The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Oppn, Congress accuse govt of misusing border funds Dinesh Manhotra/TNS Jammu, March 29 Border areas in the Jammu region are not getting benefit of the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) due to violation of guidelines set by the Centre. Opposition parties as well as the Congress, which is part of the coalition, have charged the state government with “brazen misuse of BADP funds for petty political gains”. “I have already brought the matter about the misuse of BADP funds to the notice of the Chief Secretary of the state,” said senior Congress leader and former minister Manjit Singh. He has sought an inquiry into the misuse of funds, especially in Samba district. Jammu State Morcha MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma too alleged that the BADP was not implemented in the border areas in the real spirit due to violation of guidelines. “To accomplish their petty political gains, those at the helm of affairs have formulated their own guidelines and violated the norms set up by the Centre,” Sharma, who represents a border constituency, alleged. In the ongoing budget session of the Assembly, members representing border constituencies raised the issue of misappropriation of funds a number of times. The BADP, a 100 per cent Centre-sponsored programme, was started with the twin objectives of balanced development of sensitive border areas through adequate provision of infrastructural facilities and promotion of a sense of security among the local population. The nature of the programme was changed from a schematic one with emphasis on education to a state-level plan with emphasis on balanced development of border areas. The main objective of the programme is to meet the special needs of the people living in remote, inaccessible areas situated near the border. Initially, the programme which began in 1987 was under implementation in 42 blocks in the state. Two blocks of Nyoma and Durbuk bordering China in Leh district have been brought under the programme since 1998-99. The programme is now under implementation in 44 blocks in the state. The block-wise allocation of funds is made on the basis of the length of the international border or the Line of Control, population of the border block and the area of the border block as per village papers. “Instead of utilising these funds for deserving areas, the authorities, on the direction of their political bosses, have been utilising these funds in areas which do not come under the purview of this scheme,” Singh alleged. “The BADP funds are being misappropriated with the connivance of political leaders and bureaucracy in the district, and this needs to be exposed before the public,” the Congress leader said. “Instead of giving equal weightage to the length of the border, population and area, the state government has been giving more importance to the length of the border, which is in violation of the guidelines,” alleged Sharma. Central scheme The Border Area Development Programme (BADP), a 100 per cent Centre-sponsored scheme, was started with the twin objectives of balanced development of sensitive border areas through adequate provision of infrastructural facilities and promotion of a sense of security among the local population Opposition parties as well as the Congress, which is part of the coalition, have charged the state government with “brazen misuse of BADP funds for petty political gains”
	Govt scuttling passage of temples Bill: Pandits Sumit Hakhoo Jammu, March 29 A Kashmiri Hindu organisation today alleged that the Omar Abdullah government was deliberately scuttling the passage of Shrines and Temples Bill in the Legislative Assembly due to pressure from the land mafia, who have sinister deign to grab temple lands in Kashmir. Activists of Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBM) organised a protest to express anger over the failure of the government to introduce the Bill in the ongoing Assembly session. The J&K Hindu Shrines and Religious Places (Management and Regulation) Bill was first introduced in 2009 but got defeated in the House as many members sought some amendments. Since then, the Hindu groups are demanding that the government should re-introduce the Bill. If passed in the Assembly, it would pave way for safeguarding religious property of Hindus in the Kashmir valley. “As many as 80 per cent of the temples, shrines and holy springs were damaged or encroached upon in the Valley since the eruption of insurgency, but pressure of land mafia has prevented the successive governments from tabling the Bill,” said RL Bhat, a senior member of the Trust. The protesters also regretted the attitude of Omar Abdullah-led coalition government and said the Act would save ancient religious places of Kashmiri Pandits, who are seeing the destruction and encroachment of their ancient heritage since their migration from the Valley in 1990. Though the government has admitted that over 208 temples have suffered damages during the two decades of turmoil, Kashmiri Pandit organisations have disputed the figures and say that damage is much more, particularly in the rural areas. “In the absence of any Act, some people managing these temples along with revenue officials were indulging in selling temples and other immovable properties”, said ex-MLC Bushan Lal Bhat. Since the past one decade, Pandits have been demanding a White Paper on the temples and shrines and an inquiry commission about the sale of hundreds of kanals of land illegally. Many community activists have alleged that some section officers of the Revenue Department have helped in land grab since the migration of the community.
