Jammu, May 18
When every single day matters during career-making year of a student, the University of Jammu, the country’s first ISO certified institute of higher learning and research — in a brazen instance of laidback attitude, declared re-evaluation results of various post-graduate subjects after a gap of five-six months.

The sorry state of affairs could be gauged from the fact that the university took 156 days (more than five months) to declare the result of a second semester student who had applied for re-evaluation for a home science paper, while three students of environment studies had to wait for 155 days for their second semester re-evaluation result.

Similarly, the re-evaluation result for the fourth semester of a history subject was declared after 176 days (almost six months).

These startling details were available after a student of Jammu University sought information regarding re-evaluation results of Master’s degree programme (MDP) second and fourth semester examinations held in May 2012, under the Right To Information (RTI) Act.

If one carefully goes through the information provided by the university, a single student who had applied for re-evaluation of second semester’s answer scripts of Buddhist Studies subject waited for 144 days for declaration of the results.

The results for two students of fourth semester who had applied for re-evaluation of a Botany paper were declared after a gap of 143 days (almost five months), the document suggested.

In fourth semester of Physics, only one candidate applied for re-evaluation and the student had to wait for 126 days for declaration of result.

“The re-evaluation results of four students of fourth semester in Sanskrit were declared after a gap of 133 days,” the document suggested.

Similarly, the lone fourth semester student of Music subject was made to wait for 125 days for his result.

Rakesh Chib, president, Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA), said the authorities had miserably failed to streamline the examination system on the campus.

“They are playing with the future of the students. There is no logic as to why the result of a single student was not declared for almost six months. The performance of officers concerned is very poor and the administration needs to take stern action against such officers,” he said.

He said the authorities should issue notices to evaluators and they should be asked to explain their position on such long delay in declaration of results.

“The officers concerned are least bothered about the future of students. The Vice-Chancellor should convene a meeting of all officers to see the varsity’s performance vis-a-vis implementation of the examination calendar. He should fix the responsibility of non-performers,” Chib said.

It may be placed on record here that the university is required to declare the results of various post-graduate subjects within a stipulated period of 45 days. It has been learnt that the authorities had recently managed to get the approval of the university council in extending the result declaration period from 45 to 90 days.

Prof Manoj K Dhar, Controller of Examinations, Jammu University, was not available for comment.

Jammu, May 18
As the relief department (migrant) stopped the relief to a Kashmir Pandit migrant, Kamal Ji (35), residing in migrant quarters of Jagti satellite township, he died due to starvation on April 24.

After Kamal’s death, the matter was brought to the notice of the higher authorities of revenue and relief department in civil secretariat and acting on it, the commissioner secretary revenue and relief Vinod Koul suspended the zonal officer Jagti, Raj Kumar Bhat, and asked the relief commissioner (migrant) to initiate an inquiry and submit a report in 45 days.

Sources in the revenue and relief department told The Tribune that the zonal officer had stopped the relief of Kamal a few months back for reasons best known to the department and having no source of income, Kamal died due to starvation.

Residents of Jagti township said Kamal, son of late Triloki Nath, was living alone in the migrant quarter number 15 in block 84. His parents died some time back and he was unmarried.

“Kamal had no source of income and when his relief, in the form of ration, was stopped, he found it difficult to arrange a two-time meal. It is believed that he died due to starvation,” a resident of Jagti, wishing not to be named, told The Tribune.

The relief commissioner (migrant) Jammu office failed to take any action against the zonal officer Raj Kumar Bhat and when the matter reached the higher authorities in the civil secretariat, Bhat was suspended and sent back to his parent agriculture department. An inquiry has been initiated against him.

The relief commissioner’s office has failed to provide any substantial answer as to why the zonal officer had stopped relief to the deceased.

“It is a matter of investigation as why zonal officer Bhat stopped the relief. To get the relief, migrants have to approach the zonal officer and he issues relief, but this man may not have approached the officer,” said RK Pandita, relief commissioner (migrant) Jammu.

