Srinagar, May 6
In a significant decision, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has given approval to the constitution of the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation (JKMSC) to facilitate procurement of standard and quality drugs and for ensuring foolproof arrangements of testing.

The decision in this regard was taken today during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister which was also attended by Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan, an official statement said here.

“Approving a proposal in this regard at a high-level meeting here today, the Chief Minister also gave nod to the constitution of the Board of Directors of JKMSC to be headed by the Chief Minister as its Chairman and Minister for Medical Education and Minister of State for Health as vice-chairmen,” the statement added.

Emphasising on constitution of the JKMSC in a time-bound manner, the Chief Minister directed for finalising a comprehensive memo in this regard for the Cabinet, the statement said, adding that Omar also received appraisal of the drug policy and sought its early finalisation and implementation.

“Omar said patient care should be of highest importance and supply of quality medicines to hospitals be ensured hassle-free”, the statement said, adding that during the meeting, Omar also approved release of 100 per cent plan allocation for testing facilities to the Health and Medical Education Departments and directed for taking all necessary measures for upgrading testing facilities within the state.

Anantnag, May 6
As many as nine persons, including four minor children and an elderly woman, were injured when lightning struck a Gujjar dwelling at Mati Behrad village of Kokernag in this south Kashmir district of the state on Sunday evening.

Sources said the injured persons were immediately shifted to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) at Kokernag in the district.

“While four of them were discharged after the first-aid at the Sub-District Hospital, five others were shifted to the District Hospital in Anantnag,” an official said.

Doctors at the Anantnag District Hospital said four of the five injured persons were stable while the elderly woman was shifted to the SKIMS Hospital for further treatment.

Meanwhile, Anantnag Deputy Commissioner Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone visited the village today.

The Deputy Commissioner distributed a compensation of Rs 5,000 to each of the grievously injured persons and Rs 100 to the people with minor injuries.

A dwelling of Lal-ud-Din Awan was also damaged in the incident, sources said.

Srinagar, May 6
The Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK) today announced the names of the persons who would be awarded for their contribution towards promotion of Kashmiri language and literature.

After a meeting at Bandipore in north Kashmir, the AMK jury announced the names of the awardees. The awards would be given away during the 34th annual two-day “Kashir Conference” of the literary body scheduled to be held on August 24-25.

Noted litterateur and broadcaster Farooq Nazki has been selected for this year’s “Sharaf-e-Kamraz” award for his contribution towards Kashmiri literature through his writings as well as the broadcast media, an AMK spokesman said.

“Kashmir Writers’ Forum”, Sopore, bagged the “Sharaf-e-Kamraz” award in the category of literary organisations for its efforts on ground to reach out to poets and writers of Kashmiri language in Sopore and adjoining areas of Rafiabad, said the spokesman, adding that the award carries a cash prize, memento and citation.

This year’s “Khilat-e-Hanfi Sopori” awards would be conferred upon Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq for his sermons in Kashmiri language from the august religious platform of Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, and as a religious leader for his keenness toward the protection of Kashmiri language and identity.

Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Shah has been selected for “Khilat-e-Hanfi Sopori” award in the administration category for his positive role in the administration for the promotion of Kashmiri language and literature. The award carries a cash prize, shawl, citation and memento to each awardee. This award would be given in collaboration with Majlis-un-Nissa, Sopore. 

Anantnag, May 6
More than 100 persons fell sick after consuming food at a marriage function at Sirhama village in the Bijbehara area of this south Kashmir district. Panic gripped the residents after they came to know that there was no doctor to treat these patients at the local Primary Health Centre (PHC).

As per reports, soon after consuming food at the marriage ceremony, people started complaining of vomiting and diarrhoea.

“The sick persons were immediately taken to the PHC. However, the only employees present at the hospital were a couple of paramedics and a dental surgeon,” said a resident of the village.

The villagers said they were forced to ferry the patients to different private hospitals and the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) at Bijbehara.

Doctors at the Bijbehara diagnosed the patients suffering from food poisoning.

“They had consumed mushrooms at the marriage party, which were packed way back in 2004,” said Dr JS Mehta, Medical Superintendent at the SDH.

He said more than 30 people were treated at the SDH and some doctors, along with medicines, were sent to the village.