	Afzal’s hanging was political execution, says Mirwaiz Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 29 Chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday addressed his first sermon after he was placed under house arrest here upon his return from Delhi on February 21. The separatist leader, who was released from detention yesterday, addressed several hundred people at Jamia Masjid here. “Afzal Guru’s hanging was a political execution and with it all principles of justice and human consciousness were thrown away and the emotions of Kashmiris were brutally murdered,” Mirwaiz said. The separatist leader also condemned the imposition of curfew and detention of separatist leaders and activists in the aftermath of Afzal’s hanging. Mirwaiz said their “peaceful struggle” would continue until the Kashmir issue was solved “as per the wishes of the people”. After the Friday congregational prayers, Mirwaiz along with his several hundred supporters marched from Jamia Masjid to Rajouri Kadal, which is his traditional stronghold, and shouted slogans demanding the return of Afzal’s body. Immediately after the march ended and Mirwaiz left the spot, clashes broke out in an adjoining locality between youth and police personnel, who were deployed in strength in the area. Kashmir has remained on the edge since Afzal’s hanging. Most of the separatist leaders, including chairman of the hardline Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have been put under detention since the execution.
	J-K has 6 lakh jobless youth, but over 72,000 posts vacant Only 11,807 vacancies filled in past two years Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, March 29 Even as the number of unemployed youth has swelled to a staggering 6-lakh mark, more than 72,000 posts are still lying vacant in various government departments in the state. The state government’s lackadaisical approach to fill the vacant posts could be gauged from the fact that it had filled just 11,807 vacancies in various departments in the past two years. It, however, claimed that nearly 80,000 vacancies would be filled through fast-track mode in the coming two years. “A total of 72,852 posts comprising 10,163 gazetted, 44,991 non-gazetted and 17,698 Class IV are vacant in various government departments and semi-government undertakings. The maximum number of posts is vacant in the School Education Department,” an official document said. As many as 23,552 posts, including 4,035 in gazetted category, 15,701 in non-gazetted cadre and 3,816 in Class IV category, are vacant in School Education department, it said, adding that only 4,427 posts were filled in the past two years. “To date, out of a total 59,105 daily wagers registered with the finance department, 55,665 have been regularised. The regularisation of the leftover cases is a continuous process and is considered on a case-to-case basis as and when the cases, complete in all respects, are furnished by respective administrative departments,” the document said. Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather said the government would fill about 80,000 vacant posts through fast-track recruitment in the coming two years. He said in this regard a Special Consultant had been engaged to assist the Services Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) in the recruitment process. The state government had last year implemented new recruitment policy to “reduce the non-plan expenditure in respect of salaries. For the initial period of five years of service, pay of direct recruits would be regulated as per fixed monthly salary. “The SSRB is proceeding in a speedy manner by advertising posts, notifying, conducting written tests and holding interviews in a time-bound manner for new recruitment. As regards the promotion quota vacancies, instructions have been given to all departments to hold DPCs in a time-bound manner,” the Finance Minister said. A total of 5,94,172 youth have been registered at various district-level employment exchanges across the state till September 2012. Out of these, 3,12,977 are from the Kashmir region and 2,81,195 from Jammu division. As many as 1,82,453 registered unemployed youth are Class XII pass followed by 1,66,152 matriculates. 8,32,555 graduates, 20,976 postgraduates and around 30,000 technically qualified (including ITI) youth are also registered with the department.
	Kupwara sarpanch may face arrest for faking attack Amin Masoodi Kupwara, March 29 Deputy sarpanch of a village in Kupwara district, who reportedly faked an attack on him for monetary benefits and security cover, may face arrest. Noor Ahmad Khan, a resident of Bongam, Hayhama, 8 km from Kupwara town, was allegedly attacked on Wednesday by unidentified men, when he was on his way to a nearby mosque to offer the “Fajr” (morning) prayers. The “victim” had told the police that unknown assailants attacked and injured him near a mosque. Police sources said during the course of investigation, it was established that the sarpanch was not attacked but inflicted a ‘self-injury’ to get security cover and monetary benefits. “He is likely to face arrest for faking the attack on himself and misleading the police. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report is still awaited and the police will register a case against him and book him under law once it receives the report,” a source said. A team of doctors, which treated Khan at Sub-district Hospital, Kupwara, have also ruled out a firearm injury to the “victim” but reserved their final opinion till they receive the FSL report. “He did not bleed as the injury was superficial. It does not appear to be a firearm injury but I will be able to give a final opinion after going through the contents of the FSL report,” said Dr Abdul Khaliq, senior surgeon, and one of the doctors who treated Khan. “He did not get stitches. He was discharged and is under the OPD observation,” he added. The deputy sarpanch is being questioned by the police and discrepancies in his statements have made it clear that he stage-managed the attack for his personal gains, sources said. “The sarpanch is being questioned. After some days he is likely to be arrested. The police is waiting for his wound to heal and the FSL report to come,” the source said.