Sources further said even in the police report after Kamal’s death, it was mentioned that he was found mentally disturbed and he died due to starvation.

Katra, May 18
Within a few hours after the instance of beating of a student by a teacher came out, the Government High School Anji teacher in Reasi district was suspended by the authorities. The student suffered fever after being beaten by teacher Poonam Kumari on Saturday and was hospitalised.

Poonam Kumari has been placed under suspension pending inquiry, ADC Reasi Rajinder Singh Tara said.

Jammu, May 18
Continuing its drive against bovine smuggling, the Udhampur police today rescued 29 bovine animals and arrested three smugglers at Kud on Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Giving details, the police spokesperson said that a police party of police station Kud laid a surprise naka near Kud town and intercepted a convoy of three Mahindra vehicles bearing registration numbers JK03V-8857, JK06-1532 and JK02AK-3375, which were loaded with bovine animals and were on their way towards Kashmir.

During thorough search of these vehicles, 29 bovine animals were found inside.

Three inter-district bovine smugglers involved in this crime were identified as Liaqat Ali, a resident of Vijaypur, tehsil and district Samba, Tej Ali, a resident of Ramgarh, tehsil and district Samba and Faji, resident of Roun Domail, Udhampur, were arrested on the spot.

The driver of one of the vehicles managed to escape.

Police teams have been deputed to apprehend the absconding smuggler at the earliest. — TNS

Jammu, May 18
A tanker bearing registration number JK02Q-2522 caught fire at a petrol pump in Akhnoor town which was later doused.

According to police, the driver of the tanker Tara Singh, son of Teja Singh of Akhnoor, was checking tyres of the vehicle when he found something wrong. It caught fire, people nearby swung into action and the fire was doused.

There was reportedly no damage to the petrol pump and the fire was controlled. — TNS

Jammu, May 18
National Mazdoor Conference (NMC) president Subash Shastri today asked the government to regularise the services of daily wagers and demanded constitution of a high power committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.

“We appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to regularise the services of daily wagers. We also demand that the government should constitute a high power committee to submit its report on this issue at the earliest,” he said.

Shastri claimed that most of the daily wagers in the state had not been getting their wages on a regular basis for the past many years.

“Besides regularising the services of these workers, the government should also provide all perks and allowances, including pension benefits, to these labourers as per the scale of the Central Government employees,” Shastri said.

Shastri demanded early constitution of the seventh Pay Commission, immediate merger of 50 per cent DA into basic pay or pension, grant of 20 per cent interim relief to the salaried class across the country till the implementation of the recommendations of the new Pay Commission, raise in income tax exemption limit up to Rs 5 lakh, and total exemption of DA from the income tax limit etc.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Rajan Babu Khajuria, Ragu Pal, Madan Lal Bhagat, Surrinder Kumar, Tilak Raj, Darshan Lal, Mohammad Shafi, Jog Raj, Rakesh Padha and Sunil Kochhar.

Jammu, May 18
Non-gazetted employees of the University of Jammu today gave an ultimatum of 48 hours to the authorities concerned and warned them that they would revive phase two of their agitation from May 22 in case their demands were not met.

“We express our concern over the ‘criminal silence’ being maintained by the administration towards regularisation of Class IV and casual labourers who have served in various departments of the university for the more than 17 years,” Krishan Chand, president Non-Gazetted Employees Union, University of Jammu, said.

He said they condemned the administration for backtracking from its written commitment which was made by Vice-Chancellor Mohan Paul Singh Ishar that their demands would be fulfilled before April.

He made appeals to Governor NN Vohra, who is the Chancellor of the University, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is the Pro-Chancellor of the varsity, for their personal intervention on ‘humanitarian grounds’. 