“The situation is under control. However, we have received some five patients with mild symptoms of food poisoning even today,” said Mehta.

Meanwhile, the residents of the village were agitated at the pathetic condition of the local PHC. The residents confronted the local Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Bashir Ahmad Veeri, who visited the village, sources said.

The angry villagers threatened to launch protests if the PHC was not upgraded.

The MLC, meanwhile, said he had been raising the issue of the particular PHC to the higher ups but to no avail.

“It’s a pity that people have to suffer so much,” said Veeri, “The PHC has 19 posts in total but I do not understand why doctors are not being sent there,”

He said he had time and again raised the issue of the healthcare scenario in the whole of Bijbehara block with Health Minister, Director Health Services and at every appropriate level but nobody paid heed so far.

“Even today, I talked to the Health Minister and he has assured me of sending a doctor to the PHC at Sirhama,” said Veeri.

Handwara, May 6
To prevent encroachment on barren forest land mostly by the people living close to forests, fencing of hundreds of hectares of barren areas is underway in north Kashmir.

Under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) programme, the Forest and Social Forestry Departments engaged local youth mostly from economically deprived families to plant saplings of different plant species, including deodar, keil, and fast-growing species- rubinia and conifer, to enhance the tree cover.

Under the programme, local residents planted about 4 lakh saplings and completed fencing on 35 hectares of land in Magam, forest compartment of Handwara tehsil.

Similarly in Bandipora district, hundreds of hectares of barren forest areas were covered under the scheme. At many other places, the fencing and plantation drive is underway.

Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Division, Kupwara, Riyaz Masoodi said, “The scheme focuses on engaging poor locals in protection and development of forests. We also planted fast-growing species, including conifer and rubinia, to make forests thick.”

“The biggest advantage of the scheme is that it strives to engage such youth and elders in plantation and fencing, who may have inflicted damage to forests in the past for their monetary benefits,” he added.

Local residents have started to realise the importance of forests in survival and sustenance of mankind. “Forests are an asset to us and we should refrain from doing any harm to them. I am happy to contribute in protection and growth of forests,” said Shabir Ahmad, 23, a school dropout from Rajwar.

The department has grown more than 30 lakh fast-growing conifer species in its nurseries, including “Malhar” in Ganderbal. It has shifted the emphasis from broad leaved species like Keekar to fast-growing conifer species. For beautification of Srinagar city, the department sold about 30,000 conifer species in the recent past.

Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Dazri said the forests would grow thicker and greener manifold in next few years. “Ganderbal, Shopian and Budgam have received due attention under the CAMPA,” said Darzi. “Forests of Kashmir will be made thick and plantation protected by concrete fencing wherever necessary,” he added. The locals demand that the daily wages be enhanced to Rs 300. “From April, we are being paid a sum of Rs 150 per day, which is too insufficient for sustenance. We make a fervent appeal to the authorities to enhance our wages to at least Rs 300,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a labourer.

Srinagar, May 6
With the tourist season picking up in Kashmir, the government is currently hosting a folk festival across the Valley in an effort to attract more visitors. While the next performance is being held at Zabarwan Park here tomorrow, the authorities said their main aim of holding the festival is to introduce Kashmiri folk forms to the tourists.

“Our main aim is to introduce folk forms to the tourists and therefore, we are holding programmes in collaboration with the Tourism Department at various tourist spots. We also want to showcase the rich art forms of Kashmir before the tourists and others,” J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages (JKAACL) secretary Khalid Bashir told The Tribune.

He said various programmes, including ‘Band Pather’ (street plays) and ‘chakri’ (traditional Kashmiri music) were held at Pahalgam in south Kashmir on Saturday and then at Gulmarg in north Kashmir yesterday. He said the next performance would be held at the Zabarwan Park near the Dal Lake tomorrow.

A Tourism Department official said the folk festival would continue till July 5. While the official said the cultural programmes had started catching the attention of tourists, he said the events would be held at Pahalgam and Gulmarg on Saturdays and Sundays during the next two months. Similarly, the folk festival performances would be held at Verinag on Mondays from next week, Zabarvan Park on Tuesdays, Kokernag and Achhabal on Wednesdays and Chinar Bagh on Thursdays.