	BJP legislators seek dissolution of Assembly Tribune News Service Jammu, March 29 The BJP has intensified its campaign seeking dissolution of the Assembly over its alleged misuse by the National Conference-Congress coalition. It has accused the coalition of “preaching secessionism” by “lavishing praise on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and dreaded terrorist Liyaqat Ali Shah”. The BJP today organised a number of meetings in different areas of the Jammu province. All four party MLAs addressed a joint press conference to “expose the nefarious” designs of the present government headed by Omar Abdullah. “The NC-Congress coalition government has failed on all fronts and is making repeated attempts to escape the public wrath in the current session of the Assembly,” said party state president Jugal Kishore Sharma at the press conference. He said the Omar government had no proper answers for questions about discrimination against Jammu and Ladakh regions. “Whosoever raises these issues is thrown out of the House by marshals, while those raising anti-national slogans and expressing sympathies with terrorists like Afzal Guru are paid due attention and even their demand for adjournment motion has been accepted,” he said. “People have been deprived of basic rights while those talking of Pakistan, Afzal Guru and Liyaqat Ali are treated as VIPs,” Sharma said. “It has become a daily routine to start the Assembly proceedings with the issue of Afzal and end the day with Syed Liyaqat Shah, which is really unfortunate and shameful”. Leader of BJP Legislature Party Ashok Khajuria said the issue of Chamel Singh, the Indian prisoner who died after being allegedly tortured in Pakistan jail, has not been handled properly by the Centre. He appealed to Governor NN Vohra to intervene and recommend dissolution of the Assembly at the earliest.
	800 applications of ex-militants being processed Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 29 While the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun probing the claims and counter claims over the arrest of Liyaqat Ali Shah, the state government is processing over 800 applications of former militants, who have applied under the rehabilitation policy. Liyaqat was arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly planning attacks in New Delhi. The J&K Police had refuted the Delhi Police’s claim and said Liyaqat was on way to Kashmir to surrender under the rehabilitation policy. “After the amnesty and rehabilitation policy was announced in 2010, we received nearly 1,100 applications from the former militants in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir who were ready to return home. So far, 240 persons along with their families have already returned through designated routes and Nepal,” said a police officer.
	Civil society hails amendments to Juvenile Justice Act Bismah Malik/TNS Srinagar, March 29 Kashmir’s Civil Society and child rights activists have hailed the state government’s move to introduce the amended J&K Justice Juvenile Bill 2013 and its subsequent approval by the Legislative Assembly yesterday by a voice vote. Civil society activists hoped that the amendments which had been brought in the Juvenile Justice Act 1997, including raising the bar of juveniles from 16 to 18 years, constitution of juvenile justice boards in each district of the state, special juvenile police units, observation homes for juveniles who don’t have parents and guardians, would be followed in letter and spirit. Law experts say the J&K Justice Juvenile Act 1997, which treated children below 16 years as juveniles as against the standard age of 18 years in other states, was affecting the justice delivery to children in the age group of 16 to 18 years as they were treated at par with adult criminals. The Centre had amended the national juvenile justice law to make it consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child while the state law was in violation of the convention. The state government was criticised by various human rights bodies, including the Amnesty International, during the summer unrest of 2010 in Kashmir when many boys who were 18 years old were put in adult jails alongside other convicts for their alleged involvement in stone-throwing incidents. Babar Qadri, human rights lawyer, says, “Although, the amendments brought into the Act are a positive step, I am apprehensive of its implementation in letter and spirit, especially when the situation turns volatile in the Valley. I have fought as many as 500 cases of juveniles in Kashmir over the past few years. One of the major reasons why children are pushed back into crime is the way police and juvenile homes deal with them post their arrest. They become more rebellious against the state and that is because the laws were not supportive of them earlier.” Kalpana Tikku, chairperson of Arnimaal, Kashmir’s leading child and women welfare organisation, hailed the state government’s decision and hoped this would be the beginning of a new chapter.
