 13 per plant as per its yield. In Jammu and Kashmir, strawberry growers are getting no serious support from the government,”
he said. In 2007, the strawberry crop in the state was hit by a hailstorm, rendering growers debt-ridden, who had suffered a loss of over Rs 1.50 crore. “The government didn’t provide us any compensation. Thereafter, our number kept dwindling and today it has come down to 150,” he said. President of the Kissan Council Tejinder Singh Wazir, who hails from RS Pura, said the state government failed to introduce innovative schemes on the pattern of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. “In 1990s, an Indo-Italian project in Ramban district had given tremendous impetus to strawberry cultivation. We used to get allied planting material and technical know-how. After the Horticulture Department took over, things started worsening,” said Wazir. The strawberry growers in the state, particularly in the Jammu region, cultivate Bentona, Ofra, Chandler, Sweet Charlie and Timberly varieties, imported from Germany, Italy and the US. |
||
|
Climate change threatens food security in Valley
Srinagar, February 2 The study reveals that the Valley is heading for a “environmental disaster” as it is undergoing a considerable decrease in precipitation, food production and an unusual increase in temperature and carbon dioxide levels. Moreover, the food security of the state is under threat with change in weather patterns. The study conducted by the Valley’s well-known geophysicist Prof Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo and his team at Kashmir University states that with the current changes in temperature, the Valley’s rice production will decline by 6 per cent in 2040 and by 30 per cent in 2090. The study corroborates these findings due to an increased carbon dioxide concentration in atmosphere, which have also led to the increase in temperatures and decrease in precipitation. “Both the minimum and maximum recorded temperatures in Kashmir are increasing. Our study has found that temperatures in the Valley are due to increase by 5.39 degrees Celsius in 50 years from now. The precipitation (in the form of snowfall/rainfall) is likely to decrease by about 16.67 per cent,” Prof Romshoo said. Despite the fact that 80 per cent of the state population is engaged in agricultural practices, the Valley has not been able to become self-sufficient, especially in rice and other foodgrains production. On the other hand, farmers are disappointed with paltry returns on paddy cultivation and have started adopting horticultural practices. “We are converting our paddy fields into apple orchards as this is economically more viable. The abnormally high temperatures in spring and autumn season, when the paddy crop is cultivated and harvested, respectively, has affected the quality of crop thus affecting our returns,” said Ghulam Hassan Malik, a Pulwama-based farmer. |
||
|
J-K asks Spain to lift negative travel advisory
Jammu, February 2 "We request the Government of Spain to lift the negative travel advisory issued to its citizens against visiting the state as the situation here has improved considerably," state tourism minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir said during his meeting with Spanish Tourism Officers in Madrid. The Tourism Minister, along with officers of Tourism Department, is on a four-day visit to Spain, representing the state in the International Tourism Trade Fair there. According to a statement issued here, the minister during his meetings and interaction, received positive response from the Spanish authorities and expressed hope that the advisory would be lifted soon. — PTI
|
||
|
Civilian’s killing: BSF court summons 15 witnesses
Srinagar, February 2 Zahid Farooq, a teenaged boy from Berin, Nishat, was killed in a firing incident by the BSF men on February 5, 2010, in the Nishat area of Srinagar. The police after registering an FIR had arrested a BSF commander RK Birdi and his subordinate and charged them for murder under Section 302. However, both the accused were later handed over to the BSF authorities by Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar for trying
them before a BSF-appointed General Security Forces Court. In the summons, which were delivered to the persons concerned by the local police this week, the witnesses had been directed to comply with summons “without lawful excuse” to avoid “consequence of non-attendance.” “The BSF authorities have summoned 15 persons from our locality, including the eyewitnesses”, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, the father of slain youth told The Tribune. He said on Friday (February 1), two eyewitnesses - Mushtaq Ahmad Wani and Bashir Ahmad Sheikh - appeared before the
BSF court to record their statements. “Today, as per the summons, four more persons appeared before the authorities to record their statements”, Farooq said, adding that he too has been summoned before the court next week. The witnesses who were summoned today included Farooq Ahmad Wani, Ajaz Ahmad Baba, Shabbir Ahmad Sheikh, Ghulam Hassan Bhat and Mushtaq Ahmad Wani. On the other hand, the BSF authorities are tight-lipped about the proceedings of the General Security Forces Court, which is holding trial of the two accused BSF personnel in the Zahid Farooq killing case. “The proceedings are being held in camera. We can’t disclose details,” said a BSF official when asked about the progress of the proceedings before the
GSFC.