The Tourism Department official said they would be holding a series of programmes in the coming months so that more tourists visit the Valley.

The ‘Kashmir Folk Festival’ had been inaugurated by Tourism Minister GA Mir at Pahalgam on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, Mir said the festival was aimed to ensure that tourists not only get to see the natural beauty of Kashmir but also catch a glimpse of local traditions. 

Srinagar, May 6
The Jammu and Kashmir Police headquarters resumed its work in the summer capital here as Durbar Move offices reopened after remaining functional for six months in Jammu.

Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad inspected the Police Headquarters (PHQ) in the city this morning, an official spokesman said.

Prasad was received at the PHQ lawns by senior police officers and was presented Guard of Honour by a contingent of the armed police. Accompanied by senior police officers, the DGP visited various sections of the PHQ and enquired from officials about the working of their respective branches.

The DGP expressed satisfaction over the advance arrangements made for smooth re-opening of the offices on the occasion of Durbar Move, the spokesman said.

He said quick disposal of the matters related to the strengthening of subordinate units should be ensured at the PHQ level which would help to bring improvements in their working also. Later, the DGP held a meeting of senior police officers at the PHQ and discussed various issues related to the professional policing. He was briefed about the progress achieved on different fronts of policing in the state.

During the inspection, the DGP was accompanied by Additional Director General of Police PL Gupta, SP Vaid, DR Doley, VK Singh and SM Sahai. Inspector General of Police B Srinivas, AK Choudhary, HK Lohia, Deepak Kumar, Rauf-ul-Hassan, AG Mir, KK Saini, M A Khan and SS Khandre were also present. 

Srinagar, May 6
On the eve of reopening of the annual Durbar Move offices in Srinagar, J&K Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul today inspected various sections of the Legislative Assembly Complex and passed instructions for convening a meeting of officials responsible for maintenance of the complex.

He directed the officials of the Assembly secretariat to work with utmost dedication and come up with expectations of the government, an official release said here.

He enquired about the accommodation facilities of the employees, especially Jammu employees, the statement said, adding that Gul was given a warm welcome by employees of the Assembly Secretariat.

While inspecting the complex, the Speaker took a serious note of the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) for not maintaining its cleanliness and white wash as the complex was still maintained by the corporation.

He asked to convene a meeting of officers to sought out the issue of handing over the building to the Estates Department. 

Srinagar, May 6
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced three months free ration for earthquake-affected families of erstwhile Doda district in Jammu region.

In a statement issued here, an official said the Chief Minister, after chairing the meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority, also sanctioned a release of Rs 25 crore for the restoration of damaged public services infrastructure in the earthquake-hit areas.

“The Chief Minister also approved procurement of tents to be supplied to the affected families whose houses were damaged in the natural calamity that had hit districts of Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar and adjacent areas on May 1,” the official added.

The Chief Minister also passed directions to the officials concerned to ensure finalisation of damage assessment report by visiting each affected household so that mobilisation of financial support for reconstruction and repair of damaged houses takes place on fast track.

He directed for preparing a case for financial support to the affected families in the pattern of relief provided to affected people in Ladakh and said it should be submitted to the Central Government as early as possible. 

Srinagar, May 6
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik today said he along with families of separatist activists who had been sentenced to life imprisonment would sit on a hunger strike for three days later this month.

Addressing a press conference here, Malik said the hunger strike would begin on May 24. Malik’s hunger strike was earlier scheduled to take place at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi where he was denied permission and detained.

Malik was detained on his arrival in the city last week from New Delhi.

The JKLF chairman had taken along families of several separatist activists who had been recently sentenced to life imprisonment and other families of those who had forcibly been disappeared or killed in staged encounters.

The three-day hunger strike would take place at Maisuma and it would be a part of series of protests against the life-term sentences pronounced against several separatist activists since last year.

Malik criticised the Central Government for rejecting permission for his hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar saying their “claim to democracy is hollow.”

He also condemned the attacks on prisoners in Indian and Pakistani jails saying the two governments have a responsibility to safeguard the prisoners. Malik also demanded that the government should immediately send the Kashmiri prisoners lodged in jails outside to prison in the Valley.