	Guv for early completion of medical institute at Katra Tribune News Service Jammu, March 29 Governor NN Vohra has stressed the need for expeditious completion of the upcoming Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) at Kakriyal near here and of other major ongoing projects of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Governor said this while laying the foundation stone of eight buildings blocks on the upcoming SMVDIME complex last evening. These buildings are being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 51 crore and work on some of them has already commenced. The multi-superspecialty hospital is being constructed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) to provide quality medical services to the people of the surrounding areas, Vaishno Devi yatris and society at large. Vohra inspected the main building of the upcoming medical institute and viewed the three-level parking facility for 300 vehicles which has been constructed partially. Later, he also chaired a meeting to review the to-date status of work on the upcoming institute of medical excellence and various other major infrastructure development projects being implemented by the Shrine Board for meeting the future requirements of the pilgrims. Dr SS Bloeria, member of the SMVDSB; HL Maini, member of the and Technical Consultant of the Board; Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board; Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Additional CEO; and Dr Vinod Gupta, Medical Superintendent of the SMVDIME, participated in the meeting. The CEO informed the meeting that the Board was tying up all the requisite arrangements, including identifying and finalising the partner for the project to make the institute operational in the coming months. The Governor took a detailed review of all other major development schemes of the Shrine Board and issued instructions for their time-bound completion. He also issued instructions to officials concerned for greater emphasis on undertaking plantation activity in the shrine area, making available more lockers and reconstruction and upgrade of toilet blocks. The projects which the Governor reviewed included a multipurpose sports stadium at Katra, emergency helipad near Panchi View Point, mule track, Aashirwad and Parvati Bhawans, pony shed at Bhawan, Kalika Dham at Jammu, stabilisation of falling stones and landslide-prone areas on the track, dormitory accommodation at Adhkwari, retiling of various stretches of the track, construction of track dividers at Mahadev Temple in Reasi.
	Vitamin D deficiency more prevalent in Kashmiri Muslim women: Expert Tribune News Service Jammu, March 29 Expressing concern over the growing problem of vitamin-D deficiency across the globe, the second international conference on “Vitamin-D deficiency and its health consequences”, held recently in Abu Dhabi, has stressed on creating awareness and education among the masses, especially women, to control this global pandemic. The prime objective of the conference was to identify the reasons of vitamin-D deficiency in the UAE, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the world; discuss issues related to laboratory measurement of vitamin, deliberate on consequences of vitamin D deficiency in bone and bone-related diseases like rickets, explain various biological roles of vitamin D in cancer, diabetes and depression and current clinical practice guidelines and their relevance. Shaikh Nahayan-Mabarak-Al-Nahayan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Abu Dhabi, welcomed the speakers from different parts of the world and laid emphasis on making efforts in the direction of improving healthcare system of Abu Dhabi with his utmost concern on growing problem of vitamin D deficiency. The conference witnessed various informative lectures by renowned scientists and doctors from Abu Dhabi and other parts of the world. Dr Afrozul Haq, a reputed senior clinical scientist and chairman of the conference, touched almost all aspects of vitamin D and its numerous health benefits. According to Dr Haq, more than 90 per cent of the UAE students at Abu Dhabi were found vitamin D-deficient and only 1 per cent were having greater 75 nmol/L of 25(OH) D. In her address, Dr Harshdeep Joshi of community medicine of MMIMSR, Mullana (Haryana), who represented India in the conference, estimated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among 250 post-menopausal women from the state between the age group of 45 and 70 years along with associated cardiovascular risk, obesity and hypothyroidism. Dr Joshi, who had done her study on the women of Jammu and Kashmir, said deficiency of vitamin D was significantly associated with obesity, cardiovascular risk and deranged thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. “Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher (82%) in Kashmiri Muslim women as compared to Hindu women (74%) which may be due to practice of wearing burqa (veil) in Muslim women and less outdoor activities,” she said. Dr Jaishen Rajah of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, highlighted the prevalence of rickets in children in the UAE. Dr Laila Abdel-Wareth, chairperson of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, was instrumental in the successful organisation of the conference. Prof Nasser Al-Daghri from Saudi Arabia, Prof William Grant from the USA, Dr Fatema Al Anouti, Dr Ashok Rattan, Dr Haider Attia and Dr Arwa Al Modwahi from the UAE also presented lectures on various aspects of vitamin D.