|
||
|
Varsities must work together on research projects, says Governor
Jammu, February 2 He was addressing the valedictory session of the three-day-long 2nd International Symposium on “Semiconductor Materials and Devices (ISSMD-2)”, organised by the Department of Physics and Electronics, University of Jammu, in collaboration with the Society for Semiconductor Devices, New Delhi, at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium here this evening. He said along with undertaking high-end research projects there was an urgent need for developing manufacturing skills. He observed that such endeavours would materialise if the industry was involved right from the beginning of a project. He added that there was a need for acquiring expertise in various arenas for securing the rapid economic development of the country. He emphasised the need for the development of semiconductors and materials from which these were to be manufactured and said this would require collaboration between physicists, chemists and engineers in various fields. On harnessing non-conventional energy sources, particularly solar energy, Vohra observed that this could go a long way in meeting the colossal gap in the obtaining energy availability but required developing appropriate technology to make the required products cost-effective.He congratulated the University of Jammu for organising the symposium on a relevant subject and complimented the Society for Semiconductor Devices for supporting the initiative. The Governor was presented a memento by Prof MPS Ishar, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu. Professor Ishar said the symposium provided an opportunity to young scientists to present their research papers and interact with renowned experts in the field. Prof Mushahid Hussain, secretary of Society for Semiconductor Devices, New Delhi, dwelt on the establishment, evolution, growth and activities of the society. He also talked about conferences organised by the society and its future action plan. |
||
|
Kashmiri Pandits call on Omar, seek hike in
relief
Jammu, February 2 A deputation of Kashmiri Pandit migrants from various migrant camps and areas today called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here and discussed various issues relating to the migrants. While expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister for his efforts resulting in enhancement of relief to migrants, the delegation emphasised the need for raising per month relief of per family to Rs 10,000. They requested the Chief Minister to raise the issue with the Central government. The deputation also talked about employment package for migrants and issues relating to return and rehabilitation package. The Chief Minister assured the delegation that he would take up the cash relief issue with the Central government. He said the state government was well-versed with the difficulties and status of migrants and was taking all measures to redress the genuine grievances. The delegation was led by Anil Dhar, AK Hangloo, HL Pandit, Jatin Bhat, SL Koul, Ravinder Koul, Bushan Lal, Sanjay Kumar and Babloo Ji. Meanwhile, the PDP also organised a meeting of Kashmiri Pandits migrants in which problems of the displaced community were discussed. National spokesman of the PDP Dr Sameer Koul, while addressing the convention, demanded spiritual, political and economic empowerment of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community living in different parts of the country. Koul regretted that for decades together Kashmiri Pandits had voted in favour of the Congress or National Conference but these two parties had failed to politically empower this community. He said there was no representation of Kashmiri Pandits in the political system. “We demanded that Kashmiri Pandits along with other minorities like Sikhs should be empowered politically so that these communities should have a say in decision- making”, he argued and regretted that Kashmiri Pandits had their share in the government but slowly their share had diminished. “Being part and parcel of Jammu and Kashmir, this community should be given due share in the government”, he demanded. Koul reiterated resolution of the PDP to facilitate honourable return of Kashmiri Pandits to their native places. He said the community has to play an important role in ongoing transformation process in the state. Describing Kashmiri Pandits as part and parcel of Jammu and Kashmir, he said “return of Kashmiri Pandits to their native places in the Kashmir Valley is must to maintain the ethnicity and diversity of Kashmiri culture”. Pointing towards the problems being faced by the community, he said the state government had done nothing to solve their problems. He said the Prime Minister’s package was also not properly utilised and the government was not serious to solve their problems. |
||
|
NC’s Rana sees ‘Jammu challenge’ as opportunity
