Jammu, March 13
Dismal performance of government schools in the examinations for Class X and Class XII conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has once again come to the fore with 157 government high and higher secondary schools scoring zero per cent results over the past two years.

Poor performance of government-run institutions could also be gauged from the fact that 1,295 schools, both high and higher secondary levels, recorded the result percentage below 25 per cent, handsome salaries and increments for well qualified teachers and state-of-art infrastructure notwithstanding. “As many as 1,295 government schools have recorded the result percentage below 25 per cent in high and higher secondary examinations conducted by the JKBOSE in 2011 and 2012,” Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who also holds the portfolio of School Education Department, said in a written reply to a question raised by senior National Conference legislator Abdul Gani Malik in the Legislative Assembly here today.

If one goes through the official document, it reveals that 134 government schools had scored zero per cent results in the Class X examinations over the past two years, while the number of schools registering zero per cent results in the exams for Class XII was 23. Apart from this, 332 government schools located in the summer zone and 205 in the winter zone of the Jammu division had recorded the percentage of result below 25 per cent in Class X examination in 2011. Similarly, the number of schools registering result percentage below 25 per cent in the Class X for the summer zone and the winter zone of the region was 161 and 141, respectively.

In the Kashmir division, 176 government-run institutions had fared badly in Class X and recorded results below 25 per cent in 2011, while the number of such schools in 2012 was 81.

In the Class XII examinations conducted by the JKBOSE, 149 government-run schools comprising 127 in 2011 and 22 in 2012 had recorded result below 25 per cent, while in Kashmir only 15 government schools recorded results below 25 per cent over the past two years.

Interestingly, the result of 45 private schools had also remained below 25 per cent in Class XII examination in Jammu region during the past two years.

In 2009 and 2010, 226 government and five private schools had also recorded zero per cent result for the Class X and Class XII examinations. The state government had announced that headmasters and principals of the schools which record zero per cent results would face action. "Increment of teachers in these schools will be withheld," it had said.

On March 10, Jammu Tribune had highlighted that the government-run schools fared badly in secondary school examinations (Class X) averaging 37.02 per cent in a striking contrast to an impressive 73.12 pass percentage in private institutions over the past one decade from 2003 to 2012.

Jammu, March 13
The Deputy Commissioners of respective districts have allegedly allowed the construction of 377 brick kilns on agricultural land in the state.

This puts a question mark on the drive launched against illegal brick kilns.

Despite crying hoarse over damage to fertile land and pollution caused due to brick kilns, efforts of the government have been restricted to official meetings and preparing reports.

Data has been provided by the Agriculture Ministry in the Legislative Assembly, which states total agriculture land in the state is 7.316 lakh hectares and gross agriculture area (sown both during kharief and rabi seasons) during 2010-11 is 11.398 lakh hectares.

“Regarding the grant of permission, the same is being dealt with by the Deputy Commissioners of respective districts in terms of the orders dated March 23, 2011, followed by another order dated May 18, 2011, containing the procedure for granting licences for operating/establishing brick kilns,” the government has stated to a question by MLA, Jehangir Hussain Mir.

Last year a report prepared by the government had said 65 brick kilns and 32 stone crushers in the state were operating without authorisation till 2011. Later the government had asked the Pollution Control Board (PCB) to close down these units.

Only 13 stone crusher owners had shut their operations, while notices against 11 units were withdrawn after they completed the formalities laid down by the pollution control board. Owners of the remaining eight crushers went to the court and secured a stay against the closure notice.

Records state 400 brick kilns operate in the state and they contribute a huge amount of soot and dust into the environment, which affects the nearby vegetation as well as the health of the people.

A sub-committee constituted by the Legislative Assembly (LA) had directed the authorities to submit a detailed report on the impact of kilns on the population and agriculture land for action. 

Jammu, March 13
The state government is yet to dispose of 328 tonnes of polythene seized in the state since 2009, when a ban was imposed on their use.

The Municipal Corporation, Srinagar, leads the list with the authorities having seized 2,040 quintals of polythene carry bags, while Jammu comes second with the recovery of 136 quintals of polythene. Nearly 167.64 quintals have been seized by the Urban Local Bodies, Jammu, 104.20 quintals by Urban Local Bodies, 
Kashmir and 842.86 quintals have been seized by the Pollution Control Board (PCB).

Few months back the government had asked the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and Municipal Corporations to establish a new task force to enforce the law and find ways to dispose the seized material dumped in godowns.

Sources said over past four years, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and the Pollution Control Board (PCB)-two prime agencies enforcing its ban-are at loggerheads over the disposal of seized polythene bags with quintals of confiscated material rotting in godowns.

The state government, as per the SRO-182 (ban on carrying polythene bags) under the Non-Biodegradable Material (Management, Handling, and Disposal) Act 2007 in 2009 and in pursuance of its SRO 122 issued later, delegates powers to different authorities to punish the offenders. However, no alternate method was employed for disposal of the material.

Sources said earlier the Pollution Control Board had identified eight kanal of land at Samba district five years back to convert it into "landfill site" but the project could not materialise.

Jammu was a major centre of polythene production with 50 manufacturing units engaged in its production here.

Polythene has emerged as a major health hazard in the state over recent years with tones of synthetic material choking the drains and other water bodies in the district. The ban was imposed on 16 items of non-biodegradable material, including polythene, poly bags, nylon and thermocol.