Jammu, May 18
Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan today stressed upon the officers to reach out at the grass-roots level for better implementation of the National Rural Health Mission which ‘guarantees’ to provide quality health care facilities to the people in rural areas.

He also underscored the need for reducing neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in the state by taking concrete healthcare measures.

He inaugurated a workshop organised by the National Rural Health (NRHM), here today.

The workshop was held with the objective of sensitisation of the programme management units at district and block level, including the district resource persons and AHSA facilitators who are engaged in training of ASHAs at the block level.

Speaking at the event, high neonatal mortality has been an area of concern in the state. He said though the sate infant mortality rate has decreased from 52 in 2006 to 41 in 2012, the neonatal mortality was still higher as compared to the national level.

The Health Minister said the Home Based Newborn Care, which would prove to be a key intervention in decreasing the neonatal mortality, was being carried out with the help of AHSAs at the community level.

He said the ASHAs would guide pregnant mothers and their families in providing neonatal care at home. As many as 12,000 ASHAs were working actively in the state to provide the services at the grass-roots level.

Mission director Dr Yashpal Sharma said ASHAs would provide services, including weighing of newborn, measuring newborn temperature, insuring warmth etc, during their home visits. 

Jammu, May 18
The Tawi Trekkers J&K today released its calendar of activities for 2013-14.

Jammu Dogri Sanstha president Lalit Magotra released the calendar in the presence of office bearers of the club, principals and directors of various schools.

The J&K Himalayan Trekking Programme will be the major activity of the club this year. The club will organise it in the Moungri area of Udhampur District during the summer vacation for schoolchildren in the age group of 10 to14 years.

The calendar also includes three high altitude trekking expeditions to Minkiani Top (1,45,00 ft), Manimahesh (1,35,00 ft) and Triund (1,05,00 ft) besides short treks in the Dalhousie-Chamba and Kullu-Manali areas of Himachal Pradesh for senior and junior members in June.

Further, four short treks for school students in the Saroli area (82,00ft) behind Trikuta hills in October is also in the offing.

The club also plans to organise a low budget mountaineering expeditions to Mun peak in Dhauladhar range of Himachal Pradesh.

To spot the talent in sport climbing at the grass-roots level and to groom it for future competitions, the club has a plan of conducting regular coaching-cum-practice camps at Sprawling Buds School, Jammu and at the international standard climbing walls at the Indian Mountaineering Foundation Complex, New Delhi.

The club will also organise a state-level sport climbing competition at Sprawling Buds School, Jammu, in November.

Prof Lalit Magotra said sport climbers of the state would bring more laurels for the state in the forthcoming zonal and national competitions with concerted efforts of the club and the Mountaineering Association of J&K.

Katra, May 18
Reasi District Development Commissioner (DDC) Shahid Iqbal Choudhary distributed sewing machines and certificates among 28 beneficiaries at Katra today.

The District Urban Development Agency (DUDA), Udhampur/Reasi, has imparted a six-month training under the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) to these awardees at Katra.

Speaking on the occasion, the DDC urged the beneficiaries to establish their own units for employment promotion and raise their economic condition. He assured all possible help from the administration for setting up their self-help groups.

DUDA project officer Kavita Kumari apprised them the aim of the “Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana”. Thed yojana has five components, urban self smployment programme, urban women self help programme, skill training for employment promotion amongst urban poor, urban wage employment programme and urban community development network.

Local officers, ex-councilors and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.

Later, a deputation of locals led by ex-councilor Ravi Nag called on the DDC and appraised him about their problems and delay in shifting of Bus stand. The DDC assured them for early redressal of their problems. 

Jammu, May 18
The inter-zone district level competitions of Jammu district in multi-disciplines for the U-14 and U-17 girls got underway here today.

As many as 500 girls from all 14 zones are participating in the event, which is being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports. Earlier, Deputy Director Ved Parkash and Jammu DYSSO Tirath Ram declared the tournament was open.