Jammu, February 2 To improve the party's tally in the Jammu region is a major challenge before Rana. The NC had won 28 seats in the 2008 Assembly elections, but the Jammu region had contributed only six seats to the party's kitty. There are 37 seats in the Jammu region, 46 in the Valley and four in the Ladakh region. Rana sees this challenge as an opportunity for himself. "The challenges will help me to reach out to the people and cadres where the party did not do well last time. I want to turn the challenge into an opportunity to prove that the party makes the governments, not the vice versa." "I am happy that my leader Omar Abdullah has reposed so much faith in me," Rana told The Tribune. Rana, devoted to his leader Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah, has embarked on a difficult political journey to rediscover the secular history of his party, dating back to the days of its founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, whose clarion call for the Hindu, Muslim, Sikh unity has become the NC's hallmark. "We are secular and we have retained our secular credentials with conviction, We would continue to do so and respect the ideology of all faiths in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh," Rana oftens tells his party workers. For him, the responsibility of reaching out to the party cadres and the people of Jammu, is a much bigger responsibility than any position in the government. He calls himself a foot soldier of the party, but the Chief Minister describes him as an “asset for the party for all seasons”. |
||
|
People of Raiyar village allege harassment by sarpanch
Srinagar, February 2 A group of villagers assembled in the city centre and alleged that sarpanch of Raiyar village Maqbool Mir and other panchayat members were harassing local people. “Mir along with his gang on Friday thrashed my son Aijaz Ahmed without any reason. Mir got angry as we had sought information under the RTI Act from the block development officer about various works that were carried in the village,” said Ghulam Qadir, a protester. “The sarpanch has embezzled money through various developmental schemes. Nobody is taking note of his ill doings,” said Qadir. Another protester said the sarpanch was having an illegal weapon and he was using it to terrorise people. “He has been given a free hand. Even the police does not take any action against the sarpanch,” alleged another protester, Tariq Ahmed. The protesters alleged that Mir had a criminal background and was involved in many cases. The protesters demanded action against the panchayat member and his gang for harassing the locals. “We also appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take note of the harassments that they were facing daily. If the government did not initiate action, we will be left with no option but to migrate from our village,” said a protester. Police officers said they had registered a case after two groups clashed in the village. |
||
|
KU students to leave on all-India tour on February 10
Srinagar, February 2 The students from 30 departments of science and arts would be accompanied by their faculty members. The university organises the All India Scientific Tour every year to help students get acquainted with some of the best research institutes and universities of the country where they could apply for doctoral studies or pursue research in various branches of science. University officials said students would travel across the length and breadth of the country to get the latest know-how of the academic and professional opportunities present outside the state. “Two batches of students from the Electronics and Geology Departments have left for the tour,” said a university official. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir Prof Talat Ahmad told The Tribune that the tour aimed at providing exposure to students by getting them to interact with top notch researchers, scientists and academicians of the country. “We are even looking at career opportunities for our PhD and MPhil students to let them conduct their research with their counterparts at reputed national institutes of the country,” said Prof Talat. According to administrative officials at the university, students in their fourth semester, who are currently taking their examinations, would travel to prominent educational institutions in cities such as Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai and
Chennai. Each department has been allocated a budget of Rs 1.25 lakh for conducting the tour while each student is being paid Rs 150 per day as remuneration on the tour. Although, the teaching faculty and students have been urging for a raise in the allocated budget, the authorities say the same is not possible. “We are only giving
students a token amount of money so that they can spend it in addition to their basic
expenditures,” said the Vice-Chancellor. |
||
|
Rise in mercury brings respite
Srinagar, February 2 The minimum temperature in Srinagar rose by five degrees and settled at 3.1°C last night, said an official of the Met Department. Qazigund also registered an increase in the mercury as the night temperature settled at 0.8°C. The tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded a low of 0.2°C. The weatherman has forecast light rain or snow across Kashmir over the next 24 hours. — PTI
|
||
|
Two constables among 3 held for extortion
Srinagar, February 2 Earlier this week, the accused woman went to see a house in the uptown area of the city with an intention to buy it. “The woman locked the house owner and herself in a room. She then created ruckus and alleged molestation by the house owner,” sources in the police said. Later, she called two of her accomplices, who portrayed themselves from the Special Operations Group of the police. The trio took money from the house owner before fleeing. Subsequently, the house owner lodged a complaint with the police. The police said the trio might be accused of extorting money in other cases also. A police spokesperson in Srinagar said he was not aware of the arrests. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Jammu, February 2
Srinagar, February 2
Jammu, February 2
Jammu, February 2
We have decided to expedite the process of recruiting teachers for various colleges. Till the completion of selection process, we will appoint well-qualified people on contractual and ad hoc basis so that studies of students don’t
suffer