Jammu, March 13
Militancy-affected families from erstwhile Doda district held a demonstration today demanding relief assistance on the pattern of displaced Kashmiri Hindus. The members of the community took out a rally here today.

They were demanding relief assistance as most of the families had no other sources of income.

Raising slogans against the government and its apathetic attitude, protesters alleged that successive Chief Ministers over the past two decades had only given assurances but nothing had been done to mitigate their problems.

Rakesh Kumar Sharma, president of the Erstwhile Doda Migrant Committee alleged that despite repeated pleas nothing had been done to mitigate problems of militancy-affected families from the region.

Jammu, March 13
The University of Jammu (JU) has refused to budge under the pressure of private B. Ed colleges and the Department of Higher Education to hold fresh counseling for the remaining seats. Sources said the Colleges Development Council (CDC) of the University had recently held a meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohan Pal Singh Ishar.

It was decided in the meeting that no fresh round of counselling would be conducted to fill vacant seats in affiliated private B.Ed colleges. Sources said the department of Higher Education had reservations over the decision of the CDC, as Principal Secretary to the Department of Higher Education KB Agarwal, who was also present in the meeting, did not agree to this.

Agarwal was of the view that JU should hold a fresh round of counselling so that left over seats could also be filled as the stakeholder institutions were suffering badly because of that, sources said. The Principal Secretary maintained that arrangements could be made to accommodate vacant seats after the fresh round of counselling. But, the JU authorities had expressed reservations over the issue and upheld their decision.

The matter will be taken up in the upcoming University Council meeting on April 12 to be chaired by Governor N N Vohra who is also Chancellor of the University.

Sources say there were 20,000 B.Ed seats out of which 9,000 seats were lying vacant. Few days ago, a delegation of the Forum of Recognised Colleges of Education (FORCE) and the Vice-Chancellor held a meeting with Minister for Higher Education, Mohammad Akbar Lone, in which the latter had directed the Vice-Chancellor to hold fresh counseling, they added.

The Minister had directed the Vice-Chancellor to redress the grievances of the B.Ed colleges.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor had refused to divulge the details of the CDC meeting but said the matter will be placed before the forthcoming University Council for approval. He also refused to comment over the note of dissent by Agarwal. Registrar Prof Naresh Padha holds the additional charge of Director CDC.

Jammu, March 13
The state government today said there were no manual scavengers working under the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC). 

Minister for Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora, while replying to a question by BR Kundal in the Legislative Council, informed the house that there was no person working or engaged as manual scavenger for removal of night soil from the urban areas in the state as per the survey conducted by the executive officers of the municipal institutions.

Meanwhile, Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Ittoo, while replying to a question by Ajat Shatru Singh, informed the House that juvenile homes, one each at Harwan, Srinagar, and Observation Home at RS Pura, Jammu, has been established to assist the juvenile.

The minister said the study material on moral education was provided for the inmates in these homes, adding that pyscho social counsellor was periodically deputed to these homes for the counselling of juvenile. 

Jammu, March 13
A 25-member deputation of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising ETT stakeholders today met Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand at his residence here. The deputation apprised the minister about their ongoing indefinite dharna.

The deputy Chief Minister, who is also holding charge of the school education, gave a patient hearing to the deputation and assured that he would try his best to solve the problem by convening a meeting with the Chief Secretary and other officials concerned of the department within the next three days.

The JAC of ETT Colleges of J&K, however, decided to continue their indefinite dharna on the premises of J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) till the fulfilment of their genuine demands.

Jammu, March 13
A delegation of the J&K College Teachers Association (CTA), Jammu Wing, led by its president Dr Avinash Kumar Gupta called on Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone here today.

While referring to the recalling of the chairman and other officials from the J&K Board of School Education back to Higher Education Department, the delegation demanded that the posts should continue to remain within the college cadre domain.

The minister assured the delegation that these posts would be retained by the Higher Education Department and only filled among the college teaching fraternity.

Akbar Lone informed that other issues of the college teachers would be deliberated shortly, after the appointment of an advisor to the Higher Education Department.

The CTA delegation comprised Dr Satesh Bhan, Prof RS Jamwal, Prof BK Gandhotra, Dr Neeraj Gupta and Dr CK Khajuria. 

Rajouri, March 13
The district police today booked a Village Level Worker (VLW), an employee of the Department of Rural Development for allegedly withdrawing government fund of Rs 55,000 from the Gambir bank branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

The money was part of the government funds meant for developmental activities in the area, the police said.

Manjaote police today registered an FIR under Section 420, 468 of the Ranbir Panal Code (RPC) against Abdul Haq, a resident of Katarmal. The accused was booked following a complaint lodged by Sarpanch of Panj Garanin village, Afzal Hussain accusing him of withdrawing Rs 55,000 after forging signatures.

According to reports, the accused Abdul Haq who is secretary of Panchayat Panj Garanin of Manjakote tehsil had a joint account with Sarpanch under account number 13 in Gambir Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, where according to the complaint, Haq used bogus signatures of sarpanch to withdraw Rs 55,000 from the bank. The money is part of government fund meant for developmental works in the village.

A senior officer of the bank said, “We have registered a case, but the accused has not been arrested yet. We have started investigation and the accused will be arrested soon.”