In the U-17 kho-kho, Miran Sahib Zone got the better of Gandhi Nagar Zone while Jammu Zone had last laugh against Khour Zone. In other matches played, RS Pura Zone beat Bishnah Zone, Dansal Zone beat Jourian Zone, Marh Zone beat Chowki Choura Zone, Satwari Zone beat Arnia Zone, Akhnoor Zone beat Miran Sahib Zone, Jammu Zone beat RS Pura Zone and Dansal Zone beat Marh Zone.

Results: U-14 kho-kho: Akhnoor Zone beat Miran Sahib Zone, Jammu Zone beat RS Pura Zone, Dansal Zone beat Marh Zone, Bhalwal Zone beat Satwari Zone, Akhnoor Zone beat RS Pura Zone, Arnia Zone beat Miran Sahib Zone, Bhalwal Zone beat Jammu Zone and Jourian Zone beat Marh Zone. U-14 kabaddi: Jourian Zone beat Marh Zone, Miran Sahib Zone beat Arnia Zone, Akhnoor Zone beat RS Pura Zone and Bishnah Zone beat Jammu Zone. U-17 volleyball: Miran Sahib Zone beat Gandhi Nagar Zone, Akhnoor Zone beat Marh Zone, Dansal Zone beat Satwari Zone and Chowki Choura Zone beat Jammu Zone. U-14 volleyball: Bhalwal Zone beat Satwari Zone, Miran Sahib Zone beat R S Pura Zone and Miran Sahib Zone beat Bhalwal Zone. — TNS

Jammu, May 18
The Khour and Bhalwal Zones clinched the U-14 and U-17 boys’ titles in volleyball in the ongoing Jammu District Inter-Zonal Tournament at Government Higher Secondary School, Domana, here today.

In the U-14 boys final, the Bhalwal Zone got the better of the Marh Zone by 2-1 sets while in the U-17 age group, the Khour Zone overcame the challenge of the Akhnoor Zone by an identical margin.

The Satwari Zone lifted the U-14 Kabaddi title by defeating the Miran Sahib Zone by 3 points. In the U-17 final, Bishnah will take on Gandhi Nagar Zone at the same venue.

The kho-kho U-14 boys title went to the Miran Sahib Zone, which defeated the Akhnoor Zone in an exciting contest by one point. In kho-kho U-17 boys final, the Akhnoor drubbed Bhalwal Zone by two points.

In the wrestling U-17 boys, Aatish Sharma of Higher Secondary School, Pallanwala, fetched a gold medal in the 42-kg category while Sahil Sharma of Higher Secondary School, Gou Manasan, had to be contended with a silver medal. In the 46-kg category, Mohammad Rafiq of Higher Secondary School, Gou Manasan, and Amanat Rasool of High School, Dansal, clinched a gold and silver medal respectively. The gold medal in the 50-kg category went to Rakesh Kumar of Higher Secondary School, Bhalwal and Vinay Sharma of High School, Gharkhal fetched a silver medal.

In the 54-kg category, Munir Ahmad of High School, Dhoomi, bagged a gold medal and Saif Ali of Higher Secondary School, Gharkhal, clinched a silver medal.

In the 58-kg category, a gold medal went to Sabir Khan of Higher Secondary School, Kathar Manwal. Mohinder Lal of Higher Secondary School, Bhalwal, claimed a silver medal.

In the 63-kg category, Sunil Kumar of Higher Secondary School, Gajansoo, bagged a gold medal while the silver medal went to Daler Khan of Hari Singh Higher Secondary School, Jammu. Rashid Ahmed of Higher Secondary School, Gou Manasan claimed a gold medal in the U-17 boys’ 69-kg category while Akshay Singh of Army Public School, Domana, won a silver medal.

The Department of Youth Services and Sports has organised the tournament under the chairmanship of Deputy Director Ved Parkash and overall supervision of Jammu DYSSO Tirath Ram.