	24 road projects with Hyderabad firm annulled Minister orders registration of FIRs; blacklisting to follow Tribune News Service Jammu, March 29 In a major decision, the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department has terminated all contracts with the Hyderabad-based company, GVPR Engineers Limited, for violating the agreement signed with the state government for executing 24 major road projects under the Prime Minister Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state. The R&B Department has also decided to blacklist the company to debar it from participating in tendering process for the PMGSY works in the state in the future. Besides, the department has also ordered for registration of FIRs against the company and contractors engaged by it. Official sources said the department had issued orders for lodging FIRs against the GVPR Engineers Limited in five police stations where road construction works had been allotted to it. “The department has also written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for initiating action against the company, besides debar it from taking part in the tendering process in the future,” a source said, adding that the payment of Rs 3 crore for works done by the company through local contractors was being withheld. Sources said the company was allotted work for constructing 24 roads amounting to Rs 156 crore in six districts of the Jammu region comprising Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua. “The construction company took up the work and discreetly sublet it to various contractors in the six districts,” the source said. What was more disturbing was that the GVPR Engineers Limited had allegedly managed to withdraw the bills for the works which were yet to be completed. Talking to The Tribune, Minister for Roads and Buildings Abdul Majid Wani confirmed that the department had terminated all contracts of the company for violating the agreement signed with the state government. “I have also directed the department to register FIRs against the original firm, GVPR Engineers Limited, and the power of attorney holders (contractors) engaged by it for the construction of various road projects,” Wani said. The minister said the company and the contractors engaged by it had abandoned some projects midway and had not completed the earth work at some places under the stage one. Wani said nobody would be spared for looting and causing heavy losses to the public exchequer. “I have ordered an inquiry to know as to how it (company) managed to get money from banks without security deposit and bank guarantee. The matter has been taken up with the Chief Minister and the company would be blacklisted so that it doesn’t get any tender in Jammu and Kashmir henceforth.”
	Woman tourist dies Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 29 A 69-year-old woman tourist from Mumbai died at her hotel room in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, the police said here today. Preeti, who was on a holiday trip to the Valley with her husband, Madan Lal Mayen, had died of a “natural cause” inside her hotel room at Grand Mumtaz in Gulmarg, 55 km from here, a police spokesman said. He said Preeti, a resident of Mumbai, breathed her last during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday and after legal formalities her body was handed over to her husband for last rites.
	Valley gears up for peace, more tourist footfalls expected Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, March 29 Kashmir is gearing up for a fruitful summer ahead and steps are being taken in the early spring, which includes opening up of Tulip Garden. That is how the Valley bids goodbye to the harsh winter days to bask in the spring sun and welcome tourists in the early season, particularly over the past few years. Tulip Garden, overlooking the Dal Lake, was formally thrown open by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on March 29, 2008, in the presence of then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Azad had said, on the occasion, that the garden had provided an additional spot of tourist attraction, thereby “advancing the tourist season” by one and a half months. As the Valley prepares for the season ahead after witnessing unfavourable situation for nearly one and a half months, the focus of attention remains on tourism, a “peacetime activity”. The tourism sector in the Valley suffered a lot during the two decades of militancy. The Valley saw a record tourist season last year. The number of tourists and Amarnath pilgrims reached 1.85 million. However, the situation arising after of the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on February 9, has left the people in general and stakeholders of the tourism sector in particular bewildered. During the past five weeks, the Valley has witnessed shutdowns and restrictions for three weeks. The situation has adversely affected the arrival of tourists, who had been arriving in good numbers even during the peak winter months for adventure sports. The arrival of domestic tourists, which had reached an average of 2,000 per day, drastically came down to an average of 500 per day. Similarly, foreign tourist arrivals have registered a fall from 350 to just 30 on an average per day, according to highly placed official sources. The impact is clear on the ground. Bashir Ahmad, a taxi driver from Budgam town, craves for peace on his return home after a week. He had been ferrying travellers in and outside the Valley. “It was a fully packed season ahead with many tourist bookings,” Bashir said, adding that the situation had an adverse impact on the tourist arrivals. He has his fingers crossed and hopes that things would be back on the rails with the situation improving gradually. As of now, Bashir keeps on ferrying people, including locals, tourists and some permanent customers. “The Bemina fidayeen attack has further worsened the situation,” said another taxi driver, hoping that normalcy will be restored soon.
	Sarpanch may face arrest for faking attack Our Correspondent Kupwara, March 29 Deputy sarpanch of a village in Kupwara district, who reportedly faked an attack on himself for monetary benefits and security cover, may face arrest. Noor Ahmad Khan, a resident of Bongam, Hayhama, 8 km from Kupwara town, was allegedly attacked on Wednesday by unidentified men, when he was on his way to a nearby mosque to offer the “Fajr” (morning) prayers. The “victim” had told the police that unknown assailants attacked and injured him near a mosque. Police sources said during the course of investigation, it was established that the sarpanch was not attacked but inflicted a ‘self-injury’ to get security cover and monetary